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Faun

Okay I confess! I *hate* this part. Whether it's for MySpace or Tribe or worse- a job interview, the open-ended request to talk about myself is painful - like a needle to the eye. Or like a 103 foot drop on a roller coaster. My advice: Read my blogs! You'll get to know me that way...eventually.... ...

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Turn off your engines! Do it for your Mama!

Welcome to my bitch of the month! A little bit of rant. A dash of provocation. And several sprinkles of good information.

So, what is it with people sitting idly in their cars leaving the engine running? And I’m not taking in winter months when it’s necessary to warm up a car. I see it constantly in drive-thru lines whether it’s to make a bank deposit or get a fast food burger.

Don’t they know it’s a huge waste of gas and causes more pollution?

It also seems a form of socializing to chat out the car window. I get that. Those long goodbyes to the boyfriend. Maybe mom forgot to tell you about Aunt Melinda’s latest escapades. But for heaven’s sake, turn off the engine if the exchange is more than a minute!

Don’t want to take my word for it? That’s cool! I respect that. So I defer to the Car Talk guys. Yep, Tom and Ray have the expertise to back me up. They say that idling is “...wasteful and selfish, and bad for the planet.” For those who think it takes more gas to turn a car on than to let it idle, according to the Car Talk guys, um, you’d be wrong. Sorry! Try again! Tom and Ray say this is a flat out  myth.

Read the complete Car Talk transcript here. You’ll also find some great information about how hybrid’s save fuel by automatically turning off the engine whenever the car comes to a complete stop. Yep, even at traffic lights! Wouldn’t it be nice if all cars did that?

Today is Earth Day so please give Mama Earth a little break!  Think before letting your vehicle idle now and in the future.