A commenter, Nick Wong, reports that The Useless Tree is blocked in China.  I looked back at the geographic data and, indeed, my hits from China have dropped significantly in the last few days.    Nick believes that all Typepad blogs are affected.  I notice, further, that the 88s (who uses Blogsome) and Granite Studio ( who uses Blogspot) are also running into the Great Firewall.  Seems like a comprehensive CCP attack against foreign bloggers.

     Can anyone provide more information on this? 

      If it is true, it is pathetic.  I am critical of the Chinese government and party from time to time, as must naturally be the case for any free thinker, but, really, if my ruminations are seen as a threat to the power of the party-state, then that party-state lives in paranoia and fear.  Lasting power is confident and open power, not afraid of simple conversation and exchange.  As long as the party-state struggles to stifle difference and debate, it’s power is frail and shallow.      

     Mr. Hu, if you really believe what you say about serving the people and building China into a great power, then don’t waste precious resources blocking blogs.

      Mr. Hu, tear down this Wall!

UPDATE: I must credit Richard, The Peking Duck, with coining the line: "Mr Hu, tear down this wall."