Sick Transit

This idea around the web that Defense Secretary Robert Gates said that he was nostalgic for the cold war is sheer bunk, and people need to stop saying it. Here’s the full context of his remarks:

Pentagon chief Robert Gates responded Sunday to Vladimir Putin’s assault on U.S. foreign policy:
…
“As an old Cold Warrior, one of yesterday’s speeches almost filled me with nostalgia for a less complex time. Almost,” Gates said. Then, as the audience chuckled, the defense secretary said he has accepted Putin’s invitation to visit Russia.

“We all face many common problems and challenges that must be addressed in partnership with other countries, including Russia,” said Gates. “One Cold War was quite enough.”

Will this meme please die now?

This academic presentation has the most outstanding visual presentation of quantitative data that I have ever seen, by far. The software that was used is part of the GapMinder project.

Truly great work, from a technical, aesthetic and scientific perspective.

(Link via kcwalina.)