Headlines from April 2, 2012

China may ban officials from buying foreign cars, which are mostly Audis.
Stephon Marbury, two-time NBA All-Star, scores 41 points to give the Beijing Ducks China’s national title.
Riot police and firefighters respond to Kentucky fans’ excitement over beating Louisville.
Collective memory, as much as science and engineering, may save your life. Lessons from Japan’s tsunami.
1934 Fortune story on whether making and drinking wine can become an American habit.
Billboard editor takes a cruise with Weezer, Dinosaur Jr., and bearded, middle-age fans.
Life notes on joining a band when you’re nearing 40. #tmn
Round-up of products preferred for their packaging’s reusability.
Autodidacts and professors list their picks for very best textbooks.
Nice lady who gave Olive Garden nice review gets book deal with Anthony Bourdain. Nice.
Texas shoe blogger, with fans like Kanye and Lagerfeld, stays in Texas.
I think of people who can’t immediately say to the officer or clerk: hey, I’m white here. White woman understands—and doesn’t understand—racism for her daughter’s sake.
Profile of Peter Dinklage—made famous by Game of Thrones, not elf roles. #longreads
Leo da Vinci’s cover letter.
Homage to Swami Vivekananda, guru who popularized yoga and inspired Tolstoy.
Brief interviews with the craftspeople behind Damien Hirst, Rachel Whiteread, other artists.
History of the military’s “blood chit,” designed to get missing soldiers home safe.
Round-up of things that should have been invented by now.
Federal government tries to officially measure Americans’ “subjective well-being.”
Boomers and recession leave America’s youth in bad economic shape.
See also: “All About the Benjamins.”
The Walton family’s combined assets equal that of America’s bottom 150 million people. Brief on America’s future/decline, where we all serve the rich.
France’s anti-terrorism policies compared to America’s, including the “namby-pamby” Patriot Act.
After eight years and 63 stores, Starbucks has never turned a profit in France.
Manhattan pizza war finds slices being sold for 75 cents.
Reasons why the number of people living alone has skyrocketed: prosperity and the cult of the individual.
Liz Phair, Sarah Silverman, Miranda July on their first times having sex.
Success of the Kansas Jayhawks attributed to the league’s only female strength and conditioning coach.
Hannibal Lecter’s frighteningly good guide to Bach’s “Goldberg Variations.”
Brain surgery experiments show that celebs like Jennifer Aniston literally occupy neuron space.
Since 2009, Wikipedia users have battled for control of the “autofellatio” page.