Previous post introduced the idea that software could take raw data and convert it to a usable news article. My friend John Bredehoft introduced the idea to me.
I think it is a great way for creative visualization of raw data. Good way to help us understand a mass of numbers.
What does an auto-written article look like?
Here are a few examples I found. They are all on the Forbes website, where Narrative Science is credited as the author.
Check out these two pictures showing 1980 and 2010 electronics tools: Worth a thousand words.
One tool in 2010 does the work of 14 (by my count) in 1980. Can you begin to guess the cost reduction, even without discounting for inflation? How about the weight reduction or portability increase?
From Café Hayek, of course. This is the type of thing I talk about at my other blog, Outrun Change.
I enjoy watching for creative ways to explain things.
I’ve discussed rap videos to explain economics, the federal budget illustrated on a one-page chart, and using one map to show the destruction of Napoleon’s army during his invasion of Russia. That one map does a better job of telling the story that a 1,000 word article and far faster than a 100 page book.
I have tried my hand at creative visualizations by producing two animated cartoons. They tell the story of setting up good internal controls in a local church. Part one has received over 900 views on YouTube. Part two is here.
Here’s a big brain stretch for you – using a computer program to turn raw data into a story – creative visualization using words
This week I gave a presentation at Heartbeat International. The topic – helping board members of a nonprofit understand their responsibilities.
The course was well received by the board members in attendance.
I’ve long been concerned about helping time-stretched board members learn and grow in their responsibilities so they can be more effective.
This presentation was part of my efforts to help the NPO community.
I plan to take the presentation and expanded it to a large number of blog posts. Then I will weave them together into an e-book.
Many posts will arrive on this site. Check back often.
ECFA and Maximum Generosity released their 4th annual survey of church giving trends. You can see the ECFA press release here and visit the executive summary here.
At an overall level, giving is improving a bit. Comparing the portion of church reporting giving up, down or flat looks like this: (more…)
Update – SSARS 19 had been replaced by SSARS 21. All the reports have been revised. You can check out these posts at my other blog, Attestation Update:
Here is a list of the sample reports under SSARS available on my blogs. The samples are available on this blog as well as my other blog, Attestation Update. (These links go to the other blog.)
Check out these time-lapsed maps showing the growth of a retail chain from Flowing Data. Great visualization of the speed and location of new stores. Also shows the diffusion across the country.
Lets you see the data of Walmart from 1 store in 1962 to 4,393 in 2010.
Check out these visuals:
The urgency of things that must be addressed now can take focus away from bigger issues that have long-term payoff. Verne Hargrave, CPA, of PSK has started a good series on traps that business administrators can fall into because of tyranny of the urgent.
Looks to be a very helpful series. Would be worth your time to visit his blog regularly. Maybe even set it up on your RSS feed. I’ll highlight it occasionally.
Ten Things to Avoid in Church Administration starts the discussion. Mr. Hargrave points out a few problems that can arise if tyranny-of-the-urgent takes over your life: (more…)
The regulatory load to start a new business or ministry is huge. You can not miss any of the requirements at risk of serious penalties.
License123 is a web service that might save you time researching the licensing and permits you need to start something new.
I have found a few sources that suggest the cost to conduct a large-scale deworming program is in the range of pennies per child. If I’m reading these articles correctly, the amounts include the cost to buy the medicine.
A meta-study from the World Health Organization: Estimation of the cost of large-scale school deworming programmes with benzimidazoles.
The abstract says:
Let’s look at one indicator of fair value of deworming meds on the international market – list prices and actual transactions.
Why? As I understand, the biggest med in financial statements of U.S. relief and development NPOs is mebendazole. The usual dosage is 500 mg. I also understand that particular dosage is not approved for distribution in the United States. Since you can’t use or distribute that dosage of that medicine in the U.S., seems like we should look at international pricing instead. In addition, after FAS 157 went into effect, the principal market should be considered.
One source for international pricing is the International Drug Price Indicator Guide.
Have a post at my other blog, Outrun Change, pondering if today’s predictions of the future will look as silly in 50 years as the predictions from the 1950s look to us.
Beth Chase has some great suggestions for NPO board members: 10 Ways boards can reduce their personal liability risk.
All 10 are great ideas. Two that I think have particular value:
Insisting that board meeting minutes only record decisions made.
Avoiding completely any conflicts of interest, fully disclosing any potential conflicts and assuring any disclosures are included in the board minutes.
If you get into a serious conflict of interest mess in California, the Attorney General could sue the organization to have you removed from the board and then sue you to reimburse the organization for any losses incurred.
Full disclosure and board approval of possible conflicts can prevent a lot of problems.
This morning I listened to a webcast of the Not-for-profit Advisory Committee (NAC) as they discussed the issue of valuation of donated pharmaceuticals. The NAC provides feedback to FASB about issues affecting the NPO community.
You can find an outline of the agenda, which includes an attachment for issues regarding donated meds here. Attached to the agenda are several articles from William Bennett Barrett and Caroline Preston. (Oops! Sorry Mr. Barrett.)
You can find an on-line archived recording of the meeting here. It is the March 1, 2012 meeting that started at 10 AM.
I have just a few thoughts after having listened to the meeting.
A whole lot of money. Like in the range of billions, say six. That’s $6,000,000,000.
Matthew Herper has a superb article in this week’s Forbes magazine on the issue. You can find it online at The Truly Staggering Cost of Inventing New Drugs.
