Campaign Finance Map: Monies Raised by Candidates
Fascinating graph of the candidates money raising this campaign cycle. What is so astounding this election cycle is not that John McCain trails Barack Obama in fund raising, but that he also trails Hillary Clinton: Obama $659.7m, Clinton, $249m, McCain $238.1m.
I posted a bunch-o-election related graphs, polls, charts, tables, etc. over in digital media.
There is an interesting debate here amongst those who blame Bush for McCain's campaign woes: Was it the money raising, or was it Bush? I suggest an alternative view: Both. The negative effect of W. hampered the McCain campaign's ability to raise funds.
Regardless, the GOP nominee trailing BOTH the Democrat's nominee, and the 2nd place Democratic candidate in money raising -- that's simply amazing to me.
John McCain:
via NYT
Map Graphs of all the candidates fund raising are here.
Tuesday, November 04, 2008 | 07:30 AM | Permalink
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Measuring the 'Internet Election'
One of the things this election will be notable for is how well the Press is using digital media and interactive pages to dissect the issues and polls. I've gathered a slew of them and posted them in the Digital Media Tab.
Official website visits, YouTube, Facebook, Blogs, Polling: This election has had an enormous amount of internet generate content, much of which actually shed some light on the election campaign and issues.
Measuring the 'Internet Election'
>
Source:
Web Data Offer New Slant on Traditional Horse Race
CHRISTOPHER RHOADS
WSJ, OCTOBER 18, 2008
http://online.wsj.com/article/SB122428213573345971.html
Monday, November 03, 2008 | 04:30 PM | Permalink
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Map: Newspaper Endorsements in the 2008 US Presidential Election
Fascinating info porn of an election variety:
Map of Newspaper Endorsements in the 2008 US Presidential Election
There is more info here.
Note that since the map was released, Alaska's daily paper endorsed Obama, and hometown Arizona paper endorsed McCain.
via infochimps
Data Source:
Tally Of Newspaper Endorsements -- Obama Widens Lead to 222-93
Greg Mitchell and Dexter Hill
Editor & Publisher, October 28, 2008 12:25 PM
http://www.editorandpublisher.com/eandp/news/article_display.jsp?vnu_content_id=1003875230
Wednesday, October 29, 2008 | 04:30 PM | Permalink
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Presidents & the Business Cycle
Cool interactive graphic looking at the business cycle looking at 7 different economic metrics and White House, Senate and House of Reps by party. Its a lot more sophisticated approach than merely looking at Market performance by party.
The key question is how much any president can impact this cycle: "Today, Americans save less and earn a lower minimum wage — in real, or inflation-adjusted, terms — than at nearly any other time since 1950. Can voters reasonably expect these and other indicators to change significantly after a new president takes office in January?"
graphic courtesy of NYT
Sunday, October 26, 2008 | 12:00 PM | Permalink
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Friday Night Jazz: Louis Armstrong
I have been so crazy busy working on EVERYTHING -- the office, the market, the blog and the book -- that FNJ is one of the things that fell thru the cracks.
Well, given what a mad week/month this has been, and how overdue this is, its that time: Without further adieu, Satchmo:
~~~
I'm sure you've heard a Louis song or three: Hello Dolly, When the Saints, What a Wonderful World.
If that's all you know of Satchmo, you are missing out. Considering his innovations as an artist -- amazing song-writing skills, unique vocals, mastery of the Coronet and the Trumpet, especially his stratospheric solos -- these well known ditties are practically boring.
Oh, and after he forgot the lyrics on the 1927 song "Heebie Jeebies," he invented Scat singing.
He was one of the most influential musicians in jazz history, setting new standards for originality and invention.
There are a couple of ways to get to know the works of Louis Armstrong:
The most basic is to grab one the Best Of discs. For those of you who want to go this way, try the The Definitive Collection.
The collector types are more inclined to go for the complete earlier years, including his various ensembles known in this box set: The Hot Fives & Sevens. (Note that Columbia version is considered a much inferior remastering: The Complete Hot Five and Hot Seven Recordings).
But of all of the Louis Armstrong works out there, none are more delightful than the many duets he recorded with Ella Fitzgerald. Aside from the small fact that her voice is incomparable to any female jazz singer before or since, there is a strange and beautiful complementary combination that is so unique and incredible. I can listen to these all day long -- they are unique works of art.
I highly recommend the first two: Ella and Louis (1956), and Ella & Louis Again (1957). Both are astonishing works of gentle beauty.
You can also check out Porgy & Bess soundtrack, but that is more for fans of that show.
(NOTE: There are all manners of different variations of these, so look at the song list before buying variations of the same album.)
