27
Aug
2002
· Quad Cities-based river-clean-up activist Chad Pregracke is currently participating in the World Summit for Sustainable Development in Johannesburg, South Africa. The conference began August 26 and runs through September 4. Pregracke, one of fewer than 50 young people selected for the Would Summit Youth Expedition to the meeting, is founder of Living Lands & Waters and has received attention from national media outlets for his clean-up efforts. To learn more about the summit, visit (http://www.earthship.co.za).
· The federal government is working to develop "brain-monitoring devices" to try to read the minds of U.S. citizens and other airport travelers to see if they are terrorists. The National Aeronautics & Space Administration (NASA) is working on the project, according to documents obtained by the Electronic Privacy Information Center (EPIC) through the Freedom of Information Act and given to the Washington Times newspaper. (See http://www.epic.org/privacy/airtravel/foia/foia1.html.) The newspaper reports: "Space technology would be adapted to receive and analyze brain-wave and heartbeat patterns, then feed that data into computerized programs 'to detect passengers who potentially might pose a threat.' ... NASA wants to use 'noninvasive neuro-electric sensors,' imbedded in gates, to collect tiny electric signals that all brains and hearts transmit. Computers would apply statistical algorithms to correlate physiologic patterns with computerized data on travel routines, criminal background, and credit information from 'hundreds to thousands of data sources.'" You can see the Washington Times article at (http://washingtontimes.com/national/20020817-704732.htm). For more background, be sure to see EPIC's web site at (http://www.epic.org).
· Scott County residents can surf the Web to obtain forms and get information about motor-vehicle renewals, driver's license renewals, property-tax payments, and more at (http://www.scottcountyiowa.com/treasurer). And, starting September 1, residents will also be able to pay property taxes online with a credit card or electronic check.
· The Domestic Violence Shelter Program of Family Resources is the recipient of Oscar Mayer Foods Division, Kraft Foods North America 2002 contribution totaling $11,000. The donation of $7,000 for the Davenport shelter and $4,000 for the Muscatine shelter will be used to provide food and food-preparation items to the women and children living at the shelters. For more information about the Domestic Violence Shelter Program, call Family Resources at (563)322-1200.
· The voter-registration deadline for the September 10 school-board elections is Friday, August 30. Residents can register at the Scott County Auditor's Office at the Scott County Courthouse weekdays from 7:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. Mail-in registration forms are available in banks, post offices, city halls, libraries, the driver's license bureau, all state agencies, and at the auditor's office. You can also print out a form from Scott County's Web site at (http://www.scottcountyiowa.com). For more information, call (563)326-8683 or e-mail (auditor@scottcountyiowa.com).
· Senior-housing directories are available free to seniors, their families, clergy, and professionals who have questions concerning available senior housing in Scott County and Davenport. You can get your copy at the Office of Assisted Housing, 501 West Third Street in Davenport, or by calling Don Mitchem at (563)324-1651.
· The Midwest Writing Center, 1629 Second Avenue, Suite 2, in Rock Island, will open its doors from 7 to 9 p.m. on September 11 for a public forum on artistic expression since the terrorist attacks on the World Trade Center and the Pentagon one year ago. All are welcome to share and discuss works inspired by the events of that day and all the days after. Read a poem or essay, a song, a letter written to a friend, or an entry from your personal journal. If you express yourself best through painting, illustrations, or craftwork, bring it and share. The only rule is that whatever your opinion, you are free to express it. For more information, call (309)788-2711 or look on the Web site (http://www.midwestwritingcenter.org).
· The Davenport City Council has approved a letter asking the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers to move forward with a floodwall. The council also sent a letter with a draft design of the floodwall to the Corps of Engineers. If the draft is approved, the design will be sent back to the council for final approval in October. Seventy-five percent of the estimated $3 million project will be paid by the Corps. Davenport will have to come up with the rest of the money.
· Microsoft states that an attacker, through e-mail or a Web page, could use Internet-related parts of Microsoft Office to remotely run programs, alter data, and wipe out a person's hard drive, as well as view file and clipboard contents on a user's system. In addition, Microsoft reported vulnerabilities in the three latest versions of its Internet Explorer browser software that allow infiltrators to read files. Microsoft urged users to fix the glitches by downloading software patches from Microsoft's TechNet Web site at (http://www.microsoft.com/technet). The Office-related programs vulnerable to attacks include Microsoft Office 2000, Office XP, Money 2002, Money 2003, and Project 2002, as well as server software related to such client software, Microsoft said.
