Yeah, yeah, so we took off Memorial Day. We know we're a bunch of bums! Even so, we weren't going to leave you waiting 'til Thursday for your RFB fix; here goes:

We love us some cute animals, but we like 'em on the BBQ too. Lately, it seems like a lot of our friends are saying no to our meatfest invitations and opting for the portabello burger. Now, these aren't your average tree-hugging, peace protesters (not that there's anything wrong with activism), so why the trend? We had to ask: What gives?

If you didn't know by now that being green could help you save green you clearly haven't been paying much attention. We've written a whole bunch of articles on the subject. Here's one more for good measure, with miscellaneous tips for ways to keep our planet healthy and your wallet fuller. Yay environment!

Your electric bill is one of your ever-present expenses, coming back pay period after pay period to take more of your money. But you don't have to give them as much as you have been. There are many ways to reduce your electric usage, even if only by a little bit. And if you do, Al Gore will shed one less tear. Here are some pointers.

Though LA hasn't had to cope with the brutal winter storms that slammed most of the Eastern Seaboard, Angelenos are starting to sniff spring in the air. And nothing says Spring like vegetables and flowers poking through the ground, especially following the research of Pollan and Kingsolver. You might live in an apartment and winter might be ideal planting time, but the magic of LA is that you can still manage to grow your own mini-crops. It's not the victory garden of the '50s or the back-to-the-land of the '70s, this is the broke-as-a-joke, fresh-food-loving, earth-friendly garden of today.

Saving the world is cool and all but sometimes it seems like a lot of work. To make real changes, you have to figure out why they make sense for your life. Being a Green Bum is all about figuring out how to save both kinds of green (money and the environment, duh) long term. Here are suggestions for reducing waste and cost in a room you use every day: the kitchen.

The Missing Persons were largely right: Nobody walks in LA. Which is a real shame because it's such a great idea. LA is much more walkable than you might think. Don't believe me? Check out this website listing LA's most walkable neighborhoods. If you live in a green area, congrats! You have a prime spot in a dense, destination-full locale. Make the most of it! If you live in a red area, our apologies. Moving to a new neighborhood is probably out of the question, but no reason why you still can't make the effort to be more pedestrian. Let's all prove Dale Bozzio wrong. Here's the why and the how.

A huge chunk of your electric bill is the result of making things hotter and colder. Controlling your climate better will save you a bunch of money, and will put you on good terms with Al Gore. Saving the environment is sexy. Read on to find out how.

Some folks hide their money in the freezer, but did you know you too may be able to get some spare cash out of your fridge? Your refrigerator uses quite a bit of power, which is power that you have to pay for. Cutting down on the power your fridge uses will save you a bit of money, as well as reduce your overall dependence on electricity. Your wallet will be happy and Mother Earth will love you.