Rham Emanuel’s Epic Failure Makes Chicago More Violent than Ever!

Chicago, IL—Within hours 20 people were shot last night in the Windy City and it wasn’t even on the weekend.   The carnage is confined to Chicago’s African-American community that celebrates a culture of violence, drug abuse and general depravity.  

Despite having the nation’s most onerous three-decade old total gun bans, shootings here are as prevalent as typical war zones.   

50 ward bosses or Aldermen control Chicago.  The wards are relatively small geographic areas that elect their local strongman.  The problem is that in the high crime wards the elected Alderman are by default deeply entrenched in gangs, crime, drugs and general corruption.  That’s just the Chicago way.

The 50-ward system worked a lot better before the massive and sudden migration of disenfranchised and poor Blacks from the South of the 1960s.  Horrible social engineering turned those migrants into a needy, ignorant and dependent population that were easily controlled through generous handouts.  Today excessive violence and carnage is a way of life in these African-American communities.

Chicago’s ward bosses simply want what’s best for their own street gang members.  It’s the ward bosses that make the policy of police enforcement.  The conflict of interest is obvious.  None of them want their crime soldiers put at risk by allowing effective policing or the law-abiding citizens to possess or carry firearms for self-defense.  The ward bosses do all they can to enable violence rather than deter crime.

Rham Emanuel inherited this mess and fell right in to place by giving in to the demands of the most vocal ward bosses. The ward bosses keep coming up with so-called anti-violence plans that are little more than extortion demands.  

One solution they came up with just a few months ago was laughable but in reality beyond tragic.  Chicago’s political leadership handed over $1,000,000.00 tax dollars to a group of convicted street thugs called, Ceasfire.  These known criminals promised to reign in their fellow thugs and slow down the violence.  As any sane or sober person could reasonably predict the money vanished and the murder rate continued to soar. 

Chicago has lost a significant amount of productive taxpayers who by necessity became exiled tax refugees.   Loads of major employers have shuttered their properties relocating to where taxation is far less extortionate. 

Chicago’s politicians cannot provide adequately for their own personal greed enough to spend money on the police department so many of them hate. The manpower is shrinking fast and officers are just not being replaced.  Accordingly the remaining ranks are far to thin and ill equipped to combat the violence in any meaningful way.

Chicago has been awash with frightening Black on White ethnic violence in the Gold Coast area that were a stronghold for tourism and productive taxpayers.  That can only last long enough for those people to realize the danger and flee this once great metropolis.

Mayor Emanuel or any politician that wants to save Chicago must figure a method to consolidate the wards into perhaps five wards instead of 50.  That would greatly reduce the power local gangs have over City Hall.  The new ward bosses should be required to undergo strict background investigations and drug testing before their names could be placed on ballots to run for office.

Chicago’s productive and law-abiding citizens should no longer be restrained from their rights to keep and bear firearms and meaningful self-defense. 

Productive Chicagoans must be given tax and financial reasons to stay and continue to contribute to Chicago.  Likewise employers must be brought back with tax breaks as well as a safe environment for their employees to liver and work.

As long as Chicago maintains the 50-ward system this city will become the nastiest and most dangerous place to live in any nation.

Is Janet Napolitano Jumping the Good Ship Obama?

Waving goodbye to Barack Obama

Washington, DC—Until now Janet Napolitano’s personal reputation was considered somewhat clean.  Yes, the rumors about her lesbian relationship with a subordinate under her in both Arizona and at Homeland Security were never exactly a secret.  I think we can all separate her suspected Gay sex life from those more important issues of integrity.

The Obama Administration is fraught with scandal primarily in the areas of obstructing justice.   The law enforcement activities presided over by Napolitano was simply gutted when it comes to immigration enforcement, border protection and removal of dangerous criminal aliens.  Isn’t that what Homeland Security is all about?

There’s an old saying, “if you lay down with dogs you will wake up with fleas.”  I imaging Napolitano is itching all over about now considering the mutts she’s been around.

I guess taxpayers must get used to paying billions for our border cops and their equipment to simply remain idle as we invite the ignorant, poor and some very nasty criminals from our Southern hemisphere to have their way with all of us.    They can of course enjoy our paying for their medical care, schools as they become addicted to our entitlements reserved for citizens and legal residents. 

