Monthly Archives: August 2013

How is it even possible to hike 42 miles a day on the PCT?

Un-freaking-believeable. This vegan athlete, Josh Garrett, is averaging 42 miles a day on the Pacific Crest Trail, and is expected to break the all-time record in the next couple of days. In an interview, he said: The current speed record is 64 days and eleven hours. I hope to finish in 63. That means IContinue reading “How is it even possible to hike 42 miles a day on the PCT?”

California’s “golden gulag” — prison thru a painter’s eye

Here's a great story on KCET's arts blog, about an exhibition at UC Riverside called Geographies of Detention. Title sounds heavily academic, but the paintings serve what may be art's highest purpose — to tell hard truths with sly beauty, as in this painting of Pleasant Valley State Prison in Coalinga, by Sandow Birk.  WritesContinue reading “California’s “golden gulag” — prison thru a painter’s eye”

Flying today: the dominance of the upper class

Wondering why you don't like flying as much as you used to? If you're a member of the middle class, Harold Meyerson — a left-leaning columnist for the Washington Post — has an answer for you.  Airline seating may be the best concrete expression of what’s happened to the economy in recent decades. Airlines areContinue reading “Flying today: the dominance of the upper class”

Alice Eastwood: I only go to the mountains for the flowers

Alice Eastwood, who wrote the first guidebook to the flowers of the Sierra Nevada, and was president of the Tamalpais Conservation Club, campaigned for the state park known in my home town of Mill Valley as Mt. Tam.   "I am not a true mountain climber as I go only for the flowers and forContinue reading “Alice Eastwood: I only go to the mountains for the flowers”

Ted Nordhaus: Republicans will act on climate change

A thorn in the side of the environmental movement in the last decade has been Ted Nordhaus, who has trumpeted "the death" of the movement in books published with co-author Michael Shellenberger, and sharply criticized environmental strategists. Together they lead a "green think tank" called The Breakthrough Institute which today calls for a revival ofContinue reading “Ted Nordhaus: Republicans will act on climate change”

Shale oil: Overhyped?

Two weeks ago at a conference on fracking in Agoura, an industry analyst named Gordon Pickering told about 150 geologically sophisticated insiders that natural gas companies are seeing rapid rates of decline in production in the Bakken formation in North Dakota. "It's requiring more and more drilling, and becoming increasingly energy intensive," he said. "TheContinue reading “Shale oil: Overhyped?”

The healing tree that revived photographer Mark Hirsch

Mark Hirsch was a professional photographer and editor who suffered a couple of crippling blows in life; first, being laid off from a job he loved editing photos for an Iowa newspaper, and then being literally hit by a truck. For CBS News, he wrote:  After the crash, I was unable to work. I hadContinue reading “The healing tree that revived photographer Mark Hirsch”

J.J. Cale (Gotta Get Back to You, Magnolia)

Last week the great J.J. Cale, beloved by talents ranging from Eric Clapton to Neil Young to Widespread Panic, left our realm. But he'll never be forgotten, for "Around Midnight" and "Cocaine" and many other great songs.  As a thoughtful obit in the Daily Beast pointed out, J.J. Cale songs don't seem to have beenContinue reading “J.J. Cale (Gotta Get Back to You, Magnolia)”

Prominent Republicans call for climate action now

Here's some news you won't see on FOX News: Four former EPA chiefs, all Republicans, back President Obama's climate action plan, and call for even stronger action, immediately: Each of us took turns over the past 43 years running the Environmental Protection Agency. We served Republican presidents, but we have a message that transcends political affiliation:Continue reading “Prominent Republicans call for climate action now”