Will Lowering The Drinking Age Make Us As Moderate As Europeans?

Before I got married two years ago, I read everything I could get my hands on that dealt with parenting-specifically, parenting teenagers. And even more particularly, teenage stepchildren. So, bopping along through my list of potential reads, I came across a title that made me smile, “Yes, Your Teen Is Crazy” by Dr. Michael Bradley.

Ordered it, read it, LOVED IT! Gave me so much insight into the mindset of my new teenage stepkids…and I was really ashamed to admit I’d forgotten what it was like to be a teen. But his book put me right back into the mindset, the insecurities and the oddities of teenage life. I’ve since recommended this book to dozens, maybe hundreds, of parents with teenagers (hey, it’s the least I can do, right?)

Tonight, Dr. Mike Bradley’s E newsletter popped up in my in box. Felt this is good blog food for Drunk Driving Speaker since, well, it’s all about teens and drinking.

Let it never again be said that Europeans know moderation and Americans do not. Here’s Dr. Bradley’s article:


Dr. Mike Bradley's e-Newsletter
"Lowering the Drinking Age Will Save Teen Lives"
The dad who said this was a member of my audience in a talk about the alcohol abuse tsunami that has swept over America’s teenagers. Like the hundreds of other parents (along with many college presidents) who have said the same thing to me over the years, he was thoroughly convinced that allowing teens to drink alcohol at younger ages would reduce this problem: “We should let American kids drink like they do in Europe---you know, where kids grow up using alcohol from a young age so that they learn how to drink responsibly. European kids don’t see booze as a ‘forbidden fruit’ so they aren’t as attracted to it as teens are here. I know because I grew up in Spain and saw kids drinking wine at age four. They would just sip it. Everyone knows that kids in Europe don’t abuse alcohol like American teens.”
First, a disclaimer: I’m a myth junkie. I fervently hope that “Nessie” (the Loch Ness Monster) truly exists. And no one would love it more than I if one day it is proven that space aliens have been visiting our planet. I love those myths. They give me a welcome relief from the tedium of the day, an exciting respite where I can believe that magic is possible, that there are simple answers to complex issues, and that the experts don’t know what they’re talking about. I hate it when scientists rain on my fantasy parades by telling me that the odds of anyone having ever been abducted by space aliens are about the same as the odds of being abducted by space---well, you know what I mean. So I very much sympathize with folks who believe that handing Coors to kids will cure this epidemic of dangerous teen drinking. If that worked, I’d be the first to buy my son a keg and share a few with him. But science tells me that that “life-saving” act could well kill him.
According to those party-pooper researchers at the National Institutes of Health teenagers who start drinking at age 14 have a five-hundred-percent increase in the odds of becoming an addict than kids who wait until age 21 to imbibe. Teen brains are apparently “soft,” much more prone to the addictive effects of substances such as alcohol. Adolescent gray matter seems to get whacked much more powerfully by booze than does adult brain tissue. And alcohol is associated with everything bad that happens to teens to include car crashes, school failures, arrests, sexual assaults, unintended pregnancies, sexually transmitted diseases, and that worst of all parental nightmares, suicide.
So what about those European adolescents who can legally drink anywhere from birth to age 16, who are given alcohol at early ages, and who “everyone knows” are drinking responsibly? Well, I’m afraid that they must be off swimming with Nessie or teleporting to Mars since we can’t seem to locate them on Earth. In comparing adolescent drinking patterns (via the 21 nation European School Survey Project on Alcohol and Other Drugs and the United States Monitoring the Future Survey), it becomes clear that American kids (ages 15-16) are pikers when it comes to the “boozing Olympics.” For example, while 39% of US teens admit to drinking in the past 30 days, they only tie for last place with Croatia. The adolescents in each of the other 20 European nations easily beat out the US with some nations doubling our “scores” of active teen drinkers (Greece and the UK tied at 74% with Denmark being the runaway “winner” at 81%). Well, you could argue, maybe those EU kids ar e drinking, but surely they’re drinking more responsibly, right? Wrong! US teens “lose” the party-‘til-you-puke event as well. While 24% of America’s kids binge drink, every other EU nation (except Portugal) handily beats us. Interestingly, Denmark again “wins” that binge drinking event with 61% of its teens regularly drinking themselves into oblivion. Clearly, providing kids with access to alcohol does not teach responsible drinking. It does teach life-threatening risk taking.
I love myths as much as you might but if you ever had to bet the ranch on Nessie surfacing or ET phoning home, would you bet for or against those events? Well, that same cold calculus must also hold true for the deadly myths about teen drinking. The brutal fact is that an astounding number of us parents promote adolescent alcohol madness by voluntarily providing this deadly substance to our kids based upon an insane belief in those killer myths. A third of drinking teens say that their parents hand them the booze. A fourth of our kids say that parents drink with them.
If we grownups all stop pushing this drug, will our teens stop drinking? No, but science also shows that our calm but firm opposition can limit the frequency and intensity of adolescent use. Few folks obey speed limits, but everyone knows that those silly signs and annoying tickets do limit our dangerous excesses. So when it comes time to bet the life of your child, avoid the loud “everyone knows” myths and instead trust the quiet science which yells, “Teenagers can’t drink.”
Dr. Mike Bradley
Dr. Bradley is available for speaking events on a variety of topics. Check out docmikebradley.com for more information and for excerpts from all of his books, including his latest release When Things Get Crazy with Your Teen: The Why, the How and What to Do NOW! (McGraw Hill, 2009).




