Stuff We Found Today - 09.04.13

Dolphins Have "Names," Respond When Called - (National Geographic)

Food Stuff

• Recipe: Oven-dried Grape Tomato and Basil Hummus - (Mother Nature Network) Easy, yummy hummus recipe.
• 250,000 Lab-Grown Burger Served Up in London, Tasters Say It Could Use More Fat - (Inhabitat) Yup, finally made and taste tested a lab grown burger.
• Steak made from human poop passes taste test - (Mother Nature Network) "Would you eat a steak made from human sewage? Believe it or not, this concept has already been taste-tested and approved." ...WTF?!!!!
• 7 Nutrient-Dense Superfoods You Can Grow at Home! - (Inhabitat) Home vegetable garden anyone???
• Cotton Candy Flavored Grapes????? - (Inhabitots) WTF...do we really need these?

Home Stuff

• 13 natural remedies for the ant invasion - (Mother Nature Network) Yup...it's hot out, here come the ants.
• Beer Can House: Texas Home Made from 50,000 Cans Now a Designated Landmark - (Inhabitat) Would have been cool to see this on our cross country road trip last year!
• Let Kids Color All Over the Wall with Wee Gallery’s Dress-Me Wallpaper - (Inhabitots)

Beauty & Fashion Stuff

• 10 Ingenious Ways to Recycle an Old T-Shirt - (Ecouterre) Great ideas...loving the flip flop and produce bag ideas!
• 13 Year-Old Maya Shea Penn Makes Sustainable Clothing for Eco-Conscious Fashionistas - (Inhabitots) Yes!!!

Tech & Science Stuff

• California to Break Ground on the Nation's First High-Speed Rail Line This Summer - (Inhabitat) woohoo!!
• 100% Electric Cars Are Now Outselling Plug-in Hybrids in the US - (Inhabitat)
• Pilot Plant That Converts Carbon Dioxide into Bricks is a World First - (Inhabitat) Would be amazing.
• KAIST Unveils Folding Electric Micro Car That Can Fit Into Any Parking Space! - (Inhabitat) Folds down to 5.24 feet!!

Nature & Environment Stuff

• 9 Popular Cities Losing War with Rising Seas - (Discovery News)
• Photographer enjoys rare close encounter with narwhals - cool!
• New Study Reveals Chesapeake Bay Dead Zone Hits Fish Hard - (ScienceWorkd Report) Great.
• Meet the Plastisphere: Ocean plastic pollution is so bad, it is now its own ecosystem. - (TreeHugger)
• Alaskan beaches blighted by up to tonne of garbage per mile - (The Guardian)
• Rising Sea Levels Could Submerge 1,700 U.S. Cities by 2100 - (Inhabitat) ...including New York, Boston and Miami.
• Dog-Killing Blue Green Algae Bacteria Found in Parts of Long Island - (Inhabitat) Yes...we are polluting our water...hello!!
• Seahorses Threatened by Climate Change - (weather.com)

Arts, Entertainment & Travel Stuff

• Nikolay Polissky Creates Massive 'Beaubourg' Sculpture Using Traditional Basket Weaving Techniques - (Inhabitat)

International Stuff

• The US is Banned From Exporting Garbage to China Through the 'Green Fence Initiative' - (Inhabitat) Hmmm...maybe we need to think about how not to make so much of it.

Other Random Cool Stuff

• Phyto Kinetic: Green-Roofed Buses Add a Breath of Fresh Air to the Urban Jungle - (Inhabitat) Neat idea.
• 17 creative ways to reuse your phone book - (Mother Nature Network) Some great craft projects to do with the kids too!

Stuff We Found Today - 01.24.13

Antony Gibbon's Roost Treehouse

Family, Kids & Health Stuff

• 7 Healthy Family New Year's Resolutions for 2013 - (Inhabitots) Boy...need to get working on the "get organized" one!

Food Stuff

• EWG Shopper's Guide to Pesticides in Produce Video - (YouTube-Envrionmental Working Group) Quick little video about EWG's shopper guide for produce.
• Cocoa economy in 'critical state', says Mars sustainability chief - (ConfectioneryNews.com) the big chocolate companies may recognize it, but how much will they actually do about it???
• Thrive Foods Direct - Organic vegan meals delivered to your door...anywhere in the US. Great for travelers!
• Overfishing Causes Pacific Bluefin Tuna Numbers to Drop 96% - (EcoWatch) Boooo!!!

Home Stuff

• The NanoLight Touts Itself as the World's Most Efficient LED Light Bulb - (Inhabitat) "...the first 100 watt comparable device... the NanoLight claims to be 87% more efficient than a standard incandescent and it uses 50% less energy than a compact fluorescent."
• Antony Gibbon's Lord of the Rings-Style Treehouses Could Offer Elvish Accommodations for Humans - (Inhabitat) How cool to have one of these in your backyard?!
• How To Start an Oder-Free Freezer Compost Bin as a City or Small Space Dweller - (Inhabitat) Good little tip here.
• National Do Not Call Registry - Get rid of annoying sales calls...yes!

