According to Toles, maybe not: Much as I dislike giving credit to a fake enviro like Thomas Friedman for writing about the environment, his column yesterday effectively made some important points no other nationally syndicated columnist has dared put forth, at least that I know of. The column is called Mother Nature's Dow: Mother NatureContinue reading “Climate Change: A Back-Burner Issue”
Monthly Archives: March 2009
How Do You Save A River? Easy. Make a Wetland…
The Environment Agency of the UK, after looking at climate models that predict a shocking 50-80% drop in river flows from the hard-rock west of England and Wales by 2050, are calling for drastic measures to maintain flows and species habitats. To wit (from the Telegraph): River flows across the country will be cut inContinue reading “How Do You Save A River? Easy. Make a Wetland…”
An Unboring Life…
…may not be lucrative, but at least it gives you a chance to become a person you want to be. Or, as Ibsen put it, in his usual gentle way: What is healthy is the happiness one acquires through one's own will. via Jessica Hagy's great Indexed, which kindly allows others to link and copy.
Cheney, Dust, and Bob Dylan
Marc Ambinder (here) explains how the GOP is putting its foot into its mouth, or shooting itself in the foot…or some combination thereof. Each time Cheney opens his mouth, the DNC — or Robert Gibbs, if he's in the mood — finds a way to reduce Republican opposition to President Obama's plans to the wordsContinue reading “Cheney, Dust, and Bob Dylan”
On Climate: “The Expert is Scared”
From the Aspen Environment Forum: “Maybe that’s the narrative: The expert is scared.” —Robert Socolow, Professor of Mechanical and Aerospace Engineering, Co-Principal Investigator, Princeton University’s Carbon Mitigation Initiative Note that Socolow in the climate/energy field is considered something of a hopeful moderate. Probably should have attended this conference. List of speakers, beginning with Lisa Jackson,Continue reading “On Climate: “The Expert is Scared””
Sex and Death, by Richard Avedon
With all due respect to Science Daily, Nature, the GRL, and countless other ultra-serious scientific journals, the most interesting thinking in the world of science journalism right now seems to be happening in blogs such as Bioephemera, which looks at the intersection of art and science. Here's an example, from the great photographer Richard Avedon,Continue reading “Sex and Death, by Richard Avedon”
Climate, by Emily Dickinson
#1295 I think that the Root of the Wind is Water —It would not sound so deepWere it a Firmamental Product–Airs no Ocean keep —Mediterranean intonations —To a Current's Ear —There is a maritime convictionIn the Atmosphere — She's utterly correct, of course. It's quite astounding how much the atmosphere can resemble the ocean inContinue reading “Climate, by Emily Dickinson”
Weirdest Right-Wing Obama Taunt
Lately I've heard a new insult directed at Barack Obama by right-wing outlets…claiming that without his teleprompter, he's lost. Unable to pronounce words. Hopeless in front of a crowd with a mic. No, I'm not kidding. The allegation is that Barack Obama is stupid. Take a look at this genius post from the super-popular right-wingContinue reading “Weirdest Right-Wing Obama Taunt”
Geo-Engineering: The Ecologist Doesn’t Like It
According to The Ecologist, the technological fixes for global warming are untested, dangerous, expensive, and probably ineffective. (See the chart below.) This may all be true, but as more than one scientist pointed out at this year's American Geophysical Union conference, if the news about global warming is as bad as some fear, we reallyContinue reading “Geo-Engineering: The Ecologist Doesn’t Like It”
Why DeSalination Is Not the Answer
A water manager for United Water Conservation District named Steve Bachman explains succinctly why desalination is not the answer, in a story I wrote in today's Ventura County Star (here): “People ask all the time about desalination,” he said. “And yes, we can do that, if you’re willing to pay two times or more whatContinue reading “Why DeSalination Is Not the Answer”
Kit Stolz 