Marcus Engel inspires audiences to achieve success - No Excuses!www.MarcusEngel.comMarcus@MarcusEngel.com314-852-4494

Happy Mother's Day?

Here we are, Mother’s Day! I’m one of the very, VERY fortunate ones who grew up with a mom who not only loved me unconditionally, but one who also supported any positive directions my life would take. I think my mom has always had the opinion about her kids, “I want whatever is best for my kids.”

A lot of people say that, right? Yet, a lot of parents hinder their kids by saying they want what’s best for the kid, but they end up trying to get what’s best for the parent. Like, not allowing the kid to have a social life so the kid will stay at home and keep the parent company. Or a parent who doesn’t want the kid to go away to college because the parent will miss the kid too much. To me, this type of immaturity in raising kids actually ends up harming the child…and I’m so, SO glad I never had to deal with that.

I was never made to feel guilty because my dreams and desires took me away from my parents home. I’ve never had to feel angst and shame because I missed being at Mom’s beckon call on her birthday or mother’s day. Life just doesn’t always allow for me to be everywhere I WANT to be-but I’ve got a Mom who truly wants me to live my life. And that, unfortunately, means sometimes she doesn’t get to see her kids on mother’s day. Like, today.

The other thing I’ve found about my mom is that she truly appreciates just the opportunity of being a mom. She has two adult, healthy, happy successful kids who she doesn’t have to spend extra time worrying about. Of course, she’s a mom, so she’ll worry like any mother, but not undually so.

This morning, I looked at MarkDewalle.com, the blog ran by my favorite nurse, Barb Dewalle, who many of you’ve read about in “After This…” Barb’s 24 year old son, Mark, passed away due to a rare form of cancer in 2007. Can any of us imagine being a mom on mother’s day when we also have a child who is deceased? That’s gotta be really, really tough….

Plus, I’ve just accepted a new position on the state advisory board for Mothers Against Drunk Driving-Florida. What is the whole reason MADD exists? Moms who’ve had the unnecessary loss of a child. Again, what must mother’s day be like for these moms?

My mom nearly lost me back in ’93 in that horrible crash. Do we tend to appreciate things more when they’re almost snatched away? You betcha…and I think that’s something my mom has never forgotten. And from that, I benefit…and I hope she benefits, too, by seeing a well-adjusted adult child living the life he wants to lead.

