Tuesday, June 13, 2023

Hezakya Newz: '1977-1987 SPECIAL REPORT: GARY GILMORE'

Source:Hezakya Newz- with a documentary about convicted serial murderer Gary Gilmore.

"Gary Mark Gilmore was an American criminal who gained international attention for demanding the implementation of his death sentence for two murders he had admitted to committing in Utah." 


As Bill Moyers (who is no right-winger) said in his own documentary, Gary Gilmore was a loser. There's nothing in his life that warrants a documentary made about him. The only thing that he ever accomplished in life (if you want to call murder an accomplishment) is murdering multiple people. 

I only mention this because no one should weep or feel sorry for Gary Gilmore. He did have a rough childhood, but had opportunities to get himself an education, including while in prison where he spent as much time in prison as an adult, then as a free man. But he chose to be a career criminal who murdered people to cover up his other crimes. 

Whatever you think of the death penalty, Gary Gilmore was sentenced to death in October, 1976 and chose not to either fight his conviction or even his sentence. 

I can understand being against the death penalty when there's reasonable doubt or even the possibility that the defendant might not have committed the murder and he just gets life without instead of the death penalty. Or just being against the death penalty all together which a lot of Catholics and other Christians are. 

But don't be against the death penalty because of Gary Gilmore and his case. He's not worth and certainly doesn't deserve your sympathy.

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Monday, June 12, 2023

CNN: 'John Bolton Makes Prediction On Donald Trump's Political Career After Indictment'

Source:CNN- Keep in mind, John Bolton was President Donald J. Trump's NSA from 2017-18.

"Former National Security Adviser John Bolton tells CNN's Phil Mattingly why he thinks Donald Trump's political career will be over following a second indictment against him." 

From CNN 

John Bolton is obviously not just a lawyer, but an accomplished lawyer both in the U.S. Government and in the private sector, so he would know this better than me. But from what I'm hearing, it might a year from now at the earliest, that Special Counsel Jack Smith and company, would be ready to prosecute former President Donald J. Trump and perhaps July next year, would be the earliest that there would be a conviction. 

Again, I''m not a lawyer, but a full-time blogger, but the case looks fairly obvious here. President Trump obviously never declassified the documents, otherwise we (meaning the public) would already not just know about that, but we would know what documents that President Trump declassified. And we would know which documents that he took from The White House, down to Mar-E-Lago. Which means he had them in his possession illegally. Also, people who worked for him, who don't have security clearances, we're allowed to look at those documents, because of Donald Trump. 

Assuming the Donald Trump's lawyers (and he seems to be running out of them) aren't able to make a case other than process and trying to argue that DOJ is just going after their client, because they don't like him, even with all the hard evidence against their client, all the documents, witnesses, including people who currently work for President Trump, or were working for him after he left The White House, as well as Tump's own words against him on tape, I think this is a fairly easy case. 

And because of this is a fairly simple case, DOJ should move as soon as they can to get the trial started as soon as possible. And even to all the discovery that the defense team wants, because that will just bring out more hard evidence agains their client and make him look even worst and more criminal. But again, I'm not a lawyer.  

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Friday, June 9, 2023

CNN: 'Donald Trump Makes 'Damning' Admission On Tape'

Source:CNN- Donald J. Trump (Republican, Florida) former President of the United States (2017-21)

"CNN obtained a transcript of former President Donald Trump saying on tape in 2021 that he didn't declassify "secret information," seemingly rebutting his claims made about his ability to declassify documents. The new details come as Trump was indicted on seven counts in the special counsel's classified documents probe." 

From CNN

If it's not obvious enough why Donald Trump's own lawyers, never want him testifying for himself, especially under oath or never even talking to any media about his own legal issues, then you obviously don't know the man and haven't been following him at all the last 8 years. 

The reason why Donald Trump's lawyers don't ever want him speaking on his own behalf, especially under oath, about his own legal issues, because he's the worst possible witness that you could possibly dream up of, for himself. 

Donald Trump is a: 

compulsive liar 

he can't stick to the same story, like with most compulsive liars 

he rarely, if ever puts any thought behind what he's about to say before he says it and generally is just trying to get though the latest criss that he created for himself 

and when he thinks he's off the record and there's no one around him that he believes could hurt him and speak out against him, he tends like with a lot of career criminals, to speak in the most damning ways about him, that if he what he ever said got out, would make him look very guilty.

