Comments infp has made

  • At the risk of sounding ungrateful

    The budget is a good start but do you think $15 billion to develop clean technologies over 10 years is enough? Why is the bulk of our national budget still reserved for unnecessary wars and insolvent banks? On Obama's first budget includes green spending and anticipated revenues from a climate plan posted 9 months ago 16 Responses

  • CNBC ADD Edition

    Great clip and even better analysis. Roubini and Taleb looked like they were trying to teach Econ-101
    to a group of teenagers with ADD.  On Two real financial thinkers venture into CNBC fantasy world; comedy ensues posted 9 months, 1 week ago 4 Responses

  • They elected Bush, twice!

    Always remember, Republican politicians must appeal to their base, and the base is composed of idiots.  On Denier duo tried to tarnish Hansen and utterly misquoted Revkin posted 10 months ago 5 Responses

  • One small frozen caveat

    Of course, tapping frozen methane hydrates for commercial use is a huge and expensive undertaking that is fraught with environmental risks.  

    http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?f=/c/a/2008/11/ ...On Lots of natural gas is chillin' on Alaska's North Slope, says USGS posted 1 year ago 3 Responses

  • Make hay while the sun disappears in a toxic haze

    China is the factory for the world; American and European companies outsourced their manufacturing there to save on labor costs.  This arrangement benefited American and European executives (through their stock options and bonuses) and hurt average employees. America now has an historic opportunity to seize the lead in the growing green economy while China disappears under its own toxic haze. On China concedes its CO2 emissions have caught up to the U.S. posted 1 year, 1 month ago 3 Responses

  • I betcha Sarah knows

    Sarah knows that global warming is caused by increased brimstone burning in hell.   On Cause and defect posted 1 year, 1 month ago 4 Responses

  • See what Gore is up against

    The world is burning and our resident troll plays a very bizarre tune on his violin.  On Al Gore on the climate and financial crises posted 1 year, 2 months ago 12 Responses

  • A conspiracy of dunces

    John McCain, another intellectual giant to join Reagan, Quayle and Dubya on the Republican Mount Rushmore of political geniuses.  On How can journalists cover the views of a candidate whose views are indeterminate? posted 1 year, 2 months ago 3 Responses

  • There's an invisible hand reaching for my wallet

    Would this be a good time for the Republicans to push for the privatization of Social Security again?  Remember how the invisible hand of the market was going to guide us all to prosperity if we just got rid of all that annoying government oversight?  On Still trying to make environmental sense of the massive bailout now underway posted 1 year, 2 months ago 23 Responses

  • Troll utility

    The trolls serve a purpose; they demonstrate why someone like Palin can have broad support in this country. Their incessant chatter remind us how many people are still ignorant about climate change and why a site like Grist is necessary.  On Palin parries with Charles Gibson on climate change posted 1 year, 2 months ago 15 Responses

  • Yeah!

    Great ad; a very dignified response to the yelping of the neo-cons.  On Community organizers rock posted 1 year, 2 months ago 2 Responses

  • Equivocation

    Notice how Brokaw feels compelled to observe that both the Democrats and the Republicans have neglected the global warming issue. To point out that the Republicans have been far worse on this issue might make Brokaw appear to be (gasp!) "partisan."  As long as the mainstream press believes in this type of equivocation the American public will remain ignorant.  
    On Tom Friedman talks up the need for an 'energy revolution' on 'Meet the Press' posted 1 year, 2 months ago 5 Responses

  • Troll logic

    Hmm, Gore pollutes therefore global warming must be bogus.  Following that logic, if a doctor smokes then smoking must not cause cancer.  On EPA requires emissions cuts by lawn mowers and speedboats posted 1 year, 2 months ago 7 Responses

