Porn, Dogs, Federalism and other stuff I would have blogged about

I am in London stuck in a 12 hour transit, catching up on some reading I've missed during the last couple of weeks. There's a bunch of people I know in the city, but the immigration chaps won't let me go out, because, I'm um, Sri Lankan. In any case, now that I'm coming home, regular programing on this blog would commence, I think.

What follows is some stuff I probably would have blogged about had I stayed home the last few weeks.

• Just before I left the country, His Excellency (no doubt under the influence of the JHU, the all-monk party in government) banned Internet porn in Sri Lanka. Now they seem to have some adult password, for people who still want to watch porn, going against our Buddhist morals. Or something like that. There's a new satirical blog on the issue. Very entertaining.
  
  
• Zimbabwe, which has the world's highest inflation, has a new currency -- gasoline coupons. More at the Beacon, Independent Institutes's revitalized blog which is latest addition to my 'regular reads' list. (initial pointer via Tyler Cowen)
  
  
• Here's a great video on School Choice from Yes, Prime Minister. British Comedy at it's best. (HT: Club for Growth)
  
  
• The Mint has an article on privatizing dogs as a solution for the problem of stray dogs in India. That is, basically all dogs should be owned by someone and stray dogs should be put on sale by the municipalities to be purchased by anyone including animal rights activists. I agree in principle, although I don't see this happening. That's not a reason for not discussing it though. First step in changing things is spreading ideas.
  
  
• and finally via Amit Varma links to these two very interesting pieces on the Kashmiri Secessionist tendencies. This by Swaminathan Aiyar for TOI and Vir Sanghavi for Hindustan Times. The situation in Kashmir, in my opinion, weakens the case of the Sri Lankan federalists as a solution for the conflict here. For every example of successful integration with greater regional autonomy, there are counter examples. Nation building is indeed a complex science. It's rather fitting then, that I was in Quebec for the last two weeks. More on that later.