Notre Dame College

What does a college do to increase enrollment by 500% in just a few years? To find that answer, you'll have to study Notre Dame College in Cleveland, Ohio.

I was honored to speak at NDC last night for their Welcome Week activities and, let me tell ya, NDC people care. Yes, they care.

Whether it's the administration, the professors, faculty, staff - every one's enthusiasm and commitment trickle down into the culture of what is NDC. Brian Emerson, my client and now friend, was my contact guy for this event. As we drove from the airport to NDC campus, I learned about the way NDC had almost died out several years ago, but now has new life breathed into the institution.

The students were some of the most kind, generous and courteous I've worked with in a long, long while. I'd especially like to thank Brian for the opportunity, but even more for giving me the opportunity to touch some lives.

Two NDC students (who shall remain nameless for anonymity's sake) spoke with me afterward. Both these young ladies have been touched by tragedy due to some horrible car crashes in the past. Both were so willing to discuss their pain, their experiences and their hopes for the future - and that's not easy to do with a stranger like me. You two are the reason I do what I do - to be able to put a positive element into lives that might otherwise be tainted by tragedy. Thank you for sharing your journeys, ladies, and please let me know if there's anything at all I can do for you in the future.

Thanks, NDC, for giving me an awesome trip back to Cleveland!

Don't forget to sign up to be friends on Facebook and MySpace!

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Lower the Legal Drinking Age?

In 1984, Congress passed a national act that raised the minimum age to purchase alcohol to 21. Most states were already at 21, but it meant the stragglers had to step in line with the rest of the U.S. When the act took effect, DWI and alcohol related fatalities went down – way down.

Why then, would a group of over 100 college/university presidents now advocate lowering the national drinking age to 18? Simple, they say: Binge drinking is so much more dangerous than moderate drinking. And binge drinkers are, by far, more plentiful in the under 21 crowd.

The college presidents insist they’re simply requesting a continual dialogue – not asking for the limit to be lowered immediately. And that is a rational approach.

There’s a part of me which wonders if this isn’t backasswards. I mean, moderating alcohol consumption by legalizing it for every American college student between their freshman and senior years? Seems a bit reversed, doesn’t it?

Since I work in this field, I’m all for anything which will make alcohol consumption safer for everyone. Could lowering the drinking age do this? Potentially, but it’d need much study and evaluation and a whole, WHOLE lot of social engineering first.

Now, let me talk from a parental standpoint. Day before yesterday, I dropped my stepson, Jordan, off at the University of Florida to begin his freshman year. He’s a great kid, so I don’t worry he’ll be a stupid binge drinker who’ll line up 20 shots at a house party and need his stomach pumped. Yet, with all the new things which will be coming his way over his first semester, I don’t really dig the idea he’d have full reign to sample every type of booze under the sun. Think about that… a college freshman moves out of the house with Mom & Dad. Big change, right? He starts a whole new educational process, a whole new living arrangement, a whole new environment, a whole different set of friends, etc. In fact, it’s gotta be the biggest change many of us ever face. Why then, would we think it’s a good idea to lower the drinking age to 18 and add that to the difficulties of adaptation to adult life?

Outside myself, I believe lowering the possession, purchase age to 18 would actually increase underage drinking significantly. Not in the 18-21 age range, but the under 18 age range.

See, when I was in high school, I hung out with high schoolers. Most high school students do. They don’t know a huge number of college students, and those they do probably aren’t 21. But if there’s a high school senior who sees 14 and 15 year old freshmen in the halls every day, what’s to prevent that relationship from forming and getting younger and younger teens to start drinking? It’s mucho easier to ask a senior to run into the liquor store to buy a bottle of hooch when you see him/her in the cafeteria every day, right?

Again, I’m always open for discussion for any idea to make drinking safer and healthier – I’m just unsure this is the way to get that result.

"Which Is Worse?"

Which is worse: Texting while driving or driving drunk?

That's a hard one to measure. Mainly because texting has only been around a few years. Obviously, anything that takes attention from the road is unsafe. No question there. But which is known for being a bigger killer?

America kills an average of 15, 000 people every year due to DWI. Texting? Hard to say. Unless there's a half written text timed at the exact moment of the crash, it's nearly impossible to tell.

This morning, I was reading on line about a young woman in California who was killed while texting while driving. She'd written a final text, but it hadn't been ssent out. Yet, the cops found her unsent text message on her phone's screen which was laying on the floorboards. Leads you to think her texting caused her death. And maybe it did!

But the headline was about how her fatality was from texting. Read the article and you'll learn she was drunk, too. So, which is a bigger story?

