http://www.urbanonramps.com content and networking for urban-minded Christians around the world Tue, 07 Oct 2008 04:55:28 +0000 http://backend.userland.com/rss092 en My friend Derek Perkins' son, Mike Mike, had his picture in the paper this weekend. He's playing high school football in Valparaiso, Indiana. He ran for 197 yards in just 7 carries. Here are two stories in the Valpo newspaper: -- October 4: Valpo finds plenty of ways to punish Pirates -- ... http://www.urbanonramps.com/time-flies/ http://www.urbanonramps.com/yes-im-using-my-daughters-hello-kitty-radio-as-i-work/ It's treatable. Really treatable. In death's grip, he's as funny as ever. And I think he's a Christian believer, too. http://www.urbanonramps.com/pj-orourke-has-cancer/ Andy Kessler writes in today's WSJ about the proposed $700 billion payout plan, the Paulson Plan:You can slice the numbers a lot of different ways. My calculations, which assume 50% impairment on subprime loans, suggest it is possible, all in, for this portfolio to generate between $1 trillion and $2.2 ... http://www.urbanonramps.com/wsjkessler-that-700-billion-bailout-will-make-money-for-taxpayers/ Sam's grandfather is named Job. This is them in Brooklyn's Prospect Park, August 2008. (click image for larger version) http://www.urbanonramps.com/sam-and-his-grandfather-fishing/ Heavy http://www.urbanonramps.com/abortionchangesyoucom/ The thought has crossed my mind. Peggy Noonan gives voice to the concern. http://www.urbanonramps.com/do-you-worry-that-neither-presidential-candidate-is-up-to-the-task-at-hand/ Here's a helpful perspective, by Robert Samuelson in the Washington Post, on the fall of the huge investment houses. more links: Reconsiderations: Betty Friedan's 'The Feminine Mystique': "In writing modern feminism's first textbook, [Friedan] was also the author of modern feminism's Original Sin." Google to display religious groups' anti-abortion ads Wall Street Debacle Nets ... http://www.urbanonramps.com/wall-streets-unraveling-the-entire-business-model-has-collapsed/ Technically, I leave around midnight. I'm speaking at this event. I'm looking forward to it. We'll be just across the 495, on the Jersey side. Close enough to the carnage at AIG, Lehman, and Wall Street. And I'll be lecturing on how free market economic thinking and approaches can benefit ... http://www.urbanonramps.com/yes-im-off-to-speak-at-acton-institute/ Here's my 8-year-old son, Samuel (light blue shirt), with his uncles (back row) and his cousin (next to him). New Jersey, August 2008. It's so good to see him growing tall and strong, especially after his ordeal fighting leukemia. http://www.urbanonramps.com/samuel-carrasco-cancer-survivor/ Psalm 32:8I will instruct you and teach you in the way you should go; I will counsel you and watch over you. God is your father, for real. http://www.urbanonramps.com/a-word-for-fatherless-boys/ New York Times: "The Great Seduction" by David Brooks:Sixty-two scholars have signed on to a report by the Institute for American Values and other think tanks called, “For a New Thrift: Confronting the Debt Culture,” examining the results of all this. This may be damning with faint praise, but it’s ... http://www.urbanonramps.com/this-one-is-making-the-rounds-in-urban-ministry-circles/ Mary Anastasia O'Grady at the WSJ reports on policy differences:Of the two U.S. presidential candidates, one promises to expand international trading opportunities for American producers and consumers. The other pledges to raise the barriers that Americans already face in global commerce. http://www.urbanonramps.com/latin-america-wants-free-trade/ (Where is that memo...) • The next 60 days will not be dull. • Here's our latest Harambee newsletter. If you are looking to fulfill your tithe, may I suggest you help a child receive a quality education at Harambee Prep by making a contribution today? • This weekend I'll be in Flagstaff, ... http://www.urbanonramps.com/yes-its-been-a-busy-week-now-just-give-me-a-moment-while-i-find-my-talking-points-memo/ 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 ... http://www.urbanonramps.com/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/ 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 ... http://www.urbanonramps.com/i-love-this-photo/ 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 ... http://www.urbanonramps.com/u2-academic-conference-may-2009-nyc/ 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 ... http://www.urbanonramps.com/fresno-one-step-closer-to-going-nuclear/ A Wired wiki article has the details. Handbrake is involved. http://www.urbanonramps.com/rip-a-dvd-to-your-iphone/ So I just clicked a bunch of the links in my blogroll (see left column) and here's what's up: The Emerging