Demonstrations protesting terrible economic conditions are now sweeping Tunisia, sparked by a 26-year-old's dramatic self-immolation last month. In addition to the normal police beatdowns, the Tunisian government is frenetically censoring the Internet, arresting bloggers and a popular dissident rapper.

According to Reuters, Tunisian police arrested 22-year-old Hamada Ben-Amor—aka El General—yesterday. Ben-Amor recorded an anti-government song called "President, Your People Are Dying" and released it on the Internet. A witness said no fewer than 30 plainclothes policemen dragged him away. Also arrested were a few popular bloggers, too.

Wow, they must have much better rappers and bloggers in Tunisia than over here. Could you imagine Perez Hilton and Gucci Mane spearheading a popular uprising?