When the news media collapses - after the traders in swamplands, certain rabid bloggers and political hacks on radio have their wish or way - I will most miss the interactive mapping provided by the New York Times like this one of county-by-county US unemployment rates. I have noted it before but their graphical representation of data is one of the things that give the skip in my step even on days like this when I wonder if I will ever be weaned off the Buckleys Mixture. If you click on the image of the map it will take you to the original map.
And it does raise a few questions. Like why is Rhode Island doing so poorly compared to its neighbours? What is going on in Ontagon County Michigan with its 17.2% unemployment and a 9% change that isn't happening in neighbouring Houghton County at 9% and a 2.7% change? Are there auto plants there? And why is Haskell County Kansas actually improving? It would be good if there were a partner map with the rate of change shown but you can't have everything and, once the collapse is complete, you won't even have this so live it up.
By The Way Update: YYYYYYYYYIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIKES!!!!


Comments
Una - March 5, 2009 11:35 AM
Hi Alan, have you noticed this politician before? I'd be interested in seeing what you think of him, particularly his anti foreclosure stuff. He strikes me as dynamic. http://grayson.house.gov/
Jay Currie - March 5, 2009 4:52 PM
As to Yikesss.
The critical piece there was the word "yesterday".
And, afterall, other than sending Bruce Willis up in a space ship we don't actually have, there is not a heck of a lot we could do about an asteroid this size.