It comes to no surprise to everyone that many cities here are…well, polluted. What cities deserve the horrible title of most polluted? Forbes gives us a few ideas.

1. California – I know this is a state, but most of the top polluted cities are all in California! The conditions for smog in all cities are ideal: heavy sunlight, lots of traffic, heat and industrial emissions. Two major highways also contribute a lot to pollution.

2. Houston, Texas – Stands at #6. U.S. 610, U.S. 10 and U.S. 45 are all found here, all contributing heavily to pollution.

3. Dallas/Fort Worth, Texas – U.S. 30, U.S. 20, U.S. 35 and U.S. 45 all converge on these cities, and they pay the price.

4. New York – The combination of a major port, Con Ed, U.S. 95, central city traffic and other emissions does the trick.

5. Philadelphia – This area is served by U.S. 295, U.S. 95, U.S. 476 and U.S. 76 and extends through parts of four states: Pennsylvania, New Jersey, Delaware and Maryland.

There you have it: America’s unfortunate pillars of pollution. It’s up to the government and citizens to do something about their city! Do you live in these cities? Give a helping hand!

I’m a vegetarian. I’ve been one all my life. I don’t try to make an example of myself as a moral high ground. I’m friends with a lot of people who eat meat. I’m just living life as I want it. And what I want is to not eat any meat.

With that said, the in vitro meat concept intrigues me. This is a process where meat is grown in a laboratory from animal cells. The process does not hurt any animals, and does not produce waste. Right now, it’s expensive to make, but hopefully it can get to a competitive price soon. It’s said that in vitro chicken may cost twice as much as normal chicken with current methods.

PETA has issued a $1 million reward to anyone who can make something that looks and tastes like the real thing. They want everyone to stop eating meat, but since they can’t really do that, might as well support a substitute. I applaud them for that effort, but they should really lighten up on the other issues.

I’m not sure I can eat this in vitro meat. I still don’t like meat, no matter where it comes from. But at least someday I’ll be able to better stomach watching my friends eat.

The price of petrol just keeps going up and up! Gas prices are killer. If me using my car was rare before (I like buses and bicycles), it’s even rarer now. Last time was when I paid a visit to the Stevenswood Spa Resort, I think. People are looking for ways for their gas money to stretch farther, thus saving gas, and I’m no exception. A few months back, I asked a friend of mine who worked for a car company if he had some practical advice. Now, I’m here to share his valuable advice with all of you!

1. Find cheap gas. This is the most obvious solution, but often overlooked. Major gas companies add a lot to price by adding various additives to your gas then giving it a fancy name! Keep a sharp eye out for gas prices as well. If a station seems to have a lower price, take the chance and load up.

2. Accelerate and brake right. Every time you step on the gas, you lose fuel. Don’t stomp on it! Slowly push down with your foot. If you’re close to something, don’t slam the brakes. Raise your foot from the gas and let the car decelerate naturally, saving the brake for when you really need it. Keep doing this until it becomes second nature. You can save 20% of your gas this way, experts say.

3. Dump the weight. A jack and a spare tire are fine, but carrying your gardening tools in your trunk may be excessive! Get rid of anything that’s not necessary. Same goes for luggage racks or similar devices on your car roof; not only is it weight, but more drag. Get rid of it when you’re not using it to save gas.

4. Ride the wave! Vehicles, when moving, push air to the side to make room for it to go through. This causes drag and slows down your car. Take advantage of this! If you’re behind a large vehicle like a truck, which displaces a lot of air, there will be much less drag, thus less gas used to get the same speed. Race car drivers use this to great effect. So, why don’t you do that too?

5. Share gas. You’ll save a lot of gas if there are more people! Why not start or join a carpool? Expenses are split between you, and that’s less cars on the road, less gas used up, and less cash spent! It’s not always possible, but if a chance presents itself, do yourself a favor and jump on it.

6. Maintain your car. Replacing a clogged filter can increase your mileage by 10%. Using the right oil also improves efficiency. Check your tires and make sure they’re filled with air. Take care of your car, and it will take care of you!

There are more things you can do to save gas, but these are the more general ones. Any gas-saving tips you like to share? Opinions are always welcome!