Photo by eric lynch.

This year marks the 10th anniversary of our Ask Umbra advice column, and to celebrate, we’re pulling a favorite gem of eco-advice out of the archives each week. With Memorial Day weekend approaching, we thought it was time to revisit how to be properly patriotic. From Seattle reader Anne B.:

“Like any proud American, I want to fly our flag 24 hours a day to show my reverence for this awesome country. I am torn, though, because section 6a of the Flag Code requires the flag to be lit up during hours of darkness and this conflicts with my desire to cut back on my energy use. Can this rule be ignored in the name of the environment?”

Umbra reads Anne’s flag its rights, wonders if Seattle’s gloomy weather rains on Anne’s parade more than the night sky, and ceremoniously suggests a solution that will keep her flag basking in glory as long anyone is looking. Read on for the full Umbra answer.

Find more of Umbra’s pearls of wisdom here.

As Congress hustles to pass the next food and farm bill, there’s been a lot of discussion about how little government support goes to fruit and vegetable farmers compared to the Big Five commodity crops (wheat, corn, soy, rice, and cotton). The graphic below from the Union of Concerned Scientists shows just what it would take to provide enough produce to meet our daily nutrition needs (it turns out we’re still pretty far from the mark).

(Click on the image to enlarge.)

This year marks the 10th anniversary of our Ask Umbra advice column, and to celebrate, we’re pulling one particularly poignant question or tidbit of eco-advice out of the archives each week. Today, May 18, is Bike to Work Day. After we hung up our helmets and checked out the news cycle, we took a trip down memory lane with this Umbra video classic on commuting by bike. 

What’s that you say? You’re already in your cubicle, miles from your trusty single-speed? We have two more weeks of National Bike Month. Even if you missed the chance to ride with all the cool kids today, there’s still plenty of time to get your fixie fix.

Find more of Umbra’s pearls of wisdom here.

This year marks the 10th anniversary of our Ask Umbra advice column, and to celebrate, we’re pulling one particularly poignant question or tidbit of eco-advice out of the archives each week. Recent news has us thinking about something old, something new, something borrowed, something blue. Without further adieu, here’s an old but ever true dilemma from a partygoer in Utah:

“My wife and I have made great progress in simplifying our lives … We’re just wondering what we might give as wedding gifts to children of our friends in order to be in line with our goal yet not seem ‘weird.’ Any ideas on this subject?”

Read on for Umbra’s ideas. Her advice on gifts for gay couples might surprise you. 

Find more of Umbra’s pearls of wisdom here.

Tyrants and murderers say the darnedest things. But sometimes they say perfectly natural, truthful things like “I need a sandwich,” or “epaulettes make me look skinny on camera,” or “I believe in global warming.” This last one made its way into Heartland’s climate-denying billboard campaign, and though we’re sure they’re tired of the endless mockery and derision it has brought them, we’re not! We made our own magic billboard with an endless supply of pure truth and homespun wisdom from more notorious killers, tyrants, and psychos. Give it a whirl!

P.S. Submit yours in the comments below. Maybe we’ll add ‘em!

Photo by Bastien Vaucher.

This year marks the 10th anniversary of our Ask Umbra advice column, and to celebrate, we’re pulling one particularly poignant question or tidbit of eco-advice out of the archives each week. Today, a question from a bicyclist in Berkeley:

“My skirt gets caught in the bicycle chain … Do you know any wonderful manufacturers out there who can solve my problem?”

Read on to see Umbra’s answer. Plus: She shares a website that’ll show you how to make your own “skirt guard.” And don’t you go anywhere, fellas: It works for kilts and coat tails, too.

Find more of Umbra’s pearls of wisdom here.

Van Jones. (Photo by Zach Gross.)

Editor’s note: The chat’s now over, but you can replay it in full.

Green economy pioneer Van Jones is chatting live with David Roberts.

Jones worked as the green jobs advisor to the Obama White House in 2009. In his newest book, Rebuild the Dream, the environmental justice advocate reflects on his journey from grassroots outsider to White House insider, shares intimate details of his time in government, and provides a blueprint for reinventing the American Dream. Hint: It’s not “Drill, baby! Drill!”

Jonesin’ to chat with Van? Click here to join the conversation.

Take the haiku road. (Photo by Alan Levine.)

We asked for your best Earth Day haikus, and you rhymed beyond reason. Now it’s time to see democracy in action: Help us pick Grist’s official haiku in time for Earth Day! Drumroll, please:

1.

OK … we are screwed
we just don’t know how bad yet
mmmm organic beer

2.

Don’t have a cow, man
To carniv-err is human
To forgive, bovine

3.

“Some say the world will
End in fire. Some say in ice.”
Whoops! We answered Frost.

4.

Climate change meant nil
til they told me my pancakes
must go syrupless.

5.

It has come to this:
We knit sweaters for penguins
And sloths need jammies

6.

We’ve made a mess, no?
Somewhere, some god is typing:
“LMFAO.”

7.

Climate change — who cares?
Oh, chocolate under threat?
OK, now I care.

8.

You think climate change
means hotties in less clothing?
Harsh winters kill dreams.

9.

The planet is screwed
So are all of us on it.
Cheap yuks keep us sane.

[Editor's note: We're keeping these anonymous till we have a winner.]

"Don't frack Ohio!"

The folks who brought you the blockbuster protests against the Keystone XL pipeline have a new dirty-energy target: fracking in Ohio.

Bill McKibben, his 350.org cohorts, Gasland director Josh Fox, and a handful of Ohio environmental activists and groups are aiming to assemble the largest demonstration against natural-gas fracking in U.S. history. The action will happen in Columbus June 14–17, culminating on the last day with a takeover of the statehouse for “a people’s assembly,” the organizers explain in an invitation letter.

Ohio Gov. John Kasich (R) wants to dramatically increase fracking in his state. Never mind that Ohio experienced a dozen earthquakes last year that scientists blame on fracking-related activities, including a 4.0-magnitude quake on Dec. 31. Never mind that new research by the U.S. Geological Survey connects earthquakes throughout the American heartland to fracking. Never mind that fracking is linked to water pollution, air pollution, and health problems for nearby residents. Never mind that fracking worsens climate change and dampens the market for clean energy. And never mind that 72 percent of Ohioans want to halt fracking until its impacts are further studied, according to a recent Quinnipiac poll.

The protest organizers want to take advantage of Ohio’s swing-state status: “As the nation’s attention turns to Ohio for the election this fall, it is a fitting place to make a stand and say that this process must stop once and for all,” they say.

If you might like to join the action yourself (paging Matt Damon!), find out more at the Don’t Frack Ohio website.

Also check out:

• As fracking boom hits Ohio, industry deceives landowners
• Why shale gas won’t end our energy woes
• Did fracking turn this squirrel purple?