Articles by Biodiversivist
My real name is Russ Finley. I also have my own blog called Biodiversivist, which contains articles in addition to those submitted to Grist. I live in Seattle, married with children. Suffice it to say that although I am trained and educated as an engineer, my passion is nature. I very much want my grandchildren to live on a planet where lions, tigers, and bears have not joined the long and growing list of creatures that used to be.
All Articles
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Faking it
Ever visit this website? According to Mary Mycio, author of Wormwood Forest, the photos of the Chernobyl area were taken during a regularly scheduled bus tour, not by a hot chick riding solo on a motorcycle. Mycio spent a great deal of time in the contaminated zones and actually talked to the driver of that same tour bus (who I will assume was telling the truth). I just finished reading her book and although there have already been several good posts on the 20th anniversary of the Chernobyl disaster, I thought readers could stomach maybe one more. -
Maximizing the MPGPP of your SUV with your HTS
Troubled by high gas prices? Not to worry, our fearless leader is on it. His staff has come up with a short, easy-to-articulate-and-memorize list of how he is going fix the problem:- Make sure consumers and taxpayers are treated fairly.
- Promote greater fuel efficiency.
- Boost U.S. gasoline supply.
- Invest aggressively in gasoline alternatives.
Yawn ... whatever you say George.
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Smells like french fries
From an article in E Magazine:According to Kathryn Phillips, manager of Environmental Defense's California Clean Air for Life campaign, it [biodiesel] actually increases nitrous oxide (NOX) emissions, which react with other chemicals to create ground-level ozone, or smog, significantly impacting lung development in children.
After glossing over the problem by telling us that "the biodiesel industry is working on methods to reduce NOX via an additive or catalyst," the author then spends the next 1,310 words telling everyone they should burn it not only in their cars but also in their furnaces.
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What do full-sized pickup trucks and peacocks have in common?
Associated Press reminds us that things are still looking bad for U.S. car manufacturers:The U.S. auto industry's slump hit GM hard in March, when the struggling automaker's sales fell almost 15 percent as rival Toyota reported its highest-ever monthly sales.
But, not all is lost:
Still, Ford's F-Series truck held its own, posting a 5.5 percent increase for the month, its best March sales since 2000, with 84,168 sold. Ford said it was the third consecutive month sales rose for the nation's best-selling vehicle.
