Ethanol Emissions Are More Harmful to Humans Than Smog From Gasoline?

Now some fresh pickings from the Political Grapevine:

Worse Than Gasoline?

An atmospheric chemist at Stanford University says pollution from ethanol could end up being more dangerous than pollution from gasoline. The study by Professor Mark Jacobson, detailed in an online environmental science publication, shows a 85-15 mixture of ethanol and gasoline could yield emissions that would be especially harmful for people with asthma and other respiratory problems.

It says ethanol-burning cars could boost levels of toxic ozone gas in urban areas. Jacobson says that could result in 185 more deaths per year across the U.S. — with 125 of those in Los Angeles.

Unconventional Wisdom

Another study — by two atmospheric experts — says wind shear caused by global warming might actually reduce the strength of hurricanes. Meteorologists from the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration and the University of Miami say wind shear — which is a powerful change in wind direction or speed — can prevent hurricanes from forming or tear them apart.

Their research published in a scientific journal called "Geophysical Research Letters" indicates that earlier claims from scientists that global warming would intensify hurricanes might be false.

Drawing Attention

Ohio Congressman and presidential long shot Dennis Kucinich has found another way to try to draw attention to his campaign. Kucinich sent a letter to his Democratic House colleagues announcing his intention to introduce articles of impeachment against Vice President Cheney.

The Washington Post reports the letter does not indicate what the grounds for impeachment would be. As for the prospects of success — one Democratic aide tells the Post: "We'll see a Kucinich administration before we'll see a Cheney impeachment."

$400 Haircuts

And Beverly Hills hairdresser Joseph Torrenueva has confirmed that he did indeed give Democratic presidential candidate John Edwards two haircuts at $400 apiece.

A report from the Federal Election Commission says the haircuts were paid for out of Edwards' campaign funds — along with $250 in services to a spa in Dubuque, Iowa — and $225 from the Pink Sapphire in New Hampshire — which is described on its Web site as a "unique boutique for the mind, body and face" that caters mostly to women.

The Pink Sapphire's owner says the fees were for doing TV makeup — not facials or cucumber peels. Edwards has been teased a lot for his looks — and is shown on this famous YouTube video primping his hair — and sitting for a hair stylist to help him. The video is set to the music "I Feel Pretty" — and goes on for more than two minutes. The campaign has had no comment on the news reports about the $400 haircuts.

—FOX News Channel's Martin Hill contributed to this report.