Published on 9/14/2001, in the Chicago Sun-Times, by Roger Ebert, about a memorial for the victims of the 9/11 attacks. Called Make It Green. If there is to be a memorial, let it not be of stone and steel. Fly no flag above it, for it is not the possession of a nation butContinue reading “Make It Green: Roger Ebert’s idea for a 9/11 memorial”
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From first idea to immortality in The New Yorker
The cartoon editor of The New Yorker, Bob Mankoff, now offers a blog that looks at the history of this institution of wit. Featured this week is Michael Maslin, who first began submitting to the magazine at age sixteen. Seven years later, he had his first success. They took a cartoon he submitted and gaveContinue reading “From first idea to immortality in The New Yorker”
How to talk to a man planning suicide: Tennessee Williams
In l940, while living on $50 a month, Tennessee Williams had a long talk with his suicidal friend Clark Mills. I think in the self-reporting of this conversation you can see why 20 years of lack of success at writing could not kill Tennessee Williams' belief in his work, nor his desire to live… [ClarkContinue reading “How to talk to a man planning suicide: Tennessee Williams”
The GOP vs. the Democrats: it’s not the rich vs. the common man
Still one of the best lines of the year, from Jeffrey Sachs, of The Earth Institute: The idea that the Republicans are for the billionaires and the Democrats are for the common man is quaint but outdated. It's more accurate to say that the Republicans are for Big Oil while the Democrats are for BigContinue reading “The GOP vs. the Democrats: it’s not the rich vs. the common man”
Cold this winter? Take another look at the Arctic Paradox
As another huge storm turns south towards the Midwest, some say that the cold winter can be explained by the Arctic Paradox, which links a natural phenomenon (the Arctic Oscillation) to a man-made phenomenon (diminishing ice in the Arctic), which combines to let polar winds escape southward. First question: Is ice in the Arctic really diminishing? ThisContinue reading “Cold this winter? Take another look at the Arctic Paradox”
The Future of Polar Bears
At the AGU, the world's largest annual physical science conference, a diverse quartet of scientists set out this morning to launch a discussion about the future of polar bears, and the possibility of a refuge for them in northern Canada and Greenland, where ice experts think sea ice, which is crucial to the balance betweenContinue reading “The Future of Polar Bears”
The science of NBA gesticulation
The Wall Street Journal tries to bring science to reffing the NBA…by calculating how many technical fouls would have been called in two big Lakers play-offs games last year. We looked back at two NBA Finals contests from last season just to see how often players committed what are now technical-worthy acts. Based on complaintsContinue reading “The science of NBA gesticulation”
The world and we are green: Allen Ginsberg and Jack Kerouac debate love
From a fascinating exchange of letters between Allen Ginsberg and Jack Kerouac: . “Realize, Allen, that if all the world were green, there would be no such thing as the color green. Similarly, men cannot know what it is to be together without otherwise knowing what it is to be apart. If all the worldContinue reading “The world and we are green: Allen Ginsberg and Jack Kerouac debate love”
2010: Worst year ever for movies?
So wonders the ever-entertaining Joe Queenan, in the Wall Street Journal: Where once there was "Robin Hood: Prince of Thieves," there is now "Robin Hood," prince of duds. Where once we could look forward to "Breakfast at Tiffany's" and "The Last of the Mohicans," we can now look forward to "Dinner for Schmucks" and "TheContinue reading “2010: Worst year ever for movies?”
Why is belief in global warming fading?
In a front-page story, The New York Times rightly features the decline in belief in global warming this spring in the UK. The UK is one of the most secular nations on earth, and in the recent past readily accepted the existence of global warming. Just fifteen percent of the populace, according to a pollContinue reading “Why is belief in global warming fading?”
Kit Stolz 