Americans rebelling against the
expensive side of environmentalism, believing that value-for-money
trumps value-for-planet. Most
boomers who’ve never bought earth-friendly products say it’s because
the stuff is too expensive, finds Grail
Research. While 85 percent of U.S.
consumers report buying green goods,
only 8 percent do it most of the time.
And though 8 in 10 vacation travelers
consider themselves “eco-conscious,”
only 1 in 10 bases his or her bookings
on green considerations, reports marketing firm Ypartnership. Many are
eco-cynics: 25 percent of people 55
and up think shopping green “makes
no difference,” compared with 13 percent of younger respondents, according to a recent poll by Crowd Science.
That doesn’t mean our greenness
is fading. We just want proof that
a green product or service is “as
effective and of the same quality” as
alternatives, says Kate James of Grail
Research. And we question why, if
going green saves money, those savings aren’t passed on. “Count me a
skeptic,” says Sally Herigstad, 51, a
Honolulu-based CPA, adding, “$12
laundry detergent doesn’t make the
cut.” So, even if we love the planet,
environmentalism isn’t always a
green light for spending more. ;
Who’s the Next
Betty White?
Movie roles, TV parts, constant press—
Betty White is so White-hot that a new
comic book about her life sold out in a day.
With the octogenarian megastar vowing
to work less this year, who’ll be the next
small-screen icon to become a super-celeb? We rate the top picks. —Ken Budd
Carol
Burnett Mr. T Mary Tyler Moore Bill Cosby Julie Newmar
Played Sue
Sylvester’s
mom on Glee
Fans started a Facebook page demanding she host SNL.
Sound familiar?
Pitchman for
Snickers and a
cash-for-gold
company
Betty did a Snickers
ad, too! (Now, if he
would just dye his
mohawk.…)
Did charity work
for pet adop-
tions and juve-
nile diabetes
Appeared in prison-
scene cameo with
Betty on Hot in
Cleveland
Has a sure-to-be-steamy
memoir due
out this fall
Purrfect for “older
woman who says
outrageous things
about men” roles
Sold-out shows,
more than 1. 5
million Twitter
followers
He’s funny, she’s
funny—what more
do you need?
ELF ESTEEM Multiple ear-piercings are crazy enough,
but a few young adults go even further—with elf ears. Yep,
body-modification artists cut the tops of young people’s
ears and sew them back together in a pointed shape. The
procedure removes cartilage, so it’s not easily reversible.
Let’s call it a point of no return. —Leslie Quander Wooldridge
Ah, Youth! Sometimes We Don’t Miss It
WHITE ITEM, CLOCKWISE, FROM TOP: MICHAEL KOVAC/FILMMAGIC/GETTY IMAGES; MAX MORSE/REUTERS/CORBIS; AP PHOTO; WALTER MCBRIDE/RETNA LTD./
CORBIS; CHELSEA LAUREN/FILMMAGIC/GE T T Y IMAGES; NEILSON BARNARD/GE T T Y IMAGES. PHO TO ILLUSTRATION B Y JOHN UELAND
