May 2011
55 posts
“Tests have shown that the amount of lead in Americans’ blood fell by four-fifths between 1975 and 1991. A 2007 study by the economist Jessica Wolpaw Reyes contended that the reduction in gasoline lead produced more than half of the decline in violent crime during the 1990s in the U.S. and might bring about greater declines in the future. Another economist, Rick Nevin, has made the same argument for other nations”
—
From this WSJ story on why crime rates are so low, despite what your favorite rapper has been telling you. When considering all the reasons I can live around the corner from a massive housing project in Bed-Stuy, and not really worry about my safety that much, I hadn’t considered unleaded gasoline. This is bizarre, but more a much more comforting answer than the one provided by Freakonomics: that Roe v. Wade made for less unwanted babies, which led to less crime.
What’s fascinating is that Roe v. Wade was decided in 1973, and the new regulations on lead in paint and gasoline passed in 1974. The two studies deal with just about the same exact time period, which is awesome. They seem to explain a bit too much away, but I find these sort of hyper-reductive theories fascinating. They’re a sobering reminder of the limits of consciousness and free will — great Tuesday reading!
And, perhaps, there was always something to be said for the Miasma theory of the ghetto.
spotted via Kottke.
The Atlantic: Is 'Swag' Here to Stay? →
theatlantic.com
The Atlantic LOVES Bay Area rap. This one’s got a punchline!
Edit: Has everyone forgotten about the swag-boom of the mid aughts? “Turn My Swag On” was post-boom; Juelz Santana destroyed that word, along with his career, in like, 2007, right?
DSK's People Try to Pay Poor Guineans Hush Money →
theatlanticwire.com
When the DSK story first broke, Jon Stewart joked that the IMF chief attempting to rape an African woman was a sort of grotesque shorthand for the actual work the IMF does. Well, he’s just one-upped himself by offering seven figures to people who make $45 a month in exchange for giving up their autonomy, and sell out their family. Yeah, that’s a lot more like what the IMF does.
“Most of them will not be prisoners with medical conditions or severe mental illness, and many will undoubtedly be — no homo — fine physical specimens who have developed intimidating muscles pumping iron in the prison gym.”
—
Supreme Court Justice Antonin Scalia
OK, so I added the “no homo,” but that’s a really funny Justice Scalia quote from the NYT story about the SCOTUS decision to make California release 30,000 prisoners.
“I thought this was nice and the article has a HUGE point. I have to admit though went my brother told me the change in Bay Area’s music and showed me what “Hyphy” or “Hyphie” was, I didn’t like it right off the bat but after hearing it blasting through the house its grown on me and well it’s a biased thing too don’t judge I love you. Lol. www.electrocomputerwarehouse.com”
—A spambot named “janny” left this comment on my latest (4 months old) post on Nation of Thizzlam. Part of my ongoing coverage of how the spambots are getting smarter. Janny really falls apart towards the end, but “her” description of her first experience with hyphy (or “hyphie”) music rings true.
Noticing a big trend in product placement videos (maybe?) after the Ross and 4 Loko. Thought you would like these -
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dUT8l649X5s&feature=player_embedded
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xTxrrTFpi88&feature=youtu.be
http://www.youtube.com/verify_age?
next_url=http%3A//www.youtube.com/watch%3Ffeature%3Dplayer_embedded%26v%3DO1tufujnbzU
Eryn :)
Ha! These are some great finds, though they make me sad. While I’m positive 4LOKO was paying artists to rap about them (I know for a fact they sponsored bands in Brooklyn, and that’s proof enough for me), I’d definitely say none of these have any corporate influence behind them.
They’re depressing because they’re a reminder of how much large corporations dominate so many aspects of our lives. Though maybe that’s pessimistic, and these videos could be seen as subversive in a way: using uptight corporate strip mall stores as the setting for the hoodest behavior imaginable. But, nah, not really.
Please Respect The Bitch
Lil B 'The BasedGod'
Lil B “Please Respect the Bitch”
Not to be confused with “Salute to the Bitch”, also on the Bitch Mob tape. This song is sort of lackluster compared to bangers like “Dopeman Hunter”, but it’s got a Bay Area homage that I can’t help but love.
B starts singing at the end, around 2:20. Doesn’t that tune sound familiar? It’s E-40, Tupac, and B-Legit’s “Million Dollar Spot”. Respect all around!
“I’ll say, ‘Oh, what are we going to do this summer?’ She’s going to say, ‘The world is going to end on May 21, so I don’t know why you’re planning for summer,’ and then everyone goes, ‘Oh, boy,’ ”
—Some guy quoted in the NYT about his sister who believes that the rapture will happen tomorrow. True faith requires throwing all practicality out the window. Couldn’t she just humor her nonbelieving loved ones and say, “I’ll be in a hot air balloon with Jesus, John Lennon, and Tupac this summer, what will you be doing?” Christians are so fucking boring.
