Here come the NHL playoffs...

...and here comes a blast from the past, in more ways than one.

The amazing and gifted Miss Kate Smith, belting out "God Bless America".

Sadly, more like God help America these days.

Donations Confidential

He wanted to keep it a secret. Bravo, Demon Dog, bravo.

US author gives to attack victims.

From the article:

AMERICAN author James Ellroy, who wrote L.A. Confidential and The Black Dahlia, is reported to be donating his royalties from 2015 in France to victims of the Paris attacks of November 13. 

I wish he was still in L.A. I don't know why he moved to Denver, but in the last couple of articles I've seen about him, he seems happy there.

Happy Easter!

Based on my Facebook feed today, people are celebrating Easter in a variety of ways. Images of faith, humor, food, photoshop, bunny ears, nostalgia and lots of love are peppering my FB. In no particular order:

These next two are from Silence is Consent's gallery:

Hope you all have a wonderful day!

Hank Phillippi Ryan on writing yourself out of a corner

Hank Phillippi Ryan is a best-selling author and human award magnet. In her day job as an investigative reporter in Boston, she has won a staggering thirty-three Emmys along with a boatload of other awards for her reporting and novels. Here she offers 8 Ways to Write Yourself Out of That Corner. There's some really great advice here - take a look if you're looking for help getting unstuck.

Jackie Fox on the complicated psychology of trauma

I don't know much if anything about the Jian Gomeshi case, and I'm fortunate that I've never been the victim of a violent crime, but I found this to be an amazingly well-written piece on the complicated psychology of trauma and how people don't understand how and why victims process things the way they do in the aftermath of their attacks. Jackie Fuchs, aka Jackie Fox of the 1970's girl band The Runaways (who went public last year with her story of being raped by the band's manager) discusses What the Jian Gomeshi acquittal can teach us about victim blaming.

Like I said, I'm not knowledgable about this case so I can't say whether or not the acquittal was warranted, or if a serial rapist just got away with his crimes. But the idea of having been raped, then having to sit in a courtroom with your attacker just a few feet away and be ripped to shreds in front of everyone by a lawyer whose job isn't to defend the innocent, but to keep their client out of jail - guilty or not - must be beyond agonizing. Not to mention adding horrifying insult to an already decimating injury. And then to have to sit there and see them set free...I can't imagine what that must do to a person, both emotionally and psychologically. It's just beyond words. And that's on top of the trauma of the attack itself. No wonder victims are reluctant to come forward, or wait years to do so. Who wants to set themselves up to be victimized again?

Definitely take the time to read Jackie's post. It makes so many astute observations that I can't even begin to list them all here without just copying and pasting the whole thing. Really amazing stuff.

Someone actually came up with this idea

And by someone, I mean some sick fuck(s). Pardon my language, but this is just unbearably cruel: Dog intentionally drowned at Mother's Beach in Marina del Rey.

You can't turn around in MdR without seeing someone with a dog. I'm hoping it wasn't a local, not that it makes a difference to this poor pup. From the sound of those Facebook posts, if they really want to punish the idiot(s) responsible, just turn the public loose on them.

If you have any info about the puppy or his tormentor(s), L.A. County Sheriffs would be very interested in hearing from you. They can be reached at (310) 582-6000.

This is pretty much one of my worst nightmares realized

Construction worker falls from 53rd floor of Wilshire Grand construction.

I just drove past that project on Sunday, going through downtown on the 110 and wondered how terrifying it must be to be on one of the higher, open floors. And this is why.

I feel bad for the woman whose car he landed on. That must have been traumatic as hell. Thank God he landed on the back of the car instead of the top or we'd probably have two fatalities.

For shame, P-22!!! Poor koala

Actually, it's kind of hard to fault a mountain lion for mountain lioning. Lock up your koalas, people!

Full story (and video snicked) from NBC Los Angeles.

These books are single and ready to mingle :)

Via Mystery Fanfare, the blog of Mystery Readers, Inc.:

That's a matchmaking service I could get into.

Wonder what TV crime drama will pounce on this first

From the article:

What was initially reported as a romantic story took a nightmarish turn when a Chinese woman revealed that the boyfriend who sat by her bed and took care of her while she lay in a coma for eight months was the one who put her there in the first place.

She's lucky to be alive for any number of reasons. And all this because she burned some bread. Hopefully that guy gets what's coming to him. He has some serious anger issues.

Last Remaining Seats 2016 schedule announced

The Los Angeles Conservancy has announced the schedule for this June's Last Remaining Seats series, featuring classic films screened at historic Downtown Los Angeles theatres. I think its a great lineup.

2016 Schedule*

Top Gun (1986)
Saturday, June 4, 2pm & 8pm
Los Angeles Theatre

To Kill a Mockingbird (1962)
Wednesday, June 8, 8 pm
Million Dollar Theatre

Some Like It Hot (1959)
Saturday, June 11, 8pm
Los Angeles Theatre

Dos tipos de cuidado (Mexico, 1953)
Wednesday, June 15, 8 pm
Palace Theatre
Co-presented with Latin American Cinemateca of Los Angeles

Singin’ in the Rain (1952)
Saturday, June 18, 2pm & 8pm
The Theatre at Ace Hotel

Double Indemnity (1944)
Wednesday, June 22, 8pm
The Theatre at Ace Hotel

Safety Last! (1923)
Saturday, June 25, 8 pm
Orpheum Theatre

*films and theatres subject to change

I can quit any time