Last fall this blogger noted in a post on Grist a truly murderous threat directed at Dr. James Hansen, the scientist hero who more than any other single individual has awoken the planet to the threat posed by climate change. In a comment thread on a far-right anti-global warming blog, the commenter called for HansenContinue reading “Killer of Abortion-Provider May Have Foreshadowed Murder in Bitter Comments Posted On-Line”
Category Archives: Uncategorized
Sad-Eyed Lady of the Lake Imprisoned Again
The life of the elected (but imprisoned) leader of the unhappy nation of Burma, Ang Sang Suu Kyi, suffered a tremendous blow this month when a middle-aged American, John Yettaw, described as "a well-intentioned but misguided man" swam to her compound from across a lake in Burma. This gave the infamously secretive regime in BurmaContinue reading “Sad-Eyed Lady of the Lake Imprisoned Again”
“The Great Recession?” Really?
From The Big Picture, via Andrew Sullivan: Hard to know if the worst is over, but this chart strongly suggests that comparisons between whatever it is that we're going through and The Great Depression are simply wrong. Even the phrase The Great Recession (from a New York Times headline) is sounding overblown.
Link Between Factory Hog Farm and Swine Flu Outbreak?
Tom Philpott, Grist's agriculture writer, writes that media in Mexico has linked the outbreak of a new form of swine flu to a huge hog factory. He writes: Is Smithfield Foods, the world’s largest pork packer and hog producer, linked to the outbreak? Smithfield operates massive hog-raising operations Perote, Mexico, in the state of VeraContinue reading “Link Between Factory Hog Farm and Swine Flu Outbreak?”
All-Time Great Greens Recipe
Some recipes come along that are so great they must never get misfiled, lost, or generally overlooked…until they become embedded in the memory by sheer repetition. This is one that came via a friend, originally from Chez Panisse Vegetables by Alice Waters, but like all her best work, it's the essence of simplicity. It's especiallyContinue reading “All-Time Great Greens Recipe”
Tennessee Williams: Tougher Than You Might Think…
This week’s New Yorker has an extraordinary review of Thornton Wilder’s hoary classic Our Town. Extraordinary because reviewer Hilton Als begins with criticism of Thornton Wilder the man and playwright that is so sharp it’s almost bitter, then moves to all but dismissing his best-known play, and then finally redeems the play – somewhat –Continue reading “Tennessee Williams: Tougher Than You Might Think…”
The Reporter: A Committed Observer
One of the puzzles the 21st-century has put to journalism in general and reporting on the environment in particular is this: How does one who cares about the planet report on issues without becoming a shrill advocate, boring, or just plain repetitious? The hopelessly muddied word “objectivity” is no help here. Objectively speaking we asContinue reading “The Reporter: A Committed Observer”
A rumor of rain…
In the sunset tonight, a hint of moisture…a suggestion of clouds…a rumor of rain…
Cork: Get the Real Thing — Here’s Why
Tree scientist Nalini Nadkarni in her excellent new book Between Earth and Sky explains cork trees and the cork industry, and in a quiet scientific way mentions why you should want the real stuff in your wine bottle. She writes that the cork industry has evolved over hundreds of years, and supports a substantial industryContinue reading “Cork: Get the Real Thing — Here’s Why”
How to Make Money and Lose Water, Arizona Style
Kathy Jacobs, who managed water for twenty-three years in Arizona, is now leading an innovative thinktank drawing on three universities. The Arizona Water Institute just published a paper on the amount of water it takes to generate power in Arizona. A couple of interesting quotes: On a national basis, the water withdrawn from rivers andContinue reading “How to Make Money and Lose Water, Arizona Style”
Kit Stolz 