The New York Times sounded the alarm about the subprime mortgage snafu nine years ago. From September 30, 1999:

Fannie Mae, the nation's biggest underwriter of home mortgages, has been under increasing pressure from the Clinton Administration to expand mortgage loans among low and moderate income people and felt pressure from stock holders to maintain its phenomenal growth in profits. . .

In moving, even tentatively, into this new area of lending [subprime mortgages], Fannie Mae is taking on significantly more risk, which may not pose any difficulties during flush economic times. But the government-subsidized corporation may run into trouble in an economic downturn, prompting a government rescue similar to that of the savings and loan industry in the 1980's.

''From the perspective of many people, including me, this is another thrift industry growing up around us,'' said Peter Wallison a resident fellow at the American Enterprise Institute. ''If they fail, the government will have to step up and bail them out the way it stepped up and bailed out the thrift industry.''

A few months ago, Danladi Moore was given $10,000 in hush money from the City of Norfolk (Virginia) for the questionable treatment by several of their officers. Since then, Norfolk PD has harrassed Mr. Moore on two more occasions.

The third instance occurred following a city council meeting in which Moore's treatment was a hot topic. I hate to admit it, but I'm beginning to see a pattern here. The VCDL reports:

After the meeting, a dozen of us, including Danladi Moore, went to a restaurant in the Waterside Mall. We had a great time - good company and good conversation. All of us were open carrying as the restaurant sold alcoholic beverages.

As I left the restaurant I said goodnight to Danladi as he and a friend were heading up an escalator to the second floor.

Little did I know what was about to transpire in the next 50 seconds...

Upon reaching the second floor and stepping off the escalator, a Norfolk police officer approached Danladi and his friend and told him that he couldn't have a gun in a public building.

NOTE: It is my understanding that they Waterside Mall is actually owned or partially owned by the City of Norfolk. If so, they CANNOT ban guns there, of course.

Danladi said that, especially as public property, he most certainly could carry there.

The officer the handcuffed Danladi, who is black, and issued a him summons with a charge of trespass at that point and released him. His friend, who is white and also open carrying, was escorted off the premises and not handcuffed or charged. Hmmmm.

So, does Norfolk PD have it out for all gun owners, black gun owners, or just Danladi Moore?

UPDATE: Posted a pic of Danladi Moore (w/o his permission) from his myspace page. Love the hat.

For some inexplicable reason, Norfolk (Virginia) has been harrassing people for the open carry of guns. Danladi Moore was harrassed and detained for open carrying, after which he was given $10,000 in hush money because Norfolk police realized they were in hot water for violating his civil rights. Shortly after that, Norfolk police stopped him again for open carrying. One of the same officers who had just cost the city $10,000 was party to the group that detained him, harrassed him, and finally let him go without charging him.

So VCDL plans to attend a town council meeting to petition the government for a redress of grievances. The town council is whining about the VCDL involvement, and in doing so violates Ravenwood's Law.

Councilman W. Randy Wright has a concealed-weapons permit, has won awards for marksmanship and believes in gun rights, he said. Yet he said he is appalled by anyone who walks around with a gun in a holster.

"Walking around downtown with a gun on your hip, that's just somebody trying to get attention, somebody trying to embarrass the city," he said. "This is not Wyatt Earp in the wild, wild West. It's an urban city with lots of problems."

Gee, if I were in an urban city with lots of problems, I might want to take measures to protect myself. You know, like carry a gun.