Remember when you downloaded the Kim Kardashian and Ray J sex video onto your laptop just to see what all the fuss was about, watched about 20 seconds of it, then dumped it into your Recycle Bin? Turns out that even after you empty your Bin, the file probably still exists somewhere on your hard drive.

When you "delete" a file, your computer doesn't actually delete the data at that point. It just marks the location on your drive, then later overwrites it - the keyword being "later." If you have a big hard drive, it could be years. It's called data remanence, and just as Google is saving the entire Internet on hard drives somewhere (even after you take the pages down), it's, uh, reassuring to know that everything you ever do on your computer is probably traceable.

-Toshio...off to take a hammer to my hard drive...

For those of you who wish Travel Week would never end, feast your eyes on five more juicy tips from the Library:

1.       Go on an Eco-adventure

2.       Stay at a Green Hotel

3.       Visit a National Park

4.       Change Your Sheets and Towels Less

5.       Take a Portable Water Filter

-Toshio...off to eat some leftovers...

I am a consummate professional at forgetting stuff. Not useless things, like Ted Williams's batting average in 1949 (.343) or the name of the guy who starred opposite Tom Hanks in Bosom Buddies (Peter Scolari); those little nuggets I'll take to the grave. But things like cell phone chargers, or my wallet, or my relatives' names, or how old I am...those little details seem to slip through the cracks. 

So it's nice to know that people tend to be far more kind than you'd ever give them credit for, and as long as you show them the slightest ounce of respect, they're likely to lend you a hand. If you forget stuff while traveling, don't stop at cell phone chargers: Go ahead and ask strangers (front desk, the people in the room next door) if you can borrow pens, radios, ties, hair gel, whatever. They'll probably give it to you, even if it's just to make you go away. 

-SF Editor Mike...off to search for my keys...

I'm a poor excuse for a Facebook user. I've never updated my status, or "poked" anyone, or thrown a sheep, although once I "gifted" a virtual heart-shaped diamond for my friend's birthday (the thank-you card must've gotten lost in the mail).

However, Facebook was a pretty useful tool when one of my softball teammates went to Seattle on business last month and had no idea what to do on his time off there. I sent a Facebook message to him and all my friends in WA (in Facebook world, it was sort of like a conference call...or a mass email), and thanks to their suggestions, he rented a bike and ended up hitting some cool bars in the Broadway and Fremont districts. If you have a Facebook account, check your friends' networks and get insider information before you travel.

-Toshio...off to gift a virtual hot tub...

One more thing to carry on: an attractive, dander-free, smallish-size human who's showered and equipped with an ample supply of eco-mints. If you can find one, go for the cheerful (but not too cheerful) variety who talks in moderation, uses the bathroom before they board (see this Friday's tip), won't take the window seat or hog the arm rests, gives you the leftover vodka from their Bloody Mary, and lets you drool on their shoulder in the event that you forget your eco travel pillow and list to one side.

That's if you've got the space. 

-Jenifer Morgan...off to squeeze in my travel companion...

Packing makes me anxious - it's hard to anticipate what I'm going to wanna wear. In college, I did a six-week study abroad in London. In addition to the backpack that I brought for weekends in Paris and Amsterdam (that's another story), I brought a gargantuan suitcase for all the rest. One of the guys on the trip dubbed it "The Tank." I wouldn't describe myself as high-maintenance, yet the not-so-eco size of that piece of luggage means swallowing my words.

As I was packing for the Ideal Bite job training in Jan., I was haunted by my rep for overpacking and refused to bring The Tank with me on my four-day trip to SF. I edited my belongings down to my faves, and then committed it to my carry-on-friendly suitcase. I was stoked about not having to check my bag; however, as I tried to cram it the overhead compartment, I began to break a sweat because it wouldn't squeeze in there. The guy in the seat next to mine politely tried to help, but to no avail. He, too, was shortly schvitzing in his suit, and we had an audience. The stewardess suggested that I check it, which made me grimace. Seeing my displeasure, she gave me an extra bag that I used to minimize my suitcase. And, at last, it fit. Phew.

-LA Editor Molly...off to meditate on packing lightly...

For a long time, I thought I was the only one who ever used Vaseline on his face. Oh my god, was I wrong.

(For the record, I haven't used Vaseline in years - now it's Alba Mineral Facial Sunscreen, with the John Masters stuff on really dry days.)

-Toshio...off to celebrate three years of tippin' it eco-style...

Unless I'm washing my hair, I consider my showers light-speed - literally two minutes or less most days. This makes me feel better about taking baths when I'm stressed, need total alone time, chilled to the bone, or yes, have cramps - abdomen, back, neck, shoulder, legs, whatever's a-hurtin'. A few drops of essential oil (for regular cramps, rose and jasmine are especially nice), followed by a cup of chamomile and a good night's sleep will go a long way toward ironing out the kinks. Also effective: Sad puppy dog eyes when your sweetie's around - you'll have a free massage in no time.

