fun facts

The faces of liberals and conservatives consistently differ

Machine learning is at it again… “Political orientation was correctly classified in 72% of liberal–conservative face pairs, remarkably better than chance (50%), human accuracy (55%), or one afforded by a 100-item personality questionnaire (66%).” | learn more

oh, chicago

How the Chicago Teachers Union spends its money

The Chicago Sun Times reports: “We examined how the CTU uses its considerable financial muscle and found nearly $1.5 million from its dues-funded budget went to politics and lobbying over 15 months. And a union foundation cut back sharply on […]

book recommendations

Benjamin Franklin: An American Life

Author: Walter Isaacson Popular images of Benjamin Franklin often center on three items: the bifocals, the kite, the key. Curious, I read the Autobiography of Benjamin Franklin a few years back. Franklin’s honesty sparked my real interest in the U.S. […]

oh, chicago

Railcar politics on Goose Island. 

Railroad cars have long been a source of leverage and power over commercial adversaries. Rockefeller’s Standard Oil monopoly owned most of the tank cars in the US, which gave them power over the mighty railroads. Now, little known Iowa Pacific […]