The dull factual scientific answer to Alissa Walker's provocative question is: Probably not. Or: Not yet. After all, even climatologists who spend a great deal of time discussing global warming in the media, such as Gavin Schmidt of Real Climate, are not ready to attribute the cold couple of weeks we had recently to rippleContinue reading “Are frequent fliers to blame for extreme weather delays?”
Author Archives: Kit Stolz
2010: three or four things not to forget
We can't remember everything. Blessedly. But some things from 2010 are too good to forget: Why telling the truth about climate change is good politics, from David Roberts: No matter what derangements currently hold sway over American politics, eventually, reality will out. The crazy weather will get worse, ice fields will melt, agriculture will suffer,Continue reading “2010: three or four things not to forget”
Seeing the stars in the 21st century…or not
Yesterday the Los Angeles Times ran a superb story called A Desert Plea: Let there be darkness about light pollution spreading from the city out into the desert, many many miles away. This is something we noticed when we moved from the city out to the sticks ourselves — in ourselves. Put simply, country people areContinue reading “Seeing the stars in the 21st century…or not”
Where the word “gay” came from
A poorly-named but still charming photo blog focuses on people of the same sex enjoying each other's close company in times gone by, despite the massive taboo against homosexuality back in the day. It's heart-warming, or should be, for everyone who believes in love and friendship. Included is an old pulp novel cover, which makesContinue reading “Where the word “gay” came from”
Environmental alarmists, by Tom Toles
One you might have missed this year from Toles. Can't have that. From May 31st.
What the heck is going on with this La Niña?
Isn't it supposed to be cold and dry in SoCal during a La Niña, not wet and warm? Craig Miller of KQED asks questions, and gets answers from the helpful Kevin Trenberth of NCAR: "In La Niña conditions, which is what we have now, the main storms that come into North America come barreling intoContinue reading “What the heck is going on with this La Niña?”
How to remember: A poet’s theory
In Patti Smith's wonderful memoir, Just Kids, she is forever referring to the constellation of objects she and her dearest friend, photographer Robert Mapplethorpe, found and gathered and treasured together. She writes of a day early in their relationship: One Indian summer day we dressed in our favorite things, me in my beatnik sandals andContinue reading “How to remember: A poet’s theory”
Poetry: the difference between objective and verifiable
Verifiable — which is also popularly characterized, imprecisely, as "objective" –doesn't necessarily mean numerical, as Belle Randall reminds us in a great letter to Poetry. To put it another way, judging poetry (or writing, or human beings, for that matter) is not purely a matter of opinion. Not if the points can be proven. Mathematics isContinue reading “Poetry: the difference between objective and verifiable”
Ocean acidification and coral reefs
A concluding remark from a talk this morning by Ken Caldeira on ocean acidification: My personal opinion is that without emissions mitigation coral reefs on this planet will not be sustainable by mid-century. For the gloomer, a look at the science from the NRDC. Jeez. This may be harder to face than global warming.
The Future of Polar Bears
At the AGU, the world's largest annual physical science conference, a diverse quartet of scientists set out this morning to launch a discussion about the future of polar bears, and the possibility of a refuge for them in northern Canada and Greenland, where ice experts think sea ice, which is crucial to the balance betweenContinue reading “The Future of Polar Bears”
Kit Stolz 