Changes

{{Infobox_Person  

{{Infobox_Person  

| name        = [[Person_First_Name::Les]] [[Person_Last_Name::Golden]]

| name        = [[Person_First_Name::Les]] [[Person_Last_Name::Golden]]

| other_names = <small>AKA "Cut the Taxes" (political candidate) </br>Leonard Running Bear (political candidate spoof)</br>Scooter (boyhood athlete)</br>Clete (college baseball player)</br>Moe Silver (character in cartoon strip and stage play "Shrubtown")</br>Les Morris (bandleader)</br>Subrahmanyan Berkowitz (stand-up comic)</br>Jeffrey Clayton Maxwell (stand-up comic)</br>Flash Golden (play-by-play announcer and jazz radio disc jockey)</small>

| other_names = <small>AKA "Cut the Taxes" (political candidate)</br>Leonard Running Bear (political candidate spoof)</br>Scooter (boyhood athlete)</br>Clete (college baseball player)</br>Moe Silver (character in cartoon strip and stage play "Shrubtown")</br>Les Morris (bandleader)</br>Subrahmanyan Berkowitz (stand-up comic)</br>Jeffrey Clayton Maxwell (stand-up comic)</br>Flash Golden (play-by-play announcer and jazz radio disc jockey)</small>

| residence  = Oak Park, [[State_Name::Illinois]], and [[City::Reno]], [[State_Name::Nevada]]

| residence  = Oak Park, [[State_Name::Illinois]], and [[City::Reno]], [[State_Name::Nevada]]

| image      = Gamblejpg.jpg

| image      = Gamblejpg.jpg

===Performing===

===Performing===

Golden is a nationally-referenced animal welfare advocate and environmental activist,<ref>http://www.elephantinformation.com/CEMENT%20FLOORING%20or%20HARD%20DIRT%20GROUND.htm </ref><ref>http://articles.chicagotribune.com/2004-11-24/news/0411240206_1_new-trees-oak-park-district-mulberry-trees</ref><ref>Dwyer, Bill  (2007), “Tree Fury at Field,” ''Wednesday Journal of Oak Park and River Forest'', July 10, p. 1; http://www.oakpark.com/News/Articles/07-10-2007/Tree_fury_at_Field</ref><ref>Noel, Josh (2007), “Oak Park tree-removal plan heads for debate,” ''Chicago Tribune'', July 12, p. 7; http://articles.chicagotribune.com/2007-07-19/news/0707181717_1_trees-park-renovation-plan</ref><ref>Golden, Leslie M. (2005), “Elephant deaths are a matter of physics,” ''Chicago Sun-Times'', January 28, p. 24</ref><ref>(2000) “Trailside needs a champion,” ''Wednesday Journal of Oak Park and River Forest'' (editorial), November 1, p. 32</ref><ref>Vincent, Ed (2002), “The Lost Chukar,” http://www.suburbanjournals.com/Stories2002/Lost-Chukar-Returned-Home-2002.html, August 10</ref><ref>see, in addition, for example, Golden, Les (2002), “All it would take is a fence to keep critters alive,” ''Wednesday Journal of Oak Park and River Forest'', June 12, p. 41; Golden, Les (2000), “Les ‘Cut the Roadkill’ Golden says, Slow Down!”, ''Wednesday Journal of Oak Park and River Forest'', April 19, p. 25; Golden, Les (2000), “Hey, Sylvestri, save our furry and feathered friends,” ''Wednesday Journal of Oak Park and River Forest'', October 25, p. 34; Little, Rebecca and Trainor, Ken (2000) “Silvestri responds to Golden, Trailside,” ''Wednesday Journal of Oak Park and River Forest'', November 1, p. 2; Golden, Les “Let’s Save the Dogs” Golden (2002), “Ask politicians to make dog fighting a felony,” May 22, p. 32; (2008), “Inside Report:  Les ‘Cut the coyotes a break’ Golden,” ''Wednesday Journal of Oak Park and River Forest'', January 23, p. 5; Linden, Eric (1991), “’Dandelion Dig’ idea blooming,” ''Wednesday Journal of Oak Park and River Forest'', May 29, p. 7; (2001) Golden, Les, “It’s not easy being green, but here are some ideas”, ''Wednesday Journal of Oak Park and River Forest'', April 11, p. 40</ref> a professional trumpet player, jazz vocalist, and band leader,<ref>http://villageofoakpark.com/Stories2002/2003-Les-Golden-comments-July4th-music.html</ref> and a professional actor with more than 100 stage, film, radio, television, and commercial credits,<ref>http://www.reelz.com/person/146084/les-golden/movie-friends/</ref><ref> (1994), “A film career far (but not removed) from Tinseltown,”  

