Robert Schiller, one of this nation's most respected economists, writes today in The New York Times that the unemployment we face today could be ruinous for our society for years, perhaps decades, to come: The stakes are very high here, and they are not just economic. As anger rises in today's economy, I'm reminded ofContinue reading “Unemployment: The unheard fire bell in the night”
Monthly Archives: November 2011
House budget makes climate change go away (not)
The budgeting story from the Washington Post over the proposed National Climate Service, comparable to the National Weather Service. Here are the last four graphs: In the NOAA budget battle, the Democratic-led Senate approved most of the climate service in its budget. The Republican-led House approved none of it. [edit] After the deal, which passed Congress lastContinue reading “House budget makes climate change go away (not)”
Disaster lurks behind every moment: Suddenly Last Summer
Nate Sinnott, who comes from the world of stage production, and has not directed before at this level, wrote his master's thesis on Suddenly Last Summer. Currently he has on a brilliant production of this play by Tennessee Williams at California Lutheran's Black Box Theater. It’s shocking, symbolic — unlike most of Williams’ plays —Continue reading “Disaster lurks behind every moment: Suddenly Last Summer”
The trouble with climate change: New York City
Today New York released a 600-page report on the consequences of climate change in the state, which so far (mysteriously to me) only The Guardian has covered, near as I can tell. Their opening: Irene-like storms of the future would put a third of New York City streets under water and flood many of the tunnels leadingContinue reading “The trouble with climate change: New York City”
Horror in Happy Valley: The Jerry Sandusky Movie
The scene: a nice little college town, where everyone is happy and peppy and civic minded, and really loves the football team. Someone from Colorado or someplace, transfers into town for a new job and … starts noticing things. It turns out that the town patriarch (Paterno) isn’t even the ruler… Something Else is… AContinue reading “Horror in Happy Valley: The Jerry Sandusky Movie”
The “hydraulic hearts” of Southern California
Another terrific CA water story from Bettina Boxall of the LATimes, this one on how soaring energy costs — up to 80% higher in the next decade — will force local water agencies to think about local water supplies. To pump water up just this 500 feet, carrying water from the Colorado River, is onlyContinue reading “The “hydraulic hearts” of Southern California”
Point of no return for climate is 2017: IEA
The staid, uncontroversial International Energy Agency said last week that we have five years to preserve our present-day climate. It's generally agreed that warming of more than 2 degrees Celsius risks disaster. Their studies show that most of that is already built in. In the words of Wonk Blog's Brad Plummer: The key issue hereContinue reading “Point of no return for climate is 2017: IEA”
Obama delays Keystone XL pipeline decision
The Obama administration, in a major concession to climate activists, is putting off the Keystone XL pipeline decision. “Because this permit decision could affect the health and safety of the American people as well as the environment, and because a number of concerns have been raised through a public process,” President Obama said in aContinue reading “Obama delays Keystone XL pipeline decision”
The writer who fired the producer: Brett Radner
Yesterday Mark Harris at Grantland eviscerated Brett Radner, the man chosen to produce the Oscar telecast this year, for his "rehearsal is for fags" comment, and lame subsequent apology. Harris wrote: I’ve had to listen to versions of every one of these mea-not-quite-culpas over the years and seriously, I’m no longer interested in patiently witnessingContinue reading “The writer who fired the producer: Brett Radner”
Fruits and vegetables a “specialty crop”: U.S. Congress
Mark Bittman, the brilliant food fundamentalist at the New York Times, has been writing the most amazing occasional editorials the last couple of years. Here's the latest, on the negotiations to reduce farm subsidies, and the group of four heavy-weight representatives from the Midwest on the so-called supercommittee who will negotiate the final numbers onContinue reading “Fruits and vegetables a “specialty crop”: U.S. Congress”
Kit Stolz 