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Over the Christmas break I read Freakonomics, a book whose authors proudly confess has no unifying theme.  The book basically builds on the work of Steven D. Levitt, the self-professed rogue economist who explores the hidden side of everything.

I never realised economics could be so fun.  At West Point, I was required to take Econ 101, but all I can recall is something about the supply and demand curve and that everything has an opportunity cost.  I scraped by.

The guys who wrote Freakonomics, however, have made economics sexy by exploring the things us normal human beings like most – crime, corruption, and sex.  By the time I finished reading the book, I felt like dropping out of my current line of work and becoming an economist.

Here are a few of the questions Levitt and Dubner take a crack at answering in Freakonomics:

• What do schoolteachers and Sumo wrestlers have in common?
• How is the Ku Klux Klan like a group of real-estate agents?
• Why do drug dealers still live with their moms?
• Where have all the criminals gone?
• What makes a perfect parent?

Why do drug dealers still live with their moms is my favourite chapter.  I particularly like the story of Sudhir Venkatesh, who was sent into a Chicago ghetto with a clipboard and a seventy question survey with the first question being: ‘How do you feel about being black and poor?’

Venkatesh basically stumbles into the hangout of a gang that is a part of the Black Gangster Disciple Nation.

Just as things were looking their bleakest for Venkatesh, another man appeared.  This was J.T., the gang’s leader.  J.T. wanted to know what was going on.  Then he told Venkatesh to read him the survey question.  He listened but then said he couldn’t answer the question because he wasn’t black.”Well then,” Venkatesh said, “how does it feel to be African American and poor?”

“I ain’t no African American either, you idiot.  I’m a nigger.”  J.T. then administered a lively though not unfriendly taxonomical lesson in “nigger” versus “African American” versus “Black.” (Freakonomics, 86)

After a scary first night of practically being held hostage, the gang slowly accept Venkatesh and he embeds himself with them over several years.  What is remarkable about the story is Venkatesh is able to do what no one else has done before which is get the full financial reports of a big city gang.

Read the book to find out what the data reveals.

Freakonomics: A Rogue Economist Explores the Hidden Side of Everything

Dave Chapman, a producer, was sorting through some old recordings of a group called the New Flames when he discovered at the end of one of the tapes a Jimi Hendrix style rendition of the Welsh national anthem, Hen Wlad Fy Nhadau, Land of My Fathers.  Hendrix is known to have been a good friend of the New Flames’ bass player, Viv Williams. 

There is a big search on to find Viv Williams in the hopes that he can verify the recording.  If it turns out to be Hendrix playing, it will be among the last recordings he made before he died in 1970 at age 27.

You can listen to the track here courtesy of The Red Dragonhood.

   Today, Romania and Bulgaria have officially joined the EU.  This brings the EU total up to 27 members and a half a billion people.  The BBC quoted the Romanian president, Traian Basescu as saying, “It was hard, but we arrived at the end of the road.  It is the road of our joy.” Link

The Brits, though, don’t seem to be as joyous about the new members.  Their main fear seems to be the mounting immigration influx of former Eastern Europeans.  The British taxpayers are saying enough is enough.  As one person put it, “It’s nothing to do with them taking ‘our jobs’…The problem with the influx of ALL immigrants coming to the UK is the strain on infastructure, NHS, housing, resources, and schooling” (from Zornitsa M. Stoyanova-Yerburgh of the WorldPress).

One year ends another one begins.  I am looking forward to 2007.  It’s an odd numbered year, and if my past history reflects my future history, odd years have been wild years for me, so 2007 is sleighted to be a wild ride. 

Happy New Year,

Clay 

The tradition of making New Year’s resolutions dates back 4000 years to the Babylonians.  They believed the way you behaved on the first day of the New Year set the tone for how you would behave for the next 12 months.  I tend not to make New Year’s resolutions because I tend to not stick to them.  Maybe my resolution should be to make some New Year’s reolutions and stick to them!  We’ll see.

Anyway, if you’re inclined to make New Year’s resolutions, but don’t know where to start, try using your Sun Sign as a primer.  For me that would be –

Leo (July 22 – August 22):

1. Serious? Yep.  Lately, anyway.  So first, resolve to enjoy life again.
2. Aim for romance, romance, and more romance, from June through September.
3. Choose one of those playmates and have a real, live relationship by November.
4. Turn your most-loved hobby into a part-time income, at least.
5. Make it the way you earn your daily bread by the time you hang the mistletoe.

Link

After finishing my contract last Friday, I’ve been taking a bit of chill time and getting myself ready for the New Year. I’ve been mulling over my goals for 2007, but haven’t come up with a definitive list yet. The gates of the New Year stand ready to open.  I’m nearly ready.