Author Archives: Kit Stolz

Barack, Your Climate Rhetoric Needs Work

I can't claim to be fully objective when it comes to Barack Obama, who is one of the best speakers I've ever heard, perhaps the best. But perhaps my fandom will make the following point a little sharper. Mr. President, when you speak about the climate, you really haven't found your way. When you speakContinue reading “Barack, Your Climate Rhetoric Needs Work”

Let America Be America Again

From artist Steve Brodner's wonderful blog…by which I mean both the art and the poem by Langston Hughes he quotes… Lincoln said, “We must disenthrall Ourselves  and then we shall save our country.” Meaning, snap to, pay attention Lest you lose your moment to act. But of all the days of my life This mightContinue reading “Let America Be America Again”

Morning in America, Part II

Nice to see that on the morning of the inauguration, Toles chooses to speak out on an enviro issue. And really, can anyone today deny that Ronald Reagan made a huge mistake when he took out (see here) the solar energy panels Jimmy Carter installed on the White House? We call it "alternative energy," butContinue reading “Morning in America, Part II”

Fleet Foxes: Best of 2008

If there's one new group that made every "Best of 2008" list I saw, it was the Fleet Foxes. Via the resourceful Aquarium Drunkard, here's a knock-out live set from the Netherlands six weeks ago, The group was opening for Ben Folds. Sorry, but who? Or you can see them on Letterman, featuring a mandolin.Continue reading “Fleet Foxes: Best of 2008”

Cork: Get the Real Thing — Here’s Why

Tree scientist Nalini Nadkarni in her excellent new book Between Earth and Sky explains cork trees and the cork industry, and in a quiet scientific way mentions why you should want the real stuff in your wine bottle.  She writes that the cork industry has evolved over hundreds of years, and supports a substantial industryContinue reading “Cork: Get the Real Thing — Here’s Why”

Tom Friedman, Cut to Shreds

Matt Taibbi is the writer as slasher. When you finish with one of his pieces you feel a little light-headed, as you might feel if you were a tough guy, and had just rolled some local thug. But the thing is, in Taibbi's case, the thug (be it Bush, Palin, or Erica Jong) always seemsContinue reading “Tom Friedman, Cut to Shreds”

EXCITING HOUSEKEEPING NOTE! SEARCH FUNCTION NOW WORKS!

Thank you, Google, and thanks esp. to Typepad, for finally figuring out the problem with the search function, which for literally years I've been trying to get to work on this site, but NOW IT DOES! Really. Check it out (and tell me if I'm wrong). But I've tried via two different computers and browsersContinue reading “EXCITING HOUSEKEEPING NOTE! SEARCH FUNCTION NOW WORKS!”

Climate Change and the Press: Panel Discussion at Meteorologists Convention

Wednesday at the American Meteorological Society convention in Phoenix, a distinguished panel convened by Bud Ward discussed how the press has handled — or muffed — coverage of climate change. Ward recently published a short book on a series of workshops he pulled together over the last couple of years for high-level journalists and scientists,Continue reading “Climate Change and the Press: Panel Discussion at Meteorologists Convention”

A Real — and Popular — Poet: Inger Christensen, RIP

We've had some discussion lately of poets, real and otherwise, beloved and otherwise, which is why I must link to a fascinating tribute to Inger Christensen, a poet revered in Denmark, who just died. Fascinating because Christensen was both hugely popular in Denmark, probably more so than any poet in our language except perhaps BobContinue reading “A Real — and Popular — Poet: Inger Christensen, RIP”