So it turns out plastic bags, the bête noire of environmentalists worldwide, are not so bad for marine life after all. According to a new report, "The widely stated accusation that the bags kill 100,000 animals and a million seabirds every year are false, experts have told The Times. They pose only a minimal threat to most marine species, including seals, whales, dolphins and seabirds." For dear readers of The Blog, the idea of a whale getting trapped in a Whole Foods bag is completely ludicrous on its face. Our greener brethren, however, need an expert to tell them, "Most mammals are too big to get caught up in a plastic bag."

Now all we need to determine is whether the manufacture of plastic bags creates more greenhouse gas emissions than canvas alternatives. My guess is that people discard canvas bags long before they make up the difference.