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Friday music blogging: Explosions in the Sky

You thought I forgot! This week’s song is from a fantastic band out of Austin, Texas called Explosions in the Sky. They play in a style that has somewhat unfortunately been dubbed “post rock,” though the band, like most bands stuck with the label, hates it. The prefer plain old “rock.” What sets the genre […]

Lovins

Hey, did y’all notice that my interview with Amory Lovins is up? Go read it, if it so pleaseth you to do so.

Sighted in a Saudia Arabian zoo

I interrupt my reporting from Iowa to pass on this curio I found on the blog of my old friend Angelo Young, who works in Saudi Arabia and writes bemused, funny missives from the global crude-oil capital. In this one, he reports a strange sight in a Jeddah zoo: “This Lebanese guy handed the monkey […]

Who Needs Enforcement When Things Are Going So Well?

U.S. EPA doesn’t employ enough eco-cops, memo says The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency is reportedly violating a law that requires it to employ at least 200 criminal investigators. The agency has 174 eco-cops on board — some of whom are pulled off duty to guard EPA head Stephen Johnson when he travels. Because … eco-crimes […]

Driver Education

Ground-level ozone could be important factor in climate change If you’ve spent time proudly mastering the difference between ground-level ozone and climate change, prepare to be flummoxed: the two issues appear to be linked. According to a study in Nature, ground-level ozone damages plants, affecting their ability to absorb carbon dioxide, which allows more CO2 […]

Now That’s Density

British government plans new eco-towns, flood-plain development The British government announced plans this week to build 2 million new homes by 2016, including five carbon-neutral “eco-towns” of at least 5,000 homes each. Each green town will have public transportation to existing cities, favor green space and walkability, include 30 to 50 percent affordable housing, and […]

Court upholds ban on kangaroo-hide sneaks

A California Supreme Court decision Monday upheld a 36-year-old ban on the import and sale of products made from various wildlife species — specifically soccer, rugby, and baseball shoes made by defendant Adidas. The decision was hailed by animal rights groups for setting a precedent allowing states to protect species that the federal government no […]

A big train wreck leaves it all over the place

Gristmill reader Grevangelical was in Ukraine when this happened, and he says people there are nervous about it. Wonder why? Deputy Prime Minister Olexander Kuzmuk, who on Tuesday compared the spill to the 1986 Chernobyl nuclear disaster, has since insisted there is no health risk to surrounding villages … By the way, the highly toxic […]

Traveling toilet warns us about sewage pollution

Um, ew. American Rivers has a new campaign to raise awareness about sewage contamination in our rivers, streams, lakes, and oceans. It involves a talking toilet named “Flushie”:

Marching for climate action in the Granite State

Remember all that hubbub about Step it Up? Though we haven’t heard much about it since the successful event back in April, in many communities across America, the momentum continues. As part of the fallout, groups are working to “reenergize” communities with more actions and events, especially in states that will play a big role […]