digital knowledge database.com

Is Andy Dick auditioning to be the next face of the McDonald's empire? Are we on the brink of a dot-eco revolution? Have you ever wanted to bathe in your favorite pilsner? Today's Eco-Beat has the scoop on all the latest green news and tips.

Andy Dick as Evil Ronald McDonald There are few things in this world more disturbing than seeing Andy Dick dressed up as Ronald McDonald and wielding a meat cleaver ... but that's the horrendous sight that greeted passersby during a PETA protest in Chicago. Check out the video.

Is Sparkling Water as Bad as Bottled? The general rule of thumb here is this: if it comes to you in a disposable container and rides on a truck, it's not eco-friendly. That said, slamming sparkling waters all day in place of Coke or Red Bull has to yield some kind of green benefit due to the health factor.

Succulent Tips for the Xeriscaper These hardy little plants have developed quite a following over the last few years, mostly because they look awesome, but also because, in terms of maintenance, they're second only to fake plastic flowers. Still, do you know how to ignore these plants properly?

The Dot-Eco Revolution Could GreenDaily one day drop the ".com" in favor of a spiffy new ".eco" domain name? A growing number of eco-geeks (including the inventor of the internet, Al Gore) are backing the idea of giving environmentally-oriented sites their own top-level domain.

All Natural Beer Soap Want to smell like you've bathed in a pool of your favorite beer without exceeding the legal limit? The Beer Soap Co. not only makes cleansing suds enhanced with your favorite premium beer, but you can even wash your hair with it. It's the bar of soaps (sorry for the pun).

Green in a Flash:

• Recycled tire materials could be the next big thing in heavy construction.
• They could also be poisoning our playgrounds.
• Why are all the Joshua trees disappearing?

Eco-Beat, 6/22 originally appeared on Green Daily on Mon, 22 Jun 2009 15:00:00 EST 0. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

 

Permalink | Email this | Linking Blogs | Comments

Filed under: Home, Local

(Photo by Getty Images)

It's time for Green Confessions. I was just cleaning my microwave and had an urge to toss it out and buy a new one.

It wasn't that dirty, it was just taking more elbow grease and energy than I had at the moment to get the mysterious dried stuff off the walls. And new stuff is shiny and pretty!

Don't worry, I finished cleaning it, with all natural biodegradable soap and water. But I have to admit, the temptation was there.

Probably a worse temptation happens when I'm cleaning out the fridge and I don't feel like scooping the weird moldy cottage cheese into the composting bin, then putting the container in the recycling bin. I just want to throw the container in the regular trash, without ever opening it up!

But that would be unforgivable. So I grit my teeth and scoop away.

At least I compost! My foodie friend "doesn't feel like having rotting food on the counter" so she just throws out food scraps. Even though in San Francisco you can compost everything, even bones.

(I'm talking about things like chicken and steak bones. Don't get any murder mystery ideas!)

The point is, there are so many things a "good greenie" is supposed to do that the day-to-day maintenance can be a grind. Back in April, we did a series of "Eco-Pinions" polls, including one that asked "What's the hardest part about being green?"

Your answers were interesting and revealing:

• Walking or biking instead of using the car: 47%
• Spending more money for organic food: 21%
• Using recycled toilet paper: 14%
• Taking shorter showers: 11%
• Giving up bottled water: 7%

Now I'm curious to hear from you readers: What's your worst Green Confession? Do you let the water run while you brush your teeth? Drink bottled water every day? Drive two blocks to the store?

We're only human. Share in the comments and get the guilty green weight off your chest!

Sometimes It's Hard Being Green originally appeared on Green Daily on Tue, 23 Jun 2009 12:09:00 EST 0. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

 

Permalink | Email this | Linking Blogs | Comments

Have Fatboy Slim and Jarvis Cocker joined the Blue Man Group? Looking for ways to look smart and save your office some money? Need an excuse to procrastinate mowing the yard? Today's Eco-Beat has the scoop on all the latest green news and tips.

Fatboy Slim Has the Climate Change Blues Blue is the new green for Oxfam protesters at Copenhagen's climate conference. To help roll out the new "Demand action until you're blue in the face" campaign, Fat Boy Slim and others are showing how easy it is to get the new paintjob on video.

Reduce Your Office's Footprint Energy Star and Danny Seo have developed a website to show you how to slash your office's energy bill and even create a "Green Team" of coworkers (not modeled after Will Ferrell's trash-talking Green Team). A penny saved is a penny earned, and that's job security, people.

