Even though the work I do (writing, editing, research) lends itself to working solo, it can make me feel crazy at times.
Here's what myself and other Biter employees do to stay sane while working from home:
- Leave the house before you turn on your computer (i.e. take a walk, go to a yoga class, get a cuppa coffee, etc.) - anything that makes you get dressed and brush your teeth so you don't find yourself still in your PJs at 4 p.m.
- Designate an office space in your home that's purely dedicated to work (our new Denver Editor, Laurie, worked from her living room on her first day and ending up hating her couch by 6 o'clock).
- Set office hours for yourself so that you know when to start and stop.
- Listen to soothing, ambient music, but rock out to something fun when you need a burst of energy.
- Give yourself a lunch break. Whether you use that time to grab a bite (preferably with a friend), run an errand, or get some exercise, it's up to you. Just make sure that you get fresh air and talk to an actual human being to prevent yourself from feeling isolated. (But make sure to have a happy fridge so that if you do have to work through lunch, you're not stuck with a mustard and ketchup sandwich outta desperation.)
- Get a furry friend - it'll give you (more or less silent) company. And if you have a dog, it forces to you to take it for walks and see the light of day.
- Leave the house soon after your workday ends (i.e. meet a friend for dinner, work out, etc.) to help get work out of your system for the day.
- Remember to appreciate how awesome it is that you can work all day long in your PJs if you want to.
-LA Editor Molly...off to take a brisk walk...
Mismatched bowls, each filled with a Paas tablet of dye - that's what reminds me of vinegar. Besides that, I never cook with it, clean with it, or really ever think about it...until I read this tip.
I live with three other women in a five-bedroom flat and everyday thank my lucky stars and stripes that I never have to clean the bathroom. We have a cleaning service and her name is Norma. Sweet, wonderful, thank-you-for-not-making-me-feel-guilty-for-having-a-cleaning-lady Norma. I do buy Seventh Generation products for her, but once in a while (see Mama Don't Preach) a bleach-y substance gets into her hands. So today I tried the ol' natural vinegar solution to wipe down our kitchen counter and - voila! - the room smells more like an Easter egg coloring fest than a just-rinsed public restroom toilet.
-Senior Editor Theresa...off to drop a bottle of vinegar into Norma's bucket...
There are two types of people in the world: those who like crunchy peanut butter, and those who like creamy peanut butter. (Technically there are three types if you count those who go into anaphylactic shock if they ingest peanuts, but for the purposes of my rhetoric here, let's stick with two.)
I am a crunchyphile. Personally, I can't understand why anyone would forgo the nutty goodness. ("Yes, I will accept your $1 million gift, but you keep the cash...just give me the rubber bands that hold the bills together.") But then again, I've eaten crayons.
In the interest of promoting dialogue between the two camps, share your peanut preference below, and tell us why. Maybe this is the first step toward world peace...
-SF Editor Mike...off to apply for a UN ambassadorship...
Whenever anyone mentions childhood art, I immediately think of paste. Big tasty tubs full of it. I don't claim to have a particularly refined palate even today, but I was definitely one of the many who licked up gobs and gobs of that stuff growing up.
Is there anyone out there who doesn't cop to eating paste as a kid? And what exactly made it such a common snack for tots? I mean, I never tried to eat Play-Doh. Wait, yes I did. Well, I never tried to eat real clay. OK, I did that too, actually, but it was on a dare, so it doesn't count. Ditto watercolors out of those little trays and one burnt sienna crayon.
But I have never eaten...um...uh...hot glue. Yes, never hot glue. That is a guarantee.
-SF Editor Mike...off to learn how to keep my mouth shut...
I like my water cold. I also like it filtered. Cold + filtered = I put my Brita in the fridge. Okay? Okay.
Enter Brittany, my sweet-as-sugar vanilla cupcake college roommate. Brittany likes her water tepid - better for digestion, Chinese medicine, blah, blah, blah. Passive aggressive comes to mind when I reflect on Brittany and the water war we had throughout our sophomore year. I would walk into the kitchen to pour myself a frosty glass of deliciously filtered Hetch Hetchy, and my dreams of refreshment would die as soon as I would see that Brita on the counter, taunting me. I would put the Brita in the fridge, Brittany would pull it out, and so on, without our speaking a word concerning the matter - ever.