Americans are numb to DWI deaths. No biggie-until it happens to you or someone you love, right? But texting is such a new killer it makes bigger headlines. And that's just sad.

To take part in two separate activities that make driving so unsafe is simply stupid. No one deserves to die in a crash like this, but at some point, an individual has given up any right to complain if bad does, in fact, happen. There are only so many negative ingredients one can throw into the driving mix before it's almost certainly going to be an unsafe ride. In this case, I'm just thankful the girl in question didn't take out any other motorists.

"Which Is Worse?"

Which is worse: Texting while driving or driving drunk?

That's a hard one to measure. Mainly because texting has only been around a few years. Obviously, anything that takes attention from the road is unsafe. No question there. But which is known for being a bigger killer?

America kills an average of 15, 000 people every year due to DWI. Texting? Hard to say. Unless there's a half written text timed at the exact moment of the crash, it's nearly impossible to tell.

This morning, I was reading on line about a young woman in California who was killed while texting while driving. She'd written a final text, but it hadn't been ssent out. Yet, the cops found her unsent text message on her phone's screen which was laying on the floorboards. Leads you to think her texting caused her death. And maybe it did!

But the headline was about how her fatality was from texting. Read the article and you'll learn she was drunk, too. So, which is a bigger story?

Americans are numb to DWI deaths. No biggie-until it happens to you or someone you love, right? But texting is such a new killer it makes bigger headlines. And that's just sad.

To take part in two separate activities that make driving so unsafe is simply stupid. No one deserves to die in a crash like this, but at some point, an individual has given up any right to complain if bad does, in fact, happen. There are only so many negative ingredients one can throw into the driving mix before it's almost certainly going to be an unsafe ride. In this case, I'm just thankful the girl in question didn't take out any other motorists.

Mom Arrested for Having 12-year-old Drive Her to a Bar, Police Say

Friday, August 15, 2008

LONGVIEW, Texas — A 35-year-old Texas woman has been jailed after police say she made her 12-year-old daughter drive her to a bar.

Police in Longview say they watched a minivan turn into a driveway without signaling on Wednesday and bump into a home at a low speed. They say the car was driven by Jennifer Lynn Rosenberg's daughter.

Police say the girl told an officer she had just dropped her mother off at a bar. They say they found Rosenburg at the bar and that she admitted having her daughter drive her there.
Rosenburg remains in the Gregg County Jail on a $2,500 bond. A jail official declined to say whether she had an attorney.

A spokeswoman for Child Protective Services told the Longview News-Journal that the agency is investigating.

*****

What an incredibly perfect example of bad parenting. You'd think a mother of this quality wouldn't even care about the possibility of getting a DWI, yet she WILL take the risk of both her and her daughter's lives having an underage, inexperienced kid behind the wheel.

It goes without saying that this woman seemingly isn't your average Jane, but someone who has a serious issue with alcohol. I don't think it ever occurs to a social drinker, "Hey, let's go out for the night! And let's have little Suzy drive us there!" This is an act of desperation to get to an establishment for the express reason of consuming alcohol. And it's just sad.

UMKC Roo Camp

Wednesday, Aug. 13 found me in the greater Kansas City, MO area presenting for the University of Missouri-Kansas City. But not just any college program... no! This was Roo Camp!

What is Roo Camp, you ask? UMKC's mascot is the kangaroo, and this retreat is for a select group of UMKC freshman who have a strong desire to get the most out of their collegiate experience. Roo Camp immerses the UMKC freshman into acquaintance activities, discussions on college life and exposes them to experiences most freshmen don't get.

The helmsman of Roo Camp is Steve Terry - hands down, one of the most unique and motivated clients I've ever worked with. Steve, it was truly an honor to get to know you and work with you and the UMKC students. I hope to get back to KC for some more great experiences with folks who have such a true zeal for life!

While at Roo Camp, I also got to hook up with my good friend, Leah Atkinson. Leah and I have been buds for a dozen years and we were so fortunate she was able to officiate our wedding last year. Great students, great connections, great friends – what an awesome whirlwind trip!

Bet On Alcohol??

It's a rule of thumb that alcohol companies weather economic downturns better than other stocks. A strong correlation between depression and consumption? Looks that way. The candy, though, is a new one to me.

In Recession, Bet on Alcohol, Tobacco
By JANE WARDELL
AP

LONDON (Aug. 12) - As a global recession looms, what better way to cope than to eat, drink and be merry?

