Ideal Bite

I used to be pretty terrified of being buried alive. I'm pretty trusting of doctors and all that, but what to make of all the stories on the Internet where coffins were unearthed only to find the lids RIDDLED WITH SCRATCH MARKS?!?!?!?

Then I watched a MythBusters where they were basically like, "Yeah, you are not gonna survive in a coffin once you've been buried." After recovering from the shock of something on the Internet being false, my fears of being buried alive subsided, but the idea of traditional burial still seems like a racket. I'd rather my friends and family purchase a crapload of Jameson and throw a bitchin' wake rather than literally bury $3,000.

In short: Cremate me, put my remains into Read the full post... 

…is a website for lip balm addicts. Most of its pages date back to the '90s, but the message remains valid for people who don't believe science (which holds that lip balm is not physically addictive): you are not alone.

Chapped lipped Biters, get your support here.

-Toshio…off to lube up…
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I'm actually much less a wine snob than I used to be. Due in part to economics and in part to just, well…growing up, I guess - I'm almost as likely to enjoy a $5 no-name wine from Trader Joe's as I am something schmancy I bought while touring Napa.

But boxed wine? I'm finding it much harder to take that plunge.

See, for me, wine isn't just about the consumption, or even only the taste. It is ritual - from the sound of the popping cork, to the color as you swirl the last sip in the bottom of your glass. I drink wine almost daily, and I appreciate the entire ritual of drinking a glass of wine well beyond the tipsy sensation or perfect pairing with food.

So you can tell me all you like that plastic corks are fine, that screw tops seal well, that boxes preserve flavor…but tonight when I get home, I'm planning to hear that pop, Read the full post... 

If you have a Trader Joe's nearby, the store's Lavender Dryer Bags are awesome (like with a capital A). You can reuse them up to 10 times, and after that you can open the sachets, sprinkle the lavender bulbs on your carpet, and vacuum 'em up (I toss the bags in my undie drawer if they still have scent). They're quiet unlike the balls (but don't last as long, unfortch), smell great (natural lavender 'steada toxic fragrances), and save your socks and skirts from embarrassing cling (another DIY trick: add 1/4 cup vinegar to the rinse cycle). Grab 'em if you can.

-Senior Editor Theresa…off to bury her face in just-outta-the-dryer towels and sniff…


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I had the same conversation three times yesterday - once with an old friend preparing to embark on a journey around the world, the second with my dentist, and the third with a loved one who will receive his MBA in May. The topic was this: Do what you love and love what you do, because you'll spend the majority of your life's waking hours doing it.

In a sense, the timing of this blog is serendipitous, and perhaps the same can be said for the recent launch of SustainLane's Green Collar Jobs Board. Sure, the economy blows, but according to various esteemed MBA professors, now's the time to take risks, see the upside down of the financial system as the green light to innovate, and think big.

I found my dream(y) job (aww, IB…) Read the full post... 

Kinda like jambalaya, here's a throw-everything-in mix of ideas for maximum Mardi Gras enjoyment.

Craft ideas from our always creative Editorial Intern, Erica:

• Grab a nice glass jar or vase and fill it with Mardi Gras beads, then slide the stems of some flowers into it. Instant showpiece.
  
• Got some photos of yourself at Mardi Gras? Hot glue some beads around a wooden picture frame and put your photo inside. Makes a very creative way to remember a good time.

You can also try your hand at making full-on visual art pieces.

Biter Recipes
(Incorporate local and organic ingredients wherever possible.)

Mint Julep (for

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From Chicago Editor Daisy

...Until now. Every morning since Groundhog Day, I've forced myself to walk to the lake before work. It's been beautiful - I've felt more privileged than ever to call Chicago home. The water's always different - sometimes frozen, sometimes stormy as a sea. Icebergs form and melt, changing boundaries, protecting seagulls, and...revealing a stomach-turning amount of trash. I recently filled two bags of it within 5 minutes.

That's why I wanna join the Friends of the Park (a nonprof all about preserving, well, parks) at next Saturday's Party for the Parks at Read the full post... 

I don't know where this whole "sexy librarian" thing came from, but I've never seen one. Not straight up live in a library anyway. The sexiest thing at my college library was this crazy robot thing that would fetch books in this glassed-off area that students weren't allowed to go into. That was pretty sweet. 

There's definitely nothing sexy about my current institution - the SF Public Library - either, unless you consider all the sink-bathing that's happening to be hot.

Free is sexy though. Let's go with that.

-SF Editor Hanah...off to put on some glasses and let my hair down...

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A few suggestions I've taken to heart over the years:

"You'll be more comfortable if you pull your hair out from under the collar of your coat." - courtesy of Heinrick, fellow student, University of Leeds

"If you're cold, put on a pair of socks and a sweater. If you're sad, go play tennis." - courtesy of Dad

...and that Ideal Bite's taken:

 "I think Blue Ocean Institute's new text messaging service is an Ideal Bite..."- courtesy of Ideal Bite reader Nancy Civetta

Which leads me to: If you're not comfy giving recommendations in person, don't let that stop you - there are some great benefits to offering feedback by good ol' email. How do I know? Because our beloved Biters (that'd be you) send us lots. Lots.

Some perks:

If you email, you often can target your message a little better.

If you type out what you have to say, you can step

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Moving is quite possibly my least favorite task on the planet. No exaggeration. I would rather do my taxes. Or plan a funeral. Or be put on hold with my bank and be forced to listen to their Best of Lite Rock Muzak for 5 hours. Or wait in line in the rain for the chance to clean the public pay toilets out on Market Street with my bare hands and a too-small sponge.

Seriously, I have nothing to add to this tip at all. I'm just here to complain. Thanks for listening.

-Senior Editor Mike...off to not move anything anywhere...

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