Only the journalist team of Mike Boyer and Scott Wartman could report on a topic as mundane as rising gas prices with such passion and vivid imagery that the article is worthy of the top literary award.

Starting on the premise that "Motorists are perplexed and angry" after "lifting their eyes skyward...to signs towering over fuel stations," Boyer/Wartman beautifully and accurately depict the state of confusion of local drivers. Sure, gas prices have been steadily on the rise for years now, and the majority of our oil originates in countries from an unstable region that is getting more unstable by the day, but who would have expected something this?

J.T. Moore of Lakeside Park has a job that requires an exorbitant amount of driving--pizza delivery--and yet just bought a gas-guzzling SUV because he needs a four-door vehicle for his baby boy. We feel for you, J.T. They can put a man on the moon, but they can't build an inexpensive 4-door that gets over 14 miles per gallon. Someday, J.T. Someday.

And finally, comes the woeful tale of Robert Mooney, who thinks that $3/gallon "sucks" so much that he just buys enough gas to get to and from work...for his "late-model Cadillac." That's right, the fuel-efficient, late-model Cadillac.   I guess it "sucks" just enough to bitch to a local paper, but not enough to trade the Caddy in for a used Hyundai Accent.