Hello? Is there anybody there? After a little prompting from my soon-to-be-relocating west coast cousin, I have decided to once again lend my opinions...as well as my self-righteous tone of voice...to this wonderful cyber-space.

What would my return be if it didn't contain a little biting social commentary to show just how little my dismal outlook has changed? So if you're ready, and even if your not, today's topic will be hybrid trucks and SUVs, and how they miss the point completely.

The idea behind the hybrid vehicle is well conceived, and if properly implemented in society, could actually reduce greenhouse gas emissions and help to slow the gobal temperature increase...oh wait, there I go again thinking people give a rat's ass about that. In reality, people only care about gas consumption for economic reasons, but I disgress. Anyway, it is an outrage that automobile manufacture's have suddenly started peddling hybrid trucks and SUVs in an attempt to cash in on the suddenly gas conscious American public. Those vehicles may contain a drive system composed of both a rechargeable battery and an internal combustion engine, but they are no more a friend to the environment than I am to Ashlee Simpson's original face. The whole idea of a hybrid is to decrease the amount of fuel required by a vehicle to traverse a predefined distance. A hybrid, by its very name, has in the past, conjured up images of a greased out, tree hugging hippies, or self-important Hollywood-types, because that hybrid monikor stood for environmentalism. Not just better gas mileage, but, occasionally, way better gas mileage. A hybrid SUV, on the other hand, still gets worse gas mileage than most sedans...non-hybrid sedans, that is (and isn't that what most SUVs are...taller, longer sedans). So do me a favor, do you grandchildren a favor, buy a non-hybrid sedan before you get a hybrid truck or SUV.

I'll have something better next time.