Around the Blogs 10-16-06

Joel Jacobsen at Judging Crimes has a necessary critique of the recent news stories about violent crime increases in some but not all US cities, plus a nice insight I've always concurred with on how the high murder rates of the 90s killed off and debilitated enough violent guys to contribute to the later declines in the rates. I know it can't be official government policy, but really . . . . Grits for Breakfast reports on a successful offender job fair in San Antonio. It's nice to see TX doing something right. . . . At Talk Left we hear of this Guardian story on how Europeans are shifting from weed to coke and alcohol, particularly in Britain, undermining the "marijuana is the starter drug" belief, or so the article claims. Apparently Europe is now searching for a good translation for "binge-drinking." I suggest they try State Street in Madison, WI this Halloween.