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Thursday, June 8, 2023

Youn Gala: 'NBA Legends & Players Explain How SCARY GOOD PRIME Patrick Ewing Was'

Source:Youn Gala- Shaquille O'Neal talking about a player that he says is better than him.

"Patrick Ewing is a New York Knicks Legend!!!

NBA Legends And Players Explain How SCARY GOOD PRIME Patrick Ewing Was" 

From Youn Gala 

Just a couple things from this video and then I'll get into how I personally feel about The Great Patrick Ewing. 

Shaquille O'Neal saying that Patrick Ewing is not only a top 5 NBA center of all-time, but that Ewing is better than him. I have heard Shaq say that Pat was the toughest center that he ever had to play against, but not that he was a better player than him. I think this says a lot because even though I think Shaq is overrated myself, he's still a top 10-15 centers of all-time and he's one of the smartest and honest men, whose ever played in the NBA. 

As far as Pat Ewing and what I feel about him: imagine the last 25 years of the NBA is really just the longest national nightmare in pro sports history and the game today is still basically the same today as it was, let's say pre-2000s: 

centers are real centers, not beefed up small forwards, trying to play center or even natural power forwards, trying to play center 

point guards were expected to run the offense, not sport up for 3's every chance that they get. 

power forwards run the wings on the break looking for a slam dunk or a layup, not spotting up for 3's on the fast break and they have inside responsibility on offense, not running screens to free themselves up for a 3-pointer

the center position was still around, instead of big, tall, strong, guys, thinking they could be the next great point forward. 

Imagine the NBA today was basically the same league today, as it was in the late 1980s, as far as the quality of teams, players, the style of play and you are looking for the next great center and have this guy whose 7'0, 255 pounds of all muscle, who runs like a horse, can block jump shots, who doesn't even know how to take a play off and rest, who went to and graduated from Georgetown, so you know he's smart and was coached by John Thompson and you are tying to win a championship. You are tying to knock off the Boston Celtics or Los Angeles Lakers to do that, maybe you are Pat Riley running this team, after leaving the Lakers. You would be braindead not to draft Pat Ewing, if he's available when your pick comes up. 

In the 1990s, there were really only 3 centers in the NBA who were good, strong, big, and disciplined enough to play Shaquille O'Neal on defense, not really stop him for the most part, but make him have to work hard on offense, so he couldn't  just be able to dominate you. 

Shaq said Ewing was the toughest player that he ever had to play against, because he made him work for position in the post and then was able to make Shaq work on defense, even in the post, because Ewing had the size, the strength, the quickness, the footwork, etc, to score against Shaq. Even though Ewing even in his prime, was probably giving up 40-50 pounds to Shaq, he still had the upper body and leg strength to play Shaq on defense and not get dominated and score against him on offense, even in the post. 

The other two centers in the 1990s that had these qualities to play Shaq well, were Hakeem Olajuwon and Alonzo Mourning. In case anyone wanted to know. 

The reason why Patrick Ewing doesn't get more respect and recognition as being one of the top 10 NBA centers ever, even though he is a top 10 center, because he didn't win an NBA championship. 

The New York Knicks probably had the better team in 1994 and should've beaten the Houston Rockets, probably could've done it in 6 games. And I understand all of that. But the fact that the Knicks were even in a game 7 in the NBA Finals in that era, is because of Pat Riley and Pat Ewing, the co-MVP's of the New York Knicks Organization. 

Ewing played with a lot of good players, a lot of very good players. He never played with another great player, another Hall of Fame player. 

You go try to win an NBA Finals in the 1990s with Charles Smith, whose a center and you are trying to make him your small forward. 

You try to win the NBA Finals in the 1990s with John Starks, who would've been a 3rd guard, someone who could play the 1 and 2 equally as well, but he would've been a 3rd guard on most NBA championship teams, maybe even the 4th guard and he's just starting 2-guard, who misses 14-17 jump shots in game 7 of the NBA Finals.

I think Charles Oakley, Anthony Mason, Derek Harper, and Herb Williams, were the right pieces for a good NBA championship team: 

But where is Michael Jordan without Scottie Pippen today? 

Where would Shaquille O'Neal be today without Kobe Bryant? 

And you could go on. The 90s Knicks were probably 2 players short and one of those players being a great player, from winning an NBA championship in during that decade.

