More Hip Than Hippie #298 - Citizen Scientists

Scientific research is moving out of the laboratory and into the hands of Citizen Scientists.

Are you a stargazer? Birdwatcher? Ham radio operator? You have the makings of a citizen scientist. The Hipsters investigate the galaxy of opportunites out there for curious minds to contribute to scientific research. Also, Dori deals with 20/50 vision while Val deals with having a hot husband.

Beer and Chocolate:

Beer: It's beer...it's coffee...it's Cappuccino Stout! Our friends at Lagunitas Brewing Co. continue to impress with this yummy seasonal brew. Dori: 5 hips; Val: 5 hips

Chocolate: Our new Favorite Listener is Donna in England! She sent us make-up chocolate from across the pond, and it was well worth the postage. Montezuma's Very Dark 73% bar scores well in flavor, consistency and mouth-feel. It also pairs perfectly with a hearty beer. Dori: 5 hips; Val: 5 hips.

Hip News and Finds

Finds:

• Val's Favorite Thing! An insulated, unlined stainless steel water bottle that fits in a cupholder? That's S'well! This stylish bottle is full of good karma, too; 10% of all proceeds are donated to WaterAid.
• The Un-cola. There's more than one way to make soda without the carbonation. Whip up a batch of Urban Homestead Soda! Thanks to Listener Carri for posting this on our Facebook page.
• Will it "Sting"? Scientists have named a new species of Rocky Mountain beetle after actor/environmentalist/dreamboat Robert Redford.
• Sacrebleu! Our Zero Waste amie Bea Johnson is featured in People magazine. But, will she buy a copy?

Hip News

• Grand gesture. Calling it a "national treasure that must be protected", the Obama administration finalized a ban on new mining near the Grand Canyon.
• Hickory Dickory Doom. The Doomsday Clock has moved one minute closer to midnight. The Bulletin of Atomic Scientists made the move in response to failed leadership, climate change and Japan's nuclear disaster last year.

Teenie Weenie Greenie™

Save the Kales! If you have veggies in the fridge that are a bit past their peak, don't toss them out! Val shares her recipe for Veggie Drawer Soup:

Ingredients:

• 5 Tbsp butter (I replace with about 2Tbsp EVOO - adjust as needed)
• 1 lb chopped veggies
• 6 cups chicken or veggie stock
• 24 oz diced potatoes (roughly 4 medium potatoes)
• 3/4 cup cream ( I just use 2% milk - for Paleo, coconut milk works great)
• Salt and Pepper to taste

Instructions:

• Melt butter, add chopped veggies and simmer to soften but not brown.
• Add stock and potatoes, bring to boil, cook for 20 minutes.
• Puree the soup with an immersion blender or food mill.
• Stir in cream and season with salt and pepper. Keep warm until ready to serve.

Val loves pairing this with grilled cheese on crusty bread.

Citizen Scientists

Scientific research is moving out of the laboratory and into the hands of Citizen Scientists. From astronomy to zoology, there's a project for everyone. You don't need training or a college degree, you just need a healthy dose of curiosity and a desire to help provide answers we can all use!

• Some of the oldest (and coolest) Citizen Science projects are the Christmas Bird Count and SETI@home.
• Where do you begin? Look for a variety of fun projects at places like SciStarter, Scientific American, Cornell Lab of Ornithology and NASA.
• Perform projects on the go! SciSpy and WildLab use mobile technology.
• Tombstones? Frogs? Roadkill? Find an unusual project to suit your tastes.
• DIY projects from MAKE magazine inspired the Maker movement, which is a form of citizen science. Check out a Maker Faire near you!
• For more info, visit the Citizen Scientists League or the Citizen Science Alliance.

Listener E-mails

Our inbox runneth over! Thanks for all the great emails. Send your questions, comments, tips, brainstorms and epiphanies to hip@greenfeet.com. We love to hear from you!

• Mike in Oakland, CA would like to counter arguments that wind power is too expensive. Here's what the EWEA has to say.
• Kristy in Texas has cookware questions. Among other things, we recommend USA Pans, made with recycled steel and aluminum.
• Patrick in North Carolina also has cookware questions. For you, sir, the ManPan.
• Christine in Arizona also has cookware questions. Orgreenic, anyone?
• Amy in San Diego, CA is getting rid of plastic in her kitchen. Read about her progress on her blog, Seven Grey Sweaters.
• Dolores in Cleveland, OH is collecting karma points with her personal mitvah. You'll love Linda Cohen's book, 1,000 Mitzvahs.
• Allison in Kansasgets to travel to Japan! Pack multi-purpose items, reusuables, and quick-drying clothes. Leave some space for souvenirs (and chocolate for your fave podcast hosts).
• Wendy in Tampa, Florida needs to start a farmer's market!
• Allison in Mississippi thinks we'll dig b. organic, a TV show on PBS. We think you're right.
• James in Erie, PA appreciates the 'pay it forward' posts on Facebook. Basically, you offer something handmade to the first 5 people who "Like" your post...but they have to repost and do the same.

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