NPR, one of the biggest news outlets in the nation, asked 4000 listeners to respond to the 2011 State of the Union address. Here's what they got back, in word cloud version: The discussion: "Why is "salmon" so big? As The Two-Way explains, NPR's Facebook followers were referring to one of the night's humorous momentsContinue reading “Why humor matters in a speech: 2011 SOTU edition”
Author Archives: Kit Stolz
What will Obama say about climate in tonight’s speech?
What will, if anything, President Obama say about climate in the State of the Union address? John Kerry, the de facto leader on the issue in the Senate, told The Hill that he expects President Obama to embrace "major initiatives" on climate in tonight's State of the Union address. Carol Browner, former director ofContinue reading “What will Obama say about climate in tonight’s speech?”
The gospel of the cult of Mac
Since it's Sunday, it's worth bringing back a gorgeous little essay recently posted by Andrew Crouch. He takes seriously an idea easy to deride — that Steve Jobs offers a desperate world a faith: the cult of the Mac. Of Apple. As Crouch says: As remarkable as Steve Jobs is in countless ways—as a designer, anContinue reading “The gospel of the cult of Mac”
The truth about campfire stories
When Indexed (as in cartoons on index cards, by Jessica Hagy) is good, it's very very good. And, frankly, when it's not great, it's still kind of amazing.
Could the Australian floods be caused by climate change?
Are the devastating and deadly recent floods in Australia caused by climate change? No. Australia has always been "a land of drought and flooding rains," as a foundational poem about the nation, My Country, by Dorothy McKellar, described it over a hundred years ago. But could a tendency towards drought and flood be worsened by climate change?Continue reading “Could the Australian floods be caused by climate change?”
Writer vs. Critic 2010-2011
Patrick Goldstein, who might be the single best blogger at the LA Times, covers Hollywood, and in his case, that means interviewing influential people in Hollywood. Most of them, because they're in the Industry, cannot stand — for professional reasons — to be disliked, and will not be quoted by name. But Goldstein knows how toContinue reading “Writer vs. Critic 2010-2011”
The Tucson Memorial speech
The news event of this month has been, without question, the horrific assassination attempt and mass shooting in Tucson, the shock and horror of experiencing that, and the extraordinarily uplifting speech President Obama gave in response, many days later, at a memorial. Never have I seen a speech so widely admired, across the political spectrum.Continue reading “The Tucson Memorial speech”
The Decembrists bring back REM
Remember REM, back in their So. Central Rain days, when the band was great? (Even Cobain said so, a little enviously, when he got frustrated with his own sound on In Utero.) Well, so do the Decembrists, sounds like, from their soon-to-be-released The King is Dead, which you can listen to in its entirety for aContinue reading “The Decembrists bring back REM”
Another gay hero saves the day
The great interviewer, reporter, and columnist Patt Morrison lays it down again, as always finding a fresh take on a big subject. Here's a taste of her newest story, to intrigue you: A 20-year-old congressional college intern with only five days on the job saved Gabrielle Giffords’ life. Daniel Hernandez ran toward the sound ofContinue reading “Another gay hero saves the day”
Thin ice in the Arctic means cold winters back East?
Put perhaps as simply as possible, that's the speculation among some experts about the cold snowy winters experienced this year in many Northern hemisphere climates, such as New York. Here's the most concise, detailed explanation I've found so far, from Climate Central: Recent scientific studies have shown that the dramatic warming that has been occurringContinue reading “Thin ice in the Arctic means cold winters back East?”
Kit Stolz 