Why is it that in the depths of the Great Recession, with editorial cartoonists hit just as hard as other newspaperpeople, the only one who seems to draw on the subject from the point of view of the unemployed, is Ted Rall? I don't get it. Too much identification with the oppressor? Puzzling. But whatever,Continue reading “As Unemployment Rises, Workaholism Declines”
Author Archives: Kit Stolz
Ansel Adams in Color
Hard to believe, but the great Ansel Adams had no confidence in his color photography, and so in his life published only a handful of the thousands of pictures he took in color. Even the one below (featured in a brief selection of his color work this week in The New Yorker) didn't make theContinue reading “Ansel Adams in Color”
If It Looks like an El Nino, and Feels Like an El Nino…
,,,maybe it is an El Nino. After an unexpected and totally welcome 6.59 inches a couple of weeks ago, the air has been clear, soft, windless and warm…we hit a 97 a week ago, and yesterday 84. The data also look convincing: Here's a graph of warmth spreading along the equator across the Pacific, fromContinue reading “If It Looks like an El Nino, and Feels Like an El Nino…”
How the Little Ice Age Reveals Our Climate Control
This month Harper's magazine turns its lead essay over to Stephen Stoll, a historian, who in "The Cold We Caused," delves into the history of climate to show how "nearly incoherent" are the arguments of the likes of climate change denier James Inhofe, Senator from Oklahoma, who continues to insist against the facts that weContinue reading “How the Little Ice Age Reveals Our Climate Control”
The Fabulousness of Unemployment
As circulation continues to crater, the Los Angeles Times laid off another forty or so staffers this week, including numerous veterans who somehow survived the last two years of terror at the beleaguered newspaper. Among them was a dashing columnist named Tina Daunt, who has reacted by going (on her blog at least) with sheerContinue reading “The Fabulousness of Unemployment”
End of the Road for Zombie Arguments on Global Warming?
Readers may already have encountered the kerfuffle over a new book by the best-selling Freakonomics team, Stephen Dubner and Steve Levitt, who in a single chapter manage to stand up and push forward most of the brain-dead –aka zombie — arguments on the subject of climate change. It's sad to see such smart guys makeContinue reading “End of the Road for Zombie Arguments on Global Warming?”
More Climate Data for the Fire
As usual, Toles explains the big picture with ease, leaving the rest of us to squabble over the details: To be specific, the last couple of months have brought several grim climate studies to the fore, none of which has raised so much as a ripple of consciousness, as far as yours truly can tell.Continue reading “More Climate Data for the Fire”
Again Falls This Quiet Persistent Rain…
According to the National Weather Service, this huge storm that hit California last night was the biggest precip to reach the state at this time of year in forty years (sorry, I can't reference that, because I can't find/remember where I read it). Hit central CA harder than us in SoCal, but boy was itContinue reading “Again Falls This Quiet Persistent Rain…”
A Conservative Voice of Reason on Climate Change
Lindsay Graham, the senior senator from South Carolina, co-authored an op-ed over the weekend published in the New York Times, in which he called for the passage of climate change legislation. Graham of course is a Republican, but he defied "the Party of No" cliche, arguing sensibly that (according to the Huffington Post): I thinkContinue reading “A Conservative Voice of Reason on Climate Change”
Ojai Mourns Bear Shot, Killed Downtown
Over the weekend a large, peaceful bear wandered into downtown Ojai, ended up in a tree, and after much human hubbub and confusion, was tranquilized and killed. Published reports conflict as to what happened. A story in the Ventura County Star, quoting state fish and game officials, reported: At about 10 p.m. Saturday, a wardenContinue reading “Ojai Mourns Bear Shot, Killed Downtown”
Kit Stolz 