Angie's List is one of the few services I pay for on the internet. The idea is that if all the members pay for honest opinions, then there will be no nonsensical spam involved.

I've been eating a pretty strict vegan diet for the last couple of months.  Well, not totally strict to be honest, since I "cheat" most weekends.  But I pretty much stick to the diet during the week.  Problem is, most of my foods are cooked or boiled, so I wonder if I'm getting max nutrition.  One method I heard of is instead of boiling, rather to steam the veggies lightly for instance with a Tobi Steamer now only $119.98 at GetOrganized. (As Seen on TV)

For a long time, I've specifically bought the lowest-RPM drive I could in hopes of saving energy and running cooler.  That is what I thought of when I heard about the Western Digital Green Hard Drive at http://www.treehugger.com/files/2008/10/caviar-green-hard-drive-is-more-energy-efficient.php site.

You can't actually reduce the RPM speed on this hard drive to save energy.  But the heat and power reductions do sound nice.  It slowly ramps up at start time instead of jolting it to full speed. I've been a Seagate fan for years, but this could cause me to go back to Western Digital.

I remember thinking before I went on this diet, that I would miss the variety.  But the main dish, though simple, still is so enjoyable.  The foundation is simply cooked lentils + 3 spices: Turmeric, black pepper, chili powder.  For variation, I sometimes add different kinds of beans or quinoa, or spice differently by adding cinnamon one day, and balsamic vinegar the next.  The main side dish is whole wheat flatbread, aka tortillas.  Try to find the tortillas without yeast.   Heat them in the toaster oven.  The alternate side dish is a simple salad with simple dressing.

Most of us probably don't spend much time thinking about stress--we just react to it.  But I've been thinking about stress a lot lately since I'm trying to get control of one of my main coping mechanism: over-eating.  If stress-reduction techniques came with full-disclosure labels on the meny as we picked stress-compensators from a menu, here's what it might look like:

• Television-watching: an entertaining distraction, and gives you something to talk about at work
• cons: advertising, recurring cable bills, sedentary, mono-culture (lack of diversity)

• cigarette smoking: chemically calming, portable, cool factor (with back-lighting)
• cons: lung disease, tooth damage, social stigma

• exercise: cardio-vascular health
• cons: sports injuries, sweaty clothes

• drinking tea: chemical stimulant, warming on a cool day
• cons: caffeine vs. heart

• reading (books, magazines, comics):
• cons:

• hobbies (cars, trains, gardening, cooking, ...)
• cons: expense

• eating: saving money (cooking at home)
• cons: weight gain, allergies, expense (restaraunts)

Now with the downsides, there is usually an off-setting factor, for instance if you want to avoid advertising on TV, you can watch videos on DVD (or streaming over a Netflix player.)  Or with tea, you can find a non-caffeinated herbal tea. (link to Tulsi Tea...)

Wow, I just found this site called Ideal Bites and it sends out eco-friendly tips localized for several major areas of the US.  Here's the one for green living tips for Los Angeles.  For instance a recent tip was about a tree-planting sponsored by the city where you can order a tree for your yard and they will deliver it.

(The Ideal Bites web site and newsletter is a new system, so forgive the growing pains and hiccups.)

A friend of mine at work goes to Subway Sandwiches almost every day for lunch.  This week he came back with a cute little fold-up zippered tote bag that they sold for 99-cents to encourage re-use.  Apparently the promotion is that every time you bring in your re-usable green bag and buy a sandwich, they'll give you a free cookie--limited time offer.

I walk to Trader Joe's a few blocks from work about once a week.  It is a struggle to remember to bring my own bag.  Since I'm not in the car, I don't have the luxury of simply diving into the trunk for a spare bag.  Any ideas how to remind myself?

I recently started learning about acidosis as a potential cause/exacerbant of eczema.  There are several versions of a list of Acid / Alkaline Forming Foods ( this link goes to http://www.rense.com/1.mpicons/acidalka.htm ) and some of my favorite foods appear different places.  For instance lentils and quinoa.  There was another page I can't find at the moment which ranked each food on a 1-4 scale...

I think I subscribed to Ranger Rick before National Geographic, but I loved both as a kid (still do.) Also, I have fond memories of the National Geographic nature specials on television--one of the few shows my parents would regularly allow us to watch. (At the neighbors since we didn't own a TV for years.) Here is a quick coupon to pass along: Get a FREE March of the Penguins DVD with any purchase at National Geographic Store! Valid through 11/30/08.

What kind of magazines do you remember from your childhood?

Found a blog called "Stuff I Do Not Hate" that opines on green household/family/kid stuff, which is the sort of site I like (...and honestly, want to become!)