They're turning D.C. lobbying culture upside-down.Photo: Lululemon Athletica"Yoga" and "angry" go together like taffy and dentures ... or at least they used to. But maybe D.C. politicians should start looking out for flying vials of essential oil. L.A.-based organization "Off the Mat and Into the World" is turning yogis into activists next week, following International Women's Day (March 8). Off the Mat will be training interested parties in lobbying and grassroots organizing (in addition to meditation), then heading to Capitol Hill for a day of lobbying. Yogi activism isn't as frou-frou as you might expect. Last year, Off the Mat …

Public transit is an aphrodisiac.Photo: Martin StroblWelcome to TreeShagger, our column on green dating. If you've got green dating questions, send 'em our way! Did you hear about Patrick Moberg, that dude who found the girl of his dreams on the New York subway? Like a twee Wes Anderson hipster-man, he drew a picture of her in full rosy-cheeked glory, set up a website (NYGirlOfMyDreams.com), and struck gold when a friend of hers saw it and put him in touch with her. Dreams come true! Don't stop believing! Take the midnight train going anywheeere! (Ahem.) Perhaps you too want to …

Something in the water.Photo: Google MapsDenim sucks -- at least, environmentally speaking. If there's any doubt in your mind, check out the image to the right. New York Times writer Tom Zeller Jr. found the Google Maps photo of Xintang, China, the No. 1 denim producer in the world. That dark blue stuff? That's dye from the jean-making process flowing into a river. Not feeling guilty yet? As Jess Zimmerman wrote last month, a single pair of jeans drinks up over 180 office water coolers' worth of H20, between cotton production, jean manufacture, and laundry. Ugh. Even if you aren't …

So take your beaker ...Original photo: John MiraThe Intel Science Talent Search has been the Mickey Mouse Club of science for almost 70 years, identifying the Justin Timberlakes of high school research long before they go on to win Nobel Prizes and MacArthur "genius" grants. So anyone familiar with Natalie Portman's stint at Harvard won't be surprised to learn that she once was an Intel Science Talent Search semifinalist, investigating "a new, ‘environmentally friendly' method of converting waste into useful forms of energy," according to The New York Times. All you kids with beakers, you too could go on to …

You just got poked by the sun.Photo: diogo dubiellaYou have a new friend request ... from the sun! OK, it's actually from a company selling solar panels. "Solar service providers ... are increasingly turning to social media tactics in an attempt to create engaged communities around the sunny clean power," says Earth2Tech. Solar startups are harnessing the power of Jesse Eisenberg's brunette tendrils  Facebook, Twitter, and YouTube in the hope of boosting business and creating word-on-the-street evangelists. One such company, Sungevity, already has cred with the hip green kids, so its embrace of social media is no surprise. The company …

Portland's swanky Sapphire Hotel.Photo: Sarah Gilbert Can you think of a greener city than Portland? Nope, didn't think so. The City of Roses occupies a warm, squishy spot in the hearts of many a biker, climate hawk, and nature-lovah. We asked you to share your fave local breweries, organic cafés, and green hangouts, and compiled your best ideas into a car-free guide to a great green weekend in Portland. Friday night Click to enlargeFrom the Amtrak or Greyhound station, arm yourself with $2.05 and follow these directions to the Portland Hawthorne Hostel (they work if you're coming from the airport …

A "hegan" in his natural habitat?Photo: ekornblutEvery year or so, a media outlet has the shocking realization that -- ready? -- not all men eat meat. Gasp! First, there was the New York Times piece about vegan firefighters, which boils down to "Wait, how can burly dudes who put out fires eat anything other than steak?! Cray-cray!" Actual numbskull quote from a former firefighter, on his brawny brethren: "They're dinosaurs, they're big meat eaters." (Why would we have dinosaurs extinguish fires? Their arms are so short! But I digress ...) Then a year ago, The Boston Globe attempted to coin …

Don't need no car to take me on a date. (Photo by Sara Hurt.)

Welcome to TreeShagger, our new column on green dating. If you've got green dating questions, send 'em our way!

So Valentine's Day came and went, and you're in the doghouse since you couldn't get a reservation at Olivebee's Factory? Cheer up, smuckers! Lean in close for some non-obvious, mostly cheap green date ideas, many of which I've tested for you myself. These aren't "green" in the sense that you're eating hummus and watching An Inconvenient Truth outside on a blanket made of stars -- boooring! -- but they're low-impact, legitimately fun things that don't require buying crap. Bonus points if you bike, bus, or walk! Ready?

No raid for you.Photo: Dhini van HeerenStop huffing the Raid, moms: In other "sh*t that makes kids dumber" news, toddlers' brains developed more slowly if their mothers inhaled a lot of a common insecticide ingredient while pregnant, according to a new study published in the journal Pediatrics. Reuters explains: On average, women breathing the highest amounts of piperonyl butoxide, or PBO, had babies who scored 3.9 points lower on a mental development test at age three (85 points and above is considered normal). These changes are about the same as those seen in kids with low-level lead exposure, according to …

You know you love it.Photo: megaulYo Portlandia! We're compiling a guide to the perfect green Portland weekend and we need your help! So you have an out-of-town visitor -- where do you take 'em for great local food or beer? What's the can't-miss farmers market, bike shop, or organic cupcakery -- or is the octopus exhibit at the local aquarium to die for? If you're not a local, what's the green must-see spot you frequent when you're in town? Let us know your green Portland hot spots in your favorite flavor of the internet: Tell us in the comments below …