Fin Dome over Rae Lakes: Rae Lakes are one of the most accessible of the glacial High Sierra lake chains, so this is a sight many early rising many visitors have seen…blessedly. [Photo via a National Park Service contest on fb, by winner Matt Cooper.]
Monthly Archives: February 2013
50 Shades of love and sex/Valentine’s Day 2013
From my cover story in this week's Ventura County Reporter: Since the genetic basis of our species, Homo Sapiens, stabilized approximately 100,000 years ago, the reproductive nature of the human body has not substantially changed. But in the last few years, human sexual experience has substantially changed, especially among the adventurous. For Valentine’s Day, andContinue reading “50 Shades of love and sex/Valentine’s Day 2013”
Contrarian environmentalist: George Monbiot on nuclear
The case for nuclear power. from Fred Pearce, following the lead of George Monbiot at The Guardian: "The problem is the same in the energy debate. Many environmentalists who argue, as I do, that climate change is probably the big overarching issue facing humanity in the 21st century, nonetheless often refuse to recognize that nuclearContinue reading “Contrarian environmentalist: George Monbiot on nuclear”
President Obama talks climate: 12 hottest years, in last 15
The earth’s getting warmer: “Yes, it’s true that no single event makes a trend. But the fact is, the 12 hottest years on record have all come in the last 15.” President Obama, in the State of the Union Address: You can see that in NOAA’s record of global temperatures. From Ezra Klein's Wonkblog. Weather nerdsContinue reading “President Obama talks climate: 12 hottest years, in last 15”
The state of the climate 2013: Obama
President Obama's makes clear how fast things are changing in the climate in his 2013 State of the Union: …for the sake of our children and our future, we must do more to combat climate change. Yes, it’s true that no single event makes a trend. But the fact is, the 12 hottest years onContinue reading “The state of the climate 2013: Obama”
Orwell on the rules of story-telling in non-fiction
A review of Zero Dark Thirty includes this gem of a quote, one writer in effect overhearing arguably the first great modern non-fiction writer, George Orwell, talking about what we today call literary non-fiction, and what fictionalization he allows in a non-fiction story. . There were few more minute observers of fact than George Orwell.Continue reading “Orwell on the rules of story-telling in non-fiction”
A theatrical metaphor for climate change: Alcoholism
A survey of climate change in theater here and in the UK in the New York Times focuses mostly on "This Clement World," a new musical play by Cynthia Hopkins, and includes a telling quote from the writer: “Alcoholism is an excellent metaphor for the climate change crisis,” she announces at one point onstage. “We’reContinue reading “A theatrical metaphor for climate change: Alcoholism”
Avoiding over-reaction by any means necessary: NYTimes
Evidently the media adults in the room — excluding The Weather Channel – are going out of their way to underplay the big winter storm hitting the East Coast this weekend. The Times and the Post are not putting it on top of the front page and are avoiding calling it by TWC's name. Meteorological services too are emphasizingContinue reading “Avoiding over-reaction by any means necessary: NYTimes”
A blizzard that looks a little like a hurricane: Nemo
And the wind cried…Nemo? One model's vision of the blizzard-to-come…. very hurricane-like. twitter.com/EricHolthaus/s… — Eric Holthaus (@EricHolthaus) February 8, 2013 That's from The Weather Channel…but isn't it NOAA's job to name storms? Related articles Just How Much Snow Will We Get? The Weather Channel Taps Social Media for #Nemo Blizzard Bracing for NemoContinue reading “A blizzard that looks a little like a hurricane: Nemo”
Only independents swayed by weather on warming; Poll
From UPI: DURHAM, N.H., Jan. 24 (UPI) – Climate change beliefs held by independent voters can be dramatically swayed by short-term weather conditions, University of New Hampshire researchers reported. This is in contrast to how voters aligned with a political party hold on to their beliefs, they said. "We find that over 10 surveys, Republicans andContinue reading “Only independents swayed by weather on warming; Poll”
Kit Stolz 