Tech & Science Stuff

• Seven Sizzling Hybrid and Electric Cars from the 2013 Detroit Auto Show - (Inhabitat) Kind of excited about the new Leaf.

Nature & Environment Stuff

• Dispersant makes oil from spills 52 times more toxic - (NBCNews.com) Ughhh...great.
• Video: Close encounter with humpback whale off Australian coast captured on camera - (The Telegraph) What would you do if a what was this close to you??
• Great white shark photographed mid-air - (NYDalyNews.com) Pretty awesome pic.
• First Video Footage of Giant Squid in Natural Habitat Emerges - (Ecorazzi) "...eyes the size of dinner plates..."
• Flushing Nemo? Pet fish pose ocean threat - (NBCnews.com) Don't dispose of aquarium fish in our waterways.

Arts, Entertainment & Travel Stuff

• German Hotel Invites Beer Lovers to Cozy Up Inside a Recycled 19th Century Beer Barrel Bed - (Inhabitat) Bet there are quite a few beer lovers that wouldn't mind having one for themselves!

International Stuff

• Bosco Verticale: The World's First Vertical Forest Nears Completion in Milan - (Inhabitat) Cool!
• The Australian Outback is So Hot that Drivers Are Unable to Pump Gas - (Inhabitat) "...Mother Nature seems to be showing her displeasure for the use of fossil fuels by making it so hot that the liquid evaporates before it even hits the tank."

Other Random Cool Stuff

• Concord, Mass. Becomes the First US City to Ban Single-Use Plastic Water Bottles - (Inhabitat)
• 'Plastic micro beads' to be removed from soap - (CNN.com) These plastic particles end up in the ocean and ingested by sea animals.

Stuff We Found Today - 03.11.12

Enchanted Forest of Carved Tree Stump Creatures

Food Stuff

• Hershey Will Offer Certified Chocolate Following Consumer-Driven Campaign - (WSJ MarketWatch) About time Hershey!!
• Tell USDA to STOP Using Pink Slime in School Food! - (Change.org) So, McDonald's and Burger King stopped using it due to public outcry, but the USDA thinks its okay to give it to our school kids....say WHAAATTTT???!!!!!!!
• Decoding Meat & Dairy Product Labels - 2011 Meat Eater's Guide to Climate Change - (Environmental Working Group) Good reference source to understanding all those labels when at the grocery store.

Home Stuff

• 8 Amazing Hidden Rooftop Houses You've Probably Never Noticed in New York City - (Inhabitat) These are so cool!

Beauty & Fashion Stuff

• World's Largest Garment Made From Golden Spider Silk Goes on Display - (Ecouterre) "...unlike mulberry silk from silkworms, in which the hapless pupa is boiled alive in its cocoon, the spiders were released into the wild at the end of each day."

Tech & Science Stuff

• Water-Storing Himalayan Towers - (Inhabitat) Designed to address anticipated water needs due to climate change.
• Incredible LEGO Printer Invented y 14-Year-Old Boy! - (Inhabitat) Kids do amazing things.
• 350 MGPe Peraves MonoTracer Electric MTE-150 Motorbike Hits the Market - (Inhabitat) A fast electric bike with luxury cabin!
• 10-Year-Old Discovers New Molecule That could Improve Energy Storage - (Inhabitat) Smart kid!
• Michelin Challenge Design Shows Off The Best in Futuristic City Cars - (Inhabitat) Always neat to look at.

Nature & Environment Stuff

• An Enchanted Forest of Carved Tree Stump Creatures Sprouts in the UK - (Inhabitat) These are kinda cool.
• Study: Only 10 percent of big fish remain - (CNN) This is not good people!!
• 11 animales that mate for life - (Mother Nature Network) Beautiful pics of some loving animals.
• Study Shows That Potent New Pesticides May Be Killing Off Honeybees - (Inhabitat)
• Watch: Aurora borealis in real time - (Mother Nature Network) -video
• Biggest Teahupoo Ever, Shot on the Phantom Camera [video] - Amazing footage o gigantic barrel wave...nature is awesome!
• Amazing Map Shows Every Tree in the United States - (Inhabitat) Interesting...didn't realize how barren the central US is.

Arts, Entertainment & Travel Stuff

• Tentsile Treehouse Tents Provide a Safe Haven in the Treetops! - (Inhabitat) A hammock/tent hybrid...tree camping anyone?
• Bonsai Tree Castles - (Inhabitat) Amazing collaboration of nature and art.

