Free Republic

As a regular combatant in the daily grand prix on our local roadways, I have received many one-fingered salutes from my fellow motorists, all well-deserved. But from my first joyride in the new Smart car I brought home a month ago, the only salutes being flipped in my direction are a steady stream of thumbs-ups. It's possible that some people are waving goodbye. Enthusiasm for the new microcar from Mercedes appears to be exceeded only by the expectation that anybody crazy enough to drive one will soon be pulverized by a passing Peterbilt. The question about the car I get...

Britney Spears dodged the spotlight when she was released Wednesday after spending a week in a hospital psychiatric ward, but she was pursued hours later by a swarm of paparazzi as she drove around the city. Spears left home later in the day driving a black Mercedes-Benz and then exchanged seats with an unidentified man, according to footage from a KTTV Fox 11 news helicopter. Paparazzi vehicles zoomed around the Mercedes and photographers surrounded the vehicle at each stop. More than 15 people circled the car at one point, shooting still photos and video. Spears' vehicle, however, was observing traffic...