http://www.baldowski.org Brian Baldowski Thu, 26 Jun 2008 21:43:45 +0000 http://backend.userland.com/rss092 en I was watching the last part of The American President, the movie starring Michael Douglas and Annette Benning.   It began to make me think about the idea of the passionate president, the man who goes out and says what he feels and lets the chips fall where they may.  We ... http://www.baldowski.org/2008/06/26/the-myth-of-the-passionate-president/ Now the news networks and papers are telling stories about the "hit-lists" Clinton supporters are creating to target people they thought were loyal or should be loyal to Hillary during her election campaign.  The lists seem to target all the women in the democratic party that didn't support her.  Was ... http://www.baldowski.org/2008/06/12/clinton-hit-lists/ 6/11/08 True Believers by Joe Queenan.  It is a look at why fans follow certain teams, even if the teams are abysmal, ie the Cubs.  It was written before the Red Sox recent streak of World Series wins so it is a little dated that way.  I let my sister ... http://www.baldowski.org/2008/06/11/121/ The  article  Is Google Making Us Stupid? suggests it is possible the Internet is changing our brains..  Think about the way people communicate and receive information.  Also, look at what the most popular videos are on the web.  Plus, there is a proliferation of TV news shows dedicated to the ... http://www.baldowski.org/2008/06/11/does-the-internet-change-our-brain/ The following article Prisons Said to Skew Jobless Rate, in the News and Observer, incensed me so much I had to take a day or two to write about it.  The article basically says that if you included prisoners and military to the number of of unemployed people it would increase ... http://www.baldowski.org/2008/06/09/prison-skew-job-reporthuh/ The article in the News and Observer about graduation rates is just one of the many articles that have been published lately showing that schools are just convenient tools for local politicians to get their name in the paper and try to increase their power.  It also shows the arrogance of ... http://www.baldowski.org/2008/06/04/children-as-political-ping-pongs/ I am puzzled over the allegations of sexism many Hillary Clinton supporters have been making the past week.  Many have said the media is responsible for the comments.  I am wondering where the are the examples?  I watch Foxnews, MSNBC and CNN fairly regularly.  I don't see any of sexism.  ... http://www.baldowski.org/2008/06/03/sexism-where-is-it/ 6/1/08 Men at Arms by Terry Pratchett.  I needed a quick read and Pratchett's books are always entertaining and insightful.  Is there a king in Ankh-Morpork?  One man thinks so.  See this reading guide to pick an order to read the books.  There is one book this does not include and that ... http://www.baldowski.org/2008/06/01/116/ 5/27/08 Hood by Stephen R Lawhead.  A retelling of the Robin Hood story, set in Wales. http://www.baldowski.org/2008/06/01/115/ If you watched the rules committee meeting yesterday dealing with delegates from Michigan and Florida I think you got an entertaining show and possibly a look at the fracturing of a party.  The only way I foresee the Democrats unifying is if either candidate drops out and urges their supporters ... http://www.baldowski.org/2008/06/01/democrats-in-michigan-and-florida/