Other Random Cool Stuff

• 7 Dangerous Lies About Plastic - (AlterNet) Worth a read.
• Your empty driveway: A potential money-maker? - (Mother Nature Network) "ParkatmyHouse, an online booking system that connects owners of empty driveways with perpetually circling drivers in need of a convenient parking spot, arrives on American soil."
• A green revolution at our nation's malls - (Mother Nature Network) "Our shopping centers are ready for a new incarnation — as community spaces, sports centers and maybe even farms."

Stuff We Found Today - 09.18.11

Ben & Jerry's Schweddy Balls made with Fair Trade vanilla ice cream

Family, Kids & Health Stuff

• Hannah and the Talking Tree - Check out this children's environmental book that teaches the power of personal action.
• BPA Ban on Baby Bottles and Sippy Cups Approved in California - (Inhabitots) YEA!!
• Sunscreen pills form coral reefs? - (Mother Nature Network) "Scientists have discovered a natural compound that protects coral reefs from sunlight, opening the door to sunscreen pills and UV-resistant crops." Hmmm...eat your sunscreen??

Food Stuff

• 5 healthy slow cooker breakfasts - (Mother Nature Network) Some great ideas for getting the kids to school on time with a hot breakfast in their tummies...it cooks overnight so you don't have to wake up early to prep - genius!!
• Insect develops resistance to Monsanto's GM corn - (FoodNavigator-USA.com) Uh...maybe GMOs are not the answer?!!!
• Blueberries faked in cereals, muffins, bagels and other food products - Food Investigations [video] - (NaturalNews.tv) Watch this video and then go check the labels on the "blueberry" items in your pantry.
• Annual Report Card: Hershey, Trailing Behind Competitors, Gets 'F' For Failing to Remove Child Labor From Its Chocolate Production - (PR Newswire)
• Ben & Jerry's Schweddy Balls! - (Washington Times) Remember the SNL skit w/ Alec Baldwin - haha!! Ben & Jerry's newest flavor is made with Fair Trade vanilla ice cream...even better!
• Cooking with Chef A: Quinoa for breakfast [video & recipe] - (Mother Nature Network)

Home Stuff

• Sloan's Innovative AQUS Grey Water Toilet System Recycles Your Sink Water - (Inhabitat) Super great, especially if your toilet is next to your sink.

Beauty & Fashion Stuff

• Sierra Club Socks - Made from upcycled and organic fibers...these just look so warm and comfy.
• Toxic Tattoos - (Greenwala) Check this out if you have tattoos are are thinking of getting one.
• Eco Fashion Shows from New York Fashion Week Spring/Summer 2012 - (Inhabitat) Always fun to look at!

Tech & Science Stuff

• This Company Turns Plastic Bottles Back Into Crude Oil - (GOOD) "Ohio-based energy company, is taking even plastics that can't be recycled and reverting them to the material state from whence they came: crude oil." Hmmm...sounds interesting.

Work & Business Stuff

• LinkedIn adds new volunteer section - (Mother Nature Network) "Individuals who have donated their time to a nonprofit organization can better publicize this work on their LinkedIn profile."

School, College & Student Stuff

• America's Coolest Schools: Sierra's fifth annual ranking of the greenest colleges - (Sierra Club) Plus tidbits on all sorts of "green" goings on with schools and students across the country.
• 10 Eco-Friendly, DIY Projects for Back to School - (Greenwala) We're diggin' the Homemade Study Center and the Chalkboard Globe.

Nature & Environment Stuff

• Dolphin Fish-Eating Trick Catches On - (DiscoveryNews.com) "...a very clever group of bottlenose dolphins in Australia has created its own new combo tool that both captures fish and functions as a food bowl..." Some pretty smart animals!

Arts, Entertainment & Travel Stuff

• Sierra Club's Military Families Outdoors - Great outdoor adventure programs for families of those who serve our country.

Political, Social & Economy Stuff

• How would you spend $7 billion - (Mother Nature Network) "Two proposed energy projects (each with a $7 billion price tag) present two very different directions for America's future. Which would you choose?"
• The Climate Reality Project - "24 Hours of Reality will focus the world’s attention on the full truth, scope, scale and impact of the climate crisis. To remove the doubt. Reveal the deniers. And catalyze urgency around an issue that affects every one of us."
• Infographic: What's driving gas prices - (Mother Nature Network) This is kind of interesting.
• Why would a Hawaiian coffee ship import bananas? - (Mother Nature Network) "On Hawaii's Big Island, a Starbucks outlet sells Ecuadoran bananas. It's a trivial example of the way the twisted logic of global business creates its own unsustainable reality."
• Demand Facebook Remove Pages That Promote Sexual Violence - (Change.org)

Other Random Cool Stuff

• Bees have a home in Chicago airport - (Mother Nature Network) "At O'Hare International Airport, the open space is used for beekeeping and giving meaningful employment to felons"... helping planet & people... AWESOME!!
• VW: The Dark Side [video] - (Greenpeace) Check out this awesome video comeback to VW's "Star Wars" TV ad... "Despite its green image, Volkswagen is spending millions of Euros every year funding lobby groups who are trying to stop Europe increasing its commitment to greenhouse gas reductions..."
• World's First Functioning LEGO Greenhouse Unveiled at the London Design Festival - (Inhabitat) Ahhh...Legos.