They say that comedy = tragedy + time (they is brilliant), and now Brittany and I laugh about our lil' war, but that's probably because Brittany now lives in Santa Rosa with her warm water, and I live in SF with the sweet, icy cold stuff.
-Assistant Editor Hanah...off to call Brittany to tell her I love her, especially now...
Sample letter for Pur filter users:
Dear ___________:
I'm a devoted Pur user. But each time I throw a cartridge in the garbage to replace it with a new one, I'm sad that this plastic will end up in a landfill, where it will last forever in our environment. I use the Pur system in order to avoid the waste of plastic water bottles. I urge you to redesign the filter cartridges so that they can be refilled and/or create a system for us to recycle these plastic filter cartridges instead of sending them to the landfill.
As you may know, the Brita company in Europe has developed a comprehensive take-back recycling program for all of its filter cartridges. This program is not dependent on city recycling systems. The Brita Company itself collects, dismantles, and recycles the filter cartridges. I know that Proctor & Gamble has been making efforts lately to become much more environmentally-friendly (including your new Green Guarantee program), and this would be a great way to forward those efforts.
I look forward to hearing your views on this issue.
Sincerely,
[Your John Hancock]
Send it to:
Procter & Gamble Customer Relations
1 Procter & Gamble Plaza
Cincinnati, OH 45202
Or, fill out Pur's contact form online:
http://www.purwater.com/contact-us.html
I'm at an age when everyone around me is knocked up - and it's not a bad thing. Suddenly, chats with the girls revolve not around boys and dating (yeah, I'm still there), but babies and real estate. I have three showers in the next month, but thankfully, my friends are more into co-ed (read: drinking) soirees to celebrate their plunge into parenthood.
What do get my panties in a bunch tho' are dept. store registries, which for me seem all too impersonal - and definitely non-eco. Instead, I'll hit an SF-local baby boutique - I just spotted Nest Maternity for locally made onesies and compostable Gdiapers; Lavish for natural wood Anamalz and kid's artwork by local artists; or I'll make something. This month: I'm stitchin' up curtains for a friend's nursery, giving me the chance to hang with her before I lose her to the planet of all things mommy, or - shudder - the suburbs.
-Senior Editor Theresa...off to nurse a few beers...
My parents were naked when they met, so, yeah, I'm one of those kids.
Having conceived and given birth to me at a hot springs community in Northern CA, my mama interpreted "mommy chic" to be various forms of undress in the sunshine. And she rocked it, a happy, naked, sun-kissed pregnant woman. We moved to the 'burbs when I was four, so the hippy-go-lucky dream died (although the mama did go on to create her own Euro-inspired line of children's wear - check it out here), and lil' baby Hanah had to learn the hard way that an outfit appropriate for school included underwear and socks. La-ame.
-Assistant Editor Hanah...off to smile warmly at pregnant women for no reason (no matter what they're wearing), like everyone does...
I'm really not into cold food (gazpacho), especially if it's mushy (hummus). All the airplane noises in the world wouldn't get me to open my mouth for jarred pulverized peas.
But I would entertain the idea of eating fresh homemade baby food. I hear it's pretty easy to do. A friend is borrowing my KitchenAid mixer that's got a grinder attachment and says his kid is gobbling up the applesauce he makes with it. I'm not so sure I'd scarf it up, but I'd be willing to let one spoonful come in for a landing. Got a good recipe? Share it in the comments.
-Managing Editor Diane...off to find some hot, solid food...
Before smart keys and cell phones and when I was still small enough to be strapped into a car seat, my mom accidentally locked the keys in the car with me in it...while it was still running.
She didn't want to leave me because she knew I'd freak out, so she just yelled for help while talking to me through the closed window as I looked through my alphabet book; eventually my neighbor came running and was able to use a wire hanger to get the car open. Fortunately, technology has improved since the early 80s, so that moms and little ones alike can usually avoid this mother's-worst-nightmare-type experience.
