The censors have now blocked google/gmail, though not google.ca. Google.com was practically unusable this week because, while searches loaded quickly enough, clicking on any of the results was an exercise in futility. But, this latest shot, while probably short lived, is clearly a blow to the "stern". I've heard through the grapevine that our Mountain View chronies strategically hired a number princeling children upon their return to China in order to make amends for past sins, but it appears that this strategy has its limits.

To those of you who wonder why I'm not using a vpn, I quit xpress* last summer during an extended trip to other places, and when I returned, a generous FTer hooked me up with his own VPN, which worked really well until about 7 days ago.

Since I need gmail to do my job (in addition to my personal account, I have 3 business accounts), I'll figure out a new solution by the end of the weekend in the unlikely event order hasn't been restored by then.

*Edited in order to preserve the integrity of the vpn in question.