Archive
October 7th, 2004
Expanding the Discussion
Submitted by Aldon Hynes on Thu, 10/07/2004 - 12:52(Originally published in Greater Democracy)
On October 4th, I wrote an entry which pointed to a blog by my daughter’s political science professor.
October 4th
To the hospital
Submitted by Aldon Hynes on Mon, 10/04/2004 - 22:25I just received an IM from my nephew letting me know that my mother, "just had to go to the hospital due to some pains in her arms, shoulders, and chest area."
My mother is 73 years old. She isn't in the greatest health, so I am worried but not surprised. I called my sister and one of my cousins.
Update: My nephew just IMed me again. My mother is "doing alright and they're going to hold her over night for observation."
It feels strange to be at that stage of life where one talks with ones siblings about ones parents medical conditions. It seems even stranger to be getting updates via IM.
Update 2: My mother is back home and is doing okay. I am talking with my siblings about what should happen next, and I hope to see my mother on Columbus day.
McNamara Redux
Submitted by Aldon Hynes on Mon, 10/04/2004 - 22:24(Originally published in Greater Democracy)
In a recent blog entry, Professor Gordon L. Bowen at Mary Baldwin College summarizes an editorial which he wrote for the local newspaper. Mary Baldwin College is in Staunton Virginia, and the ghost of Woodrow Wilson looms large there.
Shoot the messenger!
Submitted by Aldon Hynes on Mon, 10/04/2004 - 04:46(Originally published in Greater Democracy)
As a blogger that received press credentials to cover the Democratic National Convention, I found myself being interviewed by members of the mainstream media, including the Wall Street Journal. One of the big topics was dealing with bias. Many bloggers, myself included, wear our biases on our shirtsleeves, or often in the form of political buttons. I am no exception. The argument goes that if you are up front about your biases, people reading what you write can adjust for them. However, if you pretend they aren’t there, and strive to be as unbiased as possible, you will still have your biases slip through. The other side of the argument is that no matter how unbiased you really are, people will attack you for being biased, and if you have been maintaining you are unbiased, they will call you a liar/
October 3rd
October surprises
Submitted by Aldon Hynes on Sun, 10/03/2004 - 12:32A lot of people I’ve been speaking with spend a lot of time talking about October surprises. Will the Bush administration miraculously find Osama Bin Laden this month? Will the United States launch a pre-emptive attack on Iran? Will Cheney have heart troubles and have to be replaced by a Republican that hasn’t aliened as many people, such as McCain or Guilliani? I’m not really expecting any of these October surprises.
However, my life has been made up of October surprises, and it seems like this is as good a time as any to reflect on them. This morning, my wife and two of my daughters went to Riverbank Park to help the North Stamford Association. Riverbank Park seems to be one of those places high school students go to have parties on the weekends.