But I like Coffee and Bananas! If you tend to obsess over your carbon foodprint, you've probably come across a startling revelation: most of our favorite food vices come from the tropics! Though there's no silver bullet, Grist has come up with some ways to help combat those food miles.

More Mowing, Mo' Watering Of all the suburban lawn farmers I've met, virtually none of them enjoy mowing the grass in the summer heat. Good news! Letting your grass grow a little longer will actually save you some water. Longer grass = more shade = recipe for laziness.

Coke's Trashy Art Installation In support of UK Recycle Week, Coca Cola commissioned a sculpture that sorta kinda blurs the line between art and trash. Artists built a Coke can sculpture that delivers a pro-recycling message to birds and UFOs flying over the English coastline, but looks trashy from the ground.

Green in a Flash:

• NYC taxi drivers won't get penalized for refusing to buy hybrids.
• Speaking of NYC, Moby's vegan restaurant burned down.
  
• Climate legislation working its way through Congress would cost about $175 per household.

Eco-Beat, 6/23 originally appeared on Green Daily on Tue, 23 Jun 2009 15:00:00 EST 0. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

 

Permalink | Email this | Linking Blogs | Comments

Filed under: Celebrities, Food

(Photo by Getty Images)

On Monday Josh's Eco Beat included an item about Andy Dick dressed as a maniacal Ronald McDonald on behalf of our dramatic friends at PETA.

It reminded me that it's been a while I checked in with those masters of PR and media manipulation. So clicked on over to the PETA homepage and found, to my surprise and delight, that it's been a whole year since Leona Lewis and Anthony Keidis were selected as the Sexiest Vegetarians alive.

That's right, there's a new pair of Sexiest Vegetarians According to PETA! The big winner for the ladies is Kellie Pickler ("Pick Pickler!" -- I guess the fake boobs didn't disqualify her) of American Idol and country music fame. Representing Dude Vegetarians is Hayden Panettierre's ex-boyfriend, and Heroes co-star, Milo Ventimiglia.
Pickler is a true product of PETA. She was up late one night and goggled some of those scary PETA videos about how food animals are basically tortured. Kudos to Kellie for actually being able to watch them; I get way squicked out by the chickens without bills.

Ventimiglia is an interesting case. The lifelong vegetarian claims to have even been "vegetarian in the womb" which is pretty impressive. He seems to have all of his own teeth and enviable skin -- so I guess you really can get all of the nutrients you need as a vegetarian!

If you're inspired by these nice looking famous vegetarians, check out PETA's free "Go Veg" starter kit. It has tips and recipes, and probably some cool stickers -- these guys know what they're doing. And if you want to keep it lean and green, you can even download a paper-free version!

PETA's Latest "Sexiest Vegetarians" originally appeared on Green Daily on Wed, 24 Jun 2009 12:09:00 EST 0. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

 

Permalink | Email this | Linking Blogs | Comments

Why is Daryl Hannah wearing handcuffs? Is Michelle Obama turning the White House into a hippie commune? Should cash-strapped cities be hiring ad firms to promote their tap water? Today's Eco-Beat has the scoop on all the latest green news and tips.

Daryl Hannah Gets Locked Up Eco-warrior Daryl Hannah can't seem to steer clear of Johnny Law. She and about 30 other protesters got loaded into the paddy wagon after blocking West Virginia's State Route 3, which leads to a Massey coal plant. Rock on! Daryl's a repeat offender!

The White House has a Compost Bin Actually, make that three compost bins. After importing her compost from celebrity chef Dan Barber for this year's ridiculously successful planting season, the First Lady is taking her organic gardening up a notch with on-site kitchen waste composters.

Minneapolis Pays Big Bucks to Promote Tap Water In most US cities the tap water is not only safe, but it's just as pure as many bottled waters. The trick is getting a bottle-addicted populous to give it a chance. Minneapolis recently launched a controversial $180K campaign to encourage people to tap into city water.

Is it Ever Green to Eat Factory Farmed Meat? If you're at a dinner party and you notice that someone's going to throw out some perfectly good, factory farmed meat, is it greener to take it home and make meatloaf despite your anti-factory farm principles? Check out Grist's answer to this philosophical dilemma.

The Country by Country Water Footprint Breakdown I don't know why, but I just love maps, no matter what they're attempting to document. It could be radioactive monster sightings, I don't care. This one happens to be the various water footprints of the world -- an issue that's gaining more awareness these days.

Green in a Flash:

• Could massive geothermal power projects trigger earthquakes in SF?
• Apparently, America really likes the new Prius commercials.
• Cash for Clunkers scams are already popping up, and the bill hasn't even been signed yet.
  

