Urban Onramps

This is Radio Clash

I started the day by playing “This is Radio Clash” by The Clash as I dressed my daughter Micah. The song played on my Powerbook. I cranked it up as loud as it would go, which doesn’t match a real stereo system, but was loud nonetheless. My son Samuel began break-dancing. Micah went and joined him. This past week has been - what? A time warp of sorts. Ever since I got back from Asia I’ve just been totally whacked out. My sleep rhythms, man, have been way way WAY off. I was sick a bit, then not sick, then sick again. I’ve kept myself quarantined from my own family. My wife is pregnant, that creates a bit of drama, but really it’s a great joy cuz, I don’t know, I just feel happy. Today I was one of the drivers for the Harambee Prep School trip to the LA County Fair - yes! Can you say deep fat fried pickles? And I’m not sure what’s up, but I’ve been reading a bunch of books lately. It’s been a while since I’ve just read books. As you may know, I really dig 1491 by Charles Mann. I marked the heck out of the book as I read it. I’m ready to re-read my notes.

Today I found myself thinking, “The Indians were terra-forming the Amazon when the Spaniards arrived and messed everything up. How would our world be different if they’d never come?” One of the best things about this book is where I read it. I have no idea how it happened, but on my Cathay Pacific flight back from Hong Kong to LA I sat in business class, and in the second floor of the 747 business class section. The morning of the flight I asked the folks at the counter if I could get an upgrade from my coach seat. I already knew the answer - no. That’s what the American Airlines and Cathay Pacific web sites say, that you can’t just upgrade on a codeshare (Cathay) flight like you can on an American flight. I was totally shocked to get my seat change. Then it turned out to be a lie-flat seat (well, almost). When I arrived 14 hours later, my body was not aching like it was on the outbound flight. They kept bringing food. There were eleventy bazillion TV channels, including one that had lots of soccer. I watched 300 (again) and read 1491. Once home, I turned my attention to Salt: A World History by Mark Kurlansky.

I’m a few pages in, it’s not all that stimulating yet. But I’ve actually become captivated by a book that came in the mail today. First, a confession - a self-serving, ego-driven, somewhat shameful confession. I’m geeked by this book, which is one I’ve awaited for quite awhile. But what got me today was that the book came via FedEx AND it’s an uncorrected galley proof. The book ain’t due out until mid-October, so not too many people who have these. The book is Mongrels, Bastards, Orphans and Vagabonds: Mexican Immigration and the Future of Race in America by Gregory Rodriguez

Between Ruben Navarrette, Jr. and Gregory Rodriguez you have two of the best Latino socio-political minds in the country. These guys make me wonder what I’ve been doing with my life. I just finished the first chapter, which is titled “the birth of a people” and is a well-detailed chapter covering race mixing during and following the Spanish conquest of Mexico in the early 1500s. Prepare to hear the term “mestizo” used more often in our national discourse. More books: I’m due with my book manuscript in a few months and I must say that I’ve got to get cracking. In the meanwhile, I’m going to change the title and cover of my study guide, I’ll let you know when I’m done with that.

And now it’s midnight. I’m just going to make myself go to sleep. Even if I have to just lay there for two hours, I’m not going to get up…

posted Sep 15, 2007, 12:03am by Rodolpho Carrasco