March 2nd, 2010
If people want to get “Real” about pot and all other drugs that cause trauma and death to people of all ages, especially teens(The MTV World) they should know that a 5 year study of impaired drivers in upstate New York who killed themselves or others, showed only two who were impaired by pot, the rest by alcohol.
The many emerging teen suicide are connected with bingeing alcohol. There is no question that MTV is back in the Animal House era with heavy drinking a source of merrimentMTV needs to get into the real world and push the message that friends don’t let their friends get drunk. Smart people don’t watch MTV. It’s inane.
Tags: Alcohol, MTV, Pot, the real world
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December 31st, 2009
It looks like the most recent law that makes having kids under the age of 16 in a car driven by a drunk driver, a felony is working. Two such arrests and charges were delivered this week in NYS towns of Glen and Bethelem.
The other improvement was to mandate igntition interlock devices on second time offenders First timers usually get a plea to DWAI, not covered in the law. It won’t take effect until next Fall, but was signed by teh Governor.
Best wishes for all in the upcoming year and decade. Don’t forget to smile.
Doris
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December 1st, 2009
Tiger Woods’ situation could be clarified if the blood alcohol tests done routinely at hospitals after personal injuries occur were not confidential.
On the other hand, basic evidence is rapidly disappearing, like blood alcohol or other drug impairment. However, if Tiger was alledgely racing away from an enraged wife holding a golf club, and he leaves the scene fearful in a big rush, crashes the car and the wife races after him with a raised golf club, smashing the rear window of his car; there is no case.
The law is specific about husband abuses from wives, so case closed.
Actually, since there is no current victim or person to blame and all serious evidence has now disappeared, why not move on to important, tragic cases.
Tags: the law, Tiger, Woods
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July 31st, 2009
President Obama’s White House “Beer Summit” headline was produced by the media, which earns a lot of money from beer advertising.
Tying an invitation to “have a beer” with Professor Gates and Officer Crowley offered by Obama(like offering a “come to tea” invitation to a woman) gave the media an opening to the beer industry for a whole new ad campaign or perhaps a new White House logo on future beer cans, a huge favor which I don’t think Obama intented.
Meanwhile, the health plan reform bill remains stalled by the Congress while we see multi-replays of the beer table service next to the children’s playground equipement in the White House Background.
Getting beer use burned into the minds of small children and their parents normalizes and encourages interest in beer drinking, even at the White House.
As an early beer ad claimed, ‘It’s doesn’t get any better than this.” That’s so true from the beer industry veiwpoint.
Tags: Beer Summit, Crowley, Gates, Obama
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July 10th, 2009
If Hall of Fame inductee Bruce Smith’s football injuries and not alcohol were responsible for his conviction on DUI, as he claimed. then he should not be allowed to drive due to physical impairment. Hopefully, Bruce’s right to drive should be revoked in the U.S., by his doctor, a judge or other legally eligible official until his wounds are officially “cured”. After all, he can probably afford to hire an official chauffeur.
Tags: Bruce Smith, DUI, RID
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April 10th, 2009
The Los Angeles Angel Pitcher Nick Ardenhart and two friends are now with the angels forever thanks to a repeat DWI offender. This was no accident. It was murder.
When will innocent people be protected against repeat scofflaws who kill and maim(greater than 13,000 last year).
When the law will demand that all repeat offenders, as well as, those who drive unlicensed, must have an ignition interlock device(IID) installed in his/her car. The driver has to breath into the IID before starting the car. Any alcohol greater than .02 will kill the ignition. A simple device like this could have saved three lives, the injury of a 4th person and the anguish and trauma of the Ardenhart family. Why isn’t this law for the IID in place in California?
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April 2nd, 2009
Yo! I just returned from Nashville, TN, staffing the RID-USA booth at the 2009 Lifesavers’ Conference (1900 attendees from every State including 8 RIDders from NH,KY, TN and NY ) ca,e by the booth. I got the hard facts on % of youths who committed suicide connected to alcohol, no.s of the drop in DWI deaths State by State, a new commitment to share info with MADD on pending legislative goals, and the strong motivation to continue our efforts to deter underage drinking. (Three teen suicides/attempts at suicides occurred recently in my local high school ). I will make the connection between alcohol overdose and underage bingeing as a Speaker at the next Lifesavers Conferencein Philadelphia 4-11-2010.
Detailson alcohol-related unexpected teen deaths and the Conference facts will appear on the upcoming Spring RID newsletter. Blog me back if you want a copy or if you want to join RID at $20.
Doris Aiken
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February 28th, 2009
Whoopi Goldberg has my admiration for her statement on the obvious, but never mentioned on TV or radio, that perhaps the constant wave of alcohol ads everywhere, ball games, holidays, all sports arenas, billboards, would have and does have, an appeal to youth to drink on every occasion.
She was right, and she is the first celebrity to come right out and say so. Kudos to Whoopi! Perhaps the other panelists on the View will follow her suit.
Doris Aiken
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December 7th, 2008
Plexico Burress, the NY Giants wide receiver apparently had the cooperation of the hospital ER personel to cover up information about his “self-inflicted” bullet wound to his leg. By law, bullet wounds and severe burns must be reported to the police and or prosecutors since burglars and arsonists may be obvious criminal suspects.
The BAC(Blood Alcohol Content) of the driver’s involved in personal injury and fatal crashes, is confidental. Police must get a search warrant from a judge, often at night, to obtain this criminal evidence, wasting crucial time, as the BAC is rapidly disappearing(.02 an hour).
Many more people are killed and severly injured than those who choose to carry weapons, and/or shoot themsleves.
Attempts to correct this huge loophole in the criminal law(which enriches defense lawyers) denies justice and restitution to DWI victims and their families, have failed, so far.
What was Burress’s BAC and/or other drug consumption. Can we or the Giants ever know?
Doris Aiken, RID President
Tags: BAC, Burress, guns, Loophole
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November 25th, 2008
NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell has established himself as a law & Order type when it comes to reining in players who misbehave. So it was puzzling to me that he would give Kareem McKenzie a pass for his recent DUI. When an NFL player tests positive for marijuana the penalty is an automatic four game suspension, an astronomical loss of income and can impact his team, tremendously. Testing positive for pot in itself doesn’t endanger you or I. Driving drunk does. That’s why I believe DUI should be punished more severely than a first offense for pot. For Goodell to completely ignore this infraction is an outrage. What kind of message does this send? It’s a public safety issue that deserves some serious attention.
The national sports media gave this story little coverage. Perhaps, that’s because the product(beer) involved is also a major advertiser on the network and cable level.
I can’t think of any other reason for this double standard of justice when it comes to punishing DUI and drug offenders. A lot of sports writers and fans have applauded Goodell’s heavy handed approach in dealing with players who step out of line. Where’s their outrage for his lack of concern with McKenzie’s DUI? I am sure the State of New Jersey will punish Mr McKenzie accordingly. However, Mr. Goodell set a tone that NFL players would be held to higher standard since they are role models for the community. On this instance he dropped the ball.
Tags: DUI, Kareem McKenzie, NFL, Pot, Roger Goodell
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