My policy of keeping a “door plus” distance from parked cars paid off on the ride home today. A guy (ironically wearing a yellow safety vest) nearly got me with the door of his F150. All either of us could manage was “errrgh”. Once the danger was past, I fired off a menacing “be careful!” You can bet that’s still ringing in his ears. So let that be a lesson, kids. Just cuz it ain’t moving doesn’t mean a car’s not out to get you.
Also, I began to philosophize about the corrections system. It occurs to me that it really doesn’t correct much. We say inmates are paying their debt to society, but doesn’t it cost society money to imprison them in the first place? Why isn’t there some means by which perps can make tangible contributions to society with all that time they spend in the pen? Couldn’t they do some of the low-wage work that has largely moved overseas, and in the process, learn some actual skills (as opposed to the “skilz” that got them there)? I mean, they should at least offset the cost of their room and board. Why should they get a free ride while college kids deliver pizzas and tend bar to pay for theirs?
Dr. Brooks – I eagerly await your comment. That is, if you can spare a moment from your current research…
Denny Yunk 
2 words – chain gangs. Bring ’em back. Put the felons to work rebuilding our neglected county park system. Sweep the streets. Take my garbage out to the curb every tuesday. Heve ’em tell morons to watch where they open their car doors.
Chain gangs have been used, see the Maricopa AZ Sheriff’s page for details. Problem is it seems to be more costly to monitor them outside of jail, then the value of the work they do.There are few things that seem to reduce crime more than keeping them locked up. If we let out the dope smokers and put the violent criminals in longer, we could spend less on prisons and be safer. A Pareto improvement. Lecture with slides commences tomorrow at noon.