Last week Al Gore called out the media for failing to cover the shocking decline in Arctic ice this summer, and made the point that our democracy itself is in peril when enormous stories go unreported because they might be unpalatable or difficult for the right: The whole North polar ice cap is disappearing in Continue reading “Al Gore calls out media on Arctic ice: Editorials follow”
Category Archives: activism
Salt Lake City Doctor: GOP/Romney energy policy filthy
Startlingly fresh climate change commentary from a medical doctor in Salt Lake City: As I listened to Mitt Romney deliver his energy plan for America and read the Republican Party platform, I was struck by parallels to a book about the atrocious medical care given to President James Garfield after he was shot on JulyContinue reading “Salt Lake City Doctor: GOP/Romney energy policy filthy”
Charts of the week: Decline of Arctic Sea Ice
Via NatureClimate's feed, a great GIF-animated graph showing the diminshing Arctic sea ice in summer, heading towards zero in late summer perhaps as early as the 2020's. Some bloggers say even earlier. Above chart works best if you click to enlarge. Chart below needs no enlargement. Via RealClimate. They link to a blogger from NewContinue reading “Charts of the week: Decline of Arctic Sea Ice”
Pussy Riot: a post-modern band imprisoned for attitude
Speaking of rebellious rockers…it's generally agreed, by both fans and skeptics, that rock and roll is all about attitude, so in these post-modern, post-truth times, it's only natural and proper that Pussy Riot, a Russian group that has never released a record, has become the biggest punk rock band in the world. More famous, withContinue reading “Pussy Riot: a post-modern band imprisoned for attitude”
The semi-true story of “Rocking the Casbah”
Yet another day of stifling heat, but this time with rising humidity too! Time for a break. Here's a tremendous cover of the great Clash song Rocking the Casbah, by Algerian rocker Rachid Taha. Except that probably Taha and his band of Algerian outcast rockers inspired it…see below. From The Guardian (in 2007): The French-Algerian singerContinue reading “The semi-true story of “Rocking the Casbah””
Average August 2012 temperature in Phoenix: 100.2
As of today. That includes night: hasn't once fallen below 90 in weeks. Map from a resident who — looking for a cool spot — cleverly overlaid a heat image of the city on a Google Earth map. After charting the cooler green locales (see link) Mark concluded he should live in the Phoenix Country Club.
The Escalator: How to manipulate the global temps record
Spectacular gif from John Cook of Skeptical Science, illustrating how climate change deniers take a steady rise in global surface temps and manipulate the trend away. From NOAA datasets: Seems to work a little better if opened in a new tab, though. Click above, please.
Julie Christensen sings the hell out of Weeds Like Us
Here's a story in the Reporter I wrote on local fav Julie Christensen, who just brought out an excellent new record, despite not having the backing or the money. No small feat. It's a triumph, sez me, and I knew I wanted to write about Julie and her new record when I heard her singContinue reading “Julie Christensen sings the hell out of Weeds Like Us”
Popular denier waves off hottest spring in U.S. history
The multitudes at this site have been wondering how long it will take before the most popular of climate change deniers waves off the hottest spring in American history. It's been months. Well, the wait is over. Anthony Watts finally bothered to opine on the subject, cleverly mixing the minimization of the hottest spring andContinue reading “Popular denier waves off hottest spring in U.S. history”
The Southern California resurgence of backpacking
Too long ago our local master of the backcountry Bill Slaughter and his rock and roller partner Rain Perry led a group of mostly Ojains into the wilderness to a popular camp by the Sespe, Bear Creek, an easy but pleasant walk, well documented by Modern Hiker. We had a great time and, having sent scouts aheadContinue reading “The Southern California resurgence of backpacking”
Kit Stolz 