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Hi Yo - The Subtle Landscape

on Fri, 01/08/2010 - 00:09   by Anonymous

January 7, 2010 by bgierke

Make sure your sound is on and press this:


Redi-mix plant permit draws ire of neighbors

on Wed, 12/23/2009 - 23:31   by Editor

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.

'The big WOW'

on Wed, 12/23/2009 - 01:38   by Anonymous

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.

Lee Enterprises cuts retiree health benefits amid continuing revenue decline

on Thu, 12/17/2009 - 21:11   by Editor

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.

Snow

on Thu, 12/17/2009 - 21:09   by Editor

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.

Revisiting advice of economist Peter Drucker

on Sat, 12/05/2009 - 03:08   by Anonymous

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."

Blackhawk Foundry lead clean-up to be completed

on Wed, 12/02/2009 - 03:11   by Editor

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.

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