"I Can't Handle This For Eight Months"

In the continuing Nick Hogan drunk driving saga, a phone call to his mom was released from the Florida jail where he's serving his sentence. He complains to his mom that his cell is "half the size of my bathroom", that it has no windows, nothing but a cot. He's in solitary confinement, complaining that solitary is what they do to major criminals, not someone who got into a car accident. He completes his manifesto with, "I can't handle this for eight months...."

Let's rewind the clock back to why Nick Hogan (Hulk Hogan's son) is in jail in the first place. Nick and a friend were involved in a horrific car crash last fall. Nick was driving imprudently and possibly drunk. He plead no contest to the charges brought against him and was sentenced to serve eight months in the FL county jail where he resides. The friend with whom he was in the wreck is now in a permanent vegetative state. He probably doesn't want to be there, either.

The audio of the phone call between Nick and Mom was edited, as you'd expect the media to do; just the most outlandish statements were aired. Still, it feels like a stretch to have sympathy on a criminal complaining about his conditions...mainly because his buddy no longer has the ability to complain.

And solitary confinement? If this is so, the reasoning must be due to his celebrity profile.

Nick, just be glad you're serving time in jail - not prison. And think a little about the friend you injured before complaining about the wretched conditions you're forced to endure.

Marcus Engel inspires audiences to achieve success by making intelligent choices.

www.MarcusEngel.com

Marcus@MarcusEngel.com

314-852-4494

babysitting?

*note - comments following the article

Teen Boys Arrested in Connection With
Sex Assault on Girls Passed Out in Park
Saturday, May 17, 2008

LOS ANGELES — Two teenage boys have been arrested in connection with the alleged sexual assault of at least one of three girls who passed out at a San Fernado Valley park, police said.
A 16-year-old boy and a 15-year-old boy were arrested Friday after police interviewed several students believed to be at Mason Park in Chatsworth around the time the high school freshmen girls were there on Thursday. The older teen was booked on suspicion of sexual battery and the younger boy was booked on suspicion of sexual assault on a victim incapable of defending herself, Detective Mike Fesperman said.
Investigators believe the girls — one found unconscious in the men's bathroom, and the others near picnic tables — were drugged, but they also may have been drinking.
The girls were treated at a hospital and released. They are cooperating with detectives but don't remember what happened while unconscious, Capt. Steve Ruiz said.
Police are doing tests to determine if the girls were given a "date rape" drug or had drunk alcohol.
People playing basketball at the park Thursday morning became concerned about the girls who appeared to be unconscious.
Some witnesses said they saw the girls drinking alcohol and smoking something, Detective Shannon Smith said.
About 50 teenagers were hanging out in the park earlier that morning, she said. Most left by the time of the incident and the rest fled when police arrived.
Police also found backpacks, a bag of candy and soda bottles at the scene, Ruiz said.
Classes at Chatsworth High School, near the park, started later than usual this week because of standardized testing. However, buses kept their regular schedules so students who were not taking the state tests had to wait for classes to start.
One Chatsworth student, Sarah Dibble, told KCBS-TV that her classmates often play hooky on testing days. Not all students are tested, and during down time many are "just sitting there doing nothing," said Dibble.
"It's basically go to school, watch a movie, do nothing. So it's basically not worth going to school," she said.
**********
How sad and disturbing and awful...on all levels!

This is a reminder why women (especially young women) need to beware of the lowest low of the male gender – the drug rapist. Having had several female friends drugged and assaulted in the last decade, it hits pretty close to home when these sorts of stories arise. This is even more prevalent in colleges/universities where drinking is a more socially acceptable activity. One little pill dropped in the girl's drink while she's in the rest room, mixed with her lowered inhibitions due to alcohol consumption, and the trust factor can be horribly damaged for a long, long time. Ladies, please, PLEASE be aware of any predatory males around and lurking, especially when alcohol consumption is present-don't ever drink anything that didn't come from a bartender, waitress or a trusted friend.

Now, secondly? The young lady quoted at the end of the article is so, so right! During standardized testing times, school is nothing more than a babysitter. Students who are not being tested go to school, have all day study halls or watch movies. That's it. Nothing educational, nothing positive, nothing productive.

I wish schools would see this as a golden opportunity to do programs for the students NOT being tested. Whether it's educational seminars, speakers, public readings, field trips – do something so the students see a reason to go to school. For fun, if nothing else.

Schools that become a glorified babysitting service do a real, real disservice to the students who take the time to show up. If nothing else, having exciting activities while testing is occurring is one way to keep kids in school and out of the park.

