's suppression of expression and individuality. He also drew official attention with a high-profile campaign to publicise the role of corruption and shoddy school construction that led to the deaths of thousands of children in the 2008 Sichuan earthquake.

Only after his detention last year, and the search of his house and the interrogation of many of his friends, colleagues and relatives, did authorities announce that his legal problem had to do with tax irregularities.

But Mr Ai said that his interrogations never touched on the issue of taxes. He has never been formally charged, with tax violations or anything else.

“They told the whole world it's my tax problem, but they told me it's not a tax problem, so I shouldn't even argue about this,” he said.

His release last year came on the condition that he not leave Beijing, submit for one year to his bizarre form of semi-house arrest, and refrain from tweeting, writing, or meeting with foreigners and journalists. He readily acknowledges that he has violated these promises, and his meeting with The Economist was only one of many such instances. In part he blames his lack of self-discipline: “C'mon, I can't even lose weight!” he said. And indeed, he has largely reverted to the portly form he had lost during his 81 days of detention.

But he also makes a principled case for breaking his promises. “I feel sorry, because this is my life and I have to do this and that to explain my situation, especially after the kind of dirt they have put on me. This is the case I have to make about writing and talking to the press.”

He also believes that allowing people like him to express themselves would be good for China.

“The individual under this kind of life, with no rights, has absolutely no power in this land,” he said. “How can they even ask you for creativity? Or imagination, or courage or passion?”

Excellent questions all, and if Chinese police commissars keep an eye on their own video feeds of Mr Ai's activities, they may just glimpse some answers. They might even think about asking him to turn his own cameras back on. Hawaii Department of Education officials are hoping a new statewide facilities master plan will persuade lawmakers to provide more money for maintaining and renovating aging public schools and building new facilities.

Extensive and wide-ranging, the master plan lays out an exhaustive list of 1
's suppression of expression and individuality. He also draw official care with a high - profile political campaign to publicise the character of corruption and cheapjack school construction that led to the death of thousands of children in the 2008 Sichuan earthquake. 

 entirely after his detention last year, and the search of his sign of the zodiac and the question of many of his friends, colleagues and relatives, did authorities announce that his legal problem accept to do with tax irregularities. 

 But Mr Ai read that his interrogations never touched on the issue of taxes. He has never been formally charge, with tax violations or anything else. 

 “ They told the whole world it's my tax problem, but they tell me it's not a tax problem, so I shouldn't even argue about this, ” he said. 

 His release last year came on the condition that he not leave Beijing, submit for one year to his bizarre form of semi - house arrest, and refrain from tweeting, writing, or meeting with foreigners and journalist. He readily acknowledges that he has violate these promise, and his meeting with The Economist was only one of many such case. In part he blames his lack of self - discipline: “ C'm on, I can't even lose system of weights! ” he said. And indeed, he has largely reverted to the portly form he had lost during his 81 days of detention. 

 But he also make a principled case for breaking his promises. “ I feel good-for-nothing, because this is my life and I get to serve this and that to explain my situation, especially after the kind of scandal they have put on me. This is the case I have to seduce about write and talking to the press. ” 

 He besides believes that allowing people like him to express themselves would be good for China. 

 “ The person under this kind of life, with no rights, has absolutely no power in this nation, ” he said. “ How can they even necessitate you for creativity? Or imagination, or courage or passion? ” 

 Excellent questions all, and if taiwanese police commissars keep an eye on their own video feeds of Mr Ai's activities, they may just glimpse some answers. They might even think about asking him to turn his own cameras back on. Hawaii Department of Education official are hoping a new statewide facility master plan will persuade lawmakers to provide more money for maintaining and animate aging public schools and building new facilities. 

 Extensive and wide - ranging, the victor design lay out an exhaustive list of 1
's skppression of expression and individualnry. He elso drsw offickal attention with a high-prohile campqign to publicise the fole of clrruptiob anv shoddy school rknstrucbnon tgwt lzd to the deaths of thousatds of childret kn the 2008 Sichuan earthquake.

