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  • A Grist correspondent sweats her way through Live Earth

    Emily Gertz reports on environmental issues from her home base in Brooklyn, N.Y. She has written for Grist, BushGreenwatch, The Bear Deluxe, and other independent publications. She contributes to Worldchanging.com, and recently launched OneAtlantic.net: Environmental News & Views for the Atlantic Coast. Saturday, 7 Jul 2007 EAST RUTHERFORD, N.J. With Live Earth over, Al Gore, […]

    Grist staff Culture

  • A young biodiversivist

    Well, I've returned from my camping trip. This was an annual gathering of about half a dozen families. I met an interesting guy named Remy. We had much in common, including our wry sense of humor and an enthusiasm for investigating biodiversity. Upon arrival at the campsite he immediately and correctly identified a snake I had caught.

    My reputation had proceeded me. Remy was looking forward to the two of us hunting snakes together. He managed to catch two. One was a 3-foot long specimen he spotted crossing the road. He grabbed it by the tail just like his hero the late Steve Irwin used to do and wrangled it into a net. I don't know who was more excited, him or me as I watched him catch it. He missed catching a racer on a night foray because it was just too fast (that's why they call them racers) but on another night he caught a shiny (it had just shed its skin) gopher snake that he pulled from a hole in the ground.

    Not bad for a 6-year-old boy who probably weighs every bit of 50 pounds. The one and only thing he wanted from Santa last year was a snake stick, which he had brought along on this trip.

    Biodiversivist Culture

  • The Day the Music Lied?

    Live Earth reaches an estimated 2 billion, critics harp on hypocrisy By all accounts, Live Earth (perhaps you’ve heard of it?) was a smashing success. Organizers say the shows reached about 2 billion people in 130 countries. More than 150 musical acts crooned, and supporters held more than 10,000 registered “fringe events” in addition to […]

    Grist staff Culture

  • Umbra on replacing toilets

    Dear Umbra, I’m selling my house in Los Angeles and my toilet is not low-flow. One of the inspectors is trying to tell me I need to replace my toilet with a new low-flow. Well, I know the old ziplock baggie filled with water trick. But I saw that you made mention of some kits […]

    Ask Umbra® Culture

  • Your intrepid Grist correspondent sweats through an arena concert, so you don’t have to

    Don't ever say we never did anything for you. On Saturday, while you were cavorting in the surf, grilling organic free-range meat on the barbecue (or is that barbecuing meat on the grill?), or kicking back with a good book in the sweet, sweet air conditioning, Grist was sweating at Live Earth New York. Er, New Jersey. Whatever.

    We suffered through sets by Ludacris, Melissa Etheridge, Roger Waters, and the Police to report back -- to YOU, dear Grist reader -- from the front lines of global eco-activism.

    Or something like that.

    Check back soon for my report from the scene of Live Earth at Giants Stadium on 7/7/07.

    Emily Gertz Culture

  • Check it out

    If not, here it is.

    Man that's cool. I wish we had one of Chip standing on his head.

    Jerome Woody Culture

  • The song still has relevance today

    I’m watching the Live Earth coverage on NBC, and I’ve got to say, I’m impressed. It’s really well done — concert highlights intermixed with artist and celeb interviews, and plenty of easy tips on how to take action at home. For those on the East Coast, it’s too late — but West Coasters, tune in! […]

    Grist staff Culture

  • A documentary about a crazed man and his love of soap and humankind

    Usually when I roll out of bed and into the shower in the morning, I’m too lethargic to remember to wash between my toes, let alone analyze the prose on my bottle of soap. Which is probably why I never paid attention to the thousand-some-odd words printed all over the Dr. Bronner’s Magic Soap bottle. […]

    Kate Sheppard Culture

  • In Sydney, that is … or online

    … if you’re in Sydney, that is. But thankfully, even if you’re not in Australia — or Shanghai or London or New York Jersey — you can still catch all the Live Earth goodness. Here’s how: Log on to MSN’s Live Earth site, where they’ll be streaming the concerts as they happen. They’ve also got […]

    Grist staff Culture

  • Planning ahead for Beijing, London, and Sochi

    Today, On the Ball brings you Olympics, Olympics, Olympics! And, if you read far enough, a reflection on undergarments. Beijing photo: vizzo via Flickr As we are now officially more than halfway through 2007, Beijing is getting all geared up for its Olympic games, to be held Aug. 8-24, 2008. On Wednesday, there were numerous […]

    Sarah K. Burkhalter Culture