There are a number of possibilities as to why DC might be experiencing an upsurge in crime this summer. I'll add one more to the mix: swamp butt. Walking around in this city in the summer months, when the heat and humidity is at it's worst, makes your clothes cling to you in uncomfortable ways, makes breathing a little harder, and makes regions of our body that don't often see the light of day, well, swampy. The result? Quicker than usual tempers, making people do inexplicable things, like yell loudly for no apparent reason. Yesterday I saw a guy scream angry, though ultimately unintelligible, obscenities at an empty bus. I've also noticed louder and more frequent horn honking, sometimes when there are no other cars on the street. And, unfortunately, there is the apparent spike in violent crime.

It's senseless. Inane. And it proves that we should never underestimate the power of swamp butt. It's no coincidence that New Orleans, a city with swamp-like conditions most of the year, had a murder rate that was 10 times the national average before Katrina.

So here's a thought: instead of increasing the police patrols, maybe DC should invest in large powerful fans, air-conditioning units, and misting tents.

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