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December 26, 2008
Reading Habits of President Bush
"Bush Is a Book Lover," by Karl Rove, Wall Street Journal, Friday, 26 December 2008, Vol. CCLII, No. 150, p. A11.
This is an insightful article into the reading habits of our president. What began as a New Year's resolution in 2006, to read a book a week, became a competition between Karl Rove and President Bush. Rove, like many of us, had gotten out of the habit of reading as much as he used to and decided to turn things around. President Bush joined in and it was soon a competition. Rove has won each year but that is not important, what is important is that if someone as busy as the President of the United States still finds time to read, it makes it difficult for most of us to say we do not have the time to read.
The scores: 2006 Rove 110, Bush 95; 2007 Rove 76, Bush 51; 2008 (as of today) Rove 64, Bush 40. The President has also read the Holy Bible cover to cover each year through his daily devotional. The books have ranged from history to biography and even included some fiction.
Some points I found interesting in the article are on Bush's theory of competition. Rove states:
"The reading competition reveal Mr. Bush's focus on goals. It's not about the winning. A good-natured competition helps keep him centered and makes possible a clear mind and a high level of energy."
"There is a myth perpetuated by Bush critics that he would rather burn a book than read one. Like so many caricatures of the past eight years, this one is not only wrong, but also the opposite of truth and evidence that bitterness can devour a small-minded critic. Mr. Bush loves books, learns from them, and is intellectually engaged by them."
According to Rove, the President is never without a book. He reads instead of watching television and reads on Air Force One. To read as much as he does, he obviously reads most anywhere he can. It reminds me of a story I read about William F. Buckley a few years ago that pointed out he always had a book with him. I also always have a book with me. You never know when the car might break down or you might have some time to yourself. When I know I am going somewhere that will require a wait (the doctor, the dentist, to get a haircut) I always take my own book. It is nice to have magazines in a waiting area but I prefer to take my own books.
I'm not much for New Year's resolutions but this year I may have to break my tradition.
Posted by robertgreen at 11:48 PM | Comments (0)
Military Advisers Can Be Found in the Strangest Places
"Military Finds an Unlikely Adviser In School-Building Humanitarian," by Yochi J. Dreazen. Wall Street Journal, Friday 26 December 2008, Vol CCLII, No. 150, p. A9.
The military is listening to Greg Mortenson a co-author of Three Cups of Tea: One Man's Mission to Promote Peace . . . One School at a Time
"General Petraeus, who oversees the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan, read Mr. Mortenson's book, which recounts his school-building efforts, and recommends it to his staff." Nation-building, something once abhorred by the military has now become a part of the military strategy. People like General Petraeus are, I believe, responsible for much of this. In the past he military was quick to divide fighting wars and rebuilding following the war. The military did the former, NGOs, aka civilians, did the latter, but in the new age of warfare it is more difficult to divide these two phases, especially when fighting an insurgency where winning hearts and minds is critical to winning the war.
"Education is the long-term solution to fanaticism,: says Col. Christopher Kolenda, who commanded an Army brigade in a part of eastern Afghanistan where Mr. Mortenson founded two schools. "As Greg points out so well, ignorance breeds hatred and violence."
This seems so obvious but many of us tend to miss the obvious. Not only does "ignorance breeds hatred and violence" apply to Islamic insurgents; it applies to people across the world. When you look at those who are the most racist, the most protectionist, and most violent also tend to be the most ignorant. Let's face it, when was the last time you read about a gang of Ph.D.s terrorizing a neighborhood?
Mr. Mortenson has come face-to-face with an issue that concerns me and one I have been looking into for several years--the military-NGO incompatibility. When offered to have $2.2 million secretly funneled to him to build schools, he "...realized my credibility in that part of the world depended on me not being associated with the American government, especially its military." This is a sad yet real part of the world in which we live. NGOs and the military could do great things by working together but there are serious issues which must be overcome and the most serious issue is the one of perception.
