Ken Grossman is the founder of Sierra Nevada Brewery here in Chico, CA. His sustainable business practices have earned nearly as much praise as his award-winning beer.

We've long admired Ken Grossman for his quality brews and for his commitment to sustainability. That's why we invited him to be our special guest for our 200th show! Val's hubby Rob was so excited, he sat in on our interview. We learn how Ken started out in the beer business and what he's doing to keep his brewery green. Ken also shares some product news and a tip or two for homebrewing Hipsters. Also, in the spirit of Chico legends, we present the music and comedy of local showman Moriss Taylor.

Beer and Chocolate:

Beer: Duh! You can't try it just yet, but Sierra Nevada Brewery will release Torpedo Extra IPA in bottles next month. We'll try to leave some for you guys.

Chocolate: Thanks to Charter Hipsters Kellie and Carly in SF, we indulged in a sampler of NeoCocoahand-crafted truffles. Ding Ding Dang!

Finds:

• Val's Favorite Things! Get organized for the new year with a Recycled Sari Buckle Wallet. Handmade in family cooperatives in India, these wallets are stylishly sturdy with plenty of pockets. Best of all, they don't look like you found them at the mall!
• Drafted. If you're in New England, pay tribute to American Veterans by quaffing a beer! High and Mighty Brewing pledges $1 from every bottle of their "Home for the Holidays" brown ale will go to IAVA, a charity for veterans and troops.
• Carp Diem. Concerned about the quality of your seafood? CleanFish empowers you to vote with your fork.
• Heaven scent. Now you can smell like Val! Experience Illuminated Perfumes by Roxana. Hipsters get a special deal on her handcrafted, all natural fragrances; mention More Hip when you buy any full size solid perfume and get a free sample of her liquid perfume, OR buy any full size liquid perfume and get a free sample of her solid perfume. Order here!

• Waterworld. NASA says 2 trillion tons of land ice has melted since 2003, due to global warming.
• Ski lift. Lighter snowfall is forcing skiiers uphill. Researchers say warmer temps in the Rockies could eliminate the snowpack by 2100.
• March of the Lame Duck. The Bush administration is moving to protect 7 penguin species, while ignoring 3 others. Hmmm, 70%...isn't that his disapproval rating?
• Organ-ic. A group of Texas high school students created a digital pipe organ from a pile of recycled electronics. What's your kid done lately?

Just say no! As you list your New Year's Resolutions, focus on just a few things you would like to stop doing. Stop smoking; stop adding to the landfill; stop eating meat. Post a short list on your mirror so you'll see it everyday. Just don't stop listening to podcasts!

We've long admired Ken Grossman for his quality brews and for his commitment to sustainability. Learn how he started out in the beer business and what he's doing to keep his brewery green. Ken also shares some product news and a tip or two for homebrewing Hipsters!

• Beer in the headlights. Ken started as a homebrewer with a passion for his product.
• Top o' the Hops Sierra Nevada ales are consistently among the top brews in the US.
• Crystal clear. Among Ken's green innovations, Sierra Nevada Brewery uses clean energy to operate its facilities in Chico, CA.
• Launch the Torpedo! Coming in January 2009, bottles of Torpedo Extra IPA will be available year-round. And there was much rejoicing.
• Word to the Weiss. Look for Ken's voluminous contribution to the Practical Brewer, a manual for the brewing industry.
• Bock star. UC Davis commemorates Ken's support for the next generation of brewers.

Help us kick off our next 200 shows! Send an e-mail to hip@greenfeet.com. And remember to post articles, links and your New Year's Resolutions at our MHTH forum!

• Shout-outs! Thanks so much for mentioning us in your blogs: Two Smart Girls, ReadWriteWeb and SJSFalter. You rock!
• Jenny in Ontario (eh!) wants us to shut up about the weather, and give macrame the respect it deserves. We'll grant half her wish.
• Phil in Prince Edward Island (eh!) is our new groupie. He likes big worms, dark chocolate and Zebra Eco pens. We love you man!
• Rick in Virginia alerts us to the truth about oil prices, thanks to this interview on Financial Sense Newshour.
• Trystan at Yahoo! Green busts our chops. We didn't mention loofahs as an alternative to plastic sponges. Um, don't you have an article to write, or something?
• Kristi in Minneapolis shares a Beer Buying Guide for those of us who vote with our pint glass. Cheers!

Show the world you're More Hip Than Hippie! Grab some merch for holiday gift-giving! Follow us on Twitter: GrnDiva, MoreHipDori and JRich9 at your service! Don't forget to vote for 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.

Desalination is the process of turning saltwater into drinking water. As more reverse osmosis plants are being built, water conservation remains a vital solution to managing worldwide shortages.

Fresh water is in short supply in many parts of the world, and the problem is going to get worse as the population grows. One solution is desalination. How does this work? Will it solve the water crisis? The Hipsters discuss the pros and cons of this emerging technology. Also, as the temperature in Chico dips to 40 degrees, Val declares herself "over winter."

Beer and Chocolate:

Beer: Three simple ingredients combine to make Cru d'Or Belgian Style Ale a winner. This flavorful brew from North Coast Brewing Co. in Fort Bragg, CA contains only water, organic malt and hops. Trifecta!

Chocolate: Guys, buy this by the case. Zazubean's Lunatic bar claims to take the edge off women's "monthly madness" with its blend of cacao nibs and mint. We liked it. You got a problem with that?

Finds:

• Splinter Wonderland. A Potted Christmas Tree seedling makes a festive hostess gift. Or plant a hundred of your own and open a Christmas tree lot next year. Cha-ching!
• Beam me up. Black & Decker's new Thermal Leak Detector is a handheld gun thingy that finds hidden energy leaks in your home with a colored beam of light. OK, you can pretend you're Captain Kirk while you use it.
• Green 'zine. Need a new read? Boho offers great fashion and lifestyle tips, on eco-friendly paper. The name means "both ho's", right?

• Barack this town. President-elect Obama unveils his energy and environment team. "My administration will value science. We will make decisions based on the facts." If this is a dream, don't wake us.
• Smelluva job. Another last-minute ruling from the Bush administration exempts farms from having to report toxic manure fumes. What about those fumes coming from the White House?

Pack your snacks. Before you hit the road for the holidays, make sure you've packed plenty of food and drinks. Bringing your own eats from home cuts down on waste and saves you money. Remember, they always !@#$ you in the drive-thru!

Fresh water is in short supply in many parts of the world, and the problem is going to get worse in coming years. One solution is desalination, the process of turning saltwater into drinking water. How does this work? Will it solve the water crisis? Learn the pros and cons of this ancient process.

• Salty. Only 3% of earth's water is fresh; less than 1% is available for drinking and washing.
• Thirsty. The World Bank reports that 80 countries now have dangerous water shortages, and more than 2 billion people have no access to clean water or sanitation.
• Brainy Desalination technology advanced in the mid-20th century, and the first reverse-osmosis plant opened in 1965. There are now more than 12,000 plants worldwide.
• Thrifty. Since desalination is expensive, Food & Water Watch advocates better management practices. Start with water conservation in your home, and support efforts in your city and state.

Want to pepper us with questions? Send an e-mail to hip@greenfeet.com. And remember to post articles, links and your New Year's Resolutions at our MHTH forum!

