"Speaking of not knowing what to do — global warming!" Yours truly is not a big fan of the modern-day kings of irony, Jon Stewart and Stephen Colbert, but this segment on global warming, despite the slightly confusing opening, is hilarious…and, actually, quite insightful about the American public's reaction to the threat of global warming.Continue reading “Stephen Colbert knows America on global warming”
Monthly Archives: September 2011
Wangari Maathai, rest in peace
The great tree-planter and feminist, Wangari Maathai, Nobel Prize winner, died yesterday. We were fortunate enough to see her speak a few years ago, and I was frankly awed by her ability to find simple, enduring truths in complicated, desperate situations. Even today, speaking about the unhappiness of development in Kenya, her words resonate withContinue reading “Wangari Maathai, rest in peace”
What part of that extreme was due to climate change?
Superb — and available! — story in this month's Nature on how researchers are beginning to parse the contribution of global warming to extreme events. Highly recommended. It's called "fractional attribution." Here's an easier way to grasp the concept: To put it in English: Inspired by the observation that intense rainfall in the Northern HemisphereContinue reading “What part of that extreme was due to climate change?”
Sex, drugs, and divorce: Three trend stories from 9/2011
Despite the well-publicized woes of the media, the US press still produces some great stories. Here are three great trend stories from just this week: Sex and Obesity: An intimate report from the front lines on NPR Birdnesting: A way around custody battles, in the Ventura County Star Overdose deaths from prescription drugs surpass trafficContinue reading “Sex, drugs, and divorce: Three trend stories from 9/2011”
Edward Abbey encounters Los Angeles
Sort of. In his classic Desert Solitaire, Abbey recounts going to Southern California with some friends from the University of New Mexico. On the way they stopped to roll an old tire into the Grand Canyon. While so engaged, Abbey happened to hear a ranger describe a little-known branch off the main canyon called Havasu.Continue reading “Edward Abbey encounters Los Angeles”
Fleet Foxes flummox Santa Barbara
The lead singer and guitarist of the Fleet Foxes, Robin Pecknold, is reputed to be a perfectionist, and at the band's appearance at the Santa Barbara Bowl a week ago, he lived up to the description, spending half an hour directly before the show walking around the stage in plain view, pointing, talking to roadies,Continue reading “Fleet Foxes flummox Santa Barbara”
“Real Science” denier site called out by real scientist
Look at this chart from researchers at the University of Bremen, via a compilation page of scientific Arctic data sources, and ask yourself: What trend do you see? Now look at the same basic question — how much of the Arctic is covered by ice, in recent years — from the point of Steven Goddard, whoContinue reading ““Real Science” denier site called out by real scientist”
Past and future wars, by Donald Hall
Donald Hall has a new book out, which is always an occasion for celebration around these parts. Here's a sample poem from Poetry Daily, in which in his characteristically light, quick way, Hall brings together his future (in the past) and his past (in his present-day memory): The Bone Ring The summer when I sawContinue reading “Past and future wars, by Donald Hall”
GOP candidate stumbles over Kurt Cobain
Having gotten attention with a contrarian admission that yes, global warming is a matter of science and fact, alleged GOP presidential candidate Jon Huntsman again played the rebel card at the Tea Party debate this evening with a bizarre reference to Kurt Cobain. "I don't think anything should be off the table except maybe someContinue reading “GOP candidate stumbles over Kurt Cobain”
The Tennessee Williams play about Van Gogh
True story: Early in his career, after a first try at The Fugitive Kind, Tennessee Williams set out to write a play about Vincent Van Gogh. He didn't get far: He had a writing assignment at a theater lab, and his assignments kept him so busy, he said, he hardly had time for "independent work." Continue reading “The Tennessee Williams play about Van Gogh”
Kit Stolz 