Author Archives: Kit Stolz

Did avoiding fats make our obesity problem worse?

Could the misunderstanding about fat have made the American problem with obesity worse? That’s the understated implication — or an implication — of the latest version of the medical consensus on fats in the bloodstream, as defined by Frank Hu, head of Harvard’s School of Public Health, in a story by Jane Brody in the NYTimes with aContinue reading “Did avoiding fats make our obesity problem worse?”

Internet erodes the interview: Chuck Klosterman

Fascinating insight on the 21st century and the interview in reporting and writing from a Q & A with Chuck Klosterman: I feel like in general that the art of the interview has been eroded by the rise of the Internet. It’s taken away the necessity of [doing them] but it still seems to meContinue reading “Internet erodes the interview: Chuck Klosterman”

Neil Young keeps on rocking — past the curfew

Missed Neil as he passed through SoCal this past week, and regret it — Rolling Stone says this is his best tour in “decades,” and for good measure throws in a video of an epic 17-minute version of what some consider his greatest song Cortez the Killer. But my fave review I’ve seen from thisContinue reading “Neil Young keeps on rocking — past the curfew”

Not climate change: Climate Rupture

As Tom Toles says in a column today: First it was called the Greenhouse Effect, then Global Warming, then Climate Change. Each accurate enough, as far as that goes, but all woefully inadequate at conveying the catastrophe we’ve been creating. The short column eloquently describes the extreme weather that scientists have warned us to expectContinue reading “Not climate change: Climate Rupture”

NYC writer meets nature: The Great Surrender

A young writer lays out what it is to fall into a relationship with nature — reluctantly. …if you had told me a decade earlier, when I was living in New York City working as a magazine editor, that I would someday move to Montana—and for a man—I would have scoffed: “What a hilarious idea.” IfContinue reading “NYC writer meets nature: The Great Surrender”

Pope Francis: The universe is calling to us

Francis, the Pope, has made headlines by visiting Washington and calling for action on climate change, on poverty, on immigration, and for religious freedom. But that’s nothing! In his startling Laudato Si he actually lays out an even more ambitious agenda. How could it be more ambitious than solving the problems of climate change, poverty,Continue reading “Pope Francis: The universe is calling to us”

People of the PCT: Chop Stakes

In section J of the Pacific Crest Trail, at mile 1140 on Halfmile’s great maps, I met a thru hiker on his way south. A young man, alone, completely comfortable with the trail, and making steady if slow progress. He said he’d just been cheered by passing the 1500-mile mark — that meant he wasContinue reading “People of the PCT: Chop Stakes”

Why does the park service make wilderness visitors lie about camping next to water?

If you wish to obtain a permit to visit the Yosemite Wilderness, to hike perhaps on the PCT, one goes to the Wilderness Permit office labeled as such, off the main road (not the stone building near the campgrounds) and stands in line and picks up one’s reserved permit, or hopes that someone else does not,Continue reading “Why does the park service make wilderness visitors lie about camping next to water?”

The president as a man in the world: JFK

Love love love this picture, taken by a friend of JFK’s, who allowed its publication for the first time last week in, natch, the NYTimes. This speaks to me and, I suspect, many Americans because it embodies a big part of what made JFK special. Although (as the article eloquently reveals) he is not the firstContinue reading “The president as a man in the world: JFK”