I’ve spent the past sevÂerÂal months workÂing through The Wire on DVD. A simÂply brilÂliant show. (Here’s a recap of SeaÂson 1 in case you don’t know what you’re missÂing. And for even more recaps click here.) Now some memÂbers of the cast, the good guys and the bad, have rolled out a comÂmerÂcial encourÂagÂing North CarÂoliÂna resÂiÂdents to get out the vote on TuesÂday. It’s a good idea for all AmerÂiÂcan votÂers, no matÂter who you supÂport in this race. Thanks to KotÂtke for point it out. Here it goes:
Electing a US President in Plain English
We’re less than two weeks away (finalÂly, at long last) from the next US presÂiÂdenÂtial elecÂtion, and that means that it’s a good time to deciÂpher AmerÂiÂca’s conÂvoÂlutÂed elecÂtoral sysÂtem. So here’s a piece from The ComÂmon Craft Show, which does it in a fairÂly creÂative way:
The Geography of US Presidential Elections: Week 1
As menÂtioned last week, StanÂford is hostÂing a five week course, The GeogÂraÂphy of US PresÂiÂdenÂtial ElecÂtions, that you can folÂlow (for free) in real time. The first video lecÂture is now availÂable on iTunes (downÂload here), and you can find it embedÂded below.
The first lecÂture is fast paced, and feaÂtures intriguÂing graphÂics that start to disÂmanÂtle the wideÂly held belief that the US can be neatÂly dividÂed into red and blue states. I will keep postÂing the lecÂtures as the course unfolds. In the meanÂtime, I’d recÂomÂmend visÂitÂing the course web site, and askÂing the proÂfesÂsor, MarÂtin Lewis, any quesÂtions you might have.
Paul Krugman’s Nobel Prize in Economics
Paul KrugÂman is mainÂly known in the States as an econÂoÂmist who writes freÂquentÂly for The New York Times. MeanÂwhile, few realÂly know much about his seriÂous acaÂdÂeÂmÂic work. Now that’s he’s been awardÂed the Nobel Prize, it’s worth givÂing you a quick feel for it. Here’s KrugÂman givÂing you the gist in his own words (iTunes — Rss Feed — Stream).
A Brief History of the 1929 Crash
With the gyraÂtions of the world marÂkets, 1929 was sudÂdenÂly very present last week. All too present. What realÂly went down in ’29? Below we present “The Crash of 1929,” a docÂuÂmenÂtary that aired as part of PBS’ The AmerÂiÂcan ExpeÂriÂence Series. Part 1 appears below. You can get the remainÂing parts here: Part 2, Part 3, Part 4 and Part 5.
RelatÂed ConÂtent
Free PresÂiÂdenÂtial BiograÂphies on iTunes: FDR and Beyond
The 2nd Presidential Debate in Ten Easy Minutes
In case you missed it, here’s a paired down verÂsion of last night’s secÂond presÂiÂdenÂtial debate in all of its uninÂspirÂing gloÂry:
Joseph Stiglitz on Managing the Global Credit Crunch
As part of our effort to proÂvide insight into the ongoÂing credÂit criÂsis, we present a talk just givÂen at Oxford UniÂverÂsiÂty by the Nobel Prize winÂning econÂoÂmist, Joseph Stiglitz (iTunes — Rss Feed). The author of GlobÂalÂizaÂtion and its DisÂconÂtents uses the talk as an opporÂtuÂniÂty to outÂline the events that conÂtributed to the globÂal credÂit criÂsis, and the future regÂuÂlaÂtions that could get us back on track. The talk runs a good hour, and it takes about 20–25 minÂutes for Stiglitz to realÂly focus on the credÂit crunch, and about 45 minÂutes before he starts disÂcussing tanÂgiÂble soluÂtions. Don’t expect any magÂic bulÂlets, any short term soluÂtions that will get the curÂrent criÂsis under conÂtrol. It’s more pragÂmatÂic long-term soluÂtions that you’ll find here.
RelatÂed ConÂtent:
The FinanÂcial CriÂsis Explained
Ten Days That Shook The FinanÂcial World
This AmerÂiÂcan Life DemysÂtiÂfies The CredÂit CriÂsis
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