Thursday, June 17, 2010
The Obama Scholars of tomorrow
I believe, I believe, I believe there is trouble right here in river city.
Monday, June 7, 2010
Is reading this making you dumber?
“The Shallows” - Nicholas Carr
"Carr’s sighted that the internet works like a drug, it instantly gratifies someone, can be available universally. And like its narcotic counterparts. It short circuits our brain consciously and sub-consciously disabling our minds to think deeper, think creatively." (Source)
There is a satisfaction in thinking of something and looking it up immediately. But sometimes I do have trouble recalling something I read on the internet, but just because it takes less time to boil a subject on Wikipedia rather than read a Ph.D's need to write a 300 page book on a subject to justify the $25 price, I don't know that I learn anymore. Life has become a bunch of "Trivia Pursuit" facts but I don't know that it makes you dumber.
"Carr’s sighted that the internet works like a drug, it instantly gratifies someone, can be available universally. And like its narcotic counterparts. It short circuits our brain consciously and sub-consciously disabling our minds to think deeper, think creatively." (Source)
There is a satisfaction in thinking of something and looking it up immediately. But sometimes I do have trouble recalling something I read on the internet, but just because it takes less time to boil a subject on Wikipedia rather than read a Ph.D's need to write a 300 page book on a subject to justify the $25 price, I don't know that I learn anymore. Life has become a bunch of "Trivia Pursuit" facts but I don't know that it makes you dumber.
Saturday, June 5, 2010
Iowa primaries June 8th, 2010
As June 8th is in just a few days, I will jump in and give my pre-game report. Yes "game" as those involved seem to play it that way.
For Governor, we have Vander Plaats, Roberts & Branstad, although among those that will vote in Tuesday's primary the two conservatives will get more votes, I believe the former governor Terry Branstad will win. This is unfortunate as he is the "McCain" in this race but doesn't represent the current views of a majority of Republicans much less conservatives. Although Branstad may have the best chance to win in the fall he represents a continuation of the policies that got us here in the first place.
For Congress (3rd District) we have Zaun, Gibbons, Funk and Rees. I believe this is how they will end up in the vote but will Zaun get 35% I do not know. If no one gets 35% there will a runoff. The other problem any of these candidates will have is that Polk county which makes up a huge chunk of the 3rd district voting block is much more registered Democrat than the state. The last Republican to represent Polk county (Greg Ganksy) never won the county. He was able to take 49% of its votes and then take 55-60% of the vote in the other counties. Since then we have been redistricted and more Democrats live in the district now.
If any of these gentleman are going to win they will have to win a lot of independents in the fall and have to move their roderic to the center. They don't want to move to the center on what they believe, but how they say it. Last Friday I was listening to some of them talk to Steve Deace on WHO radio and they used a lot of "red meat" to describe what they wanted to do, Zaun was not on that day and may have saved himself some recorded quotes to be used against him later by Boswell.
Don't for get to vote.
Chris Mendelsohn
For Governor, we have Vander Plaats, Roberts & Branstad, although among those that will vote in Tuesday's primary the two conservatives will get more votes, I believe the former governor Terry Branstad will win. This is unfortunate as he is the "McCain" in this race but doesn't represent the current views of a majority of Republicans much less conservatives. Although Branstad may have the best chance to win in the fall he represents a continuation of the policies that got us here in the first place.
For Congress (3rd District) we have Zaun, Gibbons, Funk and Rees. I believe this is how they will end up in the vote but will Zaun get 35% I do not know. If no one gets 35% there will a runoff. The other problem any of these candidates will have is that Polk county which makes up a huge chunk of the 3rd district voting block is much more registered Democrat than the state. The last Republican to represent Polk county (Greg Ganksy) never won the county. He was able to take 49% of its votes and then take 55-60% of the vote in the other counties. Since then we have been redistricted and more Democrats live in the district now.
If any of these gentleman are going to win they will have to win a lot of independents in the fall and have to move their roderic to the center. They don't want to move to the center on what they believe, but how they say it. Last Friday I was listening to some of them talk to Steve Deace on WHO radio and they used a lot of "red meat" to describe what they wanted to do, Zaun was not on that day and may have saved himself some recorded quotes to be used against him later by Boswell.
Don't for get to vote.
Chris Mendelsohn
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