Two other solutions
Regarding Sunday's column, a reader in Charles Village says there's one other solution to the prospect of the $100 fill-up at the gas tank: "Suck it up. If you were all so obtuse as to buy those obnoxious, oversized, endanger-everyone-else-on-the-road gas-guzzling SUVs to begin with, then y'all are getting exactly what you deserve." And Hummer drivers? Please! I can't wait to see them get their comeuppance!"
Regarding global warming and reducing our carbon footprints, I suggested that Congress just ban gas-powered lawn mowers. All our sprawling lawns, and massive highway median strips -- they'd be better with trees, wild native plants or ground-cover. But former Sun reporter Bob Erlandson contributed this solution -- a way to keep lawns without gasoline:
A couple of years ago, after my heart surgery made hauling the heavy lawn mower out of the basement a couple of times a week a problem, I found what has been the perfect solution.I didn't want an electric mower with the long cord trailing behind and just waiting for me to run the mower across and cut it.Then I found the perfect solution: A battery-powered mower designed for suburban lawns. They are made by the DR Equipment Company, of Vergennes, Vermont.Here's a link to their newest model, which is slightly larger and higher-powered than mine, which is now in its third season.I'm sure you've seen DR's commercials on TV for their heavy-duty brush-clearing machines, tillers, etc. But then they developed this lawn mower, which I can carry up the basement steps easily. The batteries live on the charger in the dining room.The battery runs for about an hour on an eight-hour charge. They recommend that you have two, and that's worked out perfectly.The longer I've had it, the more I appreciate it. So, if you're looking for a nice, heavy gas-powered mower, call me, I have one for you.If you want to be GREEN and operate a nice, quiet mower that won't wake up your neighbors, go DR and Neuton.