• Kevin in Illinois is a teen greenie who loves nature conservation. He volunteers to restore habitat near his home and would like to hear a show about that topic. By the way Kevin, you rock!
• Janel in Arizona overcame her fear of composting and recommends it to all. Thanks for unlurking!
• Myssi in Colorado found Eco-Cycle, her local recycling site. Check out their Zero-Waste Holiday Guide. And Myssi, we're waiting for the Giddy Up!
• Jenny is resolving to go raw vegan in 2009. She was inspired by Compassionate Cooks, a podcast that is not for the squeamish. Good luck!
• Meredyth inexplicable thought of us when she lined up beer bottles on her kitchen counter. The occasion? Baking beer bread! See the recipe in our forum.

**Greenfeet's Pick-A-Present Promotion is on! Spend $75, pick a present worth up to $20 FREE!**

Show the world you're More Hip Than Hippie! Grab some merch for holiday gift-giving! Follow us on Twitter: GrnDiva, MoreHipDori and JRich9 at your service! Don't forget to vote for 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.

Designer Tiffany Threadgould's ReMake It kits turn recyclable materials into functional new products.

As the market for recyclables bottoms out, learning to reuse those materials is more important than ever. RePlayGround is a website devoted to crafty ideas for giving discarded scraps new life. The Hipsters ask Tiffany about her inspirations, and about the rumor that she talks to her trash! Also, Val suffers the world's most unexciting back injury and adopts a Charlie Brown Christmas tree.

Beer and Chocolate:

Beer: Val flashed her malt-face, but was able to finish her glass of Hazelnut Brown Nectar from Rogue Ales in Newport, Oregon. The bottle would make a cool lamp!

Chocolate: It's always a treat when a package of chocolate shows up in the mail! Thanks to our friends at Zazubean for the organic dark chocolate bars they sent our way. First up: "flirt", 70% cocao with acai and cherries.

Finds:

• Byte me. It looks and smells like a bar of chocolate, but it's actually a solar-powered calculator. Perfect for adding up the calories in your real chocolate bar.
• Spongeworthy. Gather your pals for a Green Cleaning Party, where everyone mixes their own cleansers. Just don't mix them with your margaritas.
• Holy Pteropus! Get in on the bidding to name a new species of bat. May we suggest Bruce Wayne?

• Token effort. American drivers got out of their cars last summer. Public transit ridership saw its biggest increase in 25 years, thanks in part to $4 a gallon gas. Maybe Detroit can manufacture subway cars.
• Gorgasm. The President-elect and VP-elect meet with Al Gore this week to discuss economics, alternative energy and green technology.

Rack 'em up! At this time of year you probably have to heat your home at night, but by morning the hot, dry air is tough to take. Listener Karen suggests hanging laundry on a drying rack next to a heat vent. The moisture from the wet clothes humidifies that painfully dry air, and your clothes are ready to wear!

Don't just recycle, reincarnate your garbage into usable products! Tiffany Threadgould's ReMake It kits let you turn glass bottles into lampshades, magazines into stationery, wine corks into trivets and bottle caps into magnets. Learn what inspires Tiffany to reinvent recyclables, and try her Hipster Scarf and Potholder project. You'll look like a crafty genius!

• Scraptastic. Tiffany's studio is called RePlayGround. It's utopia for fellow design junkies.
• Show 'n Tell. Pick up her series of recycling project books, "This Into That". Watch her video, It's Easy Being Green.
• Juicy couture. Tiffany works with TerraCycle to turn used juice boxes and foil wrappers into fun products.
• Trash crash. The market for recyclables has bottomed out, so reusing them really makes sense.
• No bitchery. Can't sew? That's no excuse! Val swears by her Stitch Witchery.

Don't make us recycle old questions! Send an e-mail to hip@greenfeet.com. And remember to post articles, links and your New Year's Resolutions at our MHTH forum!

• Karen in West Virginia discovered that the computer mouse her son used as a toy, contained a hefty amount of lead. Her lead test kit found other household sources, including phone cords, computer cables and vinyl mini-blinds.
• Carri in Kansas continues to keep it green in her red state. She's planning to build a strawbale house, complete with goats and a garden.
• Jenny in Canada (eh!) wonders about the wisdom of getting a gadget that tells you which plants will grow in your soil. She also gives us a heads-up about a new Gardening Mama video game to get the kids interested in plants. Bloomin' beautiful!
• Maggie in Spain shares a cool find: Paper Water Bottles.

**Greenfeet's Pick-A-Present Promotion is on! Spend $75, pick a present worth up to $20 FREE!**

Show the world you're More Hip Than Hippie! Grab some merch for holiday gift-giving! Follow us on Twitter: GrnDiva, MoreHipDori and JRich9 at your service! Don't forget to vote for 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.

Before you travel, calculate the carbon footprint for your journey and find the greenest route to take.

Over the river and through the woods? Forget it, Grandma's got a condo in Boca Raton! Finding the greenest way to get there takes a little research, and the Hipsters unpack some info to help you get on your way. Also, Dori picks a winner for the Amazing Race, and Val's Christmas lights are better than yours!

Beer and Chocolate:

Beer: What's the Scuttlebutt about this Porter brewed in Everett, WA? Well, the beer's dark and the label's cute, but it wasn't a Hipster fave.

Chocolate: Lovely listener Isabelle in Belfast sent along her favorite Swiss (not Nestle!) chocolate. Camille Bloch Ragusa Noir with truffle filling was a sweet treat, though it left Dori with a napkinful of discarded hazelnuts.

Finds:

• Val's Favorite Things! It's a recycling 2-fer: use an old CD and an old circuit board to create a stylish desk clock. A great conversation piece, made in the USA and affordable at about $25. And oh-so-timely!
• Eight crazy lights. Hanukkah has gone high-tech with the LED Motherboard Menorah. Adds a geeko-friendly glow to the Festival of Lights.

• Worst of Both Worlds. One-third of the toys tested by a non-profit group were positive for chemicals like lead, mercury and cadmium. Among the worst offenders: Hannah Montana brand jewelry items. Identify the toxic toys, and avoid low-cost children's jewelry.

Dish it out! Make the commitment to serve at least one organic dish at your holiday dinner, whether it's the meat, the veggies, the dessert or even the wine. Point it out to your guests if you like; you may convince the meanie at your table to go for seconds!

Off to grandmother's house you go for the holidays! But how does a Hipster travel, by plane? Train? Car? The green solutions vary by the type of trip you're taking and the number of people on board. Use these tools to figure it out, then enjoy your journey!

• Planes. Generally considered to be the least green option, since their carbon emissions go right into the upper atmosphere. But for long distance travel, flying may be your best choice. Try to purchase carbon offsets. Should you fly?
• Trains. Rail travel is almost always greener than a car for a single traveller. But a recent report from the Cato Institute argues that "feeder" buses between stations can counteract environmental gains. Should you ride the rails?
• Automobiles. Carpooling generates the fewest greenhouse gases per passenger, so driving shorter distances with your family or friends could make sense. Make sure your car is well-maintained and not overloaded with crap. Should you drive?

Your ideas travel fast! Send an e-mail to hip@greenfeet.com. And remember to post articles, links and travel itineraries at our MHTH forum!

• Eileen in Dominica unveils her tropical island sanctuary. Calibishie Cove offers low-impact luxury that at least 2 Hipsters would love to experience!
• Meredyth in Texas alerts us to an article about the Rechargeable Battery Recycling Corp. It seems "recycle" is another word for "incinerate".
• Elizabeth in St. Paul, MN loves a new iPhone app called the Good Guide, which indexes green products so you can shop for the greater good. Bonus: it's free!
• Jodi introduces us to Green Changes, a company that creates eco-friendly apparel and helps spread the word about sustainability.

