Author Archives: Cassandra Chin

Aug 13 2013
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Cosplay store opens in downtown Hamilton

What started as a booth at an anime convention five years ago has blossomed into a bricks and mortar store for sisters Toni and Jo Thomas in downtown Hamilton.

Toni Thomas holding a pillow in Cosplay-FTW.

Toni Thomas holding a pillow in Cosplay-FTW.

Cosplay-FTW (for the win) has finally opened its doors on King Street East after moving from its small Mountain location.

“Though there was high traffic in terms of cars and vehicles (on the Mountain), there wasn’t too many people walking in from the streets,” explained Toni Thomas. “The store itself was also really small, it was like a closet. Four people would be in there and it would be packed like a tiny elevator. We thought it was about time to expand to a bigger location.”

The store focuses on selling cosplay accessories, which is short for ‘costume play’ where people dress up as their favourite fictional/animated characters, and anime merchandise, including plush toys, pillows and figurines.

The idea of starting their own booth during an anime convention began when the pair started looking for circle lenses, which changes the colours of one’s eyes. It turned out their friends were also looking for Sharingan lenses (eyes from a character from Naruto).

“My mom actually managed to hook us up with a contact in Korea and they pushed us to Geo Contact Lens and we started buying lenses from them,” said Thomas, noting anime characters generally have large, bright or unique eyes, and it was very difficult to find special effects lenses at the time.

“We thought, if we were looking to get these lenses, there were probably a lot more people looking them too, as well as cosplay supplies and other cute Japanese items.”

Cosplay-FTW finally opened its own store on the Mountain three years later after much pushing from customers, which was aided by the large cosplaying community in Hamilton, she added.

“We were kind of pushed into it from our customers; they would ask if we had a location and we initially said no, but then thought, we may as well,” Thomas added. “So we started with the little place on the Mountain and then it grew from there. We built up a clientele – even though there wasn’t a lot of walk-ins, people would outright search for us and come down to visit us.”

When the pair noticed a vacant storefront beside Gameopolis, Hamilton’s newest board game and café, they jumped at the chance to move to a bigger location.

“We thought this would be the perfect location: it’s a bigger place and it’s right by another store that would have a similar target market,” said Thomas. “We thought the stores would complement each other.”

The sisters have already noticed more walk-ins at their downtown location and business has definitely grown since they first started out with simply a table.

In the near future, Thomas hopes they will be able to venture into providing cosplayers with prosthetic ears and fangs.

Cosplay-FTW is looking to set up a booth at Hamilton’s newest convention, the Hammer Town Comic Con to be held in October.

The store will celebrate its grand opening on Aug. 3 and Aug. 4.

Originally posted in Your Hamilton Biz.

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Jul 22 2013
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Microsoft responds with 8.1

During its Build 2013 conference in San Francisco, Microsoft released a preview of Windows 8.1, returning the Windows Start icon and introducing better apps and upgrades in search features. This incremental incarnation of Windows, which was crowd sourced from a wealth of user feedback, looks to address problems of its predecessor.

Though the experience on Windows 8 was initially confusing, Darren Kitamura, a senior web developer with OverAir, noted that the shortcuts made navigating the system easier. Customers were finding ways around the missing Start button with a paid app.“There is also a free program you can download that creates a start button and mimics the actions of the start button in Windows 7 which makes the system more tolerable,” he said. “On the upside I have found Windows 8 slightly faster, and more responsive with better native support for devices and multi-monitor setups.”

At the moment, Kitamura runs Windows 8 on his main desktop PC and Windows 7 on his laptop. He works on developing near field communications (NFC) on both machines but has yet to preview Windows Blue. Windows 8 received mixed reviews from operators, with its emphasis on touchscreen capabilities and apps, when it initially launched last October.

Kitamura believes much of the grief Microsoft suffered was due to the removal of the Start button and the Metro interface. “I can totally understand where Microsoft is coming from,” he said. “Consider an Android phone or an iPhone where all your applications are laid out for you, which is exactly how Windows 8 does it. This would work perfectly for touchscreen devices but for a lot of people who don’t have that, it isn’t as good for a mouse and keyboard.”

So why the return of the start button?

“Part of the reason for Microsoft to do this was to create a unified interface across their devices,” explained Kitamura. “Consider iOS and OSX with how they are distinctly different – if you took a WindowsRT tablet and then your PC which runs Windows 8 it is a basically seamless transition to the experience.”

