Same Place, After Midnight

sor_eye_ah and I are going to Slimelight tonight. It seems like all of you have other plans, or are staying home; if you change your mind, or wish to go out dancing, you are very welcome to join us. Leave a comment, yo.

In case they don't let me in - eventhough I'm pulling all the stops when it comes to black clothing - we'll be at Feeling Gloomy, swaying to the The Cure.

Catch me on the trad floor doing the cat scratch dance!

The Hidden Side of Somethings

Steven D. Levitt, Stephen J. Dubner, Freakonomics: A Rogue Economist Explores the Hidden Side of Everything, 2005
According to the authors of this book, Freakonomics is the ability to ask sensible questions about the world and deal with uncomfortable answers. At all times, one most not take any moral stand and simply judge the figures, the conclusion, with impartial eyes. It's philosophy disguised as economics, with a heavy reliance on figures and data to back up the questioning.

Freakonomics is really one theory - that abortion legalization in the U.S. in the 70s caused a drop in crime in the 90s - propped up with other less controversial theories in order to create a tome long enough to be printed and sold. It's still a fairly slim book, a quick read that reflects the lack of support to the ideas inside. That's not to say that the ideas are bad; but there's a lack of meat to the bones, a palpable sense that conclusions were drawn hastily in some instances in order to fit the authors' views. Also, eventhough the book presumes to explore the hidden side of everthing, it's mainly a compilation of questions put forward by white middle-class Americans, curious about abortion, black & white poverty, and the failure of the American education system in some states. Anyone living outside America might find it hard to care, unless they have a passing interest in America (mafioso Sumo wrestlers not withstanding).

Freakonomics is not very useful when investigating the future. There are no predictions in this book about the approaching collapse of the world's financial system, the looming Great Depression that will smack America (and everyone else) in the face. I would have been more impressed if they had tackled this subject.