More Hip Than Hippie #179 - GEMology

They didn't kill the electric car! Battery-powered vehicles are buzzing down a road near you, and the GEM is leading the charge. The Hipsters chat with Kent Collins, owner of Chico Eco Cars, and learn what it takes to make the switch to an EV, then they take a test drive. Also, the Chico Air Show approaches, and Val feels the need for speed!

Beer and Chocolate:

Beer: If Mother Earth herself brewed beer, this would be her signature ale! Green Lakes Organic Ale from Deschutes Brewery in Bend, Oregon rocks the planet and gets all 12 hips.

Chocolate: The holidays have arrived a little early, thanks to Divine Chocolate. They sent a box of their seasonal goodies, including the Divine Dark Chocolate After Dinner Mints. Give them as a hostess gift, then eat 'em up before the other guests do!

Hip News and Finds

Finds:

• Val's Favorite Things! Interactive giftwrap? Take re-gifting to a new level with reusable cloth Wrapsacks. Each comes with a tracking number, so you can log online and follow its progress across the land.
• Control geek. The Plogg is a simple device that tracks your electricity usage, controls your appliances and connects wirelessly to your computer, phone or Blackberry. Want one? Gotta move to Europe!
• What, no Garbage-Patch? A new line of Method hand and body washes will be available in October. The scents, inspired by the ocean, include Water-Flower and Refresh-Mint.

 

Hip News

• Power surge. China is rushing to build a network of charging stations for electric vehicles. The US is rushing to Panda Express for lunch.
• Evolving doors. The world's greenest museum opens this month in San Francisco. The new California Academy of Sciences asks, "How did life evolve?" "How will it survive?" and "Does a pig wear lipstick?"

Teenie Weenie Greenie™

Switch gears! Sit down with your family and evaluate your driving habits. Do you spend a lot of time navigating neighborhood streets? If so, you might benefit by switching to an electric vehicle. Solo commuters should consider electric scooters or bicycles.

GEMology

They didn't kill the electric car! Battery-powered vehicles are buzzing down a road near you, and the GEM is leading the charge. The Hipsters chat with Kent Collins, owner of Chico Eco Cars, and learn what it takes to make the switch to an EV. (Turns out, just a good extension cord!)

• Plug in. The basics: GEM stands for Global Electric Motorcars, a division of Chrysler, headquartered in Fargo, ND (dontcha know!).
• Power points. EV's save money and cut pollution. They also make people point and wave at you. Need to know more? Ask the Electric Auto Association.
• Stay current. Chrysler has declared 2010 the year of its electric car. Meanwhile, there's GEM's latest offering: the Peapod NEV.
• Electric outlet. Kent's brand-new eco-car dealership has Chico buzzing!

Listener E-mails Keep the energy flowing! Send an e-mail to hip@greenfeet.com. And don't forget to post articles, links and shameless plugs at our MHTH forum!

• Shout-out! Cheers to Robin, who listed us among her faves on Green Option's Sustainablog. You like us, you really like us!
• Sara in Colorado checked in on Facebook to tell us about her recycling project at Western State College. Way to go!
• Jenny in Ontario (eh!) presents a blog that focuses on the downside of wind farms. OK, but clean coal still blows.
• Elizabeth in Minnesota is a self-proclaimed "cheesegirl", and teaches us a thing or two about rennet and annotto. What a cheese whiz!
• Mary in New Hampshire (Live Free or Die!) wants to know which of her plastic water bottles won't kill her. Magic numbers: 1, 2, 4 and 5.
• Katie in Austin, TX shares a recipe for a More Hip libation: 2 scoops of vanilla ice cream in a pint of Young's Double Chocolate Stout. Sounds Hipsterlicious!

Tiara Alert! Nominations are open for the Podcast Awards! There's no swimsuit competition, but we can still kick butt in the People's Choice and Education categories, so click the link and choose More Hip Than Hippie! Follow us on Twitter: GrnDiva and MoreHipDori, at your service!Post a review at iTunes, and don't forget us at podcastalley.com and podcastpickle.com. Send us a voice message at our Skype address "morehip" or +1.530.554.2605. Don't have Skype? Get it - it's free! More Hip Than Hippie is sponsored by Greenfeet.com

More Hip Than Hippie #178 - Palm Print

Are Oreos destroying the planet? Probably not, but like most processed foods, they contain a controversial ingredient. Palm oil is in heavy demand by food producers, and farmers are destroying rainforests to supply it. Dori and Val fill in the facts. Also, Val gets mooned by a swan and compares her husband to a trampoline!

