Who is johnsmith9876?

An unabashed China defender / Time Asia blog contributor (see here), described as "essential to the survival of this blog, and perhaps many other blogs that discuss China issues." Or just a corporal in China's 50 Cent Army?

The Time blog lost a significant chunk of its readers after it got blocked in China -- a counterproductive move by the PRC censors, since the only people who read the blog (or at least commented), it seemed, were zealous Chinese nationals living within China -- but it's good to see johnsmith9876 keeping it at. A brave one-handed clapper alone in a forest of falling trees.