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<title>Grindstone Journal -- RSS Feed</title>
    <link>http://www.grindstonejournal.com</link>
    <description>grindstone journal</description>
    <lastBuildDate>Thu, 14 May 2009 19:47:38 GMT</lastBuildDate>
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		<title>The self-simulation theory of human consciousness</title>
		<link>http://www.grindstonejournal.com/5-13-09self.html</link>
		<pubDate>13 May 2009 05:00:00 GMT</pubDate>
		<author>Bryan Lower</author>
		<description><![CDATA[  
Consciousness may be a naturally-evolved processed turned in on itself.  Human consciousness has been a riddle for philosophers ever since they first contemplated the difference between man and the beasts. The question of what consciousness is has not quite been solved by science, though it may be someday. It has even been suggested that consciousness is just an illusion, but even that cop-out doesn’t really answer anything. It still leaves the question of how the illusion comes about. ]]>
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		<title>Ask The Bicyclist</title>
		<link>http://www.grindstonejournal.com/5-12-09bicyclist.html</link>
		<pubDate>12 May 2009 05:00:00 GMT</pubDate>
		<author>Paul Tay </author>
		<description><![CDATA[ 
How to Tame Traffic, Without Really Dying
Bicycle commuting is a no-brainer to get to work, grocery shopping, and even going to the gym.  So, why aren’t city streets choked full of cyclists?]]>
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		<title>Swan song for the silent film era</title>
		<link>http://www.grindstonejournal.com/5-12-09swansong.html</link>
		<pubDate>12 May 2009 05:00:00 GMT</pubDate>
		<author>Gene Ryan</author>
		<description><![CDATA[ 
Mary Pickford charms your socks off in "My Best Girl".  After sound hit the scene with Al Jolson’s "The Jazz Singer" (1927), silent films were destined for extinction. They did not go out with a fizzle, though. The Mary Pickford vehicle "My Best Girl" (1927), which Pickford also produced, sent the silent film era out with grace and charm.]]>
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		<title>In defense of war</title>
		<link>http://www.grindstonejournal.com/5-11-09defenseofwar.html</link>
		<pubDate>11 May 2009 05:00:00 GMT</pubDate>
		<author>Bryan Lower</author>
		<description><![CDATA[ 
A liberal view of war and pacifism. With President Barack Obama promising to withdraw troops from Iraq and expand the military effort in Afghanistan, there is some confusion over the liberal approach to war. Conservatives, who found justification in their philosophy for both wars, see liberals as weak on Iraq and hypocritical on Afghanistan. Pacifists, for their part, are frustrated that liberals can go along with any war, which makes them just as bad as the conservatives.]]>
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		<title>Rephrasing global warming</title>
		<link>http://www.grindstonejournal.com/5-11-09global.html</link>
		<pubDate>11 May 2009 05:00:00 GMT</pubDate>
		<author>Kristjan Wager</author>
		<description><![CDATA[ 
Can changing words change people's minds about global warming?
NY Times is reporting on a new attempt to convince more people that global warming is real...  I fully understand the power of words when trying to convince someone about an idea or a stance, which is why I won't ever refer to anti-choice people by the label they give themselves. Regarding global warming, however, we're not talking about ideas or stances, but hard scientific facts. ]]>
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		<title>A double-shot of Arthur Miller</title>
		<link>http://www.grindstonejournal.com/5-11-09arthurmiller.html </link>
		<pubDate>11 May 2009 05:00:00 GMT</pubDate>
		<author>Edward Hart</author>
		<description><![CDATA[ 
Arthur Miller is perhaps the most important modern American playwright. His two most famous works, "Death of a Salesman" and "The Crucible", could not be more different in their settings and characteristics, but both works share a certain invincible hopelessness.]]>
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		<title>The Small Tent</title>
		<link>http://www.grindstonejournal.com/4-29-09smalltent.html</link>
		<pubDate>Wed, 29 April 2009 05:00:00 GMT</pubDate>
		<author>Bryan Lower </author>
		<description><![CDATA[
The defection of Arlen Specter is another sign that moderate Republicans are being squeezed out. Yesterday, Pennsylvania Senator Arlen Specter walked away from the Republican Party and officially became a Democrat. The move was earth shattering for a GOP that didn’t need any more bad news. They shouldn’t be too surprised. Since the 2008 elections, the Republicans have been veering to the extreme right and leaving moderates behind. ]]>
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		<title>Republican Party Trouble</title>
		<link>http://www.grindstonejournal.com/4-28-09republican.html</link>
		<pubDate>28 April 2009 05:00:00 GMT</pubDate>
		<author>Chad Hunter</author>
		<description><![CDATA[
		The Republican coalition is cracking apart. Read Chad Hunter's blog, The Liberal Oklahoman. 
