North Korea

One of the most repressive and secretive societies in the world, the instability of North Korea's leadership creates concern around the world. Some interesting resources on North Korea:

An article about the son of Kim Jong-Il, who may be taking over for the ailing leader is the subject of this article: Rising Son.

Forbidden Art in China

More about how artists are finding ways to express displeasure with the lack of freedom to criticize China's Communist Party. Video from the New York Times:

Fighting for Human Rights in China

China has recently arrested renowned artist Ai Weiwei. His story was recently featured in Time Magazine. Read about him here.

You can see a photo gallery of other activists that have recently been jailed or harassed by the Chinese government here.

Daily Life in China

A photo slide show of Daily Life in China from the web site of Boston.com:

China: daily life

Each day, wire service photographers from around the world file photos to their member papers that fall under the category of "daily life." ...They are ordinary, random moments captured around a city or in the countryside and they give us just a glimpse of something in that particular place that we might not ordinarily be able to experience. The images in this post are by photographers from the Associated Press based in China. Again, they contain very little caption information and are intended to provide a small window into another culture perhaps far from our own yet reflecting elements of universality. (Note: These images were collected over the first three months of 2011.) -- Paula Nelson. (34 photos total)

From the New York Times:

Environmental Cost of China's Growth

When the Chinese government tried to calculate a national "Green G.D.P.," the formula showed the soaring economy in a more sober light. (Remember G.D.P. stands for Gross National Product, the total amount of goods and services produced by a nation's economy in one year.) This report is about China's attempt to balance economic growth with environmental responsibility.

The video report can be watched here. It is mostly interviews with experts, but very informative.

WA Legislature Finally Agrees on Painful Budget Cuts

We all knew it was going to be ugly, but now we've got the details. As of this writing, the House has already passed it, and the Senate should take action soon. You can read the ugly details in the Seattle Times which include less money for schools, teachers, administrators, the poor who rely on state medical programs, and college students who will probably face steep tuition increases.

Good times.

A few of the budget highlights from the Times Article:

$356 million in pay cuts, including a 1.9 percent cut for teachers and 3 percent for state workers.

$535 million cut from colleges and universities, partially offset with tuition increases.

$344 million saved by ending cost-of-living increases for certain state pension recipients.

$1.2 billion saved by suspending two education-related initiatives.

$130 million saved by reducing enrollment in the state Basic Health Plan.

$116 million saved by eliminating Disability Lifeline grants and replacing them with an essential needs and housing program.

$215 million cut to funding that reduced K-4 class sizes.

New $30 annual vehicle fee to visit state parks and other state recreational lands.

Osama bin Laden Dead - a short bio

From CBS News: