Just caught an interesting episode on History or Discovery or one of those nerd channels I love so much! The subject? Whiskey.
According to this episode, whiskey distilleries are now in a trend like microbreweries of the last two decades. Think of it, prior to 1990, microbrews were virtually unheard of. Now, it's pretty common for a restaurant to have their own brew created on site. Will the same happen for hard alcohol?
This question was answered by the head brewmaster at the Flying Dog Brewery in Colorado. Flying Dog has turned out some of the highest quality microbrews the country has to offer... but do they just naturally make the leap to distilling whiskey? Apparently so.
Turns out Flying Dog is creating their own whiskey. Whiskey, bourbons from Kentucky and Tennessee, scotch from (duh) Scotland and a wide variety of Canadian whiskies have long adorned the shelves of private liquor cabinets. But the Rocky Mountains aren't known for their whiskies. Until now... I guess this kinda makes sense. After all, water is the largest component of whiskey. And we've long been told the crystal clear streams of the Rockies are flowing with the cleanest water on earth. So, maybe Lynchburg, Tennessee won't have the corner on the market much longer.
What I thought was most profound about this episode was the last 20 seconds. In that time, an expert discussed how whiskies have always been considered an after dinner drink. But no longer... now, you can have an aperitif of whiskey, some milder whiskies for the afternoon and (if I'm lyin' I'm dyin'), he suggested some "mid to late morning whiskies."
Not sure about you, but if hard liquor was any part of my day, the rest of that day would be shot. When we start pouring out a snort of Uncle Barleycorn into our morning coffee, we can pretty much kiss the work day good-bye.
And yet? The idea of a mid-morning whiskey seemed as normal as anything to the speaker. He didn't -seem- like the W.C. Fields sort of drunk, and he obviously knows the ins and outs of booze more than I, but do we really want to encourage people to start drinking hard liquor in the mornings? This simply is just a bad idea.
Sunday, April 27, 2008
Saturday, April 26, 2008
Truth In Advertising?
A few days ago, I lucked out and scored tix to see Bruce Springsteen in concert. I love The Boss like nothing else, so we were there early to soak up the flava of the crowd well before the show began.
Standing outside the Amway Arena, we saw something kinda odd and disturbing. Florida seems to be one of the prime locations for folks who are homeless-let's face it, if you have no home, you probably want to live somewhere it's difficult to freeze to death. One such person was standing outside the arena, sign in hand, container for money, begging.
Did his sign say, "Will work for food"? Or, "Hungry...Please Help"? Nope. Sign said:
"Why lie? I need a drink."
Ya know, callousness is there for a purpose. Many people who are homeless DO have problems with substance abuse. I'd gladly help-but I refuse to enable anyone's addiction. In general, I don't give money to people who are homeless because, unless it can be proven my meager "donation" is being used positively, I'm not just going to throw money away.
With this guy? It's just sad. It's well known how many people who are homeless also have developmental disabilities and/or mental illness. Does this guy? Seems he can, at least, realize the "truth in advertising" message.
The whole thing is just sad. Substance abuse could be a contributing factor to why the guy is on the street in the first place. If all the money he begged off Bruce fans could be pooled together, it may take a significant chunk out of his cost of alcohol rehab. And if that addiction is gone, there's a much better chance he could become a productive member of society.
But with his "need" for a drink, money into his can could just as easily be thrown down the Porta-Potty he was standing next to.
Standing outside the Amway Arena, we saw something kinda odd and disturbing. Florida seems to be one of the prime locations for folks who are homeless-let's face it, if you have no home, you probably want to live somewhere it's difficult to freeze to death. One such person was standing outside the arena, sign in hand, container for money, begging.
Did his sign say, "Will work for food"? Or, "Hungry...Please Help"? Nope. Sign said:
"Why lie? I need a drink."
Ya know, callousness is there for a purpose. Many people who are homeless DO have problems with substance abuse. I'd gladly help-but I refuse to enable anyone's addiction. In general, I don't give money to people who are homeless because, unless it can be proven my meager "donation" is being used positively, I'm not just going to throw money away.
With this guy? It's just sad. It's well known how many people who are homeless also have developmental disabilities and/or mental illness. Does this guy? Seems he can, at least, realize the "truth in advertising" message.
The whole thing is just sad. Substance abuse could be a contributing factor to why the guy is on the street in the first place. If all the money he begged off Bruce fans could be pooled together, it may take a significant chunk out of his cost of alcohol rehab. And if that addiction is gone, there's a much better chance he could become a productive member of society.
But with his "need" for a drink, money into his can could just as easily be thrown down the Porta-Potty he was standing next to.
Wednesday, April 23, 2008
"Pharm Parties"
Ya know, having grown up on a farm, there's one thing you can usually count on: boredom.
While flipping around on the tube this morning, I found a doctor talking about farm parties. This confused me. I mean, does that mean putting up streamers for the chickens? Playing pin the tail on the donkey with a real live donkey?
Then I figured it out: "farm" parties is more properly spelled, "pharm parties."
As the physician described it, it was more like the old idea of the salad bowl parties from the 60s and 70s. Call it what you will, the idea is simply to procure as many prescription drugs as possible and, well, party.
The physician described pharm parties as teenagers raiding their parents' medicine cabinets, grabbing whatever drugs have even a minimal psycho-active effect and taking these drugs for intoxication purposes.
A few points:
1. Do we really need all the pain killers and anti-anxiety meds provided by physicians? Likely not.
2. And more importantly, this is such a good reason parents need to keep an eye (and maybe a lock) on their prescription drugs. Think of it - is it easier for a teenager to swipe a few Zanex from Mom's medicine cabinet? Or is it easier to find someone to walk into a liquor store and purchase alcohol? That answer, in most cases, is a no brainer.
This totally highlights just how widespread the use of prescription drugs for intoxication is. The dopamine in the brain activated by opioid gives as good (if not better) highs for those taking the drugs; better than alcohol, better than weed, better than cocaine. And yet, how many of we parents, if pressed, admit we have prescription drugs where teens could easily grab them? Likely, many of us.
Be sure - VERY sure you aren't helping to contribute to a child's substance abuse by keeping your meds where they need to be - in your possession and your possession only!
While flipping around on the tube this morning, I found a doctor talking about farm parties. This confused me. I mean, does that mean putting up streamers for the chickens? Playing pin the tail on the donkey with a real live donkey?
Then I figured it out: "farm" parties is more properly spelled, "pharm parties."
As the physician described it, it was more like the old idea of the salad bowl parties from the 60s and 70s. Call it what you will, the idea is simply to procure as many prescription drugs as possible and, well, party.
The physician described pharm parties as teenagers raiding their parents' medicine cabinets, grabbing whatever drugs have even a minimal psycho-active effect and taking these drugs for intoxication purposes.
A few points:
1. Do we really need all the pain killers and anti-anxiety meds provided by physicians? Likely not.
2. And more importantly, this is such a good reason parents need to keep an eye (and maybe a lock) on their prescription drugs. Think of it - is it easier for a teenager to swipe a few Zanex from Mom's medicine cabinet? Or is it easier to find someone to walk into a liquor store and purchase alcohol? That answer, in most cases, is a no brainer.
This totally highlights just how widespread the use of prescription drugs for intoxication is. The dopamine in the brain activated by opioid gives as good (if not better) highs for those taking the drugs; better than alcohol, better than weed, better than cocaine. And yet, how many of we parents, if pressed, admit we have prescription drugs where teens could easily grab them? Likely, many of us.
Be sure - VERY sure you aren't helping to contribute to a child's substance abuse by keeping your meds where they need to be - in your possession and your possession only!
Tuesday, April 22, 2008
Speak Up!
Richie Sambora Charged
Law enforcement sources tell TMZ Richie Sambora has been charged with two counts of DUI -- but he was not charged with child endangerment. The DUI counts are driving with a .08 or higher, and driving under the influence.We're told Sambora had a blood alcohol level of .13. If convicted Sambora faces six months in jail.Sambora was popped March 25 after cops say they saw him "veering over the white painted lines and straddling two lanes" in his Hummer in Laguna Beach.Two minors were in the vehicle, including Richie's 10-year-old daughter. We're told police brass recommended that prosecutors charge him with child endangerment but rank and file cops disagreed and so did prosecutors.
****************************
Say it ain't so, Richie! How can someone who is such, SUCH a talented guitar player (and he is simply a fabulous guitarist) be so senseless in another area?
If Richie is an average sized male, to get to a BAC of .13, he had to ingest at least a six pack's worth of alcohol. Does any rational person believe it's okay to drink six beers then drive one's daughter home?
This is a very sticky line to walk, but do we also need to start teaching our children to determine when a friend's parent is too drunk to drive?
