SAFER: Safer Alternatives for Enjoyable Recreation
Yeah, right. This is an org who's main mission is to allow passengers to smoke marijuana to reduce anxiety before commercial flights. Specifically, in the Denver. Their argument (which is rational) is that marijuana consumption is simply not linked with aggressive and violent behavior like alcohol is. True enough, but SAFER would be a lot more likely to see the reformation of marijuana laws if (gasp!) they actually worked to reform marijuana laws! Right now, they're advocating for an illegal drug to be illegally consumed in a public place. THAT is the sort of thing that can lead to some dangerous situations. Next thing you know, someone is anxious before a flight, they step into the weed lounge, buy a joint off the illegal drug dealer and start hitting it. Thing is, that drug isn't regulated and could easily be laced with any number of illegal substances besides marijuana.
Look, SAFER, you have a point about your drug of choice. But you're going about it in the totally wrong way. As with anything, we're Americans, we're guaranteed freedom of speech and we should exercise that right to try to change laws if we feel those laws need to be altered. But c'mon! This? Not even close...though it would give new meaning to The Mile High Club.
Wednesday, June 25, 2008
Friday, June 20, 2008
Marcus is a Wii character?
My buddy, Kyle Kuhlman, just sent me this picture of a guy who, strangely enough, bears a close resemblence to moi! Here's his note that went with it:Hey Marcus, I just got the Wii and made up a player of myself on the sports program. I put in all the attributes of myself, pulled up the picture and it looks remarkably like you.
So, faithful reader, what do you think? I'm a little disturbed that Wii has turned me into a video game character!
Monday, June 16, 2008
Drunk Mommy
A Polish woman was recently arrested after showing up at the hospital in the delivery process. Why the cuffs? Because her blood alcohol concentration was .12 (that's the equivalent of a six pack of beer, minimum.) Her baby was delivered with a BAC of .29-a level over three times the U.S. legal limit for DWI, if that gives you an idea of the amount of booze this poor baby had.
The mother could face up to five years in prison for child endangerment, even though physicians say the baby seems to be doing fine.
Is there anything more selfish than a mother who can't put down the booze or the crack pipe or the needle? Or, is it not selfishness and simply addiction? Either way, let's weigh this out... a child may suffer a lifetime from fetal alcohol syndrome... but the mom who did that to the child gets only five years max in the slammer?
A person can slap a child and be charged with battery, but a child being forced to drink it's mother's booze gets no choice. Just terribly sad.
I think most people are advanced enough to understand alcohol consumption during pregnancy is wrong. If not, let this Polish woman's situation be a reminder – when one is pregnant, they have a simple duty: protect the baby at all costs. Someone needs to get the memo to this mom.
The mother could face up to five years in prison for child endangerment, even though physicians say the baby seems to be doing fine.
Is there anything more selfish than a mother who can't put down the booze or the crack pipe or the needle? Or, is it not selfishness and simply addiction? Either way, let's weigh this out... a child may suffer a lifetime from fetal alcohol syndrome... but the mom who did that to the child gets only five years max in the slammer?
A person can slap a child and be charged with battery, but a child being forced to drink it's mother's booze gets no choice. Just terribly sad.
I think most people are advanced enough to understand alcohol consumption during pregnancy is wrong. If not, let this Polish woman's situation be a reminder – when one is pregnant, they have a simple duty: protect the baby at all costs. Someone needs to get the memo to this mom.
Sunday, June 15, 2008
"Super Potent Legal Bud"
Someone just posted an advertisement to my wall on my Facebook profile...and it's someone who doesn't know me very well! The message said:
"Hey Marcus, want to get high without breaking any of the existing laws? Get some super potent legal bud here!"
Then gives the URL for a site that sells the stuff.
Honestly, I'm a little intrigued because, well, anything to do with substances is on my radar due to my career. When I was a wee lad and hanging out in head shops and the like, I remember seeing a book called "Natural Highs." It gave recipes for concoctions one could make of roadside flowers and weeds, mixed with certain kinds of herbs and oils to create an intoxicating substance. Thankfully, they not only gave the recipes for this junk, but also the potential side effects (some of which included, oh, respiratory arrest) and symptoms to watch for if something went wrong.
