As reported previously, Democratic partisans James Carville and Paul Begala launched an attempt to anoint Rush Limbaugh the head of the GOP in the mind of the American public. This was possible because no one really knows who speaks for the GOP these days, as a poll, from Pew, (here) shows. The top contender isContinue reading “Limbaugh’s Popularity Dives, Hurts GOP”
Monthly Archives: March 2009
The Scariest Opening to an Essay Ever
From Keeping It In the Family, by Claire Watkins, in Granta's recent Fathers issue. My father first came to Death Valley because Charles Manson told him to. He always did what Charlie said; that was what it meant to be in The Family. It's a great little memoir/essay, no more than about 700 words long.Continue reading “The Scariest Opening to an Essay Ever”
Tennessee Williams: Tougher Than You Might Think…
This week’s New Yorker has an extraordinary review of Thornton Wilder’s hoary classic Our Town. Extraordinary because reviewer Hilton Als begins with criticism of Thornton Wilder the man and playwright that is so sharp it’s almost bitter, then moves to all but dismissing his best-known play, and then finally redeems the play – somewhat –Continue reading “Tennessee Williams: Tougher Than You Might Think…”
Heroic Steelhead Climbs Notoriously Difficult Fish Ladder, Survives
True story, written for the Ventura County Star yesterday by me…find it here. And here's a pic of the heroic fish. Almost asked the biologist, Steve Howard, who is holding the 28-inch fish, if they thought of giving him a name…but that would be too cute. Gotta be a hardened journo.
The Winter Skies of Southern California
…seem to me wilder and more beautiful than at any other time of the year (save perhaps fire season, which is scary as heck but also spectacular as all get out, let's be honest). But back to winter…here's an example from last week, between storms…
What We Pray to Ourselves For Is Always Granted
Today's it's a cliche to say: Be Careful What You Pray For; in fact (in the movies at least) you can see God Himself explaining the concept. But 150 years ago, one of this nation's greatest writers formulated a similar thought with far more care and thoughtfulness. Wrote Ralph Waldo Emerson (in The Conduct ofContinue reading “What We Pray to Ourselves For Is Always Granted”
Yes, Modern Classical Music Can Be Sexy…
…just add The Bad Plus and dancers from The Mark Morris Group, including choreographer and knock-out Julie Worden. (h/p: Alex Ross)
How Free-Lancers Can Get Unemployment Benefits
A couple of weeks ago the LA Times ran a guide for unemployment benefits in its business section (which is available here). To offer such guidance is a great idea. Every news publication that wants to be useful to its readership should be so helpful in these days of soaring unemployment. Unfortunately, the piece wasContinue reading “How Free-Lancers Can Get Unemployment Benefits”
Arctic Ice-Free in Summer of 2013?
According to a Canadian expert who has spent the last ten summers on a remote island in the once-frozen north with his research team, the Arctic could be ice-free by the summer of 2013: OTTAWA (Reuters) – The Arctic is warming up so quickly that the region's sea ice cover in summer could vanish asContinue reading “Arctic Ice-Free in Summer of 2013?”
Horton Foote, Rest in Peace
One of the greatest of modern American writers, Horton Foote, died yesterday after a long and lovely life. Foote may be most famous for his screenplay adaptation of "To Kill a Mockingbird," among many other great works, but many of his fans like best of all his story of a spiritual journey an old womanContinue reading “Horton Foote, Rest in Peace”
Kit Stolz 