Whether you agree or not our immigration laws were enacted by Congress and are the law of the land.  Presidents or anyone that prevents enforcement of the law are committing a serious impeachable and felony crime.  Napolitano is directly in the food chain of those conspiring to break the law.  That should in and of itself make Napolitano beyond uncomfortable. Especially when you consider she prosecuted hundreds if not thousands of people for these offenses while she was the U.S. Attorney for Arizona.

Consider the current litany of lawlessness of Obama’s Attorney General, Napolitano would be first to get scapegoated pushed under the bus.  The Fast and Furious scandal, the New Black Panther voter intimidation cover up and now the mass shutdown of immigration enforcement shows absolutely massive corruption.

Napolitano has become loathed over the TSA and their despicable mistreatment of air travelers.   There no shortage of photos depicting Napolitano as a Nazi war criminal all across the Internet. Was Napolitano just following orders to bankrupt the airline through tyrannical traveler abuse? Or was she acting alone?  Napolitano can retire and disappear now or face the music later as she sinks with the ship.

Currently a sex scandal is rocking Homeland security and it’s brining on lots of negative attention to Napolitano and her circle of gal pals.   What an opportune time for her to say goodbye.  

Dealing with High Profile Ugly Incidents and Celebrity Crisis Media Relations

Lindsay Lohan in handcuffs     Court pool camera image

Los Angeles, CA—The most meaningless police incidents can quickly elevate to crisis proportions.  That’s especially true for celebrities.  We’ve all seen damaging video of celebrity’s antics surrounding minor conflicts.  When such an event becomes national news it’s no longer insignificant. 

When you become a celebrity your privacy can become all but non-existent.    Along with the big cash and perks comes the media magnifying glass. 

Whatever you do pick your new friends carefully because all manner of danger can come from strangers with big smiles.   Drug dealers, extortionists and stalkers always seem to circle around celebrities like sharks.

It never hurts to have a new friend or business associate quietly checked out by a reputable private investigator.   That can save you millions later.  When you hire bodyguards look for recently retired cops or qualified licensed private investigators.  They must know how to avoid troublesome conflicts. 

As a long time cop and defense investigator I have seen both side of celebrity cases.  I need to begin with a shocking fact; cops, prosecutors or judges never treat celebrities equally.  For too many of these government officials, attaching themselves to celebrities brings brushes with fame and hope of fortune. 

The O.J. Simpson case changed many lives and made lucrative careers for cops, lawyers and low ranking journalists. 

What I’m saying is that cops are far more inclined to arrest a celebrity than to give the benefit of the doubt.  Prosecutors likewise will commence a prosecution of a celebrity where they’d normally be inclined to not file the case.

We’ve seen many high profile Hollywood criminal case acquittals that were not tied to great legal work but the all out effort to bring even the thinnest cases against celebrities.     

Some celebrities have become regulars to petty scandals and media frenzies.  We think of Paris Hilton and Lindsay Lohan as troubled.  Were they not famous, they might have escaped arrest, conviction, and publicity mud baths.   Frankly none of their offenses deserved the massive attention they received.  Celebrity justice is by far the best reason to bar cameras from America’s courtrooms. 

Celebrities are natural targets for drunks, fools and publicity seeking parasites.   When out in public celebrities are always in danger of some unprovoked conflict.  
The best advice I can give anyone who is either famous or infamous is to lay low.  Hide behind those sun glasses and floppy hats when possible.  Pay with cash or a credit card with a business name at stores.   Discretion and conflict avoidance are paramount. 

However shit happens and you may be on the receiving end of a simple traffic citation.  You may become the victim of a disgusting criminal allegation made by some opportunist.   What you do during or after such an even can destroy or leave a career somewhat unscathed. 

Take the retired Chicago burglary detective, and now well-known actor Dennis Farina.   He once forgot he had a small loaded handgun in a bag as he was boarding a plane at LAX.  Was this some ugly crime, scandal or terrorist event?  Of course not, but Farina never had a chance with the TSA goons or LAX police. 

Eventually after spending thousands on a fine lawyer and avoiding additional publicity Farina was able to mitigate the forgettable mess into a non-conviction.  Farina’s career moved forward without a staining his reputation.  He never publicly lost his dignity.