People are always going to look for ways to get intoxicated. The fermenting of wine goes back thousands of years, as we all know. And it seems like every few years, a new street drug comes out that's more potent and deadly than the last.
I am very, very leery of companies which promote drug use in a "safe and legal" manner because so often, it's not safe and legal. This advertisement showed up on my facebook profile-unsolicited- and falls right into the hands of me, a guy who works in the prevention field. Yet, facebook is primarily utilized by those in the college years, so this is hitting the hands of young adults everywhere.
Parents have a hard enough time policing the net to keep their young kids safe, but this sorta advertising calls upon the sensibility of the recipient. People who get this advertising shoved in their face have to be wise enough to understand there is not safe and legal ways to do drugs-that's why they're called "drugs."
Be on the lookout for things like this...and be sure your finger is ready to hit the delete button when they show up!
"Hey Marcus, want to get high without breaking any of the existing laws? Get some super potent legal bud here!"
Then gives the URL for a site that sells the stuff.
Honestly, I'm a little intrigued because, well, anything to do with substances is on my radar due to my career. When I was a wee lad and hanging out in head shops and the like, I remember seeing a book called "Natural Highs." It gave recipes for concoctions one could make of roadside flowers and weeds, mixed with certain kinds of herbs and oils to create an intoxicating substance. Thankfully, they not only gave the recipes for this junk, but also the potential side effects (some of which included, oh, respiratory arrest) and symptoms to watch for if something went wrong.
People are always going to look for ways to get intoxicated. The fermenting of wine goes back thousands of years, as we all know. And it seems like every few years, a new street drug comes out that's more potent and deadly than the last.
I am very, very leery of companies which promote drug use in a "safe and legal" manner because so often, it's not safe and legal. This advertisement showed up on my facebook profile-unsolicited- and falls right into the hands of me, a guy who works in the prevention field. Yet, facebook is primarily utilized by those in the college years, so this is hitting the hands of young adults everywhere.
Parents have a hard enough time policing the net to keep their young kids safe, but this sorta advertising calls upon the sensibility of the recipient. People who get this advertising shoved in their face have to be wise enough to understand there is not safe and legal ways to do drugs-that's why they're called "drugs."
Be on the lookout for things like this...and be sure your finger is ready to hit the delete button when they show up!
Thursday, June 12, 2008
"The Heroin Diaries"
I am a child of both the 80s and 90s. I got to have all the cool toys of the 90s like Nintendo and such, but got the awesome music of the 80s like U2, Eazy E, etc.
When I first remember rock and roll, it had the face of Motley Crue. Then, after their heyday, I started to sheepishly admit I liked the Crue. After all, hair bands were out, grunge was in; things like "Girls Girls Girls" had been replaced by more meaningful songs like Nirvana's "Lithium" and Pearl Jam's "Jeremy."
So, when I came across the Crue's drummer's book, "The Heroin Diaries" (by Nikki Sixx), I was a little embarrassed downloading it. I associate the Crue with partying, but true hardcore drug use? Nah, not so much – but I was wrong.
Turns out, according to many drug rehab counselors who worked with the Crue, Sixx had the worst heroin and coke habit of anyone they'd ever worked with. That includes everyone from the Stones to the Chili Peppers. Sixx was the quintessential junkie-coke to start the day, booze and junk until the wee hours of the morning.
And yet? He's alive to tell the story. And the story is good! I'm about halfway through "The Heroin Diaries" and, let me tell ya, there have been several times when I've felt my stomach lurch with visions of what life was like for Sixx back in 87.
And know the best thing of all? His dedication.
The book starts out with the dedication to all addicts who've kicked booze and drugs. Those who will kick junk, too.
I have an enormous amount of respect for recovering addicts. Truly, I do. It takes so much guts to admit, "I have a bad problem and I want to get better." To do that first step, then go through with the tough follow up of changing one's life altogether is a HUGE thing...I'm glad to see Sixx honoring those who've also made that gutsy move.
