Mayflower, AK— April 27, 2014, tragedy struck the heartland in the form of springtime tornados.  It was not really safe to send up a helicopter and crew to survey the damage.  Emergency vehicles found roads impassable and were unable to locate victims needing assistance. One drone video journalist sent up his camera high above the scene.  The stunning video he captured was a real public service.  First responders could see areas where help was needed.  The local residents lucky enough to have escaped the wrath of the storms could see if they still had homes and the extent of damage.  During these emergencies looting becomes a concern and understandably police limit entry to these areas significantly.  Using the camera drones homeowners can see just how their precious homes survived or did not without waiting for police escorts that can take days.  The FAA tried to take jurisdiction over these little drones that use the tiny HD  Go...

Los Angeles, CA —80 year-old billionaire, lawyer, real estate developer and L.A. Clippers owner, Donald Sterling was really just victimized by felonious unlawful electronic eavesdropping of a private conversation.  He made a bigoted sounding statement on that recording.  Sterling himself is no stranger to bigotry.  Being Jewish has exposed this man to various forms of discrimination his entire life.   Jews are still considered the most despised group of people that ever walked the face of this earth.  Anti-Semitism is indeed ugly and no less offensive that any other forms of intolerance. Ironically Sterling’s ownership of the Clippers makes him highly dependent on African-American basketball player’s personal excellence in order to realize a profit from his substantial investment in the team.  Such an investment is a sure sign that despite something said privately in a moment of frustration shows that Sterling actually embraces and values al...

Taking aerial video with my quadcopter Drone just because I can!  Enjoy these three videos and the music! 

Los Angeles, CA —The L.A. City Council is considering massive security changes at all LAPD facilities. This follows an April 7, 2014 shooting inside the lobby of LAPD's West Traffic Division .   Daniel Yealu , 29, who was rejected as a police recruit entered the station with a handgun opening fire on two officers assigned to desk duty.   The officers returned fire, striking Yealu critically injuring him.   One officer was shot seven times but survived and was quickly discharged from the hospital and is expected to make a full recovery. Now it’s a sure thing what changes will be made.   Expensive redesign and reconstruction of police facilities further separating citizens from government are the only things politicians will consider. Of course those seeking to harm cops do so on our streets every day.   Unfortunately those attacks will continue as long as the human race exists.   The L.A. City Council members are themselves a bunch ...

Ruben "Hurricane" Carter dead at 76 Toronto, Canada — He was one of seven siblings raised in poverty.    Ruben “Hurricane” Carter had a troubled youth filled with police, jail, courts and prison.  He somehow found salvation and money as a champion boxer until his new life came crashing down. Carter’s troubled past kept him on the police radar as a “usual suspect” and he was arrested and twice convicted for a New Jersey triple murder.  Finally in 1985 after some 20 years in prison Carter finally won his freedom from the wrongful conviction. Carter left the nation that failed him in seeking justice for Canada.  He spent the rest of his life speaking, advocating and investigating on behalf of Death Row inmates.  Carter created and chaired a foundation for the wrongly convicted.  Carter and Willoughby courtesy New Times I met and chatted extensively with Carter in Phoenix when he came there on behalf of former Death Row inmate...

Los Angeles, CA —When the topics of Unmanned Aerial Vehicles or drones are brought up so are the issues of fear, loathing and regulation.  Ignorance of the unknown is always a source of difficulty.  However take a look at the issues with an open mind.  Aerial photography is not new, but until now it was just expensive.  We’ve co-existed with fixed wing airplanes and helicopters, all of our lives.  It’s settled law that we have no reasonable expiation of privacy outside of our homes and the other shelters we inhabit. For nearly two decades we’ve been under observation from high-resolution cameras mounted on satellites.  We’ve all seen those incredible Google Earth views .  All of those privacy issues have been addressed and settled in the courts redundantly. Suddenly we have great diminutive cameras and UAV’s to take them to the skies.  The privacy laws remain exactly the same. There are huge advantages for these new UAV’s such a...

'Okay I'm hooked on Drones for newsgathering, filmmaking and just plain fun.  I love Germany and the Netherlands and hope to retire there someday.  Here is some great video from yet another high-end offering into this new technology explosion! Cloudshots.NL | videoshowreel jan. 2014 from Cloudshots.NL on Vimeo . Cloudshots.NL | bevrijdingsfestival overijssel 2013 from Cloudshots.NL on Vimeo . http://www.aerialtronics.com/

New York, NY —Billionaire and former NYC mayor Michael Bloomberg announced he’s investing $50 million of his own money to castigate firearms owners and the NRA .  Apparently Bloomberg has failed to notice that the more discussion about firearms to more popular gun rights becomes.   Each political push after mass shootings has backfired greater than the last!   These days each poll on gun control is better than the last!   Nearly every public relations experts understands what the late, P.T. Barnum said, “I don't care what they say about me, just make sure they spell my name right!”   Even bad publicity can be good!   With each discussion of gun control comes research and lots of thought.   In the end the lies, half-truths and deception about guns fails.   What people discover is guns can save lives, especially their own!   Bloomberg couldn’t help gun owners any better even if he gave the cash to the NRA!   Bloomberg’s plan...