Eat, Drink, Smoke and Be Merry
Tom Gannam, AP
Even as consumers face soaring energy costs, rising food prices and higher mortgages or rent, it seems clear they're not prepared to forgo many of life's little treats - alcohol, cigarette and candy makers are all reporting healthy sales amid the gloom.
"I would never give it up, not unless I was dying of alcohol poisoning or something," said Kelly Piggeln, a 62-year-old retired nanny, as she indulged in her favorite two vices of a cigarette and a glass of wine on the patio of a London bar.

Piggeln's stance is being echoed by cash-strapped consumers around the world, a trend that is reflected in strong financial reports this season from some of the biggest so-called "sin stocks" even as banks and many retailers report sliding income.

Sin stocks, ranging from gambling to liquor, are usually a safe bet in hard times. While shares in some of those companies have fallen along with stock exchanges this year, lots are still seeing strong revenues and sales.

"It's inelastic demand as far as many of these stocks are concerned," said Hargreaves Lansdown analyst Keith Bowman, using the economists' term for consumption that is not deterred by higher prices. "So far there's signs that they are holding up, although there's still concern that these industries will see some impact."

Among the winners, though: Anheuser-Busch Cos. Inc., the biggest brewer in the United States, turned a profit in the most recent quarter despite fears that rising costs for raw materials like glass, barley and wheat and fuel would cut into The King Of Beers' bottom line.

The company is so confident that consumers won't abandon the beer that it plans to increase prices for popular brands like Budweiser and Bud Light to stay ahead of the higher costs.
Similarly, Denmark's Carlsberg A/S reported a 36 percent rise in second-quarter net profit, saying stronger sales, particularly in eastern Europe and Asia, helped offset rising costs.
In Milwaukee, Katie Brozovich - a teacher who also works three part-time jobs - said she makes choices in her spending, such as not having her hair and nails professionally done, so she can keep drinking the pricier craft brews she prefers.

"I'd rather spend $4 or $5 on quality beer than $3 on hopped up water," said the 46-year-old, who was sipping on a craft beer from nearby Michigan. "It's worth the extra buck or two to get quality."
Diageo PLC, the world's largest producer and distributor of spirits, dubs many of its brands - including Johnnie Walker whiskey, Smirnoff vodka, Captain Morgan rum and Guinness stout - "affordable luxuries" that people are loath to give up, even in an economic downturn.

London-based Diageo expects its Scotch whisky business to continue to grow at least 8 percent to 9 percent annually, amid growing demand from emerging markets in Asia and Latin America.
Those emerging markets, particularly the developing economic powerhouses of China and India, are playing a key part in the buoyancy of such companies in the current turbulence, boosting demand for alcohol and cigarettes, which are increasingly used as status symbols denoting success and wealth.

But much of the demand is also still coming from the United States and Europe, which have been hardest hit by the credit squeeze, with price rises not dissuading many consumers in those regions - Constellation Brands Inc., the world's largest wine company by volume, posted a 35 percent rise in branded wine sales in North America in the first quarter.

Sam McQueen, a 29-year-old teacher taking a lunch break outside Starbucks in Camden in north London, said she and her boyfriend had recently revised their spending strategy - and stop buying prepackaged foods at the supermarket to free up money for the treat fund.
"We're going to stop buying silly things like that as opposed to giving up going out for a drink," she said.

And while people can't smoke at the bar because of spreading smoking bans, tobacco companies are doing just fine.

Philip Morris International said its earnings rose 23 percent in the second quarter and it raised its earnings forecast for this year, saying it had not been affected by inflationary pressures like other consumer products companies.

"Cigarettes in general can withstand such an environment better than many consumer products," Chief Financial Officer Hermann Waldemer said at the time.

British American Tobacco PLC posted a 15 percent rise in its first-half profits with help from higher prices and increased sales of premium brands. Sales of BAT's most expensive brands, such as Dunhill and Lucky Strike, grew 7 percent.

"While not immune from the consequences of an economic slowdown, we can certainly look to the future with more confidence than most," Chairman Jan du Plessis said when announcing the results.

Imperial Tobacco Group PLC, which recently acquired rival Altadis, says it remains on track for a successful year. Altria Group , the owner of tobacco company Philip Morris USA, saw second-quarter profits slide because it spun off its international unit. But earnings from its continuing operations rose, and the maker of Marlboros reaffirmed its outlook for this year.

Not all the vices have profited. There are signs that Lady Luck has deserted gambling stocks while the pornography industry is also not proving immune to the downturn. Moody's has downgraded the debt of almost 20 gaming companies and four U.S. casinos have filed for bankruptcy this year. The pornography industry, which is largely privately owned, is also struggling amid slowing sales of DVDs.

But a drink and a smoke do not appear to be the only ways that consumers are comforting themselves in tougher economic conditions.

