Idlewyld

yahoonews:

We counted the most commonly used compound phrases in Vice President Joe Biden’s campaign speeches, and “middle class” came out on top, with 38 mentions in four speeches.

squashed:

Why do unemployed people love Ron Paul

There’s a chart floating around the internet based on a Mother Jones article that notes that Ron Paul has received far more donations from those in the armed services than others. Admittedly, this is interesting.

But before we leap to any irresponsible conclusions, let’s look at the numbers on the y-axis of the military chart. That top number is $140,000. Considering that the Obama campaign has raised over $120,000,000 thus far, that seems like a pretty tiny portion. Why so small?

There are a few reasons. First, this only includes donations over $200. Second, it only catches people who listed their employers as, for example, “US Army.” “Army,” “Military,” “USA,” and “United States Army” don’t come up in that search. So it is culling a subset of self-reported data.

I’m not saying that there is a massive trove of unreported military donations to other candidates. I am saying, however, that we’re looking at a very small sample set and that it’s difficult to draw too much data. In light of that, I have created my own chart listing donations (over $200) from those whose employers were listed as “unemployed.” Please don’t draw any conclusions from this chart either.

newsweek:

Welcome to our first edition of the Newsweek also-rans, a brand new nwk tumblr feature from our friends in the art department!

Here’s Dirk Barnett, Newsweek & The Daily Beast’s Creative Director:

Every week we produce anywhere from 10-20 different cover ideas until we settle on what works best or as the story develops, so at the end of each week we wind up with a proverbial wastebasket full of scrapped concepts. 

The week’s cover, “The Politics of Sex,” is a perfect example to kick this off. These directions are a combination of ideas generated in-house and commissions to various illustrators, designers, studios, ad agencies, etc. This week, we tapped the creative minds at ad agency Hill Holiday and the design studio Dress Code, as well as renowned book designer Rodrigo Corral. Take a look at what’s left on our cutting room floor this week. Enjoy!

Here’s the cover that made newsstands this week. Which of the also-rans is your favorite?

[Design credits, from top left: Dress Code, Dress Code, Hill Holiday, Hill Holiday, Hill Holiday, Rodrigo Corral, Rodrigo Corral]

This is great.

All of them were better than that cover that went to newsstands, though.

reddit: I sent an email to my PA state rep who sponsored the ‘Year of the Bible’ resolution. No response yet.

latimes:

A new cartoon from our new political cartoonist, the Pulitzer Prize-winning David Horsey.

(Source: Los Angeles Times)

david-noel:

Yeah let’s not wait on Congress, let’s have a country music workshop.

Like, right now.

Priorities. 

shortformblog:

thedailyfeed:

A record-low 26% of Americans now favor a legal ban on the possession of handguns. In 1959, 60% of Americans supported banning guns, but by the mid-’70s, a majority of Americans opposed such a measure.

The trend extends beyond handguns. For the first time in 15 years, Gallup finds greater opposition to than support for a ban on semiautomatic guns or assault rifles, 53 percent to 43 percent.

Interesting.

Second Amendment, baby.

(via shortformblog)