· The Doris & Victor Day Foundation distributed more than $827,000 during the 2002 summer grant cycle. The biggest amount was a $200,00 challenge grant to the Quad City Botanical Center for debt reduction, with other amounts varying from $600 to the Quad City Music Guild for audio described performance to $75,000 to the Supplemental Emergency Assistance Program. For more information about the foundation, call (309)788-2300 or look on the Web at (http://www.dayfoundation.org/).
· The federal government is working to develop "brain-monitoring devices" to try to read the minds of U.S. citizens and other airport travelers to see if they are terrorists. The National Aeronautics & Space Administration (NASA) is working on the project, according to documents obtained by the Electronic Privacy Information Center (EPIC) through the Freedom of Information Act and given to the Washington Times newspaper. (See http://www.epic.org/privacy/airtravel/foia/foia1.html.) The newspaper reports: "Space technology would be adapted to receive and analyze brain-wave and heartbeat patterns, then feed that data into computerized programs 'to detect passengers who potentially might pose a threat.' ... NASA wants to use 'noninvasive neuro-electric sensors,' imbedded in gates, to collect tiny electric signals that all brains and hearts transmit. Computers would apply statistical algorithms to correlate physiologic patterns with computerized data on travel routines, criminal background, and credit information from 'hundreds to thousands of data sources.'" You can see the Washington Times article at (http://washingtontimes.com/national/20020817-704732.htm). For more background, be sure to see EPIC's web site at (http://www.epic.org).
· Scott County residents can surf the Web to obtain forms and get information about motor-vehicle renewals, driver's license renewals, property-tax payments, and more at (http://www.scottcountyiowa.com/treasurer). And, starting September 1, residents will also be able to pay property taxes online with a credit card or electronic check.
· The Domestic Violence Shelter Program of Family Resources is the recipient of Oscar Mayer Foods Division, Kraft Foods North America 2002 contribution totaling $11,000. The donation of $7,000 for the Davenport shelter and $4,000 for the Muscatine shelter will be used to provide food and food-preparation items to the women and children living at the shelters. For more information about the Domestic Violence Shelter Program, call Family Resources at (563)322-1200.
· The voter-registration deadline for the September 10 school-board elections is Friday, August 30. Residents can register at the Scott County Auditor's Office at the Scott County Courthouse weekdays from 7:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. Mail-in registration forms are available in banks, post offices, city halls, libraries, the driver's license bureau, all state agencies, and at the auditor's office. You can also print out a form from Scott County's Web site at (http://www.scottcountyiowa.com). For more information, call (563)326-8683 or e-mail (auditor@scottcountyiowa.com).
· Senior-housing directories are available free to seniors, their families, clergy, and professionals who have questions concerning available senior housing in Scott County and Davenport. You can get your copy at the Office of Assisted Housing, 501 West Third Street in Davenport, or by calling Don Mitchem at (563)324-1651.
· The Midwest Writing Center, 1629 Second Avenue, Suite 2, in Rock Island, will open its doors from 7 to 9 p.m. on September 11 for a public forum on artistic expression since the terrorist attacks on the World Trade Center and the Pentagon one year ago. All are welcome to share and discuss works inspired by the events of that day and all the days after. Read a poem or essay, a song, a letter written to a friend, or an entry from your personal journal. If you express yourself best through painting, illustrations, or craftwork, bring it and share. The only rule is that whatever your opinion, you are free to express it. For more information, call (309)788-2711 or look on the Web site (http://www.midwestwritingcenter.org).
· The Davenport City Council has approved a letter asking the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers to move forward with a floodwall. The council also sent a letter with a draft design of the floodwall to the Corps of Engineers. If the draft is approved, the design will be sent back to the council for final approval in October. Seventy-five percent of the estimated $3 million project will be paid by the Corps. Davenport will have to come up with the rest of the money.
· Microsoft states that an attacker, through e-mail or a Web page, could use Internet-related parts of Microsoft Office to remotely run programs, alter data, and wipe out a person's hard drive, as well as view file and clipboard contents on a user's system. In addition, Microsoft reported vulnerabilities in the three latest versions of its Internet Explorer browser software that allow infiltrators to read files. Microsoft urged users to fix the glitches by downloading software patches from Microsoft's TechNet Web site at (http://www.microsoft.com/technet). The Office-related programs vulnerable to attacks include Microsoft Office 2000, Office XP, Money 2002, Money 2003, and Project 2002, as well as server software related to such client software, Microsoft said.
· The Doris & Victor Day Foundation distributed more than $827,000 during the 2002 summer grant cycle. The biggest amount was a $200,00 challenge grant to the Quad City Botanical Center for debt reduction, with other amounts varying from $600 to the Quad City Music Guild for audio described performance to $75,000 to the Supplemental Emergency Assistance Program. For more information about the foundation, call (309)788-2300 or look on the Web at (http://www.dayfoundation.org/).
