What's wrong with Detroit?

Has the Tigers' success gone to their heads? For some insane reason, Ford has abandoned its hybrid-vehicle pledge. Instead of aiming to produce 250,000 hybrid vehicles per year by the end of the decade, they will explore other fuel-saving technologies. Their reason? That hybrid vehicles don't sell. **cough, cough, bullshit, cough, cough** True, they are only a small portion of the market. And also true, the people who buy them tend to go for the cheaper variety, like the Prius or the Civic instead of, say, the Lexus, Highlander or the Ford Escape. But from my point-of-view, the solution is not to stop making them, it's to make them cheaper. I would LOVE to buy a hybrid Escape. I even signed up for Ford's e-mail updates before it was released so I would know when it was real. It would be absolutely perfect for me. Use almost no gas tooling around town, and also have the SUV benefits for my snowboard trips? FANtastic.

But check this, for most Escape hybrids, Ford wants over $30,000. That's CRAZY. I can't afford that and I bet most other green yet adventurous types are in the same boat. What's more, because of demand and the limited number of models available with hybrid technology, automakers like Ford won't give hybrid buyers the deals they give to other buyers. You pay the sticker price or you don't get one. And then they cut the program based on poor sales? Jigga what?

In other news... heading into this holiday weekend, I'd like to wish all my dear readers safe travels and air conditioning wherever they may go. Also, ten songs that make me feel all American and free-to-be for yo' road trip playlist. Not necessarily an original selection, but hope you like it...

1. If The Shoe Fits - Hank Williams III
2. Fortunate Son - CCR
3. Cold Beverage - G. Love & Special Sauce
4. (What's so funny 'bout) Peace, Love and Understanding - Elvis Costello
5. Get Up and Go - The Go-Go's
6. New York City - moe.
7. Pink Houses - John Mellencamp
8. New Strings - Miranda Lambert
9. Born to Run - Bruce Springsteen
10. Return of the Grievous Angel - Gram Parsons