Several years ago, there was a study done of middle school kids. There were a shockingly high number of kids who reported having ridden with a driver who was drunk. What gives? Well, think of how many middle school kids baby-sit. When the parents come home from their evening fun, it's often the case where the parent will drive the babysitter home. And when Mom and Dad have been drinking, what is a babysitter to do?
It's a horrible thing, but it seems we need to teach our children that adults, even parents of their friends, are to be seen with a skeptical eye. Not just for protection of sexual abuse, but also for endangering their lives with intoxicated driving.
For more info on promoting this important concept, visit: http://www.urthespokesperson.org/
Law enforcement sources tell TMZ Richie Sambora has been charged with two counts of DUI -- but he was not charged with child endangerment. The DUI counts are driving with a .08 or higher, and driving under the influence.We're told Sambora had a blood alcohol level of .13. If convicted Sambora faces six months in jail.Sambora was popped March 25 after cops say they saw him "veering over the white painted lines and straddling two lanes" in his Hummer in Laguna Beach.Two minors were in the vehicle, including Richie's 10-year-old daughter. We're told police brass recommended that prosecutors charge him with child endangerment but rank and file cops disagreed and so did prosecutors.
****************************
Say it ain't so, Richie! How can someone who is such, SUCH a talented guitar player (and he is simply a fabulous guitarist) be so senseless in another area?
If Richie is an average sized male, to get to a BAC of .13, he had to ingest at least a six pack's worth of alcohol. Does any rational person believe it's okay to drink six beers then drive one's daughter home?
This is a very sticky line to walk, but do we also need to start teaching our children to determine when a friend's parent is too drunk to drive?
Several years ago, there was a study done of middle school kids. There were a shockingly high number of kids who reported having ridden with a driver who was drunk. What gives? Well, think of how many middle school kids baby-sit. When the parents come home from their evening fun, it's often the case where the parent will drive the babysitter home. And when Mom and Dad have been drinking, what is a babysitter to do?
It's a horrible thing, but it seems we need to teach our children that adults, even parents of their friends, are to be seen with a skeptical eye. Not just for protection of sexual abuse, but also for endangering their lives with intoxicated driving.
For more info on promoting this important concept, visit: http://www.urthespokesperson.org/
Monday, April 21, 2008
Help Where We Can Get It
Antipsychotic Drug May Battle Alcoholism
Reuters
Posted: 2008-04-18 11:25:19
NEW YORK (April 18) -- A drug used to treat the symptoms of psychosis in patients with schizophrenia and bipolar disorder may also be a useful medication for individuals who are addicted to alcohol, findings published in Alcoholism: Clinical & Experimental Research suggest.
Aripiprazole, sold in the U.S. under the trade name Abilify, is an atypical antipsychotic that increases the sedative effects of alcohol, while decreasing its euphoric effects, the researchers explain. The activity of aripiprazole on dopamine receptors in the brain - areas thought to have a role in mood and addiction -- suggest the drug would reduce the reinforcing effects of alcohol and thus modulate drinking behavior.
In the current study, Dr. Henry R. Kranzler and colleagues from the University of Connecticut Health Center, Farmington, examined whether aripiprazole could modify the behavioral and physiological effects of a moderate dose of alcohol in a group of social drinkers.
The 18 healthy participants were an average of 27.6 years old and were an average weight for their height. They reported drinking moderately in the 90 days prior to study enrollment: an average of 19.5 days of drinking, 1.8 days of heavy drinking, for a total of 47.8 standard drinks consumed.
The subjects were assigned to take part in three experimental sessions in random sequence: no medication; 2.5 milligrams of aripiprazole; or 10 milligrams of aripiprazole on the day prior to the laboratory session. During the session, the participants consumed alcohol served as three standardized drinks, individually measured according to their sex, body height and body weight.
The authors measured breath alcohol concentration, heart rate, blood pressure, equilibrium, and subjective effects of alcohol regularly throughout the sessions.
The consumption of alcohol led to the expected physiological and subjective responses. For instance, heart rate increased as the aripiprazole dose increased. Aripiprazole also significantly increased the sedative effects and decreased the euphoric effects of alcohol.
Pre-treatment with aripiprazole was generally well tolerated. The most commonly reported adverse event was tiredness. Other adverse events included nausea, sleepiness, headache, and difficulty sleeping.
Because aripiprazole decreases alcohol's euphoric effects and increases its sedative effects, this drug could be useful in the treatment of heavy drinking, Kranzler's team concludes. Overall, the findings suggest that "additional research on the effects of aripiprazole on the subjective effects of alcohol is warranted."
*****
Any breakthrough in treating alcoholism should be embraced. The sociologist in me asks this question:
We treat the effects of addiction with this drug. What about behavior modification? One who is accustomed to pouring 10 drinks per night will still have the routine of doing so. How do we treat that?
As with most effective treatments for addiction, a two prong approach is usually best. Drug therapy and behavior modification through counseling/therapy. Still, if this can help even one alcoholic, by all means, let's keep testing it!
Reuters
Posted: 2008-04-18 11:25:19
NEW YORK (April 18) -- A drug used to treat the symptoms of psychosis in patients with schizophrenia and bipolar disorder may also be a useful medication for individuals who are addicted to alcohol, findings published in Alcoholism: Clinical & Experimental Research suggest.
Aripiprazole, sold in the U.S. under the trade name Abilify, is an atypical antipsychotic that increases the sedative effects of alcohol, while decreasing its euphoric effects, the researchers explain. The activity of aripiprazole on dopamine receptors in the brain - areas thought to have a role in mood and addiction -- suggest the drug would reduce the reinforcing effects of alcohol and thus modulate drinking behavior.
In the current study, Dr. Henry R. Kranzler and colleagues from the University of Connecticut Health Center, Farmington, examined whether aripiprazole could modify the behavioral and physiological effects of a moderate dose of alcohol in a group of social drinkers.
The 18 healthy participants were an average of 27.6 years old and were an average weight for their height. They reported drinking moderately in the 90 days prior to study enrollment: an average of 19.5 days of drinking, 1.8 days of heavy drinking, for a total of 47.8 standard drinks consumed.
The subjects were assigned to take part in three experimental sessions in random sequence: no medication; 2.5 milligrams of aripiprazole; or 10 milligrams of aripiprazole on the day prior to the laboratory session. During the session, the participants consumed alcohol served as three standardized drinks, individually measured according to their sex, body height and body weight.
The authors measured breath alcohol concentration, heart rate, blood pressure, equilibrium, and subjective effects of alcohol regularly throughout the sessions.
The consumption of alcohol led to the expected physiological and subjective responses. For instance, heart rate increased as the aripiprazole dose increased. Aripiprazole also significantly increased the sedative effects and decreased the euphoric effects of alcohol.
Pre-treatment with aripiprazole was generally well tolerated. The most commonly reported adverse event was tiredness. Other adverse events included nausea, sleepiness, headache, and difficulty sleeping.
Because aripiprazole decreases alcohol's euphoric effects and increases its sedative effects, this drug could be useful in the treatment of heavy drinking, Kranzler's team concludes. Overall, the findings suggest that "additional research on the effects of aripiprazole on the subjective effects of alcohol is warranted."
*****
Any breakthrough in treating alcoholism should be embraced. The sociologist in me asks this question:
We treat the effects of addiction with this drug. What about behavior modification? One who is accustomed to pouring 10 drinks per night will still have the routine of doing so. How do we treat that?
As with most effective treatments for addiction, a two prong approach is usually best. Drug therapy and behavior modification through counseling/therapy. Still, if this can help even one alcoholic, by all means, let's keep testing it!
Thursday, April 17, 2008
Rye Country Day School
Wow, what an awesome experience! On Wednesday, April 16, I was honored to present for the high school of Rye Country Day School in Rye, NY. An awesome group of students, a gorgeous spring day and some of the most fun I've had in a while at a high school!
Thanks to Jenny Heath for such perfect and professional work in the arrangements of the day(and for talking books and literature with me)! Thanks to Donald and Jackie for some great laughs during the day, as well as to Heather and Jenny in the RCDS library for a great conversation! Looking forward to a return trip up to Rye sometime soon!
Thanks again, guys! You rock!
Thanks to Jenny Heath for such perfect and professional work in the arrangements of the day(and for talking books and literature with me)! Thanks to Donald and Jackie for some great laughs during the day, as well as to Heather and Jenny in the RCDS library for a great conversation! Looking forward to a return trip up to Rye sometime soon!
Thanks again, guys! You rock!
Canned Heat Blues
Southwest Airlines is, by far, my first choice when it comes to flying. However, Air Tran may be running a close second. The reason? XM Radio in flight.
