Articles by Katharine Wroth

This carpool’s rockin’ … come knockin’

As I was leaving work last night, a bus blew past me with a big, colorful ad on the side. "Freewheeling," said the type at the top. The photo showed a van on a bare stretch of road, with a beautiful sunsetty skyline beyond. Then the tagline: "Vanpooling is your trip, your way."

Um, really? I thought vanpooling was 12 other people's trips, and you have to wait your turn, and it takes forever, and is sort of smelly.

I wish I could get over that notion. Because I do believe in sharing rides. And the Washington DOT website makes it look so darn bucolic. I admire their attempt to sex up vans, I really do. I wish them the best of truck.

The best idea I never had

Just learned of a new site, Since Sliced Bread, that's looking for "fresh, common-sense ideas" to perk the country up. The bestest will score $100,000.

This contest, sponsored by the Service Employees International Union, is already inspiring fantasies like, oh, universal health care and interstate rail systems. Crazy! (It also oughta prove the "it takes all kinds" theory, if the drinking shirt is any indication.)

So go forth and idea-ify. And share the prize with me, will ya? I'm fresh out.

The best idea George Bush never had

Today the feds unveiled a new conservation campaign, complete with energy hog cartoon mascot. Although the New York Times reported this as a shift in energy policy, it seems more like a ... pause.

We came across this transcript of a telephone call between President Bush and Energy Secretary Sam Bodman (who told the Times that "new supplies were still essential but that they were a long-term solution").

Bush: Sam, hey. It's George.

Bodman: Hi George.

Bush: Great. Listen, I been thinking, we need some kinda mascot around this whole energy thing. Some kinda ... bear or something. That mascot thing worked real well when I was at the Rangers. People love to hug. They'd love to hug a bear. They would.

Bodman: A mascot, sir?

Those Canadians, they really care

Today I bring word from Canada -- a postcard, if you will. On a fluffy tourist excursion to Victoria this weekend, I encountered a (very) civil action. Maybe a tie-in to the big peace march, for those who couldn't trek from BC to DC.

Dozens of marchers had taken over the right lane of a main street, chanting and waving signs to protest the U.S.-led war in Iraq. (The best: "Make levees, not war.") They earned mild curiosity from onlookers: "If I were driving," I heard one guy say, "I'd be honking right about now." Then the marchers came to a red light. They all dutifully stopped, until someone up front shouted -- or, really, declared -- "We're already blocking traffic. Don't stop for the light." The rally continued.

Canada! I love you.

Later, in a pub, the quiet chatter of four middle-aged men reached my ears. Their topics: the U.S. in Iraq, the U.S. hurricanes, the U.S. health-care crisis, the U.S. leadership crisis.

Canada! I'm sorry we're lousy neighbors.

And, uh, what's new with you guys?