Golden is a nationally-referenced animal welfare advocate and environmental activist,<ref>http://www.elephantinformation.com/CEMENT%20FLOORING%20or%20HARD%20DIRT%20GROUND.htm </ref><ref>http://articles.chicagotribune.com/2004-11-24/news/0411240206_1_new-trees-oak-park-district-mulberry-trees</ref><ref>Dwyer, Bill  (2007), “Tree Fury at Field,” ''Wednesday Journal of Oak Park and River Forest'', July 10, p. 1; http://www.oakpark.com/News/Articles/07-10-2007/Tree_fury_at_Field</ref><ref>Noel, Josh (2007), “Oak Park tree-removal plan heads for debate,” ''Chicago Tribune'', July 12, p. 7; http://articles.chicagotribune.com/2007-07-19/news/0707181717_1_trees-park-renovation-plan</ref><ref>Golden, Leslie M. (2005), “Elephant deaths are a matter of physics,” ''Chicago Sun-Times'', January 28, p. 24</ref><ref>(2000) “Trailside needs a champion,” ''Wednesday Journal of Oak Park and River Forest'' (editorial), November 1, p. 32</ref><ref>Vincent, Ed (2002), “The Lost Chukar,” http://www.suburbanjournals.com/Stories2002/Lost-Chukar-Returned-Home-2002.html, August 10</ref><ref>see, in addition, for example, Golden, Les (2002), “All it would take is a fence to keep critters alive,” ''Wednesday Journal of Oak Park and River Forest'', June 12, p. 41; Golden, Les (2000), “Les ‘Cut the Roadkill’ Golden says, Slow Down!”, ''Wednesday Journal of Oak Park and River Forest'', April 19, p. 25; Golden, Les (2000), “Hey, Sylvestri, save our furry and feathered friends,” ''Wednesday Journal of Oak Park and River Forest'', October 25, p. 34; Little, Rebecca and Trainor, Ken (2000) “Silvestri responds to Golden, Trailside,” ''Wednesday Journal of Oak Park and River Forest'', November 1, p. 2; Golden, Les “Let’s Save the Dogs” Golden (2002), “Ask politicians to make dog fighting a felony,” May 22, p. 32; (2008), “Inside Report:  Les ‘Cut the coyotes a break’ Golden,” ''Wednesday Journal of Oak Park and River Forest'', January 23, p. 5; Linden, Eric (1991), “’Dandelion Dig’ idea blooming,” ''Wednesday Journal of Oak Park and River Forest'', May 29, p. 7; (2001) Golden, Les, “It’s not easy being green, but here are some ideas”, ''Wednesday Journal of Oak Park and River Forest'', April 11, p. 40</ref> a professional trumpet player, jazz vocalist, and band leader,<ref>http://villageofoakpark.com/Stories2002/2003-Les-Golden-comments-July4th-music.html</ref> and a professional actor with more than 100 stage, film, radio, television, and commercial credits,<ref>http://www.reelz.com/person/146084/les-golden/movie-friends/</ref><ref> (1994), “A film career far (but not removed) from Tinseltown,”  

Compuserve magazine, August, p. 55 </ref><ref>(1982) “Improvising Your Way to Success,” ''Spring'',1, 6, p. 34 </ref><ref> (1984) “The boss is never wrong,” ''Screen magazine'', October 1, p. 19</ref><ref>www.imdb.com/title/tt0097170/</ref><ref>Petrulis, Len (1982), “Golden TV ‘Spoof’ on Reality,” ''Berwyn Life'', May 19, p. 14</ref> including multiple principle Shakespearean roles with [[Oak Park Festival Theatre]], an Equity-contract theatre. [[File:WhoisLesGolden.jpg|thumb|200px|<small>Les Golden Renaissance Man feature article</small>]]

Compuserve magazine, August, p. 55 </ref><ref>(1982) “Improvising Your Way to Success,” ''Spring'',1, 6, p. 34 </ref><ref> (1984) “The boss is never wrong,” ''Screen magazine'', October 1, p. 19</ref><ref>www.imdb.com/title/tt0097170/</ref><ref>Petrulis, Len (1982), “Golden TV ‘Spoof’ on Reality,” ''Berwyn Life'', May 19, p. 14</ref> including multiple principle Shakespearean roles with [[Oak Park Festival Theatre]], an Equity-contract theatre.[[File:WhoisLesGolden.jpg|thumb|200px|<small>Les Golden Renaissance Man feature article</small>]]

In 1966 Golden provided the stimulus for the formation of the University of California Jazz Ensembles by placing an ad calling for student jazz musicians in the Daily Californian.  With the arrival of Dr. David W.  Tucker to the Cal campus, the organization became the most prominent musical organization on the Berkeley campus.  Golden was a trumpet player, soloist, and vocalist with the elite Wednesday Night big band.  For six years he was the emcee for the program, appearing at dozens of performances annually at concerts and jazz festivals throughout California. <ref>http://ucjazz.berkeley.edu/</ref>

In 1966 Golden provided the stimulus for the formation of the [[University of California Jazz Ensembles]] by placing an ad calling for student jazz musicians in the [[Daily Californian]].  With the arrival of Dr. [[David W.  Tucker]] to the Cal campus, the organization became the most prominent musical organization on the Berkeley campus.  Golden was a trumpet player, soloist, and vocalist with the elite Wednesday Night big band.  For seven years he was the emcee for the program, appearing at dozens of performances annually at concerts and jazz festivals throughout California.<ref>http://ucjazz.berkeley.edu/</ref>[[File:DailyCalArticlebyLesGoldenUCJazz1968.jpg‎|thumb|left|175px|<small>Article by Les Golden in the [[Daily Californian]] announcing the first concert of the [[University of California Jazz Ensembles]]</small>]]

Golden is an award-winning developer of sophisticated music notation software.<ref>Nolan, Herb (1989), “An Astronomer Tackles the Music Software Marketplace,” ''Upbeat'', November, p. 45-46</ref><ref>(1989), “100 Great Products for Under $100,” ''Electronic Musician'', December, '''5''', 12, p. 46</ref><ref>Mahin, Bruce P. (1989), “Choosing Music Notation Software,” ''The Instrumentalist'', '''43''', 11, p. 26-31</ref><ref>(1989), “Basic Composer,” ''Music Educators Journal'', April, p. 20</ref><ref>Kuzmich, John (1990), “Scoring With Computers,” ''Jazz Educators Journal'',  '''23''', 3, p. 52</ref><ref>King, Patricia (1990),” “Basic Composer,” ''The Music and Computer Educator'', '''1''', 10, p. 26</ref><ref>(1991), “Basic Composer 4.3,” ''Compute'', '''13''', 2, p.90</ref>

Golden is an award-winning developer of sophisticated music notation software.<ref>Nolan, Herb (1989), “An Astronomer Tackles the Music Software Marketplace,” ''Upbeat'', November, p. 45-46</ref><ref>(1989), “100 Great Products for Under $100,” ''Electronic Musician'', December, '''5''', 12, p. 46</ref><ref>Mahin, Bruce P. (1989), “Choosing Music Notation Software,” ''The Instrumentalist'', '''43''', 11, p. 26-31</ref><ref>(1989), “Basic Composer,” ''Music Educators Journal'', April, p. 20</ref><ref>Kuzmich, John (1990), “Scoring With Computers,” ''Jazz Educators Journal'',  '''23''', 3, p. 52</ref><ref>King, Patricia (1990),” “Basic Composer,” ''The Music and Computer Educator'', '''1''', 10, p. 26</ref><ref>(1991), “Basic Composer 4.3,” ''Compute'', '''13''', 2, p.90</ref>

