Just like yesterday, when we announced that while the federal government can rob medical marijuana dispensaries, citizens can't, we find that LAPD officers are not allowed to rob drug dealers. In a separate case from the widely known Rampart Division Scandal, a group of rogue officers held up at least 30 drug dealers in a two year period ending in 2001 according to CBS2 News. After the robberies, which included taking the drugs, money and anything that look valuable, the officers would split the loot, sell the drugs to another dealer and proceed to split those profits (so wait, did they ever rob the dealer they dealt to?). more ›

In today's Home section, the LA Times features an article on people choosing smaller living spaces. "A look at the shifting footprint of today's home —" writes Sean Mitchell "and why our ability to be happy within those walls is more than the sum of our square feet." Their examples of modest size? 2,400 square feet in Redondo Beach (pictured) for a couple and their 2 dogs. 2,800 in Lafayette Park. 3,400 for a handsome pair of gentlemen. In East LA entire lots are 3,000 square feet. In Silverlake, if you spend the median price on a home (currently $466,250) you can expect to get about 900 square feet. How hard would it be for the LA Times to actually find someone living in a small space for an article on small living spaces? Oh, wait, they did: a sales associate at Barney's who's made do with his 700 square foot loft. Next time, I'll head to Barneys to find people "creating spaces that are beautifully cozy and multipurpose rather than expansive, rambling and redundant." Sure wouldn't think of talking to someone on the bus about that.

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The Los Angeles General Services Department's efforts to unload a couple libraries at auction further proves that nothing is sacred in this hot real estate market. The former Durant Branch on Gardner in Hollywood and the erstwhile location of the Westchester Branch on Sepulveda Eastway are going on the block next month. Minimum bidding on each starts at $1,000,000. more ›