Here are some rules:  Behave well during an arrest.  Argue your case in the courtroom and not on the street or in the press.  Always smile and try to look your best for police booking photos so they don’t look like wanted posters.  Never answer police questions, tell them you want a lawyer present first. If you’re unable to avoid the paparazzi, never try to hide your face from news cameras that looks terrible.  If cornered by journalists never say, “No Comment!”  Instead say something, WITH A SMILE,  “The matter is under investigation right now, thank you for your concern.”  If you’re already charged or indicted simply say the matter needs to be tried in the courtroom.   

Let your attorney and publicist handle the media fallout.  Unfortunately many otherwise good defense lawyers have their own publicity agenda or are not experienced to make wise media strategy.  Not all publicists are equal when it comes to crisis management.

Always remember the less said to the media is usually the best.   Always smile and never let anyone see you upset, angry or sweating.  Never slam you door or gas peddle when leaving uncomfortable locations.

Remember the paparazzi will get the big money for images and video of seemingly bad or emotionally motivated behavior.  Regrettably you will see those images again and again. The pictures will never go away and with the Internet they will out live all of us.   

Good luck, have fun, stay safe and enjoy bringing your talents to the world.

More on the TSA and its un-American Assault on Liberty, Privacy and Dignity

TSA Thug named Butler    From Video by Paul Huebl

Washington, DC—Most Americans surrender, line up like sheep and allow the despicable practice of the TSA's amateur security workers as they have their way with our personal property, bodies and even our children.  They abuse us tolerated simply because Americans are to intimidated to defend themselves.

Despite hundred of billions of dollars and this illusion of security the TSA has not stopped a single terrorist event.  The known post 9/11 efforts to disrupt air travel have been stopped by alert passengers that understand their duty to protect each other.   The TSA is in itself a meaningless exercise of the absurd.

Our government puts these poorly vetted, trained or educated unemployable losers in police style costumes with gold badges.  The reality is they should have put them into red jumpsuits and saved taxpayers a bundle rather than allow this officious masquerade. 

Here are three videos.  One is a musical satire hit piece from, Without a Face, Twisted Sexual Assault.  The second is from a political opponent of former House Speaker, Nancy Pelosi named John Dennis.   The third video is that of a shocking encounter I had with an African-American TSA bimbo named Butler, trying to seize my camera and prevent me from shooting video outside of Terminal 2 at LAX.

Grab the popcorn, sit back and by all means enjoy the entertainment:

Do More Guns Increase Crime? Here’s your answer!

St. Louis, MO—Last April the NRA held its Convention here.  More than 60,000 attendees came to see both the political side and the large gun show.   The NRA visits scattered locations throughout the nation every year.

These conventions are never held in the gun-unfriendly states but in states where the attendees can carry loaded and concealed firearms.  The various convention centers must suspend any gun carry prohibitions they may have any in order to win the NRA’s business.

Never less that 60,000 NRA people, most all of them well armed stay for about five or six days in these cities.  The crime rate never rises and there’s never been a known arrest of an attendee for violence.  You also never hear about the NRA attendees being robbed, raped or murdered.  The cowardly local criminals always lay low when the NRA is in town. 

Across this nation there have been tens of thousands of gun shows and again nobody settles their arguments with guns.  There is never misuse of the massive amount of firearms on display or carried by gun show attendees.

We don’t have a gun problem except when the law-abiding are precluded from the keeping and bearing of firearms.  We do have a serious crime problem that’s been fueled by a failed violent Drug War for over four decades.   The real problem is the courts simply refuse to separate the convicted and dangerous offenders from society.

By the way the next NRA Convention will be in the Spring of 20123 in Houston, TX.

Drew Peterson Trial Ends Third Week, The Best is Yet to Come!

Drew Peterson   Photo by Paul Huebl

Joliet, IL—Will County State’s Attorney James Glasgow made a non-stop mess of his questionable effort to destroy Retired Bolingbrook police sergeant Drew Peterson.  He knows that while gossip and hate may be over the top, real evidence of murder and Peterson’s possible involvement is almost non-existent.

At best it can be shown that Peterson was a lousy husband and that Kathleen Savio was on a campaign to grab the marital assets of her failed marriage. She was an angry and scorned woman.

Savio had her emotional problems and was taking or in some cases not taking drugs prescribed to her to keep her under control.

It's also reasonable to believe that Peterson said some ugly things about and to Savio.  Divorces seldom bring out the best behavior of those involved. 

The biggest problem I have is calling Savio’s death a murder.   Aside from the original investigation and autopsy are the total lack of signs of a fight for life that would normally exist.  No defense wounds, nothing in the area disturbed nor were there broken fingernails with DNA material.  

