Scottsdale, AZ —I’m sad to report on the death of 18 year Chicago police veteran and accomplished actor Dennis Farina .  He died suddenly this morning in Scottsdale from a blood clot in his lung. Farina enjoyed life as a burglary detective at the old Area Six headquarters at Damen and Grace Avenues.  He along with others in his unit handled the follow-up investigations to countless high-dollar burglaries on the Windy City’s North side.   I first met Farina when I was asked to cover for another cop at an off duty job working security for Goldbaltt’s Department Store located in Chicago’s Uptown neighborhood.  Like most cops we both had a second gig to make a few bucks. Farina attended St. Michael’s High School on North Sedgwick Street as I did until my mother could not pay the tuition.  I was quickly exiled to public school. Around 1979 legendary film director Michael Mann was putting together his film Thief , starring James Caan .  Man...

Here I'm standing at the Bendlerblock memorial for the fallen 20 July conspirators.   Berlin, Germany — July 20, 1944 was the day that the first of many fine German men were executed for the last known attempt to kill Adolph Hitler .  The war was a total disaster bringing dishonor and blight on the German people.  A madman with absolute power had caused the needless deaths of nearly 9,000,000 good Germans .  That does not take into account the Holocaust or the deaths of non-Germans. A group of brave men took on the responsibility to kill Hitler risking all.  There were different failed attempts to Kill Hitler and this was the last of them.  Col. Claus Von Stauffenberg became the leader of the group and brought a briefcase bomb to the secure field headquarters called Wolfsschanze near Rastenburg East Prussia. Von Stauffenberg lost an arm and part of his remaining hand.  With only three fingers he was only capable of arming half o...

Justice Oliver Wendell Holmes, Jr. Washington, DC—Justice Oliver Wendell Holmes, Jr. served on the United States Supreme Court from 1902 until 1932.  Still today he’s probably the most quoted jurist to ever walk the face of the earth.  In 1921 Justice Holmes weighed in on the concept of Stand Your Ground : "The law has grown, and even if historical mistakes have contributed to its growth, it has tended in the direction of rules consistent with human nature. Many respectable writers agree that, if a man reasonably believes that he is in immediate danger of death or grievous bodily harm from his assailant, he may stand his ground, and that, if he kills him, he has not exceeded the bounds of lawful self-defense. That has been the decision of this Court. Beard v. United States, 158 U. S. 550, 158 U. S. 559. Detached reflection cannot be demanded in the presence of an uplifted knife. Therefore, in this Court at least, it is not a condition of immunity that one in that si...

Washington, DC —Our forefathers sacrificed so much so we would have freedom, prosperity and the tools to prevent government from again becoming despotic.   As a nation our citizenship has been the envy of the entire rest of the world.   We have allowed freedom to slip away and the value of our citizenship has rapidly declined. We built a system where free enterprise created wealth and jobs.  That in turn gave Americans the ability to consume the fruit of their labor. Productivity and excellence was rewarded and accordingly America became the wealthiest and strongest nation on earth.   Today productivity is punished with extortionate taxation at every level of government. Nearly 100 years passed and Socialists and Communists floated new ideas about government.  These ideas failed in nation after nation but for a few party leaders that could live like royalty through corruption while their citizens were starved, confined and enslaved....

Sanford, FL - Media pundits have suggested that George Zimmerman faces a possible federal Civil Rights criminal prosecution and a wrongful death civil lawsuit.   I have to ask, when will the hogwash end?  These are incredibly vicious but hollow threats. Let’s talk about a criminal Violation of Civil Rights action.  The facts are not there nor have they ever been outside of the wild imagination of the race baiters. The actual code, Title 18, U.S.C., Section 24 is at the bottom of this article. The case against Zimmerman will not somehow get better with age.  It’s been investigated to death and the only evidence of race related hate came from Trayvon Martin’s own lips when he referred to Zimmerman as a “ crappy assed cracker .” A prosecution here cannot begin with thin air but will require evidence.  It’s just not there.  Public opinion can’t rewrite the law to law somehow snag Zimmerman now. A civil action for a wrongful death under F...

