This month Harper's magazine turns its lead essay over to Stephen Stoll, a historian, who in "The Cold We Caused," delves into the history of climate to show how "nearly incoherent" are the arguments of the likes of climate change denier James Inhofe, Senator from Oklahoma, who continues to insist against the facts that weContinue reading “How the Little Ice Age Reveals Our Climate Control”
Monthly Archives: October 2009
The Fabulousness of Unemployment
As circulation continues to crater, the Los Angeles Times laid off another forty or so staffers this week, including numerous veterans who somehow survived the last two years of terror at the beleaguered newspaper. Among them was a dashing columnist named Tina Daunt, who has reacted by going (on her blog at least) with sheerContinue reading “The Fabulousness of Unemployment”
End of the Road for Zombie Arguments on Global Warming?
Readers may already have encountered the kerfuffle over a new book by the best-selling Freakonomics team, Stephen Dubner and Steve Levitt, who in a single chapter manage to stand up and push forward most of the brain-dead –aka zombie — arguments on the subject of climate change. It's sad to see such smart guys makeContinue reading “End of the Road for Zombie Arguments on Global Warming?”
More Climate Data for the Fire
As usual, Toles explains the big picture with ease, leaving the rest of us to squabble over the details: To be specific, the last couple of months have brought several grim climate studies to the fore, none of which has raised so much as a ripple of consciousness, as far as yours truly can tell.Continue reading “More Climate Data for the Fire”
Again Falls This Quiet Persistent Rain…
According to the National Weather Service, this huge storm that hit California last night was the biggest precip to reach the state at this time of year in forty years (sorry, I can't reference that, because I can't find/remember where I read it). Hit central CA harder than us in SoCal, but boy was itContinue reading “Again Falls This Quiet Persistent Rain…”
A Conservative Voice of Reason on Climate Change
Lindsay Graham, the senior senator from South Carolina, co-authored an op-ed over the weekend published in the New York Times, in which he called for the passage of climate change legislation. Graham of course is a Republican, but he defied "the Party of No" cliche, arguing sensibly that (according to the Huffington Post): I thinkContinue reading “A Conservative Voice of Reason on Climate Change”
Ojai Mourns Bear Shot, Killed Downtown
Over the weekend a large, peaceful bear wandered into downtown Ojai, ended up in a tree, and after much human hubbub and confusion, was tranquilized and killed. Published reports conflict as to what happened. A story in the Ventura County Star, quoting state fish and game officials, reported: At about 10 p.m. Saturday, a wardenContinue reading “Ojai Mourns Bear Shot, Killed Downtown”
Meteorology — It’s So Not about You
Robert Peake, Ojai's most distinguished poet this century, thinks deeply and writes beautifully about topics that only poetry has the means to bring down to earth. Over the summer I happened to see him read the following, which may be of particular interest to the readers of this site, because this poem dares to suggestContinue reading “Meteorology — It’s So Not about You”
Withholding Is What Gives Telling Its Power
From a wonderfully wandering essay by Ange Milko in last month's issue of Poetry, on motherhood, Pinocchio, nature, and much much more, this central truth: Over the last half-century, poetry and memoir have served the function of self-expression, and self-expression is justified as a necessary truth-telling. “Identity” poetry has even claimed the moral high ground,Continue reading “Withholding Is What Gives Telling Its Power”
Beautiful, But Not Paradise (a Nobel for Barack)
Giving the Nobel Prize to our new president, after less than 300 days in office, seems not just surprising but a little too flattering, doesn't it? Still, as the Prez said, as a call to action — on climate, as much as any issue — it's a worthy gesture. Personally, I would like to giveContinue reading “Beautiful, But Not Paradise (a Nobel for Barack)”
Kit Stolz 