He has appeared numerous times as an actor on the live-broadcast productions of "[[Unshackled]]!"  He was a featured regular on the Eddie Hubbard Show radio program as the character Jeffrey Clayton Maxwell from Bhutan.  He is a member of both the Screen Actors  Guild (SAG) and the American Federation of Television and Radio Artists (AFTRA).  He has appeared in featured roles with Broderick Crawford, Tippi Hedren, Troy Donahue, Charlotte Ross, Susan Hart, Robert Petkoff, David Darlow, Bruce Jarchow, Paula Scrofano, and others.

He has appeared numerous times as an actor on the live-broadcast productions of "[[Unshackled]]!"  He was a featured regular on the Eddie Hubbard Show radio program as the character Jeffrey Clayton Maxwell from Bhutan.  He is a member of both the Screen Actors  Guild (SAG) and the American Federation of Television and Radio Artists (AFTRA).  He was a charter member of Chicago's Porchlight Theatre Ensemble.  He has appeared in featured roles with Broderick Crawford, Tippi Hedren, Troy Donahue, Charlotte Ross, Susan Hart, Robert Petkoff, David Darlow, Bruce Jarchow, Paula Scrofano, and others. [[File:LesGoldenKreyHotDogsActor.jpg|thumb|175px|<small>Les Golden possesses a "great character face."  Shown here as model for Krey Hot Dogs.</small>]]

As "Flash Golden," he was the play-by-play announcer for the California Golden Bears basketball radio broadcasts and hosted Flash's Jazz Patio on [[KALX]]-FM.  As a stand-up comedian, he has performed at San Francisco's Holy City Zoo, the Comedy Store in Los Angeles, the Comedy Cottage in Chicago, as well as on the college circuit, Playboy Club, and other clubs.    He is a published editorial cartoonist.[[File:FlashGoldenatOaklandColiseum.jpg|thumb|250px|<small>Flash Golden at halftime at Oakland Coliseum for Cal-UCLA showdown.  He wears his signature gold jacket and blue and gold tie.  To his right is color man George Skofis.  To his left, standing, is Larry Heavey, baritone sax player with the UC Jazz Ensembles.</small>]]

As "Flash Golden," he was the play-by-play announcer for the California Golden Bears basketball radio broadcasts and hosted Flash's Jazz Patio on [[KALX]]-FM.  As a stand-up comedian, he has performed at San Francisco's Holy City Zoo, the Comedy Store in Los Angeles, the Comedy Cottage in Chicago, as well as on the college circuit, Playboy Club, and other clubs.    He appears both as himself, [[Les Golden]], and as [[Subrahmanyan Berkowitz]] from Bhutan.  He is a published editorial cartoonist.[[File:FlashGoldenatOaklandColiseum.jpg|thumb|250px|<small>Flash Golden at halftime at Oakland Coliseum for Cal-UCLA showdown.  He wears his signature gold jacket and blue and gold tie.  To his right is color man George Skofis.  To his left, standing, is Larry Heavey, baritone sax player with the UC Jazz Ensembles.</small>]]

===Organized Athletics===

===Organized Athletics===

He lectures to adult and student audiences on the possibility of extraterrestrial life and the hypothetical shapes of their bodies.  A frequent cruise ship lecturer, he was selected by Royal Cruise Lines to be their shipboard lecturer on the high seas during the 1986 apparition of Halley's Comet, and was the first University of Illinois professor selected to be a professor on the Institute of Shipboard Education's (ISE) Semester at Sea program,<ref>(1997), “Physics sails the world,” ''UIC News'' (University of Illinois at Chicago), April 30, p. 2; http://www.uic.edu/htbin/cgiwrap/bin/uicnews/articledetail.cgi?id=4005</ref> teaching courses on astronomy and the possibility of extraterrestrial life in the fall semester of 1996.  Among his popular writings on astronomy<ref>http://articles.chicagotribune.com/2004-01-20/news/0401200115_1_communication-satellites-mars-initiative-astronomy</ref><ref>http://www.ummah.com/forum/showthread.php?30437-Benefits-Of-A-Mission-To-Mars</ref> and public presentations, he has been the featured speaker at the meeting of the Great Lakes Planetarium Association and was the keynote speaker for Chicago's Adler Planetarium on the occasion of the dedication of their new wing.

He lectures to adult and student audiences on the possibility of extraterrestrial life and the hypothetical shapes of their bodies.  A frequent cruise ship lecturer, he was selected by Royal Cruise Lines to be their shipboard lecturer on the high seas during the 1986 apparition of Halley's Comet, and was the first University of Illinois professor selected to be a professor on the Institute of Shipboard Education's (ISE) Semester at Sea program,<ref>(1997), “Physics sails the world,” ''UIC News'' (University of Illinois at Chicago), April 30, p. 2; http://www.uic.edu/htbin/cgiwrap/bin/uicnews/articledetail.cgi?id=4005</ref> teaching courses on astronomy and the possibility of extraterrestrial life in the fall semester of 1996.  Among his popular writings on astronomy<ref>http://articles.chicagotribune.com/2004-01-20/news/0401200115_1_communication-satellites-mars-initiative-astronomy</ref><ref>http://www.ummah.com/forum/showthread.php?30437-Benefits-Of-A-Mission-To-Mars</ref> and public presentations, he has been the featured speaker at the meeting of the Great Lakes Planetarium Association and was the keynote speaker for Chicago's Adler Planetarium on the occasion of the dedication of their new wing.