George Zimmerman Sanford, FL --This sad case began with a tragedy.    Travon Martin was a troubled lad who made terrible choices.  The data recovered from his cell phone and was later unlawfully hidden from George Zmmerman’s defense lawyers by prosecutors showed that Martin was heavily involved with illegal guns, drugs and fighting.  Judge Debra Nelson later ruled that cell phone evidence inadmissible and that was not at all unusual in our courts.  It may seem unfair to some but that’s what they normally do. As for Martin he apparently had personal issues with what he called, “crappy assed crackers” and was the one actually profiling Zimmerman clearly by race.  To me it’s logical and believable that Martin caused his own death by assaulting Zimmerman.  However we all must recognize that there are no witnesses or video to establish this fact with absolute 100% certainty. We must not never lose sight of is the fact that we don’t req...

Covington, KY —A federal court jury just awarded former Cincinnati Bengal’s cheerleader, Sarah Jones $338,000 over anonymous third-party comments posted to a Scottsdale based website, thedirty.com . The site operator, Nik Richie took a well-deserved litigation beating when he did not screen or delete the nasty comments.   The posts defamed the woman with malicious and unfounded allegations of sexual activities with the entire football team. Richie’s unsuccessful defense was to suggest that Jones should have take the unknown third part posters to court instead of him.   Bloggers everywhere have been watching his case.   Jones had a rather sticky brush with the law related to a sexual relationship with an underage student when she was a teacher.   Reportedly Jones is still in a relationship lad who is now 18 and plans to marry him.   Often people post allegations about others that I cannot or won’t try and verify.   Some are true...

Sanford, FL —a young, athletic and hooded thug with lots of texting messages about guns, fighting and drugs, Trayvon Martin attacked George Zimmerman .  While bashing the neighborhood watch volunteer’s brains out on the sidewalk the young thug was shot dead.  It turns out that our Federal tax dollars were used to organize anti-Zimmerman protests demanding a legal lynching. Attorney General Eric Holder can be thanked for that waste of cash.  The already divided nation has an agenda that has nothing to do with this isolated shooting in Florida.  This is about clashing races and attitudes about Gun Control. There are those that hate guns or are African-American and intolerant of Whites that want Zimmerman’s blood.  They don’t really care who was beating whom. They want Zimmerman to be publicly hanged. Then there are bigoted Whites that believe the only good African-Americans are the dead ones.  After that there are a lot of people of b...

Chicago Plaintiff Otis McDonald is on the Right at the U.S. Supreme Court.  Chicago, IL —For decades Illinois politicians have violated the rights of citizens to keep and carry firearms guaranteed by our Second Amendment.  Ban after ban has been put in place and with each new restriction crime skyrockets.  Unconstitutional gun laws have protected the thugs, thieves, rapists and killers of The Land of Lincoln. First it was Heller vs. D.C and then it was McDonald vs. Chicago the courts reaffirmed gun rights but the plaintiffs in those cases won’t live long enough to enjoy their rights because of obstructionist delays by tyrannical politicians that are apparently above the law of the land. The 7 th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals struck down the gun carry ban and ordered Illinois to allow law-abiding citizen’s rights restored.  The politicians grappled with the idea and failed.  The finally passed a confusing 168-page law laced with Gun Free Zones eve...

Chicago, IL —Despite rabid political resistance to the law of the land on Gun Rights law-abiding citizens will be finally be allowed to carry concealed firearms for self-defense outside of their homes. Now the Illinois State Police must establish a procedure to administer the program that will verify training and issue the permits.  The background investigations have already been accomplished since every CCW license applicant must first have a valid Firearm Owner’s Identification Card .   Firearm trainers will be very busy providing the proscribed 16-hour program . Those carrying guns will be getting a lot of information on safety, marksmanship and the justifiable use of deadly force.  Conflict avoidance still will be your very best choice rather than looking for or inviting trouble.  Some of you will run out of options especially in the violent areas of the state such as Chicago.   Most conflicts with attackers will end without firing a s...

