Graphing Stories

At the most basic level, a graph can communicate key information, like a company's P&L, the median price of a house, or daily average rainfall for a county over a year, but when used effectively, a graph can tell a story.

Much like the rings on a tree can tell you the story of their lives, this graph from the NYTimes, tells the all too true story that we're living right now, every one of us -- the economy. How it varies from the LA Times dead tree edition though is dramatic because it interactively allows you to explore how this bear market relates to the bear markets of our parents, grandparents, and great grandparents.

The NYTimes effectively use a timeline that slides to specific bear markets, making it incredibly easy to see the differences between today and the history that led up to this crisis. Having closely watched the markets, this paints an entirely new picture, however grim it may be.