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Woman marries dolphin

When people argue against animal rights with gems like, "What's next, the right to vote? To drive?" I just have to roll my eyes and shake my head. And when people argue against same-sex marriages with "next humans will be marrying animals," I just sigh. But then there's this ...

Woman marries dolphin

Sharon Tendler met Cindy 15 years ago. She said it was love at first sight. This week she finally took the plunge and proposed. The lucky "guy" plunged right back.

In a modest ceremony at Dolphin Reef in the southern Israeli port of Eilat, Tendler, a 41-year-old British citizen, apparently became the world's first person to "marry" a dolphin.

Dressed in a white dress, a veil and pink flowers in her hair, Tendler got down on one knee on the dock and gave Cindy a kiss. And a piece of herring.

(Via BB)

Russia attempts to use energy supplies as political tool; fails

Some folks -- take, for instance, me -- have argued that the whole hubbub over "foreign oil" is a bit of a red herring. Generally speaking, energy commodities are fungible, sold on the world market. If one producer (say, Saudi Arabia) suddenly refuses to sell to us, they'll just sell to someone else, and we can buy from that someone else. If we've got the money, eventually we'll get the oil.

(The world's declining oil and natural gas reserves are, of course, a problem, but there's no need to add the sheen of xenophobia, however satisfying.)

Others -- for instance, Bart in comments -- argue that as energy reserves decline, those who have oil and natural gas will start using them as political weapons. In effect, their political value will exceed their economic value. (And since the U.S. has much domestic demand and little domestic supply, we'll be screwed.)

Right now the discussion is mostly theoretical, but in the past week we've had a bit of a test case. As you may have heard, Russia cut off natural gas supplies to the Ukraine. Supposedly, the move was a response to Ukraine's refusal to sign a new contract and pay much higher, Western-Europe-style prices. (Ukraine wants a three-month phase in of new prices.)

But the subtext is political: Russia is ticked off about the Orange Revolution and Ukraine's desire to join the E.U. and NATO. While Ukraine is being asked to suddenly pay $230/cubic meter (up from $50), the more Russia-friend Belarus pays just $47/cubic meter.

The U.S. State Department said this:

My Left Soot

EPA proposal on soot emissions ignores scientists, ticks off enviros Finally getting around to updating air-quality standards that were supposed to be revised in 2002, the U.S. EPA late last month unveiled a proposal that pleases … nobody. It would lower the daily limit for fine-soot pollution, which comes from coal-fired power plants, cars, and […]

Come Back, J. Edgar Hoover, All Is Forgiven

FBI’s been monitoring green groups, using secret informants Ever get the creepy feeling somebody’s watching you? Well, it’s not the weed: The FBI has been spying on U.S. environmental, animal-liberation, and other activist groups — though the feds insist it’s the innocuous, totally legal kind of spying. Greenpeace and PETA, among others, have shown up […]

All the News That’s Fit to Regret

The top five environmental stories of the past year As years go, 2005 … well, it could have been better. Amidst the war, torture, terrorism, and spying, environmental concerns did occasionally pop into public view. Alas, your bold switch to LED “holiday” lights didn’t get the widespread attention it deserved. Instead, the big green stories […]

This eco-troubadour’s New Year’s resolution is to make things write

One of my New Year’s resolutions is to write a song. Unfortunately, this is the third January that particular resolution has been on my list. Indeed, I’ve been wallowing in lyrical ineptitude for the past two years. The good news is, I have reason to believe that may change. Can he cut the chord? Photo: […]

I’m dreaming of a warm Christmas

Speaking of humor, Bush, and global warming, the folks over at Current TV aired the latest Super News episode on the very same topic. Enjoy.

(Yes, I realize I'm a little late with this one, but I've been on vacation.)

Willie no longer free; Willie now $2.37

The New York Times has a nice piece on Willie Nelson's efforts to combine love (of family farmers) and hate (of oil wars) in a new business venture: biodiesel branded as BioWillie.

"I knew we needed to have something that would keep us from being so dependent on foreign oil, and when I heard about biodiesel, a light come on, and I said, 'Hey, here's the future for the farmers, the future for the environment, the future for the truckers'," Mr. Nelson said in an interview this month. "It seems like that's good for the whole world if we can start growing our own fuel instead of starting wars over it."

With Volkswagen TDI's getting 45-50 MPG, what's not to like?

Make it your new year's resolution. I did.

Reuseable menstrual pads are P.I.M.P.-in’

Squeamish boys should read no further. Sorry, fellas, it's not that kind of party.

As Umbra has pointed out, a lady's monthly menses doesn't have to be an environmental catastrophe (emotional catastrophe is another matter). Instead, it can be a party! It can be a Party in My Pants! It can be PIMPin', though in this case Jay-Z-style Big PIMPin' might be less than desirable.

Enthusiastic Grist reader Elka alerted us to this undercover fashion statement, pondering, "Hm ... should I snap on some martini glass PIMPs this morning, or perhaps some cowgirl PIMPs?" Party in my pants, indeed.

Check 'em out at health food stores and co-ops in the Midwest and Rainbow Grocery in San Francisco.

Gerald Prolman, CEO of Organic Bouquet, answers questions

Gerald Prolman. What work do you do? I’m CEO of Organic Bouquet. How does it relate to the environment? Organic Bouquet is the world’s first online organic florist. All the flowers we sell are grown in a manner that is gentle on the earth and safe for the farmworkers, wildlife, and the environment. Non-organic flowers […]