Carice van Houten Amsterdam, NL —The incredibly delightful actress and singer Carice van Houten manages to stay close to her fans and distant friends through Social Media.   Van Houten is the product of terrific parents that raised their two talented daughters with the arts in one of the better places on earth, Holland.   Aside from being absolutely gorgeous she is an incredibly gifted actress.  The younger sister Jelka van Houten , also a real looker has her own promising career going as an actress and singer. Van Houten really understands and interprets music through her singing.  She’s not a classic soprano but a songstress that knows how to sing well with the voice she was given by our creator.  Van Houten’s personal favorites come from a wide range of music that transcends all ages and categories.   Recently van Houten released, SEE YOU ON THE ICE , which is a compilation of original songs in English.  It’s available on...

Los Angeles, CA —As a cop and private eye with a career that spans 40 years I’ve seen more trials first hand than most lawyers.   I never went to law school but have learned a lot in the, Monkey See Monkey Do School of Law .   Along the way police academies and in loads of seminars filled in a lot of information blanks.  I have worked with lawyers from the woefully inept to the very gifted and greatest. Many lawyers have built great reputations along with their egos over decades of success.  Unfortunately many of the old warhorses have not embraced computer technology or the incredible power of the Internet and Social Media .  Instead they delegate any computer assisted litigation efforts to secretaries and law clerks.  That’s a huge and sometimes deadly mistake.   For most lawyers exploring the uncharted area of Social Media seems simple enough but actually making contributions to the mix present frightening tactical gambles alon...

Sue Ann Pinner  is a gifted soprano and a dear friend. Together we created  Illumination  a biographical song about  Pope John Paul II . I’m not really sure how I got involved with this since I’m the kind of Catholic that only seems to remember the importance of religion when my medical examinations get those nasty little red flags or the chips are down. For me Pope John Paul, II is special. I’ve actually seen him four times. Twice he appeared at my home on the street where I lived and he actually looked up and waived at me. Twice he blessed me from only several feet away. I made no special plans to see the Pope he simply came to me. These things happened as John Paul II was the most traveled Pope in history and made numerous visits to the USA. Yet another “Pope factor” is that I have another dear friend and that’s Golden Globe and Emmy winning actress, singer and dancer,  Ann Jillian . Both Pinner and Jillian are devout Catholics. On September 16, 1987 ...

Patrick Henry Chicago, IL —I will enjoy the day off, the barbecues and pool parties with friends.  However what we’ve done to the incredible Liberty and Freedom our forefathers shed their blood to give us is an unmitigated disgrace. Starting with excessive, punishing and extortionate taxation that would even stop King George’s heart we’ve become slaves to our politicians.   Private enterprise has been destroyed by the taxation as our hopelessly corrupt politicians have surrounded themselves with decadence and the wealth of royalty.  That’s happening while most Americans must live hand to mouth.   Our rights against unreasonable search and seizure have been outrageously and redundantly violated by government checkpoints where we are frisked, fondled and abused by low-life, uniformed government employees.  Our e-mail has been read and is stored in data warehouses with all of our telephone calls waiting for an opportunity to be used against us. O...

Sanford, FL —Okay I said it.  I just don’t see this any other way.  I really hope I’m somehow wrong.  Unfortunately, history supports all of my fears.  What’s past is prologue, always.   Our nation has never been so racially divided or hypersensitive.  The George Zimmerman prosecution has not been able to deliver to the jury the venom and hype the media and the Whitehouse promised.  The allegations of a race based stalking style murder of an innocent lad have been exposed in court as pure baloney. That Martin/Zimmerman case was a simple instance of justifiable homicide resulting from the use of very necessary deadly force to stop an attack by an athletic young thug.  It is now more than clear that Trayvon Martin used a sidewalk as a deadly weapon in his effort to murder George Zimmerman by bashing out his brains.    Zimmerman will be finally cleared shortly.  The ignorant masses are not watching the trial...

Trayvon Martin suspended THREE times for 'drugs, truancy, graffiti and carrying burglary tool' and did he attack bus driver too? Caught with women's jewelry presumed stolen.  New picture emerges of victim as parents claim it's all a smear Read more:  http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-2120504/Trayvon-Martin-case-He-suspended-times-caught-burglary-tool.html#ixzz2XvQlGryl