24
Aug
2004
• Only 12 percent of Iowa candidates for state and federal legislative offices responded to Project Vote Smart's National Political Awareness Test this year, the lowest figure ever recorded in the initiative's history. The nonpartisan Project Vote Smart began surveying candidates on their views in 1992, and since 1996 has included all candidates for state and federal legislatures. In 2002, Iowa had the lowest response rate to the National Political Awareness Test. Anecdotal evidence suggested that the Republican and Democratic parties were discouraging candidates from completing the survey. (See "Keeping Voters in the Dark," River Cities' Reader Issue 393, September 25-October 1, 2002.) For more information on Project Vote Smart, visit (http://www.vote-smart.org) or call (888)868-3762.
• Adrian Guerra of Moline won second place in Latin Category at the recently held Billboard World Song Contest. Born in the United States and raised in Venezuela, he began to write songs on the four-stringed Cuatro, a traditional Venezuelan instrument. From there, Guerra taught himself guitar. His major musical influences include Latin rock/pop and traditional Latin American music. In addition to this year's placement in the Billboard Songwriting Contest with the song "Marchitado," Guerra was also a finalist in the 2002 John Lennon Songwriting Contest for his song "Te Quiero Desnudar," his first studio work. For more information, look at his Web site at (http://www.adrianguerra.com). You can see the results of the Billboard World Song Contest at (http://www.billboard.com/bb/songcontest/showcase03.jsp).
• In its latest study, "Comparing Tax Burdens Across the Nation," the nonpartisan, Washington, D.C.-based Tax Foundation ranked combined federal, state, and local tax burdens (taxes as a percentage of income) in each state. Illinois' total tax burden rose in the past four years from 15th highest in the nation in 2000 to 13th this year. The combined local-state-federal taxes for Illinois are 27.9 percent. Iowa, at 15.8 percent, had the 45th highest burden in 2004. You can see for yourself a (http://www.taxfoundation.org/statelocal.html).
• Zoiks!, a new Internet magazine published by local writer and humor-columnist Jason Tanamor, will hit the Web on September 1. It will feature humor columns and entertainment articles from nationally syndicated columnists such as Linda Sharp and Melvin Durai. Other contributors to the magazine include Mark McLaughlin, 2003 Stoker Award winner and author of Hell Is Where the Heart Is; Sean Leary, publisher of The Dingo; and Daniel Ravner, writer and director of the new movie The Art of Picking Up Girls, currently playing on the Independent Film Channel. The Web address for the magazine will be (http://zoiks.tanamor.com).
• Ghostlight Theatre's first subscription drive is coming to an end, and the board of directors has enlisted Quad Cities high-school and college students to help with the final push. Students are challenged to sell at least 50 subscriptions to Ghostlight's 10th Anniversary Gala Season. Those who sell more than 50 are eligible to receive a $500 cash prize, which will be given to the student who sells the most subscriptions by September 1. All students who particpate in the drive will receive a Ghostlight season ticket. A Ghostlight season subscription costs $34 for adults, a savings of $12 over the box office price. Students and senior citizens receive an additional discount and can see all four shows in the 2004-5 season for only $26. High-school or college instructors or students wanting to learn more about the student subscription sales contest should contact Melissa Coulter at (563)505-7507. More information on Ghostlight Theatre's season can be found at (http://www.ghostlighttheatre.org).
• Judicial Watch, the public-interest group that investigates and prosecutes government corruption, has filed a request with the U.S. Navy and the Defense Department for an investigation into the awards granted to Senator John Kerry during his service with the U.S. Navy in Vietnam. Judicial Watch also requested that military authorities investigate Kerry's anti-war activities, including his meeting with North Vietnamese and Viet Cong delegations in Paris, while a member of the Naval Reserve. To see a copy of the complaint, look at (http://www.judicialwatch.org/archive/2004/kerryawards.htm).
• A program focused on belief, meaning, ethics, and ideas has debuted on Augustana's public radio station, WVIK 90.3 FM. Speaking of Faith is an hour-long radio program that explores topics and perspectives of faith through conversation, sound, and music. The program debuted on WVIK in July and airs at 7 p.m. Sundays. Speaking of Faith is hosted by Krista Tippett, a journalist who holds a Master of Divinity from Yale University. For a full program listing, visit the WVIK Web site at (http://www.wvik.org).
• The National Motorist Association is a membership organization devoted to representing and protecting the rights and interests of North American motorists, including opposing red-light cameras. See for yourself at (http://www.motorists.com). There is a great deal of information about red-light cameras at (http://www.motorists.org/issues/enforce/index.html).