-LA Editor Molly...off to hop in my Prius (using keyless entry)...
Everyone has those moments in life where you ask yourself, "How the %#$@ did I get here?" One of mine came while I was sitting at a table full of women during a breastfeeding discussion - and I was the one answering the questions.
During my time as an editor at BabyCenter.com I learned a lot of things I never in a million years wanted to know, but one of the most poignant facts was that there are a lot of extremely staunch advocates of breastfeeding out there. And like our tip says, there are countless benefits to becoming one of them.
But if you're a new mom and the feeding process is just not happening, and you're in severe pain and simply can't go on, DON'T STRESS ABOUT IT. The very most bestest thing you can do for your baby is be happy and loving, and if that requires a bottle of formula, well, your kid's probably going to live. Millions do.
-SF Editor Mike...off to think about boobies...
"Green is the new black."
"Tuesday is the new Saturday."
"Fernet is the new whiskey."
I'm sick of this cliché, but it really applies to today's tip. LEDs are the new CFLs, for all the reasons we listed.
Off the shelf, LEDs are pricey right now (though considering the long-term energy they save, they're a steal), and researchers are still working on brighter ones, but think way back to two or three years ago. Hardly anybody knew what a CFL was, they were expensive, and most made irritating buzzing noises. But thanks to early adopters, manufacturers put time and money into making them better and cheaper, and the prices came down. Now the local grocery store sells them for 99 cents a pop, and they're silent as the audience at an inescapable, out-of-the-blue Carrot Top gig.
Toshio's crystal ball is saying similar things will happen with LEDs soon enough.
Above, a peek at Jen's mom's bday bash, replete with hanging LED lanterns.
-Toshio...off to make like Nostradamus...
Other than "you really shouldn't wear those Crocs," I am of the camp: People don't want to be told what to do. So it is with a whole lotta restraint that I say nothing when my aunt in Florida serves Styrofoam plates at family gatherings, or my roommates buy the cheapest (non-eco) dish soap, or when a recent travel buddy asked for extra towels at a hotel where we were staying for one night. But this gives me an idea to make my own change kits, personalized to all the people I love (or in the case of roommies, sorta like). I'll stitch up reusable totes from my personal fabric stash and fill with things like recyclable plates for my aunt, home soaps (I see regift for sure, but the thought counts, right?) for the flatmates, and travel stuff for friend. Nuff said.
-Senior Editor Theresa...off to not mouth off...
My family lives in Sonoma County, so buying local come Turkey Time means Willie Birds. Most gobblers have a milquetoast sort of flavor, like they're just a protein vehicle for gravy. But on top of all the ecological reasons to buy heritage, Willie Birds really do have way more intense flavors. And they are awesome. I-just-won-the-lottery awesome. Someone-surgically-removed-Jessica-Simpson's-voice-box awesome. Open-bar awesome.
Next time you roast a bird, try heritage, and when it's all ready to go, just put salt and pepper on it. That's it. No gravy. No cranberry sauce. No nothing. Salt and pepper. That's how good these turkeys are.
-SF Editor Mike...off to take a post-turkey nap even though I didn't eat any today...
Raised by a woman who went far out of her way to rescue living things in peril - including big, fat, scary spiders - I still can't bring myself to kill bugs. I fall into the wow, annoying category here. My general method of dealing with intrusive insects (the bigger types) involves climbing on top of a chair and calling out for help until some eye-rolling loved one or neighbor gets a jar (while I repeat "Don't kill it, don't kill it"), and escorts them outside for me.
But I've had my fair share of ant invaders - there's no real "escorting them out." One colony set up a veritable hill in my college roommate's closet, and then there was the pantry incident. So it's all about the diversion - if you're patient and the problem's not too bad, I recommend setting up a few adjacent lines of defense at point of entry: a few hefty sprays of vinegar water, backed up by a good dusting of cayenne just beyond.
-Jenifer Morgan...off to get someone else to save an eight-legged life...
OUR BAD: We forgot to link to the home remedy Sara used (mentioned in today's Personally Speaking). It's right here.
