December 23 by editor

A request to obtain a permanent special use permit for a concrete redi-mix plant along Highway 67 in Bettendorf is drawing objections from neighbors along Valley Drive and the city's only "gated community" which overlooks the property.

The issue before the city's Board of Adjustment also pits the city's planning staff (which recommended approval) opposite the city's former planning head Mark Brockway who owns property across the highway from the site and who helped craft the city's comprehensive plan targeting the property for less intense industrial use.

The board delayed a vote on the special use permit in November, and put off a vote again in December until a full board (5 members) are present. The next board meeting is January 14.

December 22 by bgierke

Ok kids, if you’ve been paying attention, you realize that I (and others) think there’s more going on in one’s mind than can be described by any process identified thus far. That I (and others) disagree with many scientists and probably most neurobiologists who believe that consciousness will one day be understood as a biological process, albeit one quite complex.

I once read a complicated book, 'The Emperor’s New Mind' by British polymath Roger Penrose. He’s a respected scientist who thinks like I do. I guess I should say he thinks like I would if I had an IQ of 220 or so and didn’t have to use a calculator to do simple math. Simply put, he believes that consciousness is the result of quantum processes which occur in structures far smaller than atoms (Planck scale) called microtubules in the brain.

December 17, 2009 by editor

While touting a slowing in the decline of its operating revenue, Lee Enterprises (owner of the Quad City Times) announced this week it was cutting health care benefits for many of its retirees.

The changes to its health coverage/benefits is expected to reduce the corporation's liability by up to $30 million, according to the company's annual report filed with the U.S. Security and Exchange Commission (SEC). The move triggered protests by union members outside the offices of Lee's St. Louis Post-Dispatch.

In its filing with the SEC, Lee said it was eliminating the medical coverage for some retirees and increasing the share other retired employees would be responsible for paying for health coverage.

December 17 by bgierke

I remember hearing years ago in school something to the effect that Eskimos have more than a hundred different names for snow. Recent investigation of that thought took me to a ponderous discussion of linguistic relativism. Whatever the number, it seems obvious to me that a people living in an environment so dominated by a substance would develop a very nuanced relationship with it.

Consider recreational users of backcountry in winter. Skiers, hikers, climbers etc. With experience, they’ll develop acute sensitivity to the nature of the snow through which they tramp, slide, andor ascend and not only because it governs the nature of their progress. The evolution of a particular season’s snowpack determines its proclivity to avalanche.

• Neve is granular snow on the upper part of a glacier.
• Sastrugi is snow sculpted and packed by wind erosion.
• Graupel is that type of snow that looks like little Styrofoam balls.
• Hoar is frozen dew.

The Subtle Landscape by bgierke, December 4, 2009

'There is nothing so useless as doing efficiently that which should not be done at all.'*

At least two august publications, the Economist and Harvard Business Review, chose to prominently mark the centennial celebration November 19 of the birth of Peter Drucker.

HBR asks on its November cover, ”What Would Peter Do? How his wisdom can help you navigate turbulent times.” The Economist says that “Four years after his death Peter Drucker remains the foremost management guru."

Posted December 1, 2009

Even though Blackhawk Foundry and Machine in Davenport has been sold and will cease operation sometime after January 1, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) says it will see that clean up of lead contamination at the plant site is completed.

The foundry agreed in August to remove lead contamination found on the site, but announced November 17 it was selling the business to Citation Corp., a Michigan firm which designs and manufactures metal products.

Blackhawk President James Grafton blamed the sale and upcoming shutdown on the poor economy. The company laid off nearly 100 employees earlier this year and said it currently employs 127 people.

A spokesman for the U.S. EPA Region 7 office in Kansas City said Blackhawk has submitted the required Corrective Measurers Implementation (CMI) work plan in accordance with its August agreement.

November 23, 2009 by bgierke

Last weekend wife and I traveled north to visit a friend with whom I had crossed paths but once in the 35 years since college. Make that twice – as I told his wife, last time I’d seen her she was all wrapped in white.

Our college years were quite the mix of intellectual rigor and ribaldry. Malheureusement, I’ve forgotten everything I learned, but can still be gross and disgusting with little trouble. For example (and the only one I’ll provide) I’m still a urinary artiste.

He met his wife when she was three days old. I had to wait till kindergarten to find mine. We exchanged that info after regaling each other with memories and new developments. We agreed that it was an incredible stroke of something that we ever got a second date with any female, let alone a life long commitment from a girl with the advantage of a long view.

November 20, 2009 by ggackle

The river grain terminal which Davenport has long sought to remove from its city owned riverfront appears headed for relocation in downtown Bettendorf, two blocks from the city's new downtown civic center.

River/Gulf Grain Company has requested a permit from the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers seeking approval for establishing the river barge terminal at the foot of Bettendorf's 23rd Street. The city's new QC Waterfront Center is located south of State Street at 21st Street.

The terminal also would be just upstream from the Isle of Capri Hotel and Casino and its marina. The Goldstein family owns River/Gulf Grain as well as the riverfront property proposed for the grain terminal.

The corps issued the public notice for the permit request Nov. 12 and is seeking public comment on the grain terminal now through Dec. 11.

November 19, 2009 by ggackle

With smartphone penetration reaching nearly 30 percent of U.S. adults, it isn't surprising many are planning to use the mobile devices for their holiday shopping.

According to a Deloitte study, 20 percent of mobile phone users are planning to use the device for researching prices, finding product info, getting discounts/coupons and reading reviews.

The study also found 22 percent of consumers plan to shop primarily online this year.

Another survey, this one by BIA/Kelsey found nearly 19 percent of smartphone (i.e. iPhone, Blackberry, Droid, Android) owners are using their Internet-capable devices to search for local products and services.

November 13, 2009 by bgierke

This week, courtesy of National Public Radio, I had occasion to listen to a fascinating program about stem cells on 'Speaking of Faith.' Host Krista Tippett visited the regeneration lab of Fr. Doris Tayor at the University of Minnesota.

Problem with organ transplants is rejection. Patient has to take powerful drugs for life to avoid a new heart from making an Alien-like exit. Ms. Taylor is working on a method to build a new heart out of one’s own cells.

Not yet in human trials, she starts with a heart from a rat cadaver and washes out all cells leaving an interstitial “scaffold”. Then she uses stem cells to build a new heart upon that structure. Below you can watch a video showing steps in the process culminating in a new beating heart!*