**Greenfeet's Pick-A-Present Promotion is on! Spend $75, pick a present worth up to $20 FREE!**

Show the world you're More Hip Than Hippie! Grab some merch for holiday gift-giving! Follow us on Twitter: GrnDiva, MoreHipDori and JRich9 at your service! Don't forget to vote for 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.

The green economy could soon be the fastest-growing job segment in the United States.

Despite rising unemployment, the future looks bright for green collar jobs. The Obama administration wants to create 5 million new jobs in the fields of renewable energy, alternative transportation, research, engineering and more. The Hipsters look at the advantages of green industry and how you can prepare to find employment. Also, Val reveals the secret ingredient for rockin' cranberry sauce!

Beer and Chocolate:

Beer: A bonny brew from Caledonian Brewery in Edinburgh, Scotland. Great Scot Organic Pale Ale had us reeling with its smooth golden flavor. Mike Myers would approve.

Chocolate: Many thanks to listener Trystan for supplying the Equal Exchange Organic Panama Extra Dark Chocolate bar. At 80%, it was too much for us to finish in one sitting, but it was fun trying!

Finds:

• Which coaster are you? These rubber coasters made from recycled automobile tires let you represent. Sorry flyover states!
• Here is comes to save the day! The Mighty Wallet lives up to its name. Made from a single sheet of Tyvek, it's thin, flexible and almost indestructible. Choose from 2 cool designs: comic pages, or airmail envelopes.
• Oooh! Aaah! Seriously, this fountain in Japan is the coolest thing that ever happened to water.

• Big Bucks. The CEOs of Ford and Chrysler say they'll work for $1 per year if they have to take government bailout money. Ford will also sell their 5 corporate jets.
• Brew me up, Scotty! Space beer has landed! The Japanese brewed the beverage from barley grown on the International Space Station, and Sapporo is offering tastings to earthlings. Beats the hell out of Tang.

Mission: Recyclable! Should you choose to accept it, your mission for the holiday season is to reduce by half the amount of waste your household generates. This message will self-recycle.

Need a job? Become a part of the new green economy, which is about to open an industry full of jobs around the world. Learn about the advantages of green collar jobs, where to find them and how to train for one.

• Researchers at Duke University conclude that green collar jobs present the next frontier for US manufacturing.
• The green economy is expected to account for roughly 10% of new US jobs over the next 20 years.
• President-elect Obama wants to invest $150 billion to create 5 million new green collar jobs.
• Get the training you need at your local community college or green organization. GreenBiz can tell you where job seminars are happening.
• Go for a degree at one of the top 15 green universities. (yay Chico State!) Young adults can get job training with the Green Corps.
• The Green Jobs Guidebook is free and full of great info for those wanting to work in California.
• Good with kids? Camp counselor makes CNN's list of the Top 25 Green Gigs. Sorry, "More Hip Than Hippie" Podcast Co-Host is taken!

Hot under the collar? Send an e-mail to hip@greenfeet.com. And remember to post articles, links and job openings at our MHTH forum!

• Shout-outs! Thanks to Spatially Relevant and Spaced Out Looney for the blog mentions!
• Amanda in Toronto (eh!) hopes to buy a Toyota Prius, but wants to make sure they're a good choice. Val shares the Prius love.
• Melissa in Newfoundland (eh!) wonders whether natural sea sponges are worse than plastic bath puffs. Look for farmed sponges, or a natural cellulose alternative.
• Whitney in Texas wants to know if her polymer clay sculptures are killing her kids! Probably not, but baking them in a toaster oven outdoors may be a good idea. (The sculptures, not the kids.)
• Maggie in Madrid is a frequent flyer, and wants to offset her carbon. Check with airlines' websites, or visit Carbonfund, NativeEnergy or TerraPass. By the way, it's still "offset" in Spanish!
• Theresa found the high-tech way to kill weeds without chemicals...using boiling water. Use the gray water you collect in the shower.

**Greenfeet's Pick-A-Present Promotion is on! Spend $75, pick a present worth up to $20 FREE!

Show the world you're More Hip Than Hippie! Grab some merch for holiday gift-giving! Follow us on Twitter: GrnDiva, MoreHipDori and JRich9 at your service! Don't forget to vote for 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.

Yahoo! Green is a great source of news and ideas for sustainable living. Senior Editor Trystan Bass shares tips for a greener holiday season.

We can all use some last-minute tips for getting through the holidays with a lighter footprint. Find out how to set a waste-free table, opt out of the Christmas card crunch and avoid unrecyclable giftwrap. Also, Val reveals her favorite word, and a surprise visit from a listener leaves the Hipsters feeling Mavericky!

Beer and Chocolate:

Beer: When listener Spanky dropped by More Hip HQ, we took the opportunity to ease his beer burden by liberating 2 bottles of Alaskan Brewing Co.'s Amber Alt Style Beer from his overloaded car. You're welcome.

Chocolate: Thanks again to listener Michelle for the care package of chocolate bars. This week's Jacques Torres Brulee Crunch tasted better than it looked...why is it the color of baby poop?

Finds:

• Bullseye! The perfect coat hangers for the quirky home have to be Dart Coat Hooks. Mount them on the wall and have guests toss their coats for points.
• Rock the votive. Crank out those homemade holiday candles with Microwaveable Soy Wax in 1-lb. containers. Don't worry, it comes with ideas and instructions.
• Ooh, sparkly! Create your own Snow Globe with a jar, some epoxy, a few plastic figurines and a bit of glitter. Easy enough for those of us who are craft-challenged.
• Scan I help you? Don't chat up that hottie in the bar until you've scanned their ShotCode. Look for the logo on clothing, then use your phone to link your target's online profile. Because saying hello is so exhausting.

• Shotgun! The CEOs of the Big Three automakers are in talks to carpool together on their next trek to Washington. If only they could find a fuel efficient vehicle...
• Getta Jetta. Congratulations to Volkswagen, whose 2009 Jetta TDI is "Green Car of the Year". Don't worry Detroit, you'll get 'em next year!
• The need for Swede. A Swedish company plans to harness human body heat to warm a new office complex.
• Yep. Here it is, Oxford's Word of the Year for 2008: Hypermiling. Smug Hipsters smile knowingly.

Postal Toasties! Reuse your empty cereal boxes to ship holiday gifts. They're the perfect size for clothing, books and accessories. Or just give the cereal as a gift this year--it ain't cheap!

We can all use some last-minute tips for getting through the holidays with a lighter footprint. Hipster Trystan Bass from Yahoo! Green provides ideas and inspiration for waste-free entertaining, as well as greener options for cards and giftwrap. She also attempts to pronounce "furoshiki".

• Entertaining. Trystan recommends a trip to the thrift store for dishes, silver and linens. Also, Bambu veneerware is both chic and compostable.
• Giftwrap. Look for 100% recycled wrap, or use old comics, maps or sheet music. Fabric bags like Wrapsacks are great too. Feeling knotty? Try furoshiki.
• Greeting Cards. Personality counts. Make your own photo cards on your computer with recycled paper. If that's not an option, look for recycled greeting cards or those with seeds embedded in them.
• Gifts. Trystan had a great time putting together the 2008 Green Holiday Gift Guide.
• Charity. Yahoo! is donating the profits from ads on Yahoo! Green to eco-friendly projects. Vote in their online poll by December 3rd.

