links for 2009-12-12

Based on the trailers that I've seen for "Avatar," it looks like I'll hate it. But Roger Ebert and I have very similar taste in movies, and he—to my surprise—loves it.

The geographer, anthropologist, and all-around brilliant author puts forth an argument that big businesses are in the best position to reduce humans' negative impacts on the environment and that they're very likely to do so. Walmart is a good example of this—they might be evil in most fundmental ways, but by being the most powerful retailer in the world, they can make a big difference, and it's in their self-interest to do so.