  • A. Q. Khan spreads the nuclear virus

    Iran is not feared because of its military power.  Iran is feared because it is seen as the state most likely to support terrorism; potentially nuclear terrorism.  Because of Iran's long standing support of Hezbollah and Hamas people legitimately wonder what Iran might do if it possessed nuclear weapons.  I am not a hawk and I do not favor attacking Iran but I do admit that the thought of Iran one day possessing nuclear weapons terrifies me.   On Time to choose between a new cold war with Russia and a new cold war with Iran posted 1 year, 3 months ago 17 Responses

  • Do as I say, not as I do

    And the gold medal for hypocrisy goes to the Bush Administration for chastising Russia for invading Georgia.  Do the words 'preemptive war' mean anything to you neo-cons? On Oil geopolitics of the Georgia pipeline posted 1 year, 3 months ago 19 Responses

  • Bus riders are second class citizens at the border

    I love buses but apparently custom officials do not.  At the US-Canadian border near Vancouver, Canada, bus riders are required to get off the bus with their luggage and file through custom inspections.  Meanwhile, people in cars are generally allowed to stay in their cars and glide by custom officials without luggage inspection.  This disparity in treatment results in extremely long delays for bus riders.  On Saturday, August 2, 2008, it took my bus three and a half hours to cross from Canada into the US.  Almost all this time was spent in a long line of buses waiting to be inspected while the people in cars drove by us. Apparently, custom officials believe that terrorists and smugglers only use mass transit.  On Greyhound and other intercity buses gain popularity posted 1 year, 3 months ago 4 Responses

  • Get a Prius . . . Dude

    The SUV-campers remind me of surfers in Orange County, CA. They tend to think of themselves as environmentalists and yet the beach parking lot is full of giant SUVs and pickups. On Car camping with a Prius posted 1 year, 4 months ago 24 Responses

  • I've painted the roof of my private jet white . .

    How quickly a well intended 'green speech' can look dated.  Doerr's emphasis on biofuels and a greener Walmart sound pretty inadequate to the task at hand.  I especially like the BMW commercial at the end of the clip promising us a luxurious hydrogen economy future. The elites at TED need to fly less and bicycle more. On Venture capitalist John Doerr shares four lessons on climate change posted 1 year, 4 months ago 24 Responses

  • Much lesser of evils

    We are in desperate need of clean energy and I can't believe that the environmental impact of a solar project is greater than the impact of a coal or nuclear plant.  Therefore, with few exceptions, solar projects should be approved and supported.  On BLM reverses stance on solar-project moratorium posted 1 year, 4 months ago 37 Responses

  • Gold parachutes are packed and ready

    If the Big Three go down you can bet that the executives will do just fine.  That is what executives do; they look after their own best interests, not their employees.  And yet Americans love to elect former executives into public office, believing that these people will suddenly turn altrustic when they have a government job.  On S&P cites automakers' cashflow concerns posted 1 year, 5 months ago 4 Responses

  • Roots of radicalism

    Meanwhile, the Neo-cons of the Bush Administration are cashing-in as authors and lobbyists.  

     On Convicted eco-vandal sentenced to six years in prison posted 1 year, 5 months ago 57 Responses

  • My burger is better

    I like Trader Joe's Vegetable Masala Burger.  Perfect for lazy vegan eating.  On Don Lee Farms veggie patties are the shizzle posted 1 year, 5 months ago 6 Responses

  • Jellanol floats economy

    Where are the deniers?  Aren't you supposed to tell us not to worry because scientists were predicting a jellyfish shortage in the 1970's? Or, maybe Vinod Khosla can grind them up into a biofuel and call it jellanol.  On Jellyfish are everywhere, and that's not a good thing posted 1 year, 5 months ago 5 Responses

  • Reality check at the pump

    David makes an excellent point.  Consumers first have to believe that the energy status quo is broken before they will support fixing it.  Perhaps $5/gallon gasoline is the wake up call we all need.  On There is such a thing as a free lunch posted 1 year, 5 months ago 15 Responses

  • Enough mad cow eater excuses

    Why do we continue to debate this issue?  A vegetarian or vegan diet is good for the environment. Period.  People are obviously free to eat meat if they choose, but I'm tired of reading the rationalizations of meat eaters.  On Still more reasons to eat local and lay off the beef posted 1 year, 5 months ago 33 Responses

  • Dirtier yes, but cheaper?