We can’t dismiss the reality that Savio changed the locks on the home and Peterson had no key. 

The hearsay issue has very frightening implication to the American freedoms and liberty so many brave Americans gave life and limb to protect.  If they can get Drew Peterson through hearsay evidence, you’re next!  We all have someone in our lives that would lie just because they can.  They tell others and the story spins and grows to epic proportions before it’s ever heard in court. 

In this case, was Savio lying to those close to her?  She can’t be cross-examined nor was she ever placed under oath.   Next did the people claiming they heard her statements tell the truth?  Did they perhaps misunderstand what they were told, if they were told? 

As a cop and criminal defense investigator I learned long ago people will embellish or even lie if they thought it could somehow “bring justice”.  Everyone wants to help the cops especially in a high profile case that can bring fame and fortune.

There’s a huge rub here that we are sure to observe if this silliness continues.  That is that this case has been dragging on for years.  Peterson has a sharp legal team and they left no stones unturned.  Any time a defense investigator has this much time he will find more and more people that will rat on the witnesses.  Relationships dissolve or were never quite as solid as some of the witnesses think.  Three years of idle chatter and inconsistent stories will be put before the court.

Impeachment of witnesses becomes easy when people lie, embellish or spin their accounts to their so-called friends.  Lawyers know this so they employ investigators trained to flesh out impeachment witnesses and other evidence. 

The fun begins during the defense portion of trials because the impeachment witnesses are not part of discovery process.  They can be brought into courtrooms by surprise.  In high profile cases its common to see people we look up to like professionals, members of the clergy destroyed especially when the media is watching intently.

For a defense investigator having three years to watch, track and record witnesses is a gift from heaven.   Today, an investigator contacts a friend, relative or acquaintance of a witness and learns nothing but he dutifully leaves a business card behind.  Months later the phone rings and startling facts come to life. 

I believe that the so-called prosecution blunders and not what they seem.  They are deliberate.  Glasgow wants this trial to go away because he knows all he has are his shaky hearsay witnesses and he rightly anticipates a credibility bloodbath.  If there is a mistrial Glasgow knows he can blame the judge to save his own political ass.

The Forbidden Fruit of the Information Age

As for the jury and the evidence being kept out of the courtroom that’s another total disaster.  Few jurors have the self-discipline or the motivation to not actively search out the forbidden fruit provided by today’s Information Age.  They can be counted upon to follow their human curiosity and learn what causes sidebars and the jury to be removed from the courtroom.  In this case they are also learning that prosecutorial misconduct is running over the top here. 

I can’t predict just how this circus will end but it’s proving to be the greatest show on earth.  I don’t share early defense team beliefs that the judge will have the balls to render a directed verdict of Not Guilty when the state rests their case. Directed verdicts are rare and seldom granted even when solidly warranted.

The defense will be forced to put on a case complete with impeachment witnesses, experts and investigators.   I doubt seriously that we will hear from Drew Peterson.  I doubt he has anything to add to the mountain of interviews he’s granted.  The jury  already knows what he had to say about this case.  

This trial Will Change Lives
The case will go to this jury and they will either render a unanimous verdict or not.   If they follow the instruction of the court I doubt there can be a conviction.  Jurors seldom follow instruction so anything is possible. 

The only thing I know for sure is that this trial will change the lives of those involved and not for the best.  

Julian Assange Exists because of Government’s Lies and Damn Lies

London, UK—This sad saga began when a non-mainstream journalist, Julian Assange obtained a huge amount of undeniable government records and simply published them.  They pertain to the conduct of governments we expect to he honorable, forthright and free. 

Primarily the UK and the U.S. lied to their citizens and the world about the issues that led to two wars and thousands of American lives.  We all know that it’s our politicians that send our children off to fight their adventures.  Politicians must rely on public support and to gain that support time and time again through history they use lies and propaganda to achieve their means.  

Politicians are serial liars by their very nature.  We all have the liars we prefer but we never demand they tell the truth. 

A nation like Switzerland need not fear disclosure of their efforts because that nation is not ever involved with policing the world with their ideals. 

Unfortunately the United States is run by a bunch of politicians that always gain personal profit for their misconduct.  War is always profitable for our politicians even when they can’t win. 

The role of a journalist is not to protect governments, but to tell the world just what their governments are doing.  Famed writer, George Orwell that I quoted above also said, “"Journalism is printing what someone else does not want printed; everything else is public relations."

