The decade from 1970 to 1980 stands out for many reasons, from sideburns to Richard Nixon to disco. But the things Gene Gable remembers most fondly are the decorative, bold, and sometimes goofy type designs.

Go to original by Gene Gable, creativepro.com contributing editor. Let it load fully. Lots of images!

A U.S. resident born in 2004 has a life expectancy of 77.9 years, placing the U.S. in 42nd place, down from 11th place two decades ago.
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References to Greta Van Sustren’s facelift are removed.
I’m just including a few choice items after the jump. Much rich stuff can be found in the original by Democrashield. –JS

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CalTech graduate student Virgil Griffith built a search tool that traces IP addresses of those who make Wikipedia changes.

On November 17th, 2005, an anonymous Wikipedia user deleted 15 paragraphs from an article on e-voting machine-vendor Diebold, excising an entire section critical of the company’s machines. While anonymous, such changes typically leave behind digital fingerprints offering hints about the contributor, such as the location of the computer used to make the edits.

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Raw Story reports:

“Chanting, ‘No more Iraq war,’ and ‘Impeach Cheney first,’ protesters gathered outside the Teton Pines Country Club, where Cheney typically spends the month-long August recess. They brought along a 10-foot-tall paper-mache sculpture that featured Cheney holding a fishing poll in one hand and an oil well in the other.

“In video posted on YouTube, a protester climbs the effigy and places a noose around its neck. Protesters then pull down the Cheney likeness in a scene reminiscent of Iraqis and US troops a statue of Saddam Hussein after the fall of Baghdad.”

SHENZHEN, China, Aug. 9 — At least 20,000 police surveillance cameras are being installed along streets here in southern China and will soon be guided by sophisticated computer software from an American-financed company to recognize automatically the faces of police suspects and detect unusual activity. Read more »

Barry Bonds, not for breaking Hank Aaron’s homerun record, but for using Viagra that same night as a performance enhancer.

U.S. policy makers, for requiring organizations to take a pledge that explicitly condemns prostitution in order to receive funding for HIV prevention projects. Researchers at Johns Hopkins University’s Bloomberg School of Public Health have determined that such condemnation isn’t effective in helping to control the global epidemic. They reviewed scientific evidence on strategies that effectively reduce rates of HIV among sex workers, and found substantial evidence suggesting that their empowerment, organization and unionization can be an effective HIV prevention. Rappers will be invited to submit pro-ho songs to promote such efforts. Read more »

O’Reilly referred to Fox News as “far and away the highest-rated cable news outfit,” and asserted, “e’re growing while the others are disintegrating.” In fact, a recent comparison by the blog TVNewser of the three cable news channels’ ratings in June 2006 and June 2007 found that CNN and MSNBC’s audience grew at a greater rate over that period than that of Fox News. Read more »

So-called parent evaluators need no particular credentials or training. They may use any evaluative method they wish, charge what they please and remain virtually free of oversight.

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While Democrats are in control, there is effectively a Republican working majority.

I think that Blue Dogs are essentially threatening a revolt against Pelosi if she tries to impose real discipline. In addition, the Senate is making it nearly impossible for her to stand up for liberalism. With a reactionary Senate that has about 10 neoconservative Democrats and a neoconservative President, liberals cannot govern except on the most clear-cut and non-controversial issues, like poor children’s health care (which itself might be vetoed). Read more »

“The success of ‘The Bourne Ultimatum’ is not about the action,” writes Chicago Tribune cultural critic Julia Keller in “It’s (pant) not just (pant) a chase movie (whew!).” “People may be drawn to the film by the promise of thrilling chase scenes, but what makes it deeply satisfying are three words of dialogue. The three words: ‘This isn’t us.’ They’re spoken by CIA officer Pamela Landy (Joan Allen), when asked why she’s helping the bamboozled fugitive known as Jason Bourne (Matt Damon).” Read more »

Go to original and see more cartoons by Robert Grossman in the New York Observer.

This article was created by the Center for American Progress Action Fund

Yesterday, the AFL-CIO held a forum for Democratic presidential candidates in Chicago, allowing working men and women to ask the candidates questions on issues that affect working families. The issues posed were so gripping that commentators said they could “change American political history.” Specifically, the questions raised at the debate on workplace safety and unionization rights are now more pressing than ever in the wake of continuing efforts to rescue six workers trapped in the collapsed Crandall Canyon mine in Utah. Read more »