Let this be a lesson to all of the would-be despots out there in the world:  Running a hermit kingdom based on dynastic lies and the exploitation of your population is never going to work out in the long run…even in a nation as small as North Korea. For decades, (and generations), the Kim family has ruled over the DPRK with an iron fist, pillaging the population and living in opulence and divine reverence.  Now, with Kim Jong Un still clinging to power despite a number of health concerns, it seems as though the nation is falling into complete ruin. North Korea is releasing emergency military rice reserves as its food shortage worsens, South Korea’s spy agency said Tuesday, with a heat wave and drought reducing the country’s supply. North Korea’s reported food problems come as its moribund economy continues to be battered by the protracted COVID-19 pandemic. And it could get worse still… While mass starvation and social chaos have not been reported, observers expect a further deterioration of North Korea’s food situation until the autumn harvest. Seoul’s National Intelligence Service told a closed-door parliamentary committee meeting that North Korea is supplying rice reserved for wartime use to citizens with little food, other laborers, and rural state agencies, according to Ha Tae-keung, one of the lawmakers who attended the session. North Korea’s tumultuous relationship with the global community will likely limit the amount of assistance they’ll receive from the outside world, as many nations are still engaged in heavy sanctions against the dictatorship.

The rock band Offspring have dumped their own “unsafe” drummer because he is medically unable to take the coronavirus vaccine. The band’s drummer, Pete Parada, said that he is unable to take the coronavirus vaccine because of his medical history. “Given my personal medical history and the side-effect profile of these jabs, my doctor has advised me not to get a shot at this time,” Parada claimed in a social media post. “I caught the virus over a year ago, it was mild for me – so I am confident I’d be able to handle it again, but I’m not so certain I’d survive another post-vaccination round of Guillain-Barré Syndrome which dates back to my childhood and has evolved to be progressively worse over my lifetime. Unfortunately for me, (and my family – who is hoping to keep me around a bit longer) the risks far outweigh the benefits.” But because of his medical problems, the band is dumping him. “Since I am unable to comply with what is increasingly becoming an industry mandate – it has recently been decided that I am unsafe to be around, in the studio, and on tour,” Parada continued. “I mention this because you won’t be seeing me at these upcoming shows. I also want to share my story so that anyone else experiencing the agony and isolation of getting left behind right now – knows they’re not entirely alone.” This month has seen several venues beginning to require both the acts and the fans to be vaccinated or they won’t be allowed to enter the hall. With all this, Parada’s band has dumped him. But he has no hard feelings. “I have no negative feelings towards my band. They’re doing what they believe is best for them, while I am doing the same,”…