Stuff We Found Today - 07.24.11

Protesting Hershey's Child Labor Practices

Food Stuff

• NASA's Pee Recycling Bag Turns Urine Into a Sports Drink - (Inhabitat) Hmmm....would you drink it??
• America's First Packaging-Free Grocery Store to Open in Austin, TX - (TIME NewsFeed) Love this!!!!
• QR Codes Help Protest Hershey's Child Labor Practices - (PSFK) "It’s been over a decade since chocolate companies have vowed to end child labor and trafficking in cocoa supply chains, but one of biggest chocolate giants is still enforcing child labor to make its treats..."

Beauty & Fashion Stuff

• Pretty Pushers: Hospital Gown Go Couture - (GirlieGirl Army) OK... these are pretty cute! You can be fashionable while in labor!
• Linda Loudermilk Debuts World's First Compostable Swimsuit - (Ecouterre) Cool...it composts underground in 180 days!

Tech & Science Stuff

• Japanese Robo-Suit Enables Paralyzed Man to Visit France - (Inhabitat) Pretty cool!!
• The Oh-So Sexy Plugin-Hybrid Fisker Karma Hits the Road - (Greenwala) Our dream car!!! ...and the name is sexy too!
• MIT Unveils Flexible Solar Cells Printed on Paper - (Inhabitat) Can be printed on paper of fabric... imagine the possibilities!

Nature & Environment Stuff

• ExxonMobil Oil Spill Ravages the Shores of the Yellowstone River - (Inhabitat) Great... yet another spill.
• Fish Photographed using Tools to Eat - (Wired.com) Hmmm...smart fish!
• How clean is your favorite beach? - (CNN.com) "...found that U.S. beaches saw the second-highest number of closing and advisory days in more than 20 years last year -- up 29% from 2009..."
• Researchers find plastic in more than 9% of fish in northern Pacific Ocean - (Los Angeles Times) "...fish in the middle depths of the northern Pacific Ocean are ingesting as much as 24,000 tons of plastic each year."

Arts, Entertainment & Travel Stuff

• Captain Planet is Coming to a Big Screen Near You!! - (Greenwala) Hmmm...maybe it's time to repost all those old Captain Planet videos we have in our blog archive.
• 6 Amazing Eco-Island Resorts that Combine Luxury and Sustainable Innovation - (Inhabitat) Places for us to dream about... someday...

Other Random Cool Stuff

• 6 Incredible Green Projects That Put Poop to Use! - (Inhabitat) It's poop power!
• The Best Inventions That Never Happened - (GirlieGirl Army) Some of these are funny... but we do love the shoe drawer built into the staircase!
• Hack Things Better With Crazy Cool Material Sugru - (TreeHugger) This might be the coolest thing ever for all us do-it-yourself'ers that like to fix things up. Check out this cool video on "Do The Green Thing" too.
• 6 High-Flying Treehouses for the True Escapist - (Inhabitat) How fun!
• Survey ranks San Francisco as the greenest U.S. city - (Mother Nature Network) Check out what other cities made the list.

Stuff We Found Today - 07.05.11

Massive tree webs in Pakistan

Food Stuff

• Top 5 Urban Farms in New York City - (Inhabitat)
• Ask Paula Dean, Rachael Ray, Bobby Flay, Emeril for Fair Trade S'Mores This Summer - (Change.org) We did... you just do it on Twitter, easy!!
• Top 10 Things You Should Know About The Farm Bill - (Environmental Working Group) This really a food bill, and all of us should be aware of what's going on with how food/nutrition is handled here in the US.
• Edible Cups Make Delicious Addition to Any Party - (Greenwala) How great are these for you next summer cocktail party?!! Just think, not more cups to wash or trash!
• Foods that make you happy - (Greenwala) Well, we always knew that chocolate was "happy" food, just make it fair trade and organic and it's happy for everyone!
• Mars vows to use 100 per cent fairtrade cocoa - (The Co-operative Magazine) Woo hoo... now if only Hershey and Nestle would follow suit.

Home Stuff

• Avoid Bringing Six of the Top Toxic Chemicals Into Your Home - (Greenwala)

Tech & Science Stuff

• iBamboo: Natural, Electricity-Free, & Uber Cool iPod Speakers - (Greenwala) Yup, this would look pretty cool in our "zen den."
• Spain's Gemasolar Array is the World's first 24/7 Solar Power Plant! - (Inhabitat)
• T-Shirt Converts Rock Music Into Electricity at Glastonbury Festival - (Ecouterre) We can hear it now... "turn up the radio, I need to charge my phone!"
• New Air Powered Car Will Soon Be Floating Around India's Streets - (Greenwala) "The Air Car, developed by ex-Formula One engineer Guy NAgre for Luxembourg-based MDI, uses compressed air, as opposed to the gas-and-oxygen explosions of internal-combustion models, to push its engine's pistons..." Seriously cool!!

