Because the Chinese government knows that anonymity is a keystone of freedom.

China is moving to require people to use their real names when blogging. The proposed solution, arrived at by the Internet Society of China (affiliated with the ministry of information) would allow bloggers to use a pseudonym when blogging as long as they used their real name when registering.

(link) [Slashdot]

Mon, 23 Oct 2006 21:51 /Politics | 2 writebacks | permanent link

Apparently the main problem with the old, leather balls was that each one was slightly different, and therefore reacted slightly differently in play. To me, that's part of the game: an additional factor that is imposed on all participants equally (everybody plays the game with the same ball, after all).

Methinks Mr. Stern could use a bit of Emerson: "A foolish consistency is the hobgoblin of little minds."

AP - David Stern expected complaints, and he got plenty of them. His response: The new ball is staying.

(link) [Yahoo! News: Top Stories]

Mon, 23 Oct 2006 20:18 /Home | 0 writebacks | permanent link

"Physical dependence"? Ohmigod! Call the DEA! Call the FDA! Regulate it! Control it! Minimum ages! Maximum ages! Warning labels!

One cup of decaf and the next thing you know you're shootin' smack!

Decaf coffee is often not totally caffeine-free, a new study shows. In fact, while these beverages have far less caffeine than a cup of regular coffee, they still may have enough of the stimulant to cause physical dependence on them.

(link) [CNN]

Mon, 23 Oct 2006 17:41 /Politics | 0 writebacks | permanent link