Good Economic/Ecological Practices for Consumers

Numbers are powerful. Unfortunately too much data often obscures meaning and people routinely misuse statistics and numbers in their decision making. For those who wish to bring clarity and light to numbers, I highly recommend the book “ Turning Numbers into Knowledge ” by Jonathan Koomey . His book is a useful, practical, and easy-to-read tool to help regular mortals analyze numbers and reach well reasoned conclusions. The ability to deal with numbers, statistics, and data is a skill important to all citizens in a democracy. Please give it a read. (Disclosure: Jonathan is a friend and college schoolmate). Be seeing you!

Here is the best (prettiest, lowest traffic, fewest stoplights, most trees & shade) bicycling route I know from Southern Sunnyvale to Adobe Systems headquarters at 345 Park Avenue in downtown San Jose and back again: Sunnyvale to San Jose Bike Route using Google Maps San Jose to Sunnyvale Bike Route using Google Maps Sunnyvale to San Jose using Bikely (click on title of map below for bigger version): Sunnyvale to Adobe HQ (San Jose) Share your bike routes @ Bikely.com It's about 11 miles and passes many parks and schools. Credit to Roberto Perelman for showing me the bulk of this most excellent biking route. I've been using it periodically since 2001 or so and Roberto rides it daily.

Based on my research, the best way to handle dog poop is to use a reusable pooper scooper and flush the poop down a toilet . Pros: - Sewer systems are designed to handle poop (yours and your pet's) safely and effectively (this was verified by calling the local sewage treatment plant in Sunnyvale, California) - The poop is treated and recycled fairly quickly and safely back into the environment Cons: - Need to carry the poop to a toilet - Need to purchase or make a reusable pooper scooper Here are other alternatives generally listed from healthiest for environment to least healthy. Use a flushable poop bag and flush down a toilet. Pros: - Sewer systems are designed to handle poop - The poop is treated and recycled - Easy to carry bag around to pick up poop Cons: - Flushable bags can "melt" in rain or other very wet conditions - Flushable bags should be kept sealed in another plastic bag before use - Flushable bags are a bit expensive and hard to find - Flushable bags smell...

There are a number of Mediterranean and other restaurants that sell kabobs in Sunnyvale, but the one my family likes most is City Kabob ( http://citykabob.com ) -- a "hole in the wall" place in the Sunnyvale Tennis Center next to Las Palmas park. The proprietor is very friendly, you can dine outside with dogs or inside without them, and it's easy to bike to. The lamb, chicken, beef, and koobideh kabobs are all tasty as are the roasted tomatoes. For a low carb option you can get the kabobs with salad or 1/2 salad 1/2 rice.

The Toyota Prius is the best car I've yet purchased and owned. Here is why: - excellent gas mileage (I'm getting about 50 mpg now, my previous car got just 21 mpg) - it's a family sedan that holds 5 adults (pretty much the same size inside as the Toyota Camry) - hatchback design allows it to hold lots of stuff too - excellent product design all around (ergonomics, features, etc) - networks seamlessly with my cell phone for hands free calling with excellent voice quality both ways - direct power and audio inputs for iPods and other music devices - well designed navigation system - soft touch controls for most operations on center console - most frequently used controls are right on the steering wheel under your thumbs so your hands rarely need to leave the steering wheel -- including phone controls, climate controls, radio controls, and more -- and they are clear and easy to use too - lots (!) of places to stash stuff - sturdy well designed cup holders - comfortable seats wi...

The magazine and web site provide the best independent expert advice for consumers in North America -- from money to health care to cars to consumer products. Their articles are not always perfect but they are far, far better than advice from just about any source (especially better than random anecdotes from friends). And when they make a mistake, they admit it and publish a correction. read more | digg story

You should "spend" your charity dollars wisely so they are used as effectively and efficiently as possible on what you want to support. The following are a few simple tips to maximize the effectiveness of your charitable giving. Goals What are the best ways to help the world? Who do you want to help most? End world hunger? Promote peace? Educate people? Rescue refugees? Help children? Write down your giving goals or areas first so you have a plan for where your charitable giving will be invested. Rank or weight each category if you wish as well. Budget How much do you want to give out in a year? Write down how much you can afford to give or want to give in total. Then divvy it up among your giving areas Research What charities do the best job in the areas that you want to support? How effectively and efficiently do they use the money that people give them? Research your charities to find the ones that best match your objectives, will use your money well, and won't line th...