. >> the chrysanthemum is sometimes seen as a symbol of nobility. this is more than symbolic. leading journalists at southern weekly have called for the propaganda chief hu change the editorial to resign. -- lou change the editorial to resign. they have begun a strike. >> to protest the propaganda. >> with more than 1.5 million readers, southern weekly is particularly influential. this case is being seen by many people as a challenge for the new chinese leadership. the editorial used a phrase that he had previously used. >> this is a problem not just for his rhetoric, but going forward because of social media. in the kind of language put out by the official press can be subverted by a call for constitutionalism. >> it will tell us much about what sort of china they want to run it. >> googles executive chairman has arrived on a controversial mission to north korea. it is part of a delegation led by the former governor of new mexico. the u.s. state department has criticized the trip, calling it on helpful. richardson disagrees. >> we are here as individual american citizens look

and they laid down chrysanthemums to back up their accusation. the flower is traditionally handed out at funerals in china. >> translator: it's a violation of our rights. i can't stand it. we're at the boiling point. >> reporter: things have been heating up for several days. plants have run a new year's message, calling for greater democracy and more freedom of speech. but the journalists say local authority has ordered major edits. once chinese citizens found out, they wrote message after message to show their opposition to the censorship and support for the journalists. most of their reports have been deleted. china's citizens want freedom of speech and freedom of press. but communist party officials sometimes order the media to stay away from stories that put the party or the government in a unfavorable light. staff at a newspaper affiliated with the party took the rare step of running an editorial monday calling on journalists and the protestors to calm down. but some chinese aren't listening. they feel that censors went too far. about a doze

they laid chrysanthemums, a flower traditionally used that chinese funerals. the demonstration came after government censors blocked a new year's article in the popular liberal newspaper, calling for greater reforms from the communist party's newly elected leader xi jinping. egypt has resumed talks with the international monetary fund over a 3.6 billion euro loan to help stabilize the country's currency. >> the value of the egyptian pound has slid to record lows against the us dollar in recent weeks as egyptian purchase foreign currencies out of fear the economy could collapse. two years of political upheaval have discouraged foreign investors and caused a sharp drop in tourism, one of egypt's most important industries. the imf loan was originally agreed on in november, but then delayed by cairo as the government rushed to approve a controversial new constitution. >> germany's former president, christian wulff, and his wife have separated less than a year after he resigned in disgrace over corruption allegations. lawyers representing them confirmed the split a

hydrangeas, chrysanthemums, and whilst dahlias in rich, deep shades as they make their way to the baggage area. they can access behind-the- scenes information and interviews with the artist through an audio to work. it features archival audio as well as interviews with living artists. he can be accessed on site by dialing the telephone numbers located near the artwork or by visiting the commission's web site. the public art speaks volumes of san francisco as a world-class city with world-class art and culture. for more information, visit >> when the new california academy of sciences opened in 2008, it quickly became one of the top tourist magnets in the city. part of the cal academies' astronomical success is the weekly nightlife party. >> i am joined by helen, who is here to school me on all the nocturnal activities that are getting ready to take place here. tell us a little about what we can expect to see at nightlife. >> we open up the doors every thursday night at the california academy of sciences. there are certain things you can see every week you can go to the museum, visit the p

hydrangeas, chrysanthemums, and whilst dahlias in rich, deep shades as they make their way to the baggagea. they can access behind-the- scenes information and interviews with the artist through an audio to work. it features archival audio as well as interviews with living artists. he can be accessed on site by i

they laid chrysanthemums, a flower traditionally used that chinese funerals. the demonstration came after government censors blocked a new year's article in the popular liberal newspaper, calling for greater reforms from the communist party's newly elected leader xi jinping. egypt has resumed talks with the international monetary fund over a 3.6 billion euro loan to help stabilize the country's currency. >> the value of the egyptian pound has slid to record lows against the us dollar in recent weeks as egyptian purchase foreign currencies out of fear the economy could collapse. two years of political upheaval have discouraged foreign investors and caused a sharp drop in tourism, one of egypt's most important industries. the imf loan was originally agreed on in november, but then delayed by cairo as the government rushed to approve a controversial new constitution. >> germany's former president, christian wulff, and his wife have separated less than a year after he resigned in disgrace over corruption allegations. lawyers representing them confirmed the split a

hydrangeas, chrysanthemums, and whilst dahlias in rich, deep shades as they make their way to the baggage area. they can access behind-the- scenes information and interviews with the artist through an audio to work. it features archival audio as well as interviews with living artists. he can be accessed on site by dialing the telephone numbers located near the artwork or by visiting the commission's web site. the public art speaks volumes of san francisco as a world-class city with world-class art and culture. for more information, visit >> welcome to "culturewire." today we are at recology. they are celebrate 20 years of one of the most incredibly unique artist residency programs. we are here to learn more from one of the resident artists. welcome to the show, deborah. tell us how this program began 20 years ago. >> the program began 20 years ago. our founder was an environmentalist and an activist and an artist in the 1970's. she started these street sweeping campaigns in the city. she started with kids. they had an exhibition at city hall. city officials heard about her efforts and the

hydrangeas, chrysanthemums, and whilst dahlias in rich, deep shades as they make their way to the baggage area. they can access behind-the- scenes information and interviews with the artist through an audio to work. it features archival audio as well as interviews with living artists. he can be accessed on site by dialing the telephone numbers located near the artwork or by visiting the commission's web site. the public art speaks volumes of san francisco as a world-class city with world-class art and culture. for more information, visit >> the commission will not answer questions, they can ask questions of staff after public comment is closed. so, with that, we are on item number 2 which is the president's report. >> thank you, i'll be brief, happy holidays to all and i think looking back as this is the last meeting of the year that it's been a very good year, highlighted by the passage of the 195 million dollar general obligation bond by 72% vote which was larger than the vote in 2008, and more people voted on the park bond issue than any other bond measure or proposition on the ballot

they held hand-written signs and chrysanthemums as a sign of symbolic mourning for the death of press freedom. last week, the newspaper tried to print a new year's letter calling for political reforms. censors replaced it with a story lauding the ruling communist party. google's chairman, eric schmidt, began a private visit to north korea today. he arrived with a delegation being led by former new mexico governor bill richardson, who's been to north korea numerous times in the last 20 years. schmidt hopes to get a firsthand look at north korea's social media, and richardson said they'll also ask about a south- korean-born american citizen arrested in the north last november. >> we're here as individual american citizens to look at the humanitarian situation. we're going to ask about the american detainee who is here. we're interested in the economic and political situation. we are concerned about the missile launches and we're concerned about the importance of dialogue. >> sreenivasan: north korea's most recent launch came less than a month ago. because of that the u.s. state departme

journalists went on strike and drew support from local people who laid chrysanthemums at the paper's head quarters to symbolize the deaths of free speech. >> ( translated ): this act of suppressing the freedom of the press should be changed. otherwise it's going to be detrimental to the public interests of knowing the facts. >> ( translated ): i'm near say "the southern weekly" is not alone, there are lots of people supporting them. >> reporter: in response, the communist run "global times" newspaper warned no media outlet can occupy a political special zone. but the protests quickly drew support from scholars, celebrities and microblogs across china. late today came reports the local communist party chief has offered to let southern weekly's journalists avoid punishment if they call off the strike. in addition, seine source would lengthen their leash on the paper's content. the dispute is played out as xi jinping is ascending to the leadership of the government and the party amid hope he is might allow some reforms. despite that, chinese officials have ruled that internet users must

hydrangeas, chrysanthemums, and whilst dahlias in rich, deep shades as they make their way to the baggage area. they can access behind-the- scenes information and interviews with the artist through an audio to work. it features archival audio as well as interviews with living artists. he can be accessed on site by dialing the telephone numbers located near the artwork or by visiting the commission's web site. the public art speaks volumes of san francisco as a world-class city with world-class art and culture. for more information, visit

hydrangeas, chrysanthemums, and whilst dahlias in rich, deep shades as they make their way to the baggage area. they can access behind-the- scenes information and interviews with the artist through an audio to work. it features archival audio as well as interviews with living artists. he can be accessed on site by dialing the telephone numbers located near the artwork or by visiting the commission's web site. the public art speaks volumes of san francisco as a world-class city with world-class art and culture. for more information, visit >> [applause] >> wow. thank you very much angela. let me say -- please, please sit down. all right. that's for my has ratty. >> no, that's mine. >> angela we really miss you here. you have been such a force and i enjoy working -- we will get that done. i assure you. that's a wonderful addition. not just north beach and another attraction