An Amazing View of North Korea - with Google Earth

With the death of Kim Jong Il and the (apparent) assumption of power by his son Kim Jong Un, many Americans are being reminded of the incredible isolation of North Korea.  Well, I happened across an extraordinary collection of data concerning the hermit kingdom of Pyongyang.  Using Google Earth as a platform, "North Korea Uncovered" is a massive undertaking; one finds everything from propaganda efforts to dams and prison camps documented, with more than a few links to additional online sources for more information.  In some ways, it's like a travelogue for a country you'll probably never be able to visit.  I find this stuff fascinating, and thought you might like to take a look; the KMZ file can be downloaded from the link below.

North Korea Uncovered (Google Earth .kmz file)

Polyvinyl Records Celebrates 15 Years - With a Free Sampler!

Polyvinyl Records, based in Champaign, IL, is something of a rare breed among music labels.  From the beginning, their business model has been based on a straightforward 50-50 revenue split with every artist.  I like that.  They're celebrating their 15th anniversary with a free sampler - and I like that even better!  Vivian Girls, Of Montreal, Joan of Arc, and 27 other Polyvinyl artists await you on this sampler.  Grab and enjoy!

Polyvinyl 15-Year Sampler

"Amish" Party Mix - An Easy-to-Make Treat

This is serious holiday food.  Seriously, you want to give this recipe a try.  In my family, this stuff disappears in a proverbial eyeblink.

White Chocolate Party Mix: Ohio's Amish Country Recipe from Eyewitness News