Beer and Chocolate:

Beer: Val learns to love fruit beer with a ginormous bottle of Tangerine Wheat Beer from Lost Coast Brewery in Eureka, CA. So much citrus, you almost have to peel it!

Chocolate: How do you say "big-ass chocolate bar" in Danish? That would be Chok O Blok, the latest offering from Alex the Dragon. 70% San Domingo single origin dark chocolate, no messin' around!

Hip News and Finds

Finds:

• Innspiring. Val and her hubby enjoyed a weekend at the eco-friendly Gaia Hotel in Anderson, CA. Her favorite part? The toilet!
• Sheet happens. Misprinted sheet metal is saved from the landfill and transformed into exotic glass-sided lanterns.
• Sake to me! Add Organic Nama Sake to your list of eco-friendly adult beverages. Serve that wild rice in true Japanese style.

 

Hip News

• Fresh air. The US House of Reps passed the No Child Left Inside Act, trying to improve environmental education in schools.
• Load Star State. San Antonio, Texas pioneers the first large-scale effort to convert human waste into natural gas.
• Speaking of dumps... A visit to the landfill in Japan could turn out to be a real treasure hunt. Precious metals abound from discarded electronics.
• Dodo with lipstick. Congratulations to this year's winner of the Rubber Dodo award: Gov. Sarah Palin of Alaska, crusader against the pesky polar bear.

Teenie Weenie Greenie™

WD-4get about it! Quiet down those squeaky hinges with a spritz of cooking spray or a dab of lip balm. Apply it to the hinge's moving parts and wipe away any excess. Look for brands that don't contain petroleum or palm oil.

Palm Print

Are Oreos destroying the planet? Probably not, but like most processed foods, they contain a controversial ingredient. Palm oil is in heavy demand by food producers, and farmers are destroying rainforests to supply it. Dori and Val look at the environmental consequences of palm oil plantations, what corporations can do to stop it, and how consumers can make a difference.

• Palm reader. What is palm oil, and why do we love it? (Hint: it's full of fat.)
• Oil crisis. Drilling won't solve this problem either.
• There goes the neighborhood. A new study confirms oil palms make terrible rainforests.
• Not my Thin Mints! Step away from the Girl Scout cookies. You can make a difference by reading labels and avoiding products that contain palm oil. Learn more here.

Listener E-mails Pick our brains! Send an e-mail to hip@greenfeet.com. And don't forget to post articles, links, flotsam and jetsam at our MHTH forum!

• Shout-out! Thanks for mentioning us Behind the Stall Door!
• Lisa in Wisconsin shares a clever gift idea: make catnip pillows out of old sweaters. Even better if you grow your own catnip.
• Dr. DeeDee in Mississippi wants to get rid of a trampoline without putting it in the landfill. This guy has some ideas.
• Sara in New Hampshire (Live Free or Die!) is proud of a UNH student whose research led to a new state law on wind energy. We're blown away!
• Theresa in North Carolina wonders what's up with the Saturn ads. Well, they're temporary, and hopefully not too bothersome. We gotta pay for the glorious More Hip Media Multiplex somehow!

Tiara Alert! Nominations are open for the Podcast Awards! There's no swimsuit competition, but we can still kick butt in the People's Choice and Education categories, so click the link and choose More Hip Than Hippie! Follow us on Twitter: GrnDiva and MoreHipDori, at your service!Post a review at iTunes, and don't forget us at podcastalley.com and podcastpickle.com. Send us a voice message at our Skype address "morehip" or +1.530.554.2605. Don't have Skype? Get it - it's free! More Hip Than Hippie is sponsored by Greenfeet.com

More Hip Than Hippie #177 - Nit-Picking

September is Head Lice Prevention Month, so Dori and Val are itching to learn more about keeping the critters away! Listen for common-sense tips to help you head-off an outbreak. We'll also comb through the facts about "super lice" and offer some remedies you can make from scratch. Also, find out why Dori's high and Val's dry!