When I first remember rock and roll, it had the face of Motley Crue. Then, after their heyday, I started to sheepishly admit I liked the Crue. After all, hair bands were out, grunge was in; things like "Girls Girls Girls" had been replaced by more meaningful songs like Nirvana's "Lithium" and Pearl Jam's "Jeremy."
So, when I came across the Crue's drummer's book, "The Heroin Diaries" (by Nikki Sixx), I was a little embarrassed downloading it. I associate the Crue with partying, but true hardcore drug use? Nah, not so much – but I was wrong.
Turns out, according to many drug rehab counselors who worked with the Crue, Sixx had the worst heroin and coke habit of anyone they'd ever worked with. That includes everyone from the Stones to the Chili Peppers. Sixx was the quintessential junkie-coke to start the day, booze and junk until the wee hours of the morning.
And yet? He's alive to tell the story. And the story is good! I'm about halfway through "The Heroin Diaries" and, let me tell ya, there have been several times when I've felt my stomach lurch with visions of what life was like for Sixx back in 87.
And know the best thing of all? His dedication.
The book starts out with the dedication to all addicts who've kicked booze and drugs. Those who will kick junk, too.
I have an enormous amount of respect for recovering addicts. Truly, I do. It takes so much guts to admit, "I have a bad problem and I want to get better." To do that first step, then go through with the tough follow up of changing one's life altogether is a HUGE thing...I'm glad to see Sixx honoring those who've also made that gutsy move.
Tuesday, June 10, 2008
3 strikes...-
Wow! As soon as I get done reading the previous article, here's another!
What this shows is one of two things:
Either ol' Ken has a serious problem with alcohol and is a fool who doesn't learn from his mistakes or
(and most likely), DWI laws in the U.S. are so lenient there's virtually no incentive for a man of Ken's status to refrain from driving drunk
Three DWIs is serious, no doubt. But why do DWI offenders get repeat convictions? Because the laws don't punish them hard enough to keep them from doing it again. THIS, faithful reader, is the very first step in fighting intoxicated driving: tougher penalties.
****
Stabler Charged With DUI for Third Time
AP
Posted: 2008-06-10 09:40:25
ROBERTSDALE, Ala. (June 9) - Former NFL star quarterback Ken Stabler was arrested and charged with reckless driving and driving under the influence of alcohol.
Stabler, now a radio analyst for University of Alabama football, was released from jail on $1,000 bond nearly 13 hours after his arrest, police said Monday
The 62-year-old ex-Crimson Tide quarterback was pulled over for a traffic offense about 12:30 a.m. Sunday, said Brian Middleton, assistant chief of police. He declined to specify what led police to pull Stabler over in the town near the Gulf coast.
Stabler did not immediately return a message left at his office Monday. University officials had no immediate comment.
Stabler pleaded guilty to drunken driving following a 2001 arrest in Orange Beach. Authorities dropped drug and reckless driving charges under a plea deal. In 1995, Stabler pleaded no contest to a DUI charge in nearby Escambia County, Fla.
Stabler led the Oakland Raiders to a Super Bowl title in 1977, and also played for the Houston Oilers and New Orleans Saints during a 15-year NFL career.
He was on Alabama teams that won two Southeastern Conference titles, a national championships in 1965 and went undefeated in 1966. He has been the Tide's color analyst the past decade.
What this shows is one of two things:
Either ol' Ken has a serious problem with alcohol and is a fool who doesn't learn from his mistakes or
(and most likely), DWI laws in the U.S. are so lenient there's virtually no incentive for a man of Ken's status to refrain from driving drunk
Three DWIs is serious, no doubt. But why do DWI offenders get repeat convictions? Because the laws don't punish them hard enough to keep them from doing it again. THIS, faithful reader, is the very first step in fighting intoxicated driving: tougher penalties.
****
Stabler Charged With DUI for Third Time
AP
Posted: 2008-06-10 09:40:25
ROBERTSDALE, Ala. (June 9) - Former NFL star quarterback Ken Stabler was arrested and charged with reckless driving and driving under the influence of alcohol.
