No hybrids in the California car pool lane today

Many car owners have purchased hybrids or were planning on purchasing them, not only for the great fuel efficiency, but to be able to drive solo in the car pool lanes in California. Looks like that may not be happening any time soon.

Here's an excerpt from a Newsday article:

SACRAMENTO -- Hybrid car owners anxious to cruise California's car pool lanes are in for a January disappointment. Their reward for getting 45 miles per gallon is caught up in Washington politics.

Though the California Legislature and Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger agreed to open the lanes to single-occupant hybrid cars beginning Jan. 1 -- specifically the Toyota Prius and Honda Civic and Insight -- the U.S. government hasn't approved a waiver to allow it on federal highways in the state.

Backers of the law said it might be months before the fuel-efficient cars are allowed in the fast lane in California, if ever.

Tsunami Relief, Please Help

Here's a detailed list from CNN of organizations putting together aid and relief support for the 2004 tsunami tragedy in Asia. Please help in any way that you can!

• Amazon
• AmeriCares
• Action Against Hunger
• ADRA International
• American Jewish Joint Distribution Committee, Inc.
• American Red Cross
• Association for India's Development
• CARE
• Catholic Relief Services
• Christian Children's Fund
• Church World Service
• Concern Worldwide
• Direct Relief International
• Doctors Without Borders
• Food for the Hungry, Inc.
• International Aid
• International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies
• International Medical Corps
• International Rescue Committee
• Islamic Relief Worldwide
• Lutheran World Relief
• MAP International
• Mercy Corps
• Network for Good
• Operation Blessing International
• Operation USA
• Oxfam America
• Plan USA
• Project Concern International
• Salvation Army
• Save the Children USA
• UNICEF
• U.N. World Food Programme
• USAID
• World Concern
• World Relief
• World Vision

A former co-worker of mine from San Jose was caught in the tsunami in Bankok. She was hurt but made it back to the U.S. in one piece. Here's a link to her blog where she discusses some of her experiences and thoughts on the situation.