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Senate passes energy bill

The senate just passed the energy bill 74-26. You'll eventually be able to see the roll call votes here.

Prior to the final vote, Sen. Feingold offered a budget point of order. That failed 71-29.

To modify another biblical verse: Ana wept.

New nominees for top spots at EPA worry enviros

While the green community and the press fixate on the energy bill that’s finally wending its way to President Bush‘s desk, a changing of the guard under way at the U.S. EPA is sliding by virtually unnoticed. Who are these three jokers? When Stephen Johnson assumed his post at the head of the agency in […]

Frist brings science back into the mix

In potentially good news for science fans everywhere, Sen. Bill Frist has stepped up to support stem-cell research. The money quote on this one: "It's not just a matter of faith, it's a matter of science," (Dr.) Frist said.

All hail the new Age of Reason?

Black and White and Studio Head All Over

Hollywood studios see greenbacks in them thar flightless waterfowl The summer’s big hit documentary isn’t about the antics of political weasels, or children at spelling bees; it’s a nature film about flightless Antarctic waterfowl. French-made March of the Penguins, a heartstring-yanking saga about emperor penguins, cost $7 million to make. It’s already earned over $10 […]

A Slip of the Tungsten

Supposedly eco-safe ammo may actually contaminate soil “Green bullets” created to be environmentally safe — though not safe, presumably, for their targets — may not be so eco after all. At Camp Edwards in Bourne, Mass., the U.S. Army switched from lead ordnance to ammo made of tungsten and nylon, aiming (ahem) not to contaminate […]

Stricken of the Sea

Fish diversity declines in the deep ocean There are fewer and fewer species of big fish in the deep sea, putting overall ocean health in danger. Scientists have known for years that overfishing diminishes species diversity in coastal areas, but in a study published today in the journal Science, researchers report a drop in diversity […]

Shuffling the Deck

New nominees for top spots at EPA worry enviros The Senate last night confirmed President Bush’s pick for the No. 2 slot at EPA — Marcus Peacock, most recently a number-cruncher at the Office of Management and Budget, responsible for determining whether the cost of environmental regulations is justified by their benefit to the U.S. […]

Development in NYC

Way back in June (seems so long ago, doesn't it?) I posed the question of what constitutes a city. People frequently cite the statistic that half the world's population will soon live in cities, but those 3.4 billion people will not be living in anything close to downtown Manhattan. The definition of "urban" under which the majority of the planet's people live in urban areas is more inclusive than what people usually think of as a city -- the mega-cities like New York or London.

Considering this, I picture the view looking west from Manhattan. The first time I saw it, it hardly looked like a major city at all, just abnormally dense suburbia. While it does have the efficient mass transportation net characteristic of many cities, Brooklyn is lacking in density.

It ain’t pretty

The energy bill passed through the House today, and is expected to pass the Senate by a wide margin on Friday.

The nation's editorial boards have not taken kindly to this bill. The folks at Campaign for America's Future sent around a sampling of responses, which I've included below the fold. I've added some links. If you have links to other op-ed reactions, leave them in comments.

The CAFTA vote

Don't miss Sam Rosenfeld's post on last night's CAFTA vote. It enough to turn the stomach. See also tpmcafe for a discussion thread and this intriguing mention of possible House voting shenanigans.

Over at redstate, of course, they're pleased as punch.

Also, as I forgot to mention last time: We ran a great op-ed on CAFTA back in June.