Most Dangerously Drunk

WebMD Feature
from "Men's Health" Magazine

By Denny Watkins

New Year's Day 1916 was rough for Colorado residents looking for a little hair of the dog. On that Saturday, the state stopped all liquor sales, predating Prohibition by 4 years. Today, Colorado once again leads the nation in its attitude toward alcohol--but now, the mandate seems to be "drink till you drop."

In our second ranking of urban inebriation, Aurora comes in 82nd, Colorado Springs finishes 98th, and, once again, Denver is Most Dangerously Drunk.

We looked at annual death rates due to alcoholic liver disease, as well as who's headed there by regularly downing five or more drinks in a sitting (CDC). Next, we factored in drunk-driving arrests (FBI) and the percentage of fatal accidents involving intoxicated motorists (U.S. Department of Transportation). Then, after tallying the MADD report card of state efforts to cut down on excessive drinking, we had our ranking and, for the state of Colorado, an invitation to AA.

Most Dangerously Drunk

1 Denver, CO
2 Anchorage, AK
3 Colorado Springs, CO
4 Omaha, NE
5 Fargo, ND
6 San Antonio, TX
7 Austin, TX
8 Fresno, CA
9 Lubbock, TX
10 Milwaukee, WI

Last Call
Studies show that state laws that put strict limits on where and when alcohol can be sold help cut the number of booze-induced trips to the E.R.--and the morgue. That's because self-destructive drinkers tend to buy alcohol impulsively and at late hours. Go to alcoholpolicy.niaaa.nih.gov to see if your state could use a stronger stance.

Deputize Yourself
Roughly 1.4 million people are arrested for DUIs each year, but Mothers Against Drunk Driving estimates that for every driver cuffed, another 88 are never pulled over. Use your cellphone to lower that number. Besides the obvious indicators of intoxication, the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration also cites subtler signs, such as someone making extra-wide turns, going straight through a turn-only lane, or driving with his or her face close to the windshield. If the clues accumulate, make the call. (In many states, 311 is nonemergency dispatch.)

Beer over Children?

This article is disturbing on several counts. First, the subject itself - what sort of person cares more for the protection of their beer than that of his child?

Second, the writer of this article seems to make some fun jabs at the whole notion with his reference to the fact it was a 30 pack of cans. C'mon... I'm all for a little color commentary, but to point out how ridiculous this is since the beer is unbreakable containers? Just shows how the writer lessens the seriousness of the event.

Is this uncommon? Both the subject of the article AND the "color commentary?" Unfortunately, it's not. And that's exactly why fines should be much, much steeper than a mere $750 for endangering one's own child in such a way.

*****************
Driver Fined for Buckling Up Beer Instead of Boy
May 13th 2008By Anthony Layser

If you were driving a car conveying your child and a case of beer, and only had one extra seat belt, which would you choose to buckle up?

Wait, don't answer yet.

An Australian driver was recently fined $750 for leaving a 5-year-old boy unrestrained while transporting a case of beer buckled in a seat belt.

The boy was reportedly seated on the floor and the 30 can carton was strapped in between two adults.

The constable who pulled the driver over in the central Australian town of Alice Springs said he was "shocked and appalled" by the finding, and that the incident was the first time he'd seen beer take priority over a child.

As much as we like beer, get the kid buckled up. It would be one thing if they were bottles, but cans?

Nick Hogan – Yet Another Sad Story

Well, unless you've been living under a rock (or outside the state of Florida), you may not have heard about Nick Hogan (real name Nick Bollea). Here's the history...

Nick Hogan is the son of Hulk Hogan, one of my kinda sorta heros growing up (this was before I really knew what a hero was). In August of last year, a seventeen year old Nick Hogan was driving a modified Toyota Supra with his friend riding shotgun. Nick's driving record was less than stellar, especially considering he's been driving for only a couple of years. Several counts of reckless driving, but c'mon-even the best new drivers are reckless...they just don't intend to be. But with Nick Hogan's driving record, no one should have been surprised at that August evening's outcome.

Nine months ago, near Tampa, FL, Nick and his friend crashed. Nick was not horribly injured, but his friend is still in a coma. Today, Nick's sentence was handed down.

Nick Hogan received eight months in jail (not prison, from what I can read), three years revocation of his license, five years probation and 500 hours of community service.

A fair penalty? Well, let's look a little deeper...

Hogan pleaded no contest to the charges. Would have he received a stiffer sentence had he plead guilty? Dunno.

There are a few things I find interesting here...

1. The judge warned Nick Hogan against using any of his community service as speaking engagements which could garner him more media attention. Props, Judge!

and

2. The judge also ordered Hogan to remain alcohol free for the next five years, part of his probation conditions.

Um, shouldn't he stay alcohol free for the next five years due to the fact he's under age? Granted, maybe this needs to be reinforced when there's tons of evidence this crash was caused by not only speed and careless driving, but also by alcohol, but it seems redundant to warn him off booze.

The entire case is just a sad commentary on this young man's life. Should a 17 year old kid who made a tragic mistake be thrown in prison forever? Many bloggers tend to think so. I don't.

He's still a kid. Should this experience stay with him forever? Sure! should he serve a stiff penalty for the crime? Absolutely! Should his sentence reflect the severity of Hogan's friend's injuries? Darned tootin'.

But what exactly do we do with teens that make tragic mistakes? That's a really, really tough call-and it just reiterates why it's so important parents take an active role in education about the dangers of impaired and imprudent driving.

I hope the Nick Hogan case is a wake up call for parents nationwide. Please, please keep a close eye on your kids... I bet Hulk wishes he had.

A Bad Rap?

This entire scenario about the Greek system at San Diego State University is horribly sad. SDSU is one of my clients, specifically within the Greek system. I can assure you this is NOT the norm within the SDSU Greek system.

What I find troubling with this entire story is how much it focuses on the fraternities involved. Theta Chi is pictured as the worst offender, yet there's not a number given of how many Theta Chi brothers were actually arrested. Phi Kappa Psi lists four, but they're put in there as an afterthought... or so it's written.

As is typical, we don't know if half the students arrested were members of intramural sports teams. Or the Residence Hall Association. Or Christian Campus House, for that matter. Fraternity houses, long known as party central for colleges, are again singled out for their involvement-yet we really don't know to what level. Speaking as a fraternity member who lived in a house where some small time drug peddling took place, you have to keep in mind any time there is a group of students together, chances are, therein will you find some "bad apples." It doesn't matter what the reason the group is drawn together, there will always (almost always, at least) be individuals who participate in criminal activities. It's just sad fraternities may have members doing bad things, but the entire house gets a bad rep for the actions of a few.
***************************************
Nearly 100 Arrested in College Drug Bust
By ALLISON HOFFMAN, AP
Posted: 2008-05-06 17:26:01

SAN DIEGO (May 6) - Dozens of San Diego State University students were arrested after a sweeping drug investigation found that some fraternity members openly dealt drugs and one even sent a mass text message advertising cocaine, authorities said Tuesday.
Authorities on Tuesday said they arrested nearly 100 people, most of them students, in a sweeping drug bust at San Diego State University. Here, bags of drugs and handguns that were seized in the investigation are pictured.

Two kilograms of cocaine were seized, along with 350 Ecstasy pills, marijuana, psychedelic mushrooms, hash oil, methamphetamine, illicit prescription drugs, several guns and at least $60,000 in cash, authorities said.Of the 96 people arrested, 75 were students. Eighteen of the students were arrested Tuesday when nine search warrants were executed at various locations including fraternities, said Jesse Rodriguez, San Diego County assistant district attorney.

The undercover probe, dubbed Operation Sudden Fall, was sparked by the cocaine overdose death of a student in May 2007, authorities said. As the investigation continued, another student, from Mesa College, died Feb. 26 of a cocaine overdose at an SDSU fraternity house, the DEA said.

Those arrested included a student who was about to receive a criminal justice degree and another who was to receive a master's degree in homeland security."A sad commentary is that when one of these individuals was arrested, they inquired as (to) whether or not his arrest and incarceration would have an effect on him becoming a federal law enforcement officer," said Ralph Partridge, special agent in charge of the U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration in San Diego.Some defendants were scheduled to appear in state court to face charges Tuesday.

During the probe investigators discovered that in some fraternities most members were aware of "organized drug dealing occurring from the fraternity houses by its members," the DEA said in a news release."Undercover agents purchased cocaine from fraternity members and confirmed that a hierarchy existed for the purpose of selling drugs for money," the DEA said.

The district attorney's office said search warrants were served in San Diego and suburban La Mesa, including the Theta Chi fraternity house and several apartments.A member of Theta Chi sent out a mass text message to his "faithful customers" stating that he and his "associates" would be unable to sell cocaine while they were in Las Vegas over one weekend, according to the DEA. The text promoted a cocaine "sale" and listed the reduced prices.Theta Chi's San Diego chapter declined to comment.

"We're talking to our advisers," said John Phillips, a past president of the chapter.