Yahoo! We love to hear from you! Send an e-mail to hip@greenfeet.com. And remember to post articles, links and holiday memories at our MHTH forum!

• Shout-outs! Thanks to Carolyn's Blog for the mention, and to Lighter Footstep for the great info on green dry cleaning.
• Thomas in Ontario (eh!) wants us to help spread the word about supporting new pesticide regulations in his province. You betcha!
• Stacy in Los Angeles reminds us that our favorite dark chocolates are all dairy-free, like Dagoba and Green & Black's. D'oh!
• Melody in Seattle shares a funny family story about McMenamins brewpub and her neophyte nephew. Beer almost came out of our noses!

**Greenfeet's Pick-A-Present Promotion is on! Spend $75, pick a present worth up to $20 FREE!**

Show the world you're More Hip Than Hippie! Grab some merch for holiday gift-giving! Follow us on Twitter: GrnDiva, MoreHipDori and JRich9 at your service! Don't forget to vote for 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.

Landowners can protect private property from development long after they're gone, using land trusts and conservation easements.

Did you know that about 2 million acres of land is being developed across the US every year? Listener Susan Armstrong works to conserve our open spaces for future generations. She unearths some great info about tools that landowners and concerned citizens can use to permanently protect private property. Also, Val's birthday draws near, and the Hipsters get a Brazilian!

Beer and Chocolate:

Beer: We love the beer-sipping bear on the label of Lang Creek Brewery's Huckleberry n' Honey Ale. So fruity and sweet, you could drink a pint with Boo Boo in Jellystone Park.

Finds:

• Val's Favorite Things! Even on a cloudy winter day, you can charge your favorite gadgets with the Solio Solar Charger. It's power on the go directly from the sun. Val never has to be deprived of her iPhone, Kindle or any other gizmo again!
• Pick a Present! We're giving stuff away at Greenfeet.com, where the annual holiday promotion is underway. Spend $75, pick a free gift worth up to $20!

• Breathing is overrated. The EPA is about to weaken the Clean Air Act, making it easier to pollute the air near national parks and wilderness areas. If an appeal is filed, the incoming Obama administration could reverse the policy. Does this mean Bush is stuck between Barack and a barred place?

Cleaning really sucks! Sprucing up the house for company? Reach the places in-between with a DIY extension for your vacuum cleaner. Just scrunch up one end of a wrapping paper roll or paper towel tube, insert it into the end of the vacuum's hose, and suck up those dust bunnies! (Recycle the tube when you're finished.)

Did you know that about 2 million acres of land is being developed across the US every year? Hipster Susan Armstrong works to conserve our open spaces for future generations. She unearths some great info about tools that landowners and concerned citizens can use to permanently protect private property.

• Law of the land. Susan knows her stuff! She's an environmental attorney with Connemara Conservancy, a non-profit land trust in Texas.
• Wide open spaces. One of the biggest conservation organizations in the world is the Nature Conservancy. Established in 1951, they've protected more than 119 million acres of land.
• Ease into it. Landowners can manage their property into the future with a conservation easement. Many qualify for tax benefits.
• To Protect and Conserve. Who looks after the land when an easement is in place? Land trusts are the stewards of conserved property.
• Buffalo Stance. Billionaire Ted Turner is the largest private-property owner in America, and his goal is conservation. He's also crazy about bison burgers.

• Arnold Schwarznegger helps L.A. terminate carbon dioxide. The Governator was on hand as the Staples Center unveiled its new rooftop solar array.
• Billie Joe Armstrong has a Green Day with (PRODUCT) Red. His custom designed Converse shoes are made with hemp and benefit charity.
• Madonna has a list of divorce demands which includes that the kids keep to a macrobiotic, vegetarian organic diet when they're with Guy Ritchie. OK, fine. But no TV, DVDs, magazines or newspapers? She scares the crap out of us!

Listener E-mails

Don't conserve your comments! Send an e-mail to hip@greenfeet.com. And remember to post articles, links and birthday wishes for Val at our MHTH forum!

• Liz in New York wonders if the bargains at Trader Joe'sare too good to be true. Happy Tofurkey Day to you too!
• Brian in Tennessee lets off some steam about the AirCar, which has been blowing in the wind for a while now.
• Meredyth in Texas finally asks the right people about hybrid car batteries and how they're recycled.
• Kristi in Minneapolis shares an article about the most eco-friendly car in America: the Honda Civic GX, which runs on compressed natural gas.
• Jessica found 2 great resources for the eco-friendly bibliophile: The Green Library and Greening Your Library.
• Rodrigo in San Francisco came here from Brazil, where he used this show to improve his English. Can you translate "teenie weenie greenie" without getting your ass kicked?

Show the world you're More Hip Than Hippie! Grab some merch for holiday gift-giving! Follow us on Twitter: GrnDiva, MoreHipDori and JRich9 at your service! Don't forget to vote for 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.

Eco-conscious consumers can find plenty of options for packaging and shipping this holiday season.

You've voted with your dollar by purchasing "green" gifts this holiday season. Don't undo all your good deeds with styrofoam packaging and carbon-spewing shippers! Dori and Val unwrap the greenest options for packing your presents and getting them to Grandma's house, whether it's across town or around the world. Also, the holidays are officially here as Greenfeet kicks off the annual Pick A Present promotion!

Beer and Chocolate:

Beer: In the name of fairness, we're trying Budweiser American Ale from Anheuser-Busch. They're now owned outright by InBev, the Belgian company who apparently thinks Yanks will fall for this crap.

Chocolate: For the poor confused vegan chocoholic, there's Tropical Source Raspberry Dark Chocolate by SunSpire. Dairy-free and gluten-free, it's actually quite tasty.

Finds:

• For the birdies. Hey golfers, turns out there's more than one way to go for the green! Dixon Earth's eco-friendly golf balls improve the environment while improving your game. Don't forget the biodegradable tees!
• Mapquest. Say hello to someone on the other side of the globe with World Atlas notecards. Recycled vintage maps are fashioned into a set of 6 cards and envelopes.

• The Decider. The Bush administration bows out with a flurry of last minute rules. See W ease restrictions on factory farms, mine waste, power plant emissions, and drilling in Alaska's Bristol Bay, among others. Don't let the doorknob hit you on the way out.
• Sign of the Times. The first eco-friendly billboard in NY's Times Square will light up next month, using only wind and sun power. Energy savings: $12,000 a month(!).
• Barack Star. President-elect Obama has begun making weekly addresses to Americans via YouTube and his website, Change.gov. Listen to one at the end of this show.

Time to polish the silver! Avoid icky chemical cleansers with a simple paste of baking soda and water on a sponge. Or cover the silver surface with white toothpaste, work it into a foam under warm water, and rinse tarnish away. Minty fresh!

You've voted with your dollar by purchasing "green" gifts this holiday season. Don't undo all your good deeds with styrofoam packaging and carbon-spewing shippers! Dori and Val unwrap the greenest options for packing your presents and getting them to Grandma's house.

