For some reason, I really like this HTC Touch commercial
via youtube.com
Probably because it is so true. ... Especially the part when the guy is all yelling at his phone. I do that a lot, even though I also love it.
Nov 22
Nov 21
Instrument panel of the 2011 Chevrolet Volt is visually disgusting.
via nytimes.com
Hmm, let's see: 11 icons, most sporting a unique visual style. Random alignment of text and graphics. Some 3-d, some flat, some drop-shadowed. At least three different fonts. Text bleeding past the edge of the encasing box.
I can't say I've ever seen a worse attempt at data display. Truly awful.
Nov 19
Who knew? The nuts and bolts of health care costs in the US
This NPR story is a breath of fresh air. Nearly all of the media coverage of the effort to pass health care reform focuses on the political process: How many votes in committee, timelines, poll numbers, bi-partisanship, 'oh-snap!' back-and-forth soundbites, right-wing troll death panel comments, etc etc etc.
Meanwhile, little or no effort is made to cover the nuts and bolts of why, exactly, we spend so much more on health care per capita than any other nation. Where is all that money going? And why is it going there? This NPR story is a terrific piece of journalism - reporter Hana Jafiwal actually investigates the pricing and cost structure behind MRI's, and why they cost so much more in the US as compared to Japan.
Alone, the story is educational, but still mostly a curiosity. What we need is an ongoing thread of reporting like this and media coverage of the mechanics of our health care infrastructure, so that we can collectively understand the root causes and structural issues that have driven us to the brink of health care disaster.
Nov 17
Infographic of the week: China v. USA by economic measures. Hint: the news is not good.
via nytimes.com
Filed under //
infographic
Nov 11
Lost Landscapes of San Francisco
For anybody interested in the history of San Francisco, this is fascinating material. It is a collection of found, archival footage of San Francisco, dating back as far as 1905. Three particular treats are are this 1905 trip down Market Street, streetscapes and cable car scenes from the mid-60s, and footage of the construction of the Bay Bridge.
Seeing these old landscapes made me think back to my childhood visits to SF in the early and mid 80s: the Embarcadero Freeway, a massive double decker knot of concrete and asphalt above Justin Herman Plaza; or the colorful locals that populated the waterfront, the huge drum circle that would form there on weekend evenings. When I compare those memories to the city as it is today - so much has changed. Mostly for the better: the freeway removals that came as a consequence of Loma Prieta. The Embarcadero, once dominated by a massive, cold, concrete barrier between the city and the bay, today is a thriving plaza of people, restaurants, parks and gorgeous views.
Yet, with the progress and improvements, the city now can feel processed, packaged and disney-like. The artistic hippies and free spirits that once roamed the wharf are all gone now, replaced by affluent European tourists, cookie-cutter memorabilia stores, and the the street-vendor-as-small-business. Old, run-down warehouses are now post-modern condo buildings. The Mission is chic. Union Square sparkles. I mean, it's great and all, but the character is blander by far.
Looking at the old video, many things remain the same - Market street is the throbbing, vibrant heart of San Francisco; the streets are terrible; trolleys, street cars, and buses rule the roads; and crystal blue skies greet us day after day. But even now, the city is still growing up, filling in, and evolving. The way it looks and feels today... well, it won't be this way for long.
Nov 11
Bonus infographic of the week: CNN.com traffic visualized from 1996 to today
When it comes to web trends, it is interesting, and unusual, to see such a long history. News, technology, and connectivity have come so far in the past 10-15 years. It's hard to remember just how much less information we had access to, and likewise to grasp just how much more we have today.
Nov 11
Brilliant hip-hop bio of Alexander Hamilton, from the White House Poetry Jam.
Miranda's wordplay and telling of Hamilton's story are magnificent, and his rap skills are outstanding. Hearing the heroic and tragic tale of Hamilton's life makes me want to read his biography. The performance and music are worthy of rotation on commercial radio, offering a counterbalance to the endless loop of songs about being drunk, sex in the bathroom, and other inspirational topics that pollute the minds of our youth. That will never happen, but at least there is music like this being made at all.
Nov 10
NFL Thursdays start this week. Gwen Knapp does not approve.
This week, the 49ers and Chicago Bears will play each other Thursday - on three days' rest. If a pitcher's arm generally shouldn't be exposed to such rigors, a pro football player's body never should.~ says Knap, in a quick column today.
I happen to think that Thursday night NFL is one of the smartest things the league does. For football-starved fans, Thursday marks the halfway point between Monday night and Sunday afternoon. A little bit of under-the-lights action, usually featuring two solid teams, is just what the doctor ordered. And, as to Gwen's point about insufficient rest: This is a serious point, but playing on three days rest once a year is not too much to ask of professional football players.