Beer and Chocolate:

Beer: This 20th Anniversary Black Butte XX Porter from Deschutes Brewery in Bend, Oregon is steeped in controversy. After Val spent 10 minutes prying open the wax-dipped top, she found it too malty to drink! Dori stepped up, drinking the entire 22 oz. bottle alone. Because there's no "I" in team.

Chocolate: Another yummy bar from Alex in Denmark. Even stone cold sober, Val wouldn't try to pronounce Urtekram økologisk Mørk chokolade. It's Fair Trade certified and Kan indeholde spor af mælk, nødder og peanuts. We think it's Danishious!

Hip News and Finds

Finds:

• Val's Favorite Things! It's a handy product with a mission: the BOGO Solar Task Light. Buy one, the company sends one to needy folks in Africa. The light charges even on a cloudy day, and helps Val and her hubby navigate to their new hot tub at night.
• Merlot and behold. The Six Pack Wine Rack made of wool felt is stylish, recyclable and produced in the USA. Unlike your wine bottles, it folds flat when it's empty.
• Wii demand a recount. Greenpeace released its 9th Guide to Greener Electronics. Still the best? Nokia. Still the worst? Nintendo.

 

Hip News

• Bureaucrappy. The suits at the FDA insist BPA is fine for your health, even as a new study suggests a link to heart disease and diabetes.
• Sino the times. China's largest milk producer is recalling baby formula tainted with melamine.

Teenie Weenie Greenie™

Fall into flowers! Autumn is the time to replant your flower beds. This year, save time and money by choosing perennials instead of annuals. Try your best to find plants native to your area. They'll thrive with less maintenance and they'll attract more birds and butterflies. Work with nature, not against it!

Nit-Picking

September is Head Lice Prevention Month, so Dori and Val are itching to learn more about keeping the critters away! Listen for common-sense tips to help you head-off an outbreak. We'll also comb through the facts about "super lice" and offer some remedies you can make from scratch.

• Myth-understood. Who knew? Head lice can't fly, don't spread disease and prefer clean hair over dirty hair!
• Nitting circle. About 1 in 10 kids will contract lice by the sixth grade. It's because of their lousy behavior.
• Look, up in your scalp... It's Super Lice! Faster than a speeding comb, able to resist OTC medications in 3-5 years.
• Lice-ense to kill. Natural remedies include mayonnaise, olive oil and this DIY recipe from The Green Witch Herbal.
• Who ya gonna call? One enterprising business offers a lice removal service for your home and your head.

Listener E-mails Is something bugging you? Send an e-mail to hip@greenfeet.com. And don't forget to post articles, links, and photos of your malt-face at our MHTH forum!

• Beth in Florida cleans her keyboards with a cool alternative to canned air. It's a blast!
• Kevin is tired of tossing out Q-tips everyday. We suggest using an earwash to clean your canals. If you prefer swabs, these are organic and biodegradable.
• Scott in Michigan wants to make us cry. He loves the story of an amazing boy named Clinton Hill. Pass the tissue, please.
• Sandra in New York hooks up with her neighbors each week to exchange food, books and household goods, no strings attached.
• Denise in Florida invites Hipsters in the Blue Grass State to visit her son's new green business in Louisville.
• Molly in Baltimore (hey hon!) thought of us when she saw this project for making solar lanterns out of beer bottles. You light up our lives!

Let the world know you're More Hip Than Hippie! Follow us on Twitter: GrnDiva and MoreHipDori, at your service!Post a review at iTunes, and don't forget us at podcastalley.com and podcastpickle.com. Send us a voice message at our Skype address "morehip" or +1.530.554.2605. Don't have Skype? Get it - it's free! More Hip Than Hippie is sponsored by Greenfeet.com

More Hip Than Hippie #176 - Power to the People

Energy independence isn't just for nations anymore! It's never been easier to generate power at home. Dori and Val let you know "watt" it takes to harness the energy of the sun and wind. Learn about equipment and permits, plus rebates to help ease you off the grid. You'll feel empowered!

Beer and Chocolate:

Beer: "Heaps of hops" for Hipsters in this Prima Pils from Victory Brewing Co. in Pennsylvania.

