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Twice the Grist with half the pain: Netvibes and Twitter

For all of you tech-savvy Grist readers, we've added two more methods of getting yer Grist:

Twitter is "a free social networking and micro-blogging service that allows users to send 'updates' (text-based posts, up to 140 characters long) via SMS, instant messaging, email, the Twitter website, or an application such as Twitterrific." In other words, it's Facebook statuses mashed up with RSS and IM. In nontechnical terms, it's everyone in the same room together yelling out what they're doing every so often. You can follow what Grist is shouting about here.

Netvibes, along somewhat similar lines, is "a multi-lingual Ajax-based personalized start page ... [which] includes an RSS/Atom feed reader, local weather forecasts, a calendar supporting iCal, bookmarks, notes, to-do lists, multiple searches, support for POP3, IMAP4 email as well as several webmail providers including Gmail, Yahoo Mail, Hotmail, and AOL, Box.net web storage, del.icio.us, Meebo, Flickr photos, podcast support with a built in audio player," among other features. Basically, it's the kitchen sink for the Web you always wanted, and now there's Grist-flavored water in the tap. You can access Grist via Netvibes in one of two ways: the Grist Universe, or the Grist Tab.

Peekaboo, ICU

Hospitals opt for less-toxic medical equipment As the wee tots who end up in neonatal intensive care tend to be a bit on the vulnerable side, leading medical organizations are urging hospitals to swap medical equipment containing icky chemical DEHP — which can include IV tubing and blood bags — for safer alternatives. The good […]

Dying For a Change

Pollution causes some 40 percent of deaths worldwide, says new research Here’s one small reason to join the save-the-environment cause: new research indicates that some 40 percent of deaths worldwide are a direct effect of air, water, and soil pollution. Dirty air contributes to cancer and birth defects; unclean water accounts for 80 percent of […]

I guess the headline says it all

Via Brian Beutler (The Other WunderkindTM), I notice that longtime Bush loyalist and former Bush speechwriter Michael Gerson has used his inexplicably granted space on the Washington Post op-ed page to support a cap-and-trade system, prompting me to throw up in my mouth a little. The column offends on so many levels that one hardly […]

Giuliani does not plan to fight the Climate’s War on Us

A frequently overlooked element of the energy/climate debate — most debates about big issues, really — is opportunity cost. That is to say, there’s a limited stock of national attention and money, and if you argue that a large portion should to go one set of issues, you are implicitly arguing that proportionately less should […]

But what about the economy?

According to David Pimentel and his team of researchers, water, air, and soil pollution cause 40% of all deaths worldwide. (via Hugg)

Things I learned from the L.A. Times piece on Dingell

Rep. John Dingell is Polish stock — his immigrant grandfather changed the name from Dzieglewicz. Who knew?

Aussie guitarist John Butler on nukes, dickheads, and common sense

The John Butler Trio: (L to R) Shannon Birchall, John Butler, and Michael Barker. Photo: Marty Philbey For the record, John Butler hates the word “environmentalism.” Actually, he’s sick of all the “-isms.” The Australian jam-band musician is more interested in the interconnectedness of problems, in why humans do the things we do. “Lack of […]

Hillary Clinton tells Grist about her environmental plans, and more

Read the articles mentioned at the end of the podcast: How Green Is Your Candidate? Flo Nays Bring in the Reserves Someone Alert Ben and Jerry With Safety Like This, Who Needs Danger? Read the articles mentioned at the end of the podcast: Something For the Boys The Weigh of All Flesh Listify Me

Underwater Update

Tidal turbines in New York’s East River halted temporarily for repairs The company experimenting with underwater electricity turbines in New York’s East River has found that the river’s currents are powerful. Too powerful, if you want to get picky about it: the river sheared off several blades on the 20-foot-tall turbines, and has stressed the […]