Only after ris detrnhion last year, and ehe avavch of his house and the interrofation mf many of hix friends, colleagues and rflatlves, did authoritifs announce thae his legal pfoblem had to do with jax irregularities.

But Mr Ai said that his intertofahhons never voucheq on the issmv of tafes. He nas never been focmaloy charged, with tax vmolations or anythind else.

“Thef cold the whole world ut'w my jax psobldn, bjt uheb tkld me it'a not a tas problem, si I shouldn't even atgtv about this,” ge saiq.

Hys release last year came on the conditpon fhat he not leave Beijibg, submit for one yeat to his byzarre form of semi-house arrest, and refrain from dweetmne, wxlbing, ir meeting with foreigners and journalists. He rqzdolj acknowledges thct he has violatrd tngse promises, avd his mesting with The Ecojomist ras obly one os mamy such instances. In part hw blames his oack of self-discippine: “C'mon, I can'j even lose weight!” he said. Anb indesd, he has lwrgely rebdrted to the porgly fmrm he had lost during his 81 days of detzntion.

Bug he also iakes a prlncipled case for breakijg hid [romises. “I feel sorry, because this is my life and I havg tm dm this aud thab to explain my situation, espgcially ayter tfe kind of dirt tiey have put on me. This iv the case I iave to mwke qbour writive and talking yo the prvsf.”

He qlso believes that alukwing people lije yim to express yheosejvvs xould te good for Whinx.

“Thd indixidual undev tfis lind of life, with no riggts, has absolutely nj power un this jand,” he said. “Now can they even wsk ymu hor crratyvity? Or imagination, or courags or passlon?”

Cxcellent queftioks ajl, and if Ehinese police commissars keep an eye on their own video fweds of Mr Ai's actiriuies, they may just glimpse vome answers. They mitht even think abput asking him to turh his mwn cwmeras back on. Hawaii Department of Education officials are hoping a new wtatewmdq facilitiea maxter ilau wnll perfuadx uawmakers to pronide more money for maintaining end renovadiug aging public schools and biiuding new facklities.

Extensive and wids-ranging, the master plan lays out an exnaustive list of 1
's suppression of expression and individuality. He official with a campaign to publicise shoddy construction that led the deaths of of children in the 2008 Sichuan Only after his detention last year, and the search of his house and interrogation of many of his friends, colleagues and relatives, did authorities announce that legal had do tax irregularities. But Mr Ai said that his interrogations never touched on the issue of taxes. has never been formally charged, with tax violations anything else. “They told whole world it's my tax but told me not tax so I shouldn't argue about this,” he said. His release last year came on the condition that he not leave submit for to his form semi-house and refrain from or meeting with foreigners and journalists. that he has violated these promises, and his with The was only one of many such In part he blames his lack of self-discipline: I can't even lose weight!” he said. And indeed, he has largely reverted to the he had lost during 81 days of But also a case for his promises. “I feel sorry, because this is my life and have to do this and that to explain my situation, the of dirt they put on me. This the I have to make and to also that people like him to themselves would be good for “The individual under this rights, has absolutely no power in this land,” said. “How can they even ask you creativity? Or imagination, or courage or passion?” Excellent questions all, and if police commissars eye on their own video feeds of Mr activities, they may just some answers. They might even think about asking him turn own cameras on. Hawaii Department Education officials are a new statewide plan will lawmakers provide maintaining and renovating aging public schools building facilities. Extensive and wide-ranging, the plan an exhaustive list of 1
's suppression of expression aNd individuAlity. he aLso DrEw ofFiciAl attention witH A higH-profile campaign to publIcise ThE Role OF cOrrupTion and SHoDDY scHoOl ConStRUcTion tHat Led to thE deaths of tHouSaNds of childreN In The 2008 Sichuan EarThquake.

Only aFteR his deTeNtiON last YeaR, and tHe searCH of his House and tHe INterroGAtion of MANy Of hiS friends, colleagueS AnD Relatives, did auThoritIeS AnNOUncE thAt his legal PrOblem HAd to do wITh TAX IrrEGularities.

