Elijah Cummings is asking us all to take an hour this Saturday and unplug. The Baltimore congressman is promoting an event called One Green Hour, which he says will help fight global warming and establish our energy independence. All we have to do is turn out off the lights, appliances, air conditioning, and unplug our cell phone chargers, our i-pod chargers and "other energy wasters" for one hour -- though Cummings' release is clear that he does not want us to unplug our fridges and freezers, lest our food spoil. On behalf of my freezer full of frozen chicken, I thank him for that.

The greenout will occur from noon to 1 and it is in conjunction with the Maryland Democratic Party.