    "Production of tar-sands oil is cheaper and much dirtier than regular ol' crude"  - That can't be right, is it?  On U.S. emphasis on Canada's tar sands a bad idea, says report posted 1 year, 5 months ago 5 Responses

  • Send in the clown

    I assume there will be a Senator Inhofe character dressed as a sad denier clown.  On Inconvenient Truth gives an encore -- as an opera posted 1 year, 6 months ago 4 Responses

  • Peace, love and Mother Nature

    Great article Sharon and yes, the hippies were right on just about everything. On Target your peak oil message to your audience posted 1 year, 6 months ago 24 Responses

  • Lazy populism

    Deniers have the great advantage of telling people what they want to hear.  As evidence of global warming becomes overwhelming, deniers provide cover for people who want to escape the cost and inconvenience of changing their lifestyles. On The delayers' paradox posted 1 year, 6 months ago 13 Responses

  • CCS vs. wind & solar-thermal

    It makes me nervous to place so much emphasis on CCS when it appears to be an unproven technology.  Would we be better off spending the CCS billions on wind and solar-thermal?  Or is that just wishful thinking?  On Preventing dirty coal plants is the most urgent climate policy posted 1 year, 6 months ago 7 Responses

  • Please go away Hillary

    She is showing the same great judgment that led her to support the invasion of Iraq. Vote Obama!   On Clinton sings the faux-populist, anti-intellectual Manichean blues posted 1 year, 6 months ago 5 Responses

  • Vegetarian thermometer

    Hmmm,if people won't even order a veggie burger in place of a beef burger, will they be willing to make drastic changes in their lifestyles to prevent severe climate change? On Are you a vegetarian? posted 1 year, 7 months ago 53 Responses

  • Wright wing media

    Last night's presidential debate certainly focused on peak oil and global warming didn't it?  Maybe we can get the media interested if Reverend Wright will say, "God damn this country's energy policy!"   On Let's rebuild our national rail network instead of repealing the gas tax posted 1 year, 7 months ago 31 Responses

  • Bush's Two Part Eco Plan

    1. See Pig

    2. Apply lipstick
    On Bush may turn about-face, ask Congress to address climate change posted 1 year, 7 months ago 6 Responses

  • Why people stick with cars

    Later this summer I will be traveling back and forth between Seattle, WA, and Vancouver, BC.  Though it is only a distance of 140 miles, it will take me nearly 4 hours by train and 4 1/2 hours by bus. Unfortunately, this is why people drive cars.  On Defying conventional wisdom, NC residents express desire for public transport posted 1 year, 8 months ago 27 Responses

  • The Shock Doctrine revisited

    Good point Sunflower.  After the 9/11 shock, we ended up invading Iraq.  What does Bush and his crack team of Milton-Friedman-trained-economists have planned for us this time?  Watch out for the cure that is worse than the disease.  On A few thoughts for environmentalists posted 1 year, 8 months ago 95 Responses

  • In Wall Street We Trust

    I'm sure that the same wise men who led us into the Iraq war are competently guiding us towards a safe, prosperous, green future.  Just keep telling yourself that wealth equals competence and everything will turn out fine.  On A few thoughts for environmentalists posted 1 year, 8 months ago 95 Responses

  • And the enemy is us

    The U.S. as an anti-global warming crusading nation!!??  I'd settle for us relinquishing our title as the world's most egregious polluter.  On Why this is the last election, and another look at McCain posted 1 year, 8 months ago 48 Responses

  • Where is the CSP?

    Why are so few solar thermal power plants being built?  On Projected CO2 emissions dwarf previous expectations posted 1 year, 8 months ago 15 Responses

  • Free market fundamentalists

    Americans find it difficult to respond to global warming because our culture believes in the infallibility of the free market.  It is inconceivable to most Americans that the wealthy car, coal, and oil industries could be leading us into a global catastrophe. On What if the MSM simply can't cover humanity's self-destruction? posted 1 year, 8 months ago 33 Responses

  • Who needs it?

