Author Archives: Kit Stolz

The recession still isn’t over, and here’s proof

The indefatiguable Dylan Matthews for Wonkblog finds a stunning graph: Writes Matthews: The core issue here is that the unemployment rate only counts people actively looking for work. That means there are two ways to leave the ranks of the unemployed. One way — the good way — is to get a job. The other way isContinue reading “The recession still isn’t over, and here’s proof”

Scientific language for non-scientists: climate change x10

Deborah Byrd, founder of the great EarthSky network, has always had an ear for the language as well as an eye on the sky, and writes this week of two climate change studies, both of which found that the change was happening ten times faster than in the past…in fact, faster than in the pastContinue reading “Scientific language for non-scientists: climate change x10”

How is it even possible to hike 42 miles a day on the PCT?

Un-freaking-believeable. This vegan athlete, Josh Garrett, is averaging 42 miles a day on the Pacific Crest Trail, and is expected to break the all-time record in the next couple of days. In an interview, he said: The current speed record is 64 days and eleven hours. I hope to finish in 63. That means IContinue reading “How is it even possible to hike 42 miles a day on the PCT?”

California’s “golden gulag” — prison thru a painter’s eye

Here's a great story on KCET's arts blog, about an exhibition at UC Riverside called Geographies of Detention. Title sounds heavily academic, but the paintings serve what may be art's highest purpose — to tell hard truths with sly beauty, as in this painting of Pleasant Valley State Prison in Coalinga, by Sandow Birk.  WritesContinue reading “California’s “golden gulag” — prison thru a painter’s eye”

Flying today: the dominance of the upper class

Wondering why you don't like flying as much as you used to? If you're a member of the middle class, Harold Meyerson — a left-leaning columnist for the Washington Post — has an answer for you.  Airline seating may be the best concrete expression of what’s happened to the economy in recent decades. Airlines areContinue reading “Flying today: the dominance of the upper class”

Alice Eastwood: I only go to the mountains for the flowers

Alice Eastwood, who wrote the first guidebook to the flowers of the Sierra Nevada, and was president of the Tamalpais Conservation Club, campaigned for the state park known in my home town of Mill Valley as Mt. Tam.   "I am not a true mountain climber as I go only for the flowers and forContinue reading “Alice Eastwood: I only go to the mountains for the flowers”

Ted Nordhaus: Republicans will act on climate change

A thorn in the side of the environmental movement in the last decade has been Ted Nordhaus, who has trumpeted "the death" of the movement in books published with co-author Michael Shellenberger, and sharply criticized environmental strategists. Together they lead a "green think tank" called The Breakthrough Institute which today calls for a revival ofContinue reading “Ted Nordhaus: Republicans will act on climate change”

Shale oil: Overhyped?

Two weeks ago at a conference on fracking in Agoura, an industry analyst named Gordon Pickering told about 150 geologically sophisticated insiders that natural gas companies are seeing rapid rates of decline in production in the Bakken formation in North Dakota. "It's requiring more and more drilling, and becoming increasingly energy intensive," he said. "TheContinue reading “Shale oil: Overhyped?”

The healing tree that revived photographer Mark Hirsch

Mark Hirsch was a professional photographer and editor who suffered a couple of crippling blows in life; first, being laid off from a job he loved editing photos for an Iowa newspaper, and then being literally hit by a truck. For CBS News, he wrote:  After the crash, I was unable to work. I hadContinue reading “The healing tree that revived photographer Mark Hirsch”