Isla Vista, CA —Yes, I’m calling him, The YouTube Maniac .   Elliot Rodger was a very affluent young man with a sleek black BMW living in the paradise of this coastal community.  The problem was this fellow was an apparent serious social looser who could not get laid.  He was also under the out patient care of a psychiatrist.   The killer was the 22-year-old son of Peter Rodger , an assistant director on the wildly successful Hunger Games film series.   This young man traveled the world with his father and actress stepmother.   This privileged youngster had access to stunning stars like Jennifer Lawrence and Katy Perry.  Last night, the young Rodger stabbed three people to death then drove around looking for young women to shoot and kill.  Before it was over seven lay dead.  Police have not yet released the names, ages or sex of any of Rodger’s victims. Before his rampage, Rodger placed a nearly seven minute video o...

Chicago, IL --Im close to a Sikh family for well over 40 years.  The patriarch, Harbans Singh founded Eagle Grips.  That company makes incredible handgun grips out of excotic materials .  Eagle Grips have graced magazine covers and their designs are the best anywhere. Harbans retired a while back and now the CEO is my pal Raj Singh .  Raj likes motorcycles and has a small collection along with his showpiece is a Harley Davidson.  While I was there I shot some GoPro Video of Raj including aerial via a Phantom 2 quadcopter .   Yes, I'm have too much fun with the quadcopter…  

Phoenix, AZ—Jodi Arias was arrested tried convicted and may yet face an executioner.   Her stories about the June 2008 death of her former boyfriend, Travis Alexander varied significantly.  Was it justifiable?  The jury along with everyone else could only guess.  Since when does a guess prove guilt beyond a reasonable doubt? Alexander withstood well over 20 cuts or stabs from a knife and a gunshot wound to his head from a tiny .25 ACP pistol bullet.  He had plenty of so-called defense wounds on his hands and arms.  That means he was putting up a serious and deadly fight with Arias.  Apparently Arias won the struggle.  Who was the initial aggressor?  Was this fight spontaneous or a murderous attack on Alexander by Arias?  Many people like to believe that they are positive of their favorite theory of what happened during this epic battle that nobody saw.   Arias lied but innocent people often exaggerate and lie all t...

The FAA has arbitrarily ruled that “commercial” use of drones or unmanned aircraft vehicles (UAV’s) is prohibited.  The use of these amazing devices by hobbyists of course is perfectly legal until a UAV pilot earns a single dime.  Then the FAA will investigate and fine the offending party $10,000.00.  Of course the accused pilot has a right to a court hearing on the matter and evidence must be presented.  The pilot can then properly challenge whatever evidence the FAA offers up. So far the FAA’s only known case against a UAV photographer/pilot ever to see a courtroom failed.  On or about October 17, 2011 Raphael Pirker of Zurich, Switzerland was commercially operating his UAV over the University of Virginia . He was paid to gather video by a communications company. Pirker was also accused of flying the UAV at extremely low altitudes.  The FAA claimed he operated his drone recklessly.  Accordingly the FAA issued a civil penalty of $10,000....

This is from a friend's property in Wayne, IL.  The morning light helped make some cinematic art.  I saw the raw video on a new 65 inch TV and the resolution and detail blew me a way.  Please enjoy!

Film Director Paul Verhoeven directs a scene from Black Book Berlin, Germany --I’m blessed in recent years to have made some wonderful German friends that work in the German film industry as filmmakers or are involved with film funding.   If you’ve not noticed, Germany has become very serious about making great films.  Many of them are being made in English!  The best is yet to come!  My all time favorite film is Black Book .  That terrific film was funded in part through generous German government film funding .  This exciting, Paul Verhoeven , World War Two thriller is actually filmed in mostly Dutch but also in German, English and some Yiddish depending on when and where the scene take place.  Most of the European stars speak English and none better than Carice van Houten who won the, once in a lifetime staring role of the accidental hero, Rachel Stein . Europe is a linguistic melting pot.  Italians, French, Germans, Dutch, ...

Phoenix, AZ —Today numerous news organizations have filed a legal brief in the matter of the FAA vs. Pirker .  Pirker was fined for making a video for the University of Virginia using a small camera drone.  A federal judge in Denver struck down the FAA’s ban and now the matter is under appeal.  There may be a risk to commercial drone use should the FAA win their appeal. The news organizations are properly claiming a 1st Amendment right to use the drones for news gathering purposes.   The FAA banned all commercial use of drones by civilians.   They did not however attempt to ban drones being used by hobbyists.    The FAA says they will issue regulations for the drones later this year. The Drone Genie is long out of the bottle and now these are must have toys for every teen aged boy in America.   The drones are invisible on radar and the FAA can’t possibly begin to police every drone in America. I will concede that the FAA owns th...