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The US Budget Deficit in Plain English

13 December 2011

How can you explain the US budget deficit in layman’s terms? Try a paper bag and an old style font, that displays some fairly simple math.

Does this help you to understand the entire budget process and problem better? Do you think it is too simplistic?
[Via Samantha Adams.]

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Language is Data, Too — Don’t Mind It Too Much

25 April 2011

RogersCreations has created this delightful animation of Stephen Fry’s essay, “Don’t Mind Your Language“, called “Stephen Fry Kinetic Typography“. Fry decries pedants in this essay.

I enjoyed this video. As an academic, I both wish my grammar were better, yet at the same time know that language is a fluid and living beast. Ah! the [...]

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What Religion Are You?

21 April 2011
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We are told that religion and politics are the two topics that one should avoid discussing. I’m going to ignore that advice today — sort of.
When religion and politics travel in the same cart, the riders believe nothing can stand in their way. Their movement becomes headlong – faster and faster and faster. They put [...]

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Being a Google Autocompleter

4 April 2011

Can you type 34,000 words a minute? Are you psychic?
If so, you may wish to apply for a job with Google as an Autocompleter. The video below details some of the requirements of the position.

Yes, this is another one of Google’s jokes for April Fools’ Day 2011.
Happy Monday!
[Via TechCrunch.]

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GMail Motion and the Top 5 Viral Pictures of 1911

1 April 2011

Google writes: “Now you can control Gmail with your body. Learn more at http://gmail.com/motion“.

YouTube writes: “One hundred years ago on April 1, these moving pictures were the finest in the land. Hooray!”

Happy April Fools’ Day 2011!

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Clueless Discovery / Asking the “Right” Questions

22 March 2011
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A large part of life and research involves figuring out what questions to ask. Still, how do you know what questions to ask? How do you know when to keep exploring vs. accepting that what you’ve found so far is “good enough”?
I have no idea.
And neither, apparently, does this guy, whose failure to “get [...]

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Shoutout to Taming Data Readers/Tales Of Mere Existence: “How To Break Up with Your Girlfriend in 64 Easy Steps”

1 March 2011
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February 28th snuck up on me. I can thank deadlines and a shorter month for missing my end-of-month thank you to the readers of this blog. Therefore, March 1st will have to substitute as February’s end-of-month shoutout.
Thank you for reading this blog.
In honor of Valentine’s Day this past month, I cynically give you Lev Yilmaz’s [...]

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Mr. Bean Visits a Library

15 February 2011

Mr. Bean visits a library and tries to trace images in an old book.

I would call this an example of how not to tame data and information (e.g., by destroying it)!

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Bridgestone “Reply All” Super Bowl XLV Commercial

11 February 2011

Loved it #2.

Because you know you’ve done it, and you know you’d have done what he did if you could’ve.

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Motorola “Hoodies” Super Bowl XLV Commercial

7 February 2011

Loved it.

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