The unification of their systems, though aimed at a segregated market, should consider desktop users instead of removing the items they loved, he added. Kitamura is looking forward to experimenting with Windows 8.1, but isn’t sure if the changes will affect his work. He does, however, believe the changes will facilitate day-to-day operations.

Windows 8.1 is a beta release, meaning it’s testing software that the average user shouldn’t install on his or her production device. Microsoft says it will release Windows 8.1 in the third quarter and it will be free for customers who own Windows 8.

Originally posted in TechPageOne, aNewDomain.

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Jul 10 2013
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New burger joint in Westdale leaves diners delirious for more

A burger blend of ground sirloin and chuck steak has Hamiltonians whispering about Delirious Burger Co.

There is a third style of meat that will remain a trade secret, said owner Ben Greco.

Ben Greco grills up a burger.

Ben Greco grills up a burger.

The burger joint opened July 4 and is gaining fans in Westdale at its King Street West location.

“After 10 years living in the city (Toronto), I wanted to move back with my wife and I found a location in Westdale,” said Greco, who grew up in Waterdown. “When I came home one night and told her I was going to start up a restaurant, the first thing out of her mouth was, ‘You must be delirious,’ which is where the name came from.”

His quest to find the best burger in town led to the opening of his own restaurant.

“I made a big issue of finding something that was primarily unique,” he said. “What I came across was a lot of the processed, fast food quality burgers. The burger was either frozen, had fillers, or the fries were also frozen, and it took away from the quality of the products produced.”

At Delirious, Greco aims to produce an American-style burger, cooked on a flattop grill rather than a griddle. The juices in the burger remain locked in the burger when cooked on a flattop. Greco tested for four months with the help of another chef to find the best.

“We did a variety of test kitchens where we had multiple chefs test out the burger,” said Greco. “We worked really closely with the (local) butchers as well – it’s about combining a handful of products to get the taste we’re looking for.”

The burgers are made fresh and are never frozen. Fries are also hand cut daily.

“It’s important to us that we produce the best quality burger that’s available,” he said. “The general consensus during the tests is what we’re serving today.”

Delirious Burger Co. offers regular cheeseburgers to the bacon cheeseburger, as well as specialty burgers that will slowly be released. The vegetarian option is stuffed Portobello, double breaded and stuffed with aged cheddar that gives it a sharp taste.

Prior to cooking up a storm in the kitchen, he worked in marketing with a large automotive manufacturer in Toronto.

“We really want to be part of the community and it’s one of my goals to give back to the west-end area,” said Greco. “In the future you’ll see us get involved with the local art community and see us sponsor some charitable events eventually to show our appreciation of the warm welcome we’ve received.”

Delirious Burger will celebrate its grand opening on Saturday, July 13 from 5 p.m. to 10 p.m.

Originally posted in Your Hamilton Biz.

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Jun 19 2013
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Online privacy: How to communicate securely

How can you communicate securely on the web, with absolute confidence that your correspondence will only be seen by the parties involved? What tools can you use?

In some instances where people are communicating through servers, the idea of using proxies and Tor have arisen for safe discussions or data sharing.

Tor was initially designed by the U.S. Naval Research Library to help reduce the risks of traffic analysis. This is done by distributing your transactions over several places on the Internet through proxies, therefore making it more difficult to pinpoint one singular destination.

“Traffic analysis” essentially informs servers of what is being done and who is doing it.

The problem with using proxies and Tor, especially when utilizing free proxies, is a matter of trust in where your information will be bounced.

The Tor Project pointed out that end-to-end attacks are still possible for those looking for information and the right channels, but the most important aspect is staying smart when using technology. This includes not revealing personal information.

Installing Tor is relatively simple, though it does slow down connectivity to a server in return for safer communications.

From the technical perspective of telephone communication, IT security expert Scott Janiki noted that back-end routing of calls on various networks utilizes the cheapest path for many companies.

“Even with proper controls in place to keep calls private, the resources available by [big players] probably would not help for long,” Janiki explained. “Unfortunately, as in this case, the public, when utilizing such services, was not informed from the onset by the vendor of this routing possibility.”

“Within Verizon’s privacy policy, it wasn’t mentioned that a foreign government is monitoring all communications that enter the U.S. Even if users were informed, most people would probably not understand the potential ramifications,” said Janiki.

For Canadians following this story closely, Canada’s communication voice and data infrastructure, on the other hand, only has a couple of major routing hubs, with the vast majority still located in the U.S.

