From an unpretentious and persuasive visual essay on the most debated movie of the year, The Tree of Life, by Matt Zoller Seitz: There is this central notion in all of Malick’s films that every individual person is just one tiny part of nature. Not too much more important in the larger scheme of thingsContinue reading “Reconciling religion and evolution: The Tree of life”
Category Archives: love poems to the world
Edward Abbey encounters Los Angeles
Sort of. In his classic Desert Solitaire, Abbey recounts going to Southern California with some friends from the University of New Mexico. On the way they stopped to roll an old tire into the Grand Canyon. While so engaged, Abbey happened to hear a ranger describe a little-known branch off the main canyon called Havasu.Continue reading “Edward Abbey encounters Los Angeles”
The Grand Canyon of the Colorado: l901
From Our National Parks, published in 1901: No matter how far you have wandered hitherto, or how many famous gorges and valleys you have seen, this one, the Grand Cañon of the Colorado, will seem as novel to you, as unearthly in the color and grandeur and quantity of its architecture, as if you hadContinue reading “The Grand Canyon of the Colorado: l901”
2010: three or four things not to forget
We can't remember everything. Blessedly. But some things from 2010 are too good to forget: Why telling the truth about climate change is good politics, from David Roberts: No matter what derangements currently hold sway over American politics, eventually, reality will out. The crazy weather will get worse, ice fields will melt, agriculture will suffer,Continue reading “2010: three or four things not to forget”
If this is damnation, I don’t want to be saved
Damnation Creek Trail, Redwood NP, originally uploaded by lindsay_kaun. A ridiculously good tree picture, via the mind-blowing Treeporn site.
The Southern Lights…
…from astronaut Bruce Wheeler's perspective. Does it matter that this astonishing image comes via Twitter' — or Twitpik? Not to me. Like it like that. For more on the mission, here's a report from Discover.
How to send a camera soaring
Colin Rich demonstrates, right here in Ventura County. Somehow he makes sending single-handedly a camera halfway to space look absurdly easy, all the while revealing the astonishing beauty of this little corner of the universe. Wow. http://vimeo.com/moogaloop.swf?clip_id=12421661&server=vimeo.com&show_title=1&show_byline=1&show_portrait=0&color=&fullscreen=1 Pacific Star II from Colin Rich on Vimeo.
Love is the engine, but love is not remembered
So writes Charles Bowden, in the award-winning Some of the Dead Are Still Breathing. This is an "environmental" book, but I don't believe Bowden ever mentions that word. Yet unlike nearly every other book about nature I can think save a couple written by John Muir or Edward Abbey, this "environmental" book does bring up "love"Continue reading “Love is the engine, but love is not remembered”
I believe in the future: Charles Bowden
Orion magazine recently named Some of the Dead are Still Breathing, by Charles Bowden, its enviro book of the year. The commendation's mention of the risks Bowden ventured motivated me to pick it up. Haven't gotten far, but I'm impressed by its almost recklessly free style. Here's a memorable passage from early on: My beliefsContinue reading “I believe in the future: Charles Bowden”
Earth Day, 2010
In honor of the cold beauty of Earth Day 2010 in California, and in honor of the yosemite pool on Flickr…
Kit Stolz 