Brad Rourke

Brad Rourke’s Blog

  • Many Agencies Miss Obama's Deadline For Openness

    According to Doug Ward’s excellent OpenGovBlog, the first deadline under President Obama’s “Open Government Directive” has come and gone with 26 agencies failing to meet the Directive’s requirements. Here’s what Obama is requiring: “Within 45 days, each agency shall identify and publish online in an open format at least three high-value data sets and register…

  • State Of The Union: In Name Only

    My latest article on my blog at the Washington Times Communities, Public Square Today, is now live: State Of The Union: In Name Only Tonight, Barack Obama delivers his very first State Of The Union message to Congress. As is the custom with newly-inaugurated presidents, President Obama did speak to Congress last year, but that is…

  • Donate Services To A Candidate?

    My latest article on my blog at the Washington Times Communities, Public Square Today, is now live: Donate Services To A Candidate? A good friend asks: In your experience, are most services used by local candidates donated? A candidate for the . . . State House, whose staffer attended my recent social networking class, asked me…

  • Cooking With Brad: Farfalle With Chicken In Dijon Cream Sauce

    Here’s a dish that sounds like it might be complicated but is really, really easy to make. Lots of times I will want to make a cream sauce for pasta, but I get sort of tired of the usual. This has a slight tang to it and it’s tasty. Here’s what you need: 1lb Farfalle…

  • Universal Probes For Small Groups

    Public leaders often have to lead small group discussions. Here is something that might help. A lot of my work involves leading conversations. Sometimes that is because I am researching how people perceive an issue. Other times I am leading a session designed to convey content — how to use social media, ethical campaigning, public…

  • Facebook's Stream Moves Closer To The Inbox

    If you are a Facebook user, you may have noticed a recent, quiet change. When someone comments on one of your posts, links, or other content, you get an email, as you always have if you keep the default settings. Only now, you can reply to the comment simply by replying to the email. This…

  • Cooking With Brad: 'Who Needs Pancake Mix?' Pancake Recipe

    It’s Saturday morning, 8:30. You’ve gone out to get the car washed and your hair cut. But it’s still too early to mow the lawn. And the family is waking up hungry. What do you do? Pancakes, that’s what! Believe me, this takes about as much time as making toast, and is a lot more…

  • Running In Five Fingers Shoes – Some Tips

    A few months ago, I bought a pair of Vibram Five Fingers shoes and blogged about my thoughts. At that time, I was just using them for general wear, and for the gym. But I am an avid runner, and had not yet tried them out on the road. Well, I did try them once…

  • 20 Jobs Of The Future

    Here are twenty jobs we may be doing in the future, according to a new report. “Body-part maker,” anyone?