Departments

The Kiowas’ Sacred Longhorn Mountain Under Siege in Oklahoma

In southwest Oklahoma the LONGHORN MOUNTAIN, sacred site to the Kiowa people, is in jeopardy of being turned to rubble by a gravel mining operation. Mining has stalled but the threat remains.

Pleasures Of Music

Beethoven’s Day

Composer RICHARD WAGNER was always quick to dash off polemics on various subjects. He first wrote about BEETHOVEN in 1840, and returned to interpret the master's C-Sharp Minor String Quartet in 1870 during the Beethoven Centenary.

Deep Roots Theater

The Most Dangerous Game (1932)

Remade and reimagined (even on a Gilligan's Island episode) many times, Irving Pichel's 1932 classic original of THE MOST DANGEROUS GAME uses KING KONG sets and its stars, FAY WRAY and ROBERT ARMSTRONG. Plus: Betty Boop's "Minnie the Moocher."

Take A Letter

‘I Will Imagine You Venus To Night’

To his beloved FANNY BRAWNE JOHN KEATS wrote some of the most torrid and revealing love letters in history, one of which, from 1819, we offer here. Also here: Keats's timeless poem, 'To Autumn.'

Nature's Temple

Galen Clark

The Yosemite Valley's first Guardian, GALEN CLARK taught others about the mysteries of the giant sequoias and worked tirelessly to protect Yosemite. In his book THE YOSEMITE, JOHN MUIR told Clark's story.

Seven Impossible Things Before Breakfast

A Visit with Author/Illustrator Kristi Valiant

JULES chats with author/illustrator KRISTI VALIANT, whose new book PENGUIN CHA-CHA is picking up rave reviews everywhere.

Departments

As the Bluebird Flies…

MARVIN RAINWATER wrote and recorded many fine records in his career, and one perfect one: 1957's mega-hit 'GONNA FIND ME A BLUEBIRD.' Tribute must be paid.

Talking Animals

‘I Always Thought SeaWorld Was a Happy Place’

An interview with documentary filmmaker GABRIELA COWPERTHWAITE on her eye opening documentary BLACKFISH about the mistreatment of Orcas in captivity.

Classical Perspectives

‘It Seethes Rather Than Boils’

On his new album, OVER LIGHT EARTH, Icelandic composer DANIEL BJARNASON mirrors the current climate--it seethes rather than boils and speaks to the mood of its time

Border Crossings

Enlightened Moodism

East meets East in a mesmerizing collaboration between Russian pianist-composter ANTON BATAGOV and Tibetan singer YUNGCHEN LHAMO on the haunting album TAYATHA. In our interview, this musical odd couple explains it all.