More Hip Than Hippie # 77 - Check Your Charity

Ever wonder what charities really spend their money on? While most non-profit organizations are legit, others spend more money on big benefits and fund raisers than on the programs that support the actual cause. We'll go over a few tips for giving wisely this holiday season, so that you know your generosity is helping those who need it most.

Beer and Chocolate:

Beer: Samson Stout and Redrum Ale aka Trail Ridge Red from the Estes Park Brewery in Estes Park, CO.

Chocolate: Equal Exchange Organic Very Dark Chocolate.

Hip News and Finds

Finds:

• Is there anything technology can't do? At Fontifier.com you can make your own handwriting into a font for your computer. Now handwritten notes are as close as your keyboard!
• Musical memories. Did you know the brain holds on to musical memories even when the music is absent? That's why Earworms Musical Brain Trainer CD's use song drills to teach foreign languages. Pretty cool, huh?
• Holiday Contest! Don't forget to submit your green holiday song by December 15 for your chance to win More Hip Than Hippie merchandise. Send us a voice message at our Skype address "morehip" or +1 530.554.2605. Send email entries to hip@greenfeet.com.

 

News:

• Global Warming goes before Supreme Court. For the first time, oral arguments dealing with global warming are being heard before the U.S. Supreme Court. The case will determine if the government has the authority to regulate greenhouse gas emissions that contribute to global warming.

   

More Hip Book Club

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

Check Your Charity

When donating to charities this year, make sure your money goes to helping the people who need it the most. Check out some of these websites for tips on how to give wisely:

• Tips for giving wisely.
• Check out the Top-Rated Charities.
• CharityNavigator.org
• Give.org

Help others while taking care of your holiday shopping. Here are some great sites:

• Get handcrafted goods at World Stock
• AGreaterGift.org
• TenThousandVillages.com
• Global Exchange.

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!

• Water, water, everywhere! Ever wonder how much water goes into processing everyday beverages? Heidi did and was amazed by her research. Check out her findings about how much water we really drink.
• Go local. Dee found a great article on how to make locally grown foods more accessible.
• Go green with Bare Naked Ladies. Kellie wanted us to check out this recent blog from Jim,the bass player for BNL. The November 22 entry gives some stats on how much BNL has sold in carbon offsets in the form of CO2 offset stickers.
• Love the luffa? Planet Protector found an article about how to grow your own luffa sponge at Groovy Green. The luffa is actually a vegetable that you can grow in your own garden. You'll never be so satisfied by exfoliation!
• Ski resorts turn to wind power. Tara discovered that two ski resorts near her in Maine are now operating on 100% wind power.
• Reaction to removal of breast feeding mother from Delta Airlines flight. Jennifer in Kentucky was just one of many mothers to participate in nurse-ins at Delta airport counters in 35 cities. The protest was held on November 21st.
• Apparently, the truth really is inconvenient. Alison in NYC found an article about the obstacles blocking Al Gore's documentary "An Inconvenient Truth" from classrooms. The National Science Teachers Association reportedly turned down 50,000 free copies of the documentary about global warming over concerns of introducing "special interests" in the classroom. The NSTA failed to mention that Exxon Mobil has donated over $6 million dollars to fund programs like "Building a Presence for Science" and also has a representative on the group's corporate advisory board.

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!