On a vaguely related note: The future of deconstruction is here. If by chance you're a billionaire property owner who's looking to tear down that eyesore around the corner, now you can demolish it floor-by-floor instead of blowing up the whole thing and shooting a bunch of toxic dust into the atmosphere.
-Toshio...off to take the Bakelite outta the oven...
I know close to zero about Denver, so I'm gonna write about Fort Collins, which is about an hour outside Denver. It's home to the New Belgium Brewing Company, which makes some of my favorite beers, including Fat Tire ale. But wait, there's more.... The company is purely run by green power, using mostly wind energy, with 10% of its energy coming from a unique source: the production process. New Belgium actually captures the methane released by bacteria that clean the brewery's water. If only there were a way to create electricity from all the editorial brainstorming that goes down at the Bite's offices...
-Toshio...off to sober up...
I'm fair, freckly, and blonde, and was not blessed with naturally rosy lips. So I like to wear punchy lip colors like pinks and reds to compliment my green eyes so that my face isn't monochromatic and washed-out.
I come from a lineage of lipstick-devotees. For as long as I can remember, my mom is always armed with a magenta tube of lipstick (my aunt actually bought her a sign that says, "Put on a little lipstick and you'll be fine"), and my grandmother - even when she was well into her 80s - used to ask me to grab her a lil' lipstick.
I have a collection (well, stockpile) of countless lipsticks, glosses, plumpers, lip balms, and lip stains in an array of hues and brands. It's scary to think of all the questionable chems I've ingested over the years, but now I make sure that I get only the most eco-licious lipsticks. Have a fave? Do share.
-LA Editor Molly...off to reapply her lipstick...
Sugar-free. (Gasp.) Carob. (Shudder.) Gluten-free. (Gulp.) The "goody drawer" at my house growing up was bo-ring. Sweet relief came when, and only when, the Snavely family busted out the unbleached flour and got to baking. Somehow, Mama Snave didn't think it so bad to bring out the BROWN SUGAR! and the REAL BUTTER! when it came time for hot, freshly baked, doughy food stuffs (she's Swedish, so...).
That said, this is my opportunity to give a shout out to the woman responsible for most of my childhood opportunities for edible indulgence: Thanks Mama, but really, thank you Molly Katzen - I will play in your Enchanted Broccoli Forest anytime.
(If you have any recipes you need to share and we need to write down, blog with us.)
-Assistant Editor Hanah...off to lick the bowl clean, again...
I remember marveling at European friends who, instead of rinsing their soapy dishes with water, simply wiped them off with a towel. "What's the point?" was their response.
That's how I feel about getting my toothbrush wet before brushing - it's not like I'm brushing with the gravelly polish the dentist uses. Toothpaste + saliva = same cleaning result + additional water savings. Tip: After applying paste to brush, envision a fresh-out-of-the-oven maple bar.
-Jenifer...off to drool...
Apparently I'm not alone in hating to do laundry: One survey revealed that 78% of normally rational and reasonable folks transform into the unfriendliest people on Earth upon entering Laundromats.
OK, I just made that up, but the washateria has got to be one of the more joyless places I'm forced to make a habit of visiting. At least we have BrainWash café/Laundromat here in SF. It's still full of dispirited people, but at least we can all order beer.
-SF Editor Mike...off to do an additional round of smell testing...
While I'm a fan of HBO, maid service, and fluffy pillows, I'd trade it all for a couch and a local tour guide. I try to travel to places where I know people since guide books and solo exploration aren't my thing. Thankfully, I've got friends and family in a lot of "destination" places (Miami, Paris, Tokyo, Doha...San Bernardino), so I've got plenty of couches to choose from, plus insider info they don't print in Condé Nast Traveler.
-Toshio...off to make like Bran Van 3000...
Last night I heard a man say, with an extrapetit Timbuk2 messenger clutched in his hands, "This bag will be perfect for going-out at night." What he meant was, "Now I have an evening purse."
We both paused when he said it, but he knew it was too late to take it back - he'd spoken the words and they just hung there, waiting for due judgment. But, for once, I held mine back, because the truth is, real men schlep too.
