Last night, I was at my stove preparing some hard boiled eggs for the week. I turned my back for a few seconds and heard the pot rattle. For a moment, I wondered how the water could’ve come to a boil that quickly. As soon as I realized the sudden jolt was an earthquake, it was over…and I breathed a sigh of relief no damage had occurred. A dear friend of mine whose car was stopped at a traffic light close to the temblor’s epicenter had quite an experience. He felt a similar jolt and a rolling sensation lasting 10 seconds, while hearing the unsettling sound of windows shattering from a shopping mall across the street. I bring these slices of life to your attention for a reason: unlike other natural disasters, earthquakes occur with no notice. Last night’s shaker caused minimal damage, but many southland residents in February 1971 and January 1994 were not as fortunate. Scientists tell us another massive quake is imminent, so I implore all of you to be prepared. Here is how you can get started: http://earthquake.usgs.gov/learning/faq.php?categoryID=14

UPDATE:  Today the three defendants, accompanied by almost a dozen attorneys, appeared before Los Angeles Superior Court, Commissioner Kristi Lousteau, to be arraigned on six felony charges each.  They each pled not guilty.  Defendant, Howard K. Stern, 40, was represented by three attorneys, J. Christopher Smith, Steven H. Sadow, and M. Krista Barth.  Sadow and Barth, interestingly, are NOT licensed California attorneys according to the State Bar’s website as of today, yet were practicing law by appearing before the court.  Isn’t that also a crime?  Were these foreign attorneys admitted pro hac vice in this case?  This reminds me of Barry Scheck who appeared in the O.J. Simpson trial without being licensed to practice law in California.  Defendant Kristine Eroshevich, 61, was represented by Adam H. Braun, and was also accompanied by John J. Nazarian, Private Investigator.  Defendant Doctor Sandeep A. Kapoor, 40, was represented by Ellyn S. Garofalo.  The preliminary hearing is set for June 08, 2009, in Department 102, and is expected to last two weeks. The Commissioner granted prosecutor Renee Rose’s motions: 1) handwriting exemplars from each defendant to determine, among other things, who ordered and filled the prescription drugs which killed Smith; and, 2) a protective Read More …