Monday, October 06, 2008

Return of the Ceai


From the Department of the Blinding Fucking Obvious, courtesy of The Atlantic Monthly:
How do you like your booze: to stay or to go? Whether residents of a given neighborhood prefer patronizing bars or liquor stores to get smashed has a
significant impact on patterns of violent crime and disorderly conduct, a study
by the Urban Institute finds. The researchers mapped 1,473 alcohol-selling
establishments in the District of Columbia, and then tracked the
relationship between the type of outlet and “violence and disorder,” using
measures like arrests and 911 calls. Not surprisingly, the more establishments
selling spirits in a neighborhood, the more general mayhem occurs. But
neighborhoods with a lot of outlets offering liquor to go (like corner stores)
tend to experience more domestic violence, while neighborhoods with a high
number of sites that let customers drink on the premises (like bars and
restaurants) tend to have many more reports of aggravated assault. Although pubs
are “attractors of violence” generally, the study shows that bar districts see
considerably fewer reports of domestic violence, suggesting that drinkers may be
taking their anger out on the loudmouth on the next bar stool—rather than in the
home.
But in Teejay and Mark's neighborhoods, merchants report significant increase in Funyun and Taco Bell sales on weekends. And weekdays.

17 comments:

T.J. said...

I hate Taco Bell.

rob said...

in the cold, sober light of day, sure.

T.J. said...

Always.

I love a lot of fast food (a lot)...but Taco Bell isn't remotely on that list.

TR said...

Looks like we went 2-3 in our picks for the week.

Anybody tally up the Wheelhouse results? I'd do it myself but I'm focused on stealth booger-picking at my desk at the moment.

Geoff said...

Jerry and I went 3-1 pending tonight's game.

T.J. said...

Go Saints.

TR said...

Quick update on world equity markets:

All major European indices were down 5-7% today. Russian indices down close to 20% today. They froze trading of financial companies in Iceland.

Things are ugly out there, and the equity markets still aren't showing the true extent of the mess.

Look for Ford to buckle sometime soon. The stock is now barely over $3.

zman said...

I would like to work for the Urban Institute so that I could do research in bars and liquor stores.

I read a quote somewhere that General Motors is the Lindsey Lohan of the bond market. Not good times for US automakers.

rob said...

thanks, tim. that's a wonderfully uplifting story.

TR said...

I just found out that the Knicks traded Renaldo Balkman to the Nuggets for a 2nd round pick in 2010 and two stiffs with non-guaranteed contracts that they cut immediately. Denver just got a guy with really cool hair and zero offensive skills.

Mark said...

Uhh, Rhym-O, I'm pretty sure that happened a few months ago as one of the stiffs was Taurean Green and he's playing somewhere in Europe right now.

And for the record, I hate Funyuns.

TR said...

If you notice, I put "I just found out..." Not sure where my head was at the time, but it certainly wasn't focused on the Knicks.

Taurean Green is indeed a stiff. He's a guy that Tayshaun Prince should put in his posse, just so he can feel more handsome about himself.

Mark said...

I guess we use the word "stiff" differently in this context. i think of lumbering, useless big men when I think "stiff", not agile, undersized PGs. Either way, he's a throw away player in this deal.

Michael Jack said...

I thought that Rob would like to know that I went a stellar 7-2 yesterday at the "track". I also can't figure out if I'm sleeping on the Dolphins or expecting too much out of SD.

T.J. said...

So you're suggesting rob should go with you next week to the GT:OTB?

T.J. said...

Not a good year for douchebag kicker Martin Gramatica...

Mark said...

You're overvaluing the Chargers, Swint. LT and Gates aren't 100% (LT is just okay right now and Sproles can only be used in a Reggie Bush type role, Gates looks about 50%) and the defense is far less menacing without Merriman coming off the edge. His absence gives them far less options and allows defenses to be better prepared for where/who the blitzes come from.