    Another constructive response to rising meat prices is to simply buy less meat.  People may discover that they are better off without it.   On Rising food prices hit home around the world posted 1 year, 8 months ago 10 Responses

  • No CO2, No meat

    Switching to a vegetarian or vegan diet strikes me as one of the simplest ways to fight global warming and yet it frequently seems to be left off of the green to-do list.  
    On A new climate science paper calls for dramatic action posted 1 year, 9 months ago 26 Responses

  • 2-3-3

    One Earth.
    Live green now.
    Or we die.  On Here's your chance to be the Pollan of climate change posted 1 year, 10 months ago 94 Responses

  • A step in the right direction

    Mr. Khosla still misses the point.  The Prius is not celebrated because it answers all of the world's transportation needs, but because it is currently the best available environmental option for most American drivers. Apparently, it is a well made, modestly priced car (under $30K) that gets excellent gas mileage (about 45 MPG). The popularity of the Prius is a very good sign that Americans are beginning to value fuel efficiency when purchasing consumer products.On Prius: Green or greenwash? posted 1 year, 10 months ago 36 Responses

  • Milton Friedman Jihadis

    Unfortunately, free market fundamentalists believe that selfishly pursuing their own interests will benefit the entire society. This makes the costs of sudden climate change a difficult concept for them to grasp. On Spending on adaptation and mitigation now is an investment, spending later is a waste posted 1 year, 10 months ago 8 Responses

  • Follow the money

    Before we can decide which presidential candidate is most likely to "overcome special interests", we should determine who is funding their campaign.  I know that both Hillary and Obama raised more than $100 million for their campaigns so far.  Who are they now beholden to?  I believe that Edwards opted for government funding of his campaign, maybe that should tell us something.  On Are Obama and Edwards promising ponies? posted 1 year, 10 months ago 24 Responses

  • Iowa on my mind

    This sounds like a very reasonable and important plan. I can imagine Edwards endorsing it, Obama considering it, Hillary ignoring it and the Republicans denouncing it.  On A system to control climate change and reduce poverty posted 1 year, 11 months ago 19 Responses

  • Don't worry, be happy

    It is amazing that people can look ahead to worldwide floods, heat waves and droughts and conclude that these monumental changes to our planet will impact only a small percentage of the global economy.  It's as if a doctor discovered a malignant tumor inside a patient's body and told him, "hey, it's a small tumor, how much harm can it do?"  On Why ecology explains growth, and economists don't posted 1 year, 11 months ago 33 Responses

  • Payback

    Mary's office should be relocated to a deep ravine in the 9th Ward.  On Louisiana's Sen. Landrieu votes against party, for Big Oil posted 1 year, 11 months ago 7 Responses

  • Hey concerned mom, "Dump your SUV!"

    Now that you've saved your child from the perils of Chinese Lead toys, how about saving them from excess CO2 in the atmosphere?  Get rid of the family SUV gas hog and try bicycling to Toys-R-Us.  On California yanks kids' jewelry from stores posted 1 year, 11 months ago 2 Responses

  • Tourists ride trains not buses

    As a tourist, I've used train systems around the world because they are easy to use.  By simply glancing at a train system map you can generally figure out where you need to go.  A bus system is far more challenging and it is not easily rendered on a user friendly map. Locals, of course, have the time and incentive to learn a bus system.  Tourists generally do not.  On Transportation planning with people in mind posted 1 year, 11 months ago 20 Responses

  • Yeah!

