Headlines from July 24, 2008

China has more smokers than the United States has people. The week in China facts and news.
Rundown of presidential analogies from the press this year, and why they're all meaningless.
How the candidates are nicknamed in the press (Mac vs. Bam).
A free society would not shut down your blog. Blogosphere goes nuts after a soldier's blog is banned.
Your opinion sought: what is the most racist city in the States?
Do burglars read Ask Metafilter?
Lock-picking hobbyists reveal trade secrets on YouTube, worrying locksmiths about their jobs, homeowners about their locks.
Interactive guide to prosecutable offenses made by the Bush White House.
To defend yourself against the powers of advertisers, turn to the wisdom of wizards.
Google competes for Wikipedia wisdom with Knol; remembering your Google virginity.
I can still see Henrik standing on the track, awaiting the inevitable. Account from subway driver who killed a man.
Examples of what you can buy for five bucks.
Download for the commute: Martin the tailor.
Man mows Mona Lisa into suburban garden lawn.
She got the better arc, and her journeys were always more intricate and moving. Ode to Scully.
Months after McCain, Obama visits the same rocket-destroyed house in Israel, enjoys their support.
No reporters left behind: McCain camp appreciative for those not traveling with Obama.
McCain makes historic "FIRST!" visit to the internet.
American voters may be uninformed, but they're consistent--and that's why their candidates love them.
"That giant of a nation is like a Cyclops, with but one eye, that can focus only on one problem at a time." Providence P.D. fights terror, funding threats.
"Free speech zones" set up in Beijing, protesters should expect food, drink, arrest on departure.
Gun-hating family thrilled for son on Olympic shooting team; Lebanese Olympian has difficulty acquiring shotgun.
China hangs its Olympic basketball dreams on the very tall hook of Yao Ming.
"Don't ask about personal experience." China issues list of things locals should not ask tourists.
French factory finally meets clean-air guidelines, profits more from selling carbon credits than manufacturing.
Beirut's terrorist-themed restaurant may be tasteless, but is it worse than a hospital- or jail-themed eatery?
"It's been like Coca-Cola." After some image problems, Blackwater decides to quit the mercenary business.
The most controversial library books in America--Huckleberry Finn is still racist.