If you want my all-time NBA center list: I'll give it to you anyway: 

1. Kareem Abdul-Jabbar

2. Wilt Chamberlain 

3. Bill Russell 

4. Hakeem Olajuwon 

5. Moses Malone 

6. Patrick Ewing 

OK, that's just 6 and hopefully you get the idea. I have Pat Ewing at 6, because if you look at the 6 best centers ever and what they brought to the game and what they could do and did do personally, I don't think there are 5 better NBA centers ever. Guys who won more championships, more MVP's, etc, sure. But if you look at the center position and what centers are supposed to be able to do, there aren't 5 better offense or defensive centers better than Patrick Ewing. And that's where I come down.

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Wednesday, June 7, 2023

The Fugitive: Fear in a Desert City (1963) Vera Miles Stars

Source:IMDB- Vera Miles & David Janssen. I don't think you need Superman's vision to tell who is who.

"Being a physician with keen clinical acumen, Kimble is quick to pick up on the husband's dangerous paranoia, but is confronted with an internal moral conflict to flee in the interest of self-preservation versus to stay out of Hippocratic devotion to the desensitized pianist and her son." 

From IMDB 

"Pilot,S01 Ep01,The Fugitive,Fear In A Desert City,1960s Full Episode. 1960s American Television Series." 

Source:Johns Films- Brian Keith as Edward Welles.

From Johns Films 

The Fugitive is not a TV series that I can watch all the time or am interested in every episode. I think it got off to a great start with the pilot film and with this pilot episode and it closed with what I would say perfectly with the movie at the end, where the one-armed man is finally caught in Stafford, Indiana. And in-between the pilot film and the series finale, there are episodes that really do stand out, with excellent plots, writing, and guest stars. This episode is a perfect examples of that. 

Most of the cast members in this episode either had major movie or TV careers or both. We're talking about excellent character actors, as well as lead actors and actresses, who all had major TV and film careers. I think that's one way you can tell if a show is not just an excellent show, but a memorable show, something that's shown over and over and has a long run either in syndication or in cable. Shows like that, are shows that people want to work on because they know they're working with great people both actors and writers, as well as directors. The Fugitive was one of those shows. 

Just look at the cast of Fear in a Desert City: 

David Janssen - Richard Kimble 

Vera Miles - Monica Welles 

Brian Keith - Edward Welles 

Barry Morse - Phillip Gerrard 

Harry Townes - Sergeant Burden 

Barney Phillips - Cleve Brown 

William Conrad - the narrator

The Fugitive was not some TV series that starts out in syndication and then struggles just to get through one season, with most of the cast just looking for any break that leads them to something big and better. This was a show that good, successful, intelligent, people in Hollywood, wanted to part of and work on. 

Vera Miles as usual, plays the beautiful pussycat, who seems too cute to scare a fly. But as usual, she plays a woman whose a lot tougher than her adorable disposition. And unlike from the Columbo episode, she really is too cute to kill a fly. 

Richard Kimble (played by David Janssen) of course is The Fugitive whose simply trying to survive on the run and avoid capture, who simply wants a job to support himself in the latest town that he's hiding in. But as most things in life, it's never as easy as someone might want it to be. He meets Monica Welles (played by Vera Miles) a co-worker of his at this casino bar, who has her own problems and he falls in love with her and helps her out. 

The pilot film where the murder and trial goes down, where everyone actually gets to meet Dr. Kimble's wife, is a great way to start off a TV series. But this episode just keeps that ball moving and you see why this series was as good as it is and why the reruns are still on cable today. 

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Tuesday, June 6, 2023

Columbo: Lovely But Lethal (1973) Peter Falk & Vera Miles Star

Source:Columbo Phile- left to right: Vera Miles & Sian Barbara Allen.

"Beauty industry Empress Viveca Scott (Vera Miles) has fallen on comparatively troubled times. Sales are down, she’s lost some high-profile outlets, and the vultures – namely arch-rival David Lang (Vincent Price) – are circling. She needs a miracle, and she seems to have found one in the shape of a ground-breaking skin cream that makes wrinkles disappear!

There’s a fly in the ointment, though. The formula has been stolen by handsome young chemist Karl Lessing (Martin Sheen looking very young and handsome), who has diddled Viveca and and co out of the correct formula and is willing to sell it to the highest bidder – who just happens to be David Lang." 


