Brad Rourke

Brad Rourke’s Blog

  • Taxonomy of Project Managers

    Like many of my friends, I am a “consultant,” which means I work on “projects” for “clients.” Those clients are typically organizations. My point of contact is usually a “project manager.” I’ve encountered six kinds: Dishrags — Totally passive. See their role as “passing on feedback.” Can’t take a stand and don’t control process. Random…

  • Expensive Money

    This essay originally appeared in Pajamas Media. As I recall, it was a Thursday and I needed to eat. While gainfully employed in a student job, my check wasn’t due for another week or two. I had nothing in my bank account. The slate clouds threatened that cool, morning drizzle northern California is known for.…

  • Taxonomy of Hotel Hangers

    I have been travelling a lot lately, and it got me to thinking about a taxonomy of hotel hangers: I recorded this at the Sofitel in Chicago.

  • Living Like Xerxes

    This essay originally apppeared in Pajamas Media. When first we lay eyes on the evil Xerxes, in the visual revolution known as 300, he is riding a monstrous platform carried by a throng of people whom (we presume) are slaves. It’s a floating throne and court all in one, massive and imposing. He wants to…

  • That Golden Ring And The Alamo Of Truth

    This column originally appeared in Pajamas Media. When forced to come clean in public life, we often pretty up our deceits in flowery language and clever rhetoric, admitting that we may not have been “accurate” or might not have been “forthcoming.” We admit to a “misjudgment” or regret that we may have created the “appearance…

  • Taxonomy of Notes

    People’s Ways of Taking Notes Spiral BoundersNotebookers (aka Moleskiners) <= Was me!Comp BookersPadders <= Me!LaptoppersScrappersNuthin’ Just my take…

  • Porn Nation

    This column originally appeared in Pajamas Media. As luck would have it, we have a late-summer camp-gap as we get ready for school to start. In our household, both my wife and I work at home. So, day-in, day-out, parents and children are spending a lot of time together. I was reading what looked like…

  • Please Don't Run

    Dear Sen. Obama: Just a few days ago, on one of many Debate Days, I saw that photograph of you and your daughter, Sasha, in the bumper cars at the Iowa State Fair. You are both so happy, sharing the simple joys of the lurch and heave and jolt. Looking at the photo, I imagine…

  • Please Don’t Run

    Dear Sen. Obama: Just a few days ago, on one of many Debate Days, I saw that photograph of you and your daughter, Sasha, in the bumper cars at the Iowa State Fair. You are both so happy, sharing the simple joys of the lurch and heave and jolt. Looking at the photo, I imagine…