The Globe's ice-cap destroying apologist

That would be auto writer Royal Ford, who once again pens a paean to some large SUV, this time, the Jeep Commander, which he calls Hummer-like, yet practical and which he says makes him feel like spitting through the moonroofs of the puny cars below him (well, or words to that effect).

Which sets off Sharon at Planned Livable Communities:

Excuse me? Practical?

Well, no doubt it's useful for an arrogant, self-absorbed driver who doesn't care about others on the road. ... No reason to worry that it'll cost over $2,000/year to fill up if you drive 13,000 miles/year. ...

Oh, for the days of Mr. Auto Writer, John White, who would actually review cars that don't require two parking spaces.

Bonus fun Royal Ford anecdote: How I once beat him on his own story, after the jump:

Back in my Middlesex News days (which dates me right there), I was driving down Rte. 9 to our newsroom when I spotted some guy in civilian clothes crouched down on the turnpike overpass, pointing a radar gun at the turnpike. That's not something you see every day, so I pulled into the first parking lot, walked back and asked him what he was doing. He told me who he was and that he was doing a story about people speeding.

I thanked him, drove to the newsroom and told our editor, Ken Hartnett. Ever mindful of ways to beat the Globe, he suggested I go rent my own radar gun and do my own story - and fast. Found a place in Millis willing to rent us a unit and for a couple of days, I stood on the side of some local roads (after first checking with the police chiefs in the towns), clocking the cars, then wrote up my findings and beat Royal to the shocking news that, in fact, people speed.

Haven't talked to Royal since.