House Republicans push Anti-Environmental Rules

It isn't just the debt and taxes the Republicans are after, but also relaxing environmental restrictions, and its not just about what light bulbs will be sold.

House Republicans Try to Roll Back Environmental Rules - NYTimes.com

A User's Guide To The Budget Battles : NPR

Some help in understanding all of the economic news from National Public Radio in three parts

• the short-term: 2012 budget
• the medium-term: debt-ceiling debate
• the long term: the social security debate

A User's Guide To The Budget Battles : NPR: "- Sent using Google Toolbar"

Worse than Texas | The Economist

It turns out Alabama executes a higher percentage of convicts than Texas...

The death penalty: Worse than Texas | The Economist: "- Sent using Google Toolbar"

Supreme Court: Violent Video Games Protected by 1st Amendment

California enacted a law in 2005 restricting the sale or rental of violent video games to minors. In a 7-2 decision, the United States struck down that law as a violation of the free expression rights protected in the U.S. Constitution. Do you agree with the Court in this case, or do the representatives of the citizens of California have the right to enact laws they feel will protect young people (without the federal courts intervening)?

You can read the story here: Justices Reject Ban on Violent Video Games for Children

Some editorials which praise the Court's decision:

Editorials | U.S. Supreme Court got it right: Video-game ban restricts free speech


It’s Perverse, but It’s Also Pretend

(The case is Brown v. Entertainment Merchants Association.)

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:

Don't Let Ignorant People Vote?

That was the suggestion from a recent opinion piece by CNN contributor LZ Granderson:.

"We all know people who gleefully admit they know nothing about politics, don't have time to find out what the current issues are or even know how the government works, but go out and vote. Want to know why it seems Washington is run by a bunch of idiots? Blame this hiccup in our political system for starters. What's a solution? Weed out some of the ignorant by making people who want to vote first pass a test modeled on the one given to those who want to become citizens."

The full essay can be read online; here he reads and reacts to some of the letters his essay generated:

Continued Violence in Libya and Syria

From NBC News:

Visit msnbc.com for breaking news, world news, and news about the economy

More Embarassing Details on Guantanamo Bay Prison

From The Rachel Maddow Show on MSNBC:

Visit msnbc.com for breaking news, world news, and news about the economy

Series of big quakes mean more on the way?

Reprinted from the Seattle Times of Saturday, April 17:

First came 2004's killer quake and tsunami off Sumatra. Then a year ago, Chile was rocked almost as hard. Now Japan is reeling from its biggest quake in recorded history. The juxtaposition of three of the world's most powerful earthquakes within a span of seven years has some scientists asking the question: Are we in an age of megaquakes? Entire article here.

France's Burqua Ban Goes Into Effect

Is the Libya Mission Really Limited?

Did Obama sugarcoat what is really a more aggressive operation to overthrow the Qaddafi?

NewsHour Extra: News for Students | March 29, 2011 | PBS

NewsHour Extra: Political and Social Unrest Escalates to Violence in Middle East | March 29, 2011 | PBS:

What is the Exit Plan for Libya?

Gadhafi's Exit Remains Central to U.S., Coalition Strategy in Libya: "

Listen to the Audio

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Obama's Speech on Libya Highlights pt 1

From CBS News