Bjork hurts Chinese government's feelings

The Chinese government will be stricter on foreign performers after singer Bjork shouted “Tibet! Tibet!” at the end of her concert in Shanghai. The outburst came after a passionate performance of her song “Declare Independence” and drew rare attention inside China to Beijing's often harsh rule over the Himalayan region. A government statement said Bjork's outburst “broke Chinese law and hurt Chinese people's feelings.”

The 210 take: The Chinese also vowed to crackdown on the scourge of swan dresses.
 

Google Maps maps Fort Sam's secrets

The Pentagon is banning Google teams from making detailed street-level-view maps of U.S. military bases after images of Fort Sam Houston ended up on the site. At least one Google crew was granted access to the local military post and took 360-degree imagery that included views of entry gates, barriers, the headquarters and other facilities.

The 210 take: Now if only the threat of military action could get Google Maps to stop giving me Michigan maps when I enter an S.A. address.

Senators want to hand Iraq tab for rebuilding

Two senators are asking congressional investigators to look at Iraq's oil revenues and see if the war-ravaged nation can pay for its own reconstruction, an effort that has been bankrolled to this point mostly by U.S. taxpayers. The senators cited testimony of then-Deputy Defense Secretary Paul Wolfowitz who told a House panel in 2003 that the U.S. would not foot the entire bill for rebuilding Iraq.

The 210 take: President Bush said Iraqis have instead spent the money on buying roses to lay at the feet of U.S. troops.
 

Smoking ban makes all the world a stage

A new ban on smoking in Minnesota restaurants contains an exception for performers in theatrical productions — a loophole you can blow smoke through. Lisa Anderson is one of several bar owners who've gotten around the ban by pronouncing their customers “actors” and offering theater night once a week. “We had some fairies and some pirates and a group of girls — I'm not sure what they were, but they had big boas and flashy makeup,” she said.

The 210 take: Sounds like a typical night at a River Walk club.
 

FAA to take a look at Southwest inspections

The Federal Aviation Administration wants Southwest Airlines to pay a $10.2 million fine for allegedly sending airplanes on nearly 60,000 flights without properly inspecting them for fuselage cracks. The Dallas-based carrier said it would vigorously contest the proposed fine — the largest levied against an airline by the FAA.

The 210 take: The airline is catching up on the inspections by asking passengers to look for cracks as they search for empty seats when they board.

From staff and wire reports