    I love the idea.  Let the idiots who buy Navigators subsidize the purchase of Priuses.  On French government charges fees to new owners of gas-guzzling vehicles posted 1 year, 11 months ago 20 Responses

  • Democratic sweep in 2008

    Let's make the Republicans pay for this in 2008.  On Landmark energy bill stalls in the Senate posted 1 year, 11 months ago 14 Responses

  • A sober energy policy

    Rather than spending billions for ethanol, the government could spend that money subsidizing high mileage cars that exist NOW.  Give a $5,000 or even $10,000 federal subsidy towards the purchase of any vehicle that exceeds 40 MPG.  Or take those ethanol billions and invest in mass transit projects.  There are better ways to spend our tax dollars than subsidizing Cargill and ADM.  On The corn industry hopes Congress will pull its fat out of the fire posted 2 years ago 44 Responses

  • Go Pack!

    Wow, as if I needed another reason to love the Packers.  (As a fan I will ignorantly ascribe this little bit of good environmental news to Brett Favre).  On Thanksgiving Day game will be carbon neutral posted 2 years ago 4 Responses

  • Skip the presents, pass the food

    I agree, I agree, I agree. Unfortunately, my otherwise wonderful family is addicted to opening Christmas presents.  I would gladly trade Christmas for a Thanksgiving Part II.  On Are you brave enough to say no to a high-stress holiday? posted 2 years ago 51 Responses

  • Freedom bacon anyone?

    Does this mean that the U.S. Congressional cafeteria will refuse to serve Candaian bacon?  Freedom bacon anyone?  On Backing away from corn ethanol posted 2 years ago 8 Responses

  • Mass extinction book - Readers Digest Version

    In his chilling book, "Under a Green Sky", author/paleontologist Peter Ward concludes that most of the past massive extinctions on earth were caused by huge increases in greenhouse gases due to volcanic activity.  This concentration of greenhouse gases caused the earth to warm, which caused the ice caps to melt, which shut down the oceans' conveyor systems that oxygenates the oceans. The oxygen-deprived oceans became saturated with microorganisms that produced hydrogen sulfide as a byproduct.  The oceans and atmosphere became suffused with hydrogen sulfide and most plant and animal life died off. - Gulp.  On Study of fossil record predicts climate change could fuel mass extinction posted 2 years, 1 month ago 5 Responses

  • Note to George Will

    When the developed world has to spend billions/trillions of dollars to fight brush fires, droughts and flooding in their own countries, they probably won't be spending a lot of money to fights AIDS and malaria in the developing world.  On Global warming and the California wildfires posted 2 years, 1 month ago 8 Responses

  • Caption

    "You're right Joe, surging into Iran would be a form of recycling."On Winner to receive unimaginable riches, fame posted 2 years, 1 month ago 9 Responses

  • Do all Georges think alike?

    Then by all means, let's start burning as much coal as possible.  Apparently, fossil fuel conservation leads directly to malaria, aids and traffic deaths.  Thanks for the tip George.  On George Will's latest column tests the limits of self parody posted 2 years, 1 month ago 5 Responses

  • Underground Electric Railroad

    Hopefully, the crusade to stop climate change in the 21st Century will be reminiscent of the emancipation movement of the 19th Century.  A small group of (environmental) activists will eventually convince the majority that the (fossil fuel) status quo is immoral.  On Donald Brown on the ethical dimensions of climate change posted 2 years, 1 month ago 3 Responses

  • Costs & Benefits of Gore's Canidacy

    While I agree that Al Gore would inevitably be sullied by a run for president, you have to balance that against all that he might accomplish as a 'green' president. President Gore would have an historic opportunity to chart a radically new course for America's energy future. With Democratic majorities in Congress, President Gore could conceivably usher in a new era of subsidies for clean energy, plug-in hybrids, a smart electrical grid, mass transit, co-generation plants and energy conservation, while curtailing subsidies for fossil fuels.  Think of the appointments that President Gore would make to the departments of Energy, the Interior and the EPA. Would a cautious President Hillary Clinton be likely to make any bold moves for the environment?  Or would she, like most Democrats, do a little bit of green-washing to mollify her environmentalist constituents?  Al Gore would certainly be risking his well earned reputation as an environmental champion if we were to run for the presidency, but if he were to win, the rewards for our nation and the world might be enormous.  On Al Gore and the IPCC jointly win peace prize posted 2 years, 1 month ago 56 Responses

