We might get harmonized if we used the word "crap" with "Olympics" and "skies during this time & period", but we sure could have some better skies last Olympic August. However, here's news: apparently, our skies have been better post-Games than pre-Games. Either that, or the Wanbao wants us to be indoctrinated that the foreign media are blowing Beijing's pollution — well, out of proportions. Better skies or blacker skies? We leave that to the readership to make the final call. Wanbao headliner done.

No road or Subway news today in the Wanbao (we know, what a tragedy). Just a warning of 10 more new SARS H1N1 patients, and the fact that North Korea went nuclear — four times again — yesterday. It's only the Yalu River that separates us from those people, folks. Not sure when we'll start >beep<ing in our pantalons if Kim decides to throw The Big One tomorrow (again, "the foreign media" has it that Kim might decide to "do a big one" on Independence Day in the US of A). All that are a little bit more on the front cover of tonight's Evening News.

A nearly unrecognizably small news article on Page 11 is our Article of the Day. There's something else to do with that strings-attached microphone at the local KTV store than to threaten someone physically with it (we won't go into the details)... in fact, the fourth KTV fest is underway for folks coming into Beijing who work at state-owned enterprises. You're also free to yodel down Peking Opera into the mic if you're so inclined. Note that you need a fairly good command of the Lingo of 1.3 Billion And Counting to have any chance of clinching pole position...

Weekends and thus a silent weekend from our end. Enjoy the weekend without number plate limits for your four-wheeled gas-mobiles... but be warned of sun, clouds and the City Oven (24°C - at least 35°C) tomorrow.