It’s Earth Day once again, and we are delighted to present the Fourth-Ever List of Grist Superlatives — our take on the good, the bad, and the weird of the past year. Think we missed something? Add your cleverest contributions in comments below. (And check out our lists for 2008, 2007, and 2006.)
T. has a Boone to Pickens with you.Strangest business-tycoon-turned-wind-activist: T. Boone Pickens
Sootiest sponsorship of the Democratic National Convention: clean coal campaign
Unfortunatest phrase to come from the Republican National Convention: “Drill, Baby, Drill”
Tiredest phrase from PR lexicon: “_______ is going green”
Most overused, overhyped, and misunderstood term: green jobs
Nation’s expertest hockey mom on energy policy: Sarah Palin
Worst re-use of something delicious: Chocolate-powered coal
Clean Coal Carolers.Smarmiest corruption of Christmas carols to push an agenda: Clean Coal Carolers
Best environmental ballot success in California’s 2008 elections: Prop. 2, animal welfare
Second best environmental ballot success in California’s 2008 elections: Prop 1A, high-speed rail
Goodest riddance: Richard “Dick” Cheney
Second-goodest riddance: George W. Bush
Grossest PETA campaign most likely to drive people away from vegetarianism: George Clooney-flavored tofu
Sketchiest PETA campaign most likely to drive people away from vegetarianism: Test-tube shmeat
Leavin’ Stephen.A Johnson we hope never to see again: Stephen
Freakiest heavy metal in our Froot Loops: mercury
Royalest climate champion: Prince Charles
Hottest eco-activist in the White House: Van Jones
Trivialest issue Ask Umbra addressed: Earth Day slogans
First president to take climate change seriously: Barack Obama
Grist’s favoritest eco-product to test: organic booze! (beer part 1, 2, and 3, champagne, and wine)
Grist’s awkwardest but usefulest eco-product to test: feminine products
(Relatedly) Grist’s most awesomest headline ever: Red Vadge of Courage
Most meaningless green superlative: most fuel efficient SUV
Just a hockey mom …Photo: Tricia Ward.Hockey mom most hung up on natural gas: Sarah Palin
Dopest April Fool’s day joke: organic weed
Awesomest surprise benefit of eating locally: getting laid
Biggest presidential campaign stunt that’s hard to talk about without snickering: McCain’s $300 million battery prize
Overwhelmingest air-pollution-induced media frenzy: Beijing Olympics
Inspiredest use of body heat for cogeneration: to warm the pool at the Beijing Olympics
Lamest climate bill to not pass Congress: Lieberman-Warner Climate Security Act
Hockey mom least hung up on greenhouse gases: Sarah Palin, you betcha!
Hottest MILF: Mother Earth
Coen Brothers’ anti-clean coal ad. Click to watch.Best recent use of Coen Brothers’ time: anti-clean coal ad
Anti-climacticest coal protest: Capitol Power Plant
Political fight most reminiscent of Groundhog Day: Kansas Gov. Kathleen Sebelius’ fourth veto of a coal-fired power plant
Winner of the James Inhofe award for an outstanding contribution to the promotion of climate change skepticism: George Will
Runner-up: Michael Steele
Scariest climate change impact you haven’t read about: ocean acidification
Most exciting advance in bus technology: EcoRide BE35
Cutest 10-year-old in the blogosphere: Let’s hear a chorus of happy birthday …
Shiniest, punniest, brand-spanking-newest, clickalicious-est green website: aw, shucks
Don’t forget the man junk …
Manliest organic body product on the market: Man Junk
Biggest potential waste of stimulus dollars: $3.4 billion for clean coal
Hockey mom who didn’test make it to the White House (whew): There you go again, Sal
Most geniustastic farmer: Will Allen
Hottest under-the-radar political battle: school lunches
Most futuristic tricycle-car in production this year: Aptera 2e
Exhilaratingest feeling we haven’t felt in a long time, like since Al Gore won ran for the presidency: Hope.
