Once upon a time, back in the early 80’s, for the usual inexplicable cultural reasons, a variation of reggae music known as ska became hugely popular, especially in England and L.A., led by such groups as the Specials and (my favorite) the English Beat. The Beat had a unique ability to blend the personal andContinue reading “The Kind of Problem Only Radiation Cures”
Monthly Archives: October 2006
Sunday Morning on the Planet: St. Francis
Back in l985, the Pope said that St. Francis should be the patron saint of ecologists. This brings to mind the famous story about St. Francis preaching to the birds. According to Wikipedia, that story is probably folklore, but it is a story with roots in fact (St. Francis had no interest in money, andContinue reading “Sunday Morning on the Planet: St. Francis”
The Panic of A Denialist
In recent years right-wingers in this country, including the President, have scoffed at the idea of global warming, and ignored those who expressed concern and called for action. Now, even among Republicans and conservatives, the need to act to reduce the risks of climate change is looking increasingly like the new conventional wisdom. The obviousContinue reading “The Panic of A Denialist”
Amazing but True: Pombo in Trouble
Richard Pombo, the anti-enviro zealot who first came to Congress in the anti-Clinton "wave" election of l994, now faces losing power in the anti-Bush wave election of 2006. Couldn’t happen to a nicer guy–or a bigger liar. For the full story, check out this superb piece from the LATimes earlier this year by Bettina Boxall,Continue reading “Amazing but True: Pombo in Trouble”
Worst Congress Ever?
Tough to blog well when your computer is in the shop, but I have to bring to your attention to a truly extraordinary story in Rolling Stone by Matt Taibbi on the Congress. He calls it the worst ever, and just about proves it with his vivid depictions of corrupt, inept, lazy, stupid and all-aroundContinue reading “Worst Congress Ever?”
President Struggles to Rebrand Himself as an Enviro
The political pundits haven’t noticed, probably because they habitually put the health of the planet at the bottom of their list of concerns, but this week on national television David Letterman pointed out that the Current Occupant of the White House is trying to present himself as an Environmental President.
It’s a struggle, as you can see.
A Master of War (poetry)
This week I happened to stumble across a couple of dazzling looks at Bob Dylan, perhaps our favorite warrior of thought. Thought I put them up for your bemusement. With luck, sometime soon I’ll have a chance to review his latest, Modern Times, but for now, let me call on a poet John Hodgen: WhenContinue reading “A Master of War (poetry)”
Like a Hurricane — 2006
The political pundits of this fall have not forgotten last year’s biggest news event, it appears, as they’re comparing the upcoming mid-term elections to a political Katrina: In the National Journal, Chuck Todd used athe metaphor to describe the Republican party: The GOP’s hurricane shutters are state of the art, but sometimes even "state ofContinue reading “Like a Hurricane — 2006”
Why We Form Our Musical and Political Preferences At the Same Time
It’s biological. According to Robert Sapolsky, a primatologist, MacArthur genius, and all-around wit at Stanford, from the years of eighteen to twenty-four, individuals in our species are curious, eager to try new things (such as music)…but by the time we are forty, more than ninety percent of us know what we like and are uninterestedContinue reading “Why We Form Our Musical and Political Preferences At the Same Time”
Sunday Morning on the Planet: Kirk Creek
Just another evening at Kirk Creek in Big Sur. Sunset magazine calls this site, on a bluff off Highway 1, the prettiest campsite in California. For car camping, I’d have to agree. The irony is that the five of the best sites are reserved for hikers and bikers, but if these sort of brave soulsContinue reading “Sunday Morning on the Planet: Kirk Creek”
Kit Stolz 