Danwei Picks is a daily digest of the "From the Web" links found on the Danwei homepage. A feed for the links as they are posted throughout the day is available at Feedsky (in China) or Feedburner (outside China).

Shutting journalists out?: From the blog of BBC correspondent James Reynolds:

Recently, I asked whether or not the openness the Chinese authorities displayed in the immediate aftermath of the earthquake would continue. Now, after a day spent in the city of Dujiangyan trying to cover a story about bereaved parents, I can try to answer that question more fully.

A dull yarn about a disgruntled threesome: Writing for the Hollywood Reporter, Maggie Lee dismisses poet Yin Lichuan's new film, Knitting:

Reeling off traits recognizable in umpteen fest-bound independent films from China -- such as a snail's pace, minimalist plot and dialogue, and deliberate muffling of emotions -- Yin is several stitches short of creating a work of originality.

Can these guys fix Chinese basketball?: China Sports Today reports on a basketball boot camp for Chinese players conducted by top NBA and college basketball coaches.

All-seeing eyes: Mary Ann O'Donnell discusses Naomi Klein's Rolling Stone article and the accompanying photographs:

rolling stone published lee's photos to illustrate klein's report. the photographs' formal composition and klein's article become a reader's primary tools for interpreting shenzhen. however, here's the rub: in an interview, klein states that her goal is to "show how u.s. and china more and more alike, creation of a middle ground". however, the photographer, thomas lee invoked the aesthetic conventions of creative photography to organize photographic composition. in these pictures, people in the foreground are blurred, while the background is in focus. consequently, the images show a shenzhen that is depersonalized and off-kilter. for an american viewer, these pictures do not provide common ground, rather its opposite--a looming gulf that threatens to swallow anyone who would dare cross over.

Cuban athlete breaks Liu Xiang's world record: From Beijing Olympics Blog:

Cuba's Dayron Robles has toppled Liu Xiang's 110m hurdles world record. The 21-year-old clocked 12.87 seconds, beating Liu's time by just 0.01 seconds and smashing is own personal best. Liu was not racing...

...Olympic favourite in more ways than one, Liu Xiang is not only expected to successfully defend his Olympic title, but is one of the most popular athletes in the host country.