Consumer Reports has a fluff piece on hydrogen fuel cell cars in its latest issue (subs. req’d).

I spend way too much time debunking this most consumer unfriendly of alternative fuel vehicles — I even wrote a book on the subject, The Hype About Hydrogen. So I was happy to get an e-mail from Tom Gage, President and CEO of AC Propulsion, containing a letter he sent to the magazine. I asked him if I could run it, and he not only said yes, he expanded it:

Dear Editor,

The second sentence in your fuel cell article (Consumer Reports, Oct. 2007) tells me you haven’t thought very carefully about hydrogen fuel.

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Do you remember being told not to wear white after Labor Day? But what if the summer season lasts longer? What if the seasons disappear all together?

That’s the case in the retail and fashion industry (not high fashion, mind you). Our wardrobes are offering surprising insight into how the changing climate is impacting the styles and fabrics we wear, to the point that people don’t own as many strictly winter or summer pieces.

Hard to believe? Yet the Wall Street Journal‘s article on the stylish phenomenon attests:

Last month, Liz Claiborne Inc. invited Mr. Horton, the climatologist [at the Columbia University's Center for Climate Systems Research at ], to an informal discussion with 30 executives, where the talk ranged from fabrics to the timing of seasonal markdowns and retail deliveries.

Retailers are starting to factor the climate into their selling strategy:

Target says it uses weather-related intelligence in planning its collections. One immediate change: Starting in January, Target will begin selling swimwear year-round nationwide.

So now, what about white swimming suits after Labor Day?