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2010 Nissan LEAF EV: Coming to a Freeway Near You

John - My hand slipped when I tried to give your 11:48 AM comment a thumbs up, and I hit the thumbs down icon. Apparently there's no way to fix it. So the tally is incorrect, and I apologize for my clumsiness.

GREAT ARTICLE. I've learned to trust Nissan products. We have had a Maxima, Murano, and G35 Coupe, and they have all performed beyond expectations. A friend's mother was driving his Altima Coupe last week, when it got creamed from behind by a dump truck, and pushed across a state highway. The truck driver never hit his brakes, and the car is totaled, but we were relieved to learn that she walked away unscathed!

So, YES, I would look very closely at anything Nissan produces.

Hybrids may not be the answer, but I respect those who buy them. If nothing else, they're making a statement. Electric vehicles may not be the end-all solution either. Remember, they're still being charged by whatever polluting fuel is powering the grid, and you also have to factor-in the power line and conversion losses, and there is a "bigger footprint" due to the manufacturing processes of the batteries and the other added components. But ANYTHING to fill the gap until we have more permanent solutions such as hydrogen fuel cells is welcome. Let those who hate us DRINK their crude oil!

Real Price of Gas Falls to Five-Year Lows

This chart makes me smile, now that crude and gasoline are closer to where they should be. I heard on Bloomberg news that countries like Venezuela and Iran couldn't make their budgets balance once oil dropped back below $100/bbl. So, how did they manage before? Let those who hate us DRINK their crude. Now we have to insure that prices stay low by conserving and really getting serious about developing alternative energy across the board.

My Top 5 Alternative Energy Stocks - and 10 Honorable Mentions

Ah, Andrew, we have something in common: I have two mid-sixties Lotus Elans salted away. I had a blast competing in amateur events with them many years ago, against cars such as Corvettes and Cobras with lots more power. A fiberglass body helped keep the weight down to only 1500 pounds, giving the little roadsters a real advantage. I envy you for having an ELISE!

I bought ZOLT a few weeks ago, thinking they would do well supplying both the wind and auto industries with carbon fiber, just to watch that stock go down. Holding onto it for now, as I hate taking a loss.

Speculated on SOLF a few days ago, and made a quick $2500 profit, as it surged through my limit sell price of $18 today. Cramer would not have approved, but I couldn't resist it as a speculative play as the price approached $13.

Think I'll use the proceeds to buy one of your top choices, probably FSLR, which is also one of Cramer's favorites. (He's not always right, of course. My best percentage increase ever was a biotech that he hated. Held it for only 2 days, and then it tanked. Sometimes you've got to take a chance).

Thanks for a great article. You've certainly generated a lot of thoughtful comments.

Garmin: Clearly Something's Not Right

My 16-month-old Garmin is in some ways better than the expensive nav system that came in my 9-month-old Honda. Remarkably, it will tell me to turn precisely into a friend's rural driveway.

THANKS, fellow readers, for filling-in the information that I was looking for when I clicked on this HOLLOW article in the first place.

Bought 200 shares Tuesday at $49.90. It had just gone too low to resist. Got slapped Wednesday - should have waited another day. We'll see who's right in the days/weeks ahead.

Questioning Cramer on Taking Profits

Great perspective, Jaimi!

"The smartest mentor I ever had taught me that it's better to lose the top 20% of a stock price than to give up 50% of the upside by selling too early."

I watch Cramer religiously, but have learned to take his advice with a grain of salt. In retrospect, I would have done better with most trades over the years, had I been more patient with both my buy and sell orders.