microscopic

Once I needed to be wakened at seven in the morning: “Please knock tomorrow at seven.” This elicited from the hotel porter the following Shakespearean monologue: “If we think of it we shall wake you, but if we do not think of it we shall not wake you. Actually we usually do think of it, and then we wake people. But to be sure, we also forget sometimes when we do not think of it. Then we do not wake people. We are under no obligation, of course, but if it crosses our mind, we do it. When do you want to be wakened? At seven? Then we shall write that down. You see, I am putting the message there where he will find it. Of course, if he does not find it, then he will not wake you. But usually we do wake people.”

Walter Benjamin, “Moscow”

If the homicide rates in the poor black areas were twice the rates in the better-off white areas, that would be significant. The differences above, averaging about 13 to one, are staggering. This is what apartheid looks like.

Steve Bogira, “Concentrated poverty and homicide in Chicago.” Chicago Reader 26 July 2012

Homicide map: Chicago Sun-Times

Vacant properties map: Open City