Eco-Beat, 6/24 originally appeared on Green Daily on Wed, 24 Jun 2009 15:00:00 EST 0. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

 

Permalink | Email this | Linking Blogs | Comments

Filed under: Food, Local

I don't know anybody who actively dislikes the farmers' market. However, I do know plenty of folks who don't take full advantage of markets near them. Are you one of them?

Don't be! This time of year is perfect for stocking up on fresh fruits and vegetables. In-season produce is often more affordable than you think. In fact, you might be surprised at how many meals you can make with just $20 worth of food from your local market!

Not sure what to shop for? Or maybe you're just not sure what certain fruits look like when perfectly ripe. This article has a few tips for not only choosing, but using delicious farmers' market fare. Additionally, you might benefit from these tips on how to save money when you go (who knew those quarters you've been saving could save you money?).

And, because we're all suckers for exotic foods, check out this post from YumSugar on exploring the farmers' markets of Oahu. Don't you love the idea of local pineapples and giant Kona avocados? The spam, maybe not so much.

Just goes to show you -- eating locally, even while traveling, can be an adventure. Leave a comment and tell us what some of the most exciting finds are at your local farmers' market. Or, if you've been to one elsewhere and loved it, share!

What's at Your Farmers' Market? originally appeared on Green Daily on Wed, 24 Jun 2009 17:02:00 EST 0. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

 

Permalink | Email this | Linking Blogs | Comments

Filed under: Celebrities, Polit-eco, Climate Change

This was a pretty exciting week for me. I got a "personalized" email from Alpha Green Al Gore, asking me to support Repower America's efforts to convince Congress to pass aggressive climate legislation. I think he's the greatest! (And I hope/believe he's secretly doing something to get Laura Ling and Euna Lee released from that North Korean labor camp.)

You may remember Al's awesome speech to the Daughters of the American Revolution, when he challenged America to get 100% of our power from clean energy sources within 10 years. Repower America is the organization that grew in response to that challenge, with over 2 million members across the country.

The video above is the latest ad from Repower America, and it's just plain-talking awesomeness. The totally crusty, hardworking, traditional-seeming gentleman who stars in it hits all of the high points -- like how we're "held hostage by foreign oil" and "borrowing money to buy oil from dictators who don't like us" and "burning it in ways that kill God's green earth" -- using language that makes these ideas accessible and palatable to non-bleeding heart liberals. You know, like the majority of the country.
And I swear he even makes it seem un-American to not be creating jobs harvesting clean, wind-powered energy.

It is thrilling to see this turning point happening, when all the kooky ideas from when I was a kid in the 70s and 80s -- like solar panels and wind power -- are now completely mainstream. It's also a scary time, when the world is taking steps to address the climate crisis, but we don't know if we're doing enough, or if it's too late.

I'm a believer in action and positive thinking, so whatever you're feeling about climate change and our nation's energy policy, go check out Repower America. If you like the ad, you can kick in $25 to help keep it on TV this summer, and help convince more people that clean energy isn't a liberal or conservative idea, it's just the right idea.

Do it for Al, and tell him I sent you!

UPDATE: I just got another email from Al, with a video, asking us to call our Representatives in Congress right now to encourage them to pass the legislation. Just call 877-9-REPOWER!

Al Gore Asked Me to Help Repower America originally appeared on Green Daily on Thu, 25 Jun 2009 12:10:00 EST 0. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

 

Permalink | Email this | Linking Blogs | Comments

Should you go green to score more celebrity dates? Are nudists the most eco-conscious travelers around? What's worse: mosquito bites or mosquito repellent? Today's Eco-Beat has the scoop on all the latest green news and tips.

If You're Not Green, Celebs Won't Date You Eco-friendly habits are the new personal hygiene. OK, so maybe hygiene is still pretty high on some people's lists, but TV personalities like Spencer Grammer (Kelsey's daughter) won't even date you if you're not water conscious. Just FYI.

Traveling Nudists Pack Light Worried about your carbon-intensive vacation plans? To offset some of your impact, some nudists naturists would say 'leave the clothes behind.' Apparently, there's a whole culture of green naturists that preach the virtues of skipping laundromats and detergent altogether.

Composting: It's the Law SF Mayor Gavin Newsom signed the nation's first mandatory composting law yesterday. The city has set a goal to divert 75% of its landfill waste, and they're currently at 72%. I'm forecasting some stinky green compost bins baking in the heat this summer.

Should I DEET or Get Eaten? When it comes to mosquito repellents, DEET is pretty much hands-down the most effective chemical -- but there are some pretty serious concerns about its safety. DEET can cause fatigue, memory loss, etc., but of course malaria sucks too. There's got to be a happy medium.

