Monday morning roundup

The Chinese government runs into the reality that it can't "exquisitely choreograph" events outside its borders the way it did the Beijing Olympics.

Part II of David Rohde's hostage experience.

Caleb Crain's "Bootylicious", a history of pirates intermixed with book reviews on the subject, is really, really interesting. Yes, it's also six weeks old. I'm just getting caught up on New Yorkers.

I love a good dose of retail therapy as much anyone, but maybe not as much as these people. But I have to wonder why the Post has taken to basing trend stories off of people who would have, "in the old days," bought an Audi without a second thought.