-Assistant Editor Hanah...off to crump (very poorly) to some block-rocking Russki beats...
So you can't afford the $110 Sea Bags tote Hilary and Jen are hot for. There are even cheaper alternatives for gearing up for the beach than spending time in the seasonal specials aisle at Walgreens. You'll lose some style points, fer sure, but win big wallet-wise.
Alternative: create/dig a makeshift seat back in the sand; piece together some driftwood (watch out for splinters)
Alternative: Whole Foods reusable grocery totes ($1)
Alternatives: the sun, old bath towels
Alternatives: cans, cookie cutters, jars
Alternative: scratched CDs, plastic disposable plates you find on the beach
So maybe you can do better...comments, please.
-Toshio...off to Ocean Beach...
...and I'm a gummyholic.
I have been addicted to gummy candies of all kinds (bears, frogs, dinosaurs - everything except spiders...I hate spiders) for as long as I can remember. It is definitely my sugar rush of choice, but given my semi-recent fear of developing diabetes, I've been trying to cut down on sugar.
I've already conditioned myself to eat something sweet after like every meal (dessert included), so I've turned to fruit leather-y things as a better substitute. I get the 365 Organic Fruit Strips from Whole Foods (eating a blueberry one as we speak), and they do the trick for the most part.
But if you can suggest any other gummy substitutes, I'm all ears.
-SF Editor Mike...off to take care of step two of 12...
So if you prefer wallets that’ll fit in your pocket, and yours is already busting at the seams with quarters for laundry and receipts (who, me?), you may not have the space to squeeze in today’s handy-dandy guides. If you also have a cell phone that’s with you 24-7 (alas), just take a few minutes to type the lists you need into your cell phone’s "notes" field, and save. Bonus: You’ll look very busy and important at the grocery store and restaurants when you go to check whether you should choose peach cobbler or a banana split.
Good luck inputting the fun words, like polyethylene terephthalate! (You only have to do it once.)
-Jenifer Morgan…off to muscle in another quarter…
Here's hoping that today's tip inspires as great a level of discourse about water conservation (and, well, about our Ideal Bite team's lack of action) as it did last time: http://www.idealbite.com/blog/comments/drum_roll_please/.
After rereading all the prior comments, in the spirit of true Biterly love, I did a crazy thing this morning. I actually DID put a bucket in my shower while it warmed up. While it certainly didn't catch all the water, and while my shower heats up pretty freakin' fast, I DID collect a bit of a lukewarmish puddle, which I promptly put in Snack's dish and then used the rest to water my heliotrope. (Snack was very excited at his part in the whole project until he realized that it was just water).
Will I do this every day? Probably not. Half my mornings, I'm running out the door so fast, I'm lucky if I shower at all (I like to chalk this up to being VERY eco, not just very lazy), let alone have the time to "bucket it up" before I jump in. (I really can't bring myself to leave a bucket lying around my bathroom all the time, so I put it away in my utility closet.) Still, for those days when I do have time, I'm absolutely gonna catch some drops.
-Heather...off to give Snack a treat to make up for the fact that it was "just water"...
Since you were dying to know, check out the results from the Great Bellybutton Lint Survey.
Some highlights:
- 96% of people with belly button lint had an innie.
- 73% of people with belly button lint were male.
- 80% of people with belly button lint had a happy trail leading up to their belly buttons.
-Toshio...off to contemplate something a little more trivial...
1. Smell item.
2. Ask self, "Does said clothing item smell like a meadow breeze, tropical rain, or any other air freshener scent?"
3a. If Yes, hang up in closet or put back in dresser.
3b. If No, ask self, "Would you sit next to someone on the bus who smelled like this?"
3b-a. If Yes, hang up or put back in dresser.
3b-b. If No, place in hamper.
(Disclaimer: Results and frequency of dates may vary.)
-SF Editor Mike…off to do anything but laundry…
I'm proud to say I adopted this one early on, although I was primarily spurred on by the storage-savings rather than the eco-savings. My file cabinet - yep, I've had one since college - was getting awfully packed, and I tend to be the fastidiously filed, color-coded-tab kind of gal so it was nice to tick that off the to-do list...permanently.
