Random

✽ Fascinating. Life inside the North Korean bubble. ~ BBC News

✽ 200 years ago, countries were poor and people had a life expectancy of about 40 years. Go to the Hans Rosling link, click "Play" and watch the change. (via)

✽ The transfer of 8,000 Marines from Okinawa to Guam could be delayed by five or more years. The US government is finally starting to get it. In spite of the fact that Guam has the world's largest Kmart, a giant Home Depot, a mall, McDonald's, and some great resorts, Guam's infrastructure problems are severe. Don't be fooled by the veneer of America. ~ link

✽ More rhetoric or a serious concern? "Arizona Pastor's Worry: Criminalization of Ministry Work (because of state's new immigration law)" Frankly, in spite of the fact that I think the law is half-baked and I'm an Arizona pastor who works with immigrants, I'm not terribly worried. The cops here are stretched so thinly that generally speaking they're not going to have time to be chasing immigrants -- let alone pastors. Besides, there are worse things that can happen than getting arrested for following a divine directive.