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Phoenix, Arizona

On Friday, it will be in Arizona. The Arizona Corporation Commission is set to vote on a proposed rule to increase the state's renewable energy standard to 15% by 2025, with 30% to come from distributed energy resources like rooftop solar.

Apropos of absolutely nothing

My favorite word in the English language is "biscuit." My least favorite is "moist."

What are yours?

E.O. Wilson on religion and science, and more

Read the articles mentioned at the end of the podcast: Two’s Company, 300 Million’s a Crowd Ice Vice, Baby Hormones and Groans Go for Choke Did You Mean: Solar Power? Read the articles mentioned at the end of the podcast: EOphilia Chemically Dependent When Guvs Try C’est Bon She’ll Tumble For Ya The Roach Approach

Halloween inspires ocean supporter contest

I've always been a fan of Halloween. Not so much for the costumes, but for the social acceptance of eating massive amounts of sugar for 24 hours and "fright night" marathons. In honor of this freaky holiday, the folks at my organization put together a freaky fish contest. Check it out.

One of my personal favorites is the fangtooth. Believe it or not, this fish is all bark and no bite. Despite its impressive set of choppers, the fangtooth is actually quite small and harmless to humans. But it sure isn't about to win any beauty contests ...

A new book says tackling climate change is doable

Too many months ago now, I was emailed the manuscript of a book called Cooling It: No Hair Shirt Solutions to Global Warming by Gar Lipow, an occasional commenter at my own blog. I promised Gar I would read it, and then it languished on my desktop for months, silently mocking me.

In any case, I recently finished it and with his permission I thought I'd share my impressions.

No, you don’t

All you need to do is utterly debase yourself! Oh, and send people donuts.

Massey Energy CEO is a really bad dude

The venerable print magazine Old Trout was recently relaunched with a splashy issue on "The Thirteen Scariest Americans." I was asked to write up the scariest American from an environmental point of view.

The choice was not difficult. The scariest polluter in the U.S. is Don Blankenship, CEO of Massey Energy. The guy is evil, and I don't use that word lightly.

The issue is out now. (Look for it on a newsstand near you!) The folks at Old Trout have given me permission to publish an expanded version of the piece after a suitable period of exclusivity. So watch for that at the beginning of December.

In the meantime, check out three things.

It’s, um, slogan-y

Grist's fair HQ of Seattle has revealed a new city slogan, posted prominently on top of the famous Space Needle. And that slogan, my friends?

METRONATURAL.

As defined by Seattle's Convention and Visitors Bureau:

adj. 1: Having the characteristics of a world-class metropolis within wild, beautiful natural surroundings. 2: A blending of clear skies and expansive water with a fast-paced city life.

n. 1: One who respects the environment and lives a balanced lifestyle of urban and natural experiences. 2. Seattle.

Mmmmkay. First of all, "metrosexual" is so last year. Second of all, to some people, including myself, it's not eliciting the response the tourism bureau hoped for ("Wow, it's a city and it's nature!"). One Pike Place Market vendor says, "How do you use that in a sentence? 'Welcome to Metronatural.' ... It's an airport where you can buy organic bananas."

Yes, it beats See-@-L. But what doesn't?

BioDee was in Arizona

Kaela was able to deduce where I was with very few clues because this ecosystem in Arizona is so unique. Would developers cover the Saguaro National Park in subdivisions given the opportunity? Sure they would. The only reason they don't is, they can't. This is another function of government -- protecting biodiversity from the profit motive.

This time, the lovely hand model holding the flying grasshopper is my youngest daughter. We didn't see many hummingbirds, but at one bush I counted five butterfly species.

Won’t give interviews

Rep. Richard "Dick" Pombo has decided that the way to win his race is to clam up, avoid the media, and allow his name recognition and the native conservatism of his district to carry the day. He figures that's enough.

Others disagree.