Archive for March, 2012

If you’ve ever doubted that the tendency of what passes for journalism in the U.S. in the 21st century – hysterical hair-trigger over-hyping, by and large – has ever done anyone any good, it may have just gotten a mark in its favor when it comes to food safety. Read the rest of this entry »

So who’s afraid of an eccentric man wearing a kilt? Evidently, California Democrats who believe that humans are causing global warming. Read the rest of this entry »

As part of its 20^th Anniversary of Energy Star celebrations, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) named 109 organizations 2012 Energy Star Award winners for their outstanding leadership and commitment to protecting America’s environment through energy efficiency. Read the rest of this entry »

The United States Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) recently published a new rule severely limiting greenhouse gas emissions for electricity generation, effectively blocking the construction of future coal-fired power plants. The new standard spotlights the potential of natural gas as a cleaner bridge to a renewable world, as well as the bitter controversy over human-caused climate change. Read the rest of this entry »

It’s not as easy to make jokes about New York City anymore. Sure, you can still say that New Yorkers think they’re the smartest, most cultured folks in the world. You can say it’s too crowded, that car horns are honked at all hours, that the people are rude, yada yada yada. But some of the old stereotypes about my hometown aren’t true anymore. The subways are actually pretty clean, reliable, and safe. Times Square doesn’t look like a seedy dive (although all the neon and bright lights might put your eyes out). The city has been pretty well cleaned up over the past 15 years, and the smell is no longer too offensive to your olfactory senses. Read the rest of this entry »

Remember the concept of the “paperless office”? Twenty years ago or more, we were told by futurists and technology experts that, not long in the future, we would work in offices mystically free of paper, every formerly papered process rendered digital. Then, there’s the depressing reality: Since the price of paper remains low and the price of high-quality printing has come down, we’re using more paper than ever. Read the rest of this entry »

Some of the biggest companies in the U.S. are setting their sights pretty high with sustainability goals. Will these lofty efforts make a noticeable impact on the environment? Read the rest of this entry »

What could be greener than biofuels, energy that grows out of the ground. You mash up some corn or switchgrass and refine it into fuel – it’s the ultimate renewable energy source, right? Read the rest of this entry »

The Keystone XL Pipeline project was probably always going to be controversial. All of the combustible elements for a back-and-forth, knock-down, drag-out battle are there. Read the rest of this entry »