• Packaging. When packing boxes, try to reuse paper, bubble wrap and other materials when possible. Or get biodegradable packing peanuts and leave no waste.
• Ground shipping takes a little longer, but generates just an eighth of the carbon emissions of air transport. Starting next year, UPS helps clear the air with hydraulic hybrid vehicles.
• The US Postal Service manages the largest civilian fleet of alternative fuel vehicles in the nation. Order their free envelopes and boxes that are certified green.
• International shipping gets greener with First Global Xpress. The company puts packages on a direct flight to the destination city, without stops at out-of-the-way hubs.
• Shipping rebates of up to $500 are available at FreeShipping.com, for a small monthly fee. Online shoppers can choose from over 1000 merchants.
• Carbon offsets have come a long way, and TerraPass has several excellent programs. Greenfeet purchases carbon offsets for every order shipped, without passing the cost to the customer.

• Lacy in NorCal rides green on her 2-dogpowered Xtracycle. Thanks for the blog mention!
• Jenny in Ontario, Canada (eh!) carried homemade lunch bags to school before they were cool! Her crafty mom made them from old jackets.
• Shayna shares the Green & Clean Mom Holiday Gift Guide. Check out picks from our pal Sommer!
• Ted in Michigan, aka our Beer Bitch, wants to invent a foldable take-out pouch for food, like the ChicoBag. It better carry beer too!
• Cindy in SoCal is living the green life part-time in Canada. She reviewed a beer for us...well, she tried! Thanks for the attempt, eh!

**200th Episode Alert!** We've booked Ken Grossman, founder of Sierra Nevada Brewery, as our special guest! Send us your questions for Ken! (Of course we'll ask him for his porn star name!) Post your thoughts, carbon-free! Send an e-mail to hip@greenfeet.com. And remember to post articles, links and tracking numbers at our MHTH forum! Show the world you're More Hip Than Hippie! Grab some merch for holiday gift-giving! Follow us on Twitter: GrnDiva, MoreHipDori and JRich9 at your service! Don't forget to vote for 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 is sponsored by Greenfeet.com.

You probably use a lithium battery every day, in a watch or laptop. Discover where it comes from and why its future is uncertain.

If the car of tomorrow is electric, chances are, it'll run on lithium-ion batteries. But is there enough to meet our growing demand? Where does lithium come from, how is it produced and who profits? The Hipsters shine a light on this versatile metal. Also, Val gets herself in twouble with Twitter, and plans are afoot for More Hip Episode #200!

Beer and Chocolate:

Beer: Do we detect a little citrus in our Inversion IPA from Deschutes Brewery? Orange you ready to try some yourself?

Chocolate: A MARS bar? Has Val taken leave of her senses? Nope, turns out their Dove Origins Ecuador dark chocolate bar is part of the candymaker's new cocoa sustainability program. Oh, and it's damn tasty.

Finds:

• Val's Favorite Things! Tease your brain with a tavern puzzle made of recycled iron. Based on centuries-old designs, these decorative puzzles are available in different levels of difficulty. Solve the Iron Heart? Now you'll have to deal with the Iron Maiden! (The puzzle, not Val.)

• Cure for what ales you. Scientists at Rice University have engineered a life-extending brew called BioBeer. Wonder if we'll live long enough to see it hit the market?
• Blow rider. An air-powered car is on the horizon, thanks to Zero Pollution Motors. Plans call for selling the $20K vehicles directly from factories in nearly every state.

Wrap 'n Roll! Keep those rolls of pricey recycled wrapping paper in good repair with your old stockings or hose. Just slide 'em over the tubes, leaving a few inches exposed at the end so you can see the design on the paper. Knot the fabric so it won't slip down. Or use a garter!

If the car of tomorrow is electric, chances are, it'll run on lithium-ion batteries. Is lithium the answer to our energy problems, or does it have a few problems of its own? Dori and Val shine some light on this metal and its future on the world's highways.

• Lithi-ummm... What the heck is it? A soft, lightweight metal found in low concentrations around the globe.
• Batteries included. Lithium helps to power lots of devices, from watches to laptops to space vehicles.
• Plugged up. With the advent of electric cars, automakers have big plans for lithium. Can the planet keep up?
• Buzzkill. At least one study finds that lithium production is environmentally damaging and unsustainable.
• La Pause. The world's largest deposit of lithium lies in Bolivia, which is not exactly on friendly terms with the U.S.

• Denise in Indiana is amazed by the maglev trains in China, which run clean and green on a magnetic field.
• James in PA has parked his bike for the winter, after logging more than 2,000 miles riding to work. Great job! Here's his blog.
• Faith in New Jersey has set some lofty green goals for 2009. She also blames us for that dream about Ringo Starr and a bar of Dagoba Lavender chocolate. Was there a Yellow Submarine involved?
• Jen in Portland is a former Chicoan who named her cat Sierra Nevada, after the beer! Which reminds us...

**200th Episode Alert!** We've booked Ken Grossman, founder of Sierra Nevada Brewery, as our special guest! Send us your questions for Ken! (Of course we'll ask him for his porn star name!) Flex your power! Send an e-mail to hip@greenfeet.com. And remember to post articles, links and pictures of Nirvana at our MHTH forum! Show the world you're More Hip Than Hippie! Grab some merch for holiday gift-giving! Follow us on Twitter: GrnDiva, MoreHipDori and JRich9 at your service! It's a new month, so don't forget to vote for 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 is sponsored by Greenfeet.com.

November 10th - 16th is Recycling Week all over the world.

This is the week to start that recycling program at home or in the workplace. The Hipsters sort through statistics and extract the facts about how materials are recovered and reused. You'll learn why you should put paper, glass, steel and electronics back to work! Also, Val celebrates her recent marriage (?) and goes on to win a Major Award!

Beer and Chocolate:

Beer: Gaze upon the amber goodness of Mirror Pond Pale Ale from Deschutes Brewery in Bend, OR. A fine, if unoriginal, offering that earned a combined 9 hips.

Chocolate: Yes, it's back! Dori chose the lesser of 2 evil nuts and came up with Green & Black's Organic Bittersweet Dark 60% Chocolate with Hazelnuts & Currants.

Finds:

• Rudolph's secret. It's Solar Powered Christmas Lights! No power outlet required; they just soak up the sun by day, then you would even say they glow in the dark.
• Puffins & Meerkats & Lynx, oh my! Even the Meanie on your list will love the World Wildlife Fund's Animal Adoption program. Choose an endangered critter from anywhere on Earth; your $50 "adoption" fee includes a certificate, photo and adorable stuffed version of your animal.
• Hip Trips. The path to sustainability is dotted with hotels, tours and destinations. Find the greenest of the green at Whole Travel, and plan your journey.

• Bushwhacking. President-elect Obama is reviewing all of W's executive orders, including the most recent attempts to open up drilling near national parks and monuments.
• Covering their ashes. Recycling companies announce their new e-Steward Initiative to certify safe practices in their industry. Watch 60 Minutes much?

Queasy does it! The next time you have tummy trouble, don't reach for the pink bottle. Cook up a pot of rice, using at least twice as much water as you normally would. Then strain out the rice and drink the water, hot or cold. The proteins in the rice will settle your bowels and hydrate your body. Note to self: sake is not a good substitute!

This is the week to start that recycling program at home or in the workplace. Paper, glass and steel are easy to take out of the waste stream and put back to work. Electronic waste and household hazardous waste need special treatment, but are worth the effort.

• E-waste is growing at 3 times the rate of other municipal waste. But it's really a resource of reusable material. Learn more about e-waste recycling.
• Paper consumed in the US hit a record 56% recovery rate last year. That's 360 lbs. for every man, woman and child in the country! Paper recycling is easy and it works.
• Glass can be recycled infinitely without losing its purity or strength. But sorting colors can be confusing. Here's the lowdown on glass recycling.
• Steel is recycled in the US more than aluminum, glass, paper and plastic combined. It's easy to separate from aluminum; just use a magnet! Find out about the benefits of steel recycling.
• Household Hazardous Waste is anything that might blow up, catch fire, or poison someone. Americans generate 1.6 million tons of the stuff per year. Let the professionals handle HHW recycling.

