More Hip Than Hippie #76 - Holiday Survival Guide

Don't let the hustle and bustle of the holiday season leave you frazzled! We'll give you some tips that will help you reduce your of waste output, prepare your home for the holidays, give the perfect gift, and just plain survive this most hectic time of year.

Beer and Chocolate:

Beer: Fat Weasel Ale from Steinhaus Brewery, available at Trader Joe's. If you're lucky, you can find one near you!

Chocolate: An assortment of Holl's Chocolate Truffles sent to us by the lovely Karen from West Virginia. Thanks Karen!

Hip News and Finds

Finds:

• Relax with an organic bath. The Organic Bath Co. has tons of organic goodies to relax and rejuvenate the most stressed out holiday shoppers. Try the Bubble Bath Petals in pomegranate fig.
• Take a bite out of this. Check out these hilarious ABC cookie cutters, and we're not talking about the alphabet. ABC stands for "Already Been Chewed," making the cookies look like someone has already had a bite!
• Oprah and global warming. Oprah is looking for families who are doing their part to combat global warming to contribute for a future show. Write in and let her know how you've helped the planet, and maybe while you're at it you can turn her onto your favorite hip podcast!
• More Hip Holiday Contest on now! Get those creative juices flowing and spread some holiday cheer by entering our Holiday contest.
  • Sing your heart out! Take any Christmas Carol or holiday song and tweak the words to fit a 'green' theme.
  • Submit your entry. We'd prefer that you call our hotline at 530-554-2605 or skype us at MoreHip and sing your diddy yourself. We will also accept email entries at hip@greenfeet.com, but be prepared to hear Dori and Val belt them out on the show.
  • Judging. The winner will be selected based on creativity and effort. Don't worry, how well you sing is not part of the judging criteria.
  • For the winner. . . a box of More Hip Than Hippie merchandise and a surprise or two from Greenfeet.
  • Enter to win today! The deadline for submitting entries is Friday December 15th.

 

News:

• Dagoba goes mainstream with Hershey. According to a recent issue of Organic Retailer Magazine, The Hershey Co. has bought Oregon based Dagoba Organic Chocolate. Maybe next time you reach for that impulse buy in the checkout line, you'll be able to grab organic chocolate!
• Richard Branson gives big. Plenty Magazine reports that Richard Branson, CEO of the Virgin Group, has pledged his personal profits for the next decade to research and development of green energy sources. This donation is estimated at $3 billion dollars.

 

More Hip Book Club

Join us as we wrap up our first book Fast Food Nation with a live chat on Sunday Decemember 3rd at 10 am PST. See you there!

Our next book? In January, we'll be starting our second book, Omnivore's Dilemma by Michael Pollan.

Holiday Survival Guide

Listen in for some great tips that will help you survive the stress of holiday season! Try some of these great products, available at Greenfeet.com, for a more eco-friendly holiday.

• Decrease your waste output in style with the Compost Crock, complete with charcoal filter to keep your kitchen smelling good.
• Forget plastic bags for your yard waste. Instead, try biodegradable BioBags.
• At your next holiday shindig, ditch paper plates and reach for bambu Disposable Veneerware. It's stylish and good for the planet!
• Real tree or fake tree? Listen to last years show to hear what Dori and Val have to say about the tree debate!
  More Hip Than Hippie - Dreaming of a Green Christmas

Teenie Weenie Greenie:
Keeping your tires inflated saves the planet, and might even save your life. Learn why at About.com.

Listener Emails

Once again, we have a bunch of great listener emails. Keep 'em rolling in at hip@greenfeet.com. And don't forget to post articles, links, and speak your mind at our MHTH forum!

• Save the best for last. Craig wanted to let us know about Last.fm, a social music site that tracks the listening habits of its users and can make recommendations on other music they might like. Check out the MHTH page and Craig's page too. Thanks Craig!
• Lower your CO2 emissions! Shayna discovered an article with some bright ideas for trimming your CO2 emissions.
• BUST'n out! BUST magazine provides an uncensored view on the female experience. But don't worry, Kellie assures us that this isn't one of those "I hate men" type of feminist publications! She found a great article about how to take those old plastic bags and turn them into a cool reusable tote. Subscribe to BUST here!
• Meaty. . . Doug found a couple of video clips that tie right in with our More Hip Book Club selection, Fast Food Nation. The Meatrix and Backwards Hamburger use animation to delve into the problems with the meat packing industry.
• Biddie-tastic! Our very own Jillicious found this swinging clip of The Lascivious Biddies rocking out their song "Betty". It's a sneak peak from their new DVD The Lascivious Biddies Live in New York City.