Nature & Environment Stuff

• Ocean life on the brink of mass extinctions: study - (Reuters) C'mon people... when the ocean goes, we go!!
• Japan's tsunami debris set for 10-year Pacific tour - (Mother Nature Network) More "great" news from Japan...
• Spiders Create Massive Tree-Webs in Pakistan - (Greenwala) Whoa...you have to check out this pic!

Political, Social & Economy Stuff

• Blood and Oil - (Sierra Magazine) "The U.S. military is embracing alternative energy—but not because of climate change. Up to half of the yearly American casualties in Iraq and Afghanistan have been incurred guarding fuel convoys, and the Pentagon will no longer tolerate oil's 'burden in blood.'"
• Climate of Denial - (Rolling Stone Politics) Nice article by Al Gore...

Other Random Cool Stuff

• 16 simple ways to reduce plastic waste - (Mother Nature Network) Most of these things we can all do with very little "pain"... c'mon, give it a try!
• How Much Coal is in Your Life? - (Sierra Club) "With over 500 dirty coal-fired power plants in the U.S., coal is in our air, water and our lives... Answer three simple questions -- where you live, what you eat, and how you live -- and you will learn how you and your family are being affected by coal pollution."

Stuff We Found Today - 06.16.11

13 Natural Swimming Pools... this one's in Laos

Family, Kids & Health Stuff

• Agrichemicals in surface water and birth defects in the United States - Some interesting stats and findings... worth noting if you're thinking of getting pregnant.
• 5 Kid-Friendly DIY Projects for Father's Day - (Inhabitots) Fun ideas for crafty kids...lovin' the terrarium!
• Pesticide exposure linked to smaller birth size - (Mother Nature Network) "New study links prenatal pesticide exposure to lower birth weight for babies."

Food Stuff

• Activists protest Hershey in Times Square, calling on chocolate giant to stop using child labor - (NYDailyNews.com)
• Test Tube Burgers - (The Discerning Brute) Hmmm... freaky or humane??
• Exploding melons sow new China food fears - (Mother Nature Network) "Nearly 120 acres of watermelon crops have exploded this month after some growers doused them with growth accelerator."
• FDA finally admits chicken meat contains cancer-causing arsenic - (NaturalNews.com) Just great...
• EWG's 2011 Shopper's Guide to Pesticides in Produce - (Environmental Working Group) Check out their new "Dirty Dozen" and "Clean 15"...keep this list when grocery shopping!!
• POOP BURGER: Japanese Researcher Creates Artificial Meat From Human Feces - (Inhabitat) Seriously??? Ewwwwww!!!!!!!
• 'Farmageddon': Factory farms vs. local food - (Mother Nature Network) "A new documentary aims to expose the food policies that stack the cards against local, sustainable farmers."
• Organic Egg Scorecard - (The Cornucopia Institute) Apparently not all organic eggs are equal...check this out.

Home Stuff

• Make Your Own Dog Food - (Greenwala) For all you green doggy lovers out there...

Beauty & Fashion Stuff

• World's First 3D-Printed Bikini Makes Debut - (Ecouterre) Interesting...
• Solar-Powered Bikini Soaks Up the Rays, Powers Your iPod - (Ecouterre) Powers your iPod?!!!
• Saharan Refugees Recycle Plastic Bottles Into Amazing "Gold" Jewelry - (Ecouterre) These are beautiful!

Tech & Science Stuff

• Two Mile-Long Solar Tunnel Unveiled for Paris-Amsterdam High Speed Rail Line - (Inhabitat) Super cool... wonder if we'll ever get one here in the US.

Arts, Entertainment & Travel Stuff

• Jimmy Kimmel Pranks Ron Artest Into Doing Fake Animal PSA - (Greenwala) OK...this is hilarious!!
• Abandoned German Nuclear Plant Transformed Into Wunderland Kalkar Amusement Park! - (Inhabitat) Fun!!
• Blue Holes to Infinity Falls: 13 Natural Swimming Pools - (WebEcoist) Beautiful... think it's vacation time!

International Stuff

• China to step up fight against plastic addiction - (AFP) "Bookstores and pharmacies nationwide will soon be forbidden to give out free plastic bags, joining the ranks of supermarkets that have had to charge for shopping bags since June 1, 2008..." Since the ban in 2008, China has used at least 24 billion fewer plastic bags every year.