  • Apparently

    Reason #4: It would upset the ignorant. On Three reasons Gore deserves the Nobel Peace Prize posted 2 years, 1 month ago 4 Responses

  • Once burned

    But can we trust our elected officials to deregulate the electric grid in the public's interest?  We saw what was done to California in 2001.  The reason many people cringe at the idea of deregulation is that they feel that the same special interests are likely to hijack the process again.  On On electricity deregulation posted 2 years, 2 months ago 16 Responses

  • Just wondering

    Has anyone tried to calculate what might be accomplished if the proposed CCS/CTL subsidies were instead used for developing solar/wind/cogen?  On Coal industry asks for still more handouts, and Washington lends an ear posted 2 years, 2 months ago 6 Responses

  • Nation of rocket scientists

    And America courageously responded to Gore's advice and began building Hummers and McMansions.    On Gore in 1992 talking about the 'spiritual crisis' behind environmentalism posted 2 years, 2 months ago 3 Responses

  • Fossil fuels free ride

    Gasoline and coal power are cheap as long as you don't factor in the costs they impose on the environment, the climate and public health.  Solar power for cars would certainly have high start-up costs but it would pay back these costs through less damage to the environment, the climate and to public health. On A panel discussion on how much plug-ins rule posted 2 years, 2 months ago 32 Responses

  • Tyrd of it

    Yuck, please no more Tyra.  On ANTM models green advice posted 2 years, 2 months ago 4 Responses

  • Solar vs. Malaria??

    Why does Lomborg cast efforts to combat global warming as the enemy of assistance to Third World countries?  If we are looking for money to fund anti-malaria efforts, aren't bloated military budgets a better place to look?  On Debating Bjorn Lomborg on global warming posted 2 years, 2 months ago 13 Responses

  • World Kegger

    Uh oh, freshman pledges China and India have joined America on the collective roof and they are drinking deeply.  On Wisdom from 13th-century Persia posted 2 years, 2 months ago 2 Responses

  • Blume?

    I thought that it was a near Grist consensus that biofuels are an environmental dead end.  Does David Blume have a unique take/recipe on biofuels? On Would the biosphere care? posted 2 years, 3 months ago 41 Responses

  • Enlightened

    Apparently the Swiss tend to be more concerned with the environment than with nudity.   On That's One Way to Highlight Shrinkage posted 2 years, 3 months ago 1 Response

  • Debunking ethanol

    Today, The LA Times ran a good editorial debunking the benefits of ethanol.  

    http://www.latimes.com/news/opinion/la-ed-ethanol20aug20, ...On Saving and restoring forests better for climate than switching to biofuels posted 2 years, 3 months ago 12 Responses

  • Ethics 101

    Thoughtful birth control to control over population is good.  Population control via random toxicity and environmental degradation is bad.  On Dying For a Change posted 2 years, 3 months ago 3 Responses

  • Oily Statesman

    Another brilliant, far-sighted Republican.  I'm sure he has an "I support the troops" magnet on his Escalade.  On Congress' dimmest bulb laughs at bikes posted 2 years, 3 months ago 8 Responses

  • Big Green Bus

    Their message is that there are viable alternatives to petroleum power.  That may be old news to Grist readers but it may still come as a revelation to many Americans.  Roll on Big Green Bus!On The Big Green Bus rides again posted 2 years, 3 months ago 14 Responses

  • HIMD

    Why not eliminate the HIMD for properties that are deemed environmentally wasteful based on their size or location?  On How does the Home Interest Mortgage Deduction affect sprawl? posted 2 years, 4 months ago 6 Responses

  • Decentralize US Political Power

    Maybe if Dick Cheney was the ex-CEO of a solar company the Iraqis might stand a chance.  On Distributed power could have saved us some serious pain over there posted 2 years, 4 months ago 3 Responses