In a bold Swiftian essay from a non-fiction book soon to be published called Eating Animals, New York novelist Jonathan Safer Foer brings up an unpleasant fact: Rendering—the conversion of animal protein unfit for human consumption into food for livestock and pets—allows processing plants to transform useless dead dogs into productive members of the foodContinue reading “The Rendering of the Dogs vs. Raising Cattle Well”
Monthly Archives: October 2009
Gifts of Uncertainty: Joanna Macy Sees Our Present Moment
The Ojai Foundation, a beautiful place for spiritual seekers, this week inaugurated a "great teacher series" by bringing deep ecologist and Buddhist Joanna Macy in to lead a workshop and give a talk. A truly inspiring talk it was, and I don't write such words often, being a bit of a skeptic about gurus andContinue reading “Gifts of Uncertainty: Joanna Macy Sees Our Present Moment”
The Loneliness of the Last Flat-Earther
Funny story from Dana Milbank's Washington Post sketchbook on Sen. Inhofe, whose rants against global warming now seem so utterly dated and Bushian: "It must be very lonely being the last flat-earther. Sen. Jim Inhofe of Oklahoma, committed climate-change denier, found himself in just such a position Tuesday morning as the Senate environment committee, onContinue reading “The Loneliness of the Last Flat-Earther”
Bears and Minivans in Yosemite (the beta)
Fascinating study in the Journal of Mammology sent to me by a reader. The opening of the study and the headline in the Los Angeles Times agree: Minivans in Yosemite are targets for bears, maybe because they're usually inhabited by messy young children. As reporter Carla Hall put it: It's official. Those discerning car critics,Continue reading “Bears and Minivans in Yosemite (the beta)”
Imaginative Reporter Shreds “Global Cooling” Fallacy
With newspaper revenues cratering, most reporters are too busy covering their ever-expanding beats to think imaginatively about ways to cover a story. But Seth Borenstein, who has been reporting on science issues for the Associated Press for years, doesn't need to fear for his next paycheck, and has consistently brought imagination to his work. ConfrontedContinue reading “Imaginative Reporter Shreds “Global Cooling” Fallacy”
The Worst Sexual Double Standard in Politics Today
Meghan McCain speaks out against the Puritanism of the GOP today, in a post for The Daily Beast called The GOP Is Clueless About Sex: Perhaps the worst sexual double standard in politics right now is that too many subconsciously believe Republican women are void of sexual desire altogether. Good point, Meghan. One wonders: HowContinue reading “The Worst Sexual Double Standard in Politics Today”
Shocker! NBA Drops Unenforceable Rule On Traveling
During the new season beginning today, National Basketball Association refs will now allow players two steps after "the gather" before they must shoot, pass, or be charged with a violation. This has been the unofficial practice for approximately ever. Lakers coach Phil Jackson had a typically acerbic response to the change: "Well, I guess ifContinue reading “Shocker! NBA Drops Unenforceable Rule On Traveling”
As Unemployment Rises, Workaholism Declines
Why is it that in the depths of the Great Recession, with editorial cartoonists hit just as hard as other newspaperpeople, the only one who seems to draw on the subject from the point of view of the unemployed, is Ted Rall? I don't get it. Too much identification with the oppressor? Puzzling. But whatever,Continue reading “As Unemployment Rises, Workaholism Declines”
Ansel Adams in Color
Hard to believe, but the great Ansel Adams had no confidence in his color photography, and so in his life published only a handful of the thousands of pictures he took in color. Even the one below (featured in a brief selection of his color work this week in The New Yorker) didn't make theContinue reading “Ansel Adams in Color”
If It Looks like an El Nino, and Feels Like an El Nino…
,,,maybe it is an El Nino. After an unexpected and totally welcome 6.59 inches a couple of weeks ago, the air has been clear, soft, windless and warm…we hit a 97 a week ago, and yesterday 84. The data also look convincing: Here's a graph of warmth spreading along the equator across the Pacific, fromContinue reading “If It Looks like an El Nino, and Feels Like an El Nino…”
Kit Stolz 