What's the real stat on crime?

CQ Press released its controversial "City Crime Rankings: Crime in Metropolitan America" report, moving Youngstown from 9th to 14th in the nation. Their fine print acknowledges what the American Society of Criminology and FBI both protested in response: "[C]rime levels are affected by many different factors, such as population density, composition of the population (particularly the concentration of youth), climate, economic conditions, strength of local law enforcement agencies, citizen’s attitudes toward crime, cultural factors, education levels, crime reporting practices of citizens and family cohesiveness." They go on to affirm that "Such differences help explain the different speeds but do not invalidate the comparisons."

One view to take is: Hey, we're getting better! And if these calculations have merit, then I suppose that is one positive take-away. Another option is just to lose another 5,000 people and drop off the list altogether. That would show 'em!

But I wonder if there is another view. Detroit and Youngstown, for example, are both high on the list of several hundred cities ranked. But both cities, it seems to me, have relatively large land masses in contrast to their emaciated populations. If two people live on a block of a dozen houses, one of which gets vandalized, is that weighed the same as breaking-and-entering in a populous neighborhood where more people are actually affected by crime? I guess what I'm asking is: is how we feel about crime based on what happens around us and affects us directly? Or is it a vague sense of unease created by headlines and national reports?

How can we create an index that reflects the reality of the current crime scene and that allows us to have a baseline to measure progress? Maybe we already have such a thing and I'm not aware? If not, what kinds of measurements or figures would be valuable and appropriate?

It's easier to hide behind hopes that the report is not accurate. However, we know there's a problem we can't ignore. Let's put it in perspective we can use.

Cough

Time was, I could put my body on autopilot and not worry about it. I didn't expect to have to pay close attention in my early thirties already. But the irony is that, if my computer exhibited a problem I'd be all over it, recording symptoms and the steps it took to cause the problem in the first place, what programs were running, the ambient room temperature, everything. If my ear goes numb for five minutes, however, I shrug it off, "Well, I'm sure there's a good reason for that."

I now take notes at my doctor appointments, because I know I haven't figured out a system for remembering medical details yet. Raised liver enzymes? Good cholesterol is down? These just don't hit home with me somehow. Plus, when I get home I'm going to get grilled by my wife for all the details, and I'd better be prepared. After all, if I don't relay my medical history to her, it will be forgotten. I sure won't remember.

Focus!

So, I'm trying to be more productive in my work. Last week, I was in Virginia for a conference, where a keynote speaker was Tim Ferriss, who wrote The Four-Hour Work Week. Among other things, he talks about ways to shut out the world outside and single-task the most important thing. This is one failing of mine: a belief that because I can have a bunch of windows open simultaneously on my computer, that I'm actually able to keep track of why I opened them all in the first place and complete all the tasks. Whether or not I was ever able to do this in the past, I certainly can't seem to now. So, I have to focus on the thing I'm doing--and to the exclusion of whatever else pops into my head.

While the Ferriss book is good, it also covers a bunch of other things not related to productivity, so I'm linking here to a good summary of some of the more important strategies to focusing in and knocking it out.

The first area of concern when it comes to focus includes, what distractions do you allow into your life? Distractions are the number one focus killer! It is estimated that for every distraction that occurs in our life, it takes about 15 minutes to get back on track or get back to the same thought pattern you were at prior to the distraction occurring. How much wasted time does that add up over the course of a year?

The Youngstown Kidd

Kudos per usual to Angie Schmitt for telling the stories that should be told. I have been drowning in work and extracurricular projects lately and thoroughly inadequately activizing. Yet ironman, Energizer Bunny, Phil "Mr. Defend Youngstown" Kidd keeps the faith through it all.

Local activist Phil Kidd is leading the charge to improve the historic park that once served as the focal point of one of the city's wealthiest neighborhoods.

So far, Kidd has enlisted the help of Leadership Mahoning Valley, Treez Please, First Unitarian Church and Wick Neighbors. And the 28-year-old creator of the Defend Youngstown Web site has only begun his appeals for assistance.

Kidd hopes to convene the groups in mid-January to begin planning improvements and organizing a fund-raising campaign.

Initial plans include creating an urban garden, replacing brick entrance ways, mending park benches, and repairing the park's now-defunct fountain. In addition, Kidd hopes to add landscaping, install playground equipment and secure donated artwork from local artists.

Though I'm flush with activities right now, if anyone is forming an admiration society devoted to Phil, sign me up for its Board.