It seems that police agencies across the globe are banding together to create kiddie-porn sites. Yup, you heard it right. They're designed as sting operations, with fine print saying that visitors will probably be breaking some laws. But they're government run kiddie-porn sites, bringing in hard cash to these publicly funded agencies.

I forgot how many shopping days until Christmas now. There's no Christmas joy on Castro Street. All my neighboring merchants are starting to reveal what I already know. This season is almost gone, and it was by far the worst ever. No impulse buyers. Hardly any buyers at all, and they're all bottom feeders. Yeah, I'll take the fifty dollar guitar. Is that your best price? (Note - it's already got the original list price of $129 scratched out). Can't you do any better? Dude, I make seven freaking dollars on that guitar. Well, can you throw in the tax? Sigh... Tell you what. I'll throw in a couple of 25 cent picks. How about four and I also need a book ($4.95). Sorry, I don't work for free. (Actually I do, but I'm not going to tell him that or I won't even get a dollar out of the sale).

Eventually I cave and throw in the book and the tax; but no picks. Why? It's the first instrument I've sold in 3 days. I really need the fifty bucks.