Other Random Cool Stuff

• The Greenest Public Swimming Pool in the World - (GirlieGirl Army) It's solar heated, non-chlorinated saline water... you can swim in it without goggles - cool!
• Barbie's Rainforest Packaging (cartoon) - "You’d think a toy company like Mattel would have the foresight to realize they’d eventually be called out on this..."

Stuff We Found Today - 06.05.11

Insoles made with living moss or river rocks!

Family, Kids & Health Stuff

• EWG's 2011 Sunscreen Report - (Environmental Working Group)
• Free Skin Cancer Screenings Across America - (The Skin Cancer Foundation) Check this site out and find a free screening near you... DO IT!!
• Breaking News: Cell Phones Linked to Cancer Says World Health Organization - (Inhabitots) In case you haven't already heard about this in the news...

Food Stuff

• Why you should buy organic, in spite of the cost - (Sour Grape) "When it comes to buying organic the benefits out-weight the costs by a lot. In fact, the science behind it is really interesting..."
• Easy vegetables to grow - (Mother Nature Network) Calling all first time veggie growers!!
• The Popshops Blueberry Lemonade Ice Pop Recipe - (DailyCandy Kids) Here's a great recipe to do with the kiddies that they'll love for the summer.

Beauty & Fashion Stuff

• Made With Moss and Rocks, Natura's Insoles Connect Your Feet To Nature - (Ecouterre) Nature at your footsteps...literally!!

Tech & Science Stuff

• Stunning Solar-Powered Luce Laptop is Light as Air - (Inhabitat) Oooooohhhh...pretty laptop!! Now if only it was a Mac...
• Japanese Corporation Plans to Turn the Moon Into a Massive Solar Power Plant - (Inhabitat) Cool idea, but is it possible?? Someday...

Nature & Environment Stuff

• Farm Runoff in Mississippi River floodwater Fuels Dead Zone in Gulf - (PBS Newshour) "A dead zone -- already the size of the state of New Jersey -- is growing in the Gulf of Mexico, fueled by nutrient runoff from the swollen Mississippi River."
• Humans Emitted a Record Breaking Amount of Carbon, 30.6 Gigatonnes - (Inhabitat) Not good!! :(
• How to Rid the Seas of 'Plastic Soup'? - (NYTimes.com) "...the vast amount of trash, 80 percent of it plastic, that ends up in the seas..."

Arts, Entertainment & Travel Stuff

• 14 of the World's Most Amazing Subways! - (Inhabitat) Who says public transportation can't be fun?!!
• Runway 34: Recycled Airplane Restaurant Serves up First Class Meals in Zurich - (Inhabitat) Fun!! SFO could use one of these!

Political, Social & Economy Stuff

• From an Iraq veteran: Electric cars are a matter of national security - (Mother Nature Network) "Three tours of duty in the Middle East convinced Air Force veteran Tim Goodrich to buy a Nissan Leaf."

Other Random Cool Stuff

• 8 Things You Didn't Know You Could Recycle - (Care2 Healthy & Green Living)
• Sued By Plastic - "Three of the largest Plastic Bag Manufactures are suing ChicoBag, a reusable bag company for “irreparably harming” their business." Ha... can you believe that one?!!!
• Section 2 of New York City's High Line Park Opening Wednesday, June 8! - (Inhabitat) Definitly on our list of places to check out in NYC!!

VIDEO: New Year's Resolution: Kick the PLASTIC STATE OF MIND (Parody)

Apparently this YouTube video has been making it's way around... but, if you haven't seen it, check it out. Awesome rap parody by environmental activist group Green Sangha. There are some great lines in here...

VIDEO: The Great Pacific Garbage Patch - Good Morning America

In case you haven't heard of the Great Pacific Garbage Patch... YOU NEED TO SEE THIS!

VIDEO: Pacific Garbage Dump - Nightline

"Great Pacific Garbage Dump is a graveyard of toxic plastic "

VIDEO: Captain Charles Moore & the Great Pacific Garbage Patch

"Capt. Charles Moore of the Algalita Marine Research Foundation first discovered the Great Pacific Garbage Patch -- an endless floating waste of plastic trash. Now he's drawing attention to the growing, choking problem of plastic debris in our seas."

Stuff We Found Today - 07.02.09

The Terrafugia Transition car/plane in Greenwich

Family, Kids & Health Stuff

• Doctor explores link between toxic chemicals and autism - (Safer States) "One of America’s leading pediatricians is asking whether hormone-disrupting chemicals like bisphenol A, phthalates and flame retardants are to blame for the rising tide of autism."
• EWG's 2009 Sunscreen Guide - (Environmental Working Group) 'Cause it's time for summer fun in the sun!