So this Mother’s Day 2009, I hope you’ll spare a thought and some good energy for moms who’ve lost children…and I hope you’ll take some inspiration from my mom who truly wants what is best for her kids, too.

Livin' In The 'Used To'

Last night, I attended a meeting with some pretty heated discussions. The reason doesn't matter, it was the typical inefficient meeting with people bantering back and forth about the best way to get things accomplished-never realizing that their arguing is preventing ANYTHING from being accomplished.

At one point, a question was posed, "Why are we doing it like this?" To which an answer was given, "That's what's required." The retort: "Well, it didn't used to be like that."

(Insert best "cut the BS comment I've heard in a while):

"We're not livin' in the 'used to be.' We're living in the now and want to get it right for the future."

Love it!

Do you ever find yourself living in the 'used to be"? When you're pining for the "old days" or how things have formerly been done? To me, constantly looking back means you can't get a good view of the future. It's also something (I feel) makes you get old real, real quick.

We can live in the "used to be", or we can face reality that now is...which would you rather embrace?

Thanks For The Birthday Wishes, Friends!

Yep, the big 34 came and went yesterday...no longer can I be the double trace year...but alas, it's better than the allternative, right?

Just want to say THANK YOU to all the friends who sent Happy Birthday E mails, Facebook posts, and calls-you guys rock!

And even though this sounds a little like a used car sales pitch, I did a little contest via Facebook. Around noon yesterday, I posted my status which was a little something like this:

Marcus is celebrating his 34th birthday! So, in celebration, the first ten people who send me a private message WITH your mailing address will get a free copy of my book. Ready...set...GO!

In less than five minutes, I'd had over a dozen messages with addresses. The winners were two friends from Detroit Country Day, an old buddy from Camp Mo-Val, a MADD friend from West Palm, a (hopefully soon) client from Virginia and another person from Jersey who's name I know, but can't remember how we know one another. All in all, an awesome way to distribute some books to folks and have a little fun doing it!

Thanks again, everyone, for making birthday #34 so awesome!

Disability and Drunk Driving: A New Concept for Community Service?

One of the coolest orgs I get to work with is the Association for Higher Education and Disability (AHEAD), and one of the coolest people at AHEAD is Kim Probin. Often times, I’ll go to campuses for Disability Awareness Week or other disability programs, inspiring students with disabilities (and those without) to overcome their adversity, whatever their obstacles may be. This is usually separate from the alcohol awareness and DUI prevention programs I provide for college students.

But, thanks to Kim being such an innovative thinker, she recently managed to marry the two concepts together. I LOVE this idea and if there’s anyone who works in a non-for-profit who also has DUI offenders serving community service in their offices, please let me know and I’ll be happy to pass some books along to you. Who knows?! Kim may just be onto a new notion of impaired driving prevention! Here’s her note:



Hi Marcus!

The reason for this note is not about conference, exhibiting or anything like that. The purpose of this note is a couple of other things...

Last week, I received a phone call from a very nice girl named Annie. She is from Florida but now lives local here to the Charlotte, NC area. She was calling "non-profits" to see if she could find one willing to let her fulfill her obligation to do community service hours for the Department of Corrections. I was a little hesitant at first, but then found myself asking her some questions about her charges, how many hours she had to complete, etc. Annie went on to tell me that she was charged with a DUI last year when she was just 27 years old.

Maybe at one time, I wouldn’t have really thought about it too much. But, not this time... after all, I read YOUR story... now, there was a personal connection to this kind of thing for me. As we spoke on the phone about her charges, I found myself asking her if she had been in an accident, how they caught her, etc. Thankfully, she was not in an accident but she was caught speeding while intoxicated. She seemed to really focus on how much money this has cost her in fees, classes, fines, etc. I wanted to know though, did she REALLY learn the lesson in the "bigger picture?" During our entire conversation, my mind kept flashing back to your story. I kept thinking about how your life had changed and how I could make a difference so that this wouldn't happen to someone else.