Want to recycle an old question? Send an e-mail to hip@greenfeet.com. And remember to post articles, links and congrats to Val on her recent marriage (!) at our MHTH forum!

• Melody in Seattle wonders if compostable products are OK, since corn is such a resource-intensive crop. Look for goods made from non-GMO corn, organic if possible. Alternatives include bamboo and sugar cane.
• Joanne in Calgary (eh!) shares the Canadian Broadcasting Corp's initiative called One Million Acts of Green. We think it's positively brilliant!
• Fonda in Missouri is a traveling yoga teacher who likes the humorous approach to being green. Thanks for the praise, Fonda, but we're still not giving up beer for tea.
• Maggie in Spain is still looking for your eco-geek jokes...and provides one of her own. Please, bring the funny so she won't have to!

Show the world you're More Hip Than Hippie! Grab some merch for holiday gift-giving! Follow us on Twitter: GrnDiva, MoreHipDori and JRich9 at your service! It's a new month, so don't forget to vote for 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! Hey, thanks for reading all the way through the shownotes! Now buy yourself something nice! Take 15% off your next Greenfeet order by using this code at checkout: SHOWNOTES Hurry, offer expires November 17, 2008!More Hip Than Hippie is sponsored by Greenfeet.com.

We all know that exposure to lead can cause a variety of health problems. The threat of exposure to this heavy metal is more common than you may realize.

Once hailed as the father of all metals, lead has fallen out of favor because of its dangerous properties. But remnants of lead remain. Are you and your family at risk? We'll examine a few places where lead may be hiding in your home or community, and help you to protect yourself.

Beer and...well, just Beer:

Beer: Was it the Labrador on the label that made Val reach for a bottle of Pale Ale from Laughing Dog Brewing? Or was it the chance to drink another beer from Idaho? Either way, we're glad she got her paws on it. This very tasty brew gave us something to cry in when we realized we had no chocolate. Again. Stop the madness.

Finds:

• Val's Favorite Things! Lead-free and lovable XEKO Pals are perfect presents for the teenie weenie greenies in your life. The soy-stuffed critters are designed as companions to the XEKO trading cards, but Val's Hairy-Eared Dwarf Lemur has a place of honor on her desk.
• Dressed to the ca-nines. Keep your rottweiler roasty and your terrier toasty with the Hound Hoodie. This eco-friendly dog coat is custom fit for Fido and features a removable pom-pom on the hood, so you can humiliate him at will.

• Great Eggspectations. California voters approve Proposition 2, which improves living conditions for hens and other factory farm animals. Look for the initiative in other states soon.
• We mold you so. Rainforests to the rescue again, as scientists discover a fungus that makes diesel compounds from cellulose.
• Greeniuses. A British study finds that the smarter your kids are, the more likely they are to vote pro-environment as adults.

Sock it to 'em! Tired of that tangle of cords leading into your power strip? Cut the toe end off a trouser sock and run a bundle of cords right through it. Just make sure no one's wearing it first!

Once hailed as the father of all metals, lead has fallen out of favor because of its dangerous properties. But remnants of lead remain. Are you and your family at risk? We'll examine a few places where lead may be hiding in your home or community, and help you to protect yourself.

• Metal Ages. Reading the history of lead, you'll find humans have been mad about it since the dawn of recorded time.
• Metal health. The effects of lead poisoning can be reversed in adults, but are much more dangerous for kids.
• Mislead. Hidden risks for exposure can be found in your home, your garden...even your own body!
• Get the lead out. Use a home lead test kit to detect it on any surface within seconds. Check your tap water as well.

• Stella McCartney gets a spot in Dad's trophy case. She won the first ever award for Green Designer of the Year from the Accessories Council. Stella launched her leather- and fur-free line in 2006.
• Tom Green cashes in on his last name by hosting a new game show for Planet Green. "Go for the Green" tests your Eco-Q every Saturday night at 8.

Listener E-mails

• Patrick in NC thinks Val should consider the VW Jetta TDI wagon for her next car. It gets 45 mpg on the highway, and could run on biodiesel. But does it have cupholders?
• Melissa in Minnesota is thrilled that her state voted to raise taxes in order to clean up and preserve the great outdoors. Uffta!
• Eileen in Dominica sent an article about the world's most unusual chocolate entrepreneurs.

Hello, is anybody out there? Send an e-mail to hip@greenfeet.com. And remember to post articles, links and congrats to President-elect Obama at our MHTH forum!

Show the world you're More Hip Than Hippie! Grab some merch for holiday gift-giving! Follow us on Twitter: GrnDiva, MoreHipDori and JRich9 at your service! It's a new month, so don't forget to vote for 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.

Tropical rainforests are disappearing at an alarming rate. Why should you care? Among other things, these ecosystems are a rich source of natural medicines.

You or someone you know probably benefits from the drugs derived from rainforest plants. Cancer? Diabetes? Arthritis? All are treated with compounds found in the rainforest. But we're losing these medicinal plants faster than we can explore their potential. The Hipsters trek into nature's medicine cabinet and learn about the challenges of saving it. Also, Val tries to defend Donald Trump, and Dori says goodbye to her "Bono in 2008" bumper sticker!

Beer and...well, just Beer:

Beer: OK, it was the name that inspired Val to pick up a big ol' bottle of Leafer Madness Imperial Pale Ale from Beer Valley Brewing in Oregon. Crisp and hoppy, this is a great stand-alone beverage. That's a good thing, because we didn't have any chocolate! D'oh! (Feel free to pop some in the mail. Help a Hipsta out!)

Finds:

• Cell mates. Rechargeable batteries just became more user-friendly with the USBCELL. The top plugs into any USB port, charging while you work. Thanks to listener Bryllyg for the Tweet on this!
• Wile E. Coyote approves. If you love the idea of a sack lunch but hate the waste, pack your pita in an ACME recycled cotton lunch bag. 100% lead-free, and even comes in a limited edition "brown paper bag" color option.
• Wasting away. Never get caught without a trash bin again! The Clothespin Waste/Trash Can offers a frame to transform any bag into a garbage bag. Folds flat for trashy travelers.

• Laddie & the Trump. The Scottish government approves The Donald's new mega-golf course, despite objections from local officials and environmentalists. Soon the only birdies found there will be on a scorecard.
• T-VIPs. New Energy Star compliant TVs are now on the market, just in time for the holidays and the digital switch. They're 30% more energy efficient, but most of the shows still suck.

Bastes great, less filling! That turkey baster doesn't get much use after Thanksgiving, so use it to freshen the water in your flower arrangements. Just suction up the dirty water with the baster, and the blooms stay in place. Remember to clean it well before your next turkey dinner!

Tropical rainforests are disappearing at an alarming rate. Why should you care? Among other things, these ecosystems are a rich source of natural medicines. Learn how a rainforest plant or herb could treat someone you love someday, and how you can support efforts to end their senseless destruction.

