Punitive factoid of the day
“The United States has less than 5 percent of the world’s population. But has almost a quarter of the world’s prisoners.” (Source: NY Times, 4/23/08)
Bunko Breakfast in Boston — Tuesday 8am
(cross-posted from JohnnyBunko.com) One way we’re trying to bring readers together and to talk about Johnny’s six lessons is through a set of informal Bunko breakfasts. At certain stops in my travels, I’ll find a well-located coffee joint, set a date and time, and invite whoever wants to participate to join us for an hour of
Book industry factoid of the day
“In 2007 graphic novel sales in the U.S. and Canada were $375 million, a 12% rise from 2006 and quintuple the sales number from 2001.” (Source: PW, reporting on an ICv2 white paper)
Fashion meets technology?
A few months ago, Michael Dell – the newly returned CEO of his eponymous computer company – said, “We are in the fashion business.” Yowza. Add another notch on design’s bed post. Now, according to the FT, Microsoft has issued a research paper with the unlikely title “Fashion meets technology: Welcome to the future of PCs.” The paper’s author, Nadine
Stimulating simulating factoid of the day
The Sims game series “has sold more than 100 million copies (including expansion packs) in 22 languages and 60 countries since its introduction in 2000. . . . All told, the franchise has generated about $4 billion in sales or an average of $500 million every year for the last eight years, placing the Sims in
A whole new reason to hit the keyboard
I may be the least musical person you’ve ever encountered. And that’s something I’ve long regretted. Now comes evidence deepening that regret, but offering a way for my kids to become more whole-minded than their dad. ScienceNow reports that Harvard’s Gottfried Schlaug and Boston College’s Ellen Winner and Marie Forgeard have used brain scans to produce the
Quote of the day: As go insects, so go humans
“Female fruit flies sometimes choose males who win fights, sometimes choose males who do not fight, and sometimes choose males for no obvious reason.” (Source: PLoS via Eureka Alert)
Due(s) Day
Like many Americans, I’ve got conflicted feelings about taxes. On the one hand, I recognize that they are the price we pay for civilized society. On the other hand, I cringe (or worse) each time I pay them — because I have, er, serious doubts about the efficacy of handing over my hard-earned money to
Not on the test
Folk songs protesting government policy haven’t been in vogue since I was a toddler. But Tom Chapin, who performs in the video below, might just have singlehandedly revived the tradition. (Major Hat Tip to Mike Sporer for hipping me to this song)
Speech impediments
I devoted some of my misspent youth to writing speeches for politicians. Tim Ferriss of The 4-Hour Workweek fame found that intriguing — so we did an interview on effective speechifying, which is now posted on his incredibly popular and preposterously useful blog. Added bonus: You can see Tim breakdance.