Celebrity Dirt

Top 10 Green Excuses

kbutler — Wed, 27 Aug 2008 00:00:00 -0400

If you’re reading this article, odds are that you’re probably at least a light pale green in your commitment to Mother Earth. (That or you’re a friend or relative I’ve harassed to read my blog – you guys rock!) So in honor of the many shades of green out there, I present a list of top ten green excuses for your every day use.

TOP TEN GREEN EXCUSES

10. “I know I smell, but you couldn’t possibly expect me to shower longer than 1.3 minutes and waste an extra 3.6 gallons of water.”

9. You can’t eat dinner at your mother-in-law’s because you can't be subjected to another helping of her non-organic food/soul-crushing criticism.

8. “Of course I’m tired. I was up all night trying to figure out exactly why Madonna is on the cover of Vanity Fair’s 2008 Green Issue.”

7. “I’m sorry, but attending your son’s Bar Mitzvah/daughter’s confirmation/sister’s wedding will offset my carbon footprint.”

6. When you’re pulled over for speeding, you say, “How about I give you 25 useful facts on solar power to make this whole thing go away? Okay, make it 50.”

5. You walked into that adult sex shop because you thought that sign read “We’re totally organic!”

4. “What do you mean, I can’t set up an industrial wind turbine farm in my front yard? What is this, Communist Russia?”

3. You tackled that distinguished gentleman on the street because you thought he shared Al Gore’s dreamy profile.

2. When you’re mistaken for a homeless woman, you explain you’re just taking “reduce, recycle, and reuse” to the next level.

1. “Oh, like you’ve never tried to run a Hummer off the road!”

Celebrities Who Drive a Prius: Billy Joel, Jack Black, Alicia Silverstone....

ckane — Sat, 31 May 2008 18:21:10 -0400

Now that peaking gas prices are giving drivers more incentive than ever to consider the alternatives, it's a good time to review all the celebrities who have already taken the plunge with the most famous alternative: the Toyota Prius hybrid.

Among the first famous Prius drivers is early adopter Leonardo DiCaprio, who's been driving one since 2001 when they were new. Then Cameron Diaz got one. Then, like, EVERYBODY got one. "Everybody" includes usual green and/or lefty celeb suspects like: Alicia Silverstone , Arianna Huffington, Brad Pitt, Julia Roberts, Bill Maher, Prince Charles, Woody Harrelson, Harrison Ford, Ed Begley, and Susan Sarandon.

But now the Prius is common enough that less-expected Prius owners in Hollywood number easily in the dozens (maybe more like hundreds), including Kevin Bacon, Jack Nicholson, Billy Crystal, Larry David , Ewan McGregor, Robin Williams, David Duchovny, Alexandra Paul, America Fererra, Billy Joel, Dr. Andrew Weil, Ted Danson, Will Ferrell, Salma Hayek, Patricia Arquette, David Hyde Pierce, Ellen DeGeneres, Tom Hanks, Rob Reiner, Hart Bochner, Donny Osmond, Kurt Russell, Jack Black, Donna Mills, and Kirk Douglas. The jury is still very much out on whether the Prius is the best (or even a good) green car option, but it is certainly the most recognized.

Image: Prius

Lenny Kravitz Hearts The Brazilian Jungle

kbutler — Fri, 23 May 2008 01:00:00 -0400

In yet another reason to stop the de-forestation of the Brazilian jungle – Lenny Kravitz has been living in it! Recent reports revealed that Kravitz apparently wanted to “get away” after his last album failed to do as well as he hoped. So, after performing in Rio, he stayed for four months on a remote farm and was tempted to stay for good.

But, luckily, the beauty and allure of the Brazilian jungle proved to be just what Lenny needed, and he returned to his old life “with a fresh outlook.” The Brazilian jungle, however, remains heartbroken and prays for a quick reconciliation with the ultra-dreamy rocker.

Knight Rider Recycled -- Reborn With Green Twist!

adevito — Fri, 16 May 2008 01:00:00 -0400

Recycling is everywhere these days, especially in Hollywood, where old ideas get re-used every day. Case in point: the new remake of the 1980’s show Knight Rider.

Sure, the show gave us David Hasselhoff, who will be around longer than the plastic bottles in your local landfill. But the new version of his talking car is a lot more eco-friendly; it’s a solar/hybrid Ford Mustang, which replaces the old series’ Trans Am and its liquid hydrogen turbo engine.

We’re hoping the new Knight Rider will be on the air long enough for us to recycle an old Members Only jacket and grow a curly mullet worthy of The Hoff himself.

Want to find out more about recycling?

Recycling Tips: Did You Know You Cannot Recycle Messy Pizza Boxes?

The Benefits of Recycling: Let’s Talk Trash

Recycling the Looking Glass: When Garbage and Art Collide

Top 10 Recycling Resources

Recycled Record Snack Tray

The Benefits of Recycling Cardboard

The Art of Garbage

Reduce, Reuse… FREECYCLE

Recycle Those Electronics!

