who is merck sleeping with at the virginia water board?

earlier this year, the virginia state water board voted in favor of allowing merck pharmaceutical company to discharge 29,216 more pounds of nitrogen and 3,288 more pounds of phosphorus each year into the South Fork of the Shenandoah River than allowed by law. the shenandoah-potomac river basin is already the source of 25% of the chesapeake bay's nitrogen pollution, amounting to more than 300,00 pounds more than scientists say it can handle. i thought we were going to try to clean up the bay? i guess the watermen and the businesses along the bay that contribute billions of dollars so vital to virginia's economy and prestige are more responsible for its upkeep than a large company up-river. or maybe they prefer litigation to doing the right thing.

intersex fish in the potomac river?

i am a huge fan of stephen colbert...part of the colbert nation, if you will. i was completely disgusted with the so-called environmental protection agency (again) after watching the interview with new york times columnist nicholas kristof. apparently usgs scientists found prolific occurances of intersex bass, 82% of small mouth and 23% of large mouth, in the shenandoah and potomac rivers. that is repulsive. does the epa actually do anything? does anybody else think this is unacceptable? i think i will continue to catch-and-release.