Food Stuff

• If the U.S. won’t ban dangerous pesticides in our markets, it’s up to us to ban them from our homes - (Shine: Parenting)
• Healthier Sodas; Ready to commit to a new thirst quencher? - (Ideal Bite) "Most pop's loaded with caffeine and artificial sweeteners. These tasty drinks satisfy your kid's cola cravings in a healthier way. Yes!"
• Taco Bell goes green - (Mother Nature Network) "Could it actually be true? Taco Bell goes all out for the environment? See for yourself." Check out this funny video from The Onion News Network...yes, it's just a spoof!
• Sustainable seafood in supermarkets - (Mother Nature Network) "Greenpeace graded grocery stores on their commitment to sustainable seafood. Sadly, Trader Joe's got an F."

Home Stuff

• Little Works - These guys have gorgeous handmade greeting cards from South Africa. % of proceeds donated to Deep Roots & 1% for the Planet...love it!
• Uroko House Book Igloo is a Book Lover’s Dream Bed - (Inhabitots) How cute is this for your little bookworm?!

Beauty & Fashion Stuff

• Best Brain-Damage-Free Mascaras from Couleur Caramel, Lavera and Jane Iredale - (EcoStiletto) Great lineup of toxin free mascaras.
• www.zosimosbotanicals.com - Exclusive line of handcrafted mineral makeup and natural skincare in a 100% wind-powered workshop. Great affordable prices too!
• Simple Shoes Clearance Sale - Now 50-85% Off. - (The Good Human) A few of the styles are little too "granola" for us, but sneaks are awful cute...especially the peep toe ones!

Tech & Science Stuff

• Electric Cars Run on Coal, But are They Cleaner than Gas? - (Twilight Earth) "In order for a car to run, something has to be burned. Is it Coal, Gas or the Environment? Should we burn it under our hoods in power plants?" Hmmm...something to think about...
• Big Dreams for New Cars That Fly, Run on Air and Reinvent Internal Combustion - (TheDailyGreen) "From the Terrafugia Transition to Zero Pollution Motors and split-cycle Scuderi engines, which alternative technology has the most promise?" (video in post)
• The Solar (Geek) Vest - (GreenMuze) "The four solar panel vest lets you charge your gadgets while working or walking in the sun." More geek than chic in our opinion.

Work & Business Stuff

• Video: Van Jones on MSNBC - (Mother Nature Network) "White House special advisor and green jobs guru Van Jones discusses the president's meeting with business leaders, as well as Obama's energy reform bill."
• 10 Great, Cheap, Green Office Supplies - (Ecopreneurist)
• Green Job Listings - July 2, 2009 - (Green Gigs)
• Great Green Job of the Week: Associate Creative Director, EnviroMedia Social Marketing - (EarthFirst) "EnviroMedia Social Marketing (Austin, Texas) is seeking a rising creative leader ready to use his or her powers to do some good in the world."

Nature & Environment Stuff

• Arctic Sea Ice at Lowest Point in 800 Years - (TheDailyGreen) "With the summer melt trending toward another record-low, a new study shows how global warming has produced unprecedented conditions in the Arctic."
• Close Encounters of the Crab-Ball Kind - (Environmental Graffiti) Who knew that crabs were such creative artists?! (video in post)

Arts, Entertainment & Travel Stuff

• The Digestive Tract Hotel - (GreenMuze) Okay...this is just a little weird, huh??
• Movie Review: Food Inc. - (EcoSalon) Everyone needs to see this movie!

Website Stuff

• Oceana: Creature Corner - Have a kid who loves sea animals (dolphins and sea turtles are soooo cool)? Have you little one check out this site from Oceana.org... "The ocean is home to thousands of species, from the familiar to the bizarre. Now you can learn about the creatures of the deep in Oceana's online encyclopedia."
• FreshandGreen.com: fresh ideas for green living - One stop shop for all eco products that are good for you, your family and the environment.
• New EPA Site Lets You Investigate Your Local Environment - (Sierra Club: The Green Life) "The EPA's new MyEnvironment tool provides a great range of information about local environmental conditions, from air quality to cancer-risk levels."
• www.NubiusOrganics.com - Check out this site for a fabulous selection of innovative products, information & ideas for eco-conscious living.
• How Your Internet Searches Can Fund Forests - (EcoSalon) A search tool like Google, "Click 4 Carbon is a for-profit business based in the UK that aims to raise money for forestation projects in Asia."

Political, Social & Economy Stuff

• EPA Approves California Waiver to REgulate Tailpipe Greenhouse Gas Emissions - (Global Warming Is Real)
• Obama Administration Gives Thumbs Up To Mountaintop Removal Mining - (EcoMatters) Nooooo!!

Other Random Cool Stuff

• We Want More from Our S'mores! - (Global Exchange) "This summer, the S’mores are speaking out…for Fair Trade!!!" Check out this fun Fair Trade campaign that you can participate in no matter where you are...and invite friends...s'more to share! (Sorry, couldn't resist.)
  
