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Good Wednesday morning to you!
 

If you have not yet heard of Nextdoor social media service, you soon will. It is promoted as your friendly neighborhood news service, and it can be, but there is more to its story.

Nextdoor is now another Big Tech company that is continuing to grow rapidly by collecting massive amounts of information from its users through data mining, including full names and home addresses. Nextdoor says posts made to its website are available only to other Nextdoor members living in the same neighborhood. But your data? Well, that is apparently up for grabs.

If you are a social media junkie, there isn’t anything I am going to write — or anything you are going to hear from someone else — that is going to change your mind until the practices of Big Tech companies negatively affect you or your pocketbook. That day may be coming sooner than you think. Meanwhile, there are a few things you should know.

Nextdoor was founded in 2008 by Nirav Tolia, Sarah Leary, Prakash Janakiraman and David Wiesen. Early investors included Benchmark Capital, Shasta Ventures and Rich Barton. It is now available in more than 275,000 neighborhoods in 11 countries and is valued at $2.1 billion.

Nextdoor has been criticized for being fear-based, reaffirming class and racial biases, and spreading conspiracy theories. Yes, this sounds like most any other social media outlet, but what makes Nextdoor unique is also what makes it the most dangerous. On Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, Snapchat and other platforms, usernames and profiles are created with members often “fudging” on names, ages, education levels, marital status and more. Not on Nextdoor. Here you must provide your real name and your real home address, which sounds reasonable until other users show up at your front door based on what you posted. All those keywords you use in your posts can now also tie directly to your real name and real address, which are gold to those who prosper by selling your data. This makes a hacker’s job easier, too, and they don’t need help.

Of course, Nextdoor says it has your privacy as a top priority — as long as it doesn’t conflict with raising the company’s value. To be fair, Nextdoor has helped many people with specific needs. But the question remains: Is it worth having your personal data compromised to be able to seek out advice and meet people through this platform? The answer ties directly to your risk tolerance, your trust of Big Tech, and whether or not you have had to deal with personal data theft before. As always, you should do your own research, and you can start here with Nextdoor’s recently updated, 24-page, 7,576-word privacy policy: https://legal.nextdoor.com/us-privacy-policy-2021

Have a wonderful Wednesday, and thanks for reading.

Shane Goodman

President and Publisher
Big Green Umbrella Media
shane@dmcityview.com
515-953-4822, ext. 305
 

Your Clear Mortgage forecast from Jason Parkin

A chance of storms reenters the forecast later today, along with chances again late Thursday into early Friday. Temps stay hot today and tomorrow before cooling a bit into the weekend. A very slim rain chance next Tuesday.

For help with preapprovals or refinancing, get in touch with Jason at parkin.mortgage

 
Featured Event
Things To Do
 
Wednesday, Aug. 11
⇛Zoo Brew - Fins and Fermentation, Jordan Sellergren
At: Blank Park Zoo, 7401 S.W. Ninth St., Des Moines
Info: Wednesdays through August. The zoo’s biggest fundraiser is more important than ever after the nonprofit lost significant revenue due to the pandemic. The zoo depends on operations to care for the animals at a cost of approximately $19,000 per day. At this time, there is an urgent need. Zoo Brew starts weekly at 5:30 p.m. www.blankparkzoo.com/donate
 
Featured Home For Sale
 
700 Oak Park Avenue
Des Moines, IA 50313
$115,000
 
This is an affordable 2 bedroom with lots of living space and room to grow into. Great area of Des Moines North side with beautiful McHenry Park just down the street. Super convenient and close to shopping, and access to downtown/interstate couldn't be simpler. Upstairs attic area has tons of storage and charm with an unfinished area with access to plumbing for a future bath....
 
Find Out More!
 
Traffic 
 

Here are today's mobile radar locations for the Des Moines Police Department. Please drive safely!

3700 block Hubbell Avenue
1600 block Hull Avenue
900 block Euclid Avenue

Euclid Avenue from 30th Street to Douglas Avenue will be closed between 8:00 a.m. and 5:00 p.m. today.

Lanes of the Martin Luther King Jr Parkway Bridge over the Raccoon River will be reduced through Wednesday, Sept. 8.

 
A.M. Headlines

FROM KCCI: Iowa DOT to add ramp meters on I-235

DES MOINES, Iowa — A change in traffic flow could be coming to I-235 to make entering and exiting the highway safer. The Iowa Department of Transportation plans to add ramp meters at fourteen different locations starting westbound from 2nd Avenue to 63rd Street and eastbound from 50th Street in West Des Moines to 63rd Street. ... READ MORE FROM KCCI

FROM WHO-TV 13: Iowa State is No. 8 in preseason coaches poll, Iowa at No. 18

(KCAU) — The college football season is just around the corner and a preseason poll has Iowa State and Iowa in its top 25. The USA Today/American Football Coaches Association coaches poll, which was released Tuesday, puts Iowa State in the eight spot, which is the school’s highest preseason ranking in the poll since USA Today started administering it in 1991. The Iowa Hawkeyes have been placed in the 18 spot.  READ MORE FROM WHO-TV

FROM WOI-DT Local 5: What is the future of severe weather forecasting? Iowa's devastating derecho, 1 year later

DES MOINES, Iowa — How could the costliest thunderstorm in United States history be so poorly forecast? Yes, meteorologists mentioned the possibility of severe weather on Aug. 10 last year, but the message to the public wasn't all that different from any other severe weather day in Iowa.... READ MORE FROM WOI-DT Local 5

 
The Score
 
IOWA CUBS: The Iowa Cubs (36-47) cruised to a 10-2 victory over the Omaha Storm Chasers (47-36), Tuesday at Werner Park. READ MORE ...
 
