Tuesday, 6/24/08: "Some Doubts Upon Entering a New Carboniferous Era"

http://www.nytimes.com/2008/06/24/opinion/24tue4.html?_r=1&scp=3&sq=verlyn+klinkenborg&st=nyt&oref=slogin

Verlyn Klinkenborg just noticed that people sure are talking a lot about "carbon footprints" nowadays! For example, on the subway, and at Wal-Mart. And that's just two examples!

He would like us to know that he does NOT believe that language alone will solve the problem, he does NOT believe in the effectiveness of carbon offsets, he is NOT a climate-change skeptic, and that there is NOTHING trivial about carbon footprints.

So what does he believe? Well, he'll get to that in another column. (Just kidding.)

Thursday, 6/19/08: "Appreciations -- Cyd Charisse"

http://www.nytimes.com/2008/06/19/opinion/19thu4.html?scp=1&sq=cyd+charisse&st=nyt

Verlyn Klinkenborg appreciates Cyd Charisse. Who among us doesn't? However, I majored in critical studies of cinema, and I still have no idea what he means when he says:

The song is “Dancing in the Dark,” the setting is Central Park, and, as usual, the overlapping illusions are nearly confounding. There they are — two professional dancers, carefully choreographed and rehearsed, playing two professional dancers dancing spontaneously on a soundstage that is meant to be Central Park, and all the while they are feigning an almost reproachful, amorous awareness of each other that conceals the hard-working awareness of two pros on the job. It was Cyd Charisse’s remarkable gift to move through the hall of mirrors that is the American movie musical and never be caught glancing at herself.

Oh well: if it made sense, it wouldn't be Verlyn Klinkenborg.

Sunday, 6/15/08: "Fuel Thoughts"

http://www.nytimes.com/2008/06/15/opinion/15sun4.html?ref=opinion

Verlyn Klinkenborg just noticed that fuel prices have gone up.