05 Nov 2008

Is Growth Good? Yes. It Makes Us Happier, Healthier, and Nicer

By Jeff Ignatius

Reader issue #709 It might seem like asking why the sun rises in the east, but: Is economic growth good?

The knee-jerk response is: Of course it is. And that's almost certainly correct broadly speaking.

But it's worth exploring why it's true, and when it's not. The assumption that economic growth is both good and essential drives much of our policy at the local, state, and national level. The news last week that the national economy shrank in the third quarter - confirming for many people that we're in a recession - underscores the importance we place on economic growth.

05 Nov 2008

Davenport Hosts Promise Forums

By Joe Collins

The City of Davenport is hosting three public forums for the community to learn more about the work of the Promise Task Force and its recommendations to the city. The Davenport Promise program would provide college tuition, vocational training, or a post-military-service homestead grant to Davenport residents after high school. The forums are scheduled for 6 p.m. on Wednesday, November 5, in the Genesis East Adler Educational Center (inside the Heart Institute Building); 6 p.m. on Thursday, November 6, at the Davenport downtown library; and 10 a.m. on Saturday, November 8, at Central High School in Davenport. For more information, visit DavenportSchools.org and click on "Davenport Promise."

 

29 Oct 2008

River Action Announces On-line Retain the Rain Calculator

By Joe Collins

River Action has launched an interactive Retain the Rain online calculator that helps people find out how to control stormwater runoff from a home or business. They can also calculate the amount of water runoff saved by implementing Retain the Rain projects such as rain gardens, native plantings, prairie restorations, runnels, porous paving, bioswales, and green roofs. To get started, visit RiverAction.org.

 

22 Oct 2008

Rock Island Adds Update to Council Meetings

By Joe Collins

Rock Island Mayor Mark Schwiebert has incorporated a new feature into city-council meetings. Called Update Rock Island, the mayor will spend five minutes at the beginning of council meetings to publicize community news. Items could include new programs and initiatives in the city, awards, new businesses and expansions, and community events. A video will be available Tuesdays following council meetings on the city's Web site (RIGov.org) and public-access cable channel 9. A written summary will be available on the Web site and sent to local media. To receive the information via e-mail, sign up at RIGov.org/enews.html.

 

15 Oct 2008

Alive, Kicking, and Delivering Just Desserts: Author Rick Moody, October 23 at Augustana College

By Nicholas Depew

Reader issue #706 In April, Rick Moody fulfilled a fantasy that many artists surely have: He delivered a pie to the face of one of his critics.

14 Oct 2008

Author Canfield Offers "Success Principles" at St. Ambrose

By Nicholas Depew

Based on his latest book The Success Principles: How to Get From Where You Are to Where You Want to Be, Jack Canfield will present strategies on determining goals, developing necessary tools, shifting attitudes, and mastering key disciplines to use entrepreneurial time effectively. Canfield is the co-creator of the Chicken Soup for the Soul book series. "Success Principles" is sponsored by the St. Ambrose University College of Business Student Advisory Council. Upper-level general seating for the October 28 event at St. Ambrose's Galvin Fine Arts Center is $50, and lower-level preferred seating is $75. Tickets may be purchased by calling the Galvin box office at (563) 333-6251. More information can be found at SAU.edu/news/fall08/Canfieldpresentation.php or JackCanfield.com.

 

08 Oct 2008

What's on Tap?: A Consumer's Guide to Quad Cities Water

By Jeff Ignatius

There are plenty of people who drink tap water without thinking about what might be in it. There are others who buy water filters without considering whether it's a good match for the water that's being filtered. And there are still other people who refuse to drink tap water, preferring bottled water.

A wiser strategy is to spend some time with your community's annual water-quality report, which is required to notify the public of performance compared to federal and state standards.

08 Oct 2008

Credit Island Park Reopens

By Joe Collins

Credit Island Park reopened on Saturday, October 4. The park has been closed most of the season due to flooding. The golf course will remain closed until spring 2009. Traffic limitations are posted, and the lodge is closed until further renovations can be completed. Two park restrooms are open until the arrival of freezing weather, and two playgrounds are renovated and open. Three park shelters may be used but will not be available for rental until next season.

 

01 Oct 2008

The Impact of Having No Impact: Colin Beavan, at the Quad City Earth Charter Summit

By Jeff Ignatius

Reader issue #704 Colin Beavan's thought was hardly unusual. Most of us have wondered whether all our accumulated belongings and technology make our lives better.

"We're consuming way too much stuff as a civilization," Beavan said. "And we have an idea that's because we need all these things. When people tend to talk about living environmentally, they tend to think of depriving ourselves. The question became in our year: Would we be less happy or more happy? Would we actually find that there were some greater satisfactions than consuming resources to be had? And if that was the case - which it was in our case - might it be possible for our culture to design itself in such a way so that it uses fewer resources but also gives us happier lives?"

01 Oct 2008

"More Options Than We Need to Get Steep Cuts in Our Emissions"

By Jeff Ignatius

Consider these quotes from two climate scientists:

"In our models, it's difficult to understand how a 1-degree Fahrenheit warmer sea can spawn the ... rather significant increase that we've seen in Category 4 and 5 hurricanes. Therefore, we can't put it all together. ... But the notion that a warmer Earth could cause more hurricanes, certainly that would be predicted by the climate scientists."

"Yet how can a barely discernible, 1-degree increase in the recorded global mean temperature since the late 19th Century possibly gain public acceptance as the source of recent weather catastrophes? And how can it translate into unlikely claims about future catastrophes?"

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