Church is like a box of chocolates: My guy Andrew Jones will present on this topic at Greenbelt Festival 2008 Jordon Cooper has kind thoughts about my study guide/book dealie. I ... http://www.urbanonramps.com/news-from-my-blogroll/ 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. http://www.urbanonramps.com/im-going-to-tattoo-this-article-about-rick-warren-to-my-forehead/ Links! Like Sausages! Only better: Apple's Ambitious iPhone 3G Plans: Yes, I'm still trying to get my hands on one of these. My Slanted Eyes Are Beautiful sez Eugene Cho, in response to all those Olympics athletes making slit-eyes gestures A Tax Revolt Is Quietly Brewing In Some States: Massachusetts might eliminate the ... http://www.urbanonramps.com/yes-its-been-a-busy-week-over-here-in-nw-dena/ 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 ... http://www.urbanonramps.com/so-im-riding-the-flyaway-bus-to-lax-right-now/ 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 ... http://www.urbanonramps.com/high-abortion-rate-worries-ny-experts/ So I changed it. http://www.urbanonramps.com/they-said-my-facebook-photo-looked-like-ralph-macchio/ 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. http://www.urbanonramps.com/yes-im-listening-to-persian-traditional-music-on-my-itunes-radio-stream/ 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 ... http://www.urbanonramps.com/im-having-a-nice-day-with-arcane-technogadgets/ 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 ... http://www.urbanonramps.com/21-of-atheists-believe-in-god/ 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 ... http://www.urbanonramps.com/listening-to-dr-herma-williams/ 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: "The Question ... http://www.urbanonramps.com/global-warming/ I've had a nice week of vacation with my family. We're in New York City. Bed-Stuy, baby. Though we spent a buncha time in the Poconos, PA. And we drove up to the Catskills and back today. I rode the 6 train for the first time on Monday. It's cheesy, ... http://www.urbanonramps.com/lets-see-3/ Yes, I'm up late. I'm packing. Y que? Tomorrow night I get to see mi familia. Brooklyn, here I come. Or there I go. Anyway, I spoke at a Fuller class on the emerging church taught by Dr. Vince Bacote. Good times. We were in end-class discussion when the earthquake ... http://www.urbanonramps.com/were-free-to-fly-the-crimson-sky-the-sun-wont-melt-our-wings-tonight/ Yeah, I know, I'm the only one who has ever googled him or herself. The image comes from the Acton Institute DVD on Effective Stewardship. They are kicking things up in this area. Man! I just looked at one of the pages. They've got me listed in one section of ... http://www.urbanonramps.com/this-is-what-you-find-when-you-google-yourself/ They're here, 60 of them. We've got Harambee youth, Harambee board members, Leadership Pasadena folks, Pasadena Community Foundation folks, ABC 7 Local News, and more. There's a slick shot of me being interviewed by the TV folks. I'm gonna use it somewhere, maybe the old Facebook profile. http://www.urbanonramps.com/want-to-see-some-pictures-from-our-solar-panels-unveiling/ From the back jacket:"General Simon Boliver, one of the Western Hemisphere's supreme heroes, embarks on a seven-month voyage down the Magdalena River. Forced from power, made old and ill by the pressures of war, passion, victory, and betryal, the General examines his life, confronting the phantoms of his past, reliving ... http://www.urbanonramps.com/yes-i-am-re-reading-the-general-in-his-labyrinth-by-gabriel-garcia-marquez/ Dr. John Perkins enters surgery at 2 p.m. CST (just a few minutes from now) to address a health issue that arose unexpectedly on Saturday. His daughter Elizabeth said he is in good spirits, but that any time someone his age (78, I believe) goes into surgery it is a ... http://www.urbanonramps.com/please-pray-for-dr-john-perkins-and-his-surgery-in-a-few-minutes/ Coming in August, according to David Brody. Meanwhile, David Bass at The American Spectator wonders if young Evangelicals have delved into Obama's policy positions. http://www.urbanonramps.com/obamas-outreach-to-young-evangelicals/ And they would be correct. It's my birthday. I'm going to celebrate by working. Hard. http://www.urbanonramps.com/they-say-that-today-i-turn-41/ Y que? I think I'll stop off at the Apple Store and see what's new. http://www.urbanonramps.com/yes-im-going-to-dinner-at-louises-trattoria-in-old-town-pasadena/ Beowulf, Blue Planet, The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy, Nacho Libre, Pirates of the Caribbean: At World's End, Ratatouille, The Royal Tenenbaums, Step Into Liquid, U2 Vertigo Concert. Yeah. http://www.urbanonramps.com/movies-in-my-video-ipod/