Climate Culture
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Edward Glaeser: Tea Party-style libertarianism could be good for our cities
Cities: Land of the free, home of the brave.Photo: Thomas HawkWhen I talked with economist Edward Glaeser last month about his new book Triumph of the City, he touched briefly on the idea that Tea Party activists, rather than being natural adversaries of city-dwellers, are actually natural allies — if only unwittingly. Here’s what he […]
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Irish scientists help Guinness go green
Photo: Simon HuckoJust in time for St. Patrick’s Day, scientists at the University of Limerick have developed a biodegradable alternative to that plastic widget that keeps Guinness foamy. It turns out that coating the inside of the can with biodegradable, natural cellulose would do an even better job of putting nitrogen into the beer (which […]
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Hemp chair is not just eco-friendly, it’s eco-kind
You know those hiddy plastic stackable chairs that you see on basically every porch, stoop, and backyard? (I have some. They came with the house.) Well, what if they were biodegradable, made with sustainable materials, and kind of awesome looking? And also made out of pot? TOTAL DREAM CHAIR, right? Okay, so Werner Aisslinger’s stackable […]
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Tearing down urban freeways to make room for a new bicycle economy
This is the second column in a series focusing on the economics of bicycling. Here’s one way to fund bicycle infrastructure: Stop building freeways in cities. Better yet, tear down the ones we already have. Cities are starting to catch on that becoming bicycle friendly is one of the best investments they can make. Cities […]
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Ask Umbra on nail polish and its disposal
Send your question to Umbra! Q. Dear Umbra, How do I dispose of my formaldehyde-laden nail polish in an environmentally safe fashion? Can I recycle the glass bottle and plastic top in my recycling with the polish inside? JacquiePetaluma, CA Don’t just toe the line! Use less toxic polish.Photo: Maureen LunnA. Dearest Jacquie, What a […]
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Stephen Colbert is having none of your wimpy girl light bulbs
Right-wingers are now pro-choice, but only for light bulbs. Here’s everyone’s favorite talking head, Stephen Colbert, on their move to save what they’re now calling “traditional” bulbs (ah, yes, our storied national tradition of inefficient lighting! It’s the core of what it means to be an American). The Colbert ReportTags: Colbert Report Full Episodes,Political Humor […]
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As we head toward 7 billion, what does a typical person look like?
Here’s the latest video from National Geographic‘s year-long series on population (set to music that’s got me feeling all jittery and peppy): The gist: The most typical person on the planet is a 28-year-old Han Chinese man; there are more than 9 million such chaps living right now. Here’s what he looks like: Also as […]
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Climate activist Tim DeChristopher talks about his guilty verdict
Photo: (C) 2011 Daphne HougardDearest readers, I had the good fortune of sitting down to chat by phone with climate activist Tim DeChristopher the other day. I wanted to hear how he’s doing and how he’s feeling about being sent to the clink. Ever joyous in his resolve to stand up for what he believes […]
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Your next bike could be made out of nylon and 3D-printed at home
Okay, so this isn’t something you can do with your home printer … yet. But this gorgeous hunk of bike might represent the new wave of bike manufacturing. It’s made using 3D printing technology, which adds nylon powder in thin layers to achieve the desired shape. In this case, that shape can be perfectly tailored […]
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How to not buy anything ever again
Photo: Toban BlackNeither a borrower nor a lender be? Stuff it, old man. Shareable has collected a primer on “collaborative consumption,” i.e. the fine art of consensual mooching. At the risk of sounding like a dangerous commie: It turns out there’s basically no reason to be the sole owner of anything ever again. Among the […]
