I strongly object to my earlier comment about this utterly worthless article being deleted.

The only possible grounds for deletion were that I called Krich a "racist prick" for his ridiculously offensive "joke" about arrested rioters being "possibly beheaded". I stand by that assessment. Considering the last "beheadings" that took place in China were committed by the invading Japanese, it's a ugly, ugly slur.

The only way the "joke" can be "funny" is if the reader accepts that yes, that's the sort of extreme thing the Chinese would do -- which is just pure hateful racism no matter how you slice it.

The Chinese do, indeed, perpetually compete with the USA to see how many of their own citizens they can execute, but in fact the "rioters" in question were released the same afternoon, as was reported by the unimpeachable SCMP, among other sources.

Or is he telecommuting? I know "virtually" being there is all the rage, but I would have thought that if a journalist says he is somewhere, that he does actually have to be there. Or does that rule not apply here?

...the Beijingers I met yesterday had certainly not heard about it [the murder/suicide]...

That's interesting, because all the Beijingers I talked to yesterday certainly had, and lamented at how it might reflect on China. In fact, Salon's own King Kaufman reported the very same thing.

Where are you really, Krich? Just faxing it in, eh?

[that the victims weren't specifically identifiable as "American"]...seems highly suspect, in a town where almost everyone has some kind of pass hanging around their necks.

Almost everyone who plans on entering an Olympic venue does, of course, as do the army of unpaid, friendly volunteers that are on every street corner hoping that someone will need directions / a map / a bottle of water. But hardly anyone on the subway I took this morning wore a pass (thousands of people), nor does anyone in my office complex where thousands work, despite the fact that passes are required for entry.

Again, where are you really, Krich? Emailing from Brooklyn?

[the heavy security is] ... to prevent the Chinese people themselves from rising up to protest that the high walls are here, as they have been for eternity.

Do you actually, when you are given an assignment, do any research whatsoever or do you just make shit up? There are, on any given day, half a dozen protests scattered across China. Taking to the streets is something that the Chinese people do regularly. The fact that it isn't often reported in the state media (although HK media covers it pretty well) is certainly regrettable. But arguing that the security surrounding the Olympics (did you go to Athens? Did you speak to anyone who went? Again, did you do any research at all?) is to "prevent the Chinese people from rising" is just idiotic.

One last time: where in the world are you, Krich? Because even if you actually are physically in Beijing, you must have left the important parts -- your eyes and ears (and brain) -- at home.

...exactly the same moment he deviates from the "Mao suits, bicycles, and self-criticism in the park" 1970s National Geographic China that he sees in his head and writes about.

That's not the China I live in (and have for many years). That China disappeared two decades ago.

You know what I saw on the way home this afternoon? The Australian cycling team, out for a ride along the Badaling Freeway service road. They had probably ridden several tens of kilometres from the cycling center. They were mixing it up with cars, trucks, taxis, and those blue three-wheel ag-trucks you still see outside the 5th Ring Road in Beijing. They were totally un-escorted. They hadn't even bothered to bring a trailing amenities car -- although I'm sure one was available to them. Beijingers watched them go by. Lots smiled. Many waved. I shouted "Go Aussies!" from my taxi window, and punched the air, and the lead rider looked over and grinned.

THAT is the Olympic experience in Beijing, if only Krich will open his eyes. Athletes out and about enjoying the city. A 24-hour party at the "big screen" venues. Regular Beijingers hurrying home to watch local heroes -- only miles away -- competing for gold. Local people who have tickets queuing for the special buses to go see events.

So I ask again: where are you, Krich? Come on over, Beijing is fine...

Today recent Chinese transplants outnumber the Tibetan population in their own homeland.

No, they do not. Tibet is approximately 90% ethnic Tibetan.

Han Chinese outnumber Tibetans in Lhasa (Tibet's capital) --- which probably explains how this unfortunately common internet meme got started. But Lhasa isn't Tibet.

A simple fact-check is, surely, a basic requirement of responsible journalism? Especially when the fact in question dramatically amplifies the article's conclusions?