state of the union
13 March 2011 | 
I’d love to see if a finer-grained city or census tract correlation bear out these findings, as well as other factors like, say, the scale of gun ownership.
Food Pyramids
I missed this when it first hit the web, but wow, that’s a striking presentation.
The Physicians Committee for Responsible Medicine published this graphic during the 2007 debate on the US Farm Bill.
Auto
There are plenty of structural issues around the crisis in the Gulf, but this one was on my mind tonight. PDF version here.
Memorial Day
Source: http://www.armytimes.com/news/2010/04/military_veterans_suicide_042210w/
While there may not be so many “unknown soldiers” any more, it seems like there are more and more forgotten ones in our midst.
Tracking the Recovery
To the Spoils, Go the Victories
2010 |
In 85 percent of House races and 83 percent of Senate races, the candidate who spent the most money ended up winning. |
2008 |
“In 93 percent of House of Representatives races and 94 percent of Senate races... the candidate who spent the most money ended up winning.” |
2006 |
“In 93 percent of House of Representatives races and 67 percent of Senate races... the candidate who spent the most money won.” |
2004 |
“In 95 percent of House races and 91 percent of Senate races... the candidate who spent the most money won.” |
2002 |
“Just over 95 percent of U.S. House races and 75 percent of Senate races were won by the candidate who spent the most money.“ |
2000 |
“The candidate who spent the most money won 98 percent of the elections for positions in the House of Representatives. In the Senate the percentage was 85 percent.” |
1998 |
“In 94 percent of Senate races and 95 percent of House races, the candidate who spent the most money won.” |
1996 |
“92 percent of House races and 88 percent of Senate races were won by the candidate who spent the most on the election.” |
There are plenty of other factors (incumbents, for instance, tend to have a big financial advantage) but I found these numbers persuasive.
Updated January 11, 2011 to include 2010 numbers.
Work! Not War!
You Don't Know the Half of It
The ACLU has posted a handful of documents they’ve pried from the CIA about the use of waterboarding on prisoners in CIA custody.
After the Director of the CIA publicly admitted that the CIA has, in fact, used waterboarding, the agency could hardly argue that this was a state secret.
The documents are, of course, heavily redacted, an insolent gesture of spite to the court, the ACLU and concerned citizens. The graphic effect is comically absurd — and chilling to imagine what else lies beneath the black. Click below for a larger image.
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