Back issues of Brainstorm including techtips and linkage are now available in our online archives. Previous TechTips and Linkage are also available. Click to revisit all previous issues.

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For more information on the Salvation Army’s domestic violence programs in Seattle, please visit their web site or call Salvation Army Domestic Violence Programs Assistant Andrea Steele at (206) 442 8379.

Mayor Greg Nickels joined Mayor Diaz of Miami and other mayors at the U.S. Conference of Mayors for their first national panel on digital literacy and building a competitive workforce. Mayor Nickels pointed out that technology is what makes a city competitive around the globe. The moderator, Maria Wynne, senior director of economic development in the U.S. public sector for Microsoft pointed out that in the U.S., almost three-quarters of the jobs in the next five to seven years are going to require computer and communications skills.

Mayor Nickels emphasized this point. “You've got to have the people with these skills," he said, "regardless of what your base industries are. Even if your main industry seems to be one that's a smokestack industry.” He spoke about the city's investment in early learning as well as support for technology training programs and Internet connectivity at community centers, non-profits, senior centers and in low-income apartment buildings.

See more coverage in the Miami Herald.

The Communities Connect Network held a celebration June 11 to launch the request for proposals for the new state Community Technology Opportunity Program grants. Sen. Jeanne Kohl-Welles, who led the passage of the establishing legislation through the Senate, kicked off the event and shared her view of how important both broadband and computer literacy will be for the future of the state. Senator Kohl-Welles also thanked the many participants in Communities Connect who helped encourage legislators to pass the bill.

The legislation called for a combination of the grant program and capacity building training. Peg Giffels from NPower Seattle reviewed the outcome and evaluations and the open house trainings provided last year; she encouraged people to let her and Matthew Mitchell at WSU know what they would like to see this year. Matthew presented the guidelines for the new grant program. The deadline for the applications is July 14. See more on WSU's Community Technology Opportunity Program page.

Building renovation for the lab was made possible by 4Culture and The Stuart Foundation. Girls will have access to digital technology and after-school programming thanks in part to support from The City of Seattle Technology Matching Fund. See films made by Reel Grrls here.

Here are a few quick suggestions that you should consider if you have a wireless router setup in your home or office.

Disable SSID Broadcast: Check your router settings (your install manual should give directions on how to access your router to change settings) and see if it supports disabling the SSID Broadcast. Most of them do and by keeping this disabled you prevent casual or passive scanners from detecting your wireless network.

Use High Connection Speeds: You can usually choose between different connection speeds or protocols. Higher speeds don't broadcast as far, so there is less chance of your wireless signal being picked up from outside your home or office.

Use the Highest Level Encryption Possible: Most new wireless access points will allow you to use WPA encryption. If only WEP is available, be aware that it is easily broken.

Change the Name and Password of the Admin Account: Access Point routers come with default admin accounts. These are well known and can be found on the Internet. If someone can access your router using this account, they can change all the settings and even re-direct you to their own network without you knowing it.

Consider Placing Your Access Point Outside Your Firewall: By having your hardware firewall between your access point and your network you make it much harder for someone who connects to your wireless access point to get through to your network. If you are interested in more information on securing your wireless network, please refer to our wireless network security guidelines page.

Community Technology Opportunity Program (CTOP)
Deadline: July 14
Funds promising community technology projects that will deliver measurable and meaningful impact for low income and under-served residents of Washington state, addressing one or more aspects of digital inclusion: 1.) accessing technology; 2.) building skills; and 3.) content.

Social Justice Fund Cultural Grant
Deadline: September 8
Provides funds for grassroots social change organizations that are involved in cultural work. Definition of cultural work includes those activities that involve using culture and the arts to organize and build power among oppressed people to take collective action to address injustice and create more equitable power relations.

Adobe Action Grant
Deadline: September 30
Provides funds for: 1.) arts and cultural organizations with the mission or principal focus on the creation, promotion and exhibition of visual arts, multimedia or video; 2.) providing services to reduce hunger and homelessness and provide affordable housing; 3.) protecting the natural environment and improving public spaces for the enjoyment of the community; 4.) improving access to electronic information for people with disabilities.