Comments on: Gainful Employment

By: Miss A

Miss A — Tue, 06 Feb 2007 04:05:57 +0000

Congratulations on the new job!

By: Jon Boy

Jon Boy — Sun, 04 Feb 2007 03:44:50 +0000

Just to be safe and minimize the chance that our boss will find it and read it, I guess.

By: Dave-o

Dave-o — Sat, 03 Feb 2007 23:13:23 +0000

He has lots of stalkers (angry postal-worker types, I think)….

By: kojabu

kojabu — Fri, 02 Feb 2007 16:28:09 +0000

Why would you want to hide where you work? *confused*

By: Jon Boy

Jon Boy — Sat, 27 Jan 2007 04:33:20 +0000

Bah. Just like a purple to ruin a perfectly good story with facts.

By: Petra

Petra — Thu, 25 Jan 2007 09:52:20 +0000

Actually, have you read Malcolm Gladwell’s “The Tipping Point”? In it, he makes a fairly cogent argument that cracking down on graffiti and turnstile-jumping is what made the big difference, not abortion. He directly references Freakonomics and refutes some of the points there. I’m not sure I’m entirely convinced by either argument–there are probably other factors involved–but don’t be so quick to dismiss the “small means” one.

By: Jon Boy

Jon Boy — Wed, 24 Jan 2007 04:41:30 +0000

Hey, I only said it because Melyngoch dropped hints first. Of course, I decided to edit it anyway just in case.

What can I say? I’m a selfish, selfish person. Also a filthy synergizer.

By: Cicada

Cicada — Wed, 24 Jan 2007 03:43:13 +0000

Whoa, whoa, you’re not actually giving hints as to what company we work for, are you? Because I’ve been careful about it this time.

Also, I’d like to point out that you’re home while I’m still at work, having worn my mouse-button-clicking finger down to the bloody bone. I can’t believe you left, you slacker.

Also, I kindof snickered when Melyngoch told you to synergize… ohhhh, as long as you’ve given hints, I may as well blog about that whole exchange. Having you at work makes life so much better.

Also, when I saw that video, I thought the same thing.

By: Jon Boy

Jon Boy — Wed, 24 Jan 2007 02:21:30 +0000

I think you’re right. However, he mentioned neither of those factors—just the crackdown on misdemeanors, which was probably least responsible for turning the tide.

By: Farmgirl

Farmgirl — Tue, 23 Jan 2007 16:04:08 +0000

I’ve read both Freakanomics, and also Rudolph W. Giuliani’s book “Leadership” - both of which mention that drop in crime rate. Personally, I think I attribute it to BOTH factors — the drop in criminal population numbers (as outlined in Freakanomics) and the crackdown of police (and they hired a lot MORE police). All the areas saw a drop (due to the Freakanomic factor) but NYC’s was way higher, so I think it had more than one factor involved.
I believe they even mention that in the Freakanomics book, IIRC.