Essential oils are nature's healers. One of the best is Rose, which soothes both body and soul. Watch what you get, though...that stinky stuff in the gallon-sized bottle is not the real deal! Val explains how Rose essential oil is used, why it's so expensive and why it's worth every penny. Also, a special treat in e-mails today...Val impersonates Yoda. Funny, it is!

Beer: What's in a name? Grand Teton Brewing Company might have brewed their Bitch Creek ESB just for Val and Dori! Why? It's full-bodied, satisfying, and just a little bitter. Show us your Tetons!

Chocolate: Thanks again to Lisa and Derek in Toronto (eh!) for the Zazubean Nakid bar. It's fair trade, organic and truly Nakid!

Finds:

• Battle the bottle. Did you know that the lifecycle energy cost of a bottle of water is equivalent to filling up a quarter of each bottle with oil? Pledge to break the bottled water habit. You may win cash, prizes and a cleaner planet.
• Happy hours. You'll always have time for a drink with this liquid-powered clock. Just don't use the good stuff!
• How many zeros? Dori's husband John Cusack wants to know if you can shop like a president, with a $3 Trillion budget. (That's 12 zeros!) Let's see...1,500,000,000,000 copies of High Fidelity?
• Speaking of studs... Did you hear that US Olympic swim stud Michael Phelps eats about 3 trillion calories a day? OK, only 12,000. But still!

• Coaler energy. The Dept. of Energy announced it will invest $24 million in solar, and $340 million in clean coal. So their budget is literally in the black.
• Car Wars! A new 5-door hybrid-only Honda will hit the market next year, and will cost less than a Prius. We think they should call it the "Cheapus".
• Eco-bama. The Democratic Party outlines several green goals in its presidential platform. They'll start by greening the convention in Denver.

They dish it out, you take it! Thrift stores always have screaming deals on used dishes and flatware. Grab some now for casual holiday entertaining. Don't forget the classroom; help the kids throw waste-free parties at school!

Essential oils are nature's healers. One of the best is Rose, which soothes both body and soul. Watch what you get, though...that stinky stuff in the gallon-sized bottle is not the real deal! Val explains how Rose essential oil is used, why it's so expensive and why it's worth every penny.

• Oil you want to know. Val's favorite book on essential oils contains the facts about Rose and all her friends.
• It's not just vodka. An absolute is similar to an essential oil; you'll often find it in perfume.
• Me so thorny. Val promised recipes, so here goes! Make massage oils, purifying skin masks, calming air freshener, even your own essential oil !

We're now caught up on our backlog of mail, so bring it on! E-mail your questions, comments, insights and porn star names to hip@greenfeet.com. And don't forget to post articles, links, and other essentials at our MHTH forum!

• Boone's farm. Joe in Kansas left us a message on MySpace about T. Boone Pickens' plan for wind farms and solar panels to generate energy. Because Big Oil isn't the only thing that blows.
• Cell Hell. Scott in Michigan found more evidence that cell phones aren't safe. He also welcomes travelling Hipsters a stopover in Northern Michigan. Oofta!
• Green to a tee. Carrie in PA wants to have organic cotton t-shirts made to order, using soy-based inks. We provide a great resource.
• We'll put a boot in your aspen!. Kellie (ding! ding!) found a site devoted to roadside shoe trees...and lays down the rules. First rule of shoe trees: you do not talk about shoe trees.
• Sit and spin. Reba in Baltimore (hey hon!) shared an ingenious space-saving device. One load at a time, please!

Hipster Roll-call! We want all you lurkers to make yourselves known by e-mailing us at hip@greenfeet.com. Remember, we don't sell your info and we won't mention you on the show if you're a big chicken! Don't forget to vote for us at podcastalley.com and podcastpickle.com. Send us a voice message at our Skype address "morehip" or +1530.554.2605. Don't have Skype? Get it - it's free!

More Hip Than Hippie is sponsored by Greenfeet.com