Unlike many in society who were influenced and aided by family members in achieving success in given fields, Golden is entirely a self-made man.  No one in either his maternal or paternal extended families have matriculated at an Ivy League college, earned a Ph.D, nor have had professional careers as an actor, stand-up comedian, playwright, political cartoonist, magazine editor, non-fiction writer, software developer, scientist, or professor.  His identical twin brother and he are the only professional musicians in the extended families.<ref>Petlicki, Myrna (1997), “Golden memories,” ''Oak Leaves'' (Oak Park, Illinois), July 2, p. B3-6</ref><ref>http://villageofoakpark.com/Stories2002/2003-Les-Golden-comments-July4th-music.html</ref>

Unlike many in society who were influenced and aided by family members in achieving success in given fields, Golden is entirely a self-made man.  No one in either his maternal or paternal extended families have matriculated at an Ivy League college, earned a Ph.D, nor have had professional careers as an actor, stand-up comedian, playwright, political cartoonist, magazine editor, non-fiction writer, software developer, scientist, or professor.  His identical twin brother and he are the only professional musicians in the extended families.<ref>Petlicki, Myrna (1997), “Golden memories,” ''Oak Leaves'' (Oak Park, Illinois), July 2, p. B3-6</ref><ref>http://villageofoakpark.com/Stories2002/2003-Les-Golden-comments-July4th-music.html</ref>

==Gambling Writings==

==Gambling Writings==

===Introduction to Card Counting===

===Introduction to Card Counting===

In the months before the premier Wednesday Night Band of the University of California Jazz Ensembles, under the direction of Dr. David W. Tucker, went in 1972 to Reno, Nevada, to compete in its first Reno Jazz Festival,<ref>www.unr.edu/rjf/</ref> Golden, a trumpet player and vocalist with the band and its announcer, purchased Beat the Dealer at the  legendary Moe’s Bookstore in Berkeley, California, and studied Thorp’s complete point count system.  In the next five years at Berkeley, Golden made monthly trips to Reno, with additional trips to Lake Tahoe and Virginia City, Nevada.  In 1977 he moved to Los Angeles to perform research at the Jet Propulsion Laboratory as a National Research Council Resident Research Associate post-doctoral fellow in astronomy,<ref>http://nrc58.nas.edu/aodir/gen_page.asp?mode=detail&sql=idnumber='760817'</ref> and his gambling excursions were to Las Vegas, Nevada.  He continued to perform stand-up comedy at various venues including The Comedy Store and The Improv.

In the months before the premier Wednesday Night Band of the [[University of California Jazz Ensembles]], under the direction of Dr. [[David W. Tucker]], went in 1972 to Reno, Nevada, to compete in its first Reno Jazz Festival,<ref>www.unr.edu/rjf/</ref> Golden, a trumpet player and vocalist with the band and its announcer, purchased Beat the Dealer at the  legendary Moe’s Bookstore in Berkeley, California, and studied Thorp’s complete point count system.  In the next five years at Berkeley, Golden made monthly trips to Reno, with additional trips to Lake Tahoe and Virginia City, Nevada.  In 1977 he moved to Los Angeles to perform research at the Jet Propulsion Laboratory as a National Research Council Resident Research Associate post-doctoral fellow in astronomy,<ref>http://nrc58.nas.edu/aodir/gen_page.asp?mode=detail&sql=idnumber='760817'</ref> and his gambling excursions were to Las Vegas, Nevada.  He continued to perform stand-up comedy at various venues including The Comedy Store and The Improv.

[[File:CountonLesLogojpg.jpg‎|thumb|240px|<small>Logo for Les Golden's popular "Count on Les" columns for gambling.com print magazine</small>]]

[[File:CountonLesLogojpg.jpg‎|thumb|240px|<small>Logo for Les Golden's popular "Count on Les" columns for gambling.com print magazine</small>]]

===Writings===

===Writings===

He has written for ''Gambling.com'',<ref>http://www.professional-poker.com/news/2006/nov/764-gamblingcom-poker-content.htm.</ref><ref>http://www.gambling.com/Blackjack/tips-strategies/194/the-blackjack-breakdown</ref> ''Gambling Online'',<ref>www.gamblingonlinemagazine.com/casinos.php</ref> ''iGaming Business'',<ref> http://www.igamingbusiness.com/content/shannon-elizabeth-heats-gamblingcom-magazine</ref> and ''Bluff Europe''<ref>http://www.sbg-globalblackjack.com/p/blackjack-news-headlines-for-september-02-2011</ref><ref>en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bluff_Magazine</ref><ref>www.bluffeurope.com/</ref>  magazines, and as a  newspaper columnist as a casino advocate.<ref>Golden, Les (1992). “Pleasant Home: Here's a Worthwhile Gamble,” ''Oak Leaves'' (Oak Park, Illinois), July 31, p. 21</ref> His writing reflects his Renaissance man<ref name=''tinsel''>(1994), “A film career far (but not removed) from Tinseltown,” ''Compuserve magazine'',

He has written for ''Gambling.com'',<ref>http://www.professional-poker.com/news/2006/nov/764-gamblingcom-poker-content.htm.</ref><ref>http://www.gambling.com/Blackjack/tips-strategies/194/the-blackjack-breakdown</ref> ''Gambling Online'',<ref>www.gamblingonlinemagazine.com/casinos.php</ref> ''iGaming Business'',<ref> http://www.igamingbusiness.com/content/shannon-elizabeth-heats-gamblingcom-magazine</ref> and ''Bluff Europe''<ref>http://www.sbg-globalblackjack.com/p/blackjack-news-headlines-for-september-02-2011</ref><ref>en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bluff_Magazine</ref><ref>www.bluffeurope.com/</ref>  magazines, and as a  newspaper columnist as a casino advocate.<ref>Golden, Les (1992). “Pleasant Home: Here's a Worthwhile Gamble,” ''Oak Leaves'' (Oak Park, Illinois), July 31, p. 21</ref> His writing reflects his Renaissance man<ref name=''tinsel''>(1994), “A film career far (but not removed) from Tinseltown,” ''Compuserve magazine'',

August, p. 55</ref><ref>Krapf, Paula (1995) “Silence not Golden: aspiring local politico a man of many names, Faces,” ''Wednesday Journal of Oak Park and  River Forest'', September 20, p. 4</ref><ref>Trainor, Ken (1997), “Who is Les Golden?”, ''Wednesday Journal of Oak Park and  River Forest'', April 2, p. 29-37</ref><ref>Trainor, Ken (1998), “The Clone Ranger divides again”, ''Wednesday Journal of Oak Park and  River Forest'', April 1, p. 52</ref><ref name="Shrewish">Trainor, Ken (2001) “Funny, he doesn’t look shrewish,” ''Wednesday Journal of Oak Park and River Forest'', August 1,  p. 2</ref> multiple knowledge bases.  With a technical background, many of his articles deal with probability issues in casino games, focusing on roulette, craps, and blackjack, and discussing such topics as the central limit theorem, the normal curve, and Gambler's ruin, and often employing Monte Carlo simulations and references to the search for extraterrestrial intelligence, an area to which he had been introduced at Cornell University by his mentor Frank Drake and which is one of his research and public lecture areas as an astronomer.<ref>(1983). “People Focuses on Fellow Who Makes ETs His Specialty,” ''Wednesday Journal of Oak Park and  River Forest'', November 16</ref><ref>(1983), “Rosary prof makes stars come to life for ‘ET’ class,” ''Suburban Sun-Times'' (West), July 1, p. 14</ref><ref>(1984). ”Halley's Comet, Alien Life Highlight Astronomer's Talk,” ''Harlem-Irving Times'', March 2, p 3</ref>  With his stand-up comedian background, his style has been described by one of his editors, “You can probably tell that Les is a bit of a character.  Luckily for readers, he’s also a great blackjack player,”<ref>Lines, Chris (2009), “A Word From the Editor,” ''Gambling Online'', August, p. 8.</ref> and by Dave Bland, the editor of ''Flush Magazine'', "Les Golden is a comedy genius.  I could write more but it really is as simple as that.”<ref>http://triblocal.com/oak-park-river-forest/community/stories/2010/06/cut-the-taxes-golden-is-now-cut-the-cards/</ref>  A professional actor with a Kevin Bacon number of 3 who has studied with Ann Woodworth of Northwestern University and Del Close of Chicago’s The Second City improvisational nightclub, Golden periodically writes about applying acting techniques to camouflage both being a card counter and also being a member of roulette and blackjack teams.<ref>Golden, Les (2010),  “So, Do You Feel Lucky, Punk.  Well, Do ‘Ya? ,” ''Bluff Europe'', October, p. 88-89</ref><ref>Golden, Les (2010), “Yonder Lies the Castle of my Fodder,” ''Bluff Europe'', November, p. 90-91</ref><ref>Golden, Les (2010), “The Rain in Spain Falls Mainly on the Plain”:  Camouflage by Status,” ''Bluff Europe'', December, p. 90-91</ref>

August, p. 55</ref><ref>(1995) Krapf, Paula, “Silence not Golden: aspiring local politico a man of many names, Faces,” ''Wednesday Journal of Oak Park and  River Forest'', September 20, p. 4</ref><ref>Trainor, Ken (1997), “Who is Les Golden?”, ''Wednesday Journal of Oak Park and  River Forest'', April 2, p. 29-37</ref><ref>(1998) Silver, Moe (name adopted by writer Ken Trainor for purpose of article), “The Clone Ranger divides again”, ''Wednesday Journal of Oak Park and  River Forest'', April 1, p. 52</ref><ref name="Shrewish">Trainor, Ken (2001) “Funny, he doesn’t look shrewish,” ''Wednesday Journal of Oak Park and River Forest'', August 1,  p. 2</ref> multiple knowledge bases.  With a technical background, many of his articles deal with probability issues in casino games, focusing on roulette, craps, and blackjack, and discussing such topics as the central limit theorem, the normal curve, and Gambler's ruin, and often employing Monte Carlo simulations and references to the search for extraterrestrial intelligence, an area to which he had been introduced at Cornell University by his mentor Frank Drake and which is one of his research and public lecture areas as an astronomer.<ref>(1983). “People Focuses on Fellow Who Makes ETs His Specialty,” ''Wednesday Journal of Oak Park and  River Forest'', November 16</ref><ref>(1983), “Rosary prof makes stars come to life for ‘ET’ class,” ''Suburban Sun-Times'' (West), July 1, p. 14</ref><ref>(1984). ”Halley's Comet, Alien Life Highlight Astronomer's Talk,” ''Harlem-Irving Times'', March 2, p 3</ref>  With his stand-up comedian background, his style has been described by one of his editors, “You can probably tell that Les is a bit of a character.  Luckily for readers, he’s also a great blackjack player,”<ref>Lines, Chris (2009), “A Word From the Editor,” ''Gambling Online'', August, p. 8.</ref> and by Dave Bland, the editor of ''Flush Magazine'', "Les Golden is a comedy genius.  I could write more but it really is as simple as that.”<ref>http://triblocal.com/oak-park-river-forest/community/stories/2010/06/cut-the-taxes-golden-is-now-cut-the-cards/</ref>  A professional actor with a Kevin Bacon number of 3 who has studied with Ann Woodworth of Northwestern University and Del Close of Chicago’s The Second City improvisational nightclub, Golden periodically writes about applying acting techniques to camouflage both being a card counter and also being a member of roulette and blackjack teams.<ref>Golden, Les (2010),  “So, Do You Feel Lucky, Punk.  Well, Do ‘Ya? ,” ''Bluff Europe'', October, p. 88-89</ref><ref>Golden, Les (2010), “Yonder Lies the Castle of my Fodder,” ''Bluff Europe'', November, p. 90-91</ref><ref>Golden, Les (2010), “The Rain in Spain Falls Mainly on the Plain”:  Camouflage by Status,” ''Bluff Europe'', December, p. 90-91</ref>

Golden has won multiple awards for his writing, including the prestigious Eric Hoffer and Lili Fabilli Laconic Essay Prize.<ref> http://students.berkeley.edu/finaid/undergraduates/hofferprize.htm </ref><ref> (1974), <i>Griffith Observer</i>, number 6 </ref>  Gambling.com's website refers to Golden as “gambling.com magazine’s resident blackjack genius.”<ref>http://www.gambling.com/blackjack/tips-strategies/194/the-blackjack-breakdown</ref>  His research into the gambling game of 21 has been published in a peer-reviewed scholarly journal.<ref> http://www.appliedprobability.org/content.aspx?Group=tms&Page=tmsabstracts36_1#eight </ref>

Golden has won multiple awards for his writing, including the prestigious Eric Hoffer and Lili Fabilli Laconic Essay Prize.<ref> http://students.berkeley.edu/finaid/undergraduates/hofferprize.htm </ref><ref> (1974), <i>Griffith Observer</i>, number 6 </ref>  Gambling.com's website refers to Golden as “gambling.com magazine’s resident blackjack genius.”<ref>http://www.gambling.com/blackjack/tips-strategies/194/the-blackjack-breakdown</ref>  His research into the gambling game of 21 has been published in a peer-reviewed scholarly journal.<ref> http://www.appliedprobability.org/content.aspx?Group=tms&Page=tmsabstracts36_1#eight </ref>

==Political Activity==

==Political Activity==

===Local===

===Local===

Golden began his political career with the non-partisan CARE Party (Citizens Active for a Responsible Electorate) in Oak Park, Illinois.  He later formed the TURF Party (Taxpayers United of River Forest) in the adjacent community.  He was the president of UTOP (United Taxpayers of Oak Park) from 1991 through 2005.<ref>http://www.oakparkjournal.com/Stories2002/2003-national-taxpayers-protest-op-sept-25.html</ref>   As CARE party president he has been responsible for slating more than 70 candidates for local political office, achieving the election of eight on tax-accountability and environmental issues.<ref>see, for example, (1989) CARE joins school board fray, <i>Wednesday Journal of Oak Park and River Forest</i> , July 31, page 1; (1989) CARE tries to seek new identity, <i>Oak Leaves</i>,  October 11, page 7; (1990) CARE endorsements have defeat the "incumbent" goal, <i>Wednesday Journal of Oak Park and River Forest</i> , October 31, page 21; (1991) CARE challenges shake up village races, <i>Wednesday Journal of Oak Park and River Forest</i>, February 6, page 1;  

Golden began his political career with the non-partisan CARE Party (Citizens Active for a Responsible Electorate) in Oak Park, Illinois.  He later formed the TURF Party (Taxpayers United of River Forest) in the adjacent community.  He was the president of UTOP (United Taxpayers of Oak Park) from 1991 through 2005.<ref>http://www.oakparkjournal.com/Stories2002/2003-national-taxpayers-protest-op-sept-25.html</ref> As CARE party president he has been responsible for slating more than 70 candidates for local political office, achieving the election of eight on tax-accountability and environmental issues.<ref>see, for example, (1989) CARE joins school board fray, <i>Wednesday Journal of Oak Park and River Forest</i> , July 31, page 1; (1989) CARE tries to seek new identity, <i>Oak Leaves</i>,  October 11, page 7; (1990) CARE endorsements have defeat the "incumbent" goal, <i>Wednesday Journal of Oak Park and River Forest</i> , October 31, page 21; (1991) CARE challenges shake up village races, <i>Wednesday Journal of Oak Park and River Forest</i>, February 6, page 1;  

(1991) CARE: a party in search of an image, <i>Oak Leaves</i>,  August 14, page 8; Thomas, Sherry (1995) “Is Runningbear really ‘Cut the Taxes’?”, ''Oak Leaves'' (Oak Park, Illinois), August 23, p. 13; Linden, Eric (1995) “New OPRF ‘slate’ reads like a hoax,” ''Wednesday Journal of Oak Park and  River Forest'', August 9, p. 7</ref> He has sponsored and moderated numerous taxpayer information forums.<ref>see, for example,(2006) “Oak Park tax griped to be discussed”, September 26, http://articles.chicagotribune.com/2006-09-26/news/0609260292_1_property-tax-property-owners-steep-hike;  (1987) 200 turn out at CARE tax forum, ''Wednesday Journal of Oak Park and River Forest'', October 7; CARE tax forum adds speakers, ''Wednesday Journal of Oak Park and River Forest'', September 9, 9; http://www.oakparkjournal.com/Stories2002/2003-national-taxpayers-protest-op-sept-25.html</ref>

(1991) CARE: a party in search of an image, <i>Oak Leaves</i>,  August 14, page 8; Thomas, Sherry (1995) “Is Runningbear really ‘Cut the Taxes’?”, ''Oak Leaves'' (Oak Park, Illinois), August 23, p. 13; Linden, Eric (1995) “New OPRF ‘slate’ reads like a hoax,” ''Wednesday Journal of Oak Park and  River Forest'', August 9, p. 7</ref> He has sponsored and moderated numerous taxpayer information forums.<ref>see, for example,(2006) “Oak Park tax griped to be discussed”, September 26, http://articles.chicagotribune.com/2006-09-26/news/0609260292_1_property-tax-property-owners-steep-hike;  (1987) 200 turn out at CARE tax forum, ''Wednesday Journal of Oak Park and River Forest'', October 7; CARE tax forum adds speakers, ''Wednesday Journal of Oak Park and River Forest'', September 9, 9; http://www.oakparkjournal.com/Stories2002/2003-national-taxpayers-protest-op-sept-25.html</ref>

 

His notoriety as a sponsor of political candidates led to his namesake, "Moe Silver," Chairman of the "LOVE Party," being a lead character in the locally-drawn "Shrubtown" comic strip and theatrical play by the same name by artist and writer Marc Stopeck.<ref>see, for example, Stopeck, Marc (1991), “Shrubtown,” ''Wednesday Journal of Oak Park and River Forest'', July 24, p. 17; Stopeck, Marc (1991), “Shrubtown,” ''Wednesday Journal of Oak Park and River Forest'', August 14, p. 22; Stopeck, Marc (1991), “Shrubtown,” ''Wednesday Journal of Oak Park and River Forest'', August 21, p. 23; Stopeck, Marc (1991), “Shrubtown,” ''Wednesday Journal of Oak Park and River Forest'', August 28, p. 21; Stopeck, Marc (1992), “Shrubtown,” ''Wednesday Journal of Oak Park and River Forest'', August 12, p. 24; Stopeck, Marc (1993), “Shrubtown,” ''Wednesday Journal of Oak Park and River Forest'', August 11, p. 22</ref>

His notoriety as a sponsor of political candidates led to his namesake, "Moe Silver," Chairman of the "LOVE Party," being a lead character in the locally-drawn "Shrubtown" comic strip and theatrical play by the same name by artist and writer Marc Stopeck.<ref>see, for example, Stopeck, Marc (1991), “Shrubtown,” ''Wednesday Journal of Oak Park and River Forest'', July 24, p. 17; Stopeck, Marc (1991), “Shrubtown,” ''Wednesday Journal of Oak Park and River Forest'', August 14, p. 22; Stopeck, Marc (1991), “Shrubtown,” ''Wednesday Journal of Oak Park and River Forest'', August 21, p. 23; Stopeck, Marc (1991), “Shrubtown,” ''Wednesday Journal of Oak Park and River Forest'', August 28, p. 21; Stopeck, Marc (1992), “Shrubtown,” ''Wednesday Journal of Oak Park and River Forest'', August 12, p. 24; Stopeck, Marc (1993), “Shrubtown,” ''Wednesday Journal of Oak Park and River Forest'', August 11, p. 22</ref>

===Statewide and National===

===Statewide and National===

His political candidacies for U.S. Congress and State Representative using the nickname "Cut the Taxes" have led to court actions,<ref>http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/773242/posts</ref><ref>(2002), Mission:  Fool voters (editorial), ''Chicago Tribune'', January 18, p. 18 </ref><ref> (1996) “Cut taxing districts,” ''Berwyn Life'' October 9, p. 22 </ref><ref> http://anti-state.com/forum/index.php?board=2;action=display;threadid=1446</ref><ref>http://ddd-hph.dlconsulting.com/cgi-bin/newshph?a=d&d=HPH19980107.2.3&cl=&srpos=0&st=1&e=00-00-0000-99-99-9999--20--1----Sen.+Obama-all</ref><ref>http://articles.chicagotribune.com/2002-09-18/news/0209180186_1_ballots-fractional-jagielski </ref><ref> http://www.oakpark.com/News/Articles/10-30-2002/Golden_wins_Cut-The-Taxes_suit,_sues_again_</ref><ref>http://articles.chicagotribune.com/2002-10-16/news/0210160202_1_blagojevich-spokesman-doug-scofield-illinois-state-board </ref><ref>Zorn, Eric. (1995) This candidate is a Cut the Taxes above the rest,  ''Chicago Tribune'' (Metrowest), October 3,  p. 1; http://articles.chicagotribune.com/1995-10-03/news/9510030038_1_wallace-gator-bradley-candidates-taxes </ref><ref>http://articles.chicagotribune.com/2002-10-23/news/0210230072_1_golden-ballot-orr </ref><ref>http://www.actuarialoutpost.com/actuarial_discussion_forum/showthread.php?p=136091</ref><ref>www.highbeam.com/doc/1N1-1110F700ED5B9A50.html</ref>  a re-writing of Illinois election law concerning allowable names on the ballot<ref>http://www.ilga.gov/legislation/fulltext.asp?DocName=09300SB0428ham005&GA=93&SessionId=3&DocTypeId=SB&LegID=&DocNum=0428&GAID=3&Session= </ref><ref>10 ILCS 5/16-3 (e)</ref> <ref>http://articles.chicagotribune.com/2003-06-03/news/0306030127_1_orr-slogans-78th-district</ref><ref> Trainor, Ken (1997), “Who is Les Golden?”, ''Wednesday Journal of Oak Park and  River Forest'', April 2, p. 29-37 </ref> propagated throughout the state of Illinois in election guides for candidates,<ref>www.champaigncountyclerk.com/elections/docs/2012/2012CanGuide.pdf</ref><ref>www.elections.il.gov/downloads/electioninformationcourth/pdf/2011canguide.pdf </ref>  lengthy discussions in the Illinois Institute of Continuing Legal Education (IICLE) handbook on election law<ref> www.iicle.com </ref>  which is on display in courthouses in the state of Illinois, scholarly studies on election law and ballot access, <ref>http://www.umsl.edu/~kimballd/illinois.pdf</ref>  and rewriting of election law in other states. <ref>law.onecle.com/texas/election/52.031.00.html</ref> In addition, in another part of the revised election law, the Golden Rule, for the first time in Illinois history, allows any election official whatsoever, state as well as local, to extend their previous ministerial powers beyond mere  printing of the ballot to actually removing slogans from ballot names.<ref>10 ILCS 5/16-3 (f)</ref>

