Welcome to the August 4th, 2008 edition of All Things Eco.

Be sure to Stumble the posts you like, or submit them to other social bookmarking services. Let's promote each other, as well as this blog carnival. I am very happy with this week's turnout, so let's keep it going

RecycleCindy presents Recycled Paper Bag Mailer posted at My Recycled Bags.com. RecycleCindy says, "Recycle a brown paper grocery bag into a mailer envelope. I show several pictures how you can take a brown sack and upcycle it into a shipping mailer. Saves you money on buying an envelope and recycles the bag too." Since I know you all switched to reusable bags *gives you all the shifty eye*, this is a way to reuse any leftover paper bags you might have, and it's really easy, too!

GP presents Leaving the Road Less Traveled, Green posted at Innstyle Montana- Your Home on the Range. From GP's article:

Whether you want to hit the open road to find yourself or lose yourself along the way, you don’t have to sacrifice creature comforts or go off into the jungle to be a green traveler. All you need is a desire to preserve and protect the environment of the place you’re visiting — and it’s easier than you might think.

Sagar Satapathy presents How to: Get Great Deals on Organic Clothing - 25 Tips and Resources posted at Organicasm. This article includes some good tips and quite a few links to other great resources.

Stephanie Bryant presents 5 Low-Impact Birthday Gifts posted at U.S. Travel. Stephanie says, "Low-clutter gift ideas for birthdays or whenever." Stephanie also presents Attempted homemade hair conditioner? FAIL, saying, "A humorous exploration into making organic hair conditioner at home." Stephanie's second submission is sure to give you a giggle

Janel W presents Organic meat recipes on a budget posted at organic mommy's Weblog. Janel's article includes her recipes for meatballs, her version of Hamburger Helper, chicken and peppers, and curry chicken salad.

Lisa Spinelli presents Frugal Ways to Protect You, Your Yard, and Your Trash, From Summer Pests posted at Greener Pastures: Personal Finance. Lisa's article includes some environmentally and people friendly ways keep away pests.

Katrina Cain presents Biodegradable Feminine Hygeine Products. posted at Were You Wondering.... In her article, Katrina says:

With a wide variety of alternative feminine hygeine products available at a reasonable price, don’t you think we can get rid of the plastic pad in the plastic bag to be unearthed in a million years, with a record of both our DNA and wastefulness?

Sally Thompson presents Greener Thumb: 100 Resources to Grow Your Own Organic Fruits and Vegetables posted at Organicasm. This is a huge list of resource links.

Anthony Luafalealo presents Why We Are Too Rational to Stop Polluting, Part 2 posted at Amateur Economists. Anthony says, "This article explains, from the point-of-view of a game theorist, why people are unlikely to cooperate to switch to more eco-friendly modes of transportation. However, game theory is based on the assumption that people are rational, and, according to the author, people are not always rational, which could mean hope for the planet after all." An interesting take on rationality and saving the planet. I have to make a comment on this section of the article:

Conversely, if you’re the only one to use eco-friendly fuels, you will get creamed personally (babes stay away from you) as well as professionally (more time to reach a client, you have to stay closer to work, etc).

It wouldn't keep this babe away! But then, I've always liked people who don't blend in

Phil for Humanity presents Options for Asteroids Heading Towards Earth posted at Phil for Humanity. Phil says, "Evidence has proven that meteor impacts coincidence with several mass extinctions throughout the Earth's history, thus proving that objects falling from space are a real threat to mankind. Unfortunately, there are very few options if an asteroid or comet is on a collision course with Earth." Not exactly an eco topic in the way he talks about it, but an interesting read nonetheless.

Jamie McIntosh presents Benefits of Organic Produce posted at Suite101: Organic Gardens blog. Jamie says, "Two opposing sides argue about the nutrient content of organic produce. Is this the most important issue?" I agree with Jamie's take on the organic food nutritional benefits study.

Kelly Sonora presents Beyond Blood Diamonds: 5 Other Products That Are Soaked in Violence posted at Organicasm. From the article:

Much has been said about blood diamonds, but many people don’t realize that there are a number of other conflict resources that facilitate violence around the world. Products from lumber to your cell phone all play a part.

