Greenwash?

I know, it seems counter-intuitive, but using a dishwasher actually saves energy and therefore, money. Especially if you fill that bad boy up. Newer models use only about five gallons of water, and if you get an eco-friendly soap, that's a whole lot less energy and water than I use in my tiny little place (with no dishwasher). I like to think that I'm pretty careful when washing my dishes, but, first of all, my sink is only so big, and it won't store many dishes, so rather than doing the dishes every 2 or 3 days, I'm forced to wash them every day.
Secondly, the only control of heat I have is the water boiling furnace/tank thing, which is set on "Flay".
So, I wash. if the skin doesn't completely come off my hands, I can stack washed plates in the second sink. Then, I turn on the icy-Colorado-mountain-stream-cold water to rise. It difficult to turn the water off and on, off and on, so I usually let it run while rinsing. Conserve as I might, I doubt I can keep my comsumption down to 5 gallons.
So get a good Energy-Star dishwasher. Here's one case where technology has out-paced your humble narrator.
Party on, Garth!

Sharon Sharalike

Here's something that you'll hear me talk about a lot: One of the greatest recyclers in the world is.... Goodwill Industries. And they started out just wanting to do the right thing. As it turns out they are doing the right thing in so many ways.

We as”westerners” are obsessed with things; stuff. With very few exceptions, the stuff we get is only used for a short period of time (if at all). When we're done with it, why not donate it and let someone else who doesn't really need it, have it for a while? A lot of older (first and second world) cultures exist by bartering and collaborating. Why shouldn't we?

In addition to “Thrift Stores” (long known to value hunters and hipsters as THE place to buy clothes), there are other resources worth looking into as well

You only use your baby clothes for a VERY short period of time. Why not share them with others? There are groups on the internet that will connect people with gently used baby items. http://www.wearandshare.net/

http://www.dailymail.co.uk/femail/article-2016654/Netflix-baby-clothes-The-site-says-goodbye-hand-downs--hello-shared-threads.html

If you're gonna have kids bring them up right, and share their stuff, that's all I'm sayin'.

Forgot the Link

Algae as a Biofuel

Promising? Or just another piece in the sustainability puzzle?

Housing

TSA Sreenings.

The point isn't that it's bad. The point is how many freedoms are you willing to give up to feed the fear machine? Thousands of people die from lack of health care everyday, yet people seem opposed to use any taxpayer money to alleviate that. Smoking kills millions, automobiles kill thousands, cancer kill millions. Life is scary and dangerous. Do we lock ourselves in our homes and pay half of our income to Halliburton or Accu-Underwear, Inc. to tell us they'll make the boogie-man go away? Bin Laden's stated goal was to frighten the American people and take us down financially. I'd say he's been amazingly successful and we've helped him along every step of the way. (BTW the hyperbole was for comedic effect, it's what I do.) There's got to be a smarter way, but this country no longer has any interest in being "smarter", just more frightened. Throwing money at fear is simply stupid. Letting minimum-wage TSA employees "keep us safe" is laughable.

Obsolete

There is no reason whatsoever for any toilet paper to be made from virgin paper. There is an enormous supply of recycled material, and it's to wipe your ass and flush or throw down the toilet!
Companies that make 100% post-consumer-content recycled TP should get some kind of monetary compensation, and those who don't should be disincentivised, perhaps an additional tax? A Luxury Butt-Wipe tax.
Likewise, there is no reason that all porta-potty waste isn't being composted.
Let's get to work on that.