Author Archives: Kit Stolz

Having fun with fundamentalism

On an Economist site, the blogger known as DIA bemoans what happens to an Alabama politician who dares question the possibility that every single word in the Bible might not be true. DIA wrote: "EVERY politician says something he has to walk back once in a while. In the case of Bradley Byrne, a RepublicanContinue reading “Having fun with fundamentalism”

What if journalism today included the real news?

Noticing the incredible lack of hard news in today's journalism, the great artist Steve Brodner proposes a solution. In his words: The problem with main stream media is that sometimes the news is hard to find.  What if "journalism" were sponsored by journalism? We could then expect some kind of product placement in the show! Continue reading “What if journalism today included the real news?”

The sexiness of plants (or not)

From the rarely-so-thoughtful-but-often-fun Overheard in New York: So Yada Yada Yada, We Spent the Night in the E.R. Twin sister #1, indignantly: I tried to get him the least sexual plant I could find. I mean, a cactus, how much less sexual could you get? Twin sister #2, thoughtfully: You really can't get any lessContinue reading “The sexiness of plants (or not)”

Does daydreaming make you smarter?

This is the provocative suggestion from a couple of studies cited by Jonah Lehrer, author of Proust was a Neuroscientist, and a man who has written at least one good article in praise of daydreaming. On The Frontal Cortex, he writes:  …in the latest edition of Mind Matters, Susan Whitfield-Gabrieli and John Gabrieli of MITContinue reading “Does daydreaming make you smarter?”

Stars (not seen before)

NASA is very excited about its newly-launched satellite called WISE, which will detect stars, "failed stars," asteroids, and other interstellar bodies with infra-red technology. In the words of the press release: To sense the infrared glow of stars and galaxies, the WISE spacecraft cannot give off any detectable infrared light of its own. This isContinue reading “Stars (not seen before)”

Arctic Oscillation 2010: discussion by NOAA forecaster

While working on an El Nino story to be published soon, I happen to talk Monday morning to Ed Olenic, who forecasts seasonal climate for NOAA's Climate Prediction Center. I know nothing about the Arctic Oscillation, but Mr. Olenic walked me through the basics of the  extraordinary extent of the phenomenon, which I may asContinue reading “Arctic Oscillation 2010: discussion by NOAA forecaster”

Only Russians can still write love poetry

So says, in effect, Vera Pavlova: Multiplying in a column M by F by Vera Pavlova Multiplying in a column M by F do we get one or two as a result? May the body stay glued to the soul, may the soul fear the body. Do I ask too much? I only wish   theContinue reading “Only Russians can still write love poetry”

A New Way to Judge Others: High, Medium, or Low Fitness

A stupendous graph, part of an equally impressive health/lifestyle piece in the WSJ yesterday: The pitch convinces without pushing a single product: "No pill or nutritional supplement has the power of near-daily moderate activity in lowering the number of sick days people take," says David Nieman, director of Appalachian State University's Human Performance Lab inContinue reading “A New Way to Judge Others: High, Medium, or Low Fitness”