Stabler, now a radio analyst for University of Alabama football, was released from jail on $1,000 bond nearly 13 hours after his arrest, police said Monday
The 62-year-old ex-Crimson Tide quarterback was pulled over for a traffic offense about 12:30 a.m. Sunday, said Brian Middleton, assistant chief of police. He declined to specify what led police to pull Stabler over in the town near the Gulf coast.
Stabler did not immediately return a message left at his office Monday. University officials had no immediate comment.
Stabler pleaded guilty to drunken driving following a 2001 arrest in Orange Beach. Authorities dropped drug and reckless driving charges under a plea deal. In 1995, Stabler pleaded no contest to a DUI charge in nearby Escambia County, Fla.
Stabler led the Oakland Raiders to a Super Bowl title in 1977, and also played for the Houston Oilers and New Orleans Saints during a 15-year NFL career.
He was on Alabama teams that won two Southeastern Conference titles, a national championships in 1965 and went undefeated in 1966. He has been the Tide's color analyst the past decade.
Star Athletes
America, on the whole, is pretty lousy when it comes to intoxicated driving. We're often shown as the bad example to countries like London and Spain and France, etc. Their rates of intoxicated driving and DWI - related crashes are much, much lower than ours.
You can chalk that up to smaller countries, less area to be required to drive, better public transportation, etc. However, this shows the U.K. certainly isn't immune to intoxicated driving. I hope this athlete's mistake will be seen and felt by the whole of the U.K.-because here in the States, we sure don't make any big ruckus when one of our star athletes does something like this (Case and point, Leonard Little.)
****
McCormick Charged for Fatal Crash
AP
Posted: 2008-06-09 17:00:17
LONDON (June 9) - Plymouth Argyle goalkeeper Luke McCormick was released on bail Monday after facing in court the mother of two boys who died in a highway crash.
McCormick's Range Rover was involved in a collision with a Toyota Previa minivan about 5:45AM ET Saturday on the M6 highway in Staffordshire, central England.
At Fenton magistrates' court, McCormick heard charges of causing death by dangerous driving, driving with excess alcohol and driving without insurance.
McCormick was given seven days' conditional bail and will appear next Monday at Stoke Crown Court. He entered no plea.Inside the Stoke courtroom a weeping Amanda Peak clutched a photograph of her sons Arron Peak, 10, and Ben Peak, 8.
The dead boys' 37-year-old father sustained a suspected broken neck and back. Three other people in the same vehicle were unharmed.
The 24-year-old McCormick, a former England youth international, plays in English football's second-tier League Championship. He was not injured in the accident.
You can chalk that up to smaller countries, less area to be required to drive, better public transportation, etc. However, this shows the U.K. certainly isn't immune to intoxicated driving. I hope this athlete's mistake will be seen and felt by the whole of the U.K.-because here in the States, we sure don't make any big ruckus when one of our star athletes does something like this (Case and point, Leonard Little.)
****
McCormick Charged for Fatal Crash
AP
Posted: 2008-06-09 17:00:17
LONDON (June 9) - Plymouth Argyle goalkeeper Luke McCormick was released on bail Monday after facing in court the mother of two boys who died in a highway crash.
McCormick's Range Rover was involved in a collision with a Toyota Previa minivan about 5:45AM ET Saturday on the M6 highway in Staffordshire, central England.
At Fenton magistrates' court, McCormick heard charges of causing death by dangerous driving, driving with excess alcohol and driving without insurance.
McCormick was given seven days' conditional bail and will appear next Monday at Stoke Crown Court. He entered no plea.Inside the Stoke courtroom a weeping Amanda Peak clutched a photograph of her sons Arron Peak, 10, and Ben Peak, 8.
The dead boys' 37-year-old father sustained a suspected broken neck and back. Three other people in the same vehicle were unharmed.
The 24-year-old McCormick, a former England youth international, plays in English football's second-tier League Championship. He was not injured in the accident.
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