Los Angeles-- For those blog visitors that are unaware I'm both a senior citizen and a member of SAG-AFTRA Union. The gracious president of our union has asked us to contact Governor Jerry "Moonbeam" Brown.  Our union president Is the elegant and talented  Gabrielle Carteris  who wants to see a bill passed by dopey members of the California Assembly signed into law!   I certainly understand the motivation for the legislation that would outlaw publishing the ages or dates of birth of actors.  They simply want to combat age discrimination.  Currently the Internet Movie Database or the IMDB lists the ages of every known actor in the world.  Understandably decisions are made by casting directors to include or exclude actors in film parts based on the published information. Publishing the age information is constitutionally protected activity! What these politicians and screen actors representatives seem to have forgotten is that in many nations no film can...

Los Angeles, CA —While Im here visiting the Left Coast I have to make myself a meal or two.   I like making simple Stir-Frys and this is how I do it.   It’s simple, quick, easy and very tasty!   I thought Id show my visitors just how I do it!  

Los Angeles, CA —I heard the buzz about this German entry in the various film festivals.    It sounded very intriguing and something I should see.   When the Second World War ended Germany went about the business of cleansing the nation of the Nazi stains and war criminals. There were two competing German interests, one was the somewhat closeted but still committed Nazis within the government and the other was the mindset that this ugly chapter of history needed final burial. Exacting justice for war criminals by the new Germany was really a half-hearted effort at best so soon after the war.    It was more about letting other nations do what they must to track and put the old Nazis on trial.   The three most hunted war fugitive Nazi criminals were  Martin Bormann ,  Josef Mengele  and  Adolf Eichmann .  This amazing story about Adolf Eichmann’s capture was hidden by the German government for more that a decade. Th...

Los Angeles, CA —I see a lot of films most of which are really forgettable.   I have a policy of only reviewing films that I totally enjoy.   This one certainly meets my criteria!   It’s called, T his Last Lonely Place staring Rhys Coiro, Xander Berkeley and Carly Pope .   The Humphrey Bogart Estat e through Santana Films,  produced this film, both written and directed by Steve Anderson .   It’s a Noir style film of the kind I always enjoy when the story is terrific as this one. Military veteran Sam Taylor ( Rhys Coiro ) is an L.A. taxi cab driver on his last scheduled shift before leaving for Hawaii to hopefully reunite with his ex and two young daughters. He picks up a fare, Frank Devore ( Xander Berkeley ) and the tale begins.  Devore is a troubled investment banker with a lot of questionable cash.  Soon they are joined by Devore’s hot mistress, Faye Gardner  ( Carly Pope )  and this surprising plot thickens. You wi...

Chicago, Il --It's small but deadly. A well placed slash or two and an attacker can bleed out in less than a minute.  Folded it's the size of your driver's license and has a profile that will evade frisks and even X-ray equipment if placed properly in a briefcase or purse.  This is for use in places where politicians have outlawed self defense like the UK and Gun Free Zones.  It was made by Spyderco of Golden, Colorado. The bad news is that they discontinued making this model.  Like my American Express card, I don't leave home without it!

Phoenix, AZ-- A sad story I worked on two decades ago.  My investigation was funded by the Disney owned TV show called,  The Crusaders, Two tender aged twin boys with sadistic monsters for parents were victims of epic abuse and torture. One child vanishes after a severe beating and the other is cruelly beaten until a court takes him away for his own safety in Boise, ID where the parents relocated. The mother was finally arrested and convicted for felony child abuse against the surviving brother of that lad became my client.  The man who prosecuted Charleen showed me the heartbreaking photos of the surviving twins injuries as tears flowed down his cheeks. Today Walter hose is deceased and Charleen Hose is institutionalized for dementia. The boys's remains have never been located. Reporter Donna Rossi from KPHO i n Phoenix revisited this nightmare with Montana private investigator Michael Toth .

N Phoenix, AZ —Most of my blog visitors know I’m a longtime criminal defense investigator and have worked on many high profile cases helping the wrongfully accused.   The defense and prosecution is supposed to have parity and equal treatment in the courts but it’s all just pretend.   There is a huge laundry list of issues that work against the accused before their trial even begins.   One thing that troubles me is seeing the same prosecutors in large jurisdictions working every day before the same judges.   They literally sometimes even sleep together. When a criminal defense attorney comes to their court he or she is an outsider and often treated that way.   The police have enormous powers to gather evidence such as the Grand Jury subpoena.  They can arrest those who obstruct investigations, tamper with witnesses and can most importantly obtain search warrants. Defense investigators should just like cops be able to surreptitiously recor...

Los Angeles, CA--When the FBI began investigating abuse of prisoners at LA County Jail, Sheriff Baca and his minions covered up, obstructed and lied to investigators.  Running a large jail is a lot of things but easy is never one of them.  Inmates misbehave and assault jailers and jailers sometimes understandably overreact.  It's bound to happen.  Most of the time it is never the crime that is all that bad but covering up and getting caught is what's always  reprehensible and unforgivable. In any event a plea deal was worked out with prosecutors that would give the 74 year-old  Baca only six months behind bars. That truly would've been a slap on the wrist.  When the judge got wind of the sweetheart deal he rejected it outright.  Baca had two choices, gamble on the judge's uncertain punishment or stand trial before the jury of his peers.  Going to trial would give Baca in effect a life sentence if he was convicted.  Reportedly Baca suffer...