Yesterday I was flying Air Tran to White Plains, NY, happily enjoying channel surfing on XM. I happened upon an old blues station and listened for a few minutes. This isn't old blues like Muddy Waters and B.B. King, but old, OLD blues from when recording equipment was barely invented. Back during the Robert Johnson days of going to make a deal with the devil at the crossroads.
On came a song I'd never heard before, by an artist I'd also never heard before,Tommy Johnson. The song, "Canned Heat Blues" was an ode to the hard luck of skid row drunks.
What is canned heat? In this case, it refers to Sterno. And what does Sterno have to do with alcoholism? Get this - some drunks, so hard up for a bit of intoxication, would process the alcohol out of Sterno. Consumption of Sterno? Yeesh.
Ask any reasonable person, "Hey! Wanna get loaded off Sterno? Or mouthwash? How about hair spray?" Immediate answer would be, "NO!"
Doesn't this just show the power of alcohol? People get so addicted to the high they'll consume things which aren't meant to be consumed, just for the minimal high. If someone hits the skids this hard, there's little to no hope A A would ever help. When someone has sunk to drinking Sterno, their life is as good as over.
Yesterday I was flying Air Tran to White Plains, NY, happily enjoying channel surfing on XM. I happened upon an old blues station and listened for a few minutes. This isn't old blues like Muddy Waters and B.B. King, but old, OLD blues from when recording equipment was barely invented. Back during the Robert Johnson days of going to make a deal with the devil at the crossroads.
On came a song I'd never heard before, by an artist I'd also never heard before,Tommy Johnson. The song, "Canned Heat Blues" was an ode to the hard luck of skid row drunks.
What is canned heat? In this case, it refers to Sterno. And what does Sterno have to do with alcoholism? Get this - some drunks, so hard up for a bit of intoxication, would process the alcohol out of Sterno. Consumption of Sterno? Yeesh.
Ask any reasonable person, "Hey! Wanna get loaded off Sterno? Or mouthwash? How about hair spray?" Immediate answer would be, "NO!"
Doesn't this just show the power of alcohol? People get so addicted to the high they'll consume things which aren't meant to be consumed, just for the minimal high. If someone hits the skids this hard, there's little to no hope A A would ever help. When someone has sunk to drinking Sterno, their life is as good as over.
Tuesday, April 15, 2008
What's The Deal, Denver?
Nuggets' Anthony Arrested on DUI Charge
AP
DENVER (April 14) -
NBA All-Star Carmelo Anthony was arrested early Monday morning on suspicion of driving under the influence, hours after his worst game of the season.
Police said the Denver Nuggets forward was arrested on Interstate 25. He was pulled over for weaving and failing to dim his lights. Detective Sharon Hahn said Anthony, who was alone in the car, failed a series of sobriety tests. He was ticketed and released at the scene, but Hahn did not know how he got home. Denver police don't jail DUI suspects and Anthony was no exception, Hahn said.
Anthony is due in court May 14.
Mark Warkentien, the Nuggets' vice president of basketball operations, said the team was aware of the situation but declined comment.
Anthony apologized through his attorney, Dan Recht.
"Carmelo apologizes to his fans, the Denver community, his teammates and the Nuggets organization for the distraction this is causing them," Recht said.
He said Anthony consented to a blood test, but results won't be available for about two weeks.
In the meantime, "Carmelo will try to stay focused on his family and his team," Recht said.
********************
Okay, does this make any sense whatsoever? Let me be sure I'm absolutely, crystal clear on this point (Denver Police, feel free to jump in here any time I stray from the truth)...
A drunk driver can be pulled over in Denver. He/she can fail the standardized field sobriety tests. He/she can also submit to a blood test. Yet, according to this article, that person can then receive a ticket - but is only a suspect? You give tickets to suspects?
And what's more, it makes sense you have a policy not to jail DUI offenders. It does not, however, reason that Detective Hahn let the offender go with no idea how he got home! He's too drunk to drive, he fails SFSTs, he gets a ticket, but then he can still get behind the wheel and haul his overly tall, overly drunken butt home? What gives, Denver?
AP
DENVER (April 14) -
NBA All-Star Carmelo Anthony was arrested early Monday morning on suspicion of driving under the influence, hours after his worst game of the season.
Police said the Denver Nuggets forward was arrested on Interstate 25. He was pulled over for weaving and failing to dim his lights. Detective Sharon Hahn said Anthony, who was alone in the car, failed a series of sobriety tests. He was ticketed and released at the scene, but Hahn did not know how he got home. Denver police don't jail DUI suspects and Anthony was no exception, Hahn said.
Anthony is due in court May 14.
Mark Warkentien, the Nuggets' vice president of basketball operations, said the team was aware of the situation but declined comment.
Anthony apologized through his attorney, Dan Recht.
"Carmelo apologizes to his fans, the Denver community, his teammates and the Nuggets organization for the distraction this is causing them," Recht said.
He said Anthony consented to a blood test, but results won't be available for about two weeks.
In the meantime, "Carmelo will try to stay focused on his family and his team," Recht said.
********************
Okay, does this make any sense whatsoever? Let me be sure I'm absolutely, crystal clear on this point (Denver Police, feel free to jump in here any time I stray from the truth)...
A drunk driver can be pulled over in Denver. He/she can fail the standardized field sobriety tests. He/she can also submit to a blood test. Yet, according to this article, that person can then receive a ticket - but is only a suspect? You give tickets to suspects?
And what's more, it makes sense you have a policy not to jail DUI offenders. It does not, however, reason that Detective Hahn let the offender go with no idea how he got home! He's too drunk to drive, he fails SFSTs, he gets a ticket, but then he can still get behind the wheel and haul his overly tall, overly drunken butt home? What gives, Denver?
Monday, April 14, 2008
Massage Chairs, Flat Screen TVs and...DWI prevention?
I freaking love The Sharper Image! It's like Toys R Us, except for grown men! Every electronic gadget known to mankind can be found in a Sharper Image store - and I swear, as soon as I have a few thousand extra bucks laying around, I'm gonna get one of those massage chairs!
So, somehow I got on the mailing list for The Sharper Image. This morning when I opened my in box, there was a Sharper Image promo mailing... except this one didn't talk about gadgets nor massage chairs nor anything you'd expect. Instead, the subject line said: Driving With Phone Worse Than DUI!
Open the message and there are all sorta blue tooth and hands free cell phone headsets and ear pieces. Is that true? That talking on a cell phone is worse than driving drunk?
The answer is both yes and no. Inattention is the #1 cause for MVAs (Motor Vehicle Accident) in the U.S. Cell phones, text messages, eating, drinking (non-alcoholic), smoking, changing the radio, reading, talking to others in the car - these all add up to create the biggest cause for crashes in the country.
However, DUI is the biggest killer. While there are more crashes caused due to inattention, impaired driving is definitely more dangerous for one's health. Some 15K individuals are killed every year in America due to impaired driving.
In the case of The Sharper Image... does it matter? Nah, not at all. The Sharper Image may have just helped to save lives. Trying to get people to stop talking on cell phones while driving is going to fall on deaf ears. At least Sharper Image is helping folks have safer ways of doing so.
So, somehow I got on the mailing list for The Sharper Image. This morning when I opened my in box, there was a Sharper Image promo mailing... except this one didn't talk about gadgets nor massage chairs nor anything you'd expect. Instead, the subject line said: Driving With Phone Worse Than DUI!
Open the message and there are all sorta blue tooth and hands free cell phone headsets and ear pieces. Is that true? That talking on a cell phone is worse than driving drunk?
The answer is both yes and no. Inattention is the #1 cause for MVAs (Motor Vehicle Accident) in the U.S. Cell phones, text messages, eating, drinking (non-alcoholic), smoking, changing the radio, reading, talking to others in the car - these all add up to create the biggest cause for crashes in the country.
However, DUI is the biggest killer. While there are more crashes caused due to inattention, impaired driving is definitely more dangerous for one's health. Some 15K individuals are killed every year in America due to impaired driving.
In the case of The Sharper Image... does it matter? Nah, not at all. The Sharper Image may have just helped to save lives. Trying to get people to stop talking on cell phones while driving is going to fall on deaf ears. At least Sharper Image is helping folks have safer ways of doing so.
A Nice Try...
Brevard County, FL is trying out a new law relating to alcohol. Specifically, customers purchasing kegs of beer will now potentially have to show a license and provide a phone number and a signature before the silver beauty can be taken from the liquor store. The hope is these additional steps will cut down on consumption of beer by minors. And we all say????....Yeah, right.
This concept Brevard County is attempting to initiate isn't new. In fact, it's been the standard in many different parts of the country. There are some areas which go so far as to take the address of the party where the keg will be. That info is then fed to the local PD and they have the right to show up and do spot checks for I.D.s.
