The culture mostly ignores the Kentucky-based writer and poet Wendell Berry, despite his vast eloquence, save on two subjects. (Or so he claims.) Undeniably he is heard regarding his distaste for computers, and his compassion for gay people who want to marry. The latter he phrases memorably in an interview with the Associated Baptist Press: Continue reading “Oddest of strategies to condemn homosexuals: Wendell Berry”
Author Archives: Kit Stolz
2012 Was Once Considered Hottest Year On Record, Man In 2024 Remembers Wistfully
NEW WASHINGTON—Marveling at how dire things seemed in the relatively stable days of 12 years ago, Alan Gibson, 41, a local man of the year 2024, wistfully recounted on Wednesday the then-record temperatures recorded in the United States in 2012. "To think that we were concerned about a 55.3-degree average is almost comical, but then,Continue reading “2012 Was Once Considered Hottest Year On Record, Man In 2024 Remembers Wistfully”
Wall Street Journal vs. James Hansen on 2012 temps
In an editorial this weekend in the Wall Street Journal, columnist Holman Jenkins scoffed at the reporting of the NOAA statement that 2012 was the hottest year ever in the instrumental record in these United States. Jenkins wrote: When the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration says 2012 was the hottest year on record in theContinue reading “Wall Street Journal vs. James Hansen on 2012 temps”
Ojai Valley News: CA shale oil 3/5ths of Prudhoe Bay
In the Ojai Valley News, friend Marianne Ratliffe digs deep into the story of how fracking is coming to Ventura County in particular and the state of California in general, and uncovers a world of new information on the latest. Terrific story. Here's the punchline, I think: California is the fourth-largest oil-producing state in theContinue reading “Ojai Valley News: CA shale oil 3/5ths of Prudhoe Bay”
The loneliness of the long-distance floater
From the National Geographic's annual photo contest, by Eric Guth: Is it possible to sense loneliness and loss in a chunk of glacial ice? Related articles The winning images from Nat Geo's 2012 Photography Competition will blow you away Writers, Artists, Musicians: Where Would We Be If Our Loneliness Left Us Alone? The little girlContinue reading “The loneliness of the long-distance floater”
Samuel L. Jackson calls out Spielberg on “Lincoln”
On the eve of the announcement of the Academy Award nominations, it's worth recalling that this year star Samuel L. Jackson called out director Steven Spielberg for misdirection. Specifically. for letting Lincoln go on and on unnecessarily: "I don't understand why it didn't just end when Lincoln is walking down the hall and the butler gives himContinue reading “Samuel L. Jackson calls out Spielberg on “Lincoln””
Allegation: White House to act on global warming
Yesterday the Wall Street Journal reporter Eric Holthaus put out a truly epic series of tweets from a briefing on the all-time heat records set last year here in these United States. Let me cite just a couple: BREAKING: NOAA announces 2012 officially the warmest year on record for the United States. http://www.ncdc.noaa.gov/sotc/  NOAA: "Every stateContinue reading “Allegation: White House to act on global warming”
Seasonal Forecaster: Cold winter for Eurasia, Northeast
In his talk at the American Meteorological Society convention Tuesday, Judah Cohen repeated a forecast made in December — that Eurasia and New England — will likely have a cold winter this year. He' laid it out the fundamentals of his new prediction idea about ten years ago in the Journal of Climate, although since then he's broughtContinue reading “Seasonal Forecaster: Cold winter for Eurasia, Northeast”
Rickshaw Run: the ultimate journey-not-destination
Nick Anderman, a near-relative — my daughter's boyfriend — is with three other friends adventuring through India in a fundraising race via underpowered ricksaw, which, as this writer for the Atlantic points out this month, is pretty much the ultimate journey-not-destination. Nick and his pals are avoiding the big cities because they're impossible to cross in aContinue reading “Rickshaw Run: the ultimate journey-not-destination”
The Fair Barbarians: The “New Woman” Climbers of 1900
In Nature's Altars: Mountains, Gender, and American Environmentalism,Susan Shrepfer reveals how in the early 20th century the mountains became a sanctuary for what was briefly known as "The New Woman." Unfettered from womanly duties and heavy skirts, these women found a freedom distinct from their urban sisters, the flappers, and arguably more meaningful. Writes Schrepfer:Continue reading “The Fair Barbarians: The “New Woman” Climbers of 1900″
Kit Stolz 