Blaer

Jefferson once warned that, 'the natural progress of things is for Liberty to yield and Government to gain ground.'

People in Iceland have plenty to choose from regarding a baby's name. Specifically, 1,712 names for boys and 1,853 for girls. One girl, Blaer Bjarkardottir has been fighting this pointless regulation for 15 years because her chosen name 'Blaer' was not approved. In Icelandic, 'Blaer' means 'light breeze'. For 15 years, and until a resolution can be reached, Blare does not have a name, for real. In all of her official documents, such as school records, banking, passport, Blaer are referred to as 'Stulka (a girl)'.

Chinese, on the other hand, enjoy broad freedom in name choices.

On the other hand, the 'Southern Weekends', an influential newspaper is protesting censorship to its special new year's edition. After the paper had been sent to the printing plant, the Propaganda Department of Guangdong Province made a number of major changes, on the title, the package, the editorial and many reports. None of the reporters and editors were informed of these changes. Some employees who discussed these online found their Weibo accounts suspended.

"Even during the Occupation, Japs did not write editorial for Chinese newspaper," commented a reader.

For a while, it seemed the Xi-Li administration was bringing in new hope since they assumed the reign as new generation Party leaders last November. The 'light breeze' of the power transition lasted less than a month.

Update: At the daily press brief held by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs on January 4th, spokeswoman Hua Chunying stated there was no news censorship in China, in response to a question regarding the 'Southern Weekends incident' from a Japanese reporter.