"Viveca Scott runs Beauty Mark, the cosmetics company whose products are in every woman's home. With sales dropping, she's counting on the miraculous new beauty cream created by her chief chemist to boost sales and overtake her rival, David Lang, but the chemist's assistant steals the formula. Scott attempts to negotiate with him but, in a rage, knocks him over the head with a heavy microscope, killing him. Her rival's secretary finds out and attempts to blackmail her, but the cosmetics queen's worst news is that the rumpled, redoubtable Lt. Columbo is on the case." 

Source:IMDB- Vera Miles stars.

From IMDB

"A cosmetics manufacturer is suspected of murdering an employee (Martin Sheen) who stole a wrinkle-removing formula." 

Source:Columbo- Vera Miles & Peter Falk. Perhaps you can tell for yourself which one is which.

From Columbo 

In one of these photos the caption coming from Viveca Scott (played by Vera Miles) is: "I couldn't kill a fly." That's not completely true. More like Viveca Scott (played by Vera Miles) couldn't scare a fly. She's so cute and sweet and to a certain extent charming on this show, that you would think that she would be one of the last people in the world, (or perhaps just one of the last people in Los Angeles) who could kill anyone. 

But Vera's adorableness in this film is one thing that makes her a perfect murderer suspect, if not murderer, because no one would expect that 5'3, maybe 110 pound babydoll like Vera Miles, (even though she's 44 at this point) could murder anyone. For that reason alone, Vera would've made a great CIA assassin, a TV vice detective, perhaps a detective sergeant with her own crew, similar to Angie Dickinson on Police Woman in the mid 1970s.

I got into this episode of the Columbo series 4-5 years ago and was blown away by the fact that Vera Miles was on it. And thanks to Sundance and COZI-TV, probably seen this film 10 times now and even have it on DVD. Only 70 minutes, not a dull moment in it and that plus Vera's presence and her being so cute and beautiful on it and just comes off as a total sweetheart on it, (at least for a two-time murderer) I can see it over and over again, to the point that I wanted to write about it.  

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Monday, June 5, 2023

Oxygen: 'The Infamous Case of Pamela Smart'

Source:Oxygen- showing a clip from the NBC Dateline piece on this story.

"Pamela Smart is often considered one of the first true crime "celebrities," a seemingly normal everyday woman accused of murdering her husband. Messy theories, a tampered crime scene, and a series of strange factors made for a heavily publicized case leading to her eventual imprisonment. Watch new episodes of Dateline: Secrets Uncovered, Wednesdays at 8/7c on Oxygen." 

From Oxygen 

I was in junior high when this story broke in early 1990. Actually, I just a few years younger than William Flynn, who Pamela Smart hired to kill her husband. I might have heard a little something about this story when he broke in 1990, but it's really the last 5-10 years when a real effort on her part has been made to get herself a sentence reduction and give her a chance at freedom on the outside again, that I've been following this story closely. 

I guess it's her guilt that's never been a question for me. I think she's definitely guilty as far as I'm concern and has even finally admitted that the last few years. It's her sentence that I've always had a problem with. Her accomplices are currently free, even though they're the ones who actually killed Greg Smart (Pamela's husband) and did it in first degree and killed him simply because Pamela wanted them to and perhaps promised sex in exchange. 

I think had Pam Smart just confessed and to her part in the crime which was hiring the boys to murder her husband, she might not be a free woman right now, (and I'm not a lawyer) but I doubt she would've received life without the possibility of parole. Maybe 25-30 years to life and have a real shot at freedom, especially with the life that she's had in prison and what she's done with her time the last 30 plus years or so. 

I think even if she never confessed to the crimes, since her accomplices who actually murdered her husband are currently free, life without no possibility of parole, especially in a state like New Hampshire, which obviously doesn't have a lot of murderers in it, that's known as the live free or die state, I think 30 to life would've been more acceptable. And then the parole board could say: "We appreciate everything that you've done with your time in prison. But if you want to get out, you have to pay full responsibility for your role in this crime." 

Pam Smart has really been her own worst enemy in this case, staring with hiring teenage boys to murder her husband. And then denying her involvement in the crimes the last 30 years and trying to get released and off free for them.  

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John F. Kennedy Liberal Democrat

John F. Kennedy Liberal Democrat
Source: U.S. Senator John F. Kennedy in 1960