Articles by David Roberts

Over half of the agency’s employees weigh in

Wow. Via jjwfmme in comments, it seems the rank and file at the EPA want to make their feelings about the CO2 issue crystal clear as it enters the Supreme Court:

In an unprecedented action, representatives for more than 10,000 U.S. Environmental Protection Agency scientists are calling on Congress to take immediate action against global warming, according to a petition released today by Public Employees for Environmental Responsibility (PEER). ...

...

The petition signatories represent more than half of the total agency workforce. Addressed to the members of the Senate and House committees overseeing EPA, the petition argues that:

• The Bush administration strategy of "using primarily voluntary and incentive-based programs" to reduce greenhouse gases is not working nor "has [this approach] been effectively carried out;"
• EPA has abdicated its enforcement responsibilities by "failing to investigate coal-electric plants for technical options to control carbon;" and
• "EPA's scientists and engineers [must be able] to speak frankly and directly with Congress and the public regarding climate change, without fear of reprisal."

Here's the full petition (PDF) and a summary (PDF) from the coalition of EPA unions.

There's always been tension between the mid-level career staffers at various federal agencies and the political hacks the Bush administration has appointed to lead them, but this is ridiculous.

Some juicy questions at issue

If Justin hasn't sated your hunger for blogging about today's Supreme Court case, check out this series of posts from Jonathan Adler. Lots of good discussion beneath as well.

(NB: below the fold I speak about legal issues, about which my ignorance is boundless. You've been warned.)

Techno-hotness!

Grist is in the early conceptual stages of a comprehensive redesign -- or as they call it in the entertainment industry, a reimagining. It's going to kick ass. Your mind will be blown. You'll never see web media the same way again. You will be spiritually renewed. Your love life will perk up. Your breakfast cereal will taste better.

The latest hipster trend

Some folks on the right are having fun with this article about ... brace yourselves ... ecosexuals:

Welcome to the latest turn of the wheel in the obsessive trend-creating machine that brought us "metrosexuals." Ecosexuals are an evolving breed of city dweller for whom keeping green is every bit as important in their romantic life as in their choice of household cleanser, dinner food, or wall paint. Sure, everyone has a checklist of qualities they want in a mate: smart, funny, good-looking, six-figure potential, listens to Beck, and so on. But now we're adding characteristics like "sexy conservationist" or "romantic recycler" to the list.

It's easy to make fun of this kind of self-righteous, finicky elitism, especially reading stuff like this: