Bella consults

Obama times: Yes we draw. Bars as long as they actually are. No problem at all in Obama country:

The Wall Street Journal draws them over the whole page (click for full view).

In the German newspaper Die Welt, the chart has been struck by lightning (left: original, right: me). The flash makes the chart absurd. A table would be better. On the right I drew how it should be.

Wall Street Journal, 2006–11–21, p. C4; Die Welt, 2008–08–13, p. 26.

Symbols are difficult. In most cases they don’t work. Some of them have to be learnt. It takes longer than reading something you already know – e.g. a word.

Awkward symbols make me sad. The arrow is beside the beautiful river Saône, in beautiful Burgundy:

Source: me

Should you follow the arrow?
Do you have to follow the arrow?
Are you allowed to, if you are careful?

And here from the magazine “Der Spiegel” – oh boy:

Source: Der Spiegel 29/2008, 2008–07–21, p. 65

Oh boy, because: Americans are rigorous with everything concerning their flag.
For instance: whoever wants to be president needs to wear it on the revers.
Always.
I don’t think that the editors of Der Spiegel are allowed to enter the US any longer.
Even my flag looks best non-shrunk and non-stretched.

And that:

Source: Wirtschaftswoche 27, 2008–06–30, p. 104

From now on: whenever we see three stars, we know the company will soon be part of the DAX stock index.
One means: probably not.
Says the German magazine “Wirtschaftswoche”.
I am not sure.
Will that be accepted?

I believe for most symbols the rule is:
No entry.

Today I have to give advice to Barack. He’ll be taking a dog to the White House. He doesn’t know yet which. Best choice: a Labrador.

Barney, the Terrier of George W., had his own website. The most intelligent thing he said so far: “Bark, bark, bark. Woof, woof. Rowf. Arf.”

Well: Not a Terrier then.

Labradors have been successfully in charge of the White House before: Bill Clinton’s dog Buddy chased away Socks the cat, ate a reporter’s donuts and knocked over the President. Buddy was run over later. His successor, Seamus: a Labrador.

Buddy saves the Oval Office.

Labradors like to go for a walk. Barack will save the world until next spring. Then he’ll have lots of time.