Lights! Camera! Margaritas?

Patrick Corchoran, the spokesman for the National Association of Theater Owners, was interviewed this morning on Fox News. The topic? The recent trend at theaters of serving alcoholic beverages.

I've been familiar with adult beverages at theaters for many years. Typically, this is seen more at independently owned theaters, not the big 24 cinemas at the mall. Is that the trend now? Mr. Corchoran didn't really say.

As with typical media bias, the interview made it sound like theaters were now going to be doubling as clubs with night life. This doesn't seem the case at all. In fact, Mr. Corchoran described the theater's diligence in preventing underage drinking and their commitment to refuse service to anyone showing signs of intoxication.

Is alcohol at theaters a bad thing? Maybe yes, maybe no. I would highly doubt that, if a study were done, patrons at theaters very often reach the level of intoxication. Can the same be said for bars and restaurants? Doubtful.

St. Peter Claver, Cristo Rey High School

Thanks to the students at St. Peter Claver, a Cristo Rey High School, in Omaha, NE for hosting Carson and I yesterday, Friday, March 28.Special thanks to Leigh McKeehan for using my book as required reading for the freshman class AND for asking me to present to the students! Leigh, you're da bomb!Thanks to all St. Peter Claver teachers and staff who hosted me for classroom sessions, too. It was awesome getting to know all of you and I can't wait to come back to St. Peter Claver!



check out all the pics on myspace.com/marcusengel

Booze & Blogs

I host several different sites on:

www.blogger.com

When I just logged in to post some new stuff, I found some alcohol related stuff I wouldn't have expected to find.

South by Southwest (a.k.a. SXSW) is an annual ginormous music festival in my favorite Texas city, Austin - the live music capital of the world!

There, on the dashboard of blogger, is a heads up about the blogger party at a famous club in Austin. Invitations are necessary, but you can get one of those just by having a blog with blogger and, well, probably knowing anyone who has a blog (which is basically every homo sapien on the terra ferma). And what do you find at a blogger party? Open bar!

There are lots of places that try to get customers liquored in order to obtain new business. Jewelery stores, wine bars, home shows-wherever people may be more prone to open their wallet, you may find free booze.

Thing is, blogger is free! What are they trying to accomplish by having an open bar? I dunno - other than maybe showing those in the blogosphere a good time.

College Student Honors His Mother’s Legacy Through Campus Leadership

Over spring break, 21-year-old Ryan Pitts is skiing in Utah. Ryan, a junior at Southern Methodist University in Dallas, is determined to make the most of the trip, despite the foot he broke last week.

Determination is nothing new to this student leader. He has overcome significant learning disabilities in his quest for a political science and psychology degree. Now he’s also focused on honoring his mother.

As a high school senior, Ryan was asked to give a speech about his hero. His choice was easy – his mom. Far from easy, however, was grappling with her death a week later. On a Friday night in June 2004, a drunk driver slammed into the family car at 90 mph. The 32-year-old offender had been drinking for eight hours prior to the crash and had a blood alcohol concentration (BAC) of .28. The legal limit is .08.

Ryan was driving the car when it was hit. He was thrown from the car. His mother died on Sunday surrounded by her husband, Jim, their two daughters and Ryan.

Evelyn Eastham Pitts was a third-generation First Lady of Waxahachie, Texas. Ryan’s dad has been a member of the Texas House of Representatives for 18 years. The Pitts met as students at SMU and were married for 33 years at the time of the crash.

As a member of SMU’s Student Senate, Ryan was involved in the recent passage of two pieces of legislation favoring medical amnesty and the Good Samaritan Law. Both are up for consideration by the SMU Alcohol and Drug Prevention Task Force. He’s in a challenging position as a college student, surrounded by a culture of underage drinking, binge drinking and drinking and driving.
Does Ryan think the drinking age should remain 21, or should it be lowered to 18? He unequivocally says, “Twenty-one. If we lower the drinking age to 18, seniors in high school will have access to alcohol, and they’ll be taking middle schoolers to parties. It’ll have a domino effect.”

As devastating as his mother’s death is for Ryan, he says, “It’s made me much more independent, and it’s brought me much closer to my dad. Even though he’s in Austin a lot, we’ve developed a much closer relationship.”

As a campus leader, Ryan was recently responsible for bringing Republican presidential candidate Mike Huckabee to SMU. He knows his mother would be proud. Ryan says he misses hearing, “Good job!” from his mom. “I try to do what Mom would want,” Ryan says. “I know she’s watching me all the time, and if I don’t, she’ll let me know. She’s still here. Everything is going to be OK.”

"Good Job, Columbia University!"

The internet and modern technology have opened up worlds I couldn't have even comprehended when I first lost my sight. Back in the early 90s, who could have ever thought blind folks would some day be able to read any newspaper on the day it was issued? Or have the ability to download music without ever going to a CD store? Or send E mail messages instantaneously, confidentially and, of course, for free? Certainly not me!

However, the net brings along its own set of problems. Flip on any news station and, almost daily, we hear about some sicko pervert using his computer to stalk down children.

One major complain I have of the web is the issue of anonymity.

Anyone can say anything about anyone they wish – and there's just now barely, barely starting to become some punishment for this cowardly act.

There is a fairly new web site aimed at college students that showcases everything bad about the net. I'm not going to give the name of this site because I don't want to publicize their pathetic mission.

This site is basically an E version of the bathroom wall at the student union. College students are encouraged to talk smack about their fellow students; who's the sluttiest girl on campus, who has the best weed, who's the biggest stoner, who's the biggest drunk, who's got the most recent spread of V.D., etc.

Of course, if you're slandered on the site, you have no ability to erase the claims nor find out who wrote them! This means anyone can make any claim, true or not, about anyone they wish! God help the guy/girl who angers an ex-lover if that ex has an ax to grind!

Well, in a showing of some great leadership, Columbia University has taken the big step of banning this site from being able to appear on any campus computer. Sure, students may have their own laptops with which they can utilize this ridiculous site, but they won't be doing it via the university's property.

Props to Columbia for a great showing of integrity and leadership!

Celebrity Apprentice

I loathe reality TV. Survivor? Watched it once back in 2000 when it was all the rage. Never again. Dating shows? Same story – had to see what the fuss was about. Design and house flipping? Other than the business involved – couldn't care less!

However, I hate to admit... I do kinda like "The Apprentice." I firmly believe in the notion: Learn from the mistakes of others. You can't live long enough to make them all yourself!

So, in watching the business decisions and communication skills of some contestants, I get to see flub ups that I can learn from. When Celebrity Apprentice came out a few months ago... who knew it'd actually be educational AND entertaining?

Now that Donald Trump is down to the final two contestants, the real grudge match begins. Piers, the British bloke with a brilliant business mind, made a statement last night I found interesting and disturbing.

See, their final task is a gigantic fundraising ball. One contestant is in charge of catering and decorations, the other entertainment and promotion. Piers happens to be in charge of food and drink.

Once the ball was being planned, Piers said, "We get the other celebrities as loaded as possible. Drunk celebrities spend lots of money!"

Unfortunately, this is one of the often exploited effects of alcohol: the lack of judgment.

People who would often be tight with their money are spending it like water once they get a few drinks. If you've ever taken a cruise and stopped off in a Caribbean port, maybe you happened into a jewelry store. First thing you find in a jewelry store? Free drinks! Why? To celebrate your new purchase of fine jewels? Hardly – the drink is given BEFORE you buy. Hence, the liquor is there to blur judgment and get the customer to spend more.

Everything on Celebrity Apprentice is raised for charity – it's just a shame drunken giving has to be employed to raise money.