The Lorax And SUV Ads

I have long pointed out that while we Prius drivers pat ourselves on the back for burning less gas, we're still burning gas. And then there's the really insane habit of some Prius drivers, of selecting a longer route in order to show better MPG figures because of the lower MPG for short trips. And of course the fact that we're willing to spend more money to get a more efficient car, but we're not willing to reorganize our lives to have shorter commutes, or take fewer (or no) trips. IOW, we're willing to spend some money for the environment, but we're not willing to give up any of our energy-consuming habits.

And FWIW, I'm as guilty of this as the next person. Being retired I don't commute, but I travel for pleasure. And I'm no more willing to give up traveling than the next person is to make sacrifices to live closer to work.

Rather than touting how much better the Prius is than an SUV, we need to acknowledge that no car is good. Some are worse than others. The Prius is not as bad as the SUV, but all are bad. (And an SUV used to car-pool five people is less bad than a Prius used by just one.)

 

At this point, I think Dr. Seuss might be spinning in his grave fast enough to be considered an alternative form of renewable energy.

As someone in the early/mid stages of his career (I'm salaried, otherwise I'd have probably repeatedly exceeded federal work hours limitations), I can say that living within walking distance from work has been one of the biggest factors benefiting my career I can think of. It really helps not having to waste time running to and from a faraway apartment/house. Funny thing is that the huge savings from not having to pay for commuting, parking, etc has allowed me to afford having two other cars on top of the Prius (garage queens: I think I put 3000 miles on the other two combined all last year).

I used to commute to one job (about 9 miles each way in Chicago) - I quickly learned that I could ride my road bike and the door-to-door time was ~32 minutes on average while my drive time was 28 minutes (Chicago traffic sucks). However, if I rode the bike I basically removed my hour workout form my schedule (I got a lot faster on the bike too). Amusingly, I got this one (totally hot blonde) chick's phone number when I "raced" her (she was driving an STi) down a residential street (yes, I'll admit a blew through a few stop signs - totally worth it). Wouldn't have happened had I not been on the bike.

 

Rocco Staino: Lorax Leads Way for Product Endorsements by Kid Lit Characters (SLIDESHOW)

I wonder if selling out to IHOP does more damage than Mazda. The lorax should say in the words of that other Doctor - Dre - "I am not a role model". I wonder if the pottery barn uses Truffula trees to make their children's furniture.

 

Truffula makes me think of "Day of the Triffids." Classic dystopian sci-fi.

 

The Lorax would never endorse something that burns Truffula trees (oil).

 

My other favorite rhyming doctor... :rockon: