But it's Italy . . .

Undoubtedly the next big story in the so-called blogsphere:

Italian bloggers are protesting at a proposed law that would force them to register with the government in order to write a blog, even a personal one with no commercial purpose.

Political blogger Beppe Grillo has highlighted the passing of a draft law by Italy's Council of Ministers which he says requires every blogger to register with the state.

"The law lays out that anyone with a blog or a website has to register it with the ROC, a register of the Communications Authority, produce certificates, pay a tax, even if they provide information without any intention to make money," said Grillo on his own blog.

That's from http://www.out-law.com/page-8570

Only a few bloggers have picked up on the story, with no MSM coverage yet, so who knows if it's really true. But let's say it is - this is Italy we're talking about. Not paying taxes is a birthright there. And about half the population is listed at the local police station for having dangerous opinions, generally about someone's pasta sauce or a foreign soccer team.