Finally, I spoke with Stephan and we agreed... we would allow Annie to fulfill her community service hours with us. She said she would clean the office, file, run errands, and that sort of thing. But, I thought there was a better use of her time. My goal was to have her leave AHEAD with more than cleaning experience. I wanted her to learn something... REALLY learn something from what she had done.

Marcus, as I write this, Annie is sitting in another office with nothing to do but read your story. I want her to feel the impact of what could happen to someone's life because of a lack of judgment. I want her to realize that one moment is all it takes to change the entire course of someone's, as well as her own life forever.

I hope that you are okay with this and that you agree with the way I have decided to handle things with Annie. I know that you go and speak to large groups at schools and to special interest groups all over the country. But, I also want you to know that your story will be passed on even if it's one person at a time.

Thank you for being you!

Kim P.

MADD Florida & Marcus Engel Team Up!

MADD Florida Appoints New Vice Chair
Marcus Engel Accepts Leadership Role

TAMPA, Florida Noted author and motivational speaker, Marcus Engel, has accepted an appointment to the State Operating Council for Mothers Against Drunk Driving (MADD) Florida. Marcus Engel’s message and MADD’s mission are a natural match,” said Don Murray, MADD Florida’s Executive Director. “His message of being blinded and catastrophically injured by a drunk driver, plus his journey of healing and recovery, are nothing short of extraordinary. We are thrilled to have someone of Marcus’ caliber joining our leadership team!”

On a cold autumn night during his freshman year of college, Marcus’ life was changed forever. A drunk driver, travelling at nearly twice the legal speed limit, struck the car in which Engel and other teenage friends were riding. Blind and facing hundreds of hours of reconstructive facial surgery, Marcus became one of the tens of thousands of Americans injured every year by intoxicated drivers.

Marcus had to endure more as a teenager than most of us will ever have to face in a lifetime,” said MADD Florida’s Council Chair, Mario Murgado. “We’re honored to partner with Marcus and we hope his experiences will help serve as another deterrent for Florida motorists.”

While still restricted to a hospital bed, a feeding tube and respirator, Marcus set his goal: return to college and recapture life. These goals sustained him through two years of medical recovery, a six-month stint at rehab school and one month training with a new Seeing Eye dog.

“This new position will allow me to give something back to MADD,” Engel said. “MADD gave my family so much support and advocacy following my crash. I want to use my resources, experiences and talents to support all of MADD’s missions, specifically the fight against impaired driving and underage drinking.”

Engel began speaking professionally during his senior year of college, sharing his inspirational message of prevention with audiences nationwide. His autobiography, After This… An Inspirational Journey for All the Wrong Reasons has empowered tens of thousands of readers to realize their potential and to strive for personal excellence. His latest book The Other End of the Stethoscope: 33 Insights for Excellent Patient Care” is an inspirational tribute to health care professionals, offering tips on treatment from the patient’s perspective.

For further information on MADD, visit www.MADD.org or www.WalkLikeMADD.org. For more information on Marcus Engel, visit www.MarcusEngel.com or call 314-852-4494.

Buckle Up, Floridians!

National Safety Council Praises Florida for New Primary Seat Belt Law

ITASCA, Ill., April 29 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- After years of work by traffic safety advocates, Florida is joining the majority of states that allow police to ticket drivers solely for failure to wear seat belts. The National Safety Council praises Florida legislators for voting to enact the Dori Slosberg and Katie Marchetti Safety Belt Law, named for two young women killed in crashes while not wearing seat belts. The Florida House today voted to accept the proposal, 95-20. The Florida Senate also accepted it, 33-4, on April 28.


