14 January, Juche 114 -

Today officials from the Ministry of Foreign Affairs confirmed that the DPRS will now maintain a concurrent web presence on Xiaohongshu. This official partnership with the People's Republic of China is intended to destroy NATO-aligned nations by indoctrinating their youth into communism. President Xi Jinping extended full diplomatic greetings to DPR Sashatown officials and promised to use the algorithm fully in our efforts. -0-

8 January, Juche 114, Central Luxury Mansion-

Citing their lack of stuffing and various injuries, Marshal Sasha today confirmed full diplomatic protections for the Happy Family under the terms of the 1951 Refugee Convention. He cited the need for humanitarian principles as a basic foundation for civil society. General Secretary Sasha Bear was last seen picking Baby Squirrel up in his mouth and throwing it across the room in front of its parents while they screamed at him in thick Texan accents, much to his delight. -0-

04 January, Juche 114, Central Luxury Mansion -

On the 10th day of Mandatory Christmas the state received the following from patriotic workers:

• twelve (12) tennis balls, type: squeaky
• one (1) squirrel, size: small
• one (1) bed rug, type: soft
• three (3) bully sticks, type: smoked
• six (6) toothbrushes [REJECTED, CASE PENDING]

Respected Comrade Sasha Bear looks forward to days 11-238 of Mandatory Christmas. Ministry of State Security officials have again warned the public that the Christmas Quota is SEPARATE from the Birthday Quota due to ongoing 37 Days of Birthday festivities, now in their 5th year.

2 August, Juche 113 -

Officials from the Ministry of Urban Management confirmed today that Respected Comrade Sasha Bear, Workers' Party of Sashatown, upgraded his state residence. The new Central Luxury Mansion has more living space, easier access to trails, air conditioning, and room for the entirety of the People's Toy Shelter. In attendance were Comrade Monkey, Comrade Bunny, Comrade Sheep, Comrade Squirrel, and five tennis balls. Marshal Sasha said, "To me according to my need", brushing off the cost to the state. Comrade Hedgehog IX was not present due to being executed for undisclosed crimes against the Democratic People's Republic of Sashatown.

7 May, Juche 113, State Academy of Science and Technology, DPR Sashatown -

Researchers have been hard at work for years to give our nation a cutting edge in technology. Now we visit unscheduled and uncensored to see what they've been up to and show YOU how it's going to change the world. Join the Sashatown Central News Agency as we unveil the grand cybernetic future for the first time.

23 April, Juche 113, DPRS -

Ministry of Culture officials issued a statement today regarding a controversial billboard which has appeared many places around Sashatown. The billboard threatened internal enemies of the state, from reactionaries to 5th columnists to NATO spies, with a helpful reminder that no weapon against General Secretary Sasha Bear will succeed. This warning was not specific or severe enough. It caused confusion amongst loyal citizens who feared they might be the target of the billboards appearing outside of their homes and workplaces, possibly sparking a visit from the Ministry of State Security.

To alleviate confusion, today the billboards have been replaced with an announcement for a Mandatory Cinco de Mayo celebration on 4 May. All residents of Sashatown must visit a Ministry of State Security office before that day to RSVP and be interviewed for safety concerns. Cinco de Mayo is a yearly celebration held on 5 May to celebrate Mexico's victory over the Second

This was my original introduction to modernism in the book form. Along with John Berger's Ways of Seeing, the documentary form is one of the best primers for the period out there. Across eight episodes it covers the history, sociopolitical context, and the ways in which modernism began to give way to postmodernism. While not an outright Marxist like Berger was, Robert Hughes' documentary series has strong critiques of art history that Marxist art theorists saw a lot of value in. From an obituary post: http://marxistupdate.blogspot.com/2012/08/robert-hughes-marxist-view.html

::: spoiler spoiler We have lost one of the great cultural commentators of our time. Equally riveting in prose or on television, Hughes had encyclopaedic knowledge and a combative but poetic style, which allowed him to communicate complex ideas about art and artists with edge and accessibility.

Most importantly he knew how to beat a path between cultural artifacts and aspects of the contemporary world in a wa