Back to Basics—RRR

Picking Up Garbage TVs and Recycling as Art

Students Recycle and Reduce Garbage: Take It Or Leave It

Recycling Your Garbage: Where Does it All Go?

We Love Us Some Ed Begley, Jr.

kbutler — Fri, 09 May 2008 01:00:00 -0400

Before there was Sundance, before there was green swag… Before there was a Vanity Fair cover featuring Julia Roberts dressed as a tree nymph, there was one celebrity who stood above the rest. There was Ed Begley, Jr.

From turning up at Hollywood events on a bike, to living in a self-sufficient home, to befriending RFK Jr. way before Clooney had him on speed dial, Ed deserves a shout-out for a lifetime of green achievement. Not only is he an award-winning conservationist, Ed also promotes his own line of all-natural household cleaners called Begley’s Best.

We tip our hemp hat to you, Ed Begley Jr. And don’t sweat not getting the Vanity Fair cover. After all, not everyone can pull off a leaf garland.

Mary J Blige Gets Her Hybrid On

kbutler — Fri, 02 May 2008 01:00:00 -0400

GM wants you to know that Mary J. Blige is gas friendly and, dare we say, gas free. MediaPost is reporting that Ms. Blige is promoting GM’s new “Gas Friendly to Gas Free” campaign. Rumor has it that the gorgeous diva will be featured in the new Chevy Malibu hybrid commercial.

You might recall – probably when you shut your eyes at night and the dark closes in – GM’s Superbowl campaign for the new Yukon hybrid: “Why push? Why change? Why grow? Why dream?” To which we answer here at River Wired…..what?

Want to see more Celebrity Dirt videos on your favorite clean, green stars? Click here

Jack Johnson's CD Recorded with Solar Power

adevito — Tue, 29 Apr 2008 00:00:00 -0400

Jack Johnson’s mellow music is kinda like the sonic equivalent of chilling out on a warm beach in Hawaii. Well, now that sunny goodness has been baked right in.

The relaxed rocker’s new album, Sleep Through The Static, was recorded using nothing but solar power. His LA studio boasts an impressive array of solar panels on the roof, which sometimes produce so much energy that nearby homes benefit, too.

The 100-year old converted house got a top-to-bottom makeover to be greener and save energy. But the biggest energy savings might just come from the album itself… which should cause a sharp spike in hammock usage.

Justin Timberlake to Make a Greener Golf Green

ckane — Tue, 29 Apr 2008 00:00:00 -0400

Justin Timberlake has just signed on for a partnership with the sports/entertainment/media conglomerate IMG, which will lead to a JT-branded eco-golf course and the Justin Timberlake Shriners Hospital for Children Open tournament this October in Las Vegas. (Say that name three times fast.)

The golf course will be in Justin's hometown of Memphis, Tennessee. It was rescued from the auction block by JT, his mother, and his stepfather last year. Now in the works are plans for LEED-certified facilities, and more. From an article in the Memphis Daily News:

"Also anticipated is... a renewable energy field and a walking trail with educational placards and seating for the public to learn about responsible energy and natural resource usage," wrote Eric Criswell, of the engineering firm Davis Patrikios Criswell Inc.

Justin's other new role is as the co-star of Madonna's new hit "4 Minutes," which has the line, "four minutes to save the world." The real-life task of saving the world isn't as easy as one eco-centric golf course, but at least there may soon be less toxic lawn chemicals seeping into the Memphis ecosystem.

Photo: Getty Images

Does Being Sloppy Make You Greener?

adevito — Fri, 25 Apr 2008 01:00:00 -0400

He may have been kicked out by his wife and forced to share his apartment with a neat freak, but sloppy tv icon Oscar Madison was in fact, a green pioneer!

Or so says NYC website reclaimedhome.com, which created a hilarious list of Oscar’s eco-friendly lifestyle tips. According to the site, Mr. Madison saved lots of water by never washing dishes or doing laundry, cut down on refrigeration by storing food in the sofa, and conserved rolls of paper towels by wiping his hands on the curtains.

So Oscar really was ahead of his time. After all, Felix was the one who was addicted to those toxic cleaning chemicals. So Mr. M, we tip our filthy baseball cap to you… but we flat out refuse to go into your bedroom.

20 Eco-Friendly Supermodels Help Clean Up the Cotton Biz

adevito — Tue, 22 Apr 2008 01:00:00 -0400

Models are naturally eco-friendly. Think about it: they take up less space, use fewer resources, and are pretty much vegetarian, since the only thing they consume is tobacco.

Now, these willowy stunners are greener than ever. Twenty supermodels have volunteered to pose for the new “Pick Your Cotton Carefully” campaign aimed at cleaning up the cotton business, which often employs child laborers for very little pay. But whatever will they wear?

Well, designers like Luella Bartley, Christian Lacroix, Betty Jackson and Katherine Hamnett have created chic eco-garments made from organic and fair-trade cotton. All proceeds go to the Environmental Justice Foundation.

Now how about we get some stars to tackle the cruel polyester trade??

Want to see more Celebrity Dirt videos on your favorite clean, green stars? Click here