"The National Safety Council praises Florida, its dedicated state legislators and state leadership who helped achieve this truly significant goal. Florida is now poised to save hundreds of lives," said Janet Froetscher, NSC President & CEO. "Over the past 10 years the NSC and its Air Bag and Seat Belt Safety Campaign have worked hard with Florida to change the public mindset about seatbelts and safety. Today we share what must be a great level of pride in that state."


Currently, Florida law enforcement officers can not ticket someone older than 18 for not wearing a seat belt unless the person first commits another traffic offense. The new law will remove that requirement and impose a $30 fine for failing to buckle up. The new law will save an estimated 124 lives each year in Florida, prevent 1,700 serious injuries and save $408 million, according to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration.


Florida Governor Charlie Crist is expected to sign the bill into law. Florida will then join 26 other states and the District of Columbia in allowing police to stop drivers for lack of seat belt use alone.


The National Safety Council (www.nsc.org) saves lives by preventing injuries and deaths at work, in homes, communities and on the roads, through leadership, research, education and advocacy.




SOURCE National Safety Council

James Madison University

On Monday, April 13, I had the honor (and it was a TRUE honor) to work with James Madison University's SafeRide program. Dig this... and I'm going to come at this as if you, EE reader, are uninformed about SafeRide since I sure was!

JMU is a campus of approximately 17,000 students, nestled in the Shenandoah Valley of Virginia. A gorgeous campus near the Blue Ridge Mountains, an incredibly passionate group of students and a true desire to keep JMU students safe from DUI.

The SafeRide program is a 501C3 non-for-profit student run org which provides JMU students with sober rides on Friday and Saturday nights. Several rented cars driven by JMU students are dispatched to different locations when students call into the switchboard. Then, the sober chauffeur shows up, drives intoxicated students home and a threat for a DUI crash is now nill.

The JMU SafeRide program has approximately 200 volunteers who promote, drive, answer phones and, in general, help coordinate the SafeRide program. In the last several years since the initiation of SafeRide, over 10,000 safe rides have been given to JMU students. Think of that for a second...10,000 intoxicated drivers taken off the road. Not by the cops, not by the legal system, but by passionate students who simply want to see their friends arrive alive. Major props to the JMU SafeRide program for such fantastic work!

And special thanks to all my travelling companions who ran me back and forth to Charlottesville! Extra special thanks to Jamie Koslosky for being such an incredible client to work with! Thanks again, JMU! You guys rock!

279 Tweens And One Better Person

Did you like high school?

Note: If you’re in high school now (or will be in a few years), disregard this question for now, but come back and answer it around 2025, okay?

So, did you like high school? Usually, this question gets one of two polar opposite reactions. Most folks either loved it… or loathed it. There’s not much in between!

However, when you ask about middle school, the response is almost always unanimous: “Hated it!” I know I sure did! I mean, this is when I so, so, so wanted to talk to these strange beings known as “girls,” yet I had all the communication skills of a Rhesus monkey hopped up on No Doz. I tripped over my own two ginormous feet, forgot to wear deodorant on a daily basis, my voice had more cracks than a plumber’s convention and, to top it off, I had hair growing in weird places (my apologies to all you visual learners).

So, when I was invited to go back and speak at my old middle school, I accepted… and promptly felt my face break out with zits.

When the day rolled around, I’ve gotta say, middle school isn’t nearly as traumatic as I’d remembered! Either that or 20 years means I’ve forgotten all that embarrassment… NOT!

Okay, serious stuff here… When I was doing Q & A with my Montgomery County R-II Middle School audience, I got one of those really profound (and unexpected) questions that make me love working with middle schoolers:

“Marcus, do you think you’ve become a better person since you lost your sight?”

I’m not sure I’ve ever had this question from this age group before, so I didn’t have a ready answer. Yet, every so often, I open my mouth and something appropriate pops out (not like that time I accidentally spat in my date’s eye at my first dance… ahhh the flashbacks continue!)