Email us at hip@greenfeet.com. 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 - Green Credit
Help others this holiday season simply by shopping! Find the green credit card that's right for you, and a portion of every purchase you make will go to a worthy cause. No you don't have to feel so bad about those mounting charges!

Beer and Chocolate:

Beer: Pinkus Organic Hefe-Weizen.

Chocolate: Milk Chocolate Cajou with Cashews and Raisins from Alter Eco.

Hip News and Finds
Finds:

• Meet Up! Do you live close to Chico, CA? Take a little road trip up to MHTH's hometown to see Jonathan Richman in concert on December 7.
• Send eco-friendly holiday greetings. Greene Street Greetings allows you to send holiday cheer near and far with post consumer waste recycled paper.
• Dead sexy! Check out the Men of Mortuaries Calendar. Proceeds go to the KAMM foundation to help people going through treatment for breast cancer.
• Pick a Present! Get your holiday shopping done and get a free gift for yourself! Spend $75 at Greenfeet and receive one free gift valued up to $20! You can't lose!
• Know your brew. Get the Quick Study Beer Guide and find out the truth behind some common beer myths.
• Snailwell Gazette. Subscribe to this quirky publication at SnailwellGazette.com.
• Plant for the Planet. Help fight global warming by joining Plant for the Planet, a campaign that hopes to plant a billion trees.
• More Hip Than Hippie Merch! Be the first on the block to have your very own More Hip Than Hippie Klean Kanteen, available at Greenfeet.

News:

• Keep your distance! Icebergs are heading north toward the Timaru coast in New Zealand. Fishermen beware!

More Hip Book Club
Our next book? In January, we'll be starting our second book, Omnivore's Dilemma by Michael Pollan.

Charge it! With Green Credit
Help the planet while you get your holiday shopping done! Put those purchases on the card - a green credit card. With each purchase, money will go to help the environment!

• Who's been naughty and who's been nice? Check out CoopAmerica.org and Treehugger.com to find out.
• Find out what the major lending institutions are funding at DirtyMoney.org.
• Your credit card could be funding political candidates that you don't agree with. Find out at OpenSecrets.org .
• The American Express Red Card is available for those of you in the UK. 1% of each purchase goes to the Global Fund to help fight AIDS in Africa.
• Get the Working Assets Visa Card and ten cents from every purchase will be donated to nonprofit groups like Doctors Without Borders.
• The Salmon Nation credit card from ShoreBank Pacific donates a percentage from each purchase to Ecotrust and Salmon Nation.
• The GreenCard Visa is for those of you in the Netherlands. It has a unique program that offsets all carbon emissions released into the atmosphere through the manufacture and use of products bought with the card.
• Try the Greenpeace Affinity Card if you live in the UK. Money from each purchase goes to support Greenpeace.

Listener Emails
Once again, we have a bunch of great listener emails. Keep 'em rolling in at hip@greenfeet.com. And don't forget to post articles, links, and speak your mind at our MHTH forum!

• A little chocolate each day keeps the doctor away? It's true folks! As the saying goes, "great minds think alike". Crystal and Patrick found an article about how a little chocolate can be good for your heart. The discovery was made after participants in a heart study at Johns Hopkins University cheated on their diets, indulging in some chocolate goodness.
• A gathering of hipsters. Doug had a location suggestion for a More Hip Than Hippie gathering in the Spring. He recommends Hershey Lodge. It's close to the chocoholic mecca, the Hershey Chocolate Factory. Sounds good to us!
• Safe lawns across the country. Cameron found out SafeLawns.org in 2007 will be launching "The Year of the Safe Lawn". The effort will encourage the public to utilize natural and organic lawn care techniques.

Email us at hip@greenfeet.com. 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 #74 - Green Hobbies

With the short days of Winter upon us, it's important to keep active to avoid that Winter slump. Hobbies are a great way to occupy your time while doing something you enjoy. We'll cover a few popular green hobbies that you can do all year round.