Julian Assange has taken great personal risk to do his job.  He’s embarrassed politicians worldwide and now they want to make him pay simply because he did his job.  There is an incredibly huge paradox, the nations screaming the loudest are the ones that claim they have freedom of the press.

I feel uncomfortable joining the ranks of Michael Moore, Danny Glover and assorted Left Wing radicals that have come out in support to Julian Assange.  I dare to say that the founding fathers of this great nation would have supported him too.

We must demand truthfulness, transparency and accountability of our government no matter what political animal or party is in charge.

It’s a total farce that the UK has placed a ring of 40 cops around the Ecuadorean embassy 24/7 to nab Assange if he tries to leave.  Ecuador has done the right thing here and I salute them in the name of freedom.  

California’s Socialist Politicians have all but Destroyed Their Filmmakers

Los Angeles, CA—There are very few TV series and movies being made in California or in greater Los Angeles.   Perhaps they have finally murdered their Golden Goose through excessive taxation.  That’s a strange paradox since liberal Hollywood film industry movers send avalanches of cash to the politicians that demand the most taxes.

They call it Runaway Production when production companies escape heavy taxes and permit fees.  Canada has offered every kind of tax break and incentive to lure filmmakers for decades.

I was absolutely shocked to lean last year that Germany will grant filmmakers nearly $9 million bucks to make at least 25% of a film there!  It is apparently cost effective because movies and TV series provide jobs for productive German taxpayers.

California politicians must schmooze their film industry or lose it.  There are many places in America and foreign nations that welcome the movie industry with tax breaks, perks and major cooperation.  For California's politicians it may already be too late. 

Chicago nickel and dimes filmmakers to death as they over-regulate them.  However any politically Conservative states like Arizona are right to work states and that creates problems for the many unions that represent workers such as the Screen Actors Guild. 

It’s pathetic when production companies find it’s cheaper and easier to pay massive transportation costs to move their talent, writers, and producers sometimes thousands of miles away to save money. 

As a writer, producer and actor I’m personally smitten with the idea of spending months in Europe working on films.  For me that’s already happened twice in recent years. 

The German government paid half of the entire budget for my all time favorite film, Paul Verhoeven’s, Black Book!  I guess some in government have learned filmmakers are great for local economies.

The great German film director, Werner Herzog tell aspiring filmmakers to forge rather than pay local government film permits.  I think he’s on to something!

There are big changes in store for filmmakers.  The equipment is better than ever and far less expensive to make films.  Movie theaters are about to become extinct as the average family now has their own big screen home theaters. 

Chicago’s Failed Gun Politics Just cost Taxpayers Well over $1 Million bucks!

BREAKING NEWS

Chicago, IL—As feeble-minded politicians responded to the U.S. Supreme Court,  McDonald vs City of Chicago ruling striking down gun bans by enacting a new one the taxpayers got raped yet again!

The NRA quickly filed a federal lawsuit on behalf of their members against the City of Chicago and Village of Oak Park.  After very expensive litigation the court ruled that the local government politicians were again violating the gun rights of law-abiding citizens.  The loser has to pay the legal fees of the winner. That amounted to $1,326,588.00. 

That’s only half the damage because the taxpayers were forced to pay for the legal fees incurred by the politicians.  The City claims they can't pay for cops to patrol the streets but that have lots of your money to waste violating your rights.

Today Federal Judge Milton I Shadur ordered Chicago and Oak Park to pay up!

Minute Order Resolving Fees NRA

RE: Drew Peterson, "He’s going to Kill Me, I just know it!"

Drew Peterso   Photo by Paul Huebl

Joliet, IL—The murder trial of Drew Peterson is not about physical evidence but a relationship gone bad, through the subjective mouths of people that hate the accused.

Was Kathleen Savio a victim of an accident or murder?  That is the first question that needs to be answered and we can only take a wild guess as to the answer.  We really don’t know because nobody saw what happened and there is no reliable way to reconstruct whatever happened in that bathtub.  Grandstanding experts are not clairvoyant and neither is prosecutor James Glasgow.

If we want to insist it was in fact a murder than we have to determine who was responsible.  There are really two potential suspects we know about.  Drew Peterson who conveniently was in a divorce/property contest with Savio seems logical.  What about Savio’s new boy toy?   We know Savio and her new lover had an argument at the time of her death. We also know she did not want to let him sleep over that fateful night. 

