Zero-cylinders of hydrogen powered machinery. I'd love to drive that thing to work. The only problem is that the current top speed is 50. Get that up to 70ish and I'll be good to go on the human transport...

One thing I learned when I went to an Edward Tufte seminar here in Seattle - you have to make intelligent arguments and lay out evidence in a cogent way for the viewing audience. I think Stern's review of the potential financial impact of climate change is potentially just what is needed. I really wish the US would become a leader in this fight and decrease our reliance on fossil fuels.

Quoted: The key points from Sir Nicholas Stern's report into the economic impact of climate change.

My favorite quote from this article is the second one below. Why can't Bush and co. let government scientists speak for themselves? Why do they have to stay "on message"? Isn't it our money being sent to probe further into scientific truth?

Quoted: The administration claims it wasn't trying to tell government scientists what to say about climate change, but e-mails obtained by Salon prove otherwise.

Quoted: When NOAA press officer Laborde was contacted to discuss the e-mails, he denied that interviews were subject to approval from White House officials. Confronted with his own e-mails, however, he said, "If you already knew the answer, why did you ask the question?"

Go get 'em, Al! If there's one person that should see your new movie or slideshow, it's the president.

Quoted: "Why should we set aside the global scientific consensus," Gore said, his voice rising with emotion. "Is it because Exxon Mobil wants us to set it aside? Why should we set aside the conclusion of scientists in the United States, including the National Academy of Sciences, and around the world including the 11 most important national academies of science on the globe and substitute for their view the view of Exxon Mobil. Why?"

Salon is in a joint project called "Early Signs" with the UC Berkeley Graduate School of Journalism and NPR's "Living on Earth."

Quoted: The fabled glaciers on Tanzania's majestic mountain will soon be gone. Its forests are disappearing, too. For local farmers, this could mean disaster. For the rest of us, it's another unbearable loss on an overheating planet.

Part 2 of this year's "Big Idea" series. This one is on the environment.

Quoted: Bodyguards for sheep, plug-in hybrids, edible yards and other environmental innovations worth celebrating.