Am I gullible? Am I naïve? But why, I ask, do people believe they can mess up the system and not get caught? VW, Takata air-bags and Wells Fargo Bank are just a few examples of the leaders who went over the edge. Many believe the Department of Justice should not only fine the companies but put their leaders in cell block C.

Do you remember Sears and Roebuck on Manchester and Hillcrest in Inglewood? It was so popular they had a lady on the roof with a mic directing drivers to parking stalls. We in our family just loved Sears for its prices and quality. The last time I was in Inglewood it was a Vons market. Perhaps you recall J.C. Penney or the 5th Street car going up Market Street on the way to Union Station and continuing to Colorado Blvd. in Eagle Rock. Such happy memories . . .

The number of police killed in the line of duty rose sharply in 2016. From January 1 to the end of 2016, 135 officers gave their lives. Some died in traffic accidents, but nearly half were shot to death. That’s a 56 percent increase in shooting deaths over the previous year.

I have recently spoken to some friends and family members around our country and there could be some truth that President Trump may empower local law enforcement to include police departments to round up immigrants. To be honest, I have not checked with C.C.P.D. so I don’t know if there is a list, but no one waits until the last minute. Friends, once again it’s getting crazy out there.

Perhaps it was only 10 years ago when Sports Illustrated wrote about the Spygate scandal of Formula One auto racing. McLaren Mercedes was fined a cool $100 million in 2007 for using Ferrari data to improve its own car. McLaren came into possession of the data when a team engineer photocopied 780 pages of information given to him by a Ferrari employee.

Adele Dunlap of New Jersey died on Sunday, February 5. Miss Dunlap just turned 114 on December 12, 2016 and had been the oldest American.

The executive director of the Maryland Chiefs of Police Association has been charged with soliciting a prostitute. The Baltimore Sun reported Larry Harmel, 71, was charged by summons on December 8, 2016 after an undercover sting operation.

You’d better check the therapist’s religious or personal beliefs before you start treatment. A new law in Tennessee allows counselors to refuse treatments.

The L.A. Times reported that Los Angeles Police Department chases injured 78 bystanders in 2015, more than any other year in a decade. The previous high was 61 in 2005.

As I am a former president of the Friends of the Culver City Julian Dixon County Library Theodorsia and I enjoy dropping in on rural libraries throughout Georgia and Florida. The employees give us ideas and we suggest ways to expand their programs. For example, some branches will accept canned food items under certain circumstances to clear fines. Cans go to the food bank for the needy.

Where is Chris Christie of New Jersey? I haven’t seen him since Bridgegate started months ago. Perhaps the governor is still upset because he wasn’t asked to come to Washington D.C. for a political appointment.

The winners of the 10 Best Readers’ Choice Awards for the Best Hotel Loyalty Program are in. Nominees in the contest sponsored by USA Today and 10best.com were chosen by a panel of experts and voted on by the public:

• 1. Choice Privileges

• 2. Wyndham Rewards

• 3. IHG Rewards Club

• 4. Best Western Rewards

• 5. Stash Hotel Rewards

• 6. Hilton Honors

• 7. Marriott Rewards

• 8. Club Carlson

• 9. La Quinta Rewards

• 10. Starwood Preferred Guest

Can someone please check and see if our Culver City mayor has called Governor Brown? It seems the Chinese are planning to expand their country’s high-speed rail network to 18,600 miles by 2020. The network would connect more than 80 percent of China’s major cities.

For those who missed an article, all my commentaries can be found at http://www.culvercityobserver.com by placing Rubenstein in that website’s search box.