Daily Digg: Thurs.
Thu, Mar 26 2009 at 6:00 PM EST
Here are some noteworthy science and environmental links folks are Digging today:
• CNET News: "IBM hops aboard high-speed rail"
I've often wondered if the hilarious Simpsons monorail episode — written by Conan O'Brien and one of the series' greatest comedic gems — helped sour the country on mass transit. Stranger things have happened; the New York Times says Jane Fonda helped turn public opinion against nuclear power. Regardless, trains are coming back in vogue, and IBM is getting on board with three new 200-mph bullet trains in China, Taiwan and the Netherlands. And with $8 billion in stimulus money targeted for U.S. rail projects, and more on the way, we might all soon be singing "monoraaaaaail," too.
• Miami New Times: "The 'green' 15,000 square foot mansion"
Frank McKinney, a self-described "maverick daredevil real estate artist" with glam-rock hair and no restraint, is trying to break out of 1989 and into 2009. The Florida developer made his living selling beachfront McMansions and ridiculously titled books, but now he's peddling a $29 million, 15,000-square-foot, double-waterfront house that he calls "green." (The Wall Street Journal ran a photo gallery a few weeks ago.) Features like solar panels and a grass driveway seem cool, but the house also has 11 bathrooms, two laundry rooms and two elevators. If it's out of your price range, maybe you'll consider one of these gorgeous "scale replica" Frank McKinney talking action figures, recession-priced at only $250.
• CityPass [infographic]: "America Going Green: Environmental Sustainability by City and State"
If it's not easy being green, it's even harder seeing green. Trying to quantify and compare how "green" different cities or states are is a complicated undertaking; variables like climate, land area and population density can easily muddy the waters. I've just been researching it for a Translating Uncle Sam article on different cities' energy efficiency, and found out that reliable, comparable data is elusive. CityPass gives it a shot with this infographic map, which is based on articles from Popular Science and Forbes, but some commenters complain that it doesn't show its work.
• National Wildlife Federation: "9 Reasons Social Media and the Web Can Save Wildlife"
What an age we live in. Thanks to the advent of online social media, it's never been easier to stay up to date on our friends' mundane thoughts, errands and dietary habits. But as rewarding as it is to find out what distant high-school acquaintances ate for lunch, the National Wildlife Federation suggests even more noble, and useful, uses for the Series of Tubes. Here the NWF lists nine reasons that all this connectivity makes it easier to connect with, and even protect, nature.
• Woman's Day: "How to Recycle Unusual Household Items"
If you're tired of filling your old candle jars with crayons, batteries and packing peanuts, this list is for you. Recycling is easy when you're just unloading stacks of newspapers or glass bottles, but what about all those old trophies and phone books lying around? Woman's Day comes to the rescue, offering this list of 10 things you didn't know you didn't know how to recycle.
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