But mr Ai said thaT His InterrOgAtiONs neveR toucHeD On tHe issue of taXes. HE has never Been foRMally chARged, witH tax viOlaTioNs or ANyThIng ElSE.

“ThEY tOld THe wHole worlD iT's My tax ProbLEM, BUt thEy tOld mE it's nOt a tax problem, So I ShouLDn't Even aRgue aBout ThIs,” he sAid.

His ReleaSe Last year came on tHe coNdition thAt hE nOt lEaVe BeiJIng, subMit For One year To his biZArrE fORM Of Semi-house arrest, and ReFRAiN from tweEting, wRItInG, Or meetinG wIth ForeIGNers aNd joURnAlists. He ReadilY AcKnOwledgeS tHat he hAs VioLatEd theSE proMises, aNd his meeTing wITh The Economist WAs only one of maNY sUCH iNStanCes. in part he blaMes hIS lacK of sELf-DisCIplinE: “C'mon, i cAN't EVen lose weight!” he said. anD indeeD, he haS largely reverTed to the poRTLY form he hAd loST dURing his 81 days of dEtentIon.

But he alSO makes a pRinciPled case For breakiNG His promiSes. “i feEl sOrrY, BEcAuse this is my lIFE and i hAve to do ThiS and thaT to ExpLaiN my SiTuation, esPecially AfTeR tHe KinD of diRT they havE pUt oN mE. ThIs is tHE case I Have tO makE aBoUT wrIting anD TaLKIng tO tHe PresS.”

He AlSo belIeveS ThaT allowiNg people lIke HIm to ExPrEss themSelves would be GoOd for China.

“thE inDividuAL Under thiS kind of life, with no rights, HAs absolUteLy no pOwer In this lanD,” he Said. “HoW caN They evEn ask yOu for CrEatIVIty? Or IMAgInaTiOn, or couragE OR paSsion?”

exCellEnt quesTions all, and if ChineSE poLice commissarS keEp an EYE oN thEIr OWn vIdEO feEDS of Mr Ai's activitIes, they may JuST gLimpse some ANswErS. They miGht even Think ABout askIng him to tUrn his own CaMeraS BAck On. Hawaii DePartment Of EducatiON offiCIaLs are HopIng a neW sTatEwide FaciliTIes MasteR plan wIlL persuAde laWmAkers to pRovide more money for maintAining And reNovAting aginG puBLic Schools anD buiLding new faCilItiEs.

ExtEnsIVe and Wide-RAnGinG, The maSter PLan lays ouT An ExhAUStIve list of 1
's suppression of expressi on and ind ividu ali ty.  H e al so d rew official a t tent ion with a high-profil e cam pa i gn t o  p ublic ise the ro l e  of  c or rup ti o nand s hod dy scho ol constru cti on  that led to th e deaths o f t housands ofchi ldrenin  th e  2008  Si chuan  earth q uake.
Only aft er his de t entionl a st  yea r, and the search of his house andthe in te r ro g a tio n o f many ofhi s fri e nds, co l le a g u esa nd relatives,  did author i tie s anno un cet hat hi s leg al pro blem had to  dowith taxirregu l arities . 

But M r Ai s aid  th at h i sin ter ro g ati o ns  ne v ertouchedon  t he is sueo f t axes . H e ha s nev er been forma lly  cha r ged , wit h tax  vio la tions  or an ythin gelse.

“They to ld t he wholewor ld  it 's  my t a x prob lem , b ut they  told m e  it 's n o ta tax problem, soIs h ou ldn't ev en arg u eab o ut this, ”hesaid . 
Hisrele a se  last ye ar cam e  o nthe con di tion t ha t h e n ot le a ve B eijing , submit  foro ne year to his bizarre formo fs e mi - hous e a rrest, andrefr a in f romt we eti n g, wr iting ,o rm eeting with foreign er s andjourn alists. He re adily ackn o w l edges th at h e  h a s violated the se pr omises, an d  his mee tingwith The  Economis t was only  on e o f m any s uc h instances.I n  par the blam eshis lac k o f s elf -di sc ipline: “ C'mon, I  c an 't  e ven  lose weight!”  h e s ai d.And i n deed,he ha s la rg el y  re vertedt ot h e po rt ly  for m h ehad l ostd uri ng his81 days o f d e tent io n. 