A keg automatically means massive consumption of alcohol. Maybe not by every person at the party, but definitely by SOME people at the party. It also means there's no one checking I.D.s for underaged drinkers.
If the purchaser of a keg in Brevard Co. puts his/her name/contact info on a sheet of paper, will that prevent underaged drinking? Nope - but it's nice Brevard Co. is making an attempt. Unfortunately, it's just not going to change anything.
This concept Brevard County is attempting to initiate isn't new. In fact, it's been the standard in many different parts of the country. There are some areas which go so far as to take the address of the party where the keg will be. That info is then fed to the local PD and they have the right to show up and do spot checks for I.D.s.
A keg automatically means massive consumption of alcohol. Maybe not by every person at the party, but definitely by SOME people at the party. It also means there's no one checking I.D.s for underaged drinkers.
If the purchaser of a keg in Brevard Co. puts his/her name/contact info on a sheet of paper, will that prevent underaged drinking? Nope - but it's nice Brevard Co. is making an attempt. Unfortunately, it's just not going to change anything.
Sunday, April 13, 2008
Western Regional Greek Association
Sat., Ap. 12, I was honored to be a keynote presentor for the Western Regional Greek Association conference in San Francisco. This was a true pleasure to be in front of a fraternity/sorority audience once again!
Thanks to all who attended my presentation - we had so many fill the room we had to hang a sign on the door saying the room was full! Plus, this is one of those programs where we all (and I do mean everyone) seemed on exactly the same page at exactly the same time. I can only do that when the audience is ready to get on board and ride this roller coaster with me - and you guys did just that! Thanks!
I'd like to thank all the fellow Kappa Sigs I met at WRGA, too! Always great to meet brothers at these events!
Thanks to all who attended my presentation - we had so many fill the room we had to hang a sign on the door saying the room was full! Plus, this is one of those programs where we all (and I do mean everyone) seemed on exactly the same page at exactly the same time. I can only do that when the audience is ready to get on board and ride this roller coaster with me - and you guys did just that! Thanks!
I'd like to thank all the fellow Kappa Sigs I met at WRGA, too! Always great to meet brothers at these events!
Tampa Tribune Article
When I spoke at Academy At The Lakes last Monday, April 7, Megan Hussey of the Tampa Tribune was present. The article appeared in Saturday's Tribune and can be found below.
I'd like to personally thank Megan for such an accurate and well-written article! I've been written about hundreds of times in newspapers, magazines, periodicals, etc.-but this is probably the most accurate article ever done on little old me! Thanks, Megan, and thanks again to Bob Sullivan and Academy At the Lakes for hosting this event!
Speaker Helps Students See 'Happiness Is A Choice' By MEGAN HUSSEY
Tribune correspondent
Published: April 12, 2008
LAND O' LAKES - At the age of 16, Marcus Engel was involved in the type of fender bender that every high-school student fears; one in which he accidentally struck an auto driven by his principal's wife. Taking the incident in stride, his principal advised him to "Change the things you can."
This advice proved valuable two years later, when Engel was in another wreck, this one far more serious. One late night on a St. Louis road, the actions of a drunken driver in another car cost Engel his eyesight; and caused massive injuries to his face and body that required a year of surgeries to repair.
Engel first had to accept the fact that he was blind. "I thought, 'I'm 18. I'm never going to see again. I'm never gonna lead my life again,'" he said. "What do you do?"
Reaching Teenagers
What Engel did in the years that followed was write two inspirational books and speak publicly about his experiences; his speaking engagements take the Orlando resident to 40 to 50 events yearly. "And because of my passion for education, I like speaking to schools the most," he said. "It's a powerful thing to get teenagers to listen, and judging from the number of e-mails and MySpace signups I get after my speeches, they are engaged by the message."
On Monday, Engel brought his message of hope, humor and inspiration to Academy at the Lakes, where he addressed students in grades eight through 12. Engel was accompanied by his wife and book editor Marvelyne Adams, and Carson, his guide dog. He also brought a bag full of his books, "After This ... An Inspirational Journey For All the Wrong Reasons" and "The Other End of the Stethoscope: 33 Insights for Excellent Patient Care." He handed out free copies to students who asked questions after the speech.
He also handed out advice about overcoming terrible odds. "You get used to things like this, because sooner or later it just becomes your life," he said. "All I knew is that I had to give it time, that my life could someday be good again." Working To Stay Independent Following his principal's advice to change the things he could, he took extensive steps to ensure that life would be good again. After a challenging regimen of surgeries and physical therapy, he attended a residential education program for the blind. "In order to graduate, I had to prepare, serve and clean up a meal for the 50 people on the school staff," he said. "For the second challenge, a school secretary took me out in a car ... and dropped me off, telling me I had to find my own way back. On my honor, I could only ask one question of a pedestrian to get back."
"When she dropped me off, I soon realized I was 25 miles away from where I needed to be," he said. After successfully completing this program, Engel was able to return to college, and then took a summer job as a camp counselor. He taught and performed all of the same activities - such as swimming, canoeing and archery - as the other counselors.
He says his greatest achievement may have been mentoring an overweight child who was bullied by campers. "His mother wrote a letter saying that the only positive experience the boy had at camp was working with Marcus, the blind counselor, because the boy said, 'He couldn't see how fat I am,'" Engel said. "I spent all summer trying to show other people the things that I could do, and he was most impressed by the things I couldn't do."
Engel has dedicated much of his life to inspiring others; through his books, his speeches and occasionally through advising lawmakers about the establishment of meaningful drunken driving laws.
Most of all he wants people to know that although his accident claimed his vision, it didn't cloud his view of the world. "I'm pretty ecstatic about my life," he said. "Happiness is a choice."
MARCUS ENGEL
SOME BACKGROUND: On Monday, national inspirational speaker and author Marcus Engel addressed eighth to 12th grade students at Academy at the Lakes in Land O' Lakes. COMMUNITY CONTRIBUTIONS: During his freshman year of college, Engel lost his eyesight and sustained massive injuries in an auto crash caused by a drunken driver. He now speaks to students and other audiences about overcoming insurmountable odds to find a fulfilling life. A LITTLE HISTORY: In addition to his 40 to 50 speaking engagements a year, Engel has written two books.
GETTING INVOLVED: To learn more about Marcus Engel and his work, go to http://www.marcusengel.com/ or www.myspace.com/marcusengel. Find this article online at: http://www2.tbo.com/content/2008/apr/12/pa-speaker-helps-students-see-happiness-is-a-choic
I'd like to personally thank Megan for such an accurate and well-written article! I've been written about hundreds of times in newspapers, magazines, periodicals, etc.-but this is probably the most accurate article ever done on little old me! Thanks, Megan, and thanks again to Bob Sullivan and Academy At the Lakes for hosting this event!
Speaker Helps Students See 'Happiness Is A Choice' By MEGAN HUSSEY
Tribune correspondent
Published: April 12, 2008
LAND O' LAKES - At the age of 16, Marcus Engel was involved in the type of fender bender that every high-school student fears; one in which he accidentally struck an auto driven by his principal's wife. Taking the incident in stride, his principal advised him to "Change the things you can."
This advice proved valuable two years later, when Engel was in another wreck, this one far more serious. One late night on a St. Louis road, the actions of a drunken driver in another car cost Engel his eyesight; and caused massive injuries to his face and body that required a year of surgeries to repair.
Engel first had to accept the fact that he was blind. "I thought, 'I'm 18. I'm never going to see again. I'm never gonna lead my life again,'" he said. "What do you do?"
Reaching Teenagers
What Engel did in the years that followed was write two inspirational books and speak publicly about his experiences; his speaking engagements take the Orlando resident to 40 to 50 events yearly. "And because of my passion for education, I like speaking to schools the most," he said. "It's a powerful thing to get teenagers to listen, and judging from the number of e-mails and MySpace signups I get after my speeches, they are engaged by the message."
On Monday, Engel brought his message of hope, humor and inspiration to Academy at the Lakes, where he addressed students in grades eight through 12. Engel was accompanied by his wife and book editor Marvelyne Adams, and Carson, his guide dog. He also brought a bag full of his books, "After This ... An Inspirational Journey For All the Wrong Reasons" and "The Other End of the Stethoscope: 33 Insights for Excellent Patient Care." He handed out free copies to students who asked questions after the speech.
He also handed out advice about overcoming terrible odds. "You get used to things like this, because sooner or later it just becomes your life," he said. "All I knew is that I had to give it time, that my life could someday be good again." Working To Stay Independent Following his principal's advice to change the things he could, he took extensive steps to ensure that life would be good again. After a challenging regimen of surgeries and physical therapy, he attended a residential education program for the blind. "In order to graduate, I had to prepare, serve and clean up a meal for the 50 people on the school staff," he said. "For the second challenge, a school secretary took me out in a car ... and dropped me off, telling me I had to find my own way back. On my honor, I could only ask one question of a pedestrian to get back."
