Living Green is a Regional Thing

A Fascinating story came over the airwaves today via National Public Radio that's worth sharing. As you all know, Jon Corzine recently signed the Global Warming Response Act into law. Since this bold move by our state is a collaboration with other (blue) states here in the Northeast, it's worth updating what's been going on regionally.

It's also worth underscoring that these initiatives are in lieu of the anemic Federal response to climate change. Frankly, treehuggers and wonks alike agree that a national strategy would be best. But since the Bush Administration is too preoccupied with fags, flags and fetuses to bother with OO2 emissions, regional initiatives will have to do. For now.

This radio short checks up with an environmentalist and a power plant exec from our own PSE&G about the preparations for the upcoming transition.


NPR:

The Northeast region of the United States is the world's seventh biggest emitter of climate changing carbon dioxide gases. But, 10 Northeast states have signed up in a regional compact called "RGGI" (Reggie) the Regional Greenhouse Gas Initiative, to set mandatory caps on carbon emissions on power plants and a cap and trade program to help industry meet the reduction goals.

For a tutorial on the economics of Can and Trade, check out this video blog from last month.

Senator Bob Menendez talks Iraq, Healthcare, illegal firearms

How cool is it that the Senator from New Jersey Bob Menendez is so blog friendly?

I got a chance to interview him for my other (bigger) site Blue Jersey, and Menendez had all kinds of interesting things to say on topics that matter to me: the war in Iraq and the plight on the uninsured. You can listen to the podcast here or you can do it up YouTube style, below.

And in case you're wondering I did remind him that the Democratic majorites were sent to Washington with a mandate to put the breaks on Bush's war follies. He hasn't forgotten.

Part two

Arcade Fire

This song has been rockin' my world lately. I dare you to try it on for size!

"My Body is a Cage" by Arcade Fire

New York Times Profile of....ME!

From yesterday's NY Times article by Jon Miller New Media, Old Politics and the Blogger in the Middle:

Jay Lassiter used to write Internet posts flecked with profanity that lacerated New Jersey lawmakers. He described the actions of one legislator as “nincompoopery” and called another “a bully.” Last fall, he accused Mayor Cory A. Booker of Newark of “pimping” for Joseph I. Lieberman, the senator from Connecticut.

But a funny thing happened on the way to the State House, which Mr. Lassiter now covers as a blogger. “I don’t find myself launching firebomb campaigns anymore,” Mr. Lassiter admitted in a recent interview. “This whole exercise has kind of mellowed me out. These people in here, they seem like they’re doing their best.”

Continue reading here.

Two years into my bloglife, one thing seems clear: the battle between old and new media is only just beginning. And mostly that's what this article is about.

Image: (c) Laura Pedrick for The New York Times