“As electronic highway billboards flashing neon advertisements become more prevalent, the next frontier in distracted driving is already approaching — ad-blaring license plates… The device would mimic a standard license plate when the vehicle is in motion but would switch to digital ads or other messages when it is stopped for more than four seconds, whether in traffic or at a red light.” [San Jose Mercury News]

Protest in Argentina [MSNBC, via PourMeCoffee]

Just another day in BP’s world:

Dr. Brian Stacey of the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration told NPR last week that, although there are five different species of sea turtle in the Gulf of Mexico, the majority of the ones found affected by the oil spill are Kemp’s Ridleys, “the rarest of them all.”

Ellis confirmed that he’s mostly been seeing Kemp’s Ridleys.

Mike Michael at Gather.com reports that Kemp’s Ridleys are listed as endangered under the Endangered Species Act. Harming or killing one “carries stiff fines and civil penalties ($500-$25,000) assessed for each violation. Criminal penalties include possible prison time and fines from $25,000-$50,000.”

Read more »

Louisiana lawmakers propose prayer to stop oil disaster [CNN]

The joke just writes itself, really.

I mean, I’m not expecting Tony to go to NASCAR events or high school football games in September on Friday nights.  But: for fuck’s sake.

(Incidentally, Barry & Plugz went golfing on Saturday, according to same linked wire article.  A little less upper-crust than yachting, to be fair.  But still — noted.)

ADD: For no good reason, post-jump…. Yacht Rock.

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In one of the more memorable scenes of Casablanca, French police captain Louis Renault feigns shock at the uncovering of a secret gambling room at the rear of Rick’s Cafe Americain. Just moments later, with perfect comic timing, an employee of the establishment walks up to Renault and hands him the proceeds from his winnings that evening.

I couldn’t help but think of this moment when I came across a story in Slate’s news digest section titled “Partner in damaged oil well slams BP for ‘reckless’ actions — and inaction.” Read more »

Title: “The Road to Serfdom”

Author: F.A. Hayek

Rank: 4

Blurb: “Originally published in 1944 — when Eleanor Roosevelt supported the efforts of Stalin, and Albert Einstein subscribed lock, stock, and barrel to the socialist program — The Road to Serfdom was seen as heretical for its passionate warning against the dangers of state control over the means of production.”

Review: “This guy is well spoken and insightful. But beyond that his style makes his writing hard to follow. Preferably books ought to be written in the most easily understood and comprehended form. This author’s style is one where the sentences are long and filled with commas and interjections. Also the text is somewhat old so the phrasing and expressions sometimes were extremely hard for me to understand.”

Customers Also Bought: “Ayn Rand Box Set”

Footnote: Hayek in the Amazon Top Ten? Glenn Beck, of course. Let’s see Oprah do that.

The Road to Serfdom [Amazon]

Buy or Die [Stinque@Amazon kickback link]