"When she dropped me off, I soon realized I was 25 miles away from where I needed to be," he said. After successfully completing this program, Engel was able to return to college, and then took a summer job as a camp counselor. He taught and performed all of the same activities - such as swimming, canoeing and archery - as the other counselors.
He says his greatest achievement may have been mentoring an overweight child who was bullied by campers. "His mother wrote a letter saying that the only positive experience the boy had at camp was working with Marcus, the blind counselor, because the boy said, 'He couldn't see how fat I am,'" Engel said. "I spent all summer trying to show other people the things that I could do, and he was most impressed by the things I couldn't do."
Engel has dedicated much of his life to inspiring others; through his books, his speeches and occasionally through advising lawmakers about the establishment of meaningful drunken driving laws.
Most of all he wants people to know that although his accident claimed his vision, it didn't cloud his view of the world. "I'm pretty ecstatic about my life," he said. "Happiness is a choice."
MARCUS ENGEL
SOME BACKGROUND: On Monday, national inspirational speaker and author Marcus Engel addressed eighth to 12th grade students at Academy at the Lakes in Land O' Lakes. COMMUNITY CONTRIBUTIONS: During his freshman year of college, Engel lost his eyesight and sustained massive injuries in an auto crash caused by a drunken driver. He now speaks to students and other audiences about overcoming insurmountable odds to find a fulfilling life. A LITTLE HISTORY: In addition to his 40 to 50 speaking engagements a year, Engel has written two books.
GETTING INVOLVED: To learn more about Marcus Engel and his work, go to http://www.marcusengel.com/ or www.myspace.com/marcusengel. Find this article online at: http://www2.tbo.com/content/2008/apr/12/pa-speaker-helps-students-see-happiness-is-a-choic
Thursday, April 10, 2008
Wednesday, April 9, 2008
You Want What?
Read carefully - this wasn't a Michigan State party out of control. This was a group of weirdos who wanted to be tear gassed!
Ya know, that isn't real smart. If you want to be tear gassed, you can buy some as a self defense measure, much like pepper spray. But to encite the cops to do it? That's like someone too cowardly to committ suicide by their own hand, so they run out in front of a truck on the highway. Just stupid.
And I love the cops, "Ah, whatever..." attitude here. He's not calling for their heads, not angry at MSU students, he's just doing his job. Unfortunately, things got out of hand and they had to do their job with riot gear. Craziness.
****
Sunday, April 6, 2008Police use tear gas to disperse 4,000 in riot near MSU; 52 arrested, others ticketed Santiago Esparza and Christina Stolarz / The Detroit News EAST LANSING -- Police used tear gas, smoke grenades and other devices that make loud noises and emit bright flashes of light to break up a huge crowd of 4,000 people near Michigan State University that erupted into a riot early Sunday.
People began partying at the privately owned Cedar Village apartments across the street from the campus' northeast border about 1 p.m. Saturday and the crowd steadily swelled into the evening. East Lansing and campus police on Friday started warning people to stay away from the area after learning that an effort on the social networking site Facebook.com to resurrect Cedar Fest -- a wild street party that often ended up in heavy drinking and burning couches -- after a 20-year absence was under way.
Early Saturday evening, witnesses said, people already were throwing beer bottles and women were flashing their breasts to the crowd as revelers chanted "Tear gas us." By 10:30 p.m., police said, the crowd took over Cedar and Waters Edge streets. Within 20 minutes, officers donned helmets because they were being pelted with bottles and other debris. "The volume of glass that was coming in was ridiculous," East Lansing Police Chief Tom Wibert told The State News, Michigan State's student newspaper. "The amount of people being hit was ridiculous."
An inch of glass from broken beer and soda bottles covered the streets, police and witnesses said.At a Sunday news conference, Wibert said nearly every of the 80 officers from various jurisdictions who responded to the incident was struck with something."A lot of the people tossing bottles and cans had already tossed down bottles and cans," said MSU spokesman Terry Denbow. "It is not an excuse. It can be seen as a reason for some (who got out of hand)."Kevin Koerner, a 21-year-old MSU student from Grand Ledge, said he went inside his apartment when the tear gas was used. He said some students want out of their way to provoke police."Absolutely," he said. "The students were trying to bring it on."
Vanessa Schultz, a 20-year-old MSU student from Clinton Township, said she stayed in her apartment. She said she saw a classmate cuffed and sitting on the ground. She said the early buzz form some partygoers was they wanted police to use tear gas."I saw riot cops. I didn't really want to go outside," she said. "I felt like everyone wanted to get tear gassed. Just an experience, I guess.
"Beginning at midnight, there were reports the crowd had become violent and Wibert said the partiers were out of control. An officer had been struck by fireworks on the 200 block of Cedar a fire was reported at River and Victor streets and glass bottles continued to be lobbed at officers. Police issued repeated warnings beginning about 1:30 a.m. Sunday. When the crowd would not disperse, smoke grenades that did not contain tear gas were deployed about 30 minutes later. That wound up chasing off about one-half of the crowd, police said.When the remainder still would not leave about 2:16 p.m., tear gas was shot into the crowd. A graphic video on the internet Web site YouTube shows people running and screaming through the streets.
"The hardcore ones wanted to be tear gassed, that's what it is," Wibert told the Lansing State Journal. "Our guys were just taking too many bottles."Witnesses said that the partiers became upset when police did not immediately use tear gas. Dakota Cousineau, a 21-year-old who lives in the apartments but is not an MSU student, said he watched the party grow out of control."I consider it a riot when people were throwing bottles at the police," he said Sunday. "Once you start using tear gas, that pretty much is a riot." But Kyle Gulock, a 21-year-old MSU student from Warren, said the police were too quick to act and that the crowd was starting to peter out about 2 a.m. "It was cool and things looked like they were going to subside," Gulock said.By 3:15 a.m. Sunday, police had cleared the streets. Officers made 52 arrests for various offenses; 24 of whom are MSU students. Students involved in the incident could face a variety of punishment by the university, including expulsion.
But Wibert said the majority of the people involved in the incident were not students."A few individuals are responsible for what occurred last night and we will hold them accountable," he said during a press conference on Sunday. "To paint their actions with a broad brush covering all MSU students is wrong."Wibert said that the majority of students skipped the party and he is not ashamed to call himself a MSU graduate. "I graduated from MSU and I am not ashamed for what happened," he said. "I'm proud the vast majority of my fellow Spartans had something better to do."
Mayor Victor Loomis praised the law enforcement officers who did a good job handling the partiers, despite being grossly outnumbered."It is important to note that they, together, kept the events from last night and this morning from becoming more tragic," the mayor said.
Denbow said the university is taking a hard look at the person who started the Facebook effort. He said university officials contacted the person before the incident to state their beliefs that the person would bear some responsibility if things turned ugly.
But Denbow said the idea of such a party was not a bad idea. Alcohol and people with bad intentions fueled the destruction."It is clear this was not an East Lansing or Michigan State University event," he said. "It was not inherently a bad event until the end."
Denbow said the university is also looking at making policy changes to head off future problems. Denbow would not divulge those changes.In 2005, a crowd of more than 2,000 college students and others swarmed downtown East Lansing after the Michigan State men's basketball team lost in the Final Four. Police arrested 42 people. Damage was estimated at $8,275.In 1999, property damage was estimated at up to $500,000 when the Spartan men lost in the Final Four. Revelers overturned cars, smashed store windows and set fires. Police arrested 132 people, including 71 Michigan State students. There also were problems during the Spartans' 2003 NCAA tournament run. But large gatherings during Final Four appearances in 2000 and 2001, for the most part, were peaceful.
Ya know, that isn't real smart. If you want to be tear gassed, you can buy some as a self defense measure, much like pepper spray. But to encite the cops to do it? That's like someone too cowardly to committ suicide by their own hand, so they run out in front of a truck on the highway. Just stupid.
And I love the cops, "Ah, whatever..." attitude here. He's not calling for their heads, not angry at MSU students, he's just doing his job. Unfortunately, things got out of hand and they had to do their job with riot gear. Craziness.
****
Sunday, April 6, 2008Police use tear gas to disperse 4,000 in riot near MSU; 52 arrested, others ticketed Santiago Esparza and Christina Stolarz / The Detroit News EAST LANSING -- Police used tear gas, smoke grenades and other devices that make loud noises and emit bright flashes of light to break up a huge crowd of 4,000 people near Michigan State University that erupted into a riot early Sunday.
