I came across a link yesterday that pointed to an article about the theory that areas that contain buildings with broken windows and graffiti tend to see an increase in crime (I first heard the idea in Malcolm Gladwell's The Tipping Point), and it made me think of the fact that one of the reasons I wash my car and generally keep it clean is that people (including me) tend to treat nicer objects with more care.  The opposite is also true:  People (including me) tend to treat old, dirty, or disused objects with less care.  Whenever I ride in my friend Bob's car, I'm encouraged to throw my trash on the floor, which I readily do.  Anyone who's driven in my car knows there are certain rules, and if said rules are broken, I'll turn this damn car around. #travel