Beer and Chocolate:

Beer: Waimea Bay Pale Ale from Waimea Brewing Company in Kauai, Hawaii.

Chocolate: Dolfin Dark Chocolate with Pink Peppercorn.

Hip News and Finds

Finds:

• Fun bags! This is an interesting eco-friendly choice from Japan - the No! Shopping Bag Bra. The lacy red bra has padded cups that can be removed and transformed into bags to carry your groceries. Guess you could call it a meeting of sexy and sustainability!
• Size DOES matter! Men, don't feel left out! Like the Wonderbra before it, the WonderJock from Aussiebum offers men the appearance of enlargement in all the right places!
• What can you do today? Find a way to make the world a better place by checking out 100 Ways to Save The Environment.
• Don't let static cling put a damper on your day! Not a fan of commercial fabric softeners? Try one of these six tips to put static cling in its place.

News:

• Blood Diamond. In theaters December 9, the movie Blood Diamond starring Leonardo DiCaprio digs into the dangerous world of the diamond trade in South Africa.
• Don't get sucked into the vortex! According to a Greenpeace study, old toothbrushes, beach toys, and used condoms are among the items that have created a vortex of plastic trash accumulating between Hawaii and the U.S. West Coast. The pollution is causing problems for the area's ocean life as fish, turtles, and birds get tangled in the mess.
• Potential environmental benefits of 2006 election. With Republicans on their way out, there are hopes for a greener future with environmental issues such as global warming and renewable energy moving to the forefront of the political agenda.
• Dolphin developments in the Far East. A bottlenose dolphin captured near Japan has what appears to be the remains of hind legs. It is believed that the animals once lived on land millions of years ago. More than 20,000 dolphins are facing destruction as part of the annual hunt by Japanese fisherman. The fisherman claim it is a form of 'pest control' to offset the amount of fish the dolphins eat. You can help prevent this slaughter by contacting the Japanese Embassy.

 

More Hip Book Club

Keep on reading everybody! We've got a discussion thread set up on the forum and can't wait to hear your thoughts on the second part of Fast Food Nation.

Our next book? In January, we'll be starting our second book, Omnivore's Dilemma by Michael Pollan

Green Hobbies

Combine a hobby you're passionate about with being green and you'll have plenty of ways to pass the darker days of Winter!

• Geocaching is like a green treasure hunt where you find caches hidden by others using a GPS unit.
  • Try picking up 10 pieces of trash on your way to finding the cache.
  • Learn more about this worldwide phenomenon and find cache coordinates at Geocaching.com.
• Gardening is a great way to get out into nature and make the world more beautiful.
  • As the weather gets colder, try bringing the gardening inside with a mini herb garden. It's great for kids and the fresh herbs add that something special to your cooking.
  • Get tips, ideas, and more at You Grow Girl.
• Bird watching is a great Winter hobby because with a small set up, you can do it from inside your home.
  • Enjoy different species of birds from the comfort of your home! Outside a window, set up several bird feeders of varying heights to accommodate the preferences of different birds.
  • Find more tips at Birdwatching.com.
• Knitting will pass the time while creating funky and fun gifts for friends and family.
  • When it's cold outside, there is no better gift that a snuggly scarf or cozy beanie.
  • Find knitting patterns, techniques, and more at About.com.

 

Listener Emails

Once again, we have a bunch of great listener emails. Keep 'em rolling in at hip@greenfeet.com. And don't forget to post articles, links, and speak your mind at our MHTH forum!