Okay, back to serious stuff again…

Question again: “Do you feel like you’ve become a better person since you lost your sight?” Answer? “Yes, absolutely! And I hope I’m a better person today than I was yesterday. And I hope tomorrow I’ll be a better person than I am today.”

For years, I’ve been a big advocate of constant self improvement. Yet, I’m not sure I’ve ever thought of it in this day-to-day realm. To be a better person than yesterday means I have to do something (anything, really) today. Right here and now. And tomorrow? Third verse, same as the first.

Ya know, the horrors of middle school were nothing compared with those life-changes after high school… but they DID help me become a better person. Yet, even if I didn’t have such a dramatic story, I hope I’d still be the kind of person who wants to make daily improvements. But that means putting forth a conscious effort. Every day, I want to learn something new, do something healthy, teach something important and experience something different.

As a 13 year old middle schooler, I was just happy to get home at night with my underwear still intact. Some days still feel like staying in bed might have been a better option – but now I know the bigger picture. A person’s actions, attitudes and choices… these are things we each control. Every day, sometimes even moment by moment! Each experience brings an opportunity to have that moment shape a positive tomorrow.

Years, life experience and a desire for daily improvement. These things add up to helping create a happy life. I hope you embrace the same goals and determination. And thank goodness middle school isn’t even close to the best years of life!

"Sewanee: University of the South"

On Tuesday, April 14, I flew into Nashville (one of my favorite cities), but this time, it wasn't to go to Tootsie's nor Robert's Three Doors Down. This time, it was to head towards Chattanooga, through the mountains and stopping off at Sewanee, the University of the South.

Sewanee is a really interesting place with some fantastic southern hospitality! The president of the university is the mayor of the town, campus police are also the town police – the university IS the town. I often hear that statement when I'm in a small town with a college or university, but this time? It was literal!

Thanks to Nicky Hamilton for bringing me to Sewanee for Derby Days and the effort to provide students with an alternative message of alcohol abuse! I had a fantastic time with the fraternity and sorority members and Carson got lots of lovin' from Sewanee girls! Thanks also to Sewanee for one of the best lattes I've ever had!

The World's Greatest Philanthropy

Last week, I had an opprotunity to tour a part of the world's greatest philanthropy, Shriners Hospital of Tampa, FL. I became a Shriner one year ago, but this was the first opprotunity I've had to tour the the nearest hospital. When I mention to folks that I'm a Shriner, everyone immediately asks, "Do you have a funny hat? Do you drive a little car?" Funny hat? Yes! A little car? Nah, I leave that up to the Road Runner Unit at my Shrine Temple here in Orlando. But there are usually more questions about Shriners than I can answer. Thus, I turn to the Shriners International HQ to answer those frequently asked questions. Here's a quick list, right from HQ:


Frequently asked questions about Shriners International and Shriners Hospitals for Children 1. What is Shriners International?Shriners International is a fraternity based on fun, fellowship and the Masonic principles of brotherly love, relief and truth.
2. Who developed the concept of Shriners International?The fraternity was the brainchild of Dr. Walter M. Fleming and Billy Florence.
3. When was the first Shrine temple established?Mecca Shriners was organized in New York City in 1872.
4. When was the Imperial Council established?The Imperial Council was established June 6, 1876.
5. How many Shrine temples are there?There are 191 Shrine temples located throughout the U.S., Canada, Mexico and the Republic of Panama.
6. What is Shriners Hospitals for Children?Shriners Hospitals for Children is a one-of-a-kind international health care system of hospitals dedicated to improving the lives of children by providing pediatric specialty care, innovative research and outstanding teaching programs.
7. What is the connection between Shriners International and Shriners Hospitals for Children?Shriners International founded and continues to operate Shriners Hospitals for Children.
8. When did the first Shriners Hospitals for Children open, and where is it located?The first Shriners Hospital opened in 1922, in Shreveport, LA, and focused exclusively on treating orthopaedic conditions.
9. What are Shriners Hospitals for Children' care disciplines today?Shriners Hospitals for Children provides treatment for orthopaedic conditions, burns, spinal cord injuries, and cleft lip and palate. Some Shriners Hospitals offer care for more than one specialty.
10. What are some examples of orthopaedic conditions treated at Shriners Hospitals for Children?Shriners Hospitals treat a full range of orthopaedic conditions. Some of the most commonly treated conditions are clubfoot, limb deficiencies and discrepancies, scoliosis (curvature of the spine), osteogenesis imperfecta (brittle bone disease), juvenile rheumatoid arthritis, and orthopaedic problems related to spina bifida, cerebral palsy, dwarfism and muscular dystrophy.
11. When did Shriners Hospitals for Children begin providing burn care?The Shriners Hospitals specializing in burns have been leaders in burn care and research since opening in the mid-1960s. Treatment is provided for burn injuries and related scarring, along with physical and emotional rehabilitation.
12. When did Shriners Hospitals for Children begin to provide care for spinal cord injuries?In the early 1980's, Shriners Hospitals opened the nation's first spinal cord injury rehabilitation centers specifically designed for children and teens.
13. What criteria determine a child's eligibility for care at Shriners Hospitals for Children? Children up to age 18 are eligible for care at Shriners Hospitals for Children if, in the opinion of our physicians, there is a reasonable possibility they can benefit from the specialized services available. Acceptance is based solely on a child's medical needs. A family's income or insurance status are not criteria for a child's acceptance as patient.
14. How does someone apply for care or refer a patient to Shriners Hospitals for Children?Call the toll-free national patient referral line at 800.237.5055 in the U.S. or 800.361.7256 in Canada, or download an application for treatment online at www.shrinershosptials.org.
15. What does it cost for a child to receive care at Shriners Hospitals for Children?There is no charge for any care or services provided within Shriners Hospitals for Children facilities.
16. Where does the money come from to operate Shriners Hospitals for Children?As a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization, Shriners Hospitals for Children relies on the generous donations of Shriners and the general public to carry out its mission and change the lives of children every day.
17. What percentage of the Shriners Hospitals operating budget is spent in direct support of the organization's tri-fold mission of treatment, research and education?Approximately 90 percent
18. How is Shriners Hospitals for Children different from other pediatric health care systems?Shriners Hospitals for children is the only pediatric multi-hospital system in the United States that provides all care and services at no charge to patients or families. Shriners Hospitals for Children is also the largest pediatric sub-specialty hospital system in the world, with the largest full-time staff of pediatric orthopaedic surgeons in the U.S.
19. How do Shriners Hospitals for Children contribute to the education of medical professionals?In the past 20 years, more than 8,000 physicians have received residency education or postgraduate fellowships at Shriners Hospitals. Shriners Hospitals for Children also maintains relationships with more than 60 medical teaching facilities worldwide.
20. How can I learn more about Shriners Hospitals for Children and Shriners International?To learn more, visit our website

"This Will Be My Biggest Challenge"

A few weeks ago, one of the teeth on my bridgework broke off. This happens every so often and it's a quick run to the dentist to get it fixed. The thing is, my dentist is now 1000 miles away.

So, when this happened a few weeks ago, I was headed out the door the next morning for seven days of speaking engagements. Oh, what to do? Stand up in front of thousands of people with a giant tooth gap? Or visit a "regular" dentist nearby who isn't a super specialist like my guy back in STL? I chose the local option.

Well, that fix lasted for a couple of weeks until some chicken tenders for lunch on Wednesday gave me a recurrence of the issue. This time to another dentist.

However, this dentist I visited yesterday turned out to be an awesome experience! Not only does he have a state of the art office, complete with flat screen monitors everywhere where you can see your own X rays and medical history, but his staff was about as warm and welcoming as I've ever experienced. Where some doctor's offices balk at Carson, this office had at least half a dozen office employees who stood in line to pet him!