David presents Adobe/Thermal Mass Building - Eliminating The Need For Air Conditioning. | The Good Human posted at The Good Human. Eliminating the need would be wonderful... it is, at a bit after 11am here, 89F with a heat index (the temperature it actually feels like) of 101. According to the weather last night, it is supposed to get to 99F with a heat index of 110+. This is on top of humidity that may be 80%+, and we live on the 3rd floor (You know how heat rises? You never REALLY experience it until you deal with 100+ weather living on the 3rd floor!).

Matt DiChiara presents Los Angeles Apartments Get Free Recycling posted at MyNewPlace Blog. As I told Matt last week, I would love if this were implemented in more places. Our town has NO recycling pick up, we have to bring it to the center ourselves, and they don't give us containers. I'd take a guess that many more people would recycle if there was pick up...

Stephanie presents The Man's Thrift Store posted at Stop the Ride!. Stephanie says, "A place to donate or buy home improvement items." It's funny this article gets submitted because my husband and I were just talking about how thrift stores don't have much to appeal to men!

Jason Isbell presents Tire Swing posted at Tired Garden. Jason says, "Tire swings are cool. But how about one that is made to look like a horse or a dragon? Check out a cool way to reuse your old tires!" Cool, indeed!

Frugal Babe presents A Hydroponic Garden posted at Frugal Babe. Frugal Babe is starting a hydroponic garden to grow her own fruits and veggies in her crawl space. I agree with the commenters who say she's a genius, and we want pictures!

Health Blogger presents Eat Healthy And Exercise To Reduce That Fat Belly posted at Health and Fitness Blog. Health Blogger talks about some risks of belly fat, including some tips to start getting rid of it, with some humor.

While I have an overall skinny genetic predisposition, and on first glance you might immediately assume I was skinny all the way around and otherwise in shape, if I pulled up my T-shirt, you might think differently. Hidden under my shirt is a jiggly treasure trove of human belly fat - perfect for some fun loving squeezing and a show of wealth perhaps in some poorer countries...

Myscha Theriault presents Garbage Into Gold: Great Ways to Recycle Old Containers | Wise Bread posted at Wise Bread. Some cool ideas.

GrrlScientist presents Will The Great Animal Migrations Disappear Forever? posted at Living the Scientific Life. GrrlScientist says, "What do salmon, passenger pigeons, American bison and wildebeest have in common? They all are (or were) migratory, and their populations either are declining or have become extinct. In fact, the populations of nearly all migratory animals, from insects to fishes, birds to mammals, are suffering disproportionate population declines that sedentary species are not experiencing."

Naomi Stevens presents BRITAIN SET TO BECOME ELECTRIC CAR CAPITAL OF EUROPE posted at Diary From England. From the article:

Electric cars could be given away for free as part of a new government initiative. Gordon Brown unveiled his plans for the future of Britain’s motor industry at last week’s Motor Show. The idea is that electric cars will be given away free or at a heavily subsidised rate. At the same time drivers will be offered contracts similar to current mobile phone contracts by companies who will supply the electricity to run them.

Jzulueta presents Blog posted at jzulueta. Jzulueta says, "Reflections on being green, specially living in an oil and gas province." From he article:

Which goes back to my point. How do you find that balance? You certainly do not want to alienate people. I am green, you’re not. Then again, I don’t want to lose my job either. I struggle with this question myself.

Matthew Philip presents Removing the Fossil Fuel Blinders | EnviroHumanImpact | EnviroHumanImpact posted at EnviroHumanImpact. Matthew says, "This article details the main problems regarding our current energy situation, the damaged economy, climate change, and global/national security. We discuss factors that contribute to the current situation, including government subsidies, politicians overlooking truly clean alternative energy in favor of offshore drilling schemes, and potential solutions and approaches we may take to abate the problems." A long, but very good read, especially the sections involving politicians. A must read for any American as yet undecided on the upcoming presidential election.

That concludes this edition. Submit your blog article to the next edition of All Things Eco using our carnival submission form. Past posts and future hosts can be found on our blog carnival index page.

Oh, and I have to add, it is now 96F with a heat index of 107. Movin on up...