• No cheerleader beer here! Theresa from Santa Cruz Mountains wanted to turn us onto her favorite organic brewery, Santa Cruz Mountain Brewing. If you ever get a chance to try out one of their beers, she recommends the Organic IPA. Thanks for the tip Theresa!
• While we're on the subject of cheerleaders... Doug found this hilarious clip of some cheerleaders greatest hits!
• Barenaked Planet. Kellie found out that her favorite band, Barenaked Ladies, is joining with environmental group Reverb to launch Barenaked Planet on their upcoming tour. The environmental effort includes the use of biodiesel vehicles for the entire tour, recycling and composting back stage, wind energy offsetting for every show, and an eco-village with non-profit organizations and green businesses at each tour stop. Talk about using your star power for a good cause!
• Good Kitty. Hilary wanted to recommend an eco-friendly cat litter called Kitty Soft. It's made from 100% recycled newspaper with baking soda and since there is no dust it's great for people with allergies. Thanks Hilary!
• Put me in Coach! Bob wanted to let us know about his podcast, the Baseball History Podcast. It's all about America's favorite pastime and a great way to learn about this great sport!
• Can you keep a secret? We can't! Mike sent us a link to the not-so-secret In-N-Out Burger secret menu. We'd like ours Animal Style, please!
• Building a greener future. Do you live near Denver, Colorado? Green Jim is planning on attending Greenbuild 2006 in Denver, America's largest green conference, from November 15-17. If you're planning on attending, be sure to check out the forum and maybe there can be a More Hip Meet Up! Don't miss out!
• Cheers to Chico! Jessica found an article on Solar Buzz praising the beloved hometown of More Hip Than Hippie, Chico, California. The City of Chico recently dedicated its 1.1 Megawatt ground-mounted solar tracking system at the city's Water Pollution Control Plant. The tracking system is just one part of Chico's effort to educate its citizens about the benefits of solar energy.

Email us at hip@greenfeet.com. 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 #73 - Slow Food

Forget fast food, have you heard of the Slow Food Movement? We're finding out what it means to be a part of this movement and talking about what you can do to slow down and enjoy everything life has to offer!

Beer and Chocolate:

Beer: Celebration Ale from Chico's own Sierra Nevada Brewery.

Chocolate: Retro Key Lime Pie, a dark chocolate bar filled with Key Lime ganache and Retro Salty Pretzel, a dark chocolate bar filled with salty pretzel chunks. Both bars are from The Chocolate Bar, sent to us by Laura in NYC.

Hip News and Finds

Finds:

• Green homes. Find one that fits your needs at GreenBuilder.com and GreenHomesForSale.com.
• A delicious addition to your holiday spread. Try yummy pomegranate-cranberry sauce at your next family gathering, it's sure to be a hit!!
• Talking turkey. Did you know that 99% of the turkey in the U.S. come from a single breed? Try branching out by getting a different breed at HeritageFoodUSA.com.
• Calling all artists! US Hemp is launching a new line of stretched organic-hemp artists canvas.

 

News:

• One fish too many. Science journal has reported that if current trends of overfishing and pollution continue, seafood populations may collapse by 2048. Does that mean no more Go Fish?

 

More Hip Book Club

Are you enjoying Fast Food Nation as much as we are? Keep up the reading! We'll be chatting about the book up through "The Most Dangerous Job" on next week's show!

Slow Food Movement

Learn more about Maria Venturino's restaurant, Red Tavern.

• The Future of Foods, a documentary by Deborah Koons Garcia.
• Slow Food International
• Slow Food USA
• Find a U.S. convivia in your area.
• Find books, merchandise, and more at the Slow Food General Store.

Listener Emails

Once again, we have a bunch of great listener emails. Keep 'em rolling in at hip@greenfeet.com. And don't forget to post articles, links, and speak your mind at our MHTH forum!

