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Tuesday, July 31
Nine Iowa Counties Toss Their Touchscreens
by
Sam Garchik
on Tue 31 Jul 2007 07:00 AM CDT
Nine Iowa Counties Toss Their Touchscreens
By Jerry Depew, Iowa Voters
Nine
Iowa counties that used touchscreen voting machines as part of their
equipment in each precinct have decided to get rid of them. Their
change of heart was prompted by the legislature’s orders that all votes
must be put on paper. Counties had to add paper trail printers to their
touchscreens or replace the touchscreens. The counties opting to
replace are Benton, Black Hawk, Clinton, Davis, Floyd, Linn, Scott,
Story, and Wright. This covers some of Iowa’s biggest cities: Waterloo,
Cedar Rapids, Davenport and Ames.
If you live in one of these counties and if you appreciate this move by your auditor, send a thank you note.
Other counties have passed up this opportunity to improve their
voting equipment. Some of them, such as my county, seem to take every
opportunity to use the paperless gadgets despite the known flaws (high
failure rates, impossible recounts). Simple paper ballots have been
abandoned even in school board races and bond issues where only one
item is being voted on. It would appear to be far cheaper to use
ordinary paper and count by hand than to pay for special scanned
ballots or to pay for programming of touchscreens when the vote is
merely “YES” or “NO”.
Monday, July 30
What's our energy future worth?
by
Sam Garchik
on Mon 30 Jul 2007 07:17 AM CDT
What's our energy future worth?
By Alana Stamas, Environment Iowa
Meeting with Representative Charlie Wilson (OH), who's on the fence about renewable energy for America: $50
Printing and delivering 5,000 petition signatures to one representative: $100
20% of our energy from renewable sources by 2020: Priceless
In
the next 7 days, our representatives in Congress will vote on our
energy future. By this time next week, they'll have determined whether
we'll stay stuck in our energy past or whether we'll get 20% of our
energy from wind, solar and other renewable sources by the year 2020.
My
staff and our staff in D.C. have a lot of work to do between now and
then if we're going to make sure that our representatives choose a new
energy future. We'll be pounding the pavement on the hill, meeting with
everyone who will listen. Our federal field director, will be furiously
printing and delivering your petition signatures to show our
representatives that the public demands renewable energy. It's going to
be a round-the-clock effort.
You can help too! Your contribution
of $25 will help us knock on doors in key representatives' districts,
deliver petitions from activists across the country and bring 20% of
our energy from renewable sources to the nation by 2020. Can you help
by clicking on the link below to donate?
https://www.environmentiowa.org/action/new-energy-future/donate?id4=ES
Sincerely,
Alana Stamas
Environment Iowa Field Organizer
AlanaS@environentiowa.org
http://www.environmentiowa.org
Saturday, July 28
Updates
by
Sam Garchik
on Sat 28 Jul 2007 07:00 AM CDT
Updates
By Sam Garchik
I've been on RAGBRAI this week, and this if the final post I set in
advance. Next week, I'm off to California, so I wanted to put up a
short list of updates and changes to the blog that I've been meaning to
do for a while.
There's a new ICAN site, as well as two new blogs on the blog roll:
Mike Palecek and the Iowa House Democrats. All three are listed in the
Iowa Sites Box.
I've also added Legistorm the Tools Box. This is a great site that lets
you look up Congressional staff travel, to see how your
Congressman/woman or Senator is spending your federal dollars. And in
the National site list, I've added Netroots Maps, which is a great
service that produces maps of various things, including 2006 election
irregularities.
I hope you all have a great summer. Thanks for reading, and keep voting in the caucus poll on the top left.
Friday, July 27
Hiroshima, the pictures they didn't want us to see :
by
Sam Garchik
on Fri 27 Jul 2007 06:00 AM CDT
Hiroshima, the pictures they didn't want us to see
By Frank Cordaro
The
Atomic Bombings of Hiroshima and Nagasaki killed about 250.000 people
and became the most dreadful slaughter of civilians in modern history.
However, for many years there was a curious gap in the photographic
records.
Folks;
Below is
a reminder and invite to join us at Offutt AFB for out annual Aug 6-9
vigil. Avove is a link and attached are some readings that can help you
start thinking about why we vigil every Aug 6-9.
peace
frank cordaro
--------------------------------
Invite to Annual Aug 6 to 9 Vigil at the gates of Offutt AFB
The DM
and Omaha CW Communities invite you to join us for our annual 3 1/2 day
"shake and bake" vigil at the gates of Offutt Air Force Base, in
Bellevue, NE. home of the Strategic Nuclear (StratCom) and the US
Military Space Commands.
Come
stand, pray and do penance with us. Or come and sit, bring a blanket,
or foldeable chair, water jugs, ice chest, umbrellas for the sun and
rain and food to share. Just come for an hour or two and share your
hope for peace as we commemorate the Anniversary of the USA atomic
bombing of Hiroshima and Nagasaki, Japan on Aug 6 and 9, 1945.
Contemplate with us the work and mission of these god-awful Offutt
Commands, the challenges they pose to all life on our planet and the
demonic claim it holds on the soul and spirit of our nation.
This
year's vigil begins Monday Aug 6th at 8 a.m. the hour the USA dropped
the first atomic bomb on Hiroshima, at the Kinney gate and main
entrance of Offutt AFB. The vigil ends Thursday Aug 9th at 11 a.m., the
hour the USA dropped the second atomic bomb on Nagasaki.
The
vigil will begin at 8 a.m. each day and last until 8 p.m. (12 hours) to
Thursday Aug 9th. On Aug 9th the vigil concludes with a prayer circle
and possible line crossing at 11 a.m.
