Findings of Note

Economists emphasize that college-educated blacks and Hispanics over all earn significantly more and are in a better position to accumulate wealth than blacks and Hispanics who do not get degrees. ...

But while these college grads had more assets, they suffered disproportionately during periods of financial trouble.

From 1992 to 2013, the median net worth of blacks who finished college dropped nearly 56 percent (adjusted for inflation). By comparison, the median net worth of whites with college degrees rose about 86 percent over the same period, which included three recessions — including the severe downturn of 2007 through 2009, with its devastating effect on home prices in many parts of the country. Asian graduates did even better, gaining nearly 90 percent.

Political Polarization and Personal Life

*75% of the consistently conservative ("conservatives" henceforth) prefer to live in larger houses that are farther apart. 77% of the consistently liberal ("liberals" henceforth) prefer to live in smaller houses, closer to each other, and within walking distance to schools, stores, and restaurants. The total population is more evenly split (49% vs 48%)

*41% of conservatives prefer living in a rural area. 46% of liberals prefer living in cities. Total population evenly split at 24% each. 

*50% of conservatives say it's important to them to live in a place where most people share their political views. 35% for liberals. 28% for the total population.

*63% of conservatives say most of their close friends share their political views, compared to 49% for liberals and 35% for the total population.

*76% of liberals say ethnic diversity is an important factor in deciding where to live, compared to 20% for conservatives and 45% for the total population.

*57% of conservatives say an important factor in deciding where to live is whether many in the area share their religious faith. 17% for liberals. 36% for the total population. 

*73% of liberals think being near art museums and theatres is important in deciding where to live, compared to 23% of conservatives and 46% of the total population. 

Percentage of Same-Sex Couples That Can Marry in the US

The largest immigrant population in each state (2010 vs 1910)

Some surprises for me (in the 2010 map): Connecticut = Jamaica, Alaska = Philippines, West Virginia = India. 

The Accuracy of Climate Science Coverage on Cable News

The Media Gender Gap 

Study's Low Marks On Youth Well-Being Stir States

British vs U.S. Health Care Prices

Interactive map of where states stand on same-sex marriage.

U.S. Productivity and Median Family Income

The gap between productivity and median real income is at an historic all-time high today. So where are all of the gains in productivity going? Two places: First, owners of capital are getting a bigger share of GDP than before. ... Second, the highest paid workers are getting a bigger share of the wages that go to labor. The net result is that families at the higher end of the income distribution have received more of the income produced by the economy since the 1980s. 

The Relationship Between Life Expectancy & Income, by County.

From the article:

For the upper half of the income spectrum, men who reach the age of 65 are living about six years longer than they did in the late 1970s. Men in the lower half are living just 1.3 years longer.

“We have these causal pathways, through better jobs, better health insurance, better choice of behaviors. [On top of that] there’s the stress effects of poverty and low educational status." - David Kindig, professor emeritus at the University of Wisconsin School of Medicine 

Hate Crimes in the U.S. (1995-2012)

The anti-Islam hate crime spike in 2001 (post 9/11, obviously) is crazy.  

Increasing support for same-sex marriage over 11 years

Remittance Flows Worldwide, 2012

"The United States is the number one sender of international remittances, accounting for nearly a quarter of them (23.3%). India ranks at the top of all countries that receive remittances, with $69 billion in 2012."

Military Expenditures, 2013

Despite forced cuts to the U.S. military's budget, the U.S. still spends more on its military than the next 10 countries combined (China, Russia, the UK, Japan, France, India, Germany, Saudi Arabia, South Korea, and Brazil). 

Variables impacting base salaries of American Astronomical Society members (with PhDs). 

Being male results in an additional $4,529 in salary (on average)