By the Numbers

I've written earlier about my fondness for the monthly Harper's Index, in which random facts and not-so-random-facts are united through percentage points and numbers, with current events, politics, trends and observations put into stark relief. They're often funny, and often infuriating, and help reveal connections and narratives left unexplored by mainstream media. Long-time editor and essayist Lewis Lapham created the index in 1984 as he revamped the magazine, claiming, “Numbers can be made to tell as many stories as a crooked lawyer or an old comedian.”

This month, the Harper's Index turns 25 years old, and in celebration of this fact, Harper's has made their index database accessible for all. They've put up a pretty cool searching database in which entries can be browsed by subject. One can simply type in a topic or letter for a result, and hit enter for the results on this page. Or, one can start with some suggested "starting points" from the website:
Adultery
China
Beer
Vegetables
Sweets
American Men
American Women
Cats
Dogs
Frogs
Bears
Pandas

Have fun with these, and then hit the harder stuff:
Afghanistan
Saddam Hussein
Global Warming
Torture
Weapons of Mass Destruction
Social Security