“Therefore the likelihood of a data/voice communication staying in Canada is extremely low,” he said.  “As a result of the spider web of networks which makes the communication connectivity so resilient, it has also eroded Canada’s sovereignty and with it certain Canadian rights and laws.”

Scott Hutchinson, a public relations manager for the Privacy Commissioner of Canada, noted the issue of national surveillance programs aided through information technology is a concern for authorities around the world.“While we don’t think privacy should uniformly trump security or vice versa, greater transparency regarding how the programs work is of order,” said Hutchinson. “Our office also plans to contact fellow international Data Protection Authorities who may share similar concerns about the personal information of their citizens to discuss combining fact finding efforts on this matter as appropriate.”

Communication Security Establishment Canada (CSE), similar to the National Security Agency (NSA), has its own metadata program with little known in regards to specific information. However, as reported initially, the PRISM program has already recorded conversations of millions of Verizon’s customers.

Though slow and not without its own concerns, said Janiki, regular postage through the mail may be the only secure way to ensure that communications remain private.

Originally posted in TechPageOne, aNewDomain.

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Jun 17 2013
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What IT managers look for in new graduates

From SAP to ITIL, to business analysis and Oracle, what certifications are IT managers looking for when hiring?

For graduates looking to enter the work force, an SAP (Systems, Applications and Products) certificate is often a good choice for junior consultants. Focused on business software applications, SAP is related to enterprise resource planning, which includes management knowledge in supply chain and product life-cycle.

“On the other hand, ITIL (Information Technology Infrastructure Library) foundation is open for all IT professionals who are interested in understanding the ITIL framework,” explained Linying Dong, Associate Professor of Business Management Technology at Toronto’s Ryerson University. “Also, some schools offer certifications such as Business Analysis at the University of Toronto that helps show the student has possessed knowledge and skills in a certain area.”

However, Dong noted not all certifications are suitable for new graduates when experience is taken into account. For example, a Business System Analyst certificate requires a candidate to acquire more than 5,500 hours of working experience in the areas related to business analysis, which is nearly impossible for new graduates to acquire.

“As a result, IT managers know about the difficulty for entry-level candidates to obtain an IT certificate, so any IT-related certifications would help a candidate in his/her job search,” said Dong.

Depending on the position a person is applies to, Google keeps an eye out for computer science degrees as well as experience with Java, Java Script, or C++, Google spokesperson Wendy Bairos said.

“It’s as much about what degrees and certifications a person has, and how well they fit in with a team,” she said. For example, a software engineer position in Kitchener-Waterloo, Canada requires the minimum requirements of a B.A. or B.Sc. in lieu of a degree or equivalent experience.

“Both are looked at equally, but depending on the role, it may require experience with at least one of Java, Java Script, or C++,” said Bairos. “There are some preferred qualifications, but they’re not necessary. Job postings give people a sense of what we look for, and it gives the employee a sense of what we may expect of them under an engineering team.”

Bairos added that certificates and diplomas are always welcome, but a key element IT managers look for is a good fit with the culture of the company and the ability to work in a team environment.

“In order to be successful you need to be able to work together,” she said. “We do look for people who can work and collaborate with a team, not just people who have very specific skills for a job.”

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Jun 10 2013
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40,000 people can’t be wrong

Lancaster123

The Lancaster will take to the skies during Hamilton’s airshow.

Superman won’t be in the skies this weekend but the aerobatic displays of aviation will draw more than 40,000 people to Hamilton’s International Airport.

The Canadian Warplane Heritage Museum will host its third Hamilton Airshow on June 15 and 16 after a 10-year hiatus. It originally began in 1975.

The airshow event draws people from all over the world, from Europe to New Zealand, said Al Mickeloff, marketing and advertiser of the Hamilton Airshow.

“We always have a large gathering of vintage aircraft because we are a vintage aircraft museum,” he explained. “One highlight this year is the Mosquito, which is making its first airshow appearance in North America and we’re getting it here in Hamilton.”

Originally built in Toronto during the Second World War, the Mosquito is unique because it is wooden.

Used as a fighter plane or a bomber, it was a very fast aircraft compared to most bombers that were typically slow.

“This particular aircraft has been under restoration in New Zealand for an American owner for several years,” said Mickeloff, noting it’s supposed to be the restoration of all restorations. “We have people coming in from all over the world to see this particular aircraft because this is the only one in flying condition and there hasn’t been one around in many years.”

Hamilton-born “Super Dave” Mathieson, whose claim to fame was being voted #1 aerobatic pilot in Canada . . . by his mom, will also perform at the airshow.

