China blocks Internet access
 

As most of you already know, China has blocked access to Google.

Google is getting all the press, but access is also blocked to altavista.com.

Fortunately, the powers that be in China don't understand the Internet. Access to excellent search engines is still available at www.alltheweb.com and www.vivisimo.com. and www.teoma.com.

The good news is ... our members in China can still access the Cellar. I predict democracy in China within the next five years!

I learned something interesting about China this week. Apparently, you can have any polititcal party you want, IF you make a sworn statement that Chinese Communist Party is the best leader of the state. Can anyone confirm or deny this? If it's true, that gives really interesting implications to our notions of tyranny. Imagine trying to start a political party in the United States (or any of the modern Western countries) where your express purpose is to overthrow the Constitution. I wonder who would come knocking on your door real quickly.

Holding most elective offices requires you to take an oath to uphold the constitution. Not that it means anything to any of 'em...