Statistics and Science Saturday

[telemann.livejournal.com]

I see a lot of interesting posts during the course of the week, and I thought some of them would be of interest to some of community participants. Most of it is related this week to climate change, Super-Pac money, and even one for sports.

Presidential Birthplaces:

Here is Matt Stiles' (a data journalist at National Public Radio) very cool use of "Google Fusion Tables," showing the birth places of United States presidents. The first map uses push pins for locations (cf the interactive version here. Map no 2 uses same data, but aggregated by state and mapped with polygons. Darker shades represent more presidents. (cf. the interactive version here.) As a native of Virginia, I'm proud to see my state is apparently the largest contributor of Presidents. Hawaii is the newest addition to the map because of President Obama. Source for data.

Super Pac Spending

This is a informative chart, showing up to date information on Super-Pac Spending in the United States 2012 Presidential election, using data filed with the Federal Election Commission. A total of 53 super PACs have spent $94.1 million — 58% of which has been spent opposing candidates. A larger copy of the chart will open in a new browser window if you click here. The L.A. Times also has an interactive time-line version of this chart available @ here. I find it interesting how much Mitt Romney has protested on how much President Obama will be spending in the election against him, attacking him personally. I know it's very early still, but even I was surprised at how little the President has used so far.

Climate Change

Here is a fascinating interactive map by Jonathan Corum showing the complex relationship of cloud cover to climate change on Earth on the New York Times' website. The story is linked to climate change denialists, who insist Earth's clouds will ultimately shield the planet from whatever is driving climate change. Most scientists believe that increasing climate warming will increase water vapor (i.e. clouds), and will actually amplify warming, not prevent it.

Texas Drought

State Impact tracks drought damage in Texas, which has experienced the longest ongoing drought along with the warmest temperatures on record. Conservative estimates place economic losses at over 13 BILLION (cattle, crop and cotton failures due to lack of rain and the heat). Texas population will nearly double in the next 50 years, with less natural resources and water to supply that growth. There are efforts to encourage Texans to use treated waste water for drinking water (Houston drinks Dallas treated waste water), but there is considerable objections (aka "The Yuk" factor).

Sports

Yeah, it's not science but it qualifies because of the statistics and it's fun eye candy for our European brothers and sisters. A nice infographic on today's game between Munich and Chelsea (the Blues versus the Bavarians), with lots of information on players salaries, numbers of wins, etc. To see the larger version, click here.

Comments

[the-rukh.livejournal.com]

that super pacs one is a nifty graph. The interactive version is double plus nifty.

[rimpala.livejournal.com]

The most uninteresting man in the world... gets the most negative ads made about him.

Go. Figure.

[htpcl.livejournal.com]

All I know is, Chelsea won the most undeserved Champions League title of all time. But what could we do? Some people are just too lucky.

Oops, did I mention spoiler alert?

[peamasii.livejournal.com]

How many goalkeepers have defended 3 penalties in one high-profile game? They should triple Cech's salary at Chelsea.

[htpcl.livejournal.com]

He's a wonder, no doubt. Even after he got his skull smashed. He's a hero.

[nairiporter.livejournal.com]

Obama's presidency features yet another "first": the first president who was born outside of mainland USA. Interesting!

[peristaltor.livejournal.com]

And only the second (after Nixon) born west of the Rocky Mountains. One need not wonder why we in the west feel a bit underrepresented.

[kylinrouge.livejournal.com]

Because for half this country's life the west of the Rocky Mountains weren't states? Because only in the last 100 years did it even become significantly populated?

[peristaltor.livejournal.com]

Naw, it's the little things. Like people knowing the difference between Washington, DC and Washington State. Or that there are four seasons that exist only on the calender in some places. Or that 80% of the country's televisions are watched east of the Mississppi (which really screws up programming, lemme tell ya).

Major, well-settled population centers like those west of the Rockies make themselves known, but their folks bitch like stuck pigs when attention they are used to getting diverts to some far-flung western patch of which none of their friends have ever heard.

[rimpala.livejournal.com]

Look on the bright side, maybe things will be looking up since managing to spend a whole century having law and order and all that good stuff.

[sophia-sadek.livejournal.com]

Although Reagan was not born California, he is a typical Midwestern transplant. There are probably more people like him in California than there are people who are actually born here.

[sophia-sadek.livejournal.com]

He is also the first Muslim president.

[rimpala.livejournal.com]

Graph 1 and 2: One day there will be a Florida president.

Then the country would have gone completely bat shit loony!

Graph 3: I bet Satorum and Gingrich wish they can get their money back, also they need to add a little pink bar for "gays" and put a little sliver for Perry.

Graph 4: That's alot of clouds (That's call I have sorry lol)

Graph 5: Florida has been taking droughts pretty hard before, one particular year over a decade ago is miserable with dry lake beds and fires everywhere. Central Florida is very serious about conserving water when watering lawns and we're a little notorious for sinkholes when too much groundwater is depleted.

Graph 6: Chelsea appears to be the underdog with the cultish fan following, kind of reminds me of a certain football team in Tampa.

[peristaltor.livejournal.com]

#1 — True dat. When the highest natural peak stands at a bit over 300 feet, the state has a serious problem.

[rimpala.livejournal.com]

And hold on a second.

Bush in all his cowboy-president showboating is born in New England?

My Reaction:

[onefatmusicnerd.livejournal.com]

In fairness to GW, his father was actually the carpetbagger. But it is considered traditional not to leave your offspring when being run out of a state.