In the best speech I have read since the last Vaclav Havel speech I read, Haruki Murakami reflects on the tsunami that hit Japan a year ago and "mujo" — the fading of beauty. If we think about nature, for example, we cherish the cherry blossoms of spring, the fireflies of summer and the redContinue reading “The beauty of nature fading away: Haruki Murakami”
Monthly Archives: March 2012
From first idea to immortality in The New Yorker
The cartoon editor of The New Yorker, Bob Mankoff, now offers a blog that looks at the history of this institution of wit. Featured this week is Michael Maslin, who first began submitting to the magazine at age sixteen. Seven years later, he had his first success. They took a cartoon he submitted and gaveContinue reading “From first idea to immortality in The New Yorker”
How dry will it be in California in 2012?
According to NOAA, La Niña is beginning to fade away in the Pacific, but it's probably too late to expect much precip this year. La Niña-like impacts are expected to persist into the upcoming season. For those of us who like rain, snow, and water, this is not great news. So far this year hasContinue reading “How dry will it be in California in 2012?”
Rush Limbaugh is a grotesque monster: Tom Toles
Tom Toles rarely draws El Rushbo, but when he does, Limbaugh always ends up looking like Jabba the Hut. For Toles, it's uncharacteristically unfunny. A little grotesque, disturbing.
Heard any frogs in your backyard lately?
A UC Berkeley researcher quoted in the U.S. News and World Report warns that the frogs in your backyard — if any — may be on their way out. If you happen to see a frog hopping around in your back yard, take a good look— it might not be around for much longer. Ecologists areContinue reading “Heard any frogs in your backyard lately?”
Limbaugh a threat to GOP, warns conservative — in 2009
Almost exactly three years ago, David Frum — for decades a proud Reaganaut who, among his other efforts for the conservative cause, wrote speeches for George W. Bush — broke from right-wing orthodoxy and denounced Rush Limbaugh as a danger to the party. Every day, Rush Limbaugh reassures millions of core Republican voters that noContinue reading “Limbaugh a threat to GOP, warns conservative — in 2009”
Could global warming give us late, light flu seasons?
In Ventura, the Star's first-rate health and society reporter Tom Kisken documents the lightest flu season in decades. Seriously, for some reason, it's been 29 years since the flu season took until February to get started. Usually it happens by Christmas. That's according to the official Centers for Disease Control. Why so late? In CaliforniaContinue reading “Could global warming give us late, light flu seasons?”
Bill Clinton: Does Mitt Romney have father issues?
Bill Clinton reacts to Romney's now-infamous 2008 call to Let Deroit Go Bankrupt. "Every time I hear Mr. Romney talk about this, I think his daddy must be turning over in his grave." Romney has already indicated that he disrespects his father's politics. Could his scorn for the American auto industry also be rooted inContinue reading “Bill Clinton: Does Mitt Romney have father issues?”
Kit Stolz 