Urban Onramps

“President Bush is interested — as no other occupant of the White House has been for quite a long time — in how the past can provide guidance for the future.”

So says John Lewis Gaddis, the Robert A. Lovett Professor of Military and Naval History at Yale University, in The American Interest:

George W. Bush, whatever else one might say about him, has been a most remarkable President: Historians will be debating his legacy for decades to come. If past patterns hold, their conclusions will not necessarily correspond to the views of current critics. Consider how little is now remembered, for example, of President Clinton’s impeachment, only the second in American history. Or how President Reagan’s reputation has shifted from that of a movie-star lightweight to that of a grand strategic heavyweight. Or how Eisenhower was once believed to be incapable of constructing an intelligible sentence. Or how Truman was down to a 26 percent approval rating at the time he left office but is now seen as having presided over a golden age in grand strategy—even a kind of genesis, Dean Acheson suggested, when he titled his memoir Present at the Creation.

Presidential revisionism tends to begin with small surprises. How, for instance, could a Missouri politician like Truman who never went to college get along so well with a Yale-educated dandy like Acheson? How could Eisenhower, who spoke so poorly, write so well? How could Reagan, the prototypical hawk, want to abolish nuclear weapons? Answering such questions caused historians to challenge conventional wisdom about these Presidents, revealing the extent to which stereotypes had misled their contemporaries.

So what might shift contemporary impressions of President Bush? I can only speak for myself here, but something I did not expect was the discovery that he reads more history and talks with more historians than any of his predecessors since at least John F. Kennedy. The President has surprised me more than once with comments on my own books soon after they’ve appeared, and I’m hardly the only historian who has had this experience. I’ve found myself improvising excuses to him, in Oval Office seminars, as to why I hadn’t read the latest book on Lincoln, or on—as Bush refers to him—the “first George W.” I’ve even assigned books to Yale students on his recommendation, with excellent results.

“Well, so Bush reads history”, one might reasonably observe at this point. “Isn’t it more important to find out how he uses it?” It is indeed, and I doubt that anybody will be in a position to answer that question definitively until the oral histories get recorded, the memoirs get written, and the archives open. But I can say this on the basis of direct observation: President Bush is interested—as no other occupant of the White House has been for quite a long time—in how the past can provide guidance for the future.

Interesting.

posted Aug 27, 2008, 2:59pm by Rodolpho Carrasco

I love this photo

I am praying for the Obama family. An election is grueling, and at the end of the day they are a father, a mother, and two small children. Also, Barack and Michelle are in positions that no others in American history have ever been in. I speak, specifically, of being a Black man and a Black woman in the run for the presidency. It’s a lonely place. Heavy is the head that wears the crown. Great are the expectations. All that pressure can negatively impact a marriage, a family. I pray that they are strengthened in Christ and thrive through this experience.

In this photo, I really like the little girl at the podium. That blank look on the face, trying to take in the enormity of the scene. I’ve seen that look many a time on the faces of Harambee children, my own included.

posted Aug 27, 2008, 7:09am by Rodolpho Carrasco

U2 Academic Conference, May 2009, NYC

Yes, kiddies, it’s true:

The Hype and the Feedback: A conference exploring the music, work, and influence of U2

Hosted by Cedarville University. In New York City. May 13-15

If I submitted a paper, it wouldn’t be much more than channeling Chris Farley: “Remember when you sang, ‘Bad,’ at Wembley Stadium and you just went on and on? That was awesome.” Or, “Remember when you did the Zoo TV outdoor concert at Dodger Stadium? I was with my girlfriend, who is now my wife. That was awesome.” So I’ll let the scholars do their scholar thing. But I’d sure love to be a fly on the wall at this one.

UPDATE: The “U2 in Paris” album (via iTunes) is awesome.

posted Aug 25, 2008, 10:26am by Rodolpho Carrasco

Fresno One Step Closer to Going Nuclear

Aug. 19 — Channel 24 News (Central Valley):

The Fresno Nuclear Energy Group and the Westlands Water District signed a “letter of intent.” This paves the way for exploring options that would bring two 1,600 megawatt facilities to west Fresno.

“Low cost energy will be an economic boom to this area like this place has never seen before,” said John Hutson of the Fresno Nuclear Energy Group.