People began partying at the privately owned Cedar Village apartments across the street from the campus' northeast border about 1 p.m. Saturday and the crowd steadily swelled into the evening. East Lansing and campus police on Friday started warning people to stay away from the area after learning that an effort on the social networking site Facebook.com to resurrect Cedar Fest -- a wild street party that often ended up in heavy drinking and burning couches -- after a 20-year absence was under way.
Early Saturday evening, witnesses said, people already were throwing beer bottles and women were flashing their breasts to the crowd as revelers chanted "Tear gas us." By 10:30 p.m., police said, the crowd took over Cedar and Waters Edge streets. Within 20 minutes, officers donned helmets because they were being pelted with bottles and other debris. "The volume of glass that was coming in was ridiculous," East Lansing Police Chief Tom Wibert told The State News, Michigan State's student newspaper. "The amount of people being hit was ridiculous."
An inch of glass from broken beer and soda bottles covered the streets, police and witnesses said.At a Sunday news conference, Wibert said nearly every of the 80 officers from various jurisdictions who responded to the incident was struck with something."A lot of the people tossing bottles and cans had already tossed down bottles and cans," said MSU spokesman Terry Denbow. "It is not an excuse. It can be seen as a reason for some (who got out of hand)."Kevin Koerner, a 21-year-old MSU student from Grand Ledge, said he went inside his apartment when the tear gas was used. He said some students want out of their way to provoke police."Absolutely," he said. "The students were trying to bring it on."
Vanessa Schultz, a 20-year-old MSU student from Clinton Township, said she stayed in her apartment. She said she saw a classmate cuffed and sitting on the ground. She said the early buzz form some partygoers was they wanted police to use tear gas."I saw riot cops. I didn't really want to go outside," she said. "I felt like everyone wanted to get tear gassed. Just an experience, I guess.
"Beginning at midnight, there were reports the crowd had become violent and Wibert said the partiers were out of control. An officer had been struck by fireworks on the 200 block of Cedar a fire was reported at River and Victor streets and glass bottles continued to be lobbed at officers. Police issued repeated warnings beginning about 1:30 a.m. Sunday. When the crowd would not disperse, smoke grenades that did not contain tear gas were deployed about 30 minutes later. That wound up chasing off about one-half of the crowd, police said.When the remainder still would not leave about 2:16 p.m., tear gas was shot into the crowd. A graphic video on the internet Web site YouTube shows people running and screaming through the streets.
"The hardcore ones wanted to be tear gassed, that's what it is," Wibert told the Lansing State Journal. "Our guys were just taking too many bottles."Witnesses said that the partiers became upset when police did not immediately use tear gas. Dakota Cousineau, a 21-year-old who lives in the apartments but is not an MSU student, said he watched the party grow out of control."I consider it a riot when people were throwing bottles at the police," he said Sunday. "Once you start using tear gas, that pretty much is a riot." But Kyle Gulock, a 21-year-old MSU student from Warren, said the police were too quick to act and that the crowd was starting to peter out about 2 a.m. "It was cool and things looked like they were going to subside," Gulock said.By 3:15 a.m. Sunday, police had cleared the streets. Officers made 52 arrests for various offenses; 24 of whom are MSU students. Students involved in the incident could face a variety of punishment by the university, including expulsion.
But Wibert said the majority of the people involved in the incident were not students."A few individuals are responsible for what occurred last night and we will hold them accountable," he said during a press conference on Sunday. "To paint their actions with a broad brush covering all MSU students is wrong."Wibert said that the majority of students skipped the party and he is not ashamed to call himself a MSU graduate. "I graduated from MSU and I am not ashamed for what happened," he said. "I'm proud the vast majority of my fellow Spartans had something better to do."
Mayor Victor Loomis praised the law enforcement officers who did a good job handling the partiers, despite being grossly outnumbered."It is important to note that they, together, kept the events from last night and this morning from becoming more tragic," the mayor said.
Denbow said the university is taking a hard look at the person who started the Facebook effort. He said university officials contacted the person before the incident to state their beliefs that the person would bear some responsibility if things turned ugly.
But Denbow said the idea of such a party was not a bad idea. Alcohol and people with bad intentions fueled the destruction."It is clear this was not an East Lansing or Michigan State University event," he said. "It was not inherently a bad event until the end."
Denbow said the university is also looking at making policy changes to head off future problems. Denbow would not divulge those changes.In 2005, a crowd of more than 2,000 college students and others swarmed downtown East Lansing after the Michigan State men's basketball team lost in the Final Four. Police arrested 42 people. Damage was estimated at $8,275.In 1999, property damage was estimated at up to $500,000 when the Spartan men lost in the Final Four. Revelers overturned cars, smashed store windows and set fires. Police arrested 132 people, including 71 Michigan State students. There also were problems during the Spartans' 2003 NCAA tournament run. But large gatherings during Final Four appearances in 2000 and 2001, for the most part, were peaceful.
More 'Make The Connection'
Finally finished "Make The Connection" by Bob Green and Oprah Winfrey.
This weight loss book is a little more than that. It's also a guide to get readers to look at their eating habits.
One of Bob's 10 rules for success is to avoid or eliminate alcohol from one's diet. Okay, fine. Alcohol has tons of empty calories, it slows the body's metabolism, it demotivates the drinker, etc. Yeah, it's a bad thing if you're trying to lose weight.
Well, sprinkled throughout the book are little bits of knowledge from Oprah on how she applied each of Bob's 10 steps. The chapter on alcohol consumption was interesting - for several reasons.
This chapter was of Oprah's personal experience while in Italy. She was travelling with the food and wine critic from GQ, so they were eating and drinking at the finest restaurants in Italy which are, of course, probably some of the finest on earth. Oprah tells the tale how she drank wine at dinner one night, then could barely drag herself through her workout the next morning - a seven mile run across an Italian valley.
This leads the reader to ask, "Dang, girl! How much did you drink?!" Oprah answered, "Not much, just enough to be social. Three, maybe four glasses of wine, tops."
Three or four glasses equals social drinking? Folks, you are reading the words of me, a good old boy from the mid-west, a former occupant of a fraternity house and someone who probably likes to drink and eat as much as Madame Winfrey. I've gotta tell ya, if I ever drink four glasses of wine - that's moved past the realm of social drinking. No?
According to the popular rule of thumb, a 750 ml bottle of wine contains five servings. Servings of wine in Italy are probably bigger than in America (let's face it-if ya got good wine, ya drink good wine!), so it's my assumption Oprah had the vast majority of one bottle of wine.
Social drinking, to me, equals one, maybe two drinks. Maybe, if the event is especially long, three. Four? Sure - but then it's no longer (as Oprah put it) "just enough to be social." If I get four drinks in me, you can bet that was the entire point - it's no longer social.
I don't know... what do you think? Does "just enough to be social" equal three or four drinks?
This weight loss book is a little more than that. It's also a guide to get readers to look at their eating habits.
One of Bob's 10 rules for success is to avoid or eliminate alcohol from one's diet. Okay, fine. Alcohol has tons of empty calories, it slows the body's metabolism, it demotivates the drinker, etc. Yeah, it's a bad thing if you're trying to lose weight.
Well, sprinkled throughout the book are little bits of knowledge from Oprah on how she applied each of Bob's 10 steps. The chapter on alcohol consumption was interesting - for several reasons.
This chapter was of Oprah's personal experience while in Italy. She was travelling with the food and wine critic from GQ, so they were eating and drinking at the finest restaurants in Italy which are, of course, probably some of the finest on earth. Oprah tells the tale how she drank wine at dinner one night, then could barely drag herself through her workout the next morning - a seven mile run across an Italian valley.
This leads the reader to ask, "Dang, girl! How much did you drink?!" Oprah answered, "Not much, just enough to be social. Three, maybe four glasses of wine, tops."
Three or four glasses equals social drinking? Folks, you are reading the words of me, a good old boy from the mid-west, a former occupant of a fraternity house and someone who probably likes to drink and eat as much as Madame Winfrey. I've gotta tell ya, if I ever drink four glasses of wine - that's moved past the realm of social drinking. No?
According to the popular rule of thumb, a 750 ml bottle of wine contains five servings. Servings of wine in Italy are probably bigger than in America (let's face it-if ya got good wine, ya drink good wine!), so it's my assumption Oprah had the vast majority of one bottle of wine.
Social drinking, to me, equals one, maybe two drinks. Maybe, if the event is especially long, three. Four? Sure - but then it's no longer (as Oprah put it) "just enough to be social." If I get four drinks in me, you can bet that was the entire point - it's no longer social.
I don't know... what do you think? Does "just enough to be social" equal three or four drinks?
Tuesday, April 8, 2008
Drunk Newlyweds Tasered and Jailed
Posted Apr 8th 2008 11:47AM by Peter Mychalcewycz
Ah, wedding night. A magical evening filled with frivolity and passion, and, evidently, non-lethal electrocution via taser.
Sigh.
A Vallejo, California couple was thrown in jail on their wedding night after a house party was repeatedly broken up by police. Neighbors reported hearing loud music late into the night and the party eventually headed outside.The groom, evidently overjoyed by the prospect of everlasting marital bliss, became a bit too animated for police. He was treated to a healthy dose of electrical current after he stripped off his shirt and advanced toward officers with balled up fists. He got tasered. On his wedding night. Well played, sir.
Not to be outdone, the bride was also arrested for public intoxication. Both of them spent the evening in Solano County Jail. We are aware that the economy is not at its strongest right now, but seriously, wasn't there an easier way to score a cheap room for the night? Here's hoping the rest of their lives go more smoothly than the first 24 hours of their marriage.
Ah, wedding night. A magical evening filled with frivolity and passion, and, evidently, non-lethal electrocution via taser.
Sigh.
A Vallejo, California couple was thrown in jail on their wedding night after a house party was repeatedly broken up by police. Neighbors reported hearing loud music late into the night and the party eventually headed outside.The groom, evidently overjoyed by the prospect of everlasting marital bliss, became a bit too animated for police. He was treated to a healthy dose of electrical current after he stripped off his shirt and advanced toward officers with balled up fists. He got tasered. On his wedding night. Well played, sir.
Not to be outdone, the bride was also arrested for public intoxication. Both of them spent the evening in Solano County Jail. We are aware that the economy is not at its strongest right now, but seriously, wasn't there an easier way to score a cheap room for the night? Here's hoping the rest of their lives go more smoothly than the first 24 hours of their marriage.
Monday, April 7, 2008
Academy At The Lakes
It was my honor to present for Academy At The Lakes in Tampa, FL this afternoon! Thank you guys for being such an attentive and engaged audience!
Thanks to Mr. Bob Sullivan and JoAnn for an awesome lunch and for all the info on Academy!Very, VERY special thanks to Dr. David Persky and Abby Persky for helping me spread my message to Academy students! You guys are the best - and I owe you a lunch next time you're around Orlando!
Dr. David Persky is an administrator at St. Leo University, where I spoke early last month. He also happens to be the former Worthy Grand Master of my college fraternity, Kappa Sigma (but WGM is a big time position with the national Executive Committee - not just some bud of mine from the old days in the chapter house!). It's great to see that, even a dozen years after my initiation into Kappa Sigma, that connection continues to put me in contact with some wonderful, wonderful people! Thanks again, Dave!
Check out all the pics on myspace!
www.myspace.com/marcusengel
Thanks to Mr. Bob Sullivan and JoAnn for an awesome lunch and for all the info on Academy!Very, VERY special thanks to Dr. David Persky and Abby Persky for helping me spread my message to Academy students! You guys are the best - and I owe you a lunch next time you're around Orlando!
Dr. David Persky is an administrator at St. Leo University, where I spoke early last month. He also happens to be the former Worthy Grand Master of my college fraternity, Kappa Sigma (but WGM is a big time position with the national Executive Committee - not just some bud of mine from the old days in the chapter house!). It's great to see that, even a dozen years after my initiation into Kappa Sigma, that connection continues to put me in contact with some wonderful, wonderful people! Thanks again, Dave!
Check out all the pics on myspace!
www.myspace.com/marcusengel
Sunday, April 6, 2008
A One Beer Hangover?
Ever had a hangover from one beer? Or just one mixed drink?
Lately, I've been feeling (and seeing) the pounds I've put on in the last year or two. So, I've made a strong effort to hit the treadmill for a few miles every day. Of course, I've also tried to lessen my favorite downfall, French fries. So far, so good – but check me in a few months to be sure I'm still on the right track!
In addition to cutting bad-for-me foods and increasing exercise, I'm reading "Make the Connection" by Bob Green and Oprah Winfrey. Everyone knows Oprah has see-sawed with her weight over the last two decades. One of her most positive influences has been Bob Green, a personal trainer who showed her what to eat, why to eat and how to eat. Pretty good info they put into this here book. The book came out in the mid-90s and I'm a bit confused by some of the information (as we know, oat bran used to be the best thing you could eat, now it's irrelevant. Bob says don't eat nuts, but every issue of Men's Health in 2008 talks about their nutritional quality. What to believe, what to believe?)
One of Bob's rules for weight loss success is to limit or eliminate alcohol. Booze having high calories isn't probably any sort of news, but did you know the effects of alcohol at higher elevations are more intense?
Bob talked about how, when he moved to Telluride, CO, he went out to a pub with friends. At the pub, he had one beer. The next morning? Hangover city! At the opening of the spa where he worked, he had a glass of wine. Next morning? Second verse, same as the first. He just felt like crap. The only thing he could attribute this to was the increased effects of alcohol at high elevations (he was just under 10K feet, BTW).
A few years ago, I heard a story of an unruly passenger on a cross country flight. The passenger had had several drinks and started to get lippy with the flight attendants. When one of the flight attendants told the pilot, the pilot instructed the passenger be given free drinks for the duration of the flight. A ploy to pacify an angry passenger? Maybe... but the pilot also then asked ground control to take the plane up another several thousand feet. The pilot knew the increased elevation, along with the copious amounts of booze, would soon take hold on the passenger. Next thing ya know? The passenger is passed out to the world. I cannot vouch for the truth of this story, but it helps prove the point.
Just something to be aware of, folks – alcohol's effects are greatly increased at high elevations.
Lately, I've been feeling (and seeing) the pounds I've put on in the last year or two. So, I've made a strong effort to hit the treadmill for a few miles every day. Of course, I've also tried to lessen my favorite downfall, French fries. So far, so good – but check me in a few months to be sure I'm still on the right track!
In addition to cutting bad-for-me foods and increasing exercise, I'm reading "Make the Connection" by Bob Green and Oprah Winfrey. Everyone knows Oprah has see-sawed with her weight over the last two decades. One of her most positive influences has been Bob Green, a personal trainer who showed her what to eat, why to eat and how to eat. Pretty good info they put into this here book. The book came out in the mid-90s and I'm a bit confused by some of the information (as we know, oat bran used to be the best thing you could eat, now it's irrelevant. Bob says don't eat nuts, but every issue of Men's Health in 2008 talks about their nutritional quality. What to believe, what to believe?)
One of Bob's rules for weight loss success is to limit or eliminate alcohol. Booze having high calories isn't probably any sort of news, but did you know the effects of alcohol at higher elevations are more intense?
Bob talked about how, when he moved to Telluride, CO, he went out to a pub with friends. At the pub, he had one beer. The next morning? Hangover city! At the opening of the spa where he worked, he had a glass of wine. Next morning? Second verse, same as the first. He just felt like crap. The only thing he could attribute this to was the increased effects of alcohol at high elevations (he was just under 10K feet, BTW).
A few years ago, I heard a story of an unruly passenger on a cross country flight. The passenger had had several drinks and started to get lippy with the flight attendants. When one of the flight attendants told the pilot, the pilot instructed the passenger be given free drinks for the duration of the flight. A ploy to pacify an angry passenger? Maybe... but the pilot also then asked ground control to take the plane up another several thousand feet. The pilot knew the increased elevation, along with the copious amounts of booze, would soon take hold on the passenger. Next thing ya know? The passenger is passed out to the world. I cannot vouch for the truth of this story, but it helps prove the point.
Just something to be aware of, folks – alcohol's effects are greatly increased at high elevations.
Saturday, April 5, 2008
Do Country Music Singers Approve Of Driving Drunk?
Flip on any modern country (or vintage country, for that matter) station and, within a song or two, you'll likely hear some mention of alcohol. Is this because the gods of country music (Hank Williams Sr., Willie Nelson, Johnny Cash, Waylon Jennings) all have been known for their substance abuse? Maybe...
Today, I landed on a modern country station and got a little more of an eye-opener. Folks, I pretty much despise modern country; songs written about hangin' out on the farm in the backs of pickup trucks. Not for the content, mind you (don't forget I grew up on a farm in central Missouri), but because the songs are usually written by a professional songwriter, then sung by a professional musician - neither of which have ever, EVER probably been in the country! But, I digress...
Today's eye-opener was a tune by Alan Jackson. Not sure the official title, but something close to, "I'm in Love With You Baby And I Don't Even Know Your Name." In the tune, he stops into a restaurant for coffee and gets an ugly waitress. However, he sees a beautiful waitress serving a different area of the restaurant. Being a bit socially awkward, he knocks back some liquid courage in the form of tequila. Next thing, he's drunk, proposing marriage to the beautiful server. He even gets to hug her as she's helping him stagger to the car. In the end, he's standing at the alter with a veiled woman. But when he lifts her veil? It's the fugly waitress again. Ah, what a cute country song! NOT!
