((Before I start this evening, I thought I'd try something new, and that's throwing up an email address. Drop me a line & let me know how you think I'm doing so far. Or if you have any fun suggestions of topics, etc., I'd love to read them. Make sure you put "BLOG" in the subject line, though, otherwise your potential words of wisdom may end up in the virtual round file...

And now... on with the show!!))


I saw something interesting today while I was out for a walk. Here in Arizona, people can buy special license plates that support different causes. They have one in particular for environmentalism that is rather gaudy, but people really seem to like it. But I digress.

Anyway, I was walking down the street and I saw one of those plates... on the back of a giant, jet-black Hummer. Of all the ironies to witness in this dippy town. But it got me to thinking about the whole SUV debate. Why use a vehicle like a Hummer? Not much beyond status, really... it's basically a big rectangular GRS (Genital Replacement System).

Don't get me wrong, I think the idea of an SUV is not all bad. I only recently gave up my own Ford Explorer after a number of years of solid, loyal service. But since I could afford to get a newer car, why not buy something that makes sense? A small station wagon, about 1/3 more fuel efficient with an equal loss of cargo space I no longer needed. When I got my Explorer, I was living in the mountains and needed something like that to handle the weather. I do miss that truck, but its time had come.

Folks, does it really make any sense to drive something that only gets 4 feet to the gallon? As big as they are making them, why not put treads on them like a tank? Just imagine a freeway full of half-tracks careening to the office, where they enter a parking garage that's 300 foot tall, but consisting of only 5 levels with 10 spaces per level. Glorious, no?

No. I'm amazed no one realized that these giant, gas-guzzling miniature houses already existed. They're called RVs. They cost just as much as some of these big SUVs these days and you get a lot more for your dollar. In fact, let's all just go to an RV lifestyle. I, for one, would love to be able to pull up stakes for a weekend and drive my house somewhere to enjoy a sunrise. I can think of several places in America to take my house so that I can expose it to elements other than the sun!! (Especially Maine... for my own reasons).

SUVs should be downsized a bit. Not meant as a corporate plug (unless it gets me a free one), I think the Ford Explorer is about as big as SUVs should get. I only use Ford as an example since they're the biggest culprits, with more styles of large GRS than are found in a box of condoms. Since they are really popular, however, let me voice the hope that an alternative combustion system could properly & affordably created to put on these things to double -- nay, triple -- their gas mileage!!

Because, ladies & gents (& any other gender I might have missed)... I'll be first in line.