Category Archives: The West

Pete Dexter in the New York Times!

Posted on October 2, 2011 by williamjcobb

So it’s a good day when you stumble upon a book review of a Jim Harrison novel written by none other than one of our best living novelists, Pete Dexter, here: http://www.nytimes.com/2011/10/02/books/review/the-great-leader-by-jim-harrison-book-review.html?ref=books&pagewanted=all My favorite paragraph, about fiction: “Put together, these … Continue reading →

Posted in books, The West, writing | Leave a comment

Reading Daniel Yergin's "The Quest" & a Witty Post About Truthiness

Posted on September 27, 2011 by williamjcobb

So I’m reading the much-talked-about new tome on energy and the future, Daniel Yergin’s The Quest: Energy, Security, and the Remaking of the Modern World, just published. So far I’m not particularly impressed, especially after Dwight Garner’s rave review in … Continue reading →

Posted in books, Climate Change, The West | Leave a comment

"127 Hours" as Big-Budget "I Shouldn't Be Alive," With a Nod to the Great "Touching the Void"

Posted on September 17, 2011 by williamjcobb

So I finally got around to watching the much-acclaimed/suspect film of Aaron Ralston’s self-amputation, 127 Hours, and actually thought it was pretty good, even if my hotel owner/chef in Green River, Utah held a grudge against Ralston for not paying … Continue reading →

Posted in books/film, The West | Leave a comment

Climate Change Coverage in the NY Times

Posted on September 8, 2011 by williamjcobb

So I have decidedly mixed feelings about most of our media, no matter how much I read or watch it, as I imagine most of us do. (I make a point to read CNN just to see the latest blather … Continue reading →

Posted in Climate Change, The West | Leave a comment

On a Novel Titled "The Bird Saviors"

Posted on September 6, 2011 by williamjcobb

So a few months ago I blogged about finishing my new novel ms., The Bird Saviors, & how the completion occurred by describing a rather simple detail—a man drinking a glass of water—that has greater implications and reverberations than one … Continue reading →

Posted in books, The West | Leave a comment

The Know Nothing Party Defies Gravity, Wins Elections?

Posted on September 1, 2011 by williamjcobb

So it’s driving me (slightly) crazy to read the idiocy coming out of Rick Perry’s mouth, echoed by a chorus of other Republican presidential contenders. Paul Krugman in the NY Times sums up their anti-science idiocy well here: http://www.nytimes.com/2011/08/29/opinion/republicans-against-science.html?partner=rssnyt&emc=rss What … Continue reading →

Posted in Climate Change, Politics, The West | Leave a comment

On Finishing Tim Flannery's "Here on Earth," in Contrast to Justin Torres's "We the Animals"

Posted on August 18, 2011 by williamjcobb

So last night I reached the end of Tim Flannery’s new excellent book of nonfiction, Here on Earth: A Natural History of the Planet, which I rate as one of the best books of nonfiction I’ve read since Timothy Egan’s … Continue reading →

Posted in books, Climate Change, The West | Leave a comment

Sing, O Muse, of the Dougherty Gang

Posted on August 13, 2011 by williamjcobb

So there’s something kind of classical about the Dougherty Gang’s story—classically tacky, Florida-style. I probably wouldn’t love their tale as much if they had not been apprehended near my Colorado home base of Custer County. Here’s a good ole-fashioned yellow … Continue reading →

Posted in The West | Leave a comment

No Fence-Sitting Here: Republicans Are Anti-Environment, and That's a Major Difference

Posted on July 30, 2011 by williamjcobb

So Paul Krugman had a good piece recently about the issue of media fence-sitting, decrying those b.s. ‘journalists’ who repeatedly say, “Washington is broken! Both parties are to blame!” He then details just exactly how wrong the Republican and Tea … Continue reading →

Posted in books, Climate Change, Politics, The West | Leave a comment