But identity theft? A good motivator, too, and scarier than Grams stumbling on your new sex toy or even hearing Barbara Walters (via D-lister Kathy Griffin, natch) discuss Astroglide. Eek.
-Chicago Editor Alison...off to find some good hiding places...
For as long as I can remember I've been a bit claustrophobic, and I suppose that my elevator phobia is an extension of that. I typically deal with it by engaging in avoidance behavior (i.e., taking the stairs whenever possible), while my subconscious plays out my worst fears via nightmares.
Then, I was at a bachelorette party about five years ago in the height of summer in Ft. Lauderdale, FL (read: hot), and we parked at the top of a parking structure. My instinct urged me to bolt for the stairwell, but I ignored my gut and piled in with the other bridesmaids and several strangers (about 15 people total). And then it happened...the elevator got stuck between floors! Everyone reacted to the situation differently, ranging from laughter to tears to heroism. Me? I was crouched down on the ground with my eyes closed, while my cousin (the bride-to-be) was comforting me as I tried to breathe. Firemen rescued us about an hour later.
So, I didn't die. I'm here to type the story, but that elevator trauma has only exacerbated my fear. Luckily, I don't have to explain my phobia when I suggest taking the stairs to whomever I'm with - if they sweat me, I just say it's the more eco thing to do.
-LA Editor Molly...off avoid the elevator at all costs...
Our new managing editor, Diane, made it to the Bay Area Maker Faire in May, and here she is powering a band's electro-equipment just by biking. (She admits she wasn't unhappy when the song she pedaled through ended, not because the music sucked, but because the cycling was pretty hard work.)While we're on the topic of human power: You don't need Diane's killer quadriceps (or any physical strength at all) to change the world. Even the laziest of the lazy can do it, assuming you don't mind exercising your brain.
Proof? The book Worldchanging, which is filled with some of the most creative solutions to the world's most pressing problems. You can win a copy (printed on recycled paper and carbon-neutral, of course) just by being one of the first 15 Biters to post your 50- to 100-word big idea in today's blog comments. (Sorry, you can't just repost an old tip.) Then, check out AMEX's Members Project, which launches next Tuesday and is giving $2.5 million to fund different world-changing missions.
-Toshio...off to renew my subscription to Good so's I can get into this weekend's Block Party...
When "the supe" (my roommate who moonlights as our property manager) brought home this adorable little green compost bucket, provided free with a box of BioBags by SF's titan of trash Sunset Scavenger, our household went off with Christmas-morning-like glee (it's the little things, you know?). We've been recycling religiously for years, duh, but cutting out the organic matter from our personal waste streams chopped our actual trash output in half. Half! So, yeah, we're lucky to live in San Francisco where SS will pick up our compost curbside biweekly, but, for those of you without that luxury in your town, there's always pocket mulching, right?
-Assistant Editor Hanah...off to whistle while schlepping out the (relatively smaller amount of) trash...
In 2006, the EPA asked companies (nicely) to phase out use of the chemical PFOA (used to make Teflon). This led companies to create alternatives like the Thermolon GreenPan, which works just as well. Elisa took one home to test and made a grilled cheese sandwich that was a perfect doppelgänger for one cooked on a Teflon pan.
-Toshio...off to wish the government would do more stuff to promote progress...
The old Hanah faced bedtime armed with a jar of Ponds and a Q-tip to get the black off. That was before I learned that the real monsters lurking during slumber didn't live under the bed, but in the cold cream I was using in my nightly beauty regime (my stinkeye's looking at you, parabens).
Hanah 2.0 knows better. I'm currently using Farmaesthetics Eyebright Eye Makeup Remover (have I mentioned how much I heart product reviewing?), which doubles as an eye cream and boasts almond oil as its number-one ingredient. That said, if you're not feeling the act of buying yet another beauty product to clog your bathroom's shelves and rob you of your time, any natural oil (almond, avocado, coconut) should do the job on your eyes - dab a swab in the oil, wipe, smear - then go on and bat those lashes.
