Inbox

Inbox

Asia´s economic tigers are flexing and roaring full-on. No big news flash there. What is news -- and the world´s developed nations had better get a handle on this, like, yesterday -- is that China´s and India´s ongoing industrial-age-in-the-blink-of-an-eye is pumping many, many tons of carbon dioxide into the atmosphere. And if those big cats sustain their sky-high growth rates for, say, another decade or two -- which I´d venture they will -- well, let´s just say ... (whew) ... man, did somebody turn the blasted A/C down again?

Spotlight on the Horse: The FBI´s probe of the solid waste industry in Connecticut keeps getting more and more innarestin´. The Associated Press reports that the feds have set their sights on one Matthew Ianniello, known by his associates as Matty the Horse, reputed boss of the Genovese crime family.

Imagine the chitchats they´ve been having, under what I´d guess would be more than adequate lighting. "Who, me? Boss a´ what? Whattayou, crazy? I´m 85, fer cryin´ out loud. I´m a businessman."

My favorite sentence is this one, having to do with the two close-to-the-case sources that the AP bases its story on: "Both people spoke on condition of anonymity because the investigation is ongoing."

Of course that´s why they wanted their names left out.

Quickies: Time is short today, so with a tip of the cap to the Wall Street Journal´s James Taranto and his terrific column "Best of the Web Today," I´ll end the day with a quick tour of recent industry headlines.

Some Of That Stuff Is Really Heavy
"Tossing E-waste Is Not So Easy" -- San Jose Mercury News, May 8

Seeking A Little R&R
"Atmospheric Pollution Travels To Mountains" -- Tacoma News Tribune, May 3

Compassion Above And Beyond The Call Of Duty
"GP Offers Home For Toxic PCBs" -- Green Bay Press-Gazette, May 10

They´d Prefer To Keep It Exactly As Is
"Activists Oppose Pollution Changes" -- Cincinnati Post, April 26

Buzz Lightyear, Woody the Sheriff Honored For Heroism
"Old Toys Saved From The Landfill" -- Akron Beacon Journal, May 6

Insert Your Favorite Moron Joke Here
"More On Garbage Carts, Railroad Debris" -- Quad-City Times, May 10

Getteth Thee The Trash To The Curb Forthwith
"The Garbage Man Cometh" -- ARS Tecnica, May 6

Married Haulers Need Not Apply
"Mayor Calls For Single Citywide Trash Hauler" -- Lancaster New Era, May 3

Gently Down The Single Stream
"Students Row, Row, Row Their Boats In Recycling Regatta" -- Tampa Bay Newspapers Weekly, May 3

If Only It Were That Simple
"Take A Dump And Save The Planet" -- Ohio State University U Weekly, May 10

Pete Fehrenbach is assistant managing editor of Waste News. Past installments of this column are collected in the Inbox archive.