Bella consults

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

The Wall Street Journal paints them over the whole page (click for complete view).

In the German newspaper Die Welt, flashes hit the charts (left: original, right: me). The flash makes the chart go absurd. A table would be better. On the right I drew a correct one.

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 out. 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 at the beautiful river Saone, 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 still allowed to enter the US.
Even my flag looks best non-shrinked and non-stretched.

And that:

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

From now on: whenever we see three stars we know they will be part of the stock index DAX, soon.
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:
Entrance prohibited.

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

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

Well: no Terrier.

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 threw 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 saves the world until next spring. Then he’s got enough time.