Designed for plus or minus 16Gs with a roll rate of 500 degrees per second, Mathieson will be flying the world’s most advanced aerobatic aircraft called the MX2 – its top speed is 300 miles per hour.

On the ground, there will be more than 30 aircraft and crew, with some aircraft open for tours. The Museum’s flagship Second World War bomber, the Avro Lancaster, one of two in the world that is still capable of flying, is another attraction. Rare German planes, such as the FW190 and ME 262, an appearance from the Royal Canadian Air Force’s Snowbirds, and a reenactment of a WWII Aircraft dogfight, are also scheduled.

Unfortunately, there will be no rides during the event.

Residents are encouraged to purchase tickets prior to the event through its website. Advanced tickets sales ($27 for adults 16 +, $18 for children age six to 15) will close at 5 p.m. on Friday, June 14.

Adult tickets at the gate are $30, and $20 for children. Gates will open for the Hamilton Airshow at 8 a.m. on Saturday, June 15 and Sunday, June 16.

Originally posted in Your Hamilton Biz.

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Jun 03 2013
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Should you look for IT certificates when hiring?

The ongoing discussion of the relevance of IT certificates during the hiring process can simply be broken down to the demand in a marketplace for a product.

Of course, whether or not an IT certificate is considered relevant depends on the demand in the market and area of focus, said Carlos Chu, a senior manager at Tata Consultancy Services, a global IT consultancy firm. “One way to look at it is from the perspective of a service or software lifestyle,” he explained. “If we look at the process of creating a new IT product such as a new functionality or a new system roll-out, we will see there are many roles in this cycle of design/build/test/deploy/run, where IT certifications are good indications of a person’s expertise with a given product.”However, Chu finds that when looking at project management or quality management through the software development lifecycle, certifications like PMP and ITIL become less relevant.

“The value of an individual in these roles is determined by his or her past project management experience and other soft skills that are required to be successful in these roles,” he said. “Also, companies tend to have their own adapted frameworks for project and quality management that they will expect their projects to comply with.”

During a recruiting process, framework based – or vendor neutral– certifications are usually the sixth or seventh item Chu looks for from an applicant.

“Where it does make sense for individuals to have certification are things is when it is very specific to a product or vendor,” said Chu.

An individual who goes into specializing in one niche that is associated with a product, such as SAP or Oracle, must also keep those certifications updated. That said, Chu noted the demand for a highly specialized skill set associated with a product depends on the popularity of that product in the market place.

Corey Martella, a developer with Full of Design, also believes the IT certification for software-based developing is less relevant.

“The big things that are heavy on certification are security, investing and network infrastructure,” said Martella. “Generally, people who are entering university or college look to get a solid background in the field, whether its web applications, mobile applications, or general consulting.”

For recent graduates, Associate Professor of Business Management Technology Linying Dong at Toronto’s Ryerson Universitypointed out not all certifications are suitable for new graduates entering the workforce.

“For example, Business System Analyst certificate requires a candidate to possess over 5,500 hours of working experience in the areas related to business analysis, which is difficult for new graduates to acquire,” she explained.

However, Dong notes an IT certificate does help a student stand out from the crowd and earn a chance to prove what he or she knows.

The bottom line is that certification for an individual is only relevant if that person wants to continue driving into that particular niche or product, and specialize in it.

The focus and relevance of IT certifications depend very much on the field of interest and direction of application, concluded Chu.

Originally posted in TechPageOne, aNewDomain.

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May 27 2013
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Chester’s Beers of the World consolidates with Finger’s

After 30 years in business at 60 King Street E. Chester’s Beers of the World is moving its bar and restaurant next door.

Chester's Beers of the world moves next door.

Chester’s Beers of the world moves next door.

“We’re consolidating (Chester’s) with our establishment next door, Finger’s Bar and Grill – we’re rolling it into one,” said owner Michael Robis.

Robis said the decision was based on a drop in customers.

He said there used to be lots of working people in the core who would stop by for drinks for lunch or after work.

“Businesses change because the area changes. Right now there’s not as many people working in the area so you have less to draw from,” he said. “Now I don’t need as much space as I did.”

The restaurant and bar will remain under Chester’s name and will reopen in early March.

Robis’ father, Lou, opened Chester’s Beers of the World at 60 King Street E. on April 14, 1982. It still features a long bar and many imported beers.

Chester’s offers a variety of 250 beers, including specialty beers from Scotland, Belgium and a grapefruit beer from Austria.

