Nothing new under the sun? The post-modern sublime treats us to a horror show of flowers. Magnolias blossoms that reached their extravagant, perfumed peak in Brooklyn on the final day of winter are falling already, under record-breaking heat. … [Read more...]

Why is there no word for killing the world?(I ask.)But first you must define what you mean by "the world," the stickler replies.Do you mean the planet? someone else inquires. For your information, the planet's just fine. It's only us who are in trouble. (Us and how … [Read more...]

"Climate change is an unintended consequence of human actions and shows, only through scientific analysis, the effects of our actions as a species. Species may indeed be the name of a placeholder for an emergent, new universal history of humans that flashes up in … [Read more...]

I've written about the fact that one standard reaction to the sign I displayed at Zuccotti Park (BECA-- USE THEY'RE TRYING TO DRIVE OUR PLANET OFF A CLIFF) was a claim of incomprehension. "What does your sign mean?" "Who's they?" Another frequent reaction, and one … [Read more...]

WKCR's BachFest 2011 is underway. They've begun with the St. Matthew Passion, and its exquisite minor chords couldn't feel more appropriate. I'm looking out the window at my latest memento mori, the 50-foot stump of what until yesterday was my backyard catalpa, the … [Read more...]