• Botanical treasures abound within tropical rainforests. They yield treatments for malaria, tumors and muscular disorders, just to name a few.
• Did you know that one and a half acres of rainforest are lost every second? Arm yourself with the facts about rainforest destruction for your next run-in with a skeptic.
• Want to adopt a rainforest? Or drink coffee to help the cause? You can do that and more with the Rainforest Alliance.
• You're never too young to save the planet! Get kids involved with the Rainforest Heroes program.
• Help is just a click away. Visit Care2's Race for the Rainforest.

• Liz in Wisconsin is a Hipster who can appreciate the constructive use of beer bottles.
• Melinda in SC is one of many listeners happy about Amazon's Frustration-Free Packaging. No more "wrap rage"!
• Moises in Hong Kong, one of our original Hipsters, mends a broken heart and recommends a raw vegan diet espoused by Gabriel Cousens MD. Te queremos Moy!
• Alisha in Virginia has turned her hubby into a planeteer! Except for the fridge thing...but we found the solution!
• Alyssa in Washington makes some fine beer suggestions, but we're really intrigued by her other idea: Mafia names! C'mon, Carla DeLucci, what's the formula? We'll make you an offer you can't refuse...

Can't see the forest for the trees? Send an e-mail to hip@greenfeet.com. And remember to post articles and links at our MHTH forum!

Show the world you're More Hip Than Hippie! Grab some merch for holiday gift-giving! Follow us on Twitter: GrnDiva, MoreHipDori and JRich9 at your service! It's a new month, so don't forget to vote for 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.

Home heating is a hot topic as we head into winter. Energy-efficient heating alternatives abound.

Chilly fall nights have Dori and Val thinking about how to heat our homes without harming the planet, or the pocketbook. Nearly all American homes are heated with fossil fuels or electricity. Learn about some options to help homeowners and apartment-dwellers kick the oilcan! Also, Val has bats in her belfry for Halloween, and a listener makes an offer the Hipsters can't refuse!

Beer and Chocolate:

Beer: Thanks again to Val's hip in-laws for the great big bottle of Boatyard Bitter Ale from Port Townsend Brewing in Washington. Bitter, party of two!

Chocolate: Behold an organic delight from Terra Nostra. The smooth, subtle Double Dark Truffle 60% cacao bar gets a Double Dang!

Finds:

• Val's Favorite Things! Need an easy, efficient way to heat your home? Val loves her EcoFan Heat Powered Wood Stove Fan. The warmth from the stove powers the blades, which circulate air right where you want it. Bonus: the fan is quieter than her 10-year-old kid.
• Green 'zine. Peruse the pages of a new online magazine called Coco Eco. Set your own ambience as you glean tips for being glamorously green.
• Buy polar. Stuff a stocking with a set of 6 "planet earth" bottle cap magnets. Or keep them on your fridge to remind you to buy organic beer.

• Blightmares. The Blacksmith Institute thoughtfully made a list of the 10 biggest pollutions problems that should be keeping you up at night.
• Pod Almighty. Chrysler's new Peapod EV hits the streets in 2010. Well, at 25 mph, it kinda taps the streets. But this is one pimped out golf cart.
• It completes us. The all-electric MINI E is in the pilot phase before its official debut. Among its cool features: a giant yellow electrical plug painted on the roof. Sold!

Peel away stains! With all the citrus fruit coming into season now, it's time to clean up your cups and saucers. Shake some salt onto a piece of citrus peel, then use it to buff away tea stains and such. We recommend salted limes; when you finish, just add tequila and relax with a Margarita!

Chilly fall nights have Dori and Val thinking about how to heat our homes without harming the planet, or the pocketbook. Nearly all American homes are heated with fossil fuels or electricity. Learn about some options to help homeowners and apartment-dwellers kick the oilcan!

• Wood pellets. Made from recycled wood waste, they burn efficiently and are easy to store.
• Tulikivi stoves. The Finnish company produces soapstone stoves that warm surfaces in a room without drying the air. The fire burns so hot, wood is totally vaporized. No waste!
• EcoFire Super Grate. By supplying a light pattern of air to the base of the fire, this grate increases the temperature of the fire, reducing pollutants. Easy to install, fits most fireplaces.
• Biodiesel. Non-toxic, renewable, with no retrofitting required. But price and availability may be obstacles. The National Biodiesel Board has all the info you need.
• Gel fireplace. More for ambience than heat, these portable fireplaces burn cans of alcohol. They burn clean and require no venting.
• Geo-exchange. Use the earth's own heat storage system to heat your home in winter and cool it in summer. It's good enough for George Bush's Texas ranch, and over a million more US homes.
• Inverter heat pump. Like a reversible refrigerator, the pump extracts heat from one location and transfers it to another. Quiet and efficient.
• Radiant floor heating. Heat rises from insulated wires beneath the floor, warming surfaces and keeping air temperature lower.

• Trystan at Yahoo! Green reminds us to pick up dishware and linens at thrift stores for holiday entertaining on the cheap. She'll look for us at the Green Festival in SF, Nov 14-16th. Stay tuned for details on a possible Hipster Meet-up!
• Ted in Michigan plans to Reverse Trick or Treat with fair trade goodies this year. He also offered to fill an important seat in our Hipster Cabinet. Ted, welcome to the administration!
• Dakkar sent a story about the winner of the 2008 Green Earth Design competition.

Show the world you're More Hip Than Hippie! Grab some merch for holiday gift-giving!Follow us on Twitter: GrnDiva, MoreHipDori and JRich9 at your service! Add us to your friends on Facebook and MySpace! It's a new month, so don't forget to vote for 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.

Should you get a flu shot this year? What are the side effects? Is there mercury in the flu vaccine?

Flu season is right around the corner, and health officials say this is the time to get your flu shot. The Hipsters roll up their sleeves and investigate what goes into the flu vaccine, and poke around the controversy surrounding this annual rite of winter. Learn alternatives to getting a shot and ways to prevent influenza from striking. Also, Dori boils about eggs and Val impersonates Switzerland (without the yodeling)!

Beer and Chocolate:

Beer: Thar she brews! Hop Diggidy India Pale Ale from Port Townsend Brewing Co. in Washington. Great flavor in a big bottle with a really cool label. Hipster Hall O' Fame.

Chocolate: Smooth and gooey Lindt Creation 70% Cherry & Chili bar. Probably very nice paired with red wine. Beer, not so much.

Finds:

• Full of scrap. Keep leftovers out of the landfill with a Bokashi indoor composter. Beneficial bacteria produce quick, odor-free compost without using slimy disgusting nightmare-inducing worms. Not that there's anything wrong with that.
• Fishful thinking. The ocean called, and it's running out of sushi! Choose wisely with new sushi guides from Monterey Bay Aquarium, EDF and the Blue Ocean Institute.
• Downstairs captain? Um, if you own one of these, you must fill the gaping hole in your personal hygiene with Man Junk. It's organ-ick.

• Bummer-free zone. The heavily patriotized US Interior Dept. is in a big hurry to ease rules protecting endangered species before W leaves office.
• Won't get fueled again. Lower gas prices aren't luring wary drivers back to the road. Demand is down 6.4% from a year ago.

Keep score! Find out how your US Congressperson voted on environmental issues this year. The League of Conservation Voters released their 2008 scorecard, looking at House and Senate votes on energy, climate, public lands and more. (Good job, Vermont!)

Flu season is right around the corner, and health officials say this is the time to get your flu shot. Should you do it? What are the alternatives? Dori and Val roll up their sleeves and investigate what goes into the flu vaccine, and poke around the controversy surrounding this annual rite of winter.