Chocolate: Longtime listener Alex the Dragon in Denmark sent a package of chocolate goodness. This week's choice: Vivani Feine Bitter Orange. Mange tak!

Hip News and Finds

Finds:

• Newspeeper. ReKindle your love for newspapers with an electronic version, courtesy of Plastic Logic. Available next year, their reader is thin, light and easy to read. Just don't use it to potty-train your puppy.
• Good shop/Bad shop. Navigate those perilous shopping aisles with a little help from Good Guide. This new site helps you choose the best products while you're standing in the store. And yes, Val, there's an iPhone app coming soon.

 

Hip News

• Moneybags. A plastics trade group spent over $180,000 last month to fight Seattle's 20 cent bag fee. They could have bought 900,000 plastic bags with that. Or 36,000 ChicoBags.
• Does Yogi know? Meanwhile, France considers a "picnic tax" on disposable dishes. Don't tell the ranger, Boo-Boo!
• Hangover. Clothes hangers made of plastic or wire are very tough to recycle and usually end up in the landfill. Faye Dunaway weighs in on the issue at the end of the show.

Teenie Weenie Greenie™

Smile! A little toothpaste comes to the rescue for those scratched CD's and DVD's. Dab some paste (not gel!) on a cotton swap and polish the plastic surface until the scratches are gone. Wash the toothpaste off with water. If the disc still skips, hot-glue it to a paper lantern and make a disco ball!

Power to the People

Energy independence isn't just for nations anymore! It's never been easier to generate power at home. Dori and Val let you know "watt" it takes to harness the energy of the sun and wind. Learn about equipment and permits, plus rebates to help ease you off the grid.

• Power source. A great article from MSN provided most of the information for our topic.
• Meter operandi. Sending power back to your utility company is called net metering. You may not get you rich, but you'll be powerful!
• It's electrifyin'! Install Sunslate tiles on your roof, and no one but the sun will know you've gone solar.
• Dutch treat. From Holland, the new Energy Ball eggbeater-style turbine blows away your electric bill.
• Knowledge is power. Read up on wind systems and how to plan for them. Identify federal and state tax incentives for switching to solar power.

Listener E-mails We get a charge out of your letters! Send an e-mail to hip@greenfeet.com. And don't forget to post articles, links, and powerful ideas at our MHTH forum!

• Lacy in California helps a hip sista out with safety info for would-be bicycle commuters.
• Cassi in Tennessee is steaming mad about a campaign to save the endangered plastic bag.
• Ken in Bakersfield turned us on to the non-profit Solar Energy International, which provides workshops and online courses for homeowners.
• Big Ed in Indiana let us know about Samsung's new recycling program in the US.

Let the world know you're More Hip Than Hippie! Follow us on Twitter: GrnDiva and MoreHipDori, at your service!Post a review at iTunes, and don't forget us at podcastalley.com and podcastpickle.com. Send us a voice message at our Skype address "morehip" or +1.530.554.2605. Don't have Skype? Get it - it's free! More Hip Than Hippie is sponsored by Greenfeet.com

More Hip Than Hippie #175 - What the Frack?

Gas companies use a process called hydraulic fracturing, or "fracking", to loosen rock and bring natural gas to the surface of wells. If you think this sounds hazardous, well, you're right. Dori and Val drill beneath the surface and let the statistics flow.

Beer and Chocolate:

Beer: Check out our Grand Tetons! Listener Mike (Spanky) set us up with a threesome: Au Naturale Organic Blonde Ale and Workhorse Wheat Ale, plus Black Dog English Style Amber Ale from Spanish Peaks Brewing Co. in Wisconsin. Uh-oh, is that Val's malt face?

Chocolate: Mike again, with assorted goodies from Anacortes Chocolate Factory in Washington. Thanky Spanky!

Hip News and Finds

Finds:

• Val's Favorite Things! The best kitchen utensil is the one you use every day. Try this bamboo slotted spoon for stirring, scooping and straining with style. Keep it fresh with a little bamboo goo.
• Baby steps. Need eco-friendly shoes for the teeny weeny greenies in your life? Soft, comfy Pedoodles are made from recycled leather scraps.
• Oh Wiki, you're so fine! Get the scoop on all things environmental at the new Green Wiki. [citation needed]
• Green Miles. Tom Hanks is one of us! The actor supports The Nature Conservancy and buzzes around Hollywood in his electric car. Eco is as eco does...

