A Stitch in Haste

Anyone still pretending that China's authoritarians are committed to free-market principles?
Companies in two Chinese provinces, Shandong and Hubei, have been told they must seek official consent if they want to lay off more than 40 people. The order highlights the Chinese authorities' concern over mounting job losses.
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The Chinese authorities are keen to avoid social instability, [...]

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I've been sitting on this story for over a week, trying to figure out how best to approach it. But given how utterly incomprehensible it is, I've decided that there is no "best way" to approach it:
The letter from Hampshire Social Services was as brief as it was bewildering. "Please ring me on the above [...]

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A Stitch in Haste recommends the following report from the Congressional Research Service:
Russia-Georgia Conflict in South Ossetia:
Context and Implications for U.S. Interests
Summary:
In the early 1990s, Georgia and its breakaway South Ossetia region had agreed to a Russian-mediated ceasefire that provided for Russian "peacekeepers" to be stationed in the region. Moscow extended citizenship and passports to [...]

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Posted without much comment:
A Church of England vicar could face disciplinary action for saying gay men should have "sodomy" warnings tattooed on their bodies.
The Rev Peter Mullen, who is a parish priest and rector in the City of London, made the remarks on his blog, which has since been removed from the web under [...]

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Remember the near-universal criticism Paul Krugman got back in May 2007 when he ridiculously suggested that American food was becoming downright dangerous, and had the gall to blame Milton Friedman for it?
The economic case for having the government enforce rules on food safety seems overwhelming. Consumers have no way of knowing whether the food they [...]

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It's well-known and well-documented that certain sects in the Religion of Peace are perfectly willing to sell their underage daughters into marital slavery — as early as age one.
What may not be as well known is that they will also force their gay sons into marriage — even in Britain:
Positive East is a counselling service [...]

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As is so often the case with Religion of Peace posts, not much commenting is required:
The most senior judge in Saudi Arabia has said it is permissible to kill the owners of satellite TV channels which broadcast immoral programmes.
Sheikh Salih Ibn al-Luhaydan said some "evil" entertainment programmes aired by the channels promoted debauchery.
Dozens [...]

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The collapse of IndyMac reminds us that the banking is built upon a certain amount of trust. Not only of the bankers themselves, but also of politicians. One of whom, the notorious activist legislator Charles Schumer, is accused of betraying that trust by leaking confidential information, or misinformation, about IndyMac's health, thereby starting the run [...]

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The phrase, "the games are over" can have multiple meanings in China:
Around four million Chinese youngsters are addicted to the Internet, mainly attracted by "unhealthy" online games, state media reported Friday, citing a top legislator.
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The [standing committee of the National People's Congress] has called for stricter monitoring of Internet games that have illegal or inappropriate [...]

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It's so rare for me to agree with a New York Times editorial that I feel compelled to take advantage of the occasion:
Beijing got what it wanted out of this globally televised spectacular. It reaped a huge prestige bonanza that it will surely use to promote its international influence and, we fear, further tighten its [...]

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