So, back to the dentist himself... after looking at my X-rays and visually inspecting my bridgework, I asked him how long this current bridgework may last. "At least a couple more years," he said. My dentist back in St. Louis is retiring this summer, so there's every chance someone else will be creating the new prosthetics. When I told my new Orlando dentist this, he was very honest and humble:

"Marcus, when that time comes, I can try. This will be the most difficult prosthetic I've ever created. I can't promise it will work, but I can try. If you'd prefer to go to a super specialist that does projects like this regularly, that's certainly your decision, but please know I'd be happy to try."

I LOVE his honesty! My mouth is my money maker, and I don't want to waste his time. So, imagine when the time comes, I'll turn to the super specialist. Still, I appreciate his humility of informing me this isn't his usual area of expertise. I want to know that my doctor knows his limitations and won't go in guns a-blazin' if he's not 110% certain there will be a favorable outcome.

This type of humility and honesty is what will keep me coming back to this doctor. No arrogance, no promises he can't keep, just a true desire to do what is best for his patient. And if you need a dentist in my hometown – I know a guy!

“Walk Like MADD”

We’re all familiar with “Race for the Cure” walks that help promote cancer research and awareness. Now, Mothers Against Drunk Driving is holding a similar event, “Walk Like MADD” to help raise funds to prevent impaired driving. The deets are below for the Florida event. My new friends with MADD Florida are some awesome people who are sure to make this a fantastic event! Please consider walking if you’re in the area, or donating as a virtual walker if you’re out of town. Thanks for your consideration and for your commitment to helping prevent impaired driving!

"Walk Like MADD Fundraiser" on Saturday, May 16 at 7:00am.Event: Walk Like MADD FundraiserWhat: FundraiserHost: Mother's Against Drunk DrivingStart Time: Saturday, May 16 at 7:00amEnd Time: Saturday, May 16 at 11:00amWhere: Tampa Lowry Park ZooTo see more details and RSVP, follow the link below:http://www.WalkLikeMADD.com

Fullerton Tragedy

Early Thursday morning the country learned of the senseless death of Nick Anderhart, a 22 year old pitcher for the Los Angeles Angels. After pitching his first start of 2009 on Wednesday evening, the car in which the young athlete was riding was struck by a drunk driver. Anderhart and two other passengers were killed in the crash.

One of these passengers, a 20 year old CSU-Fullerton Alpha Chi Omega, was in my audience in November when I presented at the University. When I read stories of this tragedy, its proximity to the university and the ages of the passengers, it became apparent very quickly how close to this crash that I was.

This morning, I wrote to Nick Katz, the director of Greek Life at CSU-Fullerton. After spending the day with Nick when I was on campus, I've come to know him as a friend. When I learned that the CSU-Fullerton student had indeed been in my audience, my heart went out even more to that university's community. Such a senseless crash... and one which could have been easily prevented.

This morning, I sent a message to the president of the Alpha Chi Omega chapter and I'd like to include it here. It's nothing profound because there's simply nothing to say other than, "I'm sorry." This crash shouldn't have happened and three young people should not have had their lives cut short by an impaired driver.

Again, I send my sympathy to the CSU-Fullerton community, the family and friends of Nick Anderhart, the Angels pitcher, and the young law student whose life was also lost...

**********

To the ladies of Alpha Chi Omega,

Last fall, you may remember a keynote speech I delivered for the Greeks at CSU-Fullerton. In this program, I shared my experiences after being blinded and nearly killed by a drunk driver. After the tragedy this week in Fullerton, I wanted to write and extend my sympathy to you, the Alpha Chi Omega chapter and the entire CSU-Fullerton Greek community.

Any death makes us stop and take a different look at life. When this happens to a young person with their entire life in front of them, it has the tendency to leave everyone reeling. And when the death is such a senