Coming right up after this message from our Sponsors*...

Not really a shameless product placement (yet) - just a heads-up that I recently ordered a copy of Becnel & Krischke's "Principles of Investigative Documentation" and it's shipped.

Looking forward to getting this and will post a review as soon as I can.

But while you are waiting, check out the review from Diligentia. You might note that I posted a comment back in early 2012 but have only purchased the book now. What gives?

Actually, I totally forgot the name of the book and where I'd read the review.

I'm good, not fucking perfect!

* Still looking for those elusive sponsor-types who might want to shower me with gadgets and books for review, in-the-field testing, or otherwise because it's my birthday and/or I'm just awesome. Make that Awesome! With a capital A. And it's not my birthday, but it could be. So if you would like to be equally as Awesome, flick me an email. 

Black as midnight on a moonless night

Pretty black then.

I am referring, of course, to that investigator's staple - coffee. And a reminder that it is "International Buy a PI a Coffee Day 2013" on Saturday 16 March.

As Agent Dale Cooper once said: "I still can't get the taste of fish-filtered coffee out of my mouth."

Word.

Quick Reviews: 'Uncovering Reasonable Doubt" & "Forensic Testimonial Evidence Recovery"

Hello Dear Reader. Some time ago I purchased two texts by Brandon A. Perron in regards to Criminal Defence Investigations: "Uncovering Reasonable Doubt: the Component Method" and "Forensic Testimonial Evidence Recovery: the FTER Method".

It kind of makes sense to review them together as the books complement each other in a number of ways.

So what did I think?

Eating Man Sighted!

Dear Reader, I am pleased to announce that at 1402hrs this afternoon, the elusive Eating Man was captured on film outside his natural habitat.

This momentous, and rare, sighting has given researchers more to puzzle over as the Eating Man was seen to converse with cafe staff nearby, enquiring as to what ingredients were in a particular tasty food product.

The Eating Man had previously thought to have been a mute species, unable to communicate effectively.

Reducing Paperwork, Increasing Efficiency

I'm going to share a tip about a tool I am currently using to help reduce the amount of actual paperwork I have to deal with.

While I don't believe it is possible to go entirely paperless (nor is it necessarily entirely desirable), I do like the idea of real-time reporting directly to clients as a means of both efficiency as well as cutting back on the time I spend on admin after I'm done for the day.

Considering Insurance Fraud?

I know, Dear Reader, I am breaking my own rule and commenting on a currently active investigation but this is one, I think, you will appreciate.

If you are going to make an insurance claim, particularly in  unusual circumstances, it's best that you cover all your bases and check your facts lest something seemingly insignificant trip you up.  

Take Mrs Summers (not her real name), for example, who awoke one fine morning to discover her beloved vehicle had been apparently stolen and damaged in some gratuitous joy-riding, then courteously returned by the thieves.

Yep, somewhat unlikely, I thought to myself.

Quick Review: Canon IXUS 510 HS

Hello Dear Reader. Today I thought I'd quickly rate a recent purchase: the Canon IXUS 510 HS.

I really needed to get a simple point-and-shoot camera as using the one on my phone wasn't cutting the mustard, particularly when taking close-up snaps of IDs or even routine pics in insurance claims investigations.

I wanted somethings small, easy to use, and relatively inexpensive.

A couple of weeks on, what do I think?