Debunking Beer Can Chicken: A Waste Of Good Beer, And Dangerous
Famous Death Row Last Meals
Photo: FotoosVanRobin, Flickr
Here's a question for all you Freakonomic's fans out there: what do this week's stultifying heat indexes across much of the country have to do with the price of pork bellies?
If you answered that both are at or near record highs, then you get a gold star (you deserve something if you know the price of pork bellies). But you get two gold stars if you answered something along the lines of what was reported in Monday's Wall Street Journal...
On the list of foods that immediately conjure the taste of summer -- strawberries, peaches, watermelon, etc -- bacon is probably about as far down on the list as pumpkin pie. But, when the mercury is knocking on 95 and you want to get out of the kitchen as fast a possible, what do you turn to? A good old B.L.T.
The rest of the answer is straight out of Econ 101: the basic law of supply and demand. Americans' demand for bacon surges in the summer, hence driving up the price of pork bellies, from which bacon is made. But this year, the price of pork bellies is setting records -- Monday's price was $1.35 a pound, 53 percent higher than a year ago.
Why? Because hog farmers responded to the recession during the past couple years by reducing the size of their herds. To come full circle with the heat-hog connection, pigs take longer to reach their market weight when the weather is hot.
So if you want cheaper bacon, you might consider driving less. After all, the carbon emissions from your car contribute to global warming, global warming raises the temperatures, and apparently, pigs lose their appetite in the heat.
Now that's some freaky Freakonomics.
Charlie Sheen Gets Back To His Roots
The List #0147: Escape a Car Underwater
WHOOPS! Obama Makes Big Gaffe
Visit the Maldive Islands Before It's Too Late
H&M's Plus-Size Model Jennie Runk Says She Chose To Gain Weight
Jury Foreman: '18 Days Of Testimony Hurt' Jodi Arias
Okla. Sheriff's Deputy Finds Dog Guarding Body Buried Under Destroyed Home
Reptiles Make Home in UK Man's Cable Box
New Trayvon Martin Evidence Features Incriminating Photos, Texts From Teen
Springtime Budget-Busters -- Savings Experiment
Is This Woman Too Pretty To Work?
Mariah Carey Curses And Busts Out Of Dress On Live TV
Mariah Carey Suffers Wardrobe Malfunction on Good Morning America
Parents Face Tough Choice When Tornadoes Bear Down
What It's Like To Talk To A 2-Year-Old
The Story Behind Hairspray
Best Friends Reportedly Die Holding Each Other In Tornado
Killed Soldier In London Attack Identified
Candid Portraits Of Strippers After Hours
Rapper Accused Of Faking His Own Death To Escape Payments
Bridge Collapses In Washington State
AMAZING PHOTO: UFO Spotted Over San Diego
Helen Flanagan Launches PETA Campaign As Only She Knows How
LISTEN: Terror Inside Elementary School As Tornado Hits
Danny Tanner Is Fighting With Topanga
Jodi Arias Jury DEADLOCKED
Surgeons Remove Giant Hairball From Tiger
WATCH: Police Force Shows Up To Support 5-Year-Old Who Lost Her Dad
Teenager's 'Awww'-Inspiring Drawing Wins Big At Google
Brave Woman Stood Down Armed London Attackers
REVEALED: Disturbing Trend In Human Intelligence
PHOTO: Dog Guards Dead Victim's Body After Oklahoma Tornado Disaster
8-04-2010 @5:54PM Matrix said... Beef Bacon is 1000x better than pork
Reply
8-04-2010 @6:00PM lectrcngizmo said... There are more fresh tomatoes to go with the blt. No one like the hot house tomatoes on a blt, so that may be the increase for the bacon prices.
Reply
8-04-2010 @6:07PM Riley said... Wow. Seeing that Pork Belly brings back memories of the Boucherie's as a kid. That is when the family has a hog and fresh meat for many family members. Boy the smoke house worked overtime then. C'est Bon . Laisse'z les bon temps rouler (Cajun)
Reply
8-04-2010 @7:25PM Stan said... This is all BS pure and simple! In 1974 therte was a "Sugar Shortage" of sorts, how come sugar free diet soda was selling at the same inflated price...remember it SUGAR FREE! Same thing when coffee was going through the roof....all of a sudden TEA went nuts! Well when sugar prices came down did the price of chocolate? IT's WHAT THEY THINK THEY CAN GET AWAY WITH! Screw 'em eat turkey bacon ooopss can't do that cause they are gonna raise that too!
Reply
8-04-2010 @7:35PM Stan said... Yes, I guess there is Global warming....has been since the last ice age....
But to say that it is caused by humans is a stretch that no thinking mind should ever be involved in!
Reply
8-04-2010 @11:36PM Jack Sprat said... I can't eat no fat!
Reply
8-04-2010 @11:44PM Sprats Wife said... Give me a steak instead,w/no fat!
Reply
8-10-2010 @5:04PM PCayD said... Pork production is the most cruel of factory farming and we should stop supporting this highly taxpayer subsidized industry by not eating factory farmed pork products. Pig production is incredibly inhumane and the waste products are not subject to the Clean Water or Clean Air acts, making them highly polluting and they risk the health of workers and those living in close proximity to the 'farm.' Stop the cruelty and show your humanity by buying locally grown pork products, or better yet, stop eating pork altogether.
Reply
10-03-2010 @11:25AM Paul said... If anybodys really believes global warming don't eat meat. There's more methane from pigs and cow poo than all the cars on the road. I vote eat meat and drive.
Reply