Mr. Mortenson has another book coming out in January. Three Cups of Tea: One Man's Journey to Change the World... One Child at a Time
Three Cups of Tea: One Man's Mission to Promote Peace . . . One School at a Time
Posted by robertgreen at 4:25 PM | Comments (0)
Job Market for Engineers is Promising in Spite of Economic Downturn
"Avoiding the Ax: Where the Jobs Are," by Sarah E. Needlemn, Wall Street Journal, Tuesday, 23 December 2008, Vol.CCLII, No. 148 p. D1.
Good news for engineering. According to the article, engineering is always in demand and now the fields of" environmental, biomedical, civil, aerospace and industrial" will be in even greater demand. The stimulus proposed by the next administration, according to the article, is also likely to increase even the further demand for engineers given the stimulus is to be focused on improving infrastructure.
Some companies are looking to not only fill vacancies but to increase the number of engineering position they have. Among those looking to expand is SRI International, a company I collaborated with on a proposal many years ago. SRI "specializes in engineering, public policy, life science and technology research."
I caution that this information should not be used to make a career choice. I am often asked what fields of engineering are most in demand and I respond the ones with the most students. Right now I would say the biomedical engineering is one of the smaller fields but if the field grows tremendously then the number of students will increase to fill the jobs. Free market principles apply to jobs and college majors just as they do to the economy.
Posted by robertgreen at 3:42 PM | Comments (0)
A Really Nice Christmas
As is now our tradition, we stayed home for Christmas and enjoyed it for the most part. I am sad in that this is the last my daughter will be with us before she gets married next year. So, we made the best of it. We opened gifts when we woke up and I had a great time--I always enjoy giving presents more than receiving them. Kathryn was tickled with her pink GPS (Garmin nuvi 250 3.5-Inch Portable GPS Navigator (Pink)
Sara made steak and eggs for breakfast which was really good. We ate together and talked. Nice change of pace. Later in the day, as everyone grew lazy, I started cleaning out some desk drawers--something I usually do over the holidays but missed last year. I got rid of a lot of junk and got most everything organized for the new year.
As for my gifts, Sara took a stab at my Amazon wish list and got me War Made New: Technology, Warfare, and the Course of History: 1500 to Today
Posted by robertgreen at 1:37 PM | Comments (0)
December 24, 2008
When it Rains, It Pours
When it rains it pours--literally. My daughter was visiting her fiancé's parents over the last two days and was ready to come home today. Her car starting acting up and she didn't want to drive it home. Fortunately we have AAA Premier and they covered a tow home where we will have it looked at after Christmas. And it was raining to boot. I just picked her up and now we are heading to church.
Posted by robertgreen at 5:30 PM | Comments (0)
Rude Fans are in Chicago Too, Not Just in Oxford
Tom Barnett is ticked off a Chicago and I can't blame him. All the man wanted to do was take his son to a Packers game but was berated most of the time by the Bears fans. He claims he will not go back to Chicago or spend any more money there.
It reminds me of the last time I attended a game at the University of Mississippi. It was for the Egg Bowl and the University of Mississippi had won. The weather was lousy, it had rained most, if not all, of the game, and it was Thanksgiving. I was patted down by security on the way in, apparently confusing with the drunks they are used to having at their games. (By the way, what University in the nation has been told by a federal judge that they need to get their student drinking problem under control?) As I was walking back to the car where the rest of my family and friends were waiting, I saw a guy come running up behind us, jumped on a guy's back who was walking with his wife and son, and made a very crude statement. It was at that time that I decided I had attended my last function on that campus.
In my case there was no bright side. In the case of tom Barnett, his son at least said he enjoyed the time they spent together. That says a lot about the relationship they have and I have no doubt that his son will grow up to be a fine young man--who shows much more class than fans of the Chicago Bears.
Posted by robertgreen at 5:28 PM | Comments (0)