Hot off the Press: Celebrate the way we want you to edition

Excuse me for having a slow news reading week. I just wasn't into it the last seven days.

Over 200 Baltimore police cruises experienced engine problems and more than 70 had to be sidelined because their engines could not handle the increased amount of ethanol blended into the city's gasoline supply: http://greeninc.blogs.nytimes.com/2009/09/24/ethanol-hobbles-baltimore-police-fleet/?hp. I never knew that most cars can only handle a 10 percent blend. Bad news for Mr. Vilsack and ethanol's corporate interests. Also bad news to the farmers who have stopped rotating their crops and started exclusively growing corn to capitalize on the high price.

The State of Arizona is so strapped for cash that it's government office building up for lease: http://www.nytimes.com/2009/09/25/us/25phoenix.html?ref=us.

Bans against texting while driving could affect semi drivers who use computers to stay in contact with dispatchers: http://www.nytimes.com/2009/09/28/technology/28truckers.html?ref=us. Seriously, the last thing I want when I'm anywhere near an 18-wheeler on the freeway is for the driver to be reading email.

Minnesota and a number of other states are pushing to ban mandates on having health insurance, claiming it is a civil liberty to choose: http://www.nytimes.com/2009/09/29/us/29states.html?ref=us. This whole health debate is complex, and I've often thought about weighing in with my opinion (though I haven't followed it closely). However, I will say this: how come I don't have the liberty to choose not to have car insurance?