Finally, They Have Arrived to Help

They've stopped 341 million pounds (pounds) of junk mail so far, and need your help in stopping up to 99% of yours. This is perhaps the greatest business idea I've seen in a year. For a dime a day, Green Dimes gets out there onto the Do Not Call battlefields to fight against every piece of junk mail en route to you. And they plant a tree for you each month. For $36 a year, you can give this gift to yourself or to a friend, or add another household member to your address' workforce for only $3 more. Yes, you can still get Pottery Barn Kids if you need it -- just tell Green Dimes who to let through your mailslot.

p.s. I have just been reminded to wish you all a Happy Worker's Solidarity Day, from this desk I have chained myself to.

It's Free. And They Pick It Up.

Besides being a fire hazard, latex paint is one of the more toxic substances found in almost every home you'll enter. If you decide to make a low-VOX purchase for your next room re-do (Remember when the wall was "salmon" and it was so, so horrible?), you can leave your old toxic latex paint in front of your home and call (415) 355-3777 to schedule a pick-up. No need to even be there, and it's completely free. For other paint collection/drop-off services in San Francisco, visit http://www.sfenvironment.com/directories/paint.htm.

It's Only True if it's on TV

Last week we heard Portland was the "greenest city"; PBS says it's Chicago. Or rather, Brad Pitt says it's Chicago, and he says this via green-living podcasts produced by PBS and available here: http://www.design-e2.com/.