Archive: Jun 2012

We Need a Green New Deal Now

All indications are that Dr. Jill Stein will be the U.S. Green Party’s candidate for President when it has a national convention in Baltimore in a few weeks. She has gathered a healthy majority of delegates pledged to vote for her as a result of Green Party state primaries and conventions. It is a good […]

Clear Channel chops down tree to improve view of billboard

Looking at a tree relaxes people. Looking at a billboard makes them wish they were looking at anything else — but it makes money for somebody! So it totally makes sense that Cleveland let Clear Channel chop down a 30-year-old linden tree in order to provide clear sight lines to a billboard advertising some local […]

Laser-show bike helmet looks awesome, might actually make you safer

If your first thought when looking at this LED-encrusted bike helmet is “I bet that would make an awesome personal light show for when I shred on my guitar in my bedroom,” you’re not alone. The actual goal of the LumaHelm, though, is to make bikers safer through improved signaling. The entire helmet is armored […]

Visualize a shorter commute — or a better job

Seeing how our cities facilitate the commute to work reveals a lot about the benefit of investing in infrastructure.

Crowd control: 7 billion people. One last chance to save the planet

Renowned biologist Paul Ehrlich talks about the population problem, the “gibbering idiots” who think he’s wrong, and why we’re incapable of coping with slow-rolling environmental catastrophes.

Would you eat lab-grown meat?

What if you could eat meat without causing animals to suffer? Take our survey.

Coal plants are the VHS tapes of the energy production flea market

In the sense that no one wants them.

No, genetically modified grass isn’t killing cows with cyanide

A more likely (if unproven) culprit: the drought in Texas.

Cities sell ad space on potholes, hydrants, and fire trucks

Well, this is dystopian: Faced with a cash shortage, some cities are opening up ad space on public services like fire hydrants, manhole covers, subway turnstiles, and fire trucks. On the one hand, that revenue means that the cities can continue providing services to advertise on. On the other hand, tell me this photo of […]