This is a daily collection of links, some with commentary, to news stories and interesting blog posts. It will be updated throughout the day with a new timestamp for the updates.

Scroll down for today's other posts.

• The New Blog Carnival is up at Jim's place. It's a great way to find new and interesting voices.
• Rich Kuslan continues his look at Chinese management style. If you thought your boss was bad, read this.
• In his typically lucid style, David Webb explains the tangled world of IPOs in Hong Kong, including what to watch for and when to invest in the IPOs. David Webb is truly one of Hong Kong's greatest resources. If only the media could learn from him.
• From Philip Bowring in the IHT on Condi Rice's trip to Asia: The proposed appointment of Paul Wolfowitz to the World Bank also irritates developing Asia as much as Europe. You see Philip knows the minds of every Asian government without having to provide proof. It is because he says it is.
• Rebecca MacKinnon interviews Isaac Mao over the crackdown on internet bulliten boards in China. Isaac has more information and local reaction. Fons and Danwei also have more. CDT reports the crackdown is part of an increased monitoring of cyberspace in China. Update: ESWN translates some of the more interesting Chinese language documents on the great Chinese BBS crackdown, including the subversive use of Chairman Mao's own words.
• (13:31) Hemlock today:

  Meanwhile, the epic term-of-office charade slowly unfolds, as pro-Beijing dinosaurs spit out threats of Basic Law interpretation should any treacherous wretch have the audacity to prompt Hong Kong courts to challenge the will of the Central People’s Government. Out of seven million people, there’s bound to be a treacherous wretch. Maybe two.

  As part of the team planning to prepare public opinion for this eventuality, Winky is having a slight crisis of conscience. “Looks like reinterpretation of the Basic Law is a done deal,” she says, trying to sound relaxed and positive. “The community will have to understand – the only alternative is potential chaos.” But first, I suspect, she needs to understand it herself. I gently point out other alternatives. The Government could simply obey the law as written. Or the part of the Basic Law that Beijing won’t obey could be amended. She rolls her eyes and tells me I’m not being funny.

  It gets worse. She leans forward and lowers her voice. “There’s a feeling that a third interpretation will help make the procedure seem more ‘normal’. So when it happens the fourth time and a fifth time, people will just accept…” I bang my chopstick against her bowl and cut in. What fourth time? She winces slightly. “There’s a court case… A certain, um, class of people are claiming permanent residency.” I whip out my ID card and point to the wording saying I have right of abode. “Don’t be silly,” she snaps. “It doesn’t affect gwailos.” Maybe they’re saving that for the fifth time.

• (15:57) A key difference between China and Japan. In China, they steal manhole covers and sell them for scrap. In Japan, they have manhole cover websites.
• Yesterday I pointed out Xiaxue had made the big time. Both Mr Brown and Mr Miyagi are trying to emulate Xiaxue and make it onto Tony Pierce's excellent blog. Lads, send me the t-shirt and I'll proudly wear it. Even better, send this t-shirt. Best of all, send me one with Adri...you can use the famous interview photo. Update: Mr Brown has started "I'm too sexy for my blog" Project. If only I understood Flickr...
• The SCMP group have won the contract for China's version of In Style magazine. This could be a win-win situation. Just shift half their staff from the newspaper and viola.
• (17:07) BD reports the EU is postponing plans to lift is arms embargo on China. I understand that American pressure has helped. But I'm puzzled by this: European nations have been shaken by the recent adoption of legislation by the Chinese National People's Congress authorizing the use of force to stop Taiwan from seceding. The Chinese action, they said, jolted France and undercut its moves to end the embargo before June. The anti-secession law had been flagged for months before its enactment. The drafting was announced in December 2004. The final text contained no surprises and if anything was slightly milder than feared. If the EU has been surprised by the very predictable reaction their diplomats are oblivious to the world around them. It begs the question - what is the EU actually for? Or in clearer terms - does its benefits outweigh its costs (and not just monetary)?