Mucking In for the Olympics

Foreign Policy lists the Top 5 reasons why Beijing Will Be the Biggest, Baddest Olympics Ever. The New York Times tells the story of large teams of bricklayers being deployed to mask some of Beijing's rougher edges at the last moment. From the accompanying slideshow:



Sometimes, only a billboard is needed:



Then there's the lingering problem of lingering smog. It's not smog, according the the official Olympics blog. It's mist. Oh, and the small issue that media freedom has an uncommonly narrow definition in China. Reporters Without Borders is not at all impressed with China or the IOC.