The Wages of Whiteness

Think we live in a color blind society? Think again. This short article published by a Vanderbilt University Law School explores the variation in the experience of "race" among African Americans according to skin tone. In "Skin Tone Effects among African Americans: Perceptions and Reality," (American Economic Review Papers and Proceedings 96(2), May 2006, 251-255) Dr. Joni Hersch finds evidence that lighter skinned African Americans have more access to education and other badges of American success. http://law.vanderbilt.edu/faculty/faculty-personal-sites/joni-hersch/joni--hersch/download.aspx?id=896

Need to Race!

I am going through race withdrawal. I haven't run a race since December's Reindeer Run http://www.reindeerrun.com/website/ and given the casual (and cold) atmosphere that one hardly counts. I need a new challenge and I can't wait until spring. What's a northern girl to do?

Republican Arrogance

The usually diplomatic Tom Friedman shows his angry side in this NY Times column. "George Bush, Dick Cheney and Don Rumsfeld think you're stupid. Yes, they do.They think they can take a mangled quip about President Bush and Iraq by John Kerry -- a man who is not even running for office but who, unlike Mr. Bush and Mr. Cheney, never ran away from combat service -- and get you to vote against all Democrats in this election." I missed this column when it originally ran back in November, but it is still available on the web via Bruce Springsteen's website: http://www.brucespringsteen.net/news/index.html

Twins Fest!

In another sure sign that spring is nearing the northern plains, single game tickets for 2007 Twins home games go on sale this Friday at 5:30 P.M. See the Twins 2007 schedule online at: http://minnesota.twins.mlb.com/NASApp/mlb/schedule/index.jsp?c_id=min&m=4&y=2007#terrace_suite?partnerId=2006hp_tixcomponent_min_tab2&affiliateID=2006hp_tixcomponent_min_tab2

Torturing the Data until it Confesses

This Macleans article looks at journalists' abuse of statistics (from a north of the border perspective, of course.) "As Homer Simpson said when asked to explain the 900% rise in 'heavy sack beatings' since his vigilante group began patrolling the streets of Springfield, 'People can come up with statistics to prove anything. Forty percent of all people know that.'" http://www.macleans.ca/topstories/national/article.jsp?article=2007_1_18_1169163033

Nkorho Pan, South Africa Webcam

Check out this webcam at Sabi Sands Private Game Reserve in South Africa. It's like going on a safari while staying in your living room! http://www.wavelit.com/popup/playerAfricam.asp#

American Accents

Take this short quiz to find out what brand of American accent you have. Not surprisingly, Gopher Girl has a "North Central" accent. "North Central" is what professional linguists call the Minnesota accent. If you saw 'Fargo' you probably didn't think the characters sounded very out of the ordinary. Outsiders probably mistake you for a Canadian a lot." http://www.gotoquiz.com/what_american_accent_do_you_have

A sleep-deprived nation

According to a study published in this month's Journal of Occupational and Environmental Medicine, nearly 40 percent of U.S. workers experience fatigue, costing U.S. employers billions of dollars in costs from lost productivity. http://www.acoem.org/news.aspx?id=2530

Wanna Buy a Condo?

“Nationally, condominium sales have fallen further than those of single-family properties, 13.6 percent from November 2005 to the same month in 2006; free-standing homes showed a 10.7 percent decline in the same period. Inventories have risen 38.1 percent for condos and 29.6 percent for individual homes, according to the National Association of Realtors.” http://www.nytimes.com/2007/01/16/realestate/16rentals.html

Drunk Postal Carriers Gone Wild

Only in Wisconsin: http://www.startribune.com/462/story/927473.html

God's Undertaker

The New Yorker reviews a new biography of Thomas Hardy: http://www.newyorker.com/critics/books/articles/070115crbo_books

Mark Dayton

Sometimes, I think there's a DFL conspiracy to ensure that there's a Republican in the Minnesota Governor's mansion: http://www.startribune.com/587/story/912703.html

Sidney Ponson???

Oh man, if this is the best the Twins can do to replace Radke and Lariano, it's going to be a L-O-N-G summer (and not in a good way): http://www.startribune.com/509/story/913177.html

What candidates do your neighbors support?

One of the creepiest sites on the internet: http://www.campaignmoney.com/