“There are other brands too that people just can’t purchase or find in a local beer store because it’s imported through a private stock order,” Robis said. “People still go out and enjoy a beer at night and we offer a wide variety.”

Originally posted in Your Hamilton Biz.

Apr 29 2013
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Ancaster businesses to connect internationally with new marketing group

A new group in Ancaster will allow businesses to network internationally with like-minded organizations.

The Business Networking International (BNI) Professional Excellence Ancaster chapter will be a part of the world’s largest networking organization and is set to launch on May 9, noted President Margaret Heesters.

As a member, the chapter allows businesses to connect internationally to other members of BNI chapters.

“If I have a friend who’s moving to Saskatchewan and is looking for a realtor, my first step is to contact a BNI chapter in Saskatchewan and look for a realtor there,” said Heesters.

In Canada, there are 284 chapters and in the past year, Canadian chapters passed $149 million dollars worth of business to other members.

There was $3.3 billion dollars generated worldwide.

Heesters was formerly a member of a BNI chapter in Brantford before she decided to open up a chapter in Ancaster because she found most of her services and clients were in that area.

When the Ancaster chapter initially began in January, it had 10 members, she noted.

There are currently 25 members representing different professions, including pest control, web design, a travel agent, a chiropractor and a nutritionist.

“The interesting thing about BNI is that it’s an exclusive membership, which means there’s only one real estate agent per group, one mortgage broker per group, or one financial advisor,” she explained. “When I contact businesses that might have an interest in our networking group, I ask them two questions: are you looking to grow your business and would referrals help your business? If your answer is yes, then BNIs are great for them to join.”

Heesters expects around 125 people will be attending the event, which will introduce the group to the community.

“The more exposure we get, the more opportunity we have to invite new members into our group and to let people know that we’re in Ancaster,” she said.

Regular meetings are held every Thursday from 12 to 1:30 p.m. and is kept at 90 minutes.

There is an application process but business professionals are first invited to a meeting to see if the chapter is a good fit for their business and vice versa.

References are also checked before membership is accepted.

Tickets are $20 and deadline to register is May 3. The event will run from 11:45 a.m. to 2 p.m. at the Knollwood Golf Club (914 Book Road W.).

For more information email Heesters or contact her at 905-512-5741.

Originally posted in Your Hamilton Biz.

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Apr 26 2013
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Candle store a new spark on Ottawa Street

Of the 52 available candles at Wick’d Wax Creations, each homemade and handcrafted candle is a delicate process of mathematics and chemistry.

Wes Fletcher and his newly opened candle store.

Wes Fletcher and his newly opened candle store.

From the number of drops of oils to the slight adjustments in colouring, each candle is uniquely different.

“I use a liquid dye and essential oils in my candles, so one candle varies from another candle,” explained owner Wes Fletcher. “A grape juice candle may have an X number of drops, lets say 10 drops, while a vanilla candle may only have two drops of fragrance to work with that candle.”

Each candle also has a different wick, with some fragrances more powerful than others, and usually takes him a day to create.

“The substance of a fragrance is sometimes harder to burn so you have to figure out the math of that particular candle,” he added. “Each colour is slightly different for each candle, and ideas for scents are sometimes requested and sometimes my own.”

His goal is to eventually carry 100 fragrances in his store on Ottawa Street.

Fletcher’s interest in candle making began over a decade ago when he started working part-time for a company that made candles in a honey barn.

“I thought it was interesting and when I went to Niagara College, I decided to do my coop with them,” he said.

From there he worked from the ground up and became the manager at a candle store before branching out with a couple of friends to open his own store.

“I decided to take a hiatus but I recently got my equipment back last year and started making candles again in my living room,” said Fletcher, noting he started promoting his products at craft shows in Hamilton before opening his store.

Popular fragrances include Wine & Roses, which has the soft scent of roses and a dash of wine, as well as the China Rain, which has a soft floral base.

Another product Fletcher was inspired to create includes his Fire Starters, which consists of recycled wax and wood chips put together in a cupcake like container.

“All you have to do is nestle them inside the logs of a wood stove or campfire, which also helps eliminate the use of newspapers or kindling,” he explained.

The Fire Starters take around 20 minutes to get started and also provides a soft fragrance.

All his candles are made with a petroleum byproduct (paraffin wax), though Fletcher aims to expand the line to include soy and beeswax.

Wick’d Wax Creations will celebrate its grand opening on May 4 from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m.

Originally posted in Your Hamilton Biz.

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