gistfile1.sh

pushd()
{
  if [ $# -eq 0 ]; then
    DIR="${HOME}"
  else
    DIR="$1"
  fi

  builtin pushd "${DIR}" > /dev/null
  ls -al
  echo "DIRSTACK: "
  dirs -v
}

pushd_builtin()
{
  builtin pushd > /dev/null
  echo "DIRSTACK: "
  dirs -v
}

popd()
{
  builtin popd > /dev/null
  echo "DIRSTACK: "
  dirs -v
}

go()
{
	eval cd ~"${1}"
}

ls_enhanced()
{
  if [ $# -eq 0 ]; then
	DIR="."
  fi
  if [ $# -eq 1 ]; then
    DIR="."
  fi
  if [ $# -gt 1 ]; then
    DIR="$2"
  fi

  ls -alG "${DIR}"
  echo "DIRSTACK: "
  dirs -v
}

alias cd='pushd'
alias back='popd'
alias flip='pushd_builtin'
alias ls='ls_enhanced'
alias go='go'

Awesome. Thank you! Love how these work together. The back/flip commands are nice and the DIRSTACK is great too. Also love the go alias. However, I decided I prefer not to type the leading / when I use it; so I altered it just slightly.

go()
{
    eval cd ~/"${1}";
}