Barbara Lehtiniemi is a writer and photographer from Ontario. She’s a graduate of Athabasca University, having completed her Bachelor of General Studies degree in 2018.
A regular contributor to The Voice Magazine for over ten years, Barbara has also contributed to other publications including Chicken Soup for the Soul and Maclean’s. Barbara writes in several genres, including non-fiction, fiction, and poetry. She’s eternally grateful to The Voice Magazine for providing the opportunity to explore an array of topics and writing styles.
Barbara has a fondness for travel, used bookstores, everyday absurdities, and oversized wine glasses. Originally from urban Southwestern Ontario, she now lives on a windswept rural road in Eastern Ontario.
Ha! Caught you. Shouldn’t you be studying? And here you are, reading a magazine. “But wait,” you say, “I am actually enhancing my studies by reading The Voice Magazine. Look at all this valuable information: writing and studying tips, news on AU, and views on music, literature, life.” Okay, you win. You may be procrastinating… Read more »
For those fond of maple syrup, the simplest way to get it is to buy it. It takes only moments, but may set you back more than what you’d pay for a nice scotch. Some Canadians, however, are fortunate to live in the major maple-syrup producing areas of Ontario and Quebec. Those maple syrup lovers… Read more »
Athabasca University’s Student Union must be doing things right. The AUSU Annual General Meeting was held March 26 by teleconference. In attendance were members of student council, both outgoing and incoming (the changeover to the newly-elected council takes place next week.) In addition to the council members, all student members of AUSU were invited to… Read more »
The tech world turned a page last week with the announced launch of the speed-reading app Spritz. As this CBC article describes, the Spritz app will move e-text on the screen so that your eyes don’t have the chore of moving. Instead of average reading speeds of 200-300 words per minute, Spritz users can look… Read more »
studying online I’m gazing out the window my time is my own reading with intent a model of self control hark, did facebook ding? call centre model where is the humanity I want my tutor style, commas, quotes, rules writing solutions packed in the writer’s toolbox musings on meanings babas, borshch, Alberta sliced from where… Read more »
Is it possible to read a book in five minutes? Can you read a book backwards? Upside-down? What if everything you knew about reading turned out to be only a small part of the picture? What if you could read faster and with greater comprehension? These questions and more rattled around in my mind when… Read more »
What does the ideal home office look like? I imagine a single-purpose room, bathed in natural light and set up with ample, efficient desk space. Just the right amount of shelving and a place for everything. Can you hear the angels singing? The reality, for me and many other students, is a cramped desk area… Read more »
Still waiting for Uberistic? Uberistic, a new web-based career and networking service, “combines the business networking tools of sites such as LinkedIn with all the features of an online employment centre.” Job-hunters can promote themselves with a 60-second video, search job postings, and get real-time updates on postings and employers Uberistic’s launch, planned for January… Read more »
Writing an exam can be stressful, and getting there is not half the fun. The last thing I want to worry about on the big exam day is the drive. When I prepared to write my first AU exam, I checked AU’s invigilation network list to find the closest site. The nearest approved invigilator was… Read more »
I wasn’t around for AUSU’s last student council election in 2012, so I’ve been following the 2014 elections with great curiosity. Unlike federal or provincial government elections and their unrelentingly coverage, the AUSU election is subtle. No campaign buses, no media interviews, no all-candidates meetings, and no mudslinging. I like it! AU’s Student Union is… Read more »