2015 will be the world's last, best chance at climate stabilization. (As we heard two weeks ago from the U.S.'s leading representative at the Lima climate talks, Jeffrey Sachs.) So its good news, in a paradoxical way, that the Vatican is leading the charge for real action on emissions control this year by talking veryContinue reading “The Vatican: Climate change is an inequality issue”
Author Archives: Kit Stolz
No uninteresting things: Chesterton and Redmond
There are no uninteresting things, only uninterested people.
Chris Rock on Christmas and Jesus: a rant
Back in 1965, Charles Schultz gave us perhaps the best of all Christmas TV specials. Because it's not just about the season, it's about all that comes with it: depression, loneliness, and self-doubting, as well as family and the sweetness and holiness of the Nativity. It's sad, silly, funny, touching. It won all the bigContinue reading “Chris Rock on Christmas and Jesus: a rant”
2014 Poem of the Year: “A Moment in a Room”
Of course yours truly "achange" has not read a thousandth of the poems published this year, and this poem I submit below as poem of the year doesn't even come from 2014. But it's great, it's by Tennessee Williams, and it's never been published before, I don't believe. It comes from a magisterial biography ofContinue reading “2014 Poem of the Year: “A Moment in a Room””
On the work of writing: Kent Haruf
A beautiful little essay/autobiography from the late Kent Haruf, which Granta generously makes available on-line. As the modest Haruf says, he devoted himself to writing like an acolyte, which no doubt has everything to do with the quality of his work: A couple of favorite passages: On inwardness: I learned to live completely inwardly in thoseContinue reading “On the work of writing: Kent Haruf”
NOAA: Arctic Warming = cold winters for Eastern US
Today the National Atmospheric and Oceanographic Administration released the Arctic Report Card for 2014. The Arctic is warming twice as fast as the rest of the planet, but the first consequence of that warming, according to our national experts, is very very cold winters for the eastern United States. To quote: The warming Arctic atmosphereContinue reading “NOAA: Arctic Warming = cold winters for Eastern US”
Everybody Loves Walter (Ormond beach, take two)
Today Longreads picked up my story about Walter Fuller and the life he has devoted to Ormond Beach, right here on the far shores of Ventura County. Good for Latterly and nice for me and Walter too.
Paris meeting on climate in 2015 “last chance”: Sachs
In a talk in the largest room at the Moscone Center of the American Geophysical Union today, Jeff Sachs, an economist from Columbia-Doherty, currently working for the United Nations, said frankly that the meeting of nations in Paris next year will be the world's "last chance" at climate safety. Sachs just came from the climateContinue reading “Paris meeting on climate in 2015 “last chance”: Sachs”
The unbearable whiteness of Wild: a black perspective
Perhaps the most interesting meditation on the movie Wild to date comes from Brandon Harris on the Talking Points Memo site. He frames the question a little less provocatively than my headline wondering: Why is camping a white thing? He points out that the one black character of any stature in Wild, a self-described hobo,Continue reading “The unbearable whiteness of Wild: a black perspective”
Atmospheric River to hit Bay Area, maybe SoCal
Eric Holthaus, a journalist/meteorologist for Slate, fills us in on the good news of an atmospheric river hitting California this week. This week’s storm will usher in an atmospheric river event, also known as the “pineapple express,” peaking late Wednesday and Thursday. The National Weather Service office in the Bay Area has predicted “the strongest stormContinue reading “Atmospheric River to hit Bay Area, maybe SoCal”
Kit Stolz 