What is causing the drought in the West? Could it be a jetstream phenomenon connected to the cold winter being experienced back East? Which could be connected to blockages interrupting the polar vortex, causing it to spill southward into places like the Ohio Valley? And could those blockages be connected — as researchers such asContinue reading “Connecting global warming and California drought”
Category Archives: thinking out loud
How nicotine builds addictive structures in the brain
Cigarettes are evil. What is evil? "Evil is movement towards void," said (memorably) the novelist Don Delillo. In the context of cigarettes, evil is intending to push users towards the void — to sicken or kill them. But how can a naturally occuring substance, a venerable plant such as tobacco, express malice? Here's howContinue reading “How nicotine builds addictive structures in the brain”
If climate change is dangerous, can’t a scientist say so? (Hansen’s keynote address at the AGU 2013)
Back in l988, physicist/climatologist James Hansen told Congress that that we had begun to change the earth's atmosphere. This was during a heat wave in Washington, and his testimony made headlines. That's rare for a scientist of any sort. "Global warming has began, Expert tells Senate" reported the NYTimes. "It's time to stop waffling soContinue reading “If climate change is dangerous, can’t a scientist say so? (Hansen’s keynote address at the AGU 2013)”
Strange days: Winter dryness and smog in Bay Area
For countless years winters have brought to the San Francisco Bay Area wind and rain and green hills and fresh air Not this year. Not yet. From the San Jose Mercury News: The main factor in the poor air quality, they said, is the relentless dry weather. Normally, particle haze in the Bay Area increasesContinue reading “Strange days: Winter dryness and smog in Bay Area”
An environmental movement around “the Ambient”
While on the trail in early November, had a chance to read a fascinating essay in The New Yorker plumbing the depths of the informational world we live in today — what smartphones and related technologies mean (or don't) and how they should be regulated (or not). Included in the discussion was a new bookContinue reading “An environmental movement around “the Ambient””
Tear down Hetch-Hetchy dam? Release a new Yosemite?
Two former attorney generals for the state of California, Dan Lungren, a Republican, and John Van de Kamp, a Democrat, together last week published an editorial calling for Congress to revise the Raker Act that allowed, back in l910, the flooding of a priceless valley called Hetch-Hetchy in Yosemite National Park. Hetch-Hetchy was deeply belovedContinue reading “Tear down Hetch-Hetchy dam? Release a new Yosemite?”
Internet saint of the day: Joan Didion
In the Roman Catholic calendar, virtually every day is a feast day in honor of this saint or that, famous or not, and in a strange sense it's similar on the Internet — every day belongs to some famous secular saint or sinner. Today, Julie Cart of the LA Times reminds us that her heroineContinue reading “Internet saint of the day: Joan Didion”
“Beware of any endeavor that requires new clothes”: Patagonia
Yvon Chouinard, the founder of the outdoor clothing company Patagonia, quotes Thoreau in a new promotional film extolling WornWear. He speaks of the wisdom of keeping old clothes, and not buying new ones, and gets the quote almost perfectly. To be precise, [from chapter one in Walden] the quote reads: I say, beware of all enterprisesContinue reading ““Beware of any endeavor that requires new clothes”: Patagonia”
A great essay on a great writer: Messud on Camus
A great review will not only change your mind, but make you see — and feel — afresh. Such is Claire Messud's essay on Albert Camus' Algerian Chronicles, in the 50th anniversary issue of the New York Review of Books. Must read! But if you don't, here are some reasons — from Camus — whyContinue reading “A great essay on a great writer: Messud on Camus”
Justice for teen killers in the U.S…and Mexico
In Ventura County in Southern California, Alex Medina, found guilty by a jury of killing another Ojai teenager, Seth Scarminach,for the benefit of a street gang, was sentenced to twenty-six years to life this week. Eighteen-year-old Alex Medina received the maximum sentence today for the murder of an Ojai teen in 2009. Medina wasContinue reading “Justice for teen killers in the U.S…and Mexico”
Kit Stolz 