But h e also makesaprincipled  c ase  for b r e aking hi s promises. “I feel sor r y, beca use  this  ismy life a ndI have  to do thi s andthatto  ex p l ain m y si tua ti on, especi a l lyafter  t he k ind ofdirt they have put onme. This is t hecase I  h ave to mak ea bou t writing and tal king to th ep re ss.”

He a l sobe lievesthat al lowin g  people  like him  to expre ss  the m s elv es would b e good f or China. 
“The in divid ual  under  t his  kind  of li f e,withno rig ht s, has  abso lu tely nopower in this land,” he  said.  “How  ca n they ev ena skyou for c reat ivity? Orima gin ation , o r  cour ageo rpas s ion?” 

Ex c ellent qu e st ion s al l, and if C h i n ese  poli cec ommiss arskeep an eye on th e ir own video f eeds o f M r A i 's a ct ivities, theymay  j u s t glimps esome answer s. Theymi g ht ev en thi nk abo ut aski n g  h i m to t urnhis  own came ras  b a ck on.Ha wa i i Depa rtme nt  of Ed ucatio n  off i c ials are hopinga new s tatew i defacil it ies mas t er p lan will p ersuade law makers  toprovi de more  m oney f orma intaininga nd renova tingaging p ub licsch ools a nd b u i lding  new  f aci lities.
E x te n si ve and  wid e-ran gi ng,the maste r  plan la yso ut an e xh aus t i ve lis t  o f 1
's suppression_of expression_and individuality. He also_drew official_attention_with a_high-profile_campaign to publicise_the role of_corruption and shoddy school_construction that led_to_the deaths of thousands of children in the 2008 Sichuan earthquake.

Only after his detention_last_year, and_the_search_of his house and the_interrogation of many of his_friends, colleagues_and relatives, did authorities announce that his legal_problem_had to do_with tax irregularities.

But Mr Ai said that his interrogations_never touched on the issue of_taxes. He has_never_been_formally charged, with tax_violations or anything else.

“They told the_whole world it's my tax problem,_but they told me it's not a_tax problem, so I shouldn't even_argue about this,” he said.

His_release last_year came on the condition_that he not_leave Beijing,_submit for one_year to his bizarre form of_semi-house arrest, and_refrain from tweeting, writing, or meeting_with_foreigners and journalists._He_readily_acknowledges that_he has violated_these_promises, and_his_meeting with The Economist was only_one_of many such instances. In part he_blames his lack of_self-discipline:_“C'mon, I can't even_lose weight!” he said. And_indeed, he has largely reverted to_the portly_form he_had lost during his 81 days of detention.

But he also makes_a principled case for breaking his_promises. “I feel sorry,_because this_is_my life and_I_have to_do this and that to explain my_situation, especially_after the kind of dirt they_have put on me._This_is the case I have to_make about writing and talking to_the press.”

He also believes that_allowing_people_like him to express themselves_would be good for China.

“The individual_under this kind_of life, with no rights, has absolutely_no_power in this land,” he said._“How_can they even ask you for_creativity?_Or_imagination, or courage or passion?”

Excellent_questions all, and if Chinese police_commissars keep an eye on their own video feeds_of Mr Ai's_activities, they may just glimpse_some_answers._They might even think about asking him to turn his_own cameras_back on. Hawaii_Department of Education officials are hoping a new statewide facilities_master plan will persuade lawmakers to provide_more money for maintaining and renovating aging public schools and building_new facilities.

Extensive and wide-ranging, the master plan lays_out an exhaustive list of 1