-Assistant Editor Hanah...off to prove that just a dab'll do ya...
Looksie-daisy! Some sneaky paps (aka Boze-ville intern Jeni Hoyard) snapped a foxy foto of femme-flambé H Fet looking dee-vine in an ensemble Hil-babe snapped up total-mente via online swap-shop. Swap 'til you drop, indeed.
-Toshio...off to Hell-Ay to study Ted Casablancas's every Blind Vice...
Most popular tip among me, myself, and I: taking kids to the dump
Most popular Wanna Try? among me, myself, and I...and my moms: Caldrea candles
Most controversial topic among me, myself, and I...and my moms...and my coworkers...and, OK, well, you: reusing condoms
-Jenifer Morgan...off to ponder my existence...
Free stuff: Who can resist? I got my first CFL as a giveaway at an open house. I took it home, placed it on a shelf and patiently waited until the old incandescent glower in my bathroom shined no more. When that day finally arrived, I was pretty excited to fire up the new CFL. It was so fancy, so fun, so long lasting, and it was gonna save me money. I screwed it in and a week later saw only darkness when the switch was flipped.
I climbed up onto the counter to reach the light (not something I'd advise others to do) and fiddled with the bulb until - bang - the little rascal broke. I cleaned up the debris as if it were an ordinary mess, but moments later I remembered that CFLs contain mercury. I panicked and quickly decided to research what was going to happen to me.
That's when the bigger picture entered my mind. How many sanitation workers were going to be poisoned by these bulbs? Was this technology really good or was it actually bad?
The EPA explains that CFLs have "a very small amount" of mercury in them and using CFLs instead of incandescents saves energy. The main source of mercury emissions in America is from coal-fired electrical power, so saving energy reduces the amount of mercury in the environment. Yep, these Twizzler-esque bulbs really are a good choice. Now, how to protect those workers? The answer: Recycle and avoid breaking the bulbs. The CFL that is now happily lighting my bathroom, and has been for over a month, will be going to Home Depot when its time comes.
-Managing Editor Diane...off to score more freebies...
When I visited Portland for a long weekend in June, I spent a good part of my time there helping finish my friend's box of Franzia wine (slogan: "The world's most popular wine").
Boxed-wine pluses:
- The box is recyclable (the bag that contains the wine...not so much).
- New boxed-wine technology (i.e., new and improved plastic bags) keeps the wine good for a month after you take your first sip.
- Paper and plastic are way harder to break and less heavy than glass, so boxed wine takes much less energy and packaging to ship.
Now we just need what Sideways did for Pinot to happen for boxed wine so that it's more acceptable to drink, prompting finer winemakers to sell by the box. Then again, maybe the Pinot-esque boxed-wine zeitgeist is already upon us, seeing as "the world's most popular wine" doesn't come in glass bottles.
-Toshio...off to w(h)ine about 6 a.m.-boot-camp-related exhaustion...
I generally snip off (somewhat guiltily) a little of my aloe plant for smallish skin things - nicks, cuts, localized burns (where I missed a spot with the sun block). But its extraction and stickiness makes it a little harder to use over larger areas of sun-exposed skin. Another lotion I just tried last weekend and liked is from Liz Earle (maker of my nighttime go-to, Superskin Concentrate), called Sun Shade Aftersun Gel. It's made with an organic aloe base and has lavender oil in it, smells great, and spreads evenly.
-Jenifer Morgan...off to slather some more...
Want one more big, fat reason to properly recycle your plastics?
Making sure it doesn't get out to sea and become part of the always-hungry Great Pacific Garbage Patch.
"Patches," as I and no one else like to call it, is the biggest garbage mound in the world at two times the size of TX, and lives somewhere between SF and Honolulu. Click here to see how it got to be so big.
About 80% of the (mostly plastic) litter is coming from land and a lot of it ends up in the stomachs of animals, including but not limited to extremely cute albatross chicks and baby turtles, who commonly mistake it for food. Yum!
-Toshio...off to tighten my plastic waste-line...
PHOTO ALBUMS
