By the way, what's happening with the weekly matinees?

As for this Hugo Chavez debate .. I hope the wingnuts are aware that the US backed a failed coup against him only a few years ago, at the height of the Bush Admin / Right-Wing's power-drunk stupor. So what Chavez said about Bush was correct. He's not Anti-American, he's Anti-Wingnut.

Lets drill here in the U.S., we have oil we just can't drill because of endagangered mashland animals....Pick a damn side democrats and republicans...renewable fuels just don't fall out of the sky, its going to take time..and until then we are going to be in hostile confrontations with other countries over oil because they don't like us....Its a vicious circle that can only be stopped by taking responsibility that all americans are preconditioned hypocritical materialists obsessed with instant gratification....

Career Politicians are our downfall

And you pinkos can argue about pikagreg, and his hate for Hugo Chavez, but just remember, he couldn't write that in Venezula without fear of reprisal. I suggest you who love Chavez so much move there.

And I've also heard the near-urban myths that the US military had demonstrated the ability to run vehicles on butter!

The technology is definitely here and the methods with which to begin implementing it are just now being realized. But I agree, it will not really happen until the oil magnates figure out a way to monopolize it. After all, that is how they will stay in business...

Let's say the US finally cracks the "How to Implement the Alternative/Clean Fuel Code". It gets monopolized by the oil industry (saving their asses and those of their shareholders), it's made affordable to the average consumer, and America suddenly takes charge of the new Earth-friendly green-technology revolution. What happens to those nations whose oil-based economies begin to see a drastic decline in the export of their only commodity? (Nevermind the fact that this particular resource was already marked for extinction long ago.) Someone is going to get left holding the bag.

And with that, I nominate myself Emperor of the Known Universe. Thank you.

I think the urge to get this alterna-fuel ball rolling is already there. It's primed and ready to go. All the industry (and government) has to do is show that it works, that it's convenient, and that it's affordable. When they start making it readily available (like the CD, the cellphone, or the Hybrid) people will flock to it. Rolling it out across the rest of the world might be a bigger problem. But I don't believe it's one that mankind can't solve.

"No, your rebelliousness. It's--"

"Is Matt Damon? Bourne, perhaps?"

"Not exactly, you Che Guevaraship--"

"It cannot be Al Pacino? Scarface himself to meet me?"

"It's Sean Penn, sir."

"Ah! Bond. James Bond!"

"That would be Sean Connery. Sean Penn is...Spicoli."

"Even better! People on luudes should not drive, eh? Eh? Ha-ha-ha! Awesome, totally awesome?"

"Yes, sir."

"He married Madonna. Evita Peron herself. Will the First Lady be accompanying Presidente Penn?"

"No, sir, they are not--"

"Antonio, that is not the answer I want to hear. You know what happens when I hear the answer I do not want to hear. Now, will Madonna be visiting with her husband?"

"Uh, yes, El Presidente."

"Excellente! Excellente! Perhaps, I can get her alone. Ah, if only Al Pacino were coming. To steal Michelle Pffeifer from him would be the greatest victory for our way of life!"