Theta Chi, founded in 1856, has 131 chapters in the U.S. and Canada and more than 161,000 initiates.University police and federal drug agents worked together in the investigation, making more than 130 undercover drug buys were made at locations including fraternity houses, student parking areas and dormitories, authorities said.Shawn Collinsworth, executive director of the national office of Phi Kappa Psi, said he was told by two of the SDSU fraternity chapter's leaders that four of its members were arrested. He said the fraternity is cooperating with the investigation.

"It isn't behavior becoming of Phi Kappa Psi," Collinsworth said.San Diego State is one of the largest schools in California's state university system with about 34,000 students. The campus has an active network of fraternities and sororities.Associated Press writers Elliot Spagat in San Diego and Greg Risling in Los Angeles contributed to this report.

How Much Do You Drink? (nudge nudge, wink wink)

This morning while seated in a doctor's waiting room, my wife and I were chatting about articles in the mags. One magazine, something to do with doctors in central Florida, stated an interesting fact:

When asked about their consumption of alcohol, 24% of men and 16% of women lie to their doctor about how much they drink.

Really? Only 24%? That number actually seems rather low.

Several years ago, I was chatting with a resident. I asked her the question, "What percentage of patients you see either abuse alcohol or use mood altering medications, rather script or recreationally?" Her answer shocked me: "Almost all. In fact, if someone does NOT have an anti-depressant or anti-anxiety medication listed on their health history, I usually question them about it. Almost everyone uses something."

She also said that when someone reports their total weekly consumption of alcoholic beverages, she doubles that number to get a more accurate reading.

Is this necessary? Well, there's a lot of evidence supporting the resident's argument, isn't there? After all, if someone says they have a cocktail after work, then a glass of wine with dinner, most folks would think that's within the acceptable range. But it sounds a lot worse to say, "I have 14 drinks every week." Same information, just one way it's more palatable.

I believe docs should ask, "On average, how many drinks do you have per day?" This question, rather than the weekly one, should give a better idea of that person's rate of consumption.

And folks, when the docs ask this question... tell the truth, tell the truth, tell the truth! It's vitally important for a physician to get an accurate reading of your true health – not what you wish it'd be, not how you want to be thought of, but the whole truth and nothing but the truth!

Why People Will Stop A Drunk, But Not An Abuser

ABC has been running a bunch of social experiments, just to see how Americans will react. In one, a Middle Eastern woman, totally covered, goes into a doughnut shop. The owner (an ABC actor) sees her walk in, loudly tells her to, "Get on your camel and go back to your own country!"

The purpose? To see how the doughnut shops customers will react. Will they do the right thing? I.E., stand up to the owner and call him out on discrimination? Or will they turn the proverbial blind eye to yet another example of ethnocentrism?

Now that you have an idea how ABC conducts some of these experiments, fast forward to a recent episode of Oprah. Oprah, loving the idea of these social experiments, invites a psychologist on the set to explain why the public may (or may not) react to perceived injustices.

In one experiment, a man and woman are arguing in a park. The argument climbs to higher and higher levels and escalates to a bit of physical intimidation. The man, up in the woman's face, is pushing her and growing more and more angry. It's obvious that soon his anger is going to boil over. And then? Well, the "and then?" is what the experiment is all about.

Even though this staged argument is in a public park, there are many, many more people who decide not to get involved. They turn the blind eye and deaf ear to the argument, leaving the angry man to continue down his intimidation route.

Now, an experiment or two later, a drunk man (staged actor again) is fumbling in his pocket for his keys, ready to drive off. He's obviously highly, HIGHLY intoxicated, to the point of falling down as he tries to climb in the car.

Do people stop to confront the drunk? Yes! Every single instance shown, at least one person stopped to dissuade the drunk from getting behind the wheel.

Why will people try to stop drunk drivers, but not domestic violence? That's a great question, but drunks in question here weren't violent nor angry; just drunk. Personally, I loathe any male who'd raise a hand against a woman. But if I get involved with the feuding couple, I run the risk (and probability) of having the angry male turn his anger on me. With the drunk? Someone that intoxicated can't put up a good fight.

There are 15,000 Americans killed every year by intoxicated driving. Chances are, we all know at least one fatality due to DWI. It's a widespread crime, to say the least. Are people just more aware of how dangerous DWI is compared to a single couple fighting in a park? That's hard to say, but it stands to reason passers by know a whole, whole lot more people who have been harmed by impaired driving than domestic violence.

Should either of these ever happen? Obviously not. But in the case with the fighting man and woman, the woman may (at least) have a bit of control to stand up to the male and walk away. An innocent pedestrian on the street doesn't have that option with the impaired driver. The angry husband's fury is centered around one person whereas the drunk's mistake can be felt by many.

I applaud ABC for their social experiments and, hopefully, helping to save some lives.