Reducing Your Dishwashing Footprint Has anybody tried these Seventh Generation dishwasher pacs? From what I can tell, just pop these tablets in your dishwasher's soap compartment and whammy -- clean dishes. The box is recyclable, the only waste is the baggies where the tablets live.

Green in a Flash:

• A waterless toilet built from poo -- that also creates energy.
• A third of all sharks are facing extinction due to overfishing.
• Al Gore is headed to Capitol Hill to champion the contentious climate bill.

Eco-Beat, 6/25 originally appeared on Green Daily on Thu, 25 Jun 2009 15:00:00 EST 0. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

 

Permalink | Email this | Linking Blogs | Comments

Filed under: Fashion, Health, News

(Photo by Target)

Okay, so I get that we shouldn't use leather, because it's (theoretically) cruel to kill animals for fashion, and the tanning and dying process is (definitely) an environmental nightmare that produces evil, poisonous sludge.

A fashionable girl can still turn to fun (and bonus: inexpensive) vinyl options from trendy bargain retailers like Target and H&M. No animals hurt here! Except, wait, the production of vinyl is sort of nasty. But did I mention, no animals hurt? Vegan? Please, can't I at least have a leather looking bag?

Apparently the answer is "No." A news alert from the Center for Environmental Health just released results from a study that found vinyl bags bought in the Bay Area have high -- dangerously high -- levels of lead in them. Great! That's where I live, and I'm carrying a fabulous H&M vinyl bag right now. Except I just dropped it like a radiation-hot potato.
Now, I'm no chemist, but why in the world do you need to use lead to produce a handbag? Is it really that hard to make something without animal products or vile chemicals? Actually I'm sure the answer is online somewhere, so let's just take that question as academic and move on to the important one: What materials are left for a stylish green gal to tote?

I just went through a sustainable vs. eco-friendly decision matrix with shoes, so it shouldn't be a surprise that bags are an issue too. Just last month I did a post on socially responsible and chic summer bags, like the black straw Kelly Starfish bag from Claire V. But now I have to wonder about the vegan Matt & Nat bags that I adore so very much because they're made of vinyl.

There will be more on this topic -- I might be willing to give up steaks once in a while, but no amount of C02 or poisonous dyes will ever make me carry a brown hemp bag. There must be a fashionable solution out there!

No Leather, No Vinyl - Are Organic Cotton Bags the Only Green Option? originally appeared on Green Daily on Fri, 26 Jun 2009 12:07:00 EST 0. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

 

Permalink | Email this | Linking Blogs | Comments

What will become of MJ's tiger children? What's Ray Romano's earth shattering eco advice? Who's greener: The city mouse or the suburban mouse? Today's Eco-Beat has the scoop on all the latest green news and tips.

Michael Jackson's Orphaned Tigers Shocking the world of pop culture to its very foundations, Michael Jackson died yesterday at age 50. His tigers -- Thriller and Sabu -- have gone with Tippi Hedren to join the pride at The Roar Foundation's Shambala Preserve, north of LA.

Ray Romano and Queen Latifah are Green Tipsters Ray Romano and Queen Latifah took time out of promoting their flick "Ice Age: Dawn of the Dinosaurs 3D" to give MNN some of the cheesiest celebrity green tips I've ever heard. Sell your recyclables? Buy a giant thermos? Seriously? Check out the video.

The Search for a Greener Cold One The craft beer movement has exploded recently. That's awesome because, by definition, craft breweries market locally, support local agriculture, and many have embraced a sustainable business model. So, drink up guilt-free (then sell the bottles, right Queen Latifah?).

Sears Tower Gets Eco Makeover Wind turbines, solar panels, LEED certification. .. the Sears Tower is pulling out all the stops in an effort to make it the tallest and greenest building in the Western Hemisphere. The renovations will save the energy equivalent of 150,000 barrels of oil per year.

City Commuters Emit 70% Less than Suburanites I know this might come as a shock, but driving an SUV five miles every time you need a carton of milk produces more emissions than walking two blocks. Still, 70% fewer emissions is a pretty enormous gap. Moving to the city is one of the easiest way to shrink your footprint.

Green in a Flash:

• Oh crap, endangered animals are getting cancer too!
• Germany is protecting its ice sheets with giant solar tarps.
• The Sea Shepherds just bought the incredible Earthrace boat. What will they ram with it first?

Eco-Beat, 6/26 originally appeared on Green Daily on Fri, 26 Jun 2009 15:00:00 EST 0. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

 

Permalink | Email this | Linking Blogs | Comments