At the Museum of Modern Art is an exhibit of modern abstract painters, the first since an epochal show from l958. It's called The Forever Now. The title hints at the problem facing the painters in the show: what can be painted that hasn't been painted before? Or, as Peter Schdjeldahl puts it in TheContinue reading “A Cubist from California (with wit)”
Author Archives: Kit Stolz
Mary Oliver: on “the traction” of poetry (On Being)
On Being, with Mary Oliver: With my pencil I traveled to the moon and back, probably a few times. I had trouble with the Resurrection so I would not join the church. I think that life is much more interesting with a spiritual part. I spent a lot of times [walking around in theContinue reading “Mary Oliver: on “the traction” of poetry (On Being)”
Low gas prices: a climate-destroying trap?
A scholar, Ruth Greenspan Bell, and Max Rodenbeck, a former Middle East editor for The Economist, argue in an op-ed in today's Los Angeles Times that the drop in oil prices has as much to do with keeping the U.S. addicted to oil, not to mention defeating climate-saving initiatives, as it does with anything else. Continue reading “Low gas prices: a climate-destroying trap?”
Climate change and football (not Deflategate)
Lee West tweets it best, on this hallowed national holiday: In a video for Funny or Die, Bill Nye takes on "Deflategate" with a proper lack of respect, and a focus on climate, while former fan Steve Almond cuts football's legs out from under it, with a passionate attack: In a great interview with Jon WeinerContinue reading “Climate change and football (not Deflategate)”
The power of Deportees: Lance Canales + the Flood
Sixty-eight years ago today Woody Guthrie wrote a poem about a plane crash, in which three dozen field workers died, but were not even named [Rui Brai] in media accounts (including the NYTimes). Ten years later Guthrie's words were put to music by school teacher Martin Hoffman. This became the song Deportee, surely one of the most powerfulContinue reading “The power of Deportees: Lance Canales + the Flood”
Uh-oh CA: Ridiculously Resilient Ridge is back
Despite a couple of mild rains, we haven't seen any sizeable precipitation in some time. Craig Miller of KQED in San Francisco explains why: You might’ve noticed a conspicuous absence lately: rain. In fact, with a scant few days remaining in the month, much of Northern California is on track for a record-dry January. TheContinue reading “Uh-oh CA: Ridiculously Resilient Ridge is back”
Huge blizzard to hit NYC: Homer Simpson bent out of shape
Joe Romm of ThinkProgress points out that scientists believe that the finger of blame has already been pointed at climate change when it comes to the size of storms hitting the mid-Atlantic and New England coastal regions. Romm writes: "Another epic blizzard is bearing down on New England. There is a “big part” played byContinue reading “Huge blizzard to hit NYC: Homer Simpson bent out of shape”
Is a climate disaster inevitable? Adam Frank/NYTimes
Astrobiologist Adam Frank looks at climate change from a deep time perspective, and speculates that perhaps the reason we're having difficulty with adjusting is that it's a really hard problem that few if any civilizations in the history of time have managed to figure out. Frank points out that science now knows that virtually everyContinue reading “Is a climate disaster inevitable? Adam Frank/NYTimes”
Rant of the Year (2014): Emma Stone in “Birdman”
You know what's painful? Meaninglessness is painful. It really is. Life is absurd, to have so much for such a long time, then nothing, and it's painful to know that none of us can escape that fate. Plus, here in the crowded 21st century, we cannot help but notice that the more there are ofContinue reading “Rant of the Year (2014): Emma Stone in “Birdman””
Can GOP Senators be this dumb on climate?
According to Mitch McConnell, Senate Majority leader, the answer is yes: Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell (R-Ky.) said Tuesday he will allow the Senate to vote on an amendment asking if they agree that climate change is impacting the planet. At his weekly press briefing, McConnell said "nobody is blocking any amendments" to legislation thatContinue reading “Can GOP Senators be this dumb on climate?”
Kit Stolz 