Everything That Glitters . . .

. . . isn't always bling? There is a trend even more alarming that economists need to be keeping an eye on. In these tough and trying times, rappers are starting to wear fake and/or bling according to the WSJ. Record sales are down, internet piracy is up, and nobody has the kind of cash (or credit) they had back in the good old days.

"People think these big pieces are blindin' but they be like D-quality diamonds, and when you try and sell them you learn they ain't worth a thing," says Slim Williams. "You can't be doing it like we did it no more."

Even more alarming is the news that the "grillz" market is crumbling with reported sales falling as much as 60% during the economic slowdown. In these desperate times, there are outlets that will help poor, starving artists out by buying their grillz. Tragic, simply tragic . . .

In other surprising news, there was a building permit in my neighbor's window yesterday afternoon. I'm not sure how a permit was obtained for a structure within the average front setback without any sort of notice for a variance, but I'll keep doing some digging. The neighbors further up the street relayed a story to me that the neighbor in question was telling people the structure was a sno-cone sales hut. Other neighbors have been told it is to be a "gate house" and that there will be mailboxes inside. Swell . . . as if there weren't enough downward pressure on housing prices, regardless what the Denver Assessor's office says.