The Middle Kingdom
Has the so-called Great Firewall of China finally gone too far? Green Damlink. This is the great question of the 21st century: will the Chinese continue to tolerate being controlled, allowing a corrupt and bullying government to make decisions for them, or will freedom be demanded and allowed to flourish in the P.R.C.? Is the contest between ancient Confucian order and modern Western liberty, or will China forge a third way? (Not, it is hoped, the corporatist and fascist "third ways" of the 20th century.) Sorry, guys, I'm all questions, I haven't reached any conclusions so I don't have even speculative answers.

Obamboozled
It must be great to be President Obama: Iraqlink. He opposed the invasion of Iraq and the overthrow of the Ba'athist dictatorship, but now says the Iraqis are "better off" without Saddam Hussein. He intoned gravely that "the surge" wouldn't work, but now that it has he gets to claim the glory for our hard-won victory. Note to self: let other people do the hard work and while they are distracted focus all your energy on grabbing the credit they so richly deserve. Sure, it seems cheap and sleazy, but if our sainted president, the world's hero, does it it must be above board.

Just like climbing in bed with Tony Rezko.

The Rebel Black Dot Song of the Day
Michael Jackson, "The Way You Make Me Feel" from Bad (T.L.A.M.)