Cadbury PLC, the world's biggest confectionary company, reported a 7.3 percent rise in first-half sales in its first results since spinning off its U.S. drinks business. Among the big sellers in its candy store was Dairy Milk chocolate, rising 9 percent.

In the United States, the Hershey Co. reported dramatically higher second-quarter sales and profit and reaffirmed its 2008 guidance of sales growth of 3 percent to 4 percent.
"The odd bar of chocolate is not going to break the bank," said Louise Hill, 33, a London office worker. "I always have a piece a day and I can't see that changing."

Associated Press Writers Emily Ristow in London and Emily Fredrix in Milwaukee contributed to this report.

"Beyond Tomorrow"

Beyond Tomorrow is a cable show which airs a variety of geeky and interesting things. Today's episode did a myth buster on beating a breathalyzer test. Have you seen this done on shows like Myth Busters before? I've seen this exercise performed in any number of ways, but never with successful results. Here's the haps:

Two guys got good and drunk; one on scotch, one on vodka and cranberry juice. Thirteen total drinks apiece in a three hour time frame. Best case scenario, with time to metabolize the booze, at the end of the drinking spree, both gents have a minimum of 10 drinks in their system. When they blew, the first guy blew a .11 and the second a .09.

After trying peppermints, mouthwash, batteries, hyperventilating and cigarettes, neither was able to decrease their BAC. Findings are always the same - the only way to truly lower one's BAC reading is by lowering the BAC itself - and that takes time.

What I found most surprising was that after a three hour bender, one drink every 15 minutes, both guys weren't all that high. Thirteen drinks is a task-one must be TRYING to get drunk if they're drinking that heavy.

This is why I shoot holes in the usual argument of how folks are afraid to have a drink or two with dinner. Afraid they might be picked up for DWI on the way home. Yet, these tests indicate one could have at least eight drinks within a few hours and be under the presumptive legal limit. That's not a mistake made by having a drink or two with dinner - that's only going to happen with hardcore drinking.

Granny's Wine... But Less Of It

A new American Journal of Medicine study finds older Americans are drinking less. At the same time, minors are also drinking less. The study finds older Americans are more likely to drink wine instead of beer or hard liquor.

To what do we attribute these changes? From this blogger's view, there are several ingredients:

First, I think it stands to reason that as we age, most people's drinking slacks off. There just aren't a lot of folks who start drawing Social Security and use their first month's check to buy a beer bong. Second, the wine is a no brainer. With the health benefits shown by red wine, a more health conscious America is more likely to consume rouge vino.

The minors drinking rates falling off? First, education. Kids today are far, far more educated on the dangers of excessive consumption than at any time in history. Second, kids have more entertainment options than ever before. Instead of keg parties, many teens are turning to Wii parties. Instead of sneaking booze from the old man's liquor cabinet, kids are too busy text messaging. Instead of spiked punch at parties, more students are attending virtual parties on line on social networking sites.

Either way, the new AJM studies show some encouraging signs!

Beer For My Horses

Country singer Toby Keith has now stepped into the world of film. Next week, his first stab at a movie, "Beer for My Horses" hits theaters.

Alcohol consumption has always been a staple topic in country music. "Beer For My Horses" is one of the biggest country singles of the last 10 years. Why? Just because of the line, "Whiskey for my men, beer for my horses"? Nah, it's more than that...

This song had the mass appeal of putting up with no crap from no one. In our post 9-11 world, I think it appealed to our sense of self protection, righteousness and justice. Throw in a line or two about drinking and you've got the recipe for a successful country tune.

The one thing I always noticed about "Beer For My Horses" as a song was this: the link between justice and alcohol. Once the job is done, you've protected yourself and the world, hey, tip back some booze!

Not sure this is a really great message, but hey, maybe I'm reading too much into the song. It IS a country tune, after all...

Marcus' Official Stance on Alcohol

I had a recent inquiry as to my official stance on alcohol. This question came from a youth substance abuse prevention organization, not from an individual who was just curious. I figured this is something I should share because, frankly, it's the stance I believe most people should also have.

Alcohol is illegal for all American civilians under 21 years of age. I obey all the laws of this country. Therefore, when I speak to audiences who are minors, I do not and cannot and will not approve of the consumption of alcohol for those in the audience.

If a person is of legal drinking age, I believe in moderation, safety and responsibility if they choose to drink alcohol. If driving is involved, this becomes even more important.

That's my official stance on alcohol. The laws are what they are and I'm a law-abiding American citizen.

If there are clients or individuals with further questions, feel free to ask! Happy to share my thoughts, but rest assured my personal philosophies will always be in lock step with the laws of this country.