Robert Lee Hotz has been writing about science for thirty years for various American newspapers, has been nominated for the Pulitzer Prize twice and won it once, and these days works for the Wall Street Journal. He writes big, thoughtful pieces about cutting-edge science. This is good, but it means he doesn't publish often, soContinue reading “The Sloshy, Scary Future of New York City”
Author Archives: Kit Stolz
Conventional vs. Unconvential Thinking on Food
Mort Kondracke is at the heart of what we know of as "Washington." He's a Fox commentator and a former cheerleader for the invasion of Iraq, who admired Bush's "anti-terrorism" policy. Inside the Beltway thinking at its dullest and most conventional, in other words. But on the subject of health care this week, Kondracke writes:Continue reading “Conventional vs. Unconvential Thinking on Food”
We Did Not Come Here to Fear the Future
The conclusion of a great speech last night by some guy named Barack: I understand that the politically safe move would be to kick the can further down the road — to defer reform one more year, or one more election, or one more term. But that is not what the moment calls for. That'sContinue reading “We Did Not Come Here to Fear the Future”
Grizzly Die-Off as Salmon Crash: Fish Farms Suspected
A sad story from the Globe and Mail in Canada. Grizzly bears in British Columbia are dead or dying, stream-walkers say, because nine million sockeye salmon expected to return from the ocean this summer have failed to appear. The cause? The immediate cause for the salmon crash is believe to be sea lice, but expertsContinue reading “Grizzly Die-Off as Salmon Crash: Fish Farms Suspected”
Socialism: The Useful Menace and Sequoia Savior
To kill President Obama's health care reform plan, opponents have resorted to calling it "socialist." Some have even criticized his speech to schoolkids, urging them to stay in school and study, as "socialist." To progressives, this line of attack might seem silly, or even absurd, but the truth is that this calumny has a longContinue reading “Socialism: The Useful Menace and Sequoia Savior”
Muir Lake: Another Perfect Day
Was I really here? A little over a week ago? Can't quite believe it…miss it already. I know that posting vacation pics is a little cheesy in this oh-so-serious blog, but here's my justification: One day's exposure to mountains is better than cartloads of books. See how willingly Nature poses herself upon photographers' plates. NoContinue reading “Muir Lake: Another Perfect Day”
What You Ruin Ruins You
The post title is an ominous line from those of us aware that we are in a relationship with the natural world. (Sez me.) The line comes from a poem by Liz Waldener, soon to be seen in The New Yorker. By the evidence of Semblance: Screens, her appearance is well deserved. Here's the poem,Continue reading “What You Ruin Ruins You”
Californians Gather to Celebrate Annual Wildfire Tradition
http://www.theonion.com/content/themes/common/assets/onn_embed/embedded_player.swfFrom The Onion News Network, of course… Californians Gather To Celebrate Annual Wildfire Tradition
A Pas de Deux for Grown-ups
For the last couple of years, I have been complaining about The Los Angeles Times website, which had so many problems it's not even worth the time to list them…well, amazingly, the new version they rolled out a week or so ago is absolutely first-rate. The search function even works. Unbelievable. Here's a sample. AttachedContinue reading “A Pas de Deux for Grown-ups”
Needed: Anti-Hysteria Czar
So argues the great Washington Post reporter/columnist Joel Achenbach: Is it my imagination or in recent years has hysteria become the default response to anything even slightly controversial or offensive? So the head of Whole Foods says in an Op-Ed that he doesn't like the health care reform proposals. Liberals are aghast. The company mustContinue reading “Needed: Anti-Hysteria Czar”
Kit Stolz 