Factoids

Are you inside the circle or outside?

The annotated map below has been lighting up the the social mediasphere in the last couple days — and for good reason. It forces those of us outside the circle (I’m looking at you, America) to ponder what the next century will really be like.


Who’s more honest — Congresspeople or salespeople?

According to Gallup, the verdict is mixed. In a December poll, the venerable research company found that the only people held in lower ethical esteem than members of Congress were sellers of cars. But insurance salespeople managed to trump both Senators and ad executives. Read more here.


Yes, smart phones are actually underhyped

Last month, toward the end of an on-stage conversation at Wired’s Disruptive by Design Conference, Mark Andreessen (he of the Mosaic browser, giant venture fund, and shiny, egg-shaped pate), unleashed a corker. The smart phone revolution, he said, is under-hyped. “We have never lived in a time with the opportunity to put a computer in […]


Factoid of the day: National priorities edition

“As a result of the [tax] code’s growing complexity, Americans spent a total of 7.64 billion hours in 2010 negotiating tax-related paperwork—more than twice the working time of all the elementary school teachers in the U.S.” (Source: The Week, citing Reason.com)


Factoids of the day: Game not over

Lots of interesting factoids in this Wall Street Journal excerpt of Jane McGonigal‘s equally interesting book, Reality Is Broken: Why Games Make Us Better and How They Can Change the World. Here are a few (italics added): “[Al]though a typical gamer plays for just an hour or two a day, there are now more than five […]


When “I do” becomes “I don’t”

Last week, the Population Reference Bureau crunched some Census data and disgorged a rather shocking statistical nugget: For the first time in U.S. history, the number of young adults (those between 25 and 34) who have never been married exceeds those who are married. A Wall Street Journal story adds some additional perspective: “The long-term […]


Factoid of the day: Moneyball Redux

“The [Florida] Marlins have spent about $396 million on player salaries from 2000 through 2010, with 873 victories and a World Series title to show. The [New York] Mets have spent about $1.212 billion on salaries in those seasons, with 878 victories and no championships. In other words, the Mets have spent about $816 million […]


Factoids of the day: Wheels are falling off the wagon edition

It’s Thursday morning and the press is chock-a-block with the sort of factoids that should make any American wince. For example: One in five Americans believes our President is a Muslim. Equally scary, 25 percent of Americans believe that Muslims are not patriotic Americans.  Three cheers for the combo platter of ignorance and intolerance!  (Somebody […]


Factoid of the day: Red, not-so-white, and blue

Haya El Nasser analyzes some just released Census data in this morning’s USA Today and offers up this stunner: Today, while 19.9% of Americans over 65 are racial minorities, 48.3% of kids under age 5 are. Now imagine the complexion of this country 40 years from now, when (most of) those older folks are gone and (most […]


Factoid of the day: The myth of the left-wing Boomer

“In 1972, more boomers voted for Richard Nixon than for George McGovern. And in 2008, boomers were split evenly between Barack Obama and John McCain.” (Source: NY Times, 5.23.10)

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