-Jenifer Morgan...off to pretend I have a cramp...

I rarely cook at home, but two of my roommates have been on a quinoa bender for the past six months. Both are vegetarian, so they get a healthy kick out of the grain, which they cook in our rice cooker and pair with vegetable stir-fry. I can tell you firsthand that it's a tasty combo, because I've sneaked a few scoops of the stuff while they're enjoying dinner in the family room.

-Toshio...off to hope Corinne and Jenny don't read this blog...

We seldom really think about the vanity of pets. They don't use makeup or have shoe obsessions (beyond chewing them); they unselfconsciously drool, hump couches, and chase their tails in public.

But when we lived in the desert, we used to give Toma, our shy retriever, a close shave in summer to help keep him cool and comfortable. But for the first few days following, he actually made himself scarce, hiding under the table or tucking himself behind the barstools...we swear he was blushing beneath those fluffy golden cheeks. Over time, he'd go outside for longer periods, start meeting guests at the door again, snuggle up for a cuddle....and eventually, with a little more fluff on his back, he'd be himself again. (We stopped shaving him quite as close.) And while professional pet grooming for some animals (esp. cats) can be traumatic, I've witnessed more than a few little beasts prance about proudly after a turn at the hairdresser.

Grooming it seems, with pets and humans, is good for health...and ego.

-Jenifer Morgan...off to wash my own hair...

One of my friends has a vocabulary that makes my head spin. When I first met him, the obscure words he tossed around (like pulchritude and deleterious) made me suspicious. Is he using them correctly? Can he define them? Sometimes I'd ask for a definition, other times I'd repeat the word in my head until I found a scrap piece of paper or got to a dictionary. Yep, he was always using them correctly.

I'm kinda obsessed with definitions. Merriam-Webster is bookmarked on my browser and I refer to it at least 10 times a day. OK, it's more like 20...or more. But I'm in the industry of words, and I just happen to possess a sick fascination with language. Looking up terms I already know helps get me out of ruts. It's also probably a form of procrastination that I feel good about. Sometimes I find little gems that make me smile. The word "rut" got me today. I digress.

So, I was boring this vocab-savvy friend of mine with talk about my day and how writing heads and decks about the same topic over and over again was leaving me adverb challenged. He responded with, "What's a deck?" Ah, I'd stumped Mr. Vocabulary with my publishing jargon. I explained that a deck is a great place to have a beer on a sunny day, and it's also the text that sits between a headline and the text of a story.

Lingo is a funny thing. The time-saving shorthand lets one easily get down to the nitty-gritty of something and sort of makes you a part of a clique. I'm wondering if people in journalism are the cool kids or the geeks. Most of us wear glasses and read a lot. Guess I'm answering my own question.

- Managing Editor Diane...off to put on some plaid pants...

I grew up on the top of a hill. A very steep hill - uphill both ways, etc. Any and all wheeled activities were pretty much out of the question, as was selling anything at the top of a street that nobody dared to climb. Alas, I didn't lemonade stand as a kid. To make up for my childhood deprivation, my equally scarred friends and I compensate on Sundays in Dolores Park with the following recipe (if you're like me, you will add tequila to taste):

• 6 cups filtered or spring water
• 2 cups mild organic honey or to taste
• 2 to 2 1/4 cups fresh squeezed organic lemon juice, strained to remove seeds and pulp (about 12 lemons)

Heat the water, then add honey, stirring until completely dissolved. Allow this to cool. Stir in lemon juice. Pour into a serving pitcher and chill in the refrigerator until cold. Sell or share, and enjoy.

-Assistant Editor Hanah...off to de-bitter...

I was reading about concentrated detergents in Consumer Reports the other day:

A 2003 poll by the Soap and Detergent Association, a trade group, showed that only 49 percent of Americans had ever read directions on detergent packages...

Apparently, many people buy concentrated detergent but put in the same amount as they would with non-concentrated detergent, potentially leading to the type of overly sudsy situation that Hilary is all too familiar with (and wasting detergent, besides). If you're reading this blog, my guess is that you're smarter than the average consumer, but a little reminder never hurts.

-Toshio...off to read some labels...

It's the day of the fast-food tip, and I've been waiting for weeks to share this little nugget of a commercial with you all.

Having a bunch of Lower East Side kids promote McDonald's and talking about how the world is changing with relation to a breaded-chicken breakfast biscuit (Hanah's dubbed it the McWorldischangingwich) isn't exactly greenwashing, but it is something.

Being somewhat of a fast-food connoisseur, I had to try it for myself. My world didn't change, but as I bit into the sandwich I did get a flashback to the lunch-line in high school. I swear my school district slipped McD's its recipe.

-Toshio...off to hear it for nonconformity...

