Hans Rosling and The Economist

I did a post a while ago about Hans Rosling's engaging, informative, surprising 2006 TED talk on the use - and presentation - of data / statistics to understand the world, and I have just read a profile of him in November's Economist - here is the link http://www.economist.com/node/17663585?story_id=17663585&CFID=158252112&CFTOKEN=51531046 This piece updates Hans Rosling's efforts to make data accessible, both from organisations and through software...

The Economist is known for its well-written and eclectic obituaries - here is a quote about them by author Marilyn Johnson - "There is no chariot as elegant for a final send-off as The Economist obit. Each one is a literary marvel, a dazzling ride through an era. The subjects are lucky (except for the death part) : they cross to the other side in incomparable style."

In 2010 a collection was published - The Economist Book of Obituaries, featuring 199 people and one parrot - here is the link to the Amazon page with reviews... http://www.amazon.com/Economist-Book-Obituaries-Keith-Colquhoun/dp/1576603261

One of my favourite Economist obituaries is of two characters remembered from television in England in the 1970s - it deftly connects weather forecaster Jack Scott and "On the buses" tv sitcom star Reg Varney, and provides insight into the English temperament - post-war and today... brilliant http://www.economist.com/node/12719434

Hans Rosling TED talk

Another amazing TED talk by a passionate teacher Hans Rosling from Sweden about the power of statistical information to change our understanding and preconceived notions of the world...

http://www.ted.com/talks/hans_rosling_shows_the_best_stats_you_ve_ever_seen.html

One to share with the maths and social studies teachers in your school as well as senior students.