Last fall this blogger noted in a post on Grist a truly murderous threat directed at Dr. James Hansen, the scientist hero who more than any other single individual has awoken the planet to the threat posed by climate change. In a comment thread on a far-right anti-global warming blog, the commenter called for HansenContinue reading “Killer of Abortion-Provider May Have Foreshadowed Murder in Bitter Comments Posted On-Line”
Monthly Archives: May 2009
Why Santa Barbara Homes Burn and Ventura County Homes Don’t
The excellent story in the Ventura County Star doesn't come right out and say it, but essentially it's simple — homes built after modern fire codes are far less likely to burn. 'Specially on large lots: There are thousands of homes in Ventura County that, like Eichele’s, are on what fire officials call the “urban-wildlandContinue reading “Why Santa Barbara Homes Burn and Ventura County Homes Don’t”
But Can Jesus Dunk?
Very Important News: the Lakers will be going, for the second year in a row, to the NBA Finals. This year they will win it all, mostly because of #24. As Denver coach George Karl put it, reported by snarky Los Angeles Times columnist TJ Simers: "I think Jesus would have had trouble covering" KobeContinue reading “But Can Jesus Dunk?”
Sad-Eyed Lady of the Lake Imprisoned Again
The life of the elected (but imprisoned) leader of the unhappy nation of Burma, Ang Sang Suu Kyi, suffered a tremendous blow this month when a middle-aged American, John Yettaw, described as "a well-intentioned but misguided man" swam to her compound from across a lake in Burma. This gave the infamously secretive regime in BurmaContinue reading “Sad-Eyed Lady of the Lake Imprisoned Again”
Camping on Angel Island (the beta)
Countless folks warned myself and the fam last weekend to watch out for the fog on Angel Island (as if I didn't know that the San Francisco Bay could get foggy in the summer). This maybe is a difference between locals (who have to live with the fog for months at a time, and wearyContinue reading “Camping on Angel Island (the beta)”
VC to Set the Bar for Nation in Recycling Stormwater
According to hard-working Heal the Bay activist Mark Gold, the Southern California Regional Water Quality Board this month committed Ventura County development projects to capturing stormwater and using it to replenish local aquifers. This means avoiding pollution and saving water — the best of possible solutions to two problems simultaneously. Most remarkably, the ruling commitsContinue reading “VC to Set the Bar for Nation in Recycling Stormwater”
Jay Bennett is in the stars now…
Sad news: Jay Bennett, who played with Jeff Tweedy in the band known as Wilco, died over the weekend. Although Wilco became a big rock band sometime between Being There and Yankee Hotel Foxtrot, for many fans their high watermark remains the epochal Mermaid Avenue project. For this record, Woody Guthrie's daughter Nora asked WilcoContinue reading “Jay Bennett is in the stars now…”
How Lovely Wetness Makes the Flesh
This holiday weekend some swimming may have happened. We all know how beautiful people can be emerging from the water, but it takes a poet to see the bigger picture… By Tennessee Williams, in the fall issue of Southwest Review. Written on the stationery of the Hotel Woodstock, the poem dates from 1939, when WilliamsContinue reading “How Lovely Wetness Makes the Flesh”
Holiday for Rock Fans: Wilco Streams New Record
In response to an unauthorized release, Wilco does the generous thing and streams their new record — to be released at the end of next month — on their site. Sounds damn good, but you have to be tough to listen to it…"One Wing" might break your heart. "You and I" will touch it, forContinue reading “Holiday for Rock Fans: Wilco Streams New Record”
where I am today…in the middle of San Francisco bay….
On Angel Island with my family, camping out…something one couldn't do not so long ago. Where is Angel Island? In San Francisco Bay…a lovely, wooded island, with a few buildings from a century ago, and a few new campsites. Will report soon. Here's a woodcut print from the inimitable Tom Killion, from a perspective atopContinue reading “where I am today…in the middle of San Francisco bay….”
Kit Stolz 