As much as anyone that hates Drew Peterson must admit is that the cause of death is pure speculation.  If indeed it was a murder speculation comes into play once again.  This is compounded by the undisputed fact that Peterson did not have the key to the house involved in this inquiry.

As for the morbid statements of fear, despair and horror some people attribute to Savio I’ve heard them well over a thousand times.   You see as a private investigator I served perhaps three or four thousand court Orders of Protection.  I’ve heard the petitioners first hand making allegations of every kind.

Most are not old enough to remember what it was like for divorce litigants before the “no fault” days of matrimonial law.  Up until the 1970’s every divorce petition contained wild accusations of assault with deadly weapons.  These had to be verified under oath!   Without such a statement no divorce was granted.  Any divorce lawyer from that sad time can verify this.

To get an Order of Protection today the petitioner must swear under oath that they were threatened, assaulted or had their property damaged by their former spouse or live in companion.  The allegations fly like huge flocks or migratory birds escaping the cold.

Many allegations connected with the petitions are made only to curry favor with property, child custody and financial support issues.  Often the allegations were designed to insure that the petitioner obtains or maintains exclusive use of the residence involved.   The sad truth is a substantial percentage of these petitions are based on simple perjury. 

Revenge by jilted spouses and lovers is also a serious factor in those kinds of legal proceedings.  Again the accusations fly.

Many divorce litigants want to involve their close friends and relatives as witnesses to reinforce their tales or woe in court.  They dramatize everything that can to that end.

I don’t want to suggest that the petitioners are always lying.  Over the years I have had one client murdered by her husband and another shot while working in a Scottsdale dental office as an assistant.  Many times there are valid claims made.  

That statistic comes out to two in several thousand cases.  Allegations made during divorce cases are just not very compelling or credible.  I’m glad to report that thousands of women who personally told me they would be killed are still alive today. 

I don’t want to not suggest that spouses don’t make threats of violence because they do.  The good news here is that only a tiny percentage of these threats ever amount to more than hurtful words.

The hearsay testimony being offered the Drew Peterson case has no real value to determine what may have happened to Kathleen Savio.   Remember Savio has never been placed under oath before her alleged statements were made.  Unfortunately taking an oath does little to prevent people from telling tales.

The guilt or innocence of Drew Peterson should be based on reliable physical evidence or eyewitness testimony.  In the State of Illinois vs. Drew Peterson there is neither.   

Why Carice Van Houten Should be Your Favorite Actress

Carice Van Houten

Amsterdam, NL—One evening nearly three years ago I discovered Carice Van Houten.  I was looking for something to watch on cable TV and flipping my remote control.  The Encore Channel was just beginning what became my favorite film of all times, Black Book.

I watched this film that involves three languages, Dutch, German and English with English subtitles. I speak German but unfortunately no Dutch.   The film recounted actual historical events in Nazi occupied Holland during the war. 

The Dutch Underground forces fought the Nazi’s courageously through sabotage and their protection of Jews from forced deportation, to what we now know were extermination camps.

Carice Van Houten played a Jewish cabaret singer, Rachael Stein who was hiding from the Nazis.  She has an austere life with a Dutch family that tried to convert her to their Christian faith.  She was waiting out the war that was turning against Hitler’s forces. 

Stein finds herself homeless and vulnerable and as luck would have it actively working within the Dutch Underground.  The film is a thriller in every aspect. The cast and crew are as good as it gets and the writing and direction by Paul Verhoeven, (Basic Instinct, Robo-Cop and Showgirls) truly made a film masterpiece.

The period costumes, vehicles and props all were amazing.  The terrific Black Book musical soundtrack is on my IPhone, IPad and MacBook.   

The bulk of this film was made at Filmstudio Babelsberg near Berlin because a generous German government film grant made for nearly half of the project’s budget.

Van Houten displayed incredible talent and range of abilities in Black Book.  In the film she swims, sings, dances, speaks three languages and plays every possible emotion.  Van Houten’s character was that of an unlikely but magnificent hero.  Don’t dare let me forget to mention, Van Houten may be the sexiest woman ever to grace the silver screen!

As an actress Van Houten is truly fearless in that she does whatever it takes to thrill her audience and make her character credible.   

Van Houten played Nina Von Stauffenberg in Valkyrie with Tom Cruise in her American film debut.  That part was too small for anyone to notice Van Houten’s significant talent and charms. 

