Articles written by Bob Welbaum

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About me - Bob Welbaum

Bob Welbaum

If Bob has a creative talent, it's writing. And if he can become a writer, it will be his fourth career.
First was a twenty-year sojourn in the U.S. Air Force. When Bob retired in 1990 as a captain, he was very fortunate to be offered a position

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Hobbies & Games > Antiques & Collecting (Other) Book collecting: 1 of 21
Book collecting long predates the printing press. Egyptian papyri and ancient Greek and Roman manuscripts were prized by medieval collectors. Thomas Jefferson amassed a large library in the formative years of this country.If you find yourself being drawn to collecting books for the first time, here are some basic facts that c... More..
Education > Educational Philosophy Personal philosophies of education: 9 of 149
The purpose of education is to prepare the student for later life. This is especially important within a person's first twenty or so years, but can apply to any of life's stages. We never stop learning, and life never stops being challenging.I always try to remember this when I'm in the classroom. Any remark or phrase can pro... More..
Politics, News & Issues > Environmental Awareness How to raise awareness of the environment's pollution: 1 of 13
Learning(?) From the Past? Those who cannot remember the past are condemned to repeat it. George Santayana, The Life of Reason, Volume 1, 1905 Have you ever felt like you've experienced something before? That's been my perception after reading about recall after recall of Chinese products due to lead content. The year is 198... More..
Education > Educational Philosophy Have public schools failed us: 4 of 45
The problem with public schools today is the public. This nation does not have a true commitment to education. Many individuals do, but the nation as a whole does not. If it did, we would have better schools.I feel I have a unique perspective on this subject. I am a trained teacher. Although I have never been hired to a perma... More..
Politics, News & Issues > Terrorism Why terrorism can't be justified: 2 of 19
My brother came home safely.I think about this every time there is another senseless terror attack somewhere in the world. It's been over two decades now, but the situation is still fresh in my mind.You see, my brother was serving a four-year commitment in the U.S. Army. And he spent much of it in western Germany, at a time w... More..
Entertainment > Movie Reviews Movie reviews: Ratatouille: 3 of 22
Do you have big dreams? The theme of Pixar Animation Studio's 2007 feature "Ratatouille" is just that. Set in France, it is an improbable story about a rat who wants to be a gourmet chef. This rat, named Remy, has a special gift an advanced sense of smell. An important, though underappreciated, part of a large countryside rat... More..
Education > Reading & Writing Skills How to encourage your child to read: 10 of 70
In this age of video games, 100-channel cable TV, and broadband Internet, how can you get your kids interested in reading?Fortunately, some creative tools have been developed to help you. Here are some of my favorites. I'll start with some suggestions on how to begin.Anticipate Content Much of the fun of reading is anticipati... More..
Relationships & Family > Married Life How modern marriage has changed from the past: 3 of 18
Today we all have a strong concept of the ingredients for a happy and successful marriage. But our contemporary concepts have actually been the historic exception. For thousands of years, marriage has served many communal economic, political, and social functions; individual needs and wishes almost always took second place. P... More..
Hobbies & Games > Antiques & Collecting (Other) A beginner's guide to Disney collectibles: 1 of 6
There are three stages to Disney collecting:Stage One: you don't realize you're a collector. You just go around buying what you like - a recent video, that cute T-shirt, a souvenir book during your last theme-park visit - and you take them at face value, enjoying them for what they are and the memories they represent.Stage Tw... More..
Entertainment > Movie Reviews What makes Pixar's Ratatouille so great: 1 of 6
Pixar Animation Studios has had an unprecedented run of movie hits. A good example is their 2007 release Ratatouille. This entertaining movie continued Pixar's winning streak and is one of my personal favorites. I believe Ratatouille is successful because of the following classic movie elements, elements that have become the ... More..