The unholy alliance that forms the Republican Party has reared its head again. The party is a basic alliance of social conservatives mostly made up of evangelicals, economic conservatives that are made up of business leaders, libertarians that want to see as little government as possible, and foreign policy hawks that want to see a strong national defense. Sometimes these groups agree, sometimes they don't. ]]>
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		<title>Employee Free Choice Act: Most Important Issue Facing Labor Movement Today</title>
		<link>http://www.grindstonejournal.com/4-27-09employee.html</link>
		<pubDate>27 April 2009 05:00:00 GMT</pubDate>
		<author>January Hoskin </author>
		<description><![CDATA[
Busting the union-busters.
US labor laws are weak and ineffective, and the system in place to enforce those laws is broken. The Employee Free Choice Act (EFCA) is the most significant reform of the National Labor Relations Act (NLRA) in a generation and will strengthen the laws and fix the system. EFCA’s provisions that allow workers to form unions by signing cards, strengthen penalties for employers who break the law and guarantee that workers who form unions get a labor contract, are reforms that are long overdue and should earn the support from anyone who supports workers having a voice in the workplace. Enacting the EFCA is the most important issue facing the labor movement. ]]>
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		<title>In defense of the bailout</title>
		<link>http://www.grindstonejournal.com/4-27-09bailout.html</link>
		<pubDate>27 April 2009 05:00:00 GMT</pubDate>
		<author>Bryan Lower</author>
		<description><![CDATA[
Cut Geithner some slack. Treasury Secretary Timothy Geithner was back on capital hill last week, defending the bank bailout plan and taking hits from all sides. Geithner is probably the most unpopular member of President Obama’s cabinet. It should be no surprise. He has to give us bad news and implement solutions most of us don’t like for problems most of us don’t understand. It is a thankless job, so it seems only fair that someone come to Geithner’s defense. ]]>
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		<title>Special Report: Forum on separation of church and state</title>
		<link>http://www.grindstonejournal.com/4-24-09special.html</link>
		<pubDate>24 April 2009 05:00:00 GMT</pubDate>
		<author>Bryan Lower</author>
		<description><![CDATA[ Tulsa Interfaith Alliance hosted a forum to discuss the proposed Ten Commandments monument on the Oklahoma capital grounds. The event: Tulsa Interfaith Alliance panel discussion on separation of church and state and the bill to approve a privately-funded Ten Commandments monument on the Oklahoma state capital grounds. Date: Thursday, April 23rd, 2009. Location: All Souls Unitarian Church, Tulsa, OK. Participants: Rev. Paul Ashby, Leah Farish, Dr. Tom Gray, Rep. Jeannie McDaniel and C.S. “Chuck” Thornton. The panel was moderated by Professor Roger Randle. ]]>
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		<title>A Brave New Counterpoint</title>
		<link>http://www.grindstonejournal.com/4-15-09point.html</link>
		<pubDate>15 April 2009 05:00:00 GMT  </pubDate>
		<author>Edward Hart</author>
		<description><![CDATA[A double-shot of Aldous Huxley
The grandson of Darwin’s Bulldog did something that the offspring of famous lineage rarely do: he lived up to his family name. Nearly everyone is aware of Aldous Huxley’s most famous work, Brave New World, but his work went well beyond the ominous futuristic parable. To understand the man better, I immersed myself in two of his books: Brave New World (of course) and an earlier, more sophisticated work, Point Counter Point. ]]>
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		<title>Obama vs Krugman</title>
		<link>http://www.grindstonejournal.com/4-14-09krugman.html</link>
		<pubDate>14 April 2009  05:00:00 GMT </pubDate>
		<author>Kristjan Wager</author>
		<description><![CDATA[Genius wrestles genius over economic issues. I'm not sure how much it is apparent to people who read my blog, but I used to study business management and economics before getting into programming and systems development. I suspect that's partly why I tend to end up working on financial projects. My background my explain why I am still fairly interested in economics, and follow it somewhat closely, and why I'm a big fan of Paul Krugman. ]]>
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		<title>The Serve America Act</title>
		<link>http://www.grindstonejournal.com/4-14-09service.html</link>
		<pubDate>14 April 2009 05:00:00 GMT </pubDate>
		<author>Stan Young</author>
		<description><![CDATA[The Obama Administration calls the nation to service
Two weeks ago the Congress, in a bipartisan effort, passed the Serve America Act. This legislation follows President Obama's passion that members of the American community serve the greater good embodied in President Kennedy's statement "Ask not what your country can do for you. Ask what you can do for your country." ]]>
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		<title>Hey, politicians, leave our schools alone!</title>
		<link>http://www.grindstonejournal.com/4-13-09schools.html</link>
		<pubDate>13 April 2009  05:00:00 GMT </pubDate>
		<author>Bryan Lower</author>
		<description><![CDATA[They’re at it again. Oklahoma SB 834 attacks the public school system.
