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Shareworthy articles and content syndicated from other sites. These aren’t things I’ve written or necessarily endorse, for the record.

Business intelligence vs. infotainment

Business intelligence expert Stephen Few goes on another rant about information graphics — mainly about the work of David McCandless, designer of The Visual Miscellaneum. Few’s post is in response to another from Teradata marketing director Mario Bonardo, praising innovation and new ideas, etc for business intelligence.

Bonardo wrote: “Being asked about the differences between traditional information graphics and his own ones, McCandless said he is aiming to remove as much irrelevant information as possible to get to the core of things, discover new correlations and challenge traditional views.” My dismay does not stem from McCandless’ words, but from his actual practices, which don’t deliver what he claims and certainly don’t point the way to a productive future for analytics.

Normally, I take the let’s-agree-to-disagree route, as these types of arguments always end up going in circles, but I actually agree with Few. Not because I don’t like David’s work (I do), but because David’s work is a cross between news and entertainment. Business intelligence, which really is just statistics for business, is analysis. It’s not entertainment.

Few ends with:

Rather than trying to innovate in the realm of analytics without the required expertise, it’s time for BI companies, consultants, and thought leaders to first learn the basics of data sensemaking and communication—analytics—and only afterwards to try their hands at creating something new.

It’s the nature of technology to highlight and bring hype to bright and shiny tools, but in the end, the tools are just that. You still have to learn data. Whether a tool works or not depends on the purpose and context.

[Visual Business Intelligence | Thanks, Jan]

10 Fresh Tees to Geek Out Your Summer Wardrobe [PICS]

With warmer weather on the horizon and our last tshirt roundup a little way back, we thought it was high time we took another look at the casual clothing genre from a geeky perspective.

We’ve found 10 top tees that will emblazon your geekiness across your chest like some kind of nerd badge of honor. We’ve got fresh options for Googlophiles, fanboys, net-lovers, followers of pop culture, Foursquare-lovers and more.

Have a wander through the gallery and let us know in the comments below which garment-of-geek you’d consider donning this season, as well as any others you’ve seen of late that are worth a mention.

1. Digital Stream

This unisex designer tee offers a vintage vision of yesteryear’s tech.

Cost: $19

2. Google Voice

The colorful circles adorning this official Google-shirt will be instantly recognizable to Google Voice fans.

Cost: $21

3. Chop Shop’s The Internets

Chop Shop delivers another great montage of symbols, this time on the theme of “The Internets”.

Cost: $20

4. “Google” by Intelligent Design

Showing the global financial crisis’ effect on Google stock over a six-month period, this is a great garment for GOOG stock-watchers.

Cost: $40

5. Nerdy Shirts’ Charlie Sheen Range

There’s not one, not two, but three Charlie Sheen-themed tees on offer at Nerdy Shirts. #Winning!

Cost: $23.99 each

6. Might Tees Steve-in-Sane

Described as “one part 20-something hipster Steve Jobs, one part Bowie’s Aladdin Sane, and one part Apple rainbow,” this shirt is three parts awesome.

Cost: $23.99

7. Google Android Restroom Sign

There are three types of people in Google’s world; Men, women and Androids. If you’re a fan of ‘droids, you might like this appropriately colored tee.

Cost: $12.20

8. Foursquare Jetsetter

This is part of Foursquare’s range of official swag. Glam it up with the limited-edition “jetsetter” shirt.

Cost: $20

9. Modern Pirates

Modern pirates still mark their treasure with a cross, but they’ve stopped using parchment maps in favor of iPhones.

Cost: $19.95

10. What Does it Mean?

We’ll leave you with a tee that encapsulates one of the most powerful questions of our time: What does it mean?

Cost: $20

Interested in more Accessories resources? Check out Mashable Explore, a new way to discover information on your favorite Mashable topics.

More About: fashion, galleries, gallery, geek, List, Lists, t-shirts, tees

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Jesse Jackson Jr. Makes Unbelievably Ignorant Claim That The iPad Is Killing American Jobs

If you ever doubted that our politicians really know nothing about economics, you must watch this video from Rep. Jesse Jackson Jr (D-IL) who blasts Apple and Steve Jobs for killing American jobs with the iPad.

It’s simple: Because everyone can download books and newspapers, everyone who works at bookstores (he notes Borders going out of business) or the publishing industry, or for textbooks, will lose their jobs to the people making iPads in China.

Obviously he ignores all the wealth the iPad has created in America, and the fact that there are all kinds of other jobs that have been created around the iPad, and he ignores that just about every single technological innovation in the world has experienced a similar dynamic.

it feels silly to even bother refuting this. Just watch the video, via Real Clear Politics.

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