The state of California has a current moratorium on building new nuclear plants. The two plants are expected between Mendota and Kettleman City.

The nuclear project could also make way for desalinization plants to the area. That process cleans up the water for farmers.

“We are unable to produce a vast majority of crops. We have land that went fallow,” said Sarah Woolf of Westlands Water District.

“What do you need to clean water?, heat and electricity. What’s more abundant at a power plant than heat and electricity?,” said Huston.

Signing the letters of intent are just the beginning stages. If all goes by plan, the energy group expects construction of the two nuclear plants to begin in 2017.

Huh.

posted Aug 25, 2008, 10:18am by Rodolpho Carrasco

Rip a DVD to Your iPhone

A Wired wiki article has the details. Handbrake is involved.

posted Aug 23, 2008, 8:11pm by Rodolpho Carrasco

news from my blogroll

So I just clicked a bunch of the links in my blogroll (see left column) and here’s what’s up:

posted Aug 23, 2008, 8:09pm by Rodolpho Carrasco

I’m going to tattoo this article about Rick Warren to my forehead

So to speak, of course: WSJ: What Saddleback’s Pastor Really Thinks About Politics

We need to invite him to the Acton Institute’s Toward a Free and Virtuous City conference. As a guest lecturer.

posted Aug 22, 2008, 9:49pm by Rodolpho Carrasco

Yes, it’s been a busy week over here in nw ‘dena

Links! Like Sausages! Only better:

posted Aug 22, 2008, 10:41am by Rodolpho Carrasco

So I’m riding the FlyAway bus to LAX right now

Tonight I fly to New York City, to see my family, at last. Vacation is ending. The kiddies and Kafi have been back East for a while. I went, then returned so that I could keep going on Harambee stuff. We’ll all be back home in Pasadena in just a few days. I’m on the FlyAway bus that moves between Union Station and LAX. It’s almost completely full. Go figure. Most of the folks seem to be in their twenties and thirties, too. I fly Virgin America, again. The price was right, again. I’ll hit the ground at JFK right at 6am. Not sure if I’ll ride the A train into Bed-Stuy or if I’ll get picked up. Either way is fine with me. I think it’s going to be a good weekend.

posted Aug 15, 2008, 7:16pm by Rodolpho Carrasco

High abortion rate worries NY experts

Crain’s New York reports on some heavy findings in New York City:

In most of the United States, 24 abortions are carried out for every 100 live births. In New York, 72 abortions occur for every 100 live births.

The continuing boom in abortions—90,157 were performed in the city in 2006, the last year for which statistics are available—apparently means that many women are using abortion as their birth control method of choice. That concerns health advocates, who point out that the procedure sometimes causes complications and is more expensive than contraception. The high rate also shows that these women are not protected against AIDS and other sexually transmitted diseases.

Some interesting tidbits, from the article:

posted Aug 14, 2008, 12:29pm by Rodolpho Carrasco

“They” said my facebook photo looked like Ralph Macchio

So I changed it.

posted Aug 13, 2008, 6:17pm by Rodolpho Carrasco

Yes, I’m listening to Persian traditional music on my iTunes radio stream

Good stuff (via IranianRadio.com), great for helping one concentrate on writing business plans, reviewing proposals, firing off memos, answering emails, filling out budget forms, evaluating draft statements of Justice for a Free Market - you know, the usual stuff.

posted Aug 13, 2008, 4:51pm by Rodolpho Carrasco

I’m having a nice day with arcane technogadgets

I have this nifty power adapter that connects from my Macbook directly to a cigarette lighter, perfect for when I fly American Airlines and am sitting in a seat with electric power beneath it. On the end connecting to the cigarette lighter, it’s actually two pieces: The actual end is an old-school four-prong that connects to a funny airline seat connector (that I saw on my international flight last year), then there is a little doodad that has a four-prong connector on one side and the cigarette lighter connector on the other. They hook together perfectly. Well, guess who lost the little doodad… So I flew a flight without my power hook-up, and I was steamed. I couldn’t even get to an Apple Store to get another $20 dealie because, wouldn’t you know it, there is no Apple Store in the Poconos. Anyway, I was here at home, cleaning up, when LO AND BEHOLD I found another doodad in a cables-and-wires box I keep nearby. The found doodad fits perfectly. It’s black, and the rest of the adapter is white, but hey, NOW I’M GOOD TO GO the next time I fly American Airlines. Except I’m flying Virgin America this week, and wouldn’t you know it, Richard Branson and them put actual and normal three-prong electricity sockets at every seat - so there’s no need for the actual doodad. Nevertheless, next time I fly American, I’m good to go.

