Visualizing AIMS and _other_ school performance data

Posted by John Denker On August 2nd, the Arizona Dept. of Education released the 2012 AIMS results and other data. I plotted up some of the data in the form of maps, so that you can easily see the location of the high-scoring schools and the low-scoring schools.  The plots along with some explanation and … Read more

Andy Thomas’ Judicial Tyranny Conspiracy Theories

By Michael Bryan

Thomas123Disgraced and disbarred, almost-Arizona-Attorney-General Andy Thomas published a conspiracy-theory laced diatribe on 'judicial tyranny'. It is an impressively reality-challenged piece of political propaganda. The defining feature of propaganda is hyperbolic and unsupported assertions lacking any sort of proof or factual basis: Andy's rant has this feature in spades.

Let's take a look at what Andy has to say, and point out it's many, many problems. Andy is in bold and I'm in italics…

[hat tip to Sonoran Alliance for publishing this oozing sore on the face of our public life…]
Read the oozing sore, and my attempt to apply antibiotic, after the click…

The Great Recession, Tea Party Obstructionism and Recovery

By Karl Reiner The Tea Party’s agenda developed during the tumultuous housing sector collapse that sent the economy into a tailspin.  Its adherents in Congress want to solve the federal deficit problem and other national economic ills by reducing government, cutting taxes and chopping spending.  The solution is flawed because it ignores the problems caused … Read more

Tucson Shooting Survivors Demand a Plan to Control Gun Violence

By Michael Bryan

Dap-fb2Survivors of Jared Laughner's horrific rampage in Tucson are calling on Obama and Romney to formulate a plan to reduce gun violence. They have released an ad and launched a website, DemandAPlan.org.

The site includes a tally of time passed since the last horrific rampage in Aurora and the number of Americans killed by gun violence. Perhaps the count will have to be reset today as we learn of a new gun rampage in an Oak Creek, Michigan Sihk temple, claiming the lives of seven.

The group is wisely not demanding adherence to or adoption of a specific plan, instead demanding that each candidate put forward ANY plan. You can sign the petition and more at the website.

See the ad after the click…