Photo by The Jimston JournalAny parent with kids in the Oklahoma public school system should feel alarms and sirens going off in their brains. That tingling of your spider sense is caused by extraordinary legislative tampering with your kids’ future. ]]>
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		<title>What's so difficult to understand about the Iowa Supreme Court Decision?</title>
		<link>http://www.grindstonejournal.com/4-13-09iowa.html</link>
		<pubDate>13 April 2009 05:00:00 GMT </pubDate>
		<author>James Nimmo</author>
		<description><![CDATA[Gay marriage advances is Iowa. (OKLAHOMA CITY) As an atheist and a supporter of Americans United for Separation of Church & State I am so heartened by the recent Iowa Court ruling supporting the full inclusion of gay and lesbian citizens in the social and political life of this country. ]]>
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		<title>Balancing Act: Security Versus Privacy</title>
		<link>http://www.grindstonejournal.com/4-8-09privacy.html</link>
		<pubDate>8 April 2009 05:00:00 GMT </pubDate>
		<author>Justin Kunsman</author>
		<description><![CDATA[You don't have anything to hide, do you?  There is an old argument that neo-conservatives have been using to defend their stance on invasions of privacy. This stance which was characteristic of the Bush presidency may be continuing to occur, therefore deserves a continued examination. The argument states that if you have got nothing to hide, you have nothing to worry about. Is this true? ]]>
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		<title>Say No to SB834 Rally</title>
		<link>http://www.grindstonejournal.com/4-8-09rally.html</link>
		<pubDate>8 April 2009 05:00:00 GMT </pubDate>
		<author>Bryan Lower</author>
		<description><![CDATA[ A rally to oppose Oklahoma SB 834 will be held Thursday, April 16th, 4:30-5:30 PM. It will be at the OEA Tulsa Regional Office, 10810 E. 45th St., west parking lot. ]]>
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		<title>Thank you to the Little Deep Fork Democratic Club</title>
		<link>http://www.grindstonejournal.com/4-8-09thanks.html</link>
		<pubDate>8 April 2009 05:00:00 GMT</pubDate>
		<author>Bryan Lower</author>
		<description><![CDATA[A warm reception for Grindstone Journal writer. I would like to extend my appreciation to the Little Deep Fork Democratic Club for inviting me to speak at your meeting Tuesday night in Bristow, OK. It was a most excellent adventure. As you may have noticed, I am not a public speaker, but everyone was still very gracious and receptive. ]]>
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		<title>Discovery Institute opens mouth, lies </title>
		<link>http://www.grindstonejournal.com/4-7-09discovery.html</link>
		<pubDate>7 April 2009 05:00:00 GMT </pubDate>
		<author>Kristjan Wager</author>
		<description><![CDATA[ The Texas School Board opens a new front in the war against science. I am sure that most of my readers are aware of the latest embarrassment going on in Texas, where the Texas School Board have passed a science standard including the following]]>
"In all fields of science, analyze, evaluate, and critique scientific explanations by using empirical evidence, logical reasoning, and experimental observation and testing, including examining all sides of scientific evidence of those explanations so as to encourage critical thinking by the students."
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		<title>Celebrate history at Juneteenth</title>
		<link>http://www.grindstonejournal.com/4-6-09juneteenth.html</link>
		<pubDate>6 April, 2009 05:00:00 GMT </pubDate>
		<author>Twan Jones</author>
		<description><![CDATA[A century of diversity in Tulsa. The NAACP Tulsa Branch is reviving the Juneteenth Celebration as a citywide event. The NAACP has encouraged community support in its efforts to plan for this year’s event. ]]>
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		<title>THE FRAME: Where superstition comes sweeping down the plain</title>
		<link>http://www.grindstonejournal.com/4-6-09theframe.html</link>
		<pubDate>6 April 2009 05:00:00 GMT</pubDate>
		<author>Bryan Lower</author>
		<description><![CDATA[Oklahoma’s anti-science culture threatens its institutions of education. If there is one thing that really gets my blood boiling, it is pseudoscience. Misappropriation of scientific-sounding language for nonscientific purposes is a way for the purveyors of superstition to add weight to their baseless claims.]]>
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		<title>Creepy Introversion in Murakami&#39;s &#34;After Dark&#34;</title>
		<link>http://www.grindstonejournal.com/4-1-09creepy.html</link>
		<pubDate>Wed, 1 April 2009 13:00:00 GMT</pubDate>
		<author>Nick Abrahamson</author>
		<description><![CDATA[Getting in touch with the creepy side of emotional isolation, the K-Mart Realists, and Haruki Murakami...
If you&#39;ve read Haruki Murakami, chances are you haven&#39;t read just one of his novels.    
They are remarkably accessible, yet, like your grandmas terrarium, Murakami&#39;s stories are teeming with energy below the surface.  If I may be so bold, I don&#39;t think it would be a character assault to describe Murakami as a Japanese compatriot of the K-Mart Realists.  While Raymond Carver focused on all the nuances of love and relationships, Murakamis themes deal with alienation, existential dread and angst.]]>
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