Contrasts

Last night I took Dustin (who looks pretty darn good in a collar) and we visited TC3 and Nickelsville, bringing knit hats.

Later we stopped at a couple bars.

Times are tough right? More homeless people, and the world of the bars are starting to intersect with the whole homeless thing in a new way. Real estate is in the dumps, so people who make their living -- or used to -- are really scrambling to figure out their next move. (God preserve us. Things could be worse.)

Anyway, while driving around on Thursday night I was aware of clusters of the "beautiful people" around the doorways of posh nightclubs: willowy blondes in skimpy outfits, bad boys with just the right amount of stubble. There's just a whiff of 1930s Berlin in the air, waiting for all hell to break loose, not willing to admit that there's a lot more rotten in the city than the value of the stock portfolio.

Meanwhile, our Mayor has directed his minions to serve notice to a Christian congregation that they are going to be fined for providing care to homeless people in their parking lot. We don't have more city money for emergency shelter. But we do have money for police and prosecutors and jailers and judges. What a waste of time and resources.

If I were in city government, I'd be a little worried about lightning strikes.