You know exactly what I'm talking about. I'm talking about you joining the unemployment line, with nothing on the horizon for months and months out, and you getting foreclosed upon. Tell me your homeowner's policy covers that.

Yeah, the good thing in my case was that I was in South Carolina at the time, where cars don't rust. I saw a (very) few in Watertown, New York, in the very early 90s that were literally held together by prayer (which is what you use when not even duct tape works). Most of those prayers were answered with "you really…

Why not? Let's point out that while there is a sizable minority of Americans who absolutely hate science, they're more than willing to accept the cool gadgets science makes possible - everything from the automobile to the Internet.

I had an '80 Chevette, and I generally agree with you. The main appeal of that car and those that came after was that it was cheap. I'm talking third-world market cheap, which is the only way you could get anyone to buy one after about 1980 or so. That, and it was generally tough as nails; it would take just about…

Now we need to hope that you never remember the Aveo.

Which is how, if you talk to their CEOs, they became Fortune 25 companies. YMMV, of course. Still, I keep hearing that Amazon's fulfillment center people are treated as if they were disposable, concerns about working conditions being limited to "will it kill them before the end of their shift." Kind of like caged…

OK. Station wagons have more room for batteries, and usually come with a more robust suspension system than a sedan (or a two-seater hatchback). Probably a pretty good form factor for a conversion, especially if you can figure out a way to stick a solar array on that extended roof.

That's what I said. Ten grand for a fully-functional electric car? Here, let me find an early 90s Honda Civic (I miss the old '91 hatchback) and I'll pay the nerd squad ten large to electrify it for me. Those cars were awesome to begin with, and would be even more so with all-electric works.

I was unaware the University of Phoenix had a football team until UofP stadium hosted a Super Bowl. Now I tell this lame joke any chance I get.

Those words mean so much to someone who scrubs garbage cans. - Bill Murray

I never miss it.

I collect dust. My wife collects spider webs.

This is true, but the internal combustion engine works best at a very narrow range of RPMs. Hence the need for multiple gears and a clutch of some sort (or a CVT). Still, most ICEs don't operate at anything close to optimum. So I understand the concept, and no, I'm not a mechanical engineer (my dad is; I'll ask…

What I would expect would be some kind of engine, and it can be a turbine if that's what works best, that does nothing but charge batteries. That's it - don't even connect it to the drivetrain. Let it run, as needed, at optimum power until the batteries are recharged, then shut it off. I suspect, if you do it…

What is it with all these people getting beaned this year? Seems every day somebody is taking one in his ear. Is this some new strategy or something?

The problem is, you eventually reach your destination, and you're going to want to pick up your rental car. You probably don't want to be too sloshed or stoned for that.

As would I. Whether you're a fan of 'big government' or not, the USA is a very large country, with the largest economy in the world, not to mention alliances and national interests that span the globe. It is only reasonable that a government capable of managing all that would be of considerable size. My only…

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People on crack shouldn't be allowed to customize old trucks.

Or if you're a carnivore, it's time to hunt.