• Aromatherapy yarn. Lisa was looking for some natural plant dyed aromatherapy yarn. We're not sure if it's completely natural, but you can try Lang's Emotion Colors Yarn and Emotion Yarn.
• Don't get burned! New listener Stacy wanted to know a more eco-friendly way to store foods for freezing. Try some glassware, available at Greenfeet.
• Sustainable style. Sean found a cardboard laptop case. Our only question is what happens if it gets wet?
• Sun in a hose? That's what Aveda's President Dominique Conseil is saying about a new hybrid lighting system being tested at the company's manufacturing plant. Alison from New York came across the article about a lighting system that pulls sunlight into fluorescent light bulbs when it's sunny outside but uses traditional electricity when it's cloudy.
• What's your favorite brew? Heidi from VA wanted to let us know about some of her favorites. She loves the Morimoto Hazelnut Signature Ale from Rogue Brewery in OR. She is also a big fan of the Chicory Stout from Dogfish HeadBrewery out of Delaware. Thanks for the recommendations Heidi! Be sure to check out Heidi's blog at Groxie.com.
• Fellow podcaster. Shedtroll is a young hippie with a podcast. Check out his show, The Demented Random Guy Podcast.
• Solar goes mainstream. Shayna found out that Home Depot will soon be carrying solar roofs. Yay!
• Faux Rocks! Fashion Show. Julia, a fashion designer and design instructor wanted to let us know about a cruelty-free fashion show that she has organized with her students. The Faux Rocks! fashion show will happen on November 18 at the Green Valley Ranch Resort in Henderson, Nevada.
• Hybrids a thing of the past? BJK found an article about how several of the major automakers will be launching lines of New Age diesels. These new green vehicles will boost fuel economy by 25%-40% while still delivering the power that American drivers crave.
• Keep Texas Beautiful. Michelle wanted to let us know about the Keep Texas Beautiful series of ornaments. All proceeds from the ornaments benefit programs that work to empower Texans to improve the environment.
• Coming November 16th. Samantha in San Francisco wanted spread the word about Lets Green This City, an effort to make San Fran the greenest city in the United States. It's hoped that this might also inspire other cities to make the commitment to a greener future. Be sure to check out the website when it launches Nov. 16th at www.letsgreenthiscity.com.
• Patrick had quite a few interesting links for us this week.
  • Palm and pumpkin seed oil could soon be powering mobile phone networks across Africa in a plan to replace fossil fuels with sustainable biofuels made from crops grown by local farmers.
  • Check out this -interesting?- workout equipment, the iGallop. Trust us, just watch the video!
  • If you ever make it out to North Carolina, you'll want to go on a tour at the Carolina Brewing Company in Holly Springs. Lets just say they have a very generous taste-testing segment at the beginning and end of the tour. Sounds like our kind of place!

Email us at hip@greenfeet.com. 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 #72 - I'm Hatin' It

We're talking about what it's like living in a Fast Food Nation. Did you know that fast food tends to be cheaper because of lower quality and unhealthy ingredients? Fast food could be a driving force behind a growing obeseity problem in lower income families.

Beer and Chocolate:

Beer: Jack's Pumpkin Spice Ale from - gasp!- Anheuser-Busch.

Chocolate: Dark Belgian Chocolate by Lake Champlain Chocolates.

Hip News and Finds

Finds:

• Be sure to pick up the first official piece of More Hip Than Hippie merchandise - the More Hip Bottle Opener made from a recycled bicycle chain.
• Giant blueberries or purple tomatoes? Oregon State University researchers are in the process of developing a hybrid tomato that has dark purple skin. The new pigment is contains nutrients thought to reduce the risk of cancer.
• "You'll shoot your eye out," was the response young Ralphie would receive when he revealed the present he wanted most, a Red Ryder BB gun, in the classic movie "A Christmas Story". Now fans of the movie can tour the famous Cleveland house where much of the movie was filmed.
• Get crafty by making one-of-a-kind gifts from your old woolen sweaters!

News:

• Don't drink the water! An investigation by the Environmental Working Group has discovered that public water supplies in 42 U.S. states are contaminated with 141 unregulated chemicals. Which state with the most contaminants in their drinking water? Tune in to find out!

More Hip Book Club

This week we dive into Fast Food Nation, and will be talking about the first section, "The American Way". We hope everyone is keeping up with their reading! The next section we will be covering will be through the chapter "The Most Dangerous Job".

I'm Hatin' It

Learn how too much corn in your diet can result in some serious health problems. Read the article I'm Hatin' It at about.com!

Listener Emails

Once again, we have a bunch of great listener emails. Keep 'em rolling in at hip@greenfeet.com. And don't forget to post articles, links, and speak your mind at our MHTH forum!

• Over the shoulder boulder holders. Melanie from Chicago shared Dori and Val's frustration with underwires until she discovered Decent Exposures. None of their bras have wires, instead they turn to a wide elastic band for support. They even are available in organic cotton! Thanks for the great tip Melanie!
• Greenwashing. Kellie found this article about a new low cost, energy-efficient laptop that will be sold at Wal-Mart. Why are we not surprised?
• Polluters pay high price. New forum member BluPoet03 wanted to let us know about a London proposal that would raise the price of parking permits for drivers of the most polluting cars. The car owners could potentially be charged up to three times more for permits to park outside of their homes.
• Is there anything hemp can't do? While doing some online shopping at Natural Collections Tom discovered products using hemp plastic. Just another reason that the industrial use of hemp should be legal!

Email us at hip@greenfeet.com. 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!