From the flip tone to the mangling of facts, this is a very poor start for a series on environmental issues. Here's a clue; The fate of the planet isn't good grist for comedy.

Here's another clue; Get your facts straight. Comparing hybrids to non-hybrids based on highway mileage indicates either profound ignorance of the whole concept of a hybrid vehicle, or a deliberate muddying of the facts.

I'll give you credit for being stupid, this time.

However, hybrids are designed specifically to be efficient in urban driving, where regenerative braking and the ability to creep ahead in stop and go traffic without starting the hydrocarbon motor create huge savings. Hybrids frequently get better mileage in urban driving that on the highway.

For long, steady speed trips on the highway, hybrids don't have any advantage in efficiency. I have a friend who has a 70 mile daily commute. She bought a diesel Jetta instead of a hybrid because it works better for her long trips.

Of course, for an urban commuter, that diesel Jetta would be a poor choice, because it gets full of carbon soot unless it gets regular extended runs at full temperature and speed to burn out deposits.

Consumers need information on the best ways to reduce their carbon footprint, save gas and money, and get good value for their car dollar. Not half-assed factoids and snark.

We can get that in the letters column.

"It probably isn't George Bush's fault that oil prices are about to hit $100 a barrel, although invading Iraq certainly didn't help. But maybe we should be applauding his possible culpability, not condemning it."

Uh, Andy (I can call you Andy, can't I?)

It is George Bush Jr's fault. Almost entirely.

He invaded Iraq. Billions of barrels of oil have gone off the table since. That a big deal all by itself.

He is currently threatening Iran. That stupid thuggery accounts for about $20 of the last increase. If Bush would shut his yap and stop making threats, and if the world wasn't afraid he is crazy enough to actually attack Iran (causing them to close the Straits of Hormuz, and maybe also missilizing the Saudis oil fields) a lot of speculators would be spending their money on other things (another hint--have you noticed that gold is also at an all-time high? That's called hedging against the Apocalypse.)

Finally, Little George hasn't done a damn thing in the last seven years to develop alternatives to imported oil, increase efficiency, or reduce demand. Not a damn thing.

High energy prices are an inevitable consequence (one could reasonably say a deliberate consequence) of George Bush Jr energy policies. Dubya's rich oil bidness buddies are raking in the cash.

The rest of us are paying through the nose.

I'm not a Kucinich supporter, but I found the quality and tone of the article offensive.

From the patent lie "He believes in Aliens!" to the constant snarky belittling of Kucinich's beliefs and platform (and by extension, the beliefs of people who exercise their right to support him), the entire article serves no useful purpose in addressing any issues relating to Kucinich in the primary.

As humor, it is practically plaigerism, just stale snark lifted from a chorus of other media hacks. The same hacks we can rely on to trivialize the issues faced by our reeling country as it skirts the precipice of destruction and fascism. It is to laugh. Ha, ha. My kids may grow up under facism.

But, Dennis Kucinich has big ears, Hillary is a shrew, John Edwards got an expensive haircut, Obama sounds like Osama! Such important information for us voters.

In short, who needs it? Traister should get a job flipping burgers for all the good she does here.

Bless you for speaking out.

Sorry, you already alluded to this in the article, but I couldn't help myself. Just hope I get first letter!

Peace!

"Let's try and be nice kids, and always remember that people's beliefs come in VERY different hues."

I happen to BELIEVE that there is a Higher Power behind the world we see today.

My BELIEF is not based on facts or empirical reasoning. It is based on the remaining mystery of existence, and on what I feel in my heart.

It is NOT Science.

I am offended by religionists trying to force schools to teach their beliefs as Science. Science is about what we know, posit and can prove. Science means you put forth a hypothesis, and test it every way possible. Evolution is a theory based on the facts at hand, and has proved eerily prescient in predicting the biological underpinnnings that make it work (DNA and Mendelian genetics are prime examples).

That is what makese Evolution science. It fits the facts, and lives or dies by how well it describes what we are able to observe about the world. Since we are human, those observations of the world contain gaps due to inability to observe, or insufficient human understanding. But what we can see, and what we do know is unanimous. Evolution is a fact, and Natural Selection is how it operates.

We are all free to believe what we find most comforting to our souls and consistent with our hearts.

But we must not mistake our Beliefs for our Science. Doing so degrades both.

Sexism is a two-edged sword.

Hillary can whine about "the boys" picking on her (and her supporters and hubby can echo it for weeks). She can play the lady card to avoid tough questions (don't pick on a girl!)

She can pick up undeniable excitement from being the first serious female candidate for President in U.S. history. That is the best thing about Hillary's campaign in my opinion. You go, girl!

And she has to face Neanderthals who will never vote for a broad. Women who are jealous of her accomplishments. Men who feel emasculated by her power.

Six of one, half dozen of the other.