Van Houten’s Los Angeles agent is the Creative Artists Agency (CAA) and they have apparently been sleeping rather than utilizing the gifts of this superstar.  We have to wake them up so they can begin to appreciate their hidden box office moneymaker.

Van Houten has a minimal but delightful accent that might be preventing Hollywood from embracing her.  Have they forgotten two legendary actresses with much more pronounced accents like Greta Garbo or Marlene Dietrich?

Van Houten can be seen today in a small but meaty role in HBO’s Game of Thrones series filmed in the UK.  She has been in films far beneath her abilities like Repo Men and Intruders.

The time to bring Van Houten into American theaters with a strong role is long overdue.   Van Houten is exactly what the Best Actress prize of the Academy Awards is all about.  I’d love nothing more than to see another Verhoeven film made for an American audience with this gifted leading lady.

By all means order your copy of Black Book on Blu-Ray from Amazon.com, you'll be glad you did!

Watch the trailer below!

If I Could Only Redesign and Rebuild CNN

Atlanta, GA—CNN joined Cable TV with a bang, but today it whines and whimpers.   Today CNN is on a death march to Hell because they have traded news reporting for public relations for the Democratic Party and the Obama Administration.

We must face the fact that every broadcaster wants to turn their news organization into a bully pulpit with a political agenda.  No matter how subtle they try to make it, the agenda glares right through, sending half of the audience scrambling to their remote controls.  The way to keep 100% of the audience is by avoiding politicization of the news.

CNN is personality driven chatter disguised as news.  To survive, CNN needs to simply try raw news for a change.   Real news reporting requires being first on the scene of every breaking story broadcasting video with interviews of newsmakers. 

I’d ditch the personalities and replace them with a team of sharp assignment desk jockeys that can introduce each story they’re working on to the viewers.  No opinions, no chitchat, just field reporting with video of news and newsmakers interviews.  Field reporting beats mindless anchor babble anytime.  

CNN needs to recruit a force of trustworthy and capable freelance reporters around the world that have sufficient camera and editing skills they can assign to gather the news and quickly report it.   Today everything needed to report live news is inexpensive and can easily fit into the smallest of cars or even motorcycles. 

The video journalist or what’s been called a one-man band is the model.  Many freelancers can grab a friend or family member to help with lights and such. 

The freelance reporters should be able to call in and pitch their own assignments to the assignment desk.  When the assignment desk learns of breaking news he or she needs to get a team or at least someone competent out to handle the story.  

Overpriced but pretty newsreaders sitting sometimes more than a 1000 miles away hearing the material most often third hand are the least qualified to comment on breaking news.

The importance is to get the information out quickly rather than have a pretty face redundantly tell us how sad, shocking, funny or troubling the story is that’s being reported. 

Of course there are stories we call packages that don’t have the urgency of live news.  They can be assigned and brought in to fill between breaking stories.

There are loads of unemployed or underemployed journalists all over the globe because of all the layoffs. Giving them let’s say $2000.00 per story would insure they would want to cover the news.  They also need to keep their cameras and equipment up to reasonable state of the art standards. 

The live shots should consist of assignment desk jockeys asking questions to their reporters in the field. This may not seem pretty to some news director types but the grittiness of breaking news all the time would bring excitement and something worth watching to the viewers.

With respect to what we call special projects they can still be done but without the celebrity anchor royalty weighing down the stories.  Political gabfests can still happen when real news slows down such as on the weekends.  

Nasty weather always leads in importance and sometimes sports.  These are best left alone except that more live reports from storm chasers are needed. 

The assignment desk areas and reporters cubicles should replace the ridicules news sets and anchor thrones.   Perhaps the time has come for opening the editorial meetings to cameras.  The public would love to see what drives the news gathering efforts. 

Can anyone even imagine transparency of a news operation?  Aside from protecting news sources there should be no secrets.  Remember its journalists that always complain about the lack of transparency, lets put the shoe on the other foot for a change.

As for reporting high profile court trials they should be packaged and reported on four times per day with the exception of verdicts and important breaking news related to each trial.  All those trial pundits truly suck and need to be banished from the earth. 

The new approach to news is to take many more interesting local breaking news stories and making them national.  A supermarket shooting, a horrible highway accident, police chase, a nasty fire or the arrest of some con artist fleecing the elderly is always more interesting than watching mindless anchor babble.