• 40 Facts About Water - (GenGreenLife) Did you know... "Less than 1% of the world’s fresh water (or about 0.007% of all water on earth) is readily accessible for direct human use."
• Study Documents the Many Environmental and Health Effects of Plastics - (TheDailyGreen) "Plastics are everywhere -- literally -- from the most remote oceans to the tissues inside our bodies. A new landmark study documents the pervasive impact of the most common consumer material."
• Just one word: Plastics - (Mother Nature Network) "It's hard to know what to do with a material that at once makes our modern lives possible while at the same time polluting the bleep out of the environment."

VIDEO: Plastic Soup for the Soul

Talking about the "plastic soup" that is our oceans today....

"Excerpts from NPR broadcast interviews with Captain Charles Moore of the Algalita Marine Research Foundation and Adam Walters, consulting scientist for Greenpeace International Research Lab."

VIDEO: Toxic: Garbage Island - Part 1

"For years we've been reading about a patch of garbage the size of Texas floating in the middle of the Pacific Ocean, ingeniously dubbed the Great Pacific Garbage Patch. Basically, any trash that gets dumped in the water rides the currents to this one spot and joins an ever-increasing flotilla of crap. For all the breathless accounts of the mess and its impact on the area's sealife, however, no one seemed to have a picture of the buildup...."

*WARNING: Some foul language used by those in the film (swearing)...just a caution if younger children are viewing.

VIDEO: Future History: Plastic Water Bottles - KQED Quest

This little video from KQED Quest ponders the question, "What does our use of bottled water say about us?" The funny and revealing answer comes through the perspective of an anthropologist from the distant future, trying to figure out what the purpose was of all these "sacred vessels" we left behind.

ZapRoot: BPA Declared Baby Safe, Thanks FDA!

Here's the latest installment from ZapRoot.

*For those who've never heard of ZapRoot...

"ZapRoot is an unconventional bite-sized news show that covers the fast changing world of the modern Green Revolution. With sarcasm, silliness, & sanity, host Jessica Wlliamson encourages you to have a better time while making a better world."

ZapRoot is produced by ViroPOP, "a green video network aimed at highlighting the most exciting and entertaining things happening in the new eco-revolution. ViroPop is the first network on the Internet to treat the new environmental pop culture with a sense of irreverent fun."

VIDEO: Sam Suds & the Case of PVC

Animated video about the dangers of PVC and how to identify it (especially in children's toys). Learn more about PVC at www.PVCfree.org.

Stuff We Found Today - 9.4.08

Family, Kids & Health Stuff

• Young Green Inventors & Entrepreneurs - We came across the stories of these amazing kids on By Kids For Kids (BKFK). Also, check out the invention of the BKFK Going Green Challenge winner - the Water Watcher. Kids rock!!
• Gov. Panel: Bishphenol A in Plastics Could Harm You - Chemical May Affect Prostate, Brain and the Development of Fetuses, Infants and Children (post from TheDailyGreen.com)
  

Home Stuff

• Roof Ray - Easy online tool using Google Maps that lets you estimate how much energy you would save by installing solar panels on your roof.

Tech Stuff

• Bye Bye Box: HP Packages Laptops in Eco-Friendly Bags - Post from Ecopreneurist.
  

Beauty & Fashion

• We Add Up - Organic cotton T-shirts denoting the message that we do, indeed, add up. With a hand-printed unique number on each item, a purchase actually adds one to the count of folks who have chosen to become “ambassadors of the environmental message - helping to spur conversation and educate others about climate change.” Read more about We Add Up.
  

Arts, Entertainment, Living & Other Cool Stuff

• "Stuff Happens" - New TV show by Planet Green (part of the Discovery Channel) in which "Bill Nye the Science Guy" traces where the things we eat, wear and use come from and what impact that has on our planet. Great show to watch with the kids. Read TheDailyGreen's interview with Bill Nye.
• Truth on Earth - A three-sister teen rock band on a mission to save the world...and their music is pretty good, too. Those of you who love the sound of 60's and 70's rock will dig their cool eco-socio-conscious rock vibe - take a listen to some of their songs. It's so great to see today's teens take on the world (for the better)!
• Fodor's Green Travel Guide - Everything you'd expect from a Fodor's travel guide, all with an eye towards eco-friendly travel. A must-have for any vacation.
• 8 Great Great Reads - From food, to interior design, to home buying, to starting a green business, these eco-centric books are great reads for anyone curious about living green. We came across these book suggestions on TheDailyGreen.com.
• Eiffel Tower Goes Dark to Prove a Point - Just an interesting article from EcoGeek.

Plastic Bags - Slide show from the Pocono Record

Here's a link to a short slide show on the dangers of plastic bags, posted on www.PoconoRecord.com (an online news & information publication from Northeast Pennsylvania).

http://www.poconorecord.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20080506/MULTIMEDIA02/80505016

We all know that plastic bags are a menace to the environment, but this slide show really makes you think about bringing your own bag to the grocery store.