More Hip Than Hippie #182 - Kernel of Truth

We've seen the television ads touting High Fructose Corn Syrup as "natural". Could it be true? The Hipsters stalk the source of this campaign, and try to find their way through a maze of facts and falsehoods. Also, Val pulls out a condom question, and Dori gets her pomegranate popped!

Beer and Chocolate:

Beer: The 12-oz bottles of Hale's Ales Mongoose IPA are just too small for such a fine brew. Rikki-Tikki-Tasty!

Chocolate: Two handmade treats from our new favorite listener, Karin in SoCal. She sent BonBonBar's Single Malt Scotch and Malt candy bars. They contain no artificial ingredients or high fructose corn syrup, we might add. A full 12 hips, and Karin, send more please!

Hip News and Finds

Finds:

• Trick or Trade. There's still time to scare up a bag of Fair Trade Halloween candy from Sweet Earth Organic Chocolates.
• Grape expectations. Put your wine to work! Etica Fair Trade wine earmarks a portion of their proceeds for social development in the countries where they do business. Their website shows you exactly what goes into the cost of your bottle.

 

Hip News

• The color of money. A major shift to renewable energy and efficiency is expected to produce 4.2 million new environmentally friendly "green" jobs over the next three decades, according to a study commissioned by the nation's mayors.
• Shock absorber. Using tax credits, the US government will put $7,500 toward your purchase of a Chevy Volt. Use your extra money to buy GM Vice Chairman Bob Lutz a muzzle.

Teenie Weenie Greenie™

Press Record. Make an audio recording of an older member of your family. Let them reminisce about their childhood, relatives and life in a simpler time. Make copies on CD or cassette and give them as holiday gifts. Memories are free, yet priceless!

Kernel of Truth

We've seen the television ads touting High Fructose Corn Syrup as "natural". Could it be true? Dori and Val stalk the source of this campaign, and try to find their way through a maze of facts and falsehoods. We learned that the sweetener was introduced in the 1970's to protect US corn farmers, and to lower grocery prices. Is HFCS making our lives sweeter, or shorter?

• Pone Express. Surprise! It's the Corn Refiners Association behind those TV ads.
• Aw, shucks! Earlier this year, the FDA decided that HFCS is indeed natural, much to the delight of Big Corn.
• WTFructose? You can call it "natural', but it takes a man-made process to create the sweetener.
• Candy corn. HFCS certainly has its advantages, according to the corn folks.
• An earful. While inconclusive, research suggests a link to diabetes, obesity and other ills.

Listener E-mails Got a question popping in your head? Send an e-mail to hip@greenfeet.com. And remember to post articles, links and sweet nothings at our MHTH forum!

• Shout-out! Thank you Allison, who mentioned us on her blog for the Healthy Schools Campaign.
• Isabel in Belfast, UK needs a cutting board, and wonders which wood is best. We recommend bamboo. Make sure to wash and dry it thoroughly.
• Courtney in Denver is a Hipster college student who lives in a LEED dorm, carries a ChicoBag and keeps a bar of Dagoba Eclipse on hand at all times. You have learned well, young Grasshopper.
• Emmms in London seeks eco-friendly contraception. A vegan condom is hard to find. (sorry!) Check out Emmms' blog too.
• Michelle in Sydney believes we're all making a difference with the small steps we take. She gave up beef and now eats...Roo. Oh, bother.

Show the world you're More Hip Than Hippie! Grab some merch for holiday gift-giving! Follow us on Twitter: GrnDiva and MoreHipDori, at your service! It's a new month, so 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 is sponsored by Greenfeet.com