From a WSJ article this past summer:
"From 1925 to 1928, bandleader and trumpeter Louis Armstrong led a recording group, known as the Hot Five and Hot Seven, through nearly 90 recordings. These tracks are now considered among the most seminal, enduring and influential recordings not only in jazz but in American music and include "Big Butter and Egg Man," "Hotter Than That," "Struttin' With Some Barbecue," "Potato Head Blues," and "S.O.L. Blues." In these dozens of sides, Armstrong abandoned the traditional collective improvisation of New Orleans-style jazz and almost single-handedly transformed the music from a group art into an art form for the soloist. He left behind two- and four-bar breaks of earlier jazz in favor of entire choruses of improvisation. In the 1920s, Armstrong would, more than anyone else, take the role of soloist to new heights in American music.
Besides his technical mastery, what else set him apart? His big, beautiful tone; his rich imagination as a soloist; his perfect sense of time; his deep understanding of the blues; his projection and authority; and the force of his musical personality.
And he boasted a gift for personalizing the material he recorded, transforming it into music that is unmistakably his in sound and style and ownership. The essence of jazz -- making something new out of something old, making something personal out of something shared -- has no finer exemplar than Armstrong."
Continue reading "Friday Night Jazz: Louis Armstrong"
Friday, October 10, 2008 | 06:52 PM | Permalink
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Bird and Fortune - How the markets really work, Subprime Crisis
How the markets really work (2007)
Here's a more intriguing version -- Bird & Fortune audio over economic and market data as visuals
Sunday, October 05, 2008 | 02:00 AM | Permalink
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Stewie Griffin Meets Wall Street
Yeah, I know its old -- but its still very funny!
Friday, October 03, 2008 | 09:22 PM | Permalink
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Best of "Bloomberg on the Economy"
click for iTunes
Excellent series of podcasts by Tom Keene of Bloomberg on the Economy. Highlights include conversations with Nobel Laureates, professors and top economists.
Great stuff.
If you don't use iTunes, there is a listing of podcasts at Bloomberg.com after the jump . . .
Continue reading "Best of "Bloomberg on the Economy""
Tuesday, September 30, 2008 | 03:00 PM | Permalink
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Financial Sector Stock Losses (by company)
Terrific interactive graphic from the NYT showing the financial destruction caused by the wall street meltdown.
29 firms have lost about a Trillion dollars. (thats trillion with a T)
via NYT
Wednesday, September 17, 2008 | 06:30 AM | Permalink
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Ditching the Apple iPhone . . .
I very patiently waited for the iPhone to go 2nd generation, move to a 3G network, and work the kinks out. I got one two weeks ago, and it is likely to get returned some time over the next two weeks.
Why? As a toy, it is delightful. It is a wonderful gadget which is endlessly amusing to play with. I very much am going to miss it when it goes back.
As a phone, it is all but useless. At least, that is the case in my neighborhoods, which include the North shore of Long Island, and Manhattan. (That any wireless network doesn't have 5 bars throughout all of Manhattan is completely inexcusable).
I blamed the AT&T network for much of the problems, but I suspect the phone should also get some portion of the blame too. Apple is releasing a software fix for the 3G call dropping issue Friday.
<sigh> Its gorgeous, lovely toy. If only it worked as a phone . . .
~~~
The candy slab of delicious glass reminds me of a story from my college days. I went to SUSB Stony Brook, and near the campus was an exotic car showroom. The owner was a very kindly older Italian gentleman, who was endlessly patient with me, a poor college student. I fascinated by what looked like a museum showroom filled with very expensive Aston Martins, Jaguars, and Ferraris, and the like. I couldn't even pay for the premium gas to fill any of them up, but he treated my like a potential customer. You could not ask for a classier car salesman.
I sometimes stopped by when they weren't busy, and this gentleman driver -- with his delightful accent, thinning gray hair and a huge handlebar mustache -- would educate me on automotive history. I loved the Astons, and he showed me the elegance of the older Ferraris, and the racing dynamics of the newer machines.
One day, a white Lamborghini Countach showed up on the showroom floor. It was weird and angular and futuristic and unlike any other car I had ever seen (this was 1983 or so). I asked him about it, and he cringed. He put his finger over his lips, as he tsk-tsked, and slowly shook his head "no."
In that charming Italian accent, he said something to me I have never forgotten: "The Lamborghini, she is like a beautiful woman that is very bad in bed."
Being a wiseass, my instant response was obvious: "Oh, yeah, I dated her for a while."
We both smiled.
~~~
I have never had the opportunity to retell that story -- until now.
The iPhone -- like that Lamborghini -- is gorgeous and exotic and unlike anything else you have ever seen. But as a phone in the NYC area, it just does not work well. As my Italian automotive professor would say, "she is just like that beautiful woman who is very bad in bed."
Wednesday, September 10, 2008 | 09:06 PM | Permalink
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