plastic versus paper

The city of San Francisco recently banned the use of plastic bags in grocery and convenience stores. Here's the story:

http://www.nytimes.com/2007/04/01/weekinreview/01basics.html

Is this a good thing? Maybe, although paper bags are not necessarily more environmentally-friendly than plastic. Paper bags take more energy and resources to produce than plastic bags. Plastic bags, however, last forever in landfills. There's not really a landfill shortage in the US and there never was, despite the worried cry of environmentalists during the 1980s. If we do a good job of recycling plastic bags (which we don't), are they really a problem?

American Idol: Victim of Democracy?

Howard Stern is trying to undermine American Idol by encouraging people to vote for the worst performer. Here's the story in the NY Times:

http://www.nytimes.com/2007/03/31/arts/television/31idol.html

Evidently, the favorite performer among those seeking to support the worst is a guy from Federal Way, WA. In the past I would have made a joke about this town's name, but now I fear it will only lead to more sexual harassment...

sustainable paper products

If you're a panda owner, you've probably been wondering what to do with all the panda excrement that's building up on your property. Researchers in China just came up with a great idea: make it into paper. Check it:

http://www.nytimes.com/aponline/world/AP-ODD-Panda-Poop.html

When a gift needs givin'....

St. Patrick's Day is right around the corner: so guys, what are you going to get that special someone? This pop duo from SNL has an idea:

http://www.nbc.com/Saturday_Night_Live/uncensored.shtml

Dice-K versus.... Boston College?

This biggest sports event this week involved, oddly enough, the Boston College baseball team. Every spring, the Boston College baseball team plays an exhibition game against the Boston Red Sox. The game is ususally the first formal exhibition game the Red Sox play. In the past, this game has generated a lot of media attention because its usually the first time fans get to see new Red Sox in action. A few years back, '04 I think, sports media from around the country ascended on the game to see the first pitches from newly-acquired pitcher Curt Shilling. This weekend, the buzz surrounded Boston's latest pitching sensation, Daisaka Matsuzaka, who made his first appearance. Perhaps "contract sensation" would be a better description than "pitching sensation" because of all the hype around the prolonged negotiations of his $250+ million contract.

In any case, here's an article about it:

http://sports.yahoo.com/mlb/news?slug=ti-mlb_07_matsuzaka030207&prov=yhoo&type=lgns