Over
night hospitality is available at Holy Family Parish in Omaha (1715
Izard St) starting Sunday evening Aug 5th. The church only offers floor
space. Bring your own bed roll and pillow. If you need a bed, you
really need to contact us before hand to insure we find one for you.
Everyone is welcome, especially those in the Omaha area! Come for an hour or for the whole three days.
Contacts:
Frank Cordaro, DMCW,
Cell Ph (515) 490 2490 , E-mail frank.cordaro@gmail.com
Jerry Ebner, Omaha CW,
Ph (402) 502 5887, E-mail omahacw@hotmail.com
Thursday, July 26
Rock for Peace on July 28
by
Sam Garchik
on Thu 26 Jul 2007 07:00 PM CDT
Rock For Peace
By Frank Cordaro
On July 28th, the Rock for Peace Concert will be at the House of Bricks (E.6th and Grand). The concert will run from 5pm to midnight.
Local comedian, Doug Stone will emcee.
The concert will feature local rock bands: Obsidian's Dream, Dharma Bums, Steve Robinson & the Foundation, Stanwood Charlie, and Chaotic Rest.
This event is a fundraiser for the second annual Des Moines Peace Fair which will be held on September 22nd at the Court Ave. Bridge.
For more information call 727-4370 or visit www.thehouseofbricks.com
Wednesday, July 25
Self Defense Class To Begin in Iowa City
by
Sam Garchik
on Wed 25 Jul 2007 09:00 AM CDT
Self Defense Class To Begin in Iowa City
By Karen Kubby
The Johnson County Coalition of People with Disabilities is trying to
raise money to fund a self-defense class for 7-10 people.
Students meet twice a week for a year. The cost is $45 per month
per person, for a total of $3,780. I am trying to help the
Coalition raise a portion of these funds. Students will also be
contributing to their class fees. The instructor is Robert Woods
and he is reducing his monthly fee. The Parks and Recreation
Department of the City of Iowa City is donating the space.
The class is open to the public with disabilities on Tuesdays and
Thursdays from 6:30-7:30pm at the Robert A. Lee Recreation Center in
the Gymnastics Room. In the beginning people associated with the
Johnson County Coalition for Disabilities, Uptown Bill's, and The Evert
Conner Center for Independent Living participated.
Thanks for your consideration of this request.
Karen
Tuesday, July 24
AFSC's Peace and Justice Program
by
Sam Garchik
on Tue 24 Jul 2007 08:00 AM CDT
AFSC's Peace and Justice Program
By John Tuzcu, AFSC
Check out AFSC's new peace and justice calendar for Central Iowa. To receive notice of upcoming events, subscribe today!
Join us on Monday, August 6 at 7:30 p.m. for the 62nd observance of the Hiroshima and Nagasaki bombings.
The Iowa Program currently focuses on --
Immigrant Rights: Our focus is on advancing the human, economic and civil rights of immigrants. AFSC's immigration consultant helps hundreds of immigrants each year fill out their immigration paperwork. Click here for a list of immigration lawyers and non-profit agencies in Iowa and Nebraska.
Peace Building:
John Tuzcu will be heading up AFSC's Cost of War project this summer by taking our display to county fairs, town squares, markets, public events and wherever else we can get it around the state of Iowa. The visibility of this project deeply depends upon our allies and partners across the state.
The display includes five poles with two 10-foot-long banners on each that exhibit the cost of a single day of the Iraq War and how the money used for guns and bombs could cover some of our basic necessities here at home if we were to choose life and pull out of Iraq TODAY:
ONE DAY OF THE IRAQ WAR = $720 Million
= 163,525 People with Healthcare
= 84 New Elementary Schools
= 6,482 Families with Homes
= 1,153,846 Children with Free School Lunch
= 12,478 Elementary School Teachers
= 423,529 Children with Healthcare
= 34,904 Four-year Scholarships for Students
= 1,274,336 Homes with Renewable Electricity
= 95,364 Head Start Places for Children
We're looking for allies around the state to help us identify locations and events where we might present this display. If your group is interested in organizing a peace event in your town and would be interested in using the banners, please contact me to make arrangments. Send thoughts, suggestions and plans on how to get this exhibit into your town so all Iowans will realize that not only does the war rage on in Iraq but that another war is ravaging us here at home.
Best,John Tuzcu
office: 515.274.4851, ext. 14
cell: 216.533.9925
Monday, July 23
The Word in Washingon: Chemical Security
by
Sam Garchik
on Mon 23 Jul 2007 09:00 AM CDT
The Word in Washingon: Chemical Security
By Meshawn Ayala
I just got an email from Alex, our toxics advocate in DC, and it seems
that progress is being made on the comprehensive chemical security bill
we've all been pushing for. According to Alex we need your help; here's
what he wrote:
-- original message
To: Meshawn Ayala
From: Alex Fidis
Subject: The word in Washington
On Tuesday July 24th, the House Homeland Security Committee will hold a
hearing on chemical plant security. This hearing is a step in the right
direction and we understand that a chemical security bill may soon be
introduced. In fact the bill has already been written but
unfortunately is held up in process.
Can you get in touch with all your members today and ask them to help
so that we can tip the balance and ensure this bill gets introduced
before August.
Thanks, Alex
-- end of message
Join
Alex and I and urge Representative Thompson to make our communities
safer. If you have already taken this action please get your friends
and family to help out by forwarding them this email.
To take action, click on the link below:
Sincerely,
Meshawn Ayala
Iowa PIRG Citizen Outreach Director
MeshawnA@iowapirg.org
http://www.IowaPIRG.org
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