• Talk about different body types…Moby Confronts Al Gore About Eating Meat – ecorazzi
• I understand they sound like Seals & Croft…Intricate Bat ‘Love Songs’ Decoded (audio) – bbc
• I guess I should have panned-up when I shot video there…Visitors Get Eyeful at Manhattan’s High Line Park – aol news
• Future change is all about infrastructure…London to Launch UK’s First ‘Hydrogen Highway’ – enn
• ‘I can yell louder than you’ is not a discussion of the facts…Health Care Debate Based on Lack of Logic – livescience
• Is it illegal for Greenpeace to use torpedoes? Illegal Fishing Evades U.N. Crackdown – reuters
• Too many PCBs are escaping…Problems Plague Hudson Cleanup – npr

Land’s End is making your next hike, bus trip back to school, or monthly jaunt to Vermont a little greener with their introduction of a new line of eco-friendly bags, backpacks, lunch packs and totes.  The new line is made of recycled plastic bottles that have been processed into threads and woven into tough, durable polyester fabric.  The line also features a wheeled all-in-one overnight bag with padded laptop pocket.

find them @ land’s end

Is your fall wardrobe in need of a facelift?  Do you need to purchase a quality gift for that special someone?  Now you can score without spending a fortune or buying clothes in “the wrong size.”

Vintage jewelry is getting a glamorous upcycled treatment from 25 year old FIT grad, Jennifer Elizabeth.  Her classy, one-of-a-kind pieces will appeal to those who appreciate the past, but are very present. A handful of my faves from her handmade, debut collections, (ranging from $49 – $425):

(above) Treasure The Gossip from Rocks and Baubles, ($425)

(more…)

The San Francisco Muni lines, which already operate a range of eco-conscious vehicles (including more than 300 zero emission trolleybuses and 86 hybrid electric transit buses at 19% reduced fuel consumption), are taking energy-efficiency beyond the transit vehicles themselves.  The city plans to introduce 360 new solar-powered bus stops by the year 2013.

In less than four years from now, these state-of-the-art bus stops will feature solar panel rooftops that power Wi-Fi routers and interactive information panels around the city.  With a citywide wireless network, stay busy on your laptop while you wait for your bus to arrive.  Lost?  Need info?  No need to fret with city information available at the touch of your fingertips. (more…)

Queen’s streets will soon be the beneficiary of New York City’s first hybrid garbage trucks.  Three new first-of-a-kind DSNY refuse collection trucks and one diesel-hybrid electric rack truck, which will utilize some of the most environmentally friendly technologies available, will began trash pick-ups next month.  The new trucks are said to get 20 to 30-percent better fuel economy (more…)

New York City’s Central Park glistens like an emerald, it’s the bright green jewel in our fair jungle. Get ready to celebrate the creation and preservation of this precious gem during National Parks Week NYC, September 19-27, 2009.

As the centerpiece of the festivities, there will be an evening of music and film in Central Park’s East Meadow on Wednesday, September 23 starting at 7:00pm with highlights from Ken Burns’s upcoming PBS series “THE NATIONAL PARKS: AMERICA’S BEST IDEA.”  Featuring an array of musical acts, the live show will be (more…)

I’ve tried many a reusable bag, but some of my favorites are from a line called, Blue Avocado.

They not only look cool, but also function so well.  They’re designed as a system of bags — in smart sizes and shapes, that are easy to store and extremely durable.  Whether picking up a few essentials or undertaking a hefty trip to the market, they just might become your next, best friend forever.

Founder (and blog pal) Paige Davis is extending a discount code to us, valid through August 31.  Just enter:  goodkarma40 at checkout, and receive 40% off purchases over $29.99 @ blueavocado.com

Related:  previously on alternative Consumer, (11.13.08)
Blue Avocado’s coordinated collection of reusable shopping bags

• High tech and way offshore…German Wind Power Moves Further Out to Sea – reuters
• I fear for our country…Pet Fashion Week 2009 Takes Over NYC – examiner.com
• How do you motivate change?  Mandate it.  Calif. to Mandate Recycling for Businesses, Apartments – enn
• It could be those damn mites…New Clue to Disappearing Honey Bees – yahoo! news
• It ain’t over til it’s over…U.S. Wolf Hunts May Kill Hundreds – Spur Demand and Ire – natgeo
• Unique Acacia Tree’s Promise to Revive African Soils – sciencedaily
• Go figure – 2.5 million people watch this dumb-ass bomb-thrower…Glen Beck Goes After Color of Change Co-Founder – l.a. times

Want symmetrical hanging plants but too lazy to get out of your Barcalounger to rotate them?

This solar powered gadget is designed to slowly rotate hanging plant baskets for even light exposure and plant growth.  The brighter the sun, the more the basket is said to turn.  Powered by a small, integral low light solar panel.  No wiring or operating costs.  Claims to hold plants up to 27lbs.  You may just want to get a good old swivel ring and go DIY.

$14.95 @ amazon.com
via: coolest gadgets