Cars & Transportation

South African cyclist Aldren Muvhambe. Photo by Nic Grobler via Bicycle Portraits.

The sad recent news story about a 5-year-old girl killed by a street-cleaning vehicle while riding bikes with her father in the Turkish province of Konya -- a city that had previously announced plans for the country's first bike-sharing program -- got me thinking about what it would really take to create a cycling culture in Turkey. Similar questions, it seems, are on the minds of people in South Africa and Japan as well.

Food & Health

photo: Sara Novak

A story reported in Grist and first published in the Salt Lake Tribune said that alarming amounts of arsenic were found in two Utah children's urine. The girl's urine tested 50 percent above what's considered safe and the boy's tested 75 percent above acceptable levels. The culprit turned out to be the chicken feed. Find out how the kids were exposed to such high levels of arsenic.

Fashion & Beauty

Credit: Marilisa Cosello/Terre di mezzo Eventi

While I am gearing up to cover Fashion Week here in New York, other cities are prepping for the debut of spring/summer 2011 collections: In Milan, Terre di mezzo Eventi and Isola della Moda have organized a green fashion event, called "So Critical, So Fashion," which is geared towards" ethical consumerism," that will highlight the work of fashion brands, independent designers, and socially- and environmentally-responsible enterprises that are working to spur innovation in the field of green fashion. The event will coincide with Milan Fashion Week and is part fashion showcase and part learning seminar. Click through for details:

Business & Politics

Image: Craig Anderson, Flickr

Earlier this summer, when the BP Oil Spill was still at the top of the headlines everywhere, Russian predictions of a toxic rain consequent to the BP oil spill were generally dismissed by the scientific community. But the cultural meme, as well as an underlying level of anxiety for Gulf residents, was planted. Now, reports are appearing that raise the spectre of the Russian prediction. Are people living on the Gulf, and even further inland, really at risk? Or is the only risk the diversion of dollars into lawyers' pockets?

Business & Politics

Image credit:Colorado Trout Unlimited.

Colorado Republican gubernatorial candidate Dan Maes seems to have a habit of hitting the xenophia-flavored cool aid. April's recent post covered his ranting about how promoting bike riding is part of a world government conspiracy designed to steal personal freedoms. At the time I thought 'well...it might win him some Tea Party-style votes and he won't lose too many bike riders who otherwise would have supported him.' Maes' latest proclamation on environment (upending a century of water law) is likely to terrify neighboring state governors, business executives, and real estate developers so that conservation seems a side issue. Speaking before the Colorado Water Congress, Maes said, according to the Colorado Independent, and other sources ""I have a pretty simple policy on water so far: If it starts in Colorado, it's our water,""

Business & Politics

Image Credit: Mehgan Murphy, National Zoo

If you've been to the Smithsonian National Zoological Park in Washington, D.C. lately, you may have noticed that they've been working on the first stage of their "Elephant Trails" project- a bold initiative to build a complex of indoor and outdoor habitats for the zoo's Asian elephants that will allow the endangered animals to thrive. Phase I, which opened to the public yesterday, includes two new outdoor yards and an elephant barn, which is LEED certified and includes 5,700 square feet of livable space, and will be the elephants' future home.

Business & Politics

Handmade is becoming big business -- reeeally big. Etsy -- the online marketplace for handmade items -- announced earlier this week that it has raised $20 million in venture capital financing and has now tripled its valuation at $300 million (not including the funding). With sales up a whopping 72% from last year, business is booming -- not to mention ex-Google exec Adam Freed being roped in as Etsy's new chief operating officer.

Science & Technology

Credit: Photos via facebook.com/meeteater.

I like "Meet Eater," at least on Facebook. Not much happened after I hit the "Like" button to express my, um, admiration. Apparently, though, every time this plant makes a friend on Facebook, an electronic system delivers water and nutrients. No friends, no love? Dead plant. Unhappy Meet Eater.