The Tyler Cowen

1. I can't imagine it will do much but surprising nonetheless.
2. US-China relations taking a hit.
3. Great infographic about how to use which type of sunscreen depending on your skin tone.
4. Fantastic essay by Barbara Ehrenreich on the future of war with a subtle but convincing undercurrent of war, itself, as the catalyst for our evolving social structures. Via The Browser.
5. Our Earth continues to terrify and amaze. 
6. ...To say nothing of our universe...
   

The Tyler Cowen

1. Jesus. That was fast. One day after requesting it here, up crops this video giving me exactly what I want. Thank you internet.
   
2. Some fun infographics today. Crime maps, bike accident maps, and expat quality of life maps to name a few.
3. Obscure but hilarious attack on one comic artist's abilities. 
4. Slow motion car commercials featuring things getting destroyed. 

Our Swiftly Tilting Planet

The ponderous pace of nature seems a lot less ponderous when viewed in time-lapse. Beautiful, beautiful time lapse.

El Cielo de Canarias / Canary sky - Tenerife from Daniel López on Vimeo.

The Tyler Cowen

1. Neat infographic about the best albums of 2010 via Information Aesthetics.
2. Great article summing up relations on the Korean peninsula and looking forward to 2011. Not particularly chipper but well written and concise. Via North Korean Economy Watch.
3. Beautiful street art outlining shadows. Via The Awesomer. 
4. Inspiring recognition of our generation's limitations and the possibilities open to our decendents. Heady stuff but beautiful. Also via The Awesomer.

Making it rain

Sneaky Swiss!

A company out of Switzerland called Meteo Systems has claimed that it is responsible for 52 unexpected storms in the Middle East. I don't know if I recall my lazy Sundays with the Discovery Channel accurately, but isn't the Earth's weather system a finely balanced network? Butterfly effects abound and global warming in the Arctic can bring about frigid winters in New England? Of all the supposed hubris and folly of man's attempts to control nature, making it rain in the desert seems to me a pretty dangerous proposition.