Perhaps your next piece of conceptual art is lying in that pile of junk in the corner of your garage, or hidden in a box in your crawlspace.  Eco-art can take many forms, with found art being a great way to upcycle objects into creative new expressions.

Austin-based Barbara Irwin refers to her pieces as found or assemblage art. She upcycles objects into whimsical new creations like her “The Descending Man” and “Hot Water 2″ pictured above.

• I remember when the EPA sued polluters…Groups Sue EPA, Want Tougher Ship Discharge Rules – yahoo! news
• Energy Secretary Pick Faces Confirmation Hearing – npr
• Video: Glacier Kills Brothers – natgeo
• Back off Putin! Bush Issues US Policy on Arctic Energy Supplies – reuters
• Fossilized feces…Big Bird Left Big Droppings – livescience
• He was really a marsupial. Genetic Secrets of the Tassie Tiger – bbc
• Which way does this work? Finger Length May Predict Financial Success – myway

This is the first of a 10-part series on how changing ones eating habits may be the most accessible and impactful way to improve the world. Since every terrestrial food item we consume originates from the soil, this is where we’ll begin.

While many of us love to get down and dirty in the garden or on the trails, you’ll find others shrieking if the brown agent comes into contact with their skin or clothes.  Regardless of ones inclinations, the simple fact remains that dirt’s a part of life.  Not only is it a part of life, but it’s one of the key ingredients necessary for life on this planet.

I’m not referring to just any dirt though; I’m talking about topsoil- the thin layer of loose soil that hosts a party of roots, decaying plant matter, water, air, earthworms, mycorrhizal fungi, minerals, and countless microorganisms.  (more…)

If you’re looking for a greener notebook you might want to consider the Toshiba Portege R600 which scored as the greenest notebook in the recent Greenpeace Green Electronics rankings.

The R600 received the highest score for avoiding hazardous chemicals and got an additional point for using post-consumer recycled plastic parts.

The new year ushers in an avalanche of ‘Trends for 2009′ posts and resolutions to get ‘greener.’  My contribution to the mudslide of eco-friendly pronouncements is my green acronyms for 2009 – C.U.R.B.

C – conserve – waste less water, energy, time and materials.

U – unplug – go off-grid: walk, bike, hike and get out in nature.

R – reuse – bags, food containers, clothes, paper.  You get the idea.

B – believe – all the small changes made by individuals can make a giant difference.

• That search for labradoodle is hurting the environment…Carbon Cost of Google Revealed – bbc
• Who’s the greenest of them all? Automakers Roll Out Electric and Hybrid Hopes – reuters
• What’s the deal with crop circles? UFO Reports: British Wind Turbine Ripped Apart by ‘Octopus UFO’, Witnesses Say – examiner.com
• Nice. Senate Boosts Wilderness Protection – msnbc
• Plenty Magazine is Shutting Down – ecorazzi

I’ve heard that manicurist to the stars, Nettie Davis, knows hand and body care. So I gladly put a couple of her planet- and body-friendly products to the test.

What’s nice about using Nettie’s lemon soap bar is that my hands feel squeaky clean, and my spirits get a little lift, too.  The delicious scent is very refreshing.  No annoying residue with this lemon cake.  Must be the right balance of pure lemon and lemongrass essential oils, grape seed oil and Shea butter.

If your skin, like mine, is weather-challenged her body balm is great.  To keep my hands and legs from shriveling up, I’ve been treating them with Nettie’s lavender body balm.  It’s very concentrated, both in consistency and aroma. I only need a small dab to re-hydrate and bring those digits and appendages back to life. My cuticles and nails are happier, too. I’ve been tucking the reusable tin of balm into my handbag for fixes on the go. Be prepared – the pure French lavender essential oil may transport you to Provence.

Find these tried and true salvos on her site: lemon sheabar and lavender body balm to go.
She has handmade exfoliant, lip balm and candles, too.

• Oh, the sweet irony! Take a cargo ship, outfit it with solar technology, load it with emissions producing cars and send if off to deliver its mixed message. NYK Line, Nippon Oil Project Uses Solar Power for Ship Propulsion – jcnnetwork
• Massachusetts has cash in its renewable energy trust but few project to show for it; here’s one that looks like a success.  Hyannis Wind Turbine the “Beginning of a Wave” – capecodtimes.com
• The folks at Greenpeace really hold a company’s feet to the fire. It’s dirty work, but someone has to do it!  CES 2009: Greenpeace Says Gadgets Could be Greener – telegraph.co.uk
• California is a state bursting with both sunshine and fine wine — why not power one with the other? We can all drink to that. Solar-Powered Viticulture in California – pv-tech.org

Bill Maher & Ann Coulter face-off, Anderson Cooper interviews Huffington, Hughley, Huckabee – 2 shows, 2 tickets per show and 2 winners!  (each pair of tix worth $129)

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