Los Angeles, CA —I’ve worked in TV news as an investigative freelancer for nearly 30 years.  I never sought nor obtained a formal journalism education but was drafted into TV news strictly for my investigative ability.  I was lucky to be given a, second to none, on the job journalism education by many gifted reporters, producers, media lawyers  and TV news consultants.  For the last 15 years I’ve watched the slow death of news, as we knew it.   News consumers have left broadcast and print news in droves. They’ve escaped to Internet bloggers and vloggers for their information.   Left behind are the folks that simply never learned computers or even smart phones.   Because they’re technophobes they’ve become a captive audience for television and print news.   Then there are the illiterate and poor.   Few of these folks are great targets for advertisers other than drug and reverse mortgage companies. I think print is failing as society ...

Hampton lost this battle Absolute filth In Every Room of the Monroe Street Rathole No more violence at least from Hampton Fred Hampton in Life Chicago, IL —This was the top story on December 4, 1969 when war broke out at 2337 West Monroe Street. The Black Panthers were at war with cops nationwide.   Cops were being ambushed and murdered from coast to coast.   The BP threat was very real and cops were understandably on guard for violence. This chapter began when the FBI recruited a troubled fellow, William O’Neal who cooperated in order to mitigate his own crimes.   O’Neal became a part of Hoover’s infamous COINTELPRO program, as both a snitch and as an agent provocateur.   O’Neal successfully created a rift between the Panthers and Black Chicago street gangs.   That act alone was incredibly helpful for the safety and well being of Chicago cops. It was O’Neal, who told police the Monroe Street apartment was being used by the Bla...

West Los Angeles VA Hospital  Los Angeles, CA —The  West Los Angeles VA Campus  is huge.    It includes the hospital, cemetery, housing, historic church, offices, a regulation baseball diamond, basketball facility and a golf course.    There are lots of places to park cars for events. Richard Scott,  58 owner of  Westside Services LLC , was arrested at his Santa Monica Home.    He’s charged in a federal complaint with fraud against the U.S. by bilking taxpayers more than $11 million.    Scott has enjoyed a contract with the VA for at least 15 years in connection with car parking at the sprawling VA facility. Hospital parking is managed by the VA Police and is not involved in this fraud.  In an affidavit, federal agents alleged Scott made bribery payments to a yet to be named VA Official until that co-conspirator retired in 2014.    That unnamed official has been cooperating with investigators, obv...

Hollywood, CA — The longstanding casting couch institution here is destroying some lucrative careers and perhaps $billions before the dust settles.   If they weren’t directly involved in the sexual extortion too many executives winked at the conduct.    That makes them either accessories or enablers.   Now they are all in an incredible mess.  One thing for sure there will many forced retirements.  There will be lots of luxury Hollywood homes put up for sale as income vanishes.   They can’t stop residual payments however there will be fewer showings of films connected to those disgraced predators.  There are new opportunities for up and coming agents, directors, actors and executives opening as we speak.   Will Hollywood change?  After all them movies we all enjoy are loaded with sex, violence and bad behavior.  I think the next Academy Award Ceremony will be far more subdued.  Hopefully with much less ...

This sign in most cases is a paper tiger Newton, MA —The City Council of this city enacted a highly restrictive ordinance over both commercial and recreational drones.   The  most  draconion parts of that law was just declared invalid by a federal judge.    Among other things the council like many state and local governments recklessly went about regulating or restricting most drone activities such as:   1.  Registration requirement for all drones with the city. 2.  Obtain “permission” from public or private property owners before any flights.. 3.  Outlaws beyond line of sight flying.   State and local politicians are either oblivious or antagonistic to the reality that they have zero jurisdiction over the airspace.  This is the mandated responsibility of the FAA .  They pass laws that result in arrests, search warrants and confiscation of property because of their arrogance and or ignorance.  Art...

Hollywood, CA —27 year-old Jennifer Lawrence was gorgeous, seriously talented and her smile captivated millions just like me. What could possibly go wrong?   Our nation became even more divided politically as well as emotionally since the 2016 election and Hollywood overwhelmingly chose the loosing side of the Left.   Lawrence got caught up in the wild clammer and used her ample media face time to promote her raw hatred for our duly elected president and his supporters instead of promoting her work products.  Expressed hatred is never pretty.  We all have a First Amendment right to say what we please.  However people selling products run huge financial risks of offending large percentages of their customers or in this case ticket buying fans.  I was a diehard fan of Lawrence.  She captured my full attention when she appeared in, American Hustle. I meet her very briefly at a screening of that terrific film. I then watched her young ...