More Hip Than Hippie #187 - Shot or Not?

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.

Hip News and Finds

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.

 

Hip News

• 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.

Teenie Weenie Greenie™

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!)

 

Shot or Not?

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.

Listener E-mails Take a shot at fame! Send an e-mail to hip@greenfeet.com. And remember to post articles, links and chicken soup recipes at our MHTH forum!

• 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?

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