I must confess that my obsession with the Prius is such that I continue to point out the car every time I see it. I’m a particular fan of either the salsa red color (shown at right) or the black. I don’t have a particular color preference, per se, but there’s something about the red that really jumps out at me. The black does the same.

In the past, I’ve talked a lot about the Prius, perhaps to the point of slight insanity (I admit that building a car I can’t afford and then posting the specifications might be slightly overboard). However, this is because of my background; ever since my freshman year in college, I’ve been very interested in issues of sustainability and environmental awareness. This is almost a necessity if you want to attend Evergreen, but it’s very sensible in my eyes. I’d love to do my part, and I do really, really want a car, but a part of me wants to hold off until I can afford a hybrid. What better way to make a statement than to use alternative methods of transportation until you can drive a car that reflects your values?

Really, though, the nature of the hybrid market is such that it’s now beginning to approach mainstream status (though, I admit, some car makers still don’t get it). Honda’s jumped on teh bandwagon, and Subaru is rumored to be doing so. The hybrid is the thing of the future. The big debate seems to be just what kind of hybrid.

There’s some minor justification for this pet of mine (which, I admit, even my girlfriend probably groans over from time to time, though she obliges me by pointing out Priuses when we’re out and about). Hopefully, that clarifies some things.

Oh, and in case you were wondering, the New American Dream contest I wrote about long ago is now in its voting phase — I didn’t get into the final stage, though an entry very, very close to mine did. I submitted “Gasoline is so yesterday”; someone else submitted “Gasoline is so last century”. Ah, such is life.