 

Hip News

• Sole survivors. A new study finds 40% of freshwater fish species in North America are in jeopardy. Dori finds 100% of them are inedible.
• Little green Apples. The newest iPod nano is also the cleanest. Steve Jobs says it's mostly toxic free and highly recyclable.

Teenie Weenie Greenie™

Start meshing around! After you've eaten the last onion or potato, reuse that mesh produce bag. Slip it over a kitchen sponge for extra scrubbing power on pots and pans.

What the Frack?

Gas companies use a process called hydraulic fracturing, or "fracking", to loosen rock and bring natural gas to the surface of wells. If you think this sounds hazardous, well, you're right. Dori and Val drill beneath the surface and let the statistics flow. Learn about the environmental impact, the health risks and the fracking politics.

• Frack attack. Hydraulic fracturing typically involves pumping hundreds of thousands of gallons of fluids and sand into an oil or gas formation. Water and air pollution ensue.
• Frackpot. The chemicals used in fracturing fluid are not subject to regulations or public disclosure, despite the dangers of exposure.
• Frack off. The Environmental Protection Agency bows to political pressure and refuses to investigate.
• Frack to nature. As pressure to drill increases, so does the potential threat to the environment.

Listener E-mails We dig it when you pump us for info! Send an e-mail to hip@greenfeet.com. And don't forget to post articles, links, and Tom Hanks movie quotes at our MHTH forum!

• Michele in North Carolina (y'all) found an mp3 player for little kids. The SweetPea3 can run on one rechargeable battery. She also shares the good news that NC is going green!
• Reverend Rachel in Texas needs suggestions for a "going green" gift basket. How about a reusable water bottle, biodegradable waste bags, a shower timer and an air filter whistle?
• Lottie in Massachusetts sees hopeful signs for a green economy: an event called Green Jobs Now and a report about a Green Recovery. We approve!
• Carri in Kansas loves master gardener Felder Rushing and his cool beer bottle trees. She also thinks Val would be a great supper guest on Planet Green. Are they serving beer and chocolate?

Let the world know you're More Hip Than Hippie! Post a review at iTunes, and don't forget us at podcastalley.com and podcastpickle.com. Send us a voice message at our Skype address "morehip" or +1.530.554.2605. Don't have Skype? Get it - it's free! More Hip Than Hippie is sponsored by Greenfeet.com

More Hip Than Hippie #174 - Green Dot

September is National Sewing Month, as well as National Start to Panic About the Holidays Month. No worries! Dori and Val chat with sewing maven Julie DeMaggio, owner/operator of Green Dot Designer's Lounge. She specializes in recycled clothes and clever crafts. The Hipsters pin her down on some easy gifts you can make with just a needle and thread.

Beer and Chocolate:

Beer: Perfect for a couple of fallen angels: Broken Halo IPA from Widmer Brothers Brewing Co. in Portland, Oregon.

Chocolate: Another selection from the Emerald Isle! Lily O'Briens Organic Dark Chocolate, Created with Passion and mailed in by the lovely Fiona. Take a look at her eco-village in Ireland.

Hip News and Finds

Finds:

• Bic Appetit. Turn your pen into an eating utensil with Din-Ink pen-cap cutlery.
• Pick a Dar-winner. The new issue of E Magazine drills into the climate crisis. Which candidate can accept the science, and which McCan't?

 

Hip News

• Stick a Ford in it. Europeans will soon get to drive the new 65-mpg Ford Fiesta. Deisel-hating US drivers must sell their homes and live in their Hummers.
• All wet. Sales of bottled water slow down in the US. We're waiting for it to drop below $3 a gallon.
• Republigreen. Listen to John McCain's ideas for the environment. A small clip from his convention speech runs at the end of the show.

Teenie Weenie Greenie™

Think negative! Listener Mike works in a photo lab, and has a great tip to keep plastic out of the landfill. When you drop off film, ask the lab not to cut your negatives into strips. No little plastic sleeves to deal with, and your film can stay in its container. Bonus: reprints are easier to make from the whole strip!