MLB: Brewers 4 Cubs 2, Brewers 6 Cubs 3,  Cardinals 4 Pirates 1,  Twins 4 White Sox 3, Royals 8 Yankees 4 ...READ MORE
 
 
CITYVIEW's Best Of Des Moines 2021
 

Nearly 14,000 votes were cast in the 2021 CITYVIEW Best Of Des Moines readers' poll.

Best Local Phone Repair Shop
1. Mobile Spot
2. CPR - Cell Phone Repair
3. uBreakiFix

[...]

 
Read more
 
Personalities
 

Shelby and Colton Cowgill and their four dogs compete in K9 Frisbee Toss & Fetch.

By Jacki Wilson

As Shelby Cowgill and her dog, Abbie, stand out in the dew-filled practice field, Abbie gazes intently at the object in her owner’s hand. Suddenly, Shelby pops her wrist, throwing a Frisbee out in the field as Abbie races toward the flying toy. Catching it in her mouth, she runs furiously back to Shelby and drops the Frisbee, anxiously awaiting the next throw. Shelby tosses again; the return nets four points in round one.

Shelby’s husband, Colton, joins in the next round, tossing a Frisbee to their German Shepard, Blue. The competition is fierce but friendly, as it’s just another morning spent playing in the K9 Frisbee Toss & Fetch league.

[...]

 
Read more
 
Jobs

FEATURED JOB POSTING:

Special Education Teacher Associate
The Johnston Community School District is seeking individuals who want to make a difference in the lives of students as a Special Education Teacher Associate. There are full-time (over 30 hours per weeks) and part-time positions (under 30 hours per week) available. Starting rate of pay is $16.96 to $17.65 per hour. Full-time employees are eligible to receive medical and dental insurance. All full-time and part-time positions are eligible for the Iowa Public Employees Retirement System (IPERS).
Please apply online at: https://www.applitrack.com/johnston/onlineapp/default.aspx?Category=Support+Staff
General job functions include:
· Assists in the supervision of students in the classroom and other areas of the school facility.
· Assists staff in preparation of materials.
· Works with group or individual students in the daily routine of the classroom under the teacher’s direction.
· Keeps teacher/administrator informed of all relevant student-related matters.
· Maintains working knowledge and use of available technology.
· Duties and responsibilities as requested by supervisor may vary from time to time.

Place your help wanted ad in the list below for FREE! Email to pat@dmcityview.com. And ask us about upgrading your FREE ad with a display ad in any of our publications.

APPLIANCE TECHNICIANS, HVAC TECHNICIANS/APPLIANCE DELIVERY AND INSTALLATION

DELIVERY DRIVER ...

HOUSEKEEPER ...

LPN ...

CARPENTER ...

LANDSCAPING HELP ...

RESTAURANT MULTIPLE POSITIONS ...

SALES TEAM MEMBER ...

CONSTRUCTION CREWMEN...

MAINTENANCE HELP ...

& MANY MORE!

 
Snapshots

"Our granddaughter eating tomatoes as we were picking sweet corn!!"  Photo by im Freml

Want to see your photo included in the Daily Umbrella? Send your Snapshots to tammy@iowalivingmagazines.com, and maybe it will be chosen!

 
 
Digital Editions
 
Johnston Living weekly newsletters are published each week in print and online. Printed versions can be found at dozens of community locations, and the digital edition can be subscribed to via email. Learn more at www.iowalivingweekly.com. View a sample digital edition from this week here. 
 
 
Birthdays and Notables!
 

Happy Birthday to these celebrities: Casey Affleck, Pete Sampras, Peter Krause, Erwin Schrödinger, Hannah Quinlivan, Maggie Lawson, Rebecca Gayheart, George Hamilton, Imani Hakim, Leah Pipes, Miss Cleo, Jessica Ginkel 

SUBMIT: Want to wish someone a Happy Birthday or a Congratulations on their big day? Email tammy@iowalivingmagazines.com

 
Poll of the Week

Do you know how to swim?

Yes
No

 

Results of last week's poll:

Are you watching the Olympics?

Yes - 55%
No - 45%

 
Morning Chuckle
 
YESTERDAY'S RIDDLE:
Why are basketball players afraid of going on summer vacation?
THEY DON'T WANT TO BE CAUGHT TRAVELING! Evan Del Carmen, Lori Bluml, Georgia Bonsness and Gloria Batts got it right out of the gate! Thanks for sending in guesses Gail Tomlinson and William Snyder for an earlier riddle.
 
TODAY'S RIDDLE 
What do you call a muddy chicken that crosses the road and crosses back again?
 
Have a guess? Email tammy@iowalivingmagazines.com 
 

P.S. As a free newsletter, we rely on readers like you to grow our subscriber list. If you have a friend or coworker who you think would enjoy waking up to The Daily Umbrella each weekday morning, please share our newsletter sign up page with them! Visit www.thedailyumbrella.com and click on the SUBSCRIBE link on the upper right-hand side!

 

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Johnston, Iowa 50131

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