I currently line-dry about half of my clothing. I have a drying rack inside my apartment, but we also have several lines inside our communal laundry room downstairs. I prefer using the latter, as I've found that the slow, methodical process of arranging clothes and clipping them to the lines really relaxes me. I turn on the radio and just kind of zone out for awhile. During our research for today's tip, we ran across a book that digs into the culture of clotheslines (yes, culture), in part how the ritual of hanging clothes in olde tymes actually brought people together. It also contains recipes for herbal ironing water, linen care and storage tips, and other interesting tidbits. (BTW, anyone know where to find great eco-friendly clothespins?)

If none of that appeals to you, you might be the perfect candidate for the thoroughly automated, anything-but-nostalgic Cord-O-Clip contraption.

-Jenifer Morgan...off to hang three sheets in the wind...

I dream of the day when I can download all of my favorite movies and shows to my Apple TV-no waiting for shipping, no wounds from wrangling those hard plastic cases (I realize that might just be me), no springing for DVD media binders, no storing those binders, no flipping through all of those binders to find what I'm looking for.

But in the interim, I've been downloading the odd film or TV show from the currently very slim offerings. I hadn't done a drunken iTunes shopping spree for awhile, so this time I took my impaired judgment to the TV, and found myself downloading a 1969 Scooby Doo episode - a classic: "Go Away Ghost Ship". I had more fun than maybe I should have watching "the gang" weed their way through the thin, predictable plot in their Mystery Machine.

But, you know, one was enough. So, here's to the future of buying exactly what you want, no more, no less. No packaging, no recycling.

-Jenifer Morgan...off to read an old Nancy Drew...

OK, so there wasn't a long line of staff members jumping at the chance to blog about this one. But having more than my fair share of annoyingly recurrent UTIs during my college years, (and why do they always seem to crop up on weekends, when doc's offices are closed?), I figured firsthand experience nominated me.

Back then, I was popping antibiotics way more than I wanted to, and even ended up having an ultrasound to figure out if something else was up. (There wasn't.) But after my doc recommended drinking more water and simply skipping to the loo after certain activities, I gave it a try, and the problem completely disappeared. Completely. Of course, rolling out of bed when all you wanna do is slip into dreamland isn't easy. But 30 seconds of sleepy stumbling versus two days of pain and emergency antibiotics? I'll take the former.

-NY Editor Beth...off to well, you know...

It's weird, but I've never seen a dad, mine or someone else's, get really excited about a gift. I've thought about why this could be for a hot minute, and cheesy as this sounds, maybe the best thing they ever got was a kid (ie. you), and every other present since then has just been gravy.

I think they just like knowing they're appreciated - and whether you show that through a coupon for a free beard trim or a pair of recycled polyester socks, I'm betting you'll get the same reaction - a very grateful hug.

-Toshio...off to mail Dad's gift...

Sometimes it takes a lot to try something new. Last year, I did a 10-day Vipassana meditation retreat-we ate breakfast very early in the morning, ate lunch mid-day, and drank tea in the late afternoon. The food was vegan and healthy to the max, which meant no caramels, no wine, no goat-cheese-and-asparagus tarts, no Zachary's pizza. But oh, my, were there condiments and flavorings galore, and after 10 days of brown foods and variations on water, you start getting experimental. Braggs Liquid Amino in mint tea? Why not. Nutritional yeast on raisin toast? Sure. Potatoes slathered with almond butter. Um, OK.

I'd love to say I munched upon an unexpected miracle like bananas and peanut butter, but after a few days of "Hm, I can see why no one else is eating this," I went back to mint tea with...nothing, butter on raisin toast and potatoes, and, yes, nutritional yeast on popcorn.

-Jenifer Morgan...off to eat something tried and true...

As a male, my Y chromosome largely dissuades me from spending money on clothes, but I've come to really dig nice jeans. I used to just buy cheap pairs, but they always ended up falling apart in a matter of months, forcing me to buy new ones - very annoying, and not very eco.

My intro to the world of swanky denim came courtesy of an ex who gifted me a fancy pair, and they've held up beautifully, especially considering I practically wear them every other day. (I do wash them from time to time, in case you're wondering.) So even though they might cost a little more up front, I'm still saving because I don't have to buy eight replacements, and anyone who says they don't care for the occasional "Your butt looks hot in those jeans" from the opposite sex is a liar of the highest order.

SF Editor Mike...off to drop his pencil...

Like a kid deprived of sugary cereal who, once out from under the thumb of tyrannical, health-conscious parents, eats Cap'n Crunch three meals a day, so I, after years of living with the unofficial org Parents Against A/C, take great joy in artificial cooling.

But there is something to say for boosting natural tolerance...after a long, hot summer in Central and Eastern Europe, almost completely devoid of A/C, I found that I could take the heat, literally, with far less discomfort. Not only that, my allergies naturally improved after a wretched first few weeks sans antihistamines. Alas, so did my ability to drink vodka.

-Jenifer Morgan...off to cool off with a shot of Żubrówka...