His political candidacies for U.S. Congress<ref>(1996) Kass, John, “Nothing dull about 7th race – U.S. House contest full of controversy,” ''Chicago Tribune'', March 8, Section 2, p. 1</ref> and State Representative<ref>(1992) Zorn, Eric, “But Yakov seems so, so . . . judicial,” ''Chicago Tribune'', March 10, Section 2, p. 1</ref><ref>(1996) Montgomery, Susan, “GOP slates Golden to run for state rep,” ''Oak Leaves'', July 3, p. 10</ref><ref>http://www.ourcampaigns.com/CandidateDetail.html?CandidateID=16936&WhenStart=2011-08-06+12%3A51%3A32</ref> using the nickname "Cut the Taxes" have led to court actions,<ref>http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/773242/posts</ref><ref>(2002), Mission:  Fool voters (editorial), ''Chicago Tribune'', January 18, p. 18 </ref><ref> (1996) “Cut taxing districts,” ''Berwyn Life'' October 9, p. 22 </ref><ref> http://anti-state.com/forum/index.php?board=2;action=display;threadid=1446</ref><ref>http://ddd-hph.dlconsulting.com/cgi-bin/newshph?a=d&d=HPH19980107.2.3&cl=&srpos=0&st=1&e=00-00-0000-99-99-9999--20--1----Sen.+Obama-all</ref><ref>http://articles.chicagotribune.com/2002-09-18/news/0209180186_1_ballots-fractional-jagielski </ref><ref> http://www.oakpark.com/News/Articles/10-30-2002/Golden_wins_Cut-The-Taxes_suit,_sues_again_</ref><ref>http://articles.chicagotribune.com/2002-10-16/news/0210160202_1_blagojevich-spokesman-doug-scofield-illinois-state-board </ref><ref>Zorn, Eric. (1995) This candidate is a Cut the Taxes above the rest,  ''Chicago Tribune'' (Metrowest), October 3,  p. 1; http://articles.chicagotribune.com/1995-10-03/news/9510030038_1_wallace-gator-bradley-candidates-taxes </ref><ref>http://articles.chicagotribune.com/2002-10-23/news/0210230072_1_golden-ballot-orr </ref><ref>http://www.actuarialoutpost.com/actuarial_discussion_forum/showthread.php?p=136091</ref><ref>www.highbeam.com/doc/1N1-1110F700ED5B9A50.html</ref><ref> (1996) Hevrkejs, Judy and Conklin, Mike, “Cutting Les,” ''Chicago Tribune'', March 12, p. 2</ref><ref> (1996) “ ‘Cut the Taxes’ cut from GOP ballot,” ''West Suburban Post'', March 8, p. 5</ref>  a re-writing of Illinois election law concerning allowable names on the ballot<ref>http://www.ilga.gov/legislation/fulltext.asp?DocName=09300SB0428ham005&GA=93&SessionId=3&DocTypeId=SB&LegID=&DocNum=0428&GAID=3&Session= </ref><ref>10 ILCS 5/16-3 (e)</ref> <ref>http://articles.chicagotribune.com/2003-06-03/news/0306030127_1_orr-slogans-78th-district</ref><ref> Trainor, Ken (1997), “Who is Les Golden?”, ''Wednesday Journal of Oak Park and  River Forest'', April 2, p. 29-37 </ref> propagated throughout the state of Illinois in election guides for candidates,<ref>www.champaigncountyclerk.com/elections/docs/2012/2012CanGuide.pdf</ref><ref>www.elections.il.gov/downloads/electioninformationcourth/pdf/2011canguide.pdf </ref>  lengthy discussions in the Illinois Institute of Continuing Legal Education (IICLE) handbook on election law<ref> www.iicle.com </ref>  which is on display in courthouses in the state of Illinois, scholarly studies on election law and ballot access, <ref>http://www.umsl.edu/~kimballd/illinois.pdf</ref>  and rewriting of election law in other states. <ref>law.onecle.com/texas/election/52.031.00.html</ref> In addition, in another part of the revised election law, the Golden Rule, for the first time in Illinois history, allows any election official whatsoever, state as well as local, to extend their previous ministerial powers beyond mere  printing of the ballot to actually removing slogans from ballot names.<ref>10 ILCS 5/16-3 (f)</ref> These cases in election law and the revised Illinois election law statutes have been cited repeatedly in jurisdictions throughout the country.

These cases in election law and the revised Illinois election law statutes have been cited repeatedly in jurisdictions throughout the country.

In 2008, he was the statewide spokesman and one of three state-wide coordinators for the group seeking to convene an Illinois Constitutional Convention.<ref>(2008) Sweeney, Chuck, Constitutional convention? Here's a pro-con, <i>Rockford Register Star</i>, June 18; http://www.rrstar.com/opinions/x1713643550/Constitutional-convention-Heres-a-pro-con</ref><ref>(2008) Wilson, Doug, Business group says constitutional convention would be too costly, risky, <i>Quincy Herald-Whig</i>, July 15</ref><ref>www.chicagogop.com/home/blogger/drlesmgolden/</ref>  He wrote the field guide for campaign workers which was used in other states also seeking to convene constitutional conventions.  He was selected to be a charter member of the board of the Illinois Taxpayer Education Foundation (ITEF) in 1994.

In 2008, he was the statewide spokesman and one of three state-wide coordinators for the group seeking to convene an Illinois Constitutional Convention.<ref>(2008) Sweeney, Chuck, Constitutional convention? Here's a pro-con, <i>Rockford Register Star</i>, June 18; http://www.rrstar.com/opinions/x1713643550/Constitutional-convention-Heres-a-pro-con</ref><ref>(2008) Wilson, Doug, Business group says constitutional convention would be too costly, risky, <i>Quincy Herald-Whig</i>, July 15</ref><ref>www.chicagogop.com/home/blogger/drlesmgolden/</ref>  He wrote the field guide for campaign workers which was used in other states also seeking to convene constitutional conventions.  He has consistently fought legislation removing property tax caps in Illinois.<ref> (1995) Schory, Brenda, “Loud protest trails quiet passage of tax cap bill,” <i>Kane County Chronicle</i>, July 7, p. 1</ref> He was selected to be a charter member of the board of the Illinois Taxpayer Education Foundation (ITEF) in 1994.

He received the Distinguished Leadership Award from the National Taxpayers United of Illinois umbrella group in 1991 for his taxpayer advocacy efforts.

Golden received the Distinguished Leadership Award from the National Taxpayers United of Illinois umbrella group in 1991 for his taxpayer advocacy efforts.

==Photo gallery==

==Photo gallery==

[[Category:American actor-politicians]]

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