Hey, I've got no problem with falling in love with some trashy waitress. I may have done it once or twice myself! However, he blatantly talks about how he needs help to get to his car, presumably due to the Cuervo Gold and not a snafu of food poisoning from the tarter sauce.
In this song, there is no mention of a sober driver. There's no reference to "just one more." There's nothing mentioned about temperance in any shape or form. And he's headed to his car... nice.
Songwriting is a true, true talent. I greatly respect someone that can tell an entire story in 10 sentences, three of which are the chorus and say the same thing. I just wish artists would think a little more what message they're sending to their listening audience.
Today, I landed on a modern country station and got a little more of an eye-opener. Folks, I pretty much despise modern country; songs written about hangin' out on the farm in the backs of pickup trucks. Not for the content, mind you (don't forget I grew up on a farm in central Missouri), but because the songs are usually written by a professional songwriter, then sung by a professional musician - neither of which have ever, EVER probably been in the country! But, I digress...
Today's eye-opener was a tune by Alan Jackson. Not sure the official title, but something close to, "I'm in Love With You Baby And I Don't Even Know Your Name." In the tune, he stops into a restaurant for coffee and gets an ugly waitress. However, he sees a beautiful waitress serving a different area of the restaurant. Being a bit socially awkward, he knocks back some liquid courage in the form of tequila. Next thing, he's drunk, proposing marriage to the beautiful server. He even gets to hug her as she's helping him stagger to the car. In the end, he's standing at the alter with a veiled woman. But when he lifts her veil? It's the fugly waitress again. Ah, what a cute country song! NOT!
Hey, I've got no problem with falling in love with some trashy waitress. I may have done it once or twice myself! However, he blatantly talks about how he needs help to get to his car, presumably due to the Cuervo Gold and not a snafu of food poisoning from the tarter sauce.
In this song, there is no mention of a sober driver. There's no reference to "just one more." There's nothing mentioned about temperance in any shape or form. And he's headed to his car... nice.
Songwriting is a true, true talent. I greatly respect someone that can tell an entire story in 10 sentences, three of which are the chorus and say the same thing. I just wish artists would think a little more what message they're sending to their listening audience.
Thursday, April 3, 2008
Who's Been Watching Too Much Cops?
This is a horribly sad story, folks.
As if this person didn't make a bad enough choice by drinking and driving, having kids in the car is just unforgivable. And then to have injured your own child and THEN run away so you don't get in trouble? This woman either has a horrible, horrible problem with alcohol - either that or she's just a freaking idiot. Maybe both.
But really, she thinks running from the cops is the thing to do? That just shows this woman has lived on the wrong side of the law - and she watches way, way too much
TV.
********************
Mom Leaves Behind Crash And Daughter
Thursday, April 03, 2008 12:02:14 AM
MELBOURNE -- A Brevard County woman is in jail after a DUI crash sent four people to the hospital, including her 6-year-old daughter.
Heather Ayers, 29, of Palm Bay made her first court appearance Wednesday afternoon.
Troopers said she was weaving in and out of traffic northbound on Interstate 95 just north of the Wickham Road exit when her vehicle slammed into the back of a car.That car flipped several times, ejecting three of the people inside.
Ayers' vehicle skidded over the southbound lanes. Troopers said she then took off on foot, leaving her seriously hurt daughter inside.
Troopers said Ayers admitted to drinking all day.
Ayers’ daughter was taken to Orlando Regional Medical Center where she's in serious condition.
"Her statement to me was she seen too many cop shows and knew she was supposed to run when the police were after her. And I asked why she ran and she said she knew she was drunk and she knew the police was after her," said Sgt. Charles Griffith from the Florida Highway Patrol.
Ayers’ is being held in the Brevard County Jail on a $190,000 bond.
As if this person didn't make a bad enough choice by drinking and driving, having kids in the car is just unforgivable. And then to have injured your own child and THEN run away so you don't get in trouble? This woman either has a horrible, horrible problem with alcohol - either that or she's just a freaking idiot. Maybe both.
But really, she thinks running from the cops is the thing to do? That just shows this woman has lived on the wrong side of the law - and she watches way, way too much
TV.
********************
Mom Leaves Behind Crash And Daughter
Thursday, April 03, 2008 12:02:14 AM
MELBOURNE -- A Brevard County woman is in jail after a DUI crash sent four people to the hospital, including her 6-year-old daughter.
Heather Ayers, 29, of Palm Bay made her first court appearance Wednesday afternoon.
Troopers said she was weaving in and out of traffic northbound on Interstate 95 just north of the Wickham Road exit when her vehicle slammed into the back of a car.That car flipped several times, ejecting three of the people inside.
Ayers' vehicle skidded over the southbound lanes. Troopers said she then took off on foot, leaving her seriously hurt daughter inside.
Troopers said Ayers admitted to drinking all day.
Ayers’ daughter was taken to Orlando Regional Medical Center where she's in serious condition.
"Her statement to me was she seen too many cop shows and knew she was supposed to run when the police were after her. And I asked why she ran and she said she knew she was drunk and she knew the police was after her," said Sgt. Charles Griffith from the Florida Highway Patrol.
Ayers’ is being held in the Brevard County Jail on a $190,000 bond.
Wednesday, April 2, 2008
Rearview Mirror Cam: Big Brother or Safety Net?
Imagine parents being in the car with teen drivers, even when the parents are at home. Star Trek tech, right? Well, not so much.
American Family Insurance now offers a free video camera to it's customers to install in the cars of teens. The camera is triggered by erratic driving, speed, jerky movements, etc. It then records the 8 seconds before and after, then the video is E mailed to the parents of the teen driver.
This is a teaching moment for parents, but will teen drivers see it as such? Or, will they think it's simply a way for parents to spy on kids?
As accidents are the #1 cause of death for teens, do parents really care if the kids think it's spying? The goal is to keep kids alive - by whatever means necessary. Many traffic safety experts say people need five years of driving experience (if they start driving at 16 years of age) before they are truly adept at the skill of operating a motor vehicle. If, during those five years, a parent can learn the good and bad driving habits of their child, it makes sense that they can use the videos to point out to teens where they need to pay more attention, reduce speed, be more aware, etc.
Props to American Family Insurance for using technology to help promote safe driving habits among teens!
American Family Insurance now offers a free video camera to it's customers to install in the cars of teens. The camera is triggered by erratic driving, speed, jerky movements, etc. It then records the 8 seconds before and after, then the video is E mailed to the parents of the teen driver.
This is a teaching moment for parents, but will teen drivers see it as such? Or, will they think it's simply a way for parents to spy on kids?
As accidents are the #1 cause of death for teens, do parents really care if the kids think it's spying? The goal is to keep kids alive - by whatever means necessary. Many traffic safety experts say people need five years of driving experience (if they start driving at 16 years of age) before they are truly adept at the skill of operating a motor vehicle. If, during those five years, a parent can learn the good and bad driving habits of their child, it makes sense that they can use the videos to point out to teens where they need to pay more attention, reduce speed, be more aware, etc.
Props to American Family Insurance for using technology to help promote safe driving habits among teens!
Tuesday, April 1, 2008
Humboldt State University
I was honored to speak for the students of Humboldt State University in Arcata, CA.
This was my first trip to Humboldt State and I couldn't have asked for a better experience! The weather was the quintessential Pacific NW, the people were all cool and laid back and my client, Meghan Ciufetelli, is just da bomb! What else would you expect from the birthplace of Sponge Bob Square Pants?!
Special thanks to Meg for arranging everything, hauling me around, showing me the highlights of Arcata and hooking me up with the best place EVER to stay! My only regret is that there wasn't more time - Humboldt County is definitely somewhere I want to vacation in the future!
Thanks to the California Highway Patrol for their continued work to help eliminate drunk driving. The HSU program was made possible by a grant from CHP and I, for one, am truly grateful law enforcement takes such a pro-active role in prevention.
This was my first trip to Humboldt State and I couldn't have asked for a better experience! The weather was the quintessential Pacific NW, the people were all cool and laid back and my client, Meghan Ciufetelli, is just da bomb! What else would you expect from the birthplace of Sponge Bob Square Pants?!
Special thanks to Meg for arranging everything, hauling me around, showing me the highlights of Arcata and hooking me up with the best place EVER to stay! My only regret is that there wasn't more time - Humboldt County is definitely somewhere I want to vacation in the future!
Thanks to the California Highway Patrol for their continued work to help eliminate drunk driving. The HSU program was made possible by a grant from CHP and I, for one, am truly grateful law enforcement takes such a pro-active role in prevention.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)
