Hundreds of thousands of computer users in Iowa will see pop-ups on their screens soon, as Microsoft is releasing a free version of Windows 10 this week. Thor Schrock, a computer repair store owner in Omaha/Council Bluffs, says it you reserve a copy by Wednesday, the new operating system will be delivered automatically.

“Anybody who has a Windows 7 or a Windows 8 computer might be eligible for a free, as in no cost at all, update from Windows 7 or 8 up to Windows 10,” Schrock says. “Now, your computer’s hardware will have to be compatible. Almost every computer running Windows 8 will be compatible. Most computers running Windows 7 are also compatible.”

Computers that are compatible will get a pop-up window asking them if they want to upgrade. Having seen the new O-S, Schrock says it has several impressive features. “If you’re excited to get Windows 10, you should reserve the copy because you’ll be ‘among the first,'” he says. “They’ll release this in waves. The last time this happened, between Windows 8 to 8.1, some 20% of the computers that attempted to install 8.1 automatically ended up failing, they ended up crashing.”

According to Microsoft, those not wanting to upgrade now can purchase Windows 10 upgrades later at prices that range from $120 to $200, depending on the version. Also, there are a few wrinkles in the red carpet rollout. “You won’t get a pop-up if your computer is not compatible or if any device on your computer, like an old printer, is not compatible,” Schrock says. “Another thing to be aware of, if you’re using Office 2003 or Office 2007, neither one of those are compatible with Windows 10. You’ll have to buy a new copies of Office if you upgrade.”

One of the new features of Windows 10 is a personal digital assistant, called Cortana. It aims to rival “Siri” on iPhones. “Microsoft’s voice recognition blows Siri out of the water,” Schrock says. “When you figure, they’re going to leverage Cortana on over a billion devices next month, it’s going to have the opportunity to learn so much. It’s going to be Skynet before it’s done.”

That’s a reference to the popular “Terminator” movies, where Skynet was an artificial intelligence-driven computer system which eventually took over the world and tried to wipe out all of humankind. He’s kidding. Relax.

(Radio Iowa)

Cass County Fair Board members report that a pair of chainsaw carvings were stolen sometime Sunday night or Monday morning from the fairgrounds in Atlantic.  The piglets and goat head carvings were created over the last couple of days by Doyle Chainsaw Artist and are to be auctioned off tonight (Monday) at the fair as part of a fund raising effort for the fair.

A reward is being offered for information leading to the return of the carvings. Anyone who might have any information about the theft is asked to contact the Atlantic Police Department, the Cass County Extension Office, or any Fair Board member.

MONTICELLO, Iowa (AP) – Hundreds of people volunteered to have their heads shaved this weekend in an effort to set a world record and show their support for a 5-year-old boy who lost his own hair during treatment for cancer. The boy, Austin Smith, is the son of Monticello police chief Britt Smith. KCRG-TV reports that Austin’s grandfather was the first person in line among the more than 400 people who had their heads shaved within one hour on Sunday.

Organizers say they needed at least 372 people to have their heads shaved. They will present the figures, along with videos and photos of the event to the Guinness Book of World Records.

Officials with the Iowa Department of Public Health (IDPH) today (Monday), said 10 Iowa communities have been awarded fluoride certificates by the Association of State and Territorial Dental Directors on behalf of the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) and American Dental Association (ADA). Fluoridation is the adjustment of fluoride in the water to an optimal level for preventing tooth decay.

Denison and Winterset were among the communities receiving a 50-year award for maintaining continuous community water fluoridation from 1964-2014.

Today, approximately 75 percent of Americans served by public water systems drink optimally-fluoridated water. Fluoridated water safely and inexpensively reduces tooth decay by 25 percent in children and adults. The CDC has recognized community water fluoridation as one of the ten great public health achievements of the 20th Century and recommends water fluoridation as a safe, effective, and inexpensive method of preventing tooth decay.

To see the fluoridation status of Iowa counties and towns, visit https://nccd.cdc.gov/DOH_MWF/Default/Default.aspx.