Marc Ambinder (here) explains how the GOP is putting its foot into its mouth, or shooting itself in the foot…or some combination thereof. Each time Cheney opens his mouth, the DNC — or Robert Gibbs, if he's in the mood — finds a way to reduce Republican opposition to President Obama's plans to the wordsContinue reading “Cheney, Dust, and Bob Dylan”
Author Archives: Kit Stolz
On Climate: “The Expert is Scared”
From the Aspen Environment Forum: “Maybe that’s the narrative: The expert is scared.” —Robert Socolow, Professor of Mechanical and Aerospace Engineering, Co-Principal Investigator, Princeton University’s Carbon Mitigation Initiative Note that Socolow in the climate/energy field is considered something of a hopeful moderate. Probably should have attended this conference. List of speakers, beginning with Lisa Jackson,Continue reading “On Climate: “The Expert is Scared””
Sex and Death, by Richard Avedon
With all due respect to Science Daily, Nature, the GRL, and countless other ultra-serious scientific journals, the most interesting thinking in the world of science journalism right now seems to be happening in blogs such as Bioephemera, which looks at the intersection of art and science. Here's an example, from the great photographer Richard Avedon,Continue reading “Sex and Death, by Richard Avedon”
Climate, by Emily Dickinson
#1295 I think that the Root of the Wind is Water —It would not sound so deepWere it a Firmamental Product–Airs no Ocean keep —Mediterranean intonations —To a Current's Ear —There is a maritime convictionIn the Atmosphere — She's utterly correct, of course. It's quite astounding how much the atmosphere can resemble the ocean inContinue reading “Climate, by Emily Dickinson”
Weirdest Right-Wing Obama Taunt
Lately I've heard a new insult directed at Barack Obama by right-wing outlets…claiming that without his teleprompter, he's lost. Unable to pronounce words. Hopeless in front of a crowd with a mic. No, I'm not kidding. The allegation is that Barack Obama is stupid. Take a look at this genius post from the super-popular right-wingContinue reading “Weirdest Right-Wing Obama Taunt”
Geo-Engineering: The Ecologist Doesn’t Like It
According to The Ecologist, the technological fixes for global warming are untested, dangerous, expensive, and probably ineffective. (See the chart below.) This may all be true, but as more than one scientist pointed out at this year's American Geophysical Union conference, if the news about global warming is as bad as some fear, we reallyContinue reading “Geo-Engineering: The Ecologist Doesn’t Like It”
Why DeSalination Is Not the Answer
A water manager for United Water Conservation District named Steve Bachman explains succinctly why desalination is not the answer, in a story I wrote in today's Ventura County Star (here): “People ask all the time about desalination,” he said. “And yes, we can do that, if you’re willing to pay two times or more whatContinue reading “Why DeSalination Is Not the Answer”
Limbaugh’s Popularity Dives, Hurts GOP
As reported previously, Democratic partisans James Carville and Paul Begala launched an attempt to anoint Rush Limbaugh the head of the GOP in the mind of the American public. This was possible because no one really knows who speaks for the GOP these days, as a poll, from Pew, (here) shows. The top contender isContinue reading “Limbaugh’s Popularity Dives, Hurts GOP”
The Scariest Opening to an Essay Ever
From Keeping It In the Family, by Claire Watkins, in Granta's recent Fathers issue. My father first came to Death Valley because Charles Manson told him to. He always did what Charlie said; that was what it meant to be in The Family. It's a great little memoir/essay, no more than about 700 words long.Continue reading “The Scariest Opening to an Essay Ever”
Tennessee Williams: Tougher Than You Might Think…
This week’s New Yorker has an extraordinary review of Thornton Wilder’s hoary classic Our Town. Extraordinary because reviewer Hilton Als begins with criticism of Thornton Wilder the man and playwright that is so sharp it’s almost bitter, then moves to all but dismissing his best-known play, and then finally redeems the play – somewhat –Continue reading “Tennessee Williams: Tougher Than You Might Think…”
Kit Stolz 