Cops can confiscate your cash without charging you with a crime

http://features.aol.com/video/cops-can-confiscate-your-cash-without-charging-you-crime

Obama in 2007: No more spying on citizens who are not suspected of a crime

http://youtu.be/WAQlsS9diBs

Crime does pay

This belongs in the "You're kidding!" bin

I really wasn't kidding about a crime wave due to this economic disaster. According to Matthew Collins, crime does pay:

As it appears that the rule of law may already be breaking down in the U.S.

Perilously underfunded, the District Attorney of Contra Costa County – not to be confused with Solano County…the home of Vallejo – made a tough decision when faced with a shortage of manpower…

They won’t be prosecuting misdemeanors like assaults, burglaries, and minor drug possession. So if you’ve been caught for any of those crimes in Contra Costa…you might actually be off the hook.

Now, to be sure, the cops are still hard at work. They made a point of insisting to the media that you can still get arrested for things like blowing through stop signs or getting into a street fight. But when they wrap your case up and forward it to the DA, it may or not end up being prosecuted…depending on the DA’s cash flow situation.

Now again, this situation in Contra Costa is not to be confused with the highly publicized bankruptcy of Vallejo, in Solano County. I’ve even personally made that mistake in the past…making the naïve assumption that there was only one nightmarish breakdown of law and order in the state of California. But apparently it was more of a trend…and indeed, something stinks about California – the world’s sixth-largest economy.

Contra Costa fell victim to the same “who coulda seen that comin’?” virus that racked Vallejo. Home to just over a million mostly mild-mannered folks, Contra Costa’s government minimized its costs back in the '70’s and '80’s by promising lavish health and retirement benefits…so that city workers would accept lower wages at the moment.

No actuarial tables…no real planning…and no real concern for what they could actually afford, Contra Costa’s government threw good money after more good money at their employees. But all pipers demand payment, and this one was no different. Turns out Contra Costa’s government had to keep all those promises when their employees went to retire.

And then there was an entirely different set of promises they had to keep when the housing bubble fell apart. Promises of unemployment benefits, social services, etc. WHAMMY! As the sportscaster says…and suddenly the tiny municipality is out of money.

Ammunition prices explode in Florida

I've been reading about ammo prices increasing over the last year, but it's getting crazy in Florida, as they experience severe shortages. With governments running deficits, with law enforcement agencies cutting back, and with crime soaring (California is releasing 50,000 prisoners early), it is no wonder that citizens are snapping up guns and ammunition at alarming rates. "Blood in the streets" may no longer be just a metaphor.

According to the Orlando Sentinel:

Selling bullets may be the most secure job in Florida as long as supplies last.

After months of heavy buying, gun dealers across the state are experiencing shortages.

Some say it began with the election of President Barack Obama. Others say it's about the economic downturn or fear of crime. Whatever the reasons, ammunition has been selling like plywood and bottled water in the days before a hurricane.

"The survivalist in all of us comes out," said John Ritz, manager of East Orange Shooting Sports in Winter Park. "It's more about protecting what you have."

Demand for bullets is so strong that suppliers are restricting deliveries.

"Where we used to get 20 to 30 cases [in a shipment], we may get two to three cases now," said Vic Grechniw of Florida Ammo Traders in Tampa. "The supply just isn't there. . . . Everybody is pretty much rushing out to get their hands on whatever they can."

North Beach Festival

I attended my first North Beach Festival in San Francisco today, and it reaffirmed my love of two things: good music and good food. The salmon sandwich from Rose Pistola's was to die for, as I opted for the lesser of the evil food booth choices: the usual 12 different types of sausage sandwiches, the venerable Philly Cheesesteaks, the ubiquitious gyro, and the all-American corn dogs, among others. Wash that down with garlic fries, and you have the recipe for a perfect heartburn, as well as slamming your arteries shut with high-grade plaque. I could have sworn I heard sirens on multiple occasions--probably related to the numerous heart attacks caused by one too many Bratwurst.

The bands on the main stage at Washington Park were great, especially the Gator Alley Band, and the headliner, Cathy Richardson, formerly of Jefferson Starship. The Gator Alley is a tribute band for Lynyrd Skynyrd, and they did them justice. You can catch them on Shoreline, along with The Scorpions and Sammy Hagar on August 2nd. Not a bad lineup.

Thanks to cell phone technology, some of my friends were able to hear the music from the comfort of their couches, as I called it in from the front row. I talked to the lead singer after their set, and gave him my card next time they ARE the headline band.

I met up with two of my good bay area friends, offered some friendly financial and relationship advice over a killer Napoleon milles feuilles pastry, only it was in an Italian bakery instead of a French one (after all, we were in North Beach). Money shouldn't be an unpleasant topic, but unfortunately, in many instances, it can be rather uncomfortable for some.

On the way back to the BART station, on the 30 bus, I stopped at Old Navy to buy some beach paraphernalia, since it was dirt cheap. Plus, the bathrooms were much cleaner than the porta pots at the concert venue. Since I got hungry again, I rode the 30 back to Chinatown, but everything was closed. All except some underground cafe, at which point I asked two departing diners whether it was good. They nodded in agreement and I noted the local non-English speaking crowd, and I knew I was in good shape. The food was excellent--and cheap. Altho like most Chinatown cafes, you probably are glad you can't see the kitchen.

All in all, it was a great day--except for the fight that broke out on the 30 bus from North Beach to the Powell BART station. Apparently, there was one too many shoves while some were trying to get out. People panicked and de-bussed (is that a word like "de-planed" often used by flight attendants?). A couple girls cried, but I just used the opportunity to take a seat as they opened up, and waited for the popcorn. I've witnessed a few fights in my lifetime, and sparred thousands of times, but let me tell you, this was not a fight, it was patty-cake, patty-cake.

Anyway, what was much more harrowing was a drunken driver almost hitting me and another pedestrian, before slamming on the brakes. Sorry, I couldn't hold back and told him to fornicate off--the other pedestrian was a better man because he didn't let out a peep. I need to turn the other cheek more often.

The economy is headed south, and the only growth businesses in this environment are crime, law enforcement and bankruptcy law. Law enforcement budgets are being slashed as the number of crimes are skyrocketing. It makes sense: when people aren't working, more turn to crime. So let there be a lesson: the next time someone cuts you off on the freeway, don't flip them the bird or tell them to do something to themselves--gather yourself, and move on. You never know who's on the other end of that 9 millimeter.