Recent Posts

if i may be so old

This massive retirement home would grow its own food

The proposal for this beautiful building has us drooling over its emphasis on fresh food and community, and it isn't even built yet.

Beleaf it

A million trees grow in Brooklyn

Well, Brooklyn and the other four bouroughs -- thanks to a 10-year campaign to green up the city's parks and streets.

Climate & Energy

Support nonprofit journalism and my beard

I don't do this very often, but I'm going to ask you, my loyal readers, for money.

prince of whales

Whales start pulling their own weight, save us for a change

Tar-sands pipeline construction in Canada was halted over concerns about the habitat of endangered beluga whales.

Flockin' around the Christmas tree

Will fake snow on my Christmas tree land me on the naughty list?

A reader asks about faux snow. Umbra says only the sheep should be flocking.

Climate & Energy

Watch E.O. Wilson talk about the meaning of life

E.O. Wilson discusses his new book, religion, and robots.

Food

From Hazard to Flippin, White House promotes local food in awesomely named towns

$800,000 for food-system improvements may be peanuts on a federal scale, but even peanuts can make a difference at the local level.

Breast Intentions

The Daily Show reminds us “pink fracking” against breast cancer is the most ridiculous thing ever

Fracking company Baker Hughes painted 1,000 drill bits pink to support the Susan G. Komen Foundation. Yep: no hypocrisy there.

Food

Finally, a GMO debate without shouting

Intelligence Squared takes on a contentious issue in a clear way, and the resulting video makes for a great primer on GMOs.

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