Monday, December 11, 2006

Finny gets Freaky


Tag, I'm it.

Despite my year+ on Blogger, this is my first meme-tagging moment. Call me a late bloomer.

And to make my tagger feel better after her recent admission of acronym-itis in the comment field of this post, I should say that I felt compelled to look up the true definition of "meme" online (an idea, project, statement or even a question that is posted by one blog and responded to by other blogs. Although the term encompasses much of the natural flow of communication in the Blogosphere, there are active bloggers and blog sites that are dedicated to the creation of memes on a regular basis.) True, "meme" isn't an acronym, but it's something of a nerdy-online kind of word that I wasn't 100% clear on. So, whatever. I'm a dork.

This meme, as it were, asks me to pick up the nearest book in arm's reach, flip to page 123 : line 5 and put the words from the next three lines into my post:

..."previously set free-for drug-related offenses and parole revocation in particular-were instead locked up. Between 1980 and 2000, there was a fifteenfold increase in the number of people sent to prison on..."

I feel compelled to put some context around the above three lines which are in Freakonomics: A Rogue Economist Explores the Hidden Side of Everything, by Steven D. Levitt and Stephen J. Dubner.

The theory they are writing about, which the aforementioned three lines work at explaining, is that the drop in crime rate during the 90's was explained, by some, to be the effect of incarcerating more criminals for drug and parole related crimes. This, however, is not a theory shared by the authors of the book.

In fact, the theory they present is much more controversial and definitely worth a read through. I think I whipped through this book in an afternoon and did find many of their theories to be at least provocative enough to consider if not totally rational and acceptable.

I won't lie though - conservative thinkers should come prepared with helmet. Some questions are asked in this book that are probably illegal in our redder states.

Now comes my turn to tag - please forgive me for this chain letter-esque activity. I figure, at least it's book related, which I do enjoy, and you three always have shit going on that I find interesting. PS, no hard feelings if you don't meme-along.

Laura in AK - I would love to see what book you have nearby since it's probably something wildlife related, or perhaps sleddog-ish?
Africankelli - since Shelley put me down for getting her into blogging, I think you deserve the same treatment you big enabler, you.
And Farmgirl, even though I know you don't have time for this since you're probably out in the back 40 managing the sheep or busy at the stove with one of your recipes that I will copy and pass off as my own.

The End.

4 comments:

  1. Yeah, this meme thing (pronounced "meem" BTW, not like "Look mom, it's me----me! I looked this up out of curiosity after your curious moment so I'm officially a dork too.) As I was saying... this meme thing, you're right, it's kind of chain-mailish, but I like the girl who "tagged" me so I figured why not, and I was able to make it tie in with Rome after all.

    Anyhoo, loved this book. I am totally intrigued by the theories and they made logical sense to me. I mean, they are based on economic statistics so that is what made it so interesting, the fact that it comes across as rather objective, just the facts, ma'am.

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  2. Sorry, I can't do the tag thing, I truly don't know any other bloggers I just admire other people's stuff but would be uncomfortable doing this--but I'm glad you asked anyway, I am not reading anything remotely wildlife or sleddog related. I'm loving "A Dirty Job," by Christopher Moore. I highly recommend it! I hope you don't mind I neglected to carry on the tag!

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  3. Hi Finnyknit

    Thank you so much for my gift, I love it. You put so much thought, time and effort into the whole thing. I will use the shopping bags and keep the photo/cards for myself...it's my piece of San Jose.

    Thank you

    Maddii

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  4. Okay, but I am warning you. This is boooring:

    "Thirteen percent of the world's population, or 740 million people, are affliceted with idodine deficiency and suffer form a range of health problems associated with the disorder, including goiter, stillbirths, miscarriages, neonatal and thyroid deficiency, mental defects, stunted growth, spastic weakness..."

    From: "MillionsSaved: Proven Successes in Global Health."

    And doode, did I just explain my spastic behavior? RAD!

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[2013 update: You can't comment as an anonymous person anymore. Too many douchebags were leaving bullshit SPAM comments and my inbox was getting flooded, but if you're here to comment in a real way like a real person, go to it.]

Look at you commenting, that's fun.

So, here's the thing with commenting, unless you have an email address associated with your own profile, your comment will still post, but I won't have an email address with which to reply to you personally.

Sucks, right?

Anyway, to remedy this, I usually come back to my posts and post replies in the comment field with you.

But, if you ever want to email me directly to talk about pumpkins or shoes or what it's like to spend a good part of your day Swiffering - shoot me an email to finnyknitsATgmailDOTcom.

Cheers.