Los Angeles, CA —Technology has brought us unmanned, remote controlled aircraft.   These things have been around for decades. Expectedly they have been engineered for surveillance and combat by military contractors. More recently GPS advances and really great and diminutive cameras such as the GoPro has brought us an affordable civilian drone that has been thrilling photographers such as me. The vast majority of the civilian camera drones are weighing in at between one and three pounds and can be safely operated from as much as a mile away.   They can capture stunning images at much lower altitudes than helicopters without the risk of death and destruction.   There are larger and more sophisticated drones that handle the bigger cameras used by the film industry and require very solid piloting skills.   One thing for sure civilian drone operators don’t want their devices endangered or the subject of adverse police scrutiny.   I have two...

I was up in the SF Bay Area attending the IRE, Investigative Reporters and Editors Conference last week.   I also had a teriffic lunch in Hollywood yesterday. I could not resist sending my quadcopter up for some stunning video.   Take a look and enjoy!  

Los Angeles, CA —As a long time photographer, licensed private investigator and television journalist I have to weigh in on drone regulation. For me it all began for me as a Chicago cop long ago.   I’m also a Viet Nam Era veteran. First of all there are no recorded deaths from the consumer drones that photographers are using.   Injuries and property damage has so far been so insignificant as to be totally off the radar. Our drone cameras are no different that your cell phone cameras.   You have to get really close for a recognizable face shot.   The cameras drone operators are using are not suited for such portrait photography.    Privacy concerns are way over-rated and are only a figment of paranoid imaginations . Our drones are electric and are not capable of making noise disturbances.   Yes, drones can be misused just like rocks, scissors and paper.   You can make a weapon out of anything and cause damage or harm....

Phoenix, AZ —Politicians and their appointed police chiefs across this nation demand nearly total control of police related information. It’s epidemic in the larger cities controlled by Democratic Party mayors.   They see the value of leaving their citizens with a false sense of security and public safety as they spin any and all information accordingly. Police business was once considered just that.   Certain information was kept away from all but sworn police officers.   That’s not the case because the local politicians have demanded and unlawfully obtained access to sensitive police data nearly everywhere. Politicians also demand the ability to influence arrests and prosecutions of friends, relatives and of course their campaign contributors.   Illicit influence is used to both free the guilty and even jail the innocent.   Cops and prosecutors have no choice but to look the other way.   Whistle blowing in law enforcement circles simply does not ...

Pacific Palisades, CA —In this terrific seaside community there is an incubator for talent called Theatre Palisades .  It’s within the Pierson Playhouse that was built on its present site in 1975.  They put up five major shows a year along with children’s shows and various concerts. Right now until July 13 th you can see the Tennessee Williams play, CAT ON A HOT TIN ROOF .   For your convenience they have a website at www.theatrepalisades.org   Back when I spent more time in L.A. I was honored to appear in several of their productions.  Six weeks of rehearsals along with a six week show run make appearing on the stage nearly impossible for me today.   The sad part is that it was non-stop fun.  Since I’m having so much fun with little my camera-armed drone why not give you an incredible view of this great venue.

Los Angeles, CA —There is little doubt that every mass shooter in the USA suffered from severe mental illness, usually schizophrenia. Most or all have rejected taking anti-psychotic medication and accordingly they went on deadly rampages. We used to put these people in mental hospitals that were more tolerable and comfortable than our jails.  After our medical community determined that wonder drugs were more humane that hospitalization they convinced government officials to close the asylums. Now the same people are simply sitting in jails and prisons without treatment.  The effort to be more humane has backfired. The solution offered against violence by the insane is to eliminate gun rights for the sane and law-abiding.  They seem to forget that the insane use knives, clubs or brute force to murder.  They can’t seem to understand that before the Oklahoma Bombing and 9/11 attack on America that the most significant mass murder was committed with a s...