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October 30, 2006
Election Endorsements
If you’re an undecided voter—that bane of pollsters—organizations that evaluate candidates, or collect other groups’ evaluations, might help you make up your mind. The groups that rate may take positions, but whether a voter agrees with the group or not, it does show where the candidate stands.
Independent Voters of Illinois–Independent Precinct Organization describes itself as a “not-for-profit, multi-partisan, independent political organization” in existence since 1944. It evaluates candidates for state and county offices, special districts (such as Metropolitan Water Reclamation District), judicial vacancies, and judicial retention. Where the candidates responded to IVI–IPO’s questionnaire, their answers are included.
“Project Vote Smart collects performance evaluations from special interest groups who provide them, regardless of issue or bias.” Not all interest groups provide evaluations to Project Vote-Smart so, for issues of concern, you may want to look at a particular group’s website.
Endorsements can be especially helpful in voting to elect or retain judges, since few of us know much about them. Several bar associations rate candidates and sitting judges based on their qualifications and experience.
The Illinois Civil Justice League’s site IllinoisJudges.net lists the candidate or candidates for each office, with links to their own campaign websites, financial disclosure, biographical information, endorsements from bar associations, and their responses (if they did respond) to ICJL’s questionnaire. ICJL is “a coalition of Illinois citizens, small and large businesses, associations, professional societies, not-for-profit organizations and local governments that have joined together to work for fairness in the Illinois civil justice system.”
Posted by hinsdalereference at 2:39 PM
October 25, 2006
Voting Records
Negative campaign ads scream that the opposing candidate voted against God, motherhood, and apple pie. Checking voting records can reveal the context of particular votes and a pattern that indicates where the candidate really stands.
washingtonpost.com maintains a U.S. Congress Votes Database that contains every vote in the United States Congress since the 102nd Congress (1991).
C-SPAN’s Votes Library goes back to the 104th Congress, Second Session (1996).
Project Vote Smart provides access to records of state legislators as well as federal for key votes. The site also has other information about candidates, including statements of their positions on issues and ratings by interest groups.
The Congressional Record transcribes floor action and is the ultimate source of roll call votes in Congress. THOMAS, the Library of Congress’s legislative site, explains how to search it on the web in Compiling a Member Voting Record.
Project Vote-Smart compiles key votes by state, searchable by issue, bill number, or keyword. You can also reach legislators' voting records from their own page at Project Vote-Smart. Also try groups interested in particular issues.
Finding state legislators’ complete voting records involves more work. The Illinois counterparts to the Congressional Record are the House and Senate journals, available at the Illinois General Assembly's web site. Each chamber’s journal records the actions taken on the House or Senate floor each legislative day. Transcripts of the proceedings are also available there but must be searched by legislative day. Legislators' votes on specific bills can be tracked through their pages at the Illinois General Assembly's web site.
Posted by hinsdalereference at 7:58 PM
October 23, 2006
No-Swipe Credit Cards -- Privacy and Security Risks Cited in Research
As reported in the New York Times (10/23/06), the findings of a team of University of Massachusetts computer scientists reveal the holes the security and privacy programs of major credit cards. The popular “smart cards”, like Mobil’s Speed Pass, use RFID to read information without having to remove the card from a wallet or pocket. Marketing claims of safety encryption via of personal data were dashed by the researchers’ inexpensive ($150) card reader.
Posted by hinsdalereference at 3:56 PM
October 11, 2006
Grace Period for Voter Registration October 11 – October 24, 2006
DuPage citizens who wish to vote in the November 2006 election, but failed to register may take advantage of the Grace Period. Grace Period registration can only be completed at the DuPage County Election Committee office, 421 N. County Farm Road, Wheaton, IL.
Residents of the Cook County portion of Hinsdale, may also take advantage of the Grace Period and register at the Cook County Clerk’s office, 69 W. Washington, Room 500, Chicago, IL.
Posted by hinsdalereference at 3:14 PM
October 6, 2006
Wireless Internet off the Superhighway
The Information Superhighway meets the Federal Superhighway as many local toll plaza oases now offer free Wi-Fi.
Remember to be careful when using free Wi-Fi connections, software security experts recently reported the glut of unauthorized broadband connections at O’Hare leading for fraud.
Posted by hinsdalereference at 5:54 PM
October 2, 2006
October 11, 2006 Genealogy Drop-In Session Cancelled
Genealogist Joan Hemzacek has had to cancel the October 11 drop-in session. The next Genealogy Session will be Tuesday, October 24, 2006.
Sessions are held in the Reference Room from 1:00 to 3:00 p.m. There is no charge, and registration is not required. Bring the projects you are working on
Posted by hinsdalereference at 3:50 PM