THEN I went to transfer some files to my brother’s computer. I lost my flash drive (paging Act Six students that attended my workshop, I think I left it at the AV unit in the room), so I was trying to figure out a way to connect my computer to his. Of course I can do it via airport wireless networking. But I as fished through another box of cables and wires I came across a yellow ethernet cable that is created for computer-to-computer connections. A normal ethernet cable will not allow you to hook directly from one ‘puter to another. But this one does. (I learned the hard way about this particular ethernet cable when my son Samuel was first in the hospital for leukemia in July 2004. I tried to hook up to the in-room internet at Children’s Hospital on Sunset and it wouldn’t work. Then I learned I had the wrong ethernet cable, this yellow one. I later when and got a normal ethernet cable and that worked.) Anyway, it’s good times now. Though I would really like to get my flash drive back. The drive is empty, but there is this little Huarache sandal, made in Honduras, on the drive keychain. I’d like to see that thing again.

Hot Sunday Afternoon Linkage:

posted Aug 10, 2008, 3:27pm by Rodolpho Carrasco

21% of Atheists believe in God

No kidding. That’s what “they” say.

Yes, I’m back in town. New York, Poconos, back to New York, Seattle, Pasadena. I miss my family. Hit the ground running yesterday. Had a productive day. Email piling up. Lots to answer.

I must concur with Jordon Cooper who twittered, “I may be old fashioned but Twittering church services and sermons seems tacky.”

Here’s some link love:

President Bush was happy he could get his photo taken with this guy: “President George W. Bush poses for a photo with U.S. Olympic runner Lopez Lomong Friday, Aug. 8, 2008, in Beijing prior to Opening Ceremonies of the 2008 Summer Olympic Games. Lopez Lomong, a survivor of the violence in his native Sudan, now a U.S. citizen, was selected by his teammates to lead the U.S. Olympic team into Olympic National Stadium carrying the United States Flag at the Opening Ceremony.

Let me also add that I’m proud of the U.S. Olympic team for selecting Lomong as the flag-bearer.

and finally…

This one is making the rounds among pro-market economy types: Economics Does Not Lie: The dismal science is at last a science, and the world is the beneficiary by Guy Sorman in City Journal

Here are dude’s ten points (paging Chris Brooks, where is he when you really need him?):

1. The market economy is the most efficient of all economic systems.
2. Free trade helps economic development.
3. Good institutions help development.
4. The best measure of a good economy is its growth.
5. Creative destruction is the engine of economic growth.
6. Monetary stability, too, is necessary for growth; inflation is always harmful.
7. Unemployment among unskilled workers is largely determined by how much labor costs.
8. While the welfare state is necessary in many forms, it isn’t always effective.
9. The creation of complex financial markets has brought about economic progress.
10. Competition is usually desirable.

I’m taking this one with me to New York in September when I speak at Acton Institute’s Toward a Free and Virtuous City conference.

posted Aug 9, 2008, 8:18am by Rodolpho Carrasco

listening to Dr. Herma Williams

I’m here at Act Six. Great programs. Wonderful students. Good new contacts, to boot. I spoke last night. It was awwight. I’ll be home tonight. Dr. Williams is the provost at Fresno Pacific University and closely connected to the Council for Christian Colleges and Universities. Kris Rocke is sitting next to me.

posted Aug 7, 2008, 9:50am by Rodolpho Carrasco

Global Warming

I just bought “Cool It: The Skeptical Environmentalist’s Guide to Global Warming” at Amazon. I paid $2.28. I had a $12 gift certificate (from Lulu sales) and I have Amazon prime (free 2-day shipping). Buying a book never felt so painless.

Other stuff I’m reading in regard to Global Warming:

posted Aug 5, 2008, 9:27pm by Rodolpho Carrasco