Stormwater runoff is a significant contributor of pollution to the Chesapeake Bay. However, green roofs act as a sponge to soak up significant amounts of rainwater, therefore reducing runoff. Here’s a nice video illustrating the use of a green roof in Washington D.C.
More on green roofs from The Conservation Report: GREEN CONSTRUCTION: Increasing green spaces with living roofs
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About the photographer and his work:
Edward Burtynsky has traveled internationally for more than a decade to chronicle the global production, distribution, and use of oil; the energy source that has shaped the modern world. This world premiere exhibition provides a penetrating look at one of the most important subjects of our time, by one of the most respected and recognized contemporary photographers in the world.
Curator Paul Roth’s introduction to the Corcoran Exhibition entitled “Edward Burtynsky: Oil”:
Another video: “Manufactured Landscapes” by Edward Burtynsky:
More from DCist.com (emphasis added):
“How do you photograph something you can’t see?,” was the question Edward Burtynsky faced when creating the images in Oil, on view at the Corcoran Gallery of Art starting tomorrow. The world-renowned photographer began his career focused on consumerism and consumption, but around 15 years ago he had his “oil epiphany” – that oil is at the center of everything in an industrialized world and yet, we never see it, only its end products. The resulting portfolio of work is not a heavy-handed political statement, but a gorgeous documentary on the uses and ugliness of oil. I first discovered Burtynsky’s work in the (must-see) 2006 documentary Manufactured Landscapes and, admittedly, have eagerly been looking forward to seeing his work in person. It did not even remotely disappoint.
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Republican Senator John Barrasso argues that the public option would result in a government take over of healthcare. Senator Barrasso should have more faith in private health insurance providers. If government-run health care is so inferior, as Republicans claim, then why make the argument that a public option would threaten competition. It’s a ridiculous and vacant argument for Republicans to make.
Furthermore, Barrasso exclaimed, “We’re not even allowing the people of America to read the bill.” However, it’s Senator Barrasso’s responsibility to read the bill—it’s his job.
Senator Barrasso should be against the public option, because “the Wyoming senator has received a considerable amount of contributions from the health care industry: Over $500,000 from health professionals and nearly $100,000 from the pharmaceuticals and health products industry over his career and nearly $40,000 bundled from health care lobbyists in the last two years.”
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According to The Associated Press, “Hundreds of dairy farmers drove tractors into Belgium’s capital Monday to pressure EU farm ministers on declining milk prices, as 20 of 27 member nations called for more protection from the volatile world market.” 
Image via Georges Gobet/Agence France-Presse — Getty Images
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From the Atlantic Online (emphasis added):
Thursday’s annual Census Bureau report on income, poverty and access to health care-the Bureau’s principal report card on the well-being of average Americans-closes the books on the economic record of George W. Bush.
It’s not a record many Republicans are likely to point to with pride.
On every major measurement, the Census Bureau report shows that the country lost ground during Bush’s two terms. While Bush was in office, the median household income declined, poverty increased, childhood poverty increased even more, and the number of Americans without health insurance spiked. By contrast, the country’s condition improved on each of those measures during Bill Clinton’s two terms, often substantially.
The Census’ final report card on Bush’s record presents an intriguing backdrop to today’s economic debate. Bush built his economic strategy around tax cuts, passing large reductions both in 2001 and 2003. Congressional Republicans are insisting that a similar agenda focused on tax cuts offers better prospects of reviving the economy than President Obama’s combination of some tax cuts with heavy government spending. But the bleak economic results from Bush’s two terms, tarnish, to put it mildly, the idea that tax cuts represent an economic silver bullet.
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