Green Dot

Green Dot Designer's Lounge is a great business specializing in recycled clothes and crafts. Owner Julie DeMaggio joins Dori and Val to pin down some easy homemade gifts you can make with just a needle and thread.

• A friend in needle. Julie and Kris opened Green Dot because they believe anyone can "be their own designer."
• Hoop Hurray! Hot for fall: embroidery. Check out Sublime Stitching for designs your grandma wouldn't touch with a 10-foot needle.
• Thread, white & blue. Celebrate National Sewing Month with tips and links from the pros.
• Stitchin' time. Julie has lots of easy gift ideas for beginners. Visit the DIY section of our forum.

Listener E-mails It's sew easy to get in touch! Send an e-mail to hip@greenfeet.com. And don't forget to post articles, links, and photos of your handiwork at our MHTH forum!

• Melinda in South Carolina (y'all) warns of the hazards of "canned air". To clean your keyboard, just shake it out, then slide 2-sided tape between the keys. (Works better on computers than pianos.)
• Trystan at Yahoo! Green used old CD's as candleholders in her wedding centerpieces. Talk about stax of wax!
• Kristin in New Hampshire misses those childhood trips to the dump, but uses a "Still Good" shed for sharing unwanted items with others.
• Brian in Tennessee unearthed Fossil Fuels that we really dig!

Let the world know you're More Hip Than Hippie! Post a review at iTunes, and don't forget us at podcastalley.com and podcastpickle.com. Send us a voice message at our Skype address "morehip" or +1.530.554.2605. Don't have Skype? Get it - it's free! More Hip Than Hippie is sponsored by Greenfeet.com

More Hip Than Hippie #173 - CD vs MP3

As a music lover, which should you choose? Sounds like a no-brainer, but Val and Dori download data you need to know so your favorite music doesn't stream into the landfill! Listen for tech news and tips for your old CDs, plus the Hipsters notice something's missing...

Beer and Chocolate:

Beer: We're traveling through another dimension, our next stop...Twilight Seasonal Ale from Deschutes Brewery in Bend, Oregon. A wondrous beer whose boundaries are that of imagination.

Chocolate: Listener Fiona in Galway sent us chocolate pints of Guinness from the Irish Chocolate Company. Slainte!

Hip News and Finds

Finds:

• Val's Favorite Things! Would you, could you carry a handmade tote made with pages from a Dr. Seuss book? Storybook Bags tell your favorite childhood story in a stylish one-of-a-kind bag, made in the USA by moms.
• See no weevil. Real rice and feed bags are handcrafted into bright, functional laundry bags and wastebaskets.
• Nal-genius. Put your old plastic water bottle to work. It makes a brilliant solar light.

 

Hip News

• Break off, eh? A huge ice sheet has broken loose in the Canadian Arctic. Sarah Palin wants to turn it into a hockey rink.
• Automathic. Number-crunchers have proven that a Toyota Prius holds its value better than non-hybrids.

Teenie Weenie Greenie™

The next time you buy any paper product, try to find a brand that's chlorine-free. Why? Because dioxin is released into the environment when chlorinated products are incinerated. Check out this list of home and office paper goods that make the grade.

CD vs MP3

As a music lover, which should you choose? Sounds like a no-brainer, but Val and Dori download data you need to know so your favorite music doesn't stream into the landfill!

• DISCouraging. Get the story on iPods and e-Waste.
• DISCoveries. Newer innovations include corn-based MildDiscs, and Blu-Ray, which is 51% paper.
• DISClaimers. Americans still buy about a billion CDs every year. When you're tired of listening to the Jukebox Hits of the 60's, send 'em to GreenDisk for recycling. Or turn Martha Stewart loose on them.
• DISContinued. Where, oh where have those annoying AOL discs gone?

Listener E-mails Sound off, don't let your ideas go to e-waste! Send an e-mail to hip@greenfeet.com. And don't forget to post articles, links, and compliments at our MHTH forum!

• Brigid in Chicago is running a Marathon to raise money for the Healthy Schools Campaign. If only she were a hockey mom.
• Howard in England introduces us to Roz Savage, who's trying to become the first woman to row across the Pacific. She's an environmentalist and adventurer. But not a hockey mom.
• Tom in London sends praise to Marks & Spencer in the UK for banning free plastic bags.
• Denise in Indiana is looking for a few good organic wines. We suggest our local favorite.

