Cougars prowl — and they vote

Published 10:46 pm Thursday, May 22, 2008

A heartthrob away from the presidency: “American Idol” winner David Cook apparently has the cougar set to thank. Women in their 30s and 40s voted overwhelmingly for the 25-year-old tousle-haired rocker. One 42-year-old reportedly voted for Cook 473 times.

Recognizing his sway with vote-savvy women, John McCain and Barack Obama are adding Cook’s name to their short lists for vice president.

One Adam-12, get out and walk: With gas prices nearing $4 a gallon, police departments are asking officers to refrain from idling their patrol car engines during stops and to get out and walk their beats.

The obvious solution is for police departments to trade in their Crown Vics for hybrids. We can imagine Officers Malloy and Reed taking cover behind a Toyota Prius black-and-white, but expect Malloy would make some gruff, skeptical comment about the Prius that would prompt a smirk and a “Heh” from Reed.

Take the bare essentials: With American Airlines charging for checked baggage, you might appreciate a few packing tips.

Here’s our tip: Book your next vacation at a nudist colony.