Some links

If you have submitted links to me in the past few months, you will see them posted in the next few weeks; I just spent some time looking at all the submissions.

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Here are some links that are slightly off-topic (though still interesting), and others I don't intend on writing full posts about:

  

 Daniel L. sent us to Slate, where they posted this chart counting up the human cost of the Afghan War. Applying the Trifecta checkup, he gave this evaluation:

What is the practical question:  I have no idea
What does the chart say:  I have no idea
What does the data say:  I have no idea

The time series thing coupled with poor use of color obscures whatever patterns you could pick up. 

Daniel is right about the last point - by plotting the disaggregated data, readers are forced to stare at the variability of casualties over time, and the progress of the war, which distracts from the idea of "accounting for the dead".

Daniel also argues, and I agree, that this math is meaningless even if done properly.

  

Understanding Google PageRank - Nick calls this an infographic but it contains zero data. Not the kind of thing for this blog but it does a decent job explaining PageRank.

The part about circular links canceling each other out confuses me; it would seem like good blogs should be able to link to each other without being penalized.

The Ins and Outs of Assisted Living Homes - Ellen G. created this "infographic" explaining what "assisted living homes" are like. Again, not stuff for this blog, as the two bar charts are just tag-alongs that are not well integrated with the rest.

In terms of the charts, please remove 3-D, remove the colors, order the data from largest to smallest, consider a horizontal bar chart with data labels on the left, and title it "the top needs for assisted living residents".

Comments

[jack B.]

You mentioned that an infographic has to have data... I thought that infographics didn't have to just display data... there are a ton of infographics I've seen that aren't showing numbers or data... they are simply graphical representations of information, hence the word infographic.

[karl]

about circular links, it is more in the sense what will help to find the right information. Circular links will not help to bring more information about these blogs. So if one is known for a reason, the other will be anyway accessible, because they are related and you will discover one by the other. The game is to find the most meaningful references with the most diverse sources.