Even trash-talking sexist comedians get it right sometimes.
I first heard about hybrid cars from the inimitable and invaluable comic Bill Maher, back when he was still hosting "Politically Incorrect" following Ted Koppel's "Nightline."
If memory serves (and I don't insist that it does), Maher was already touting the virtues of the combination electric and gas-driven Toyota Prius before 9/11 upped the urgency on America's weaning itself of Arabian petroleum. Certainly he pushed it afterward, while also broadening his attack on gas consumption in a book titled "If You Ride Alone, You Ride with bin Laden."
My wife and I looked into acquiring a Prius about two years ago. In principle we were sold on it before we got to the car lot. In reality, the automobile fit too snugly for an overweight 6-footer (that would not be my wife) to spend much time in.
The next year's model would be larger, we were assured. Perhaps it was, but employment circumstances compelled acquiring a second car right away, and we opted for a conventional, albeit fuel-efficient, automobile.
So we haven't joined Maher's hybrid posse yet. Still, the day will come.
And if you, too, have been thinking about doing your bit to reduce gas consumption, even as you still need - or just plain want - some kind of car, you might check out the Queen Anne Alternative Transportation Fair set for Sunday, June 5, in front of Bethany Presbyterian Church.
There you'll have a chance to look under the hood of hybrid, biodiesel and electric cars. And if that doesn't get your ecofriendly juices flowing, enthusiasts will be on hand to tout the benefits of and answer questions about their preferred mode of alternative transportation.
In addition, you can speak with a representative from the car-sharing service Flexcar, and also check out the demonstrations of several types of electric bike.
The fair runs from 10:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. Bethany - which is also the sponsor - is at 1818 Queen Anne Ave. N.
The event coincides with Car-Free Sundays, self-billed as "a community effort to ditch the car for the day and walk, bike, use public transportation or carpool." Car-Free Sundays occur the first Sunday of the month, May through October.
Hmmm, let's not get carried away here....
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