Brad Rourke

Brad Rourke’s Blog

  • Hack This Vote

    This article first appeared in Pajamas Media. I used to work in politics. It was unglamorous, but one thing it seemed to do in the eyes of my friends was give me the sheen of knowledge. People would call me as Election Day approached and ask me, “Who should I vote for?” My days of…

  • Hard, Ain't It Hard

    This column first appeared (with a different title) in Pajamas Media. There’s not much I do that’s actually difficult anymore. It didn’t used to be that way. When I applied to colleges, it was suggested to me that I create a number of tiers of schools: the long-shots, the probables, and the back-ups. I collected…

  • Hard, Ain’t It Hard

    This column first appeared (with a different title) in Pajamas Media. There’s not much I do that’s actually difficult anymore. It didn’t used to be that way. When I applied to colleges, it was suggested to me that I create a number of tiers of schools: the long-shots, the probables, and the back-ups. I collected…

  • Learners Are People, Too

    This article first appeared in Pajamas Media. On an airplane last week, I found myself seated behind the president of a large municipal school board along with a staffer. I know this because I am only human and could not help but peruse the board member’s briefing book over the owner’s shoulder. They were on…

  • The Pressure of High Anxiety

    This article first appeared in Pajamas Media. They say Americans are under more pressure than ever these days. Students must pass high-stakes tests in order to graduate. Competition to get into top-tier universities is crushing. The middle class is squeezed economically. Schedules are hectic. Commutes brutal. It’s just harder and harder to get by. This…

  • Taxonomy of Hotel Internet

    I’ve been travelling again. It’s got me thinking about different kinds of hotel internet access: I see four basic kinds: Just plain on — This is great, but unusual. Walk into the hotel room, flip on your laptop, find wireless network, connect, go. Free but signup — Courtyard by Marriott has this. It’s quite good.…

  • 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.