In 2020, when COVID forced us all into lockdown, my girlfriend and I embraced the opportunity to spend extra time together. During this period, we discovered a new game (Catan) and bought many puzzles. Luckily, we could order these items through Amazon and have them delivered to our home.
Read MoreIf you’ve ever wondered why some courtroom stories hinge on a murder trial while others revolve around money or contracts, it comes down to the type of case and the standard of proof that applies.
Read MoreChuck Norris passed away recently (03/19/2026). As a friend put it, he was a symbol of our youth.
When my dad was a kid, he had western heroes like Roy Rogers, Gene Autrey, William Boyd (Hopalong Cassidy), and Richard Boone (Paladin from Have Gun - Will Travel)
I grew up in the seventies and eighties, so I had action movie heroes. My favorites were Sylvester Stallone, Mel Gibson, Arnold Schwarzenegger, and Chuck Norris, but it was Chuck who set the action standard.
Read MoreToday is when we celebrate the patron saint of Ireland by drinking green beer and barfing in an alley. Just kidding, but I’ve had plenty of hangovers on March 18th that were earned at O’Doherty’s Irish Grille (John Cutler’s favorite bar, btw).
Read MoreWhen my daughter, Sarah, was in middle school she asked for a pair of red Converse shoes. I got excited and said, “Eddie Van Halen wears those, too!” *
She asked, “Who’s Eddie Van Halen?”
I realized right then that I had failed her.
Read MoreOver the past month and a half, five friends have reminded me of shared moments that occurred fifteen or more years ago. Unfortunately, I had completely forgotten them.
Read MoreI have a friend who writes in his journal daily, right before he goes to bed. It’s an admirable habit and one I’ve tried unsuccessfully to start many times. I would journal right before bed or first thing in the morning. I’d jot down some thoughts or concerns, then put the journal away.
Read MoreI just finished reading Carrie, Stephen King’s first novel. I’ve only read a few books by King, none of them were horror—Different Seasons, The Green Mile, and The Running Man (writing as Richard Bachman). I read a horror short story of his called “The Raft” which I mentioned in my blog post, A Weird Bit of History.
Read MoreMy 57th birthday happened recently, and my girlfriend gave me the John Wick soundtrack on vinyl. Her goal was to find something cool, and she scored when she found the album at a local curiosity shop. She knows how much I love the John Wick movies. They are all action-packed good times. I was extremely excited by the gift for a couple of reasons (besides that it came from her).
Read MoreI promised an update on the concert and the night out with my girlfriend so let's get right to it.
First, what a great night! The Offspring put on an amazing show. It might be the best concert as far as stage production. It might even be better than a KISS concert.
Read MoreThe Offspring has been at the top of “must see someday” list. A couple of years ago, I saw Suicidal Tendencies at a rock festival in Louisville (KY) who were at the top of my list. Then I saw Judas Priest and Iron Maiden, a couple others near the top. That left the Offspring alone at the number one spot
Read MoreWelcome back to our little corner of the crime fiction world! This week, I want to share a fascinating concept that adds a bit of forensic sparkle to our detective tales: Locard’s Exchange Principle.
Read MoreI like to keep track of my yearly reading. Not only is it a nice way to look back and feel some accomplishment (especially when I look back over multiple years), it keeps my feet to the proverbial fire.
Read MoreAnytime we face the arrival of a new year, I like to look back twelve months and see how I did. It’s a way to feel a boost of motivation (look what I accomplished!) while eating a bit of humble pie (look what I screwed up!).
Read MoreI wanted to share an amusing little story from my recent brush with civic duty: my call to jury duty. It's been quite a while since I last found myself in a courtroom as a prospective juror.
Read MoreAs fans of crime fiction, we love the thrill of a well-told story. But let’s take a moment to pull back the curtain on one of the most enduring tropes in the genre: the idea that a TASER can render someone unconscious with a single zap. Today, we’re going to debunk that myth and shed a little light on how these devices really work.
Read MoreI want to take you behind the curtain of a concept that often appears in crime fiction and real-world policing alike: noble cause corruption.
Read MoreMost of us have driven through town and seen it—paint scrawled across a wall, a bridge, or the back of an abandoned building. Sometimes it’s just a few letters, other times it’s a full mural that makes you hit the brakes and stare. We lump it all together under one word: graffiti.
But not all graffiti is created equal.
Read MoreLet’s chat about a Spokane icon that keeps sneaking into my books: the Monroe Street Bridge.
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