• The Quad City International Airport shattered its record June passenger-boarding figure of 42,112 with 44,261 passengers in July. This is the third time in 2004 that a record has been established. Enplanements for the first seven months of 2004 are up seven percent, outpacing the national average.
• Adrian Guerra of Moline won second place in Latin Category at the recently held Billboard World Song Contest. Born in the United States and raised in Venezuela, he began to write songs on the four-stringed Cuatro, a traditional Venezuelan instrument. From there, Guerra taught himself guitar. His major musical influences include Latin rock/pop and traditional Latin American music. In addition to this year's placement in the Billboard Songwriting Contest with the song "Marchitado," Guerra was also a finalist in the 2002 John Lennon Songwriting Contest for his song "Te Quiero Desnudar," his first studio work. For more information, look at his Web site at (http://www.adrianguerra.com). You can see the results of the Billboard World Song Contest at (http://www.billboard.com/bb/songcontest/showcase03.jsp).
• In its latest study, "Comparing Tax Burdens Across the Nation," the nonpartisan, Washington, D.C.-based Tax Foundation ranked combined federal, state, and local tax burdens (taxes as a percentage of income) in each state. Illinois' total tax burden rose in the past four years from 15th highest in the nation in 2000 to 13th this year. The combined local-state-federal taxes for Illinois are 27.9 percent. Iowa, at 15.8 percent, had the 45th highest burden in 2004. You can see for yourself a (http://www.taxfoundation.org/statelocal.html).
• Zoiks!, a new Internet magazine published by local writer and humor-columnist Jason Tanamor, will hit the Web on September 1. It will feature humor columns and entertainment articles from nationally syndicated columnists such as Linda Sharp and Melvin Durai. Other contributors to the magazine include Mark McLaughlin, 2003 Stoker Award winner and author of Hell Is Where the Heart Is; Sean Leary, publisher of The Dingo; and Daniel Ravner, writer and director of the new movie The Art of Picking Up Girls, currently playing on the Independent Film Channel. The Web address for the magazine will be (http://zoiks.tanamor.com).
• Ghostlight Theatre's first subscription drive is coming to an end, and the board of directors has enlisted Quad Cities high-school and college students to help with the final push. Students are challenged to sell at least 50 subscriptions to Ghostlight's 10th Anniversary Gala Season. Those who sell more than 50 are eligible to receive a $500 cash prize, which will be given to the student who sells the most subscriptions by September 1. All students who particpate in the drive will receive a Ghostlight season ticket. A Ghostlight season subscription costs $34 for adults, a savings of $12 over the box office price. Students and senior citizens receive an additional discount and can see all four shows in the 2004-5 season for only $26. High-school or college instructors or students wanting to learn more about the student subscription sales contest should contact Melissa Coulter at (563)505-7507. More information on Ghostlight Theatre's season can be found at (http://www.ghostlighttheatre.org).
• Judicial Watch, the public-interest group that investigates and prosecutes government corruption, has filed a request with the U.S. Navy and the Defense Department for an investigation into the awards granted to Senator John Kerry during his service with the U.S. Navy in Vietnam. Judicial Watch also requested that military authorities investigate Kerry's anti-war activities, including his meeting with North Vietnamese and Viet Cong delegations in Paris, while a member of the Naval Reserve. To see a copy of the complaint, look at (http://www.judicialwatch.org/archive/2004/kerryawards.htm).
• A program focused on belief, meaning, ethics, and ideas has debuted on Augustana's public radio station, WVIK 90.3 FM. Speaking of Faith is an hour-long radio program that explores topics and perspectives of faith through conversation, sound, and music. The program debuted on WVIK in July and airs at 7 p.m. Sundays. Speaking of Faith is hosted by Krista Tippett, a journalist who holds a Master of Divinity from Yale University. For a full program listing, visit the WVIK Web site at (http://www.wvik.org).
• The National Motorist Association is a membership organization devoted to representing and protecting the rights and interests of North American motorists, including opposing red-light cameras. See for yourself at (http://www.motorists.com). There is a great deal of information about red-light cameras at (http://www.motorists.org/issues/enforce/index.html).
• The Quad City International Airport shattered its record June passenger-boarding figure of 42,112 with 44,261 passengers in July. This is the third time in 2004 that a record has been established. Enplanements for the first seven months of 2004 are up seven percent, outpacing the national average.
