From an interview with Amory Lovins, who began as a photographer, and recounts how his first editor — David Brower — who pioneered the much-loved Sierra Club nature books, would edit photographers: "Everyone knows the sky is there. So don't show it unless it's doing something interesting, and then show a lot of it." MaybeContinue reading “David Brower’s Sky Rule (of photography)”
Author Archives: Kit Stolz
How much of our climate change fear real? (Achenbach)
Joel Achenbach is a super-popular writer for the Washington Post who happens to be interested in science-y developments such as climate change, asteroids, and disasters. He's also a man with a giant pen, or, perhaps these days, keyboard. He can write! So refreshing in science, may I say. His latest thinking out loud, from thisContinue reading “How much of our climate change fear real? (Achenbach)”
Back on the PCT — ahead of the Mountain Fire
Yep, time to get back on the trail. Fortunately I have completed section B, from Warner Springs to i-10 at the San Gorgoinio Pass, so the Mountain Fire in the San Jacinto range is behind me. NASA can see this fire from space: I'll be mostly in the San Bernardino mountains, but descending to theContinue reading “Back on the PCT — ahead of the Mountain Fire”
Why conspiracies fail: U.S. government edition
Movie conspiracies — such as Three Days of the Condor — always work until a brave victim stands up to the bad guys and brings them down, usually violently, sometimes by informing the NYTimes. In real life, conspiracies usually fail because someone who is part of the plan screws up. (And this is whyContinue reading “Why conspiracies fail: U.S. government edition”
Why California is not going to ban fracking by initiative
At the enormously helpful Hydraulic Fracturing conference put on by the American Groundwater Trust, State Senator Fran Pavley concluded her talk by alluding to the possibility that if California voters feel that nothing is being done to protect their groundwater, they may take matters into their own hands and vote for an initiative to regulateContinue reading “Why California is not going to ban fracking by initiative”
Fran Pavley promises to regulate fracking in California
Fran Pavley, the California state senator best known for authoring a global warming measure in our state in 2006, who represents much of Ventura County, was the first speaker at a two-day conference on hydraulic fracturing (aka fracking) organized by the American Groundwater Trust in Agoura. Pavley now is carrying SB 4, a comprehensive billContinue reading “Fran Pavley promises to regulate fracking in California”
How not to be a total jerk: Philip Larkin
Seems so simple when Jessica Hagy describes it: May not be that easy, though. In a letter (quoted in this long review by James Fenton) the English poet Philip Larkin also had what I thought was an insightful comment, though perhaps it's obvious in retrospect: The more sensitive you are to suffering the nicer person youContinue reading “How not to be a total jerk: Philip Larkin”
“The blame game” — in history and w/climate change
In a review of two new books about World War I, The Sleepwalkers and July 1914, Harold Evans (aka Sir Harry) notes the uselessness of playing "the blame game" when it comes to the start of the tragic war. [Christopher] Clark declines to join [Sean] McMeekin in what he calls “the blame game,” because thereContinue reading ““The blame game” — in history and w/climate change”
President’s lawyer explains climate emissions regulation
Jody Freeman, a law professor who worked for two years for the Obama White House, explains the logic behind the President's plan to tighten emissions standards at existing power plants: Even the president's…modest plan to set standards for power plants is legally risky, especially with regard to existing plants. The law calls for states toContinue reading “President’s lawyer explains climate emissions regulation”
McClatchy: Obama launches war on coal
Commentary on Obama's big climate speech of a couple of weeks ago — which Al Gore called the best speech ever given on the topic by a president, but which was completely eclipsed by the Supreme Court just hours later — was nonetheless fascinating. The McClatchy chain of newspapers focused in its lead on the negative,Continue reading “McClatchy: Obama launches war on coal”
Kit Stolz 