Got a favorite Green(feet) business? Nominations are now open for Co-Op America's annual Green Business of the Year contest. Rock the vote! And don't forget us at podcastalley.com and podcastpickle.com. Send us a voice message at our Skype address "morehip" or +1.530.554.2605. Don't have Skype? Get it - it's free! More Hip Than Hippie is sponsored by Greenfeet.com

More Hip Than Hippie #172 - Now Hear This!

That gold in your ear is valuable, but don't dig for it! Dori and Val discuss new guidelines for ear wax removal. Learn what that stuff is made of, why it's there and how to deal with it. It's a goldmine of information! Also, Barack Obama outlines his green energy ideas and Val conquers the airwaves.

Cider and Cheese:

Cider: How do you like these apples? American Hard Cider Co. bottles Newton's Folly Authentic Draft Cider, which is Golden and Delicious to the core!

Cheese: Award-winning Organic Valley Cheddar. It's legendairy. We paired it with Barbara's Bakery crackers.

Hip News and Finds

Finds:

• TiVal. Check out Val's TV segment about waste-free lunches. Look out Oprah!
• No-brainer. It makes sense to save paper while reading about the environment, right? EcoBrain offers tons of green titles online, including audio books.
• Tanks a lot! Find out how much fun you can have on one tank of gas, with Trip Advisor.
• Ex-Bay. You've dumped the boyfriend, now dump the baubles he gave you! Ex-Boyfriend Jewelry lets you repurpose that diamond, conflict-free.
• Bike-ingham Palace. England's Queen Elizabeth tells her bodyguards to get out of the SUV's and patrol the grounds on 2 wheels.

 

Hip News

• Dukes of hazard. The Bush administration wants to delay the process of removing toxins from the workplace.
• High price of gas. It's not just belching cows. Experts say insects contribute to climate change when they pass wind.
• Greenocrats. Listen to Barack Obama's ideas for the environment. A small bit of his Denver speech runs at the end of the show.

Teenie Weenie Greenie™

Don't forget to flush! Your water heater may need to purge the sediment that's been building up over the years. It's not tough to do, and unlike Val, you probably won't need to wear a wet suit. Afterward your tank will operate more efficiently and you'll be sure to have plenty of hot water for those winter days ahead.

Now Hear This!

That gold in your ear is valuable, but don't dig for it! Dori and Val discuss new guidelines for ear wax removal. Learn what that stuff is made of, why it's there and how to deal with it. It's a goldmine of information!

• What-ology? The American Academy of Otolaryngology issued national guidelines on earwax removal. Paper clips = not okay.
• A good deaf-ense. Scientists found the best way to remove the stuff is with saline drops or sterile water. Not this.
• Fire in the hole! The report claims there's no benefit to the practice of ear candling. That leaves Val burning. At both ends.

Listener E-mails You really oto write in! Send an e-mail to hip@greenfeet.com. And don't forget to post articles and links, or just wax poetic at our MHTH forum!

• Brandy in Colorado tells us about a great place to get natural gifts for kids. Visit, and get to gnome her better.
• Lurker Jodie needs a natural hand sanitizer for her kids while they're at school. Don't forget about good ol' soap and water!
• Michelle in New York wants a green alternative to styrofoam, and we found these customizable peanuts. Do this with the old stuff.
• Jen in Wisconsin is afraid to bike around town with her tot in tow. Get support! See if there's a bike club in town without "Hell's" or "Angels" in their name.
• Fiona in Sydney sent an article about one woman's quest to live a paperless life. Yes, that includes Down Under.
• Lisa in Michigan praises her home state for putting on a green Labor Day event and music festival. Kudos, der, eh?

Got a favorite Green(feet) business? Nominations are now open for Co-Op America's annual Green Business of the Year contest. Rock the vote! And don't forget us at podcastalley.com and podcastpickle.com. Send us a voice message at our Skype address "morehip" or +1.530.554.2605. Don't have Skype? Get it - it's free! More Hip Than Hippie is sponsored by Greenfeet.com