It surprised us to learn that the Coen Brothers directed this anti-coal spot, mostly because there's no swearing or violent, gratuitous death in it. But it's pretty effective otherwise, and it is funny how clean-coal advocates will bitch and gripe about ethanol when clean coal is even less tenable at this point. The group behind the ad also has a Web site, This Is Reality, which focuses on coal-industry marketing and lobbying efforts, perhaps in response to President Obama's brief mention of clean coal in his address to Congress. Either that, or coal-industry hotshots beat them up in high school. Via Osocio, which also has a behind-the-scenes video posted with those crazy Coens.

—Posted by David Kiefaber