Adam Gopnik in The New Yorker delves at length into the latest theories of how dogs came to be members of our human family. Dogs, we are now told, by a sequence of scientists and speculators—beginning with the biologists Raymond and Lorna Coppinger, in their 2001 masterwork, “Dogs”—domesticated themselves. They chose us. A marginally calmerContinue reading “How dogs came to be one of the family”
Author Archives: Kit Stolz
The superiority of the newspaper to the on-line version
His severance check safely deposited, long-time LA Timesman Mark Heisler, now an ex-staffer, speculates out loud about the future of his beloved institution, the newspaper: Within newspapers, it’s assumed we’ll wind up as websites, whether or not some of us continue to print and it takes 10 years or five (or one recession). I usedContinue reading “The superiority of the newspaper to the on-line version”
Western water reporter recounts being ripped off
A nasty little irony: A first-rate Western writer about water, Emily Green, recounts how her massive five-part newspaper series on a Las Vegas water grab was scooped up and rewritten into a book by a another writer. In other words, her work on a rip-off was in turn ripped off (and she has the quotesContinue reading “Western water reporter recounts being ripped off”
Yosemite deaths in 2011: Couch potato phenomenon?
That's the hint dropped in Matt Weiser's excellent examination of the numerous deaths this year in the Yosemite Valley recently in the Sacramento Bee. He suggests that visitors to the park are just too removed from nature in their minds to recognize the risks of nature when they encounter them in life. Visitorship is upContinue reading “Yosemite deaths in 2011: Couch potato phenomenon?”
Studio exec: Forget story. It’s all about spectacle.
In Variety, a Disney studio exec makes brutally clear what has become increasingly obvious over the last few years. Big movie audiences no longer care much about character, dialogue, or even story — what they want is spectacle. "People say 'It's all about the story,'" [Andy] Hendrickson said. "When you're making tentpole films, bullshit." HendricksonContinue reading “Studio exec: Forget story. It’s all about spectacle.”
How Healthy are Our Oceans?
My cover story, this week in the VCReporter. I especially liked that both a commercial fisherman and a devout sports fisherman praised government regulators for maintaining the fisheries in SoCal: Both commercial fishermen and sport fishermen agree [that the fisheries are in decent shape]. “I think it’s doing pretty good,” said Pete DuPuy, who hasContinue reading “How Healthy are Our Oceans?”
Wander here a whole summer, if you can: John Muir
Wander here a whole summer, if you can. Thousands of God’s wild blessings will search you and soak you as if you were sponge, and the big days will go by uncounted. If you are business-tangled, and so burdened with duty that only weeks can be get out of the heavy-laden year, then go toContinue reading “Wander here a whole summer, if you can: John Muir”
Arctic ice not yet at point of no return, researchers say
Given the dramatic decline in summer ice coverage in the Arctic in recent years, some researchers have feared we are approaching the end of summer ice in the Arctic. But a new study, examining ancient driftwood found along the shores of Greenland, argues in Science that in fact it was much warmer 5000-8000 years ago.Continue reading “Arctic ice not yet at point of no return, researchers say”
Roshomon: Made in America (to start)
One of the greatest films of all time, the critics agree, is Akira Kurosawa's masterpiece Roshomon. Turns out it's based on a Japanese short story, that in turn was based on a story by Ambrose Bierce, the infamous Western wit, aka "the San Francisco Wasp," who disappeared in Mexico. The story turned up recently onContinue reading “Roshomon: Made in America (to start)”
12 million imperiled by crop failure in Africa: Why?
A month ago, in England, one could not pick up a newspaper without reading about the 12 million people who are imperiled by drought and starvation in the Horn of Africa. So this morning it's good to see a major American newspaper, the Los Angeles Times, put the story of the worst famine in theContinue reading “12 million imperiled by crop failure in Africa: Why?”
Kit Stolz 