Thursday, October 25, 2007
phillips theory
These pictures give a pretty accurate description of our street on any given day. The Chevy Corsica is usually parked quite far from the curb :) but more importantly, most days you will find people outside "working on their cars." Not all agree, but the theory is that this is a cover up for something else...i.e. selling drugs. Yeah, it doesn't really make any sense. However, since living in the Phillips, I've seen so many open car hoods. More than ever before. Trent, even though you strongly disagree, we value your opinion. Please comment.
Subscribe to:
Post Comments (Atom)
26 comments:
it's a cavalier. :)
Pretty sketch evidence if you ask me.
So your theory is that the clearly innocent act of working on ones car in the quaint little barrio of Phillips is in fact a cover up for a far more sinister activity, in this case the selling of narcotics?
There are countless people, probably millions, working on their cars somewhere in the world at any given time. Are we to believe that all of these people, instead of simply being good stewards of their automobiles and/or car enthusiasts, are in reality drug pushers?
Just the other day, I popped the hood of my ride to check the oil. According to your "Phillips Theory" whose name is deceivingly cute, that was just a means of conveyance for my elaborate Crystal Meth drug ring.
When we start taking the blatantly innocent act of working under the hood of ones car and *ervert them into social ills, we actually do damage to the already fragile framework of our society. Soon, pushing ones baby in a stroller through the park is actually a means for the black market gun trade. But it wouldn't stop there...
If Andrea F....no thats too obvious...if A. Froehlich is to have their way by being able to reinterpret perfectly legal common every day habits/actions.....I fear for the future...imagine this-
One day, you are sitting down to a bowl of Cheerios like you do EVERY morning, and suddenly the ATF and local SWAT team is bashing in your door with a battering ram, blinding you with flash bang and smoke grenades and hauling you off to some secret prison in Madagascar where you will never again see the light of day.
Thats not a world I want to live in.
wow Trent...how did you know the spanish word for neighborhood? that's impressive.
Also, good job stealing the line from the Simpsons:)
wow Trent...how did you know the spanish word for neighborhood? that's impressive.
Also, good job stealing the line from the Simpsons:)
wow Trent...how did you know the spanish word for neighborhood? that's impressive.
Also, good job stealing the line from the Simpsons:)
oops. I just accidentally posted my comment 3 times.
"Soon, pushing ones baby in a stroller through the park is actually a means for the black market gun trade."
Nope--those people are selling drugs, too.
-Abraham
it's only fishy when you see someone pushing an empty baby stroller, and believe me it happens. i had never thought of all the broken down cars with the hoods popped being a cover-up... i'm willing to entertain that theory.
i just love that you took pictures of the people!!!
I heart 2520!
ohmygosh... abraham and i commented at the same time. that must mean we're in love.
WOW! 10 comments! awesome.
I just love Steph's car!
As a former phillips dweller myself, I must say there are many things that are quite sketchy, most of which has already been posted on this blog.
Abraham and Molly's comments made me laugh out loud.
I love 2520 too!
-Courtney
While I don't agree with "fly_away's" somewhat mean spirited reply, I do think I agree with his general premise...at least what I can skim between his sarcastic barbs. Steph, I'll try to find you some better data from my old sociology books, but for now I'll be a "mall sociologist" like everyone else.
Americans have had a long tradition of working on their cars, you could say it's part of our identity in a way. Different sub-groups of american culture tend to express this tradition in different ways. For example, suburbanites tend to be far more isolated in their daily routines (i think they just don't play well with others). As a result, in the suburbs, for example, you're probably more likely to find one working on his or her car by himself or herself in his or her own garage. In other neighborhoods, often more urban settings, working on one's car is a very social tradition. As a result, you will often find more than one person milling around a car with its hood in the air. So, why not work on the car in the alley by your garage? One reason is that there are a lot of neighborhoods in the city, not as many in MPLS, in which houses or apartments do not have garages and alleys. Also, say bren and I live four houses away from each other and andrea lives on the next block. If I work on my car in my own garage, my friends may not see me. Then I would have to call my friends and say, "I'm working on my car, wanna come hang out?" A truly awkward scenario if you ask me. It's far better for me to go out front where bren might see me and come over to hang out and work on the car. Then, as andrea rolls down the block, she sees us and decides to come hang out, too. Mmmmmm.....now we're in a socially awesome situation.
There was an interesting study a little while back about car washing traditions in the streets of Latino communities, but right now I can't remember where it is published, so I'm not much help.
But wait!! You are not completely out of line to be a little suspicious. Why? Well, those involved in illicit trades will often try to mask their dubious works amid completely mundane happenings (i.e. the famous empty baby stroller). After all, if people were obvious about their illegal deeds, they would probably be caught more often then they are. I'm sure that some have used the "car-working tradition" as a cover for selling drugs. If you really wanna be a sidewalk investigator, look for other clues. Are there any tools out? Do the individuals "working" on the car have greasy hands? Do they ever even touch the car? Do a lot of people drive or stop by the car over the course of a few hours, make brief stops, and then drive off? Perhaps cars you don't recognize from the neighborhood?
Anyway, if you're still reading this, I apologize for the length. We miss you, girls!! Talk to you soon!
What a geek--I love him! I think we should move back to MN (and more specifically on your block) so he can investigate more thoroughly...yeah, that sounds like a good excuse to move back!
Yay for all the comments!! I think our blog has been revived!
A&M--you guys are great! You're absolutely right that baby-stroller-pushing people DO sell drugs!
Cort--we miss you! wish you were still a 2520 girl!
Easterwoods--YAY for posting and such an informed and analytical comment by David! It was a post that provided valuable informaition not mere opinion and was still willing to take into consideration the hypothesis that was posed (and gave us great ways to test our theory). I hope you guys move back up here, but you better move soon!
2520--I miss you, home sweet, home! Well, I actually miss the peeps that live there not the house...Sarah, if you read this, I hope you're not sick!
ouch, i am mean spirited.
:(
i forever renounce satire.
Seems you've caused quite a stir! Interesting theory...
Barb
Hey girls,
I'll give you the suburbia story. Unfortunately we don't have the neighborhood social scene so we rely on small town gossip (from the town informer); continuous cars driving by in the middle of the night; and people slowing pulling into your driveway at 1am, looking in your window, then screaching away. There is excitement everywhere. Unfortunately, by being in a small town where everyone knows each other, townsfolk talk openly about who is growing marajuana in their backyard or basement. The bottom line I guess is that there are a lot of people to share the gospel with. RG
I hate to break your bubble but this post is only the 17th legitemate post - not the 21st. You guys still are popular though. :) RG
Wow. That's all I have to say.
-s
ok, remember that time when we wanted to have a contest to see who would get the most comments with her respective post. well, I think this post has won that contest, hands down.
Congratulations on being so popular.
Oh, and Ellie, I will always be a 2520 girl at heart. No seminary housing can take that away!
love you,
cdt
fly_away,
The most important thing to renounce is mean-spirited and sarcastic emoticons.
Abraham
I just can't seem to win on this interweb thing...
But I renounce those too I guess.
But for the record, nothing about my post was intentionally mean-spirited.
I agree with Andreas theory.
I just felt like writing about cheerios and secret prisons in Madagascar.
I'm not sure but it would be a good idea if you were up to no good! Kate is that your car they are working on?
Post a Comment