• Take a shot. The Centers for Disease Control recommends a yearly flu vaccine for certain populations at risk.
• Mercury rising. How much is too much mercury? Be aware that flu shots contain the heavy metal.
• Pig in a poke. It's a little known fact: influenza vaccine may contain traces of a product made from raw pork, as well as other viruses.
• Pharm aid. The FluMist vaccine is a nasal spray owned by pharmaceutical giant AstraZeneca. Avoid it if you're allergic to eggs.
• Fraud couple. Some say the flu shot is a scam perpetrated by the government and drug companies.
• Flu the coop. A few simple health habits will help you prevent flu from spreading to your household or workplace.
• Squash the bug. Fall foods boost the immune system naturally. Eat garlic, onions and brightly colored fruits and vegetables. (Val uses a Vita-Mix.) Wash 'em all down with green tea.

• Corri in Philadelphia reads Back Home magazine, and learned about recycling used discs (and cases too!) at CD Recycling Center America. BTW, love your porn star name!
• Jackie in Ontario, Canada (eh!) actually got to use her porn star name, without taking off her clothes. Nice work, Shasta Westbury!
• Jamie at KAYU wants us to know that her company's bamboo glasses are pricey for a good reason. They donate $50 from each purchase to fund a sight-restoring operation in Africa or Asia. Ah, now we see!
• Weston invites Hipsters to participate in a Gorgeously Green Recipe Contest. It's your chance to be published in an international cookbook.
• Michelle & Virginia in NY provide words of wisdom from one of Val's ancestors, Ben Franklin. Can you detect the family resemblance?

Show the world you're More Hip Than Hippie! Grab some merch for holiday gift-giving! Follow us on Twitter: GrnDiva, MoreHipDori and JRich9 at your service! It's a new month, so don't forget to vote for 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.

Mark Roberts, CEO of Springboard Biodiesel, discusses BioPro automated biodiesel processors.

We know biodiesel is a clean-burning alternative fuel that is non-polluting, non-toxic and petroleum free. Why aren't we all using it? If you own a vehicle with a diesel engine, you could start now. Dori and Val chat with Mark Roberts about his company's line of biodiesel processors for consumers. Mark talks about what goes in and what comes out of the machines, and reveals what RVO stands for. He also reveals his bodacious porn star name! Also, Jillicious is here to celebrate her birthday with the Hipsters. (No, Dori will not hold her purse.)

Beer: How do you make three Hipsters happy? A big-ass bottle of Maximus India Pale Ale from Lagunitas Brewing Co. in Petaluma, CA is a great start.

Chocolate: Lucuma Matata? Endangered Species Organic Health Dark Chocolate with Goldenberry and Lucuma is good for you and for the planet. And it's darn tasty too.

Finds:

• Shades of green. Painting indoors? Breathe easy with Benjamin Moore's Natura line of VOC-free interior paints. Available nationwide next spring.
• Rock your bodice. The crafty folks at Real Simple put together a "wardrobe malfunction kit" for garment gaffes. Nipple jewelry not included.
• Shade trees. Get plastic out of your sight with a pair of handcrafted bamboo sunglasses. For every pair purchased, KAYU sponsors one sight-restoring surgery in the developing world.
• Toothiness. Are you fascinated by a certain Senator's pearly whites? Enjoy this website celebrating Joe Biden's teeth.

• Mt. Bushmore. The Prez is about to ease restrictions on mountain-top removal mining. Don't let the doorknob hit you on the way out.
• In-EV-itable. Nissan Motors will sell an affordable electric car in the US by 2010.
• Scampi scandal. Leading US retailers are selling shrimp produced in sweatshop conditions, according to a report. Et tu, Trader Joe's?
• Making a dif-France. In order to save energy, the Eiffel Tower's lights now twinkle half as long as they used to. They also want 3 months of vacation every year.

Clash 'n Carry! Repurpose an old photo album as a reference book for decorating. Instead of snapshots, fill it with paint chips and fabric swatches, then take it along when you shop for furnishings. So when you buy new curtains, you won't have to repaint!

Biodiesel is a clean-burning alternative fuel that is non-polluting, non-toxic and petroleum free. Why aren't we all using it? If you own a vehicle with a diesel engine, you could start now. Dori and Val chat with Mark Roberts, CEO of Springboard Biodiesel, about his company's line of biodiesel processors for consumers. Mark discusses what goes in and what comes out of the machines, as well as the future of the fuel.

• Just brew it. Mark's company acquired the BioPro family of automated biodiesel processors this year. HQ is here in Chico, CA.
• Fuel's gold. Will using biodiesel void the warranty on your vehicle? Umm, no. Get the facts about the fuel.
• Grease is the word. But RVO is the acronym when you're talking about biodiesel.

• Jennifer in Pittsburgh listened to every More Hip episode in just 60 days! We don't know how she finds time to be president of her high school's Conservation, Fishing & Hunting Club. She thinks Hipsters in Canada (eh!) will enjoy Green Beaver (ahem!) and she also likes Merry Hempsters.
• Karen in Texas helped a young supermarket bagger "get with the program" after he tried to put her reusable totes into a plastic bag. Yippee Ki Yay!
• Myka is successfully greening her workplace. She shares a couple of finds: PodSwap keeps used iPods out of the landfill, and RewareVintage sells notebooks made of recycled vintage records.

Show the world you're More Hip Than Hippie! Grab some merch for holiday gift-giving! Follow us on Twitter: GrnDiva, MoreHipDori and JRich9 at your service! It's a new month, so don't forget to vote for 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, where the Fall Home Sale is underway!

We all have someone on our gift list who doesn't appreciate our eco-friendly offerings. Some may be downright hostile. So how does the Greenie gift the Meanie? A donation to the Sierra Club probably won't do the trick. The Hipsters share ideas that have worked for them, and will hopefully take the "resent" out of "present"! If not, Val suggests the ultimate solution...

Beer: Refreshing St. Wilbur Weizen from Bayern Brewing in Missoula, Montana. Their brewmasters adhere to the German Law of Purity of 1516. Bet they're fun at a party.

Chocolate: By Chocovic, the Bitter Dark 71% Unique Origin Guaranda from Ecuador. This is Dori's go-to bar when she needs a quick fix.

Finds:

• Val's Favorite Things! Set your lunch free...of wasted paper. Litter Free Lunch Napkins are soft cotton cloths sold in sets of 5, so you can take a fresh one to work each day. Choose from a variety of styles and colors. You could even personalize them with stitching or appliques. Bon appetit!
• Code hard cash. Fundraising can be as easy as Z-I-P! A program called ZipGoesGreen will sell customized eco-friendly products featuring your ZIP code, and 25% goes to your cause.
• The Remedy. Tired of musicians who don't care about the planet? Meet Jason Mraz.

• Unleaded. Facing legal action, the Environmental Protection Agency will order industry to get the lead out of our air.
• Fortunate sun. The "economic rescue bill" sweetened the deal for consumers to go solar.
• Impure thoughts. A new study finds bottled water is--wait for it--no more pure than tap water. But still 1900 times as expensive.

Use your Tupper Where? Listener DeeDee in Mississippi lets her kids make sand castles on the beach with her old Tupperware. (Hope it didn't attract any burping seals!) Another idea: fill containers with soil to start seeds for your garden. Oh, there are multi-levels of uses!

We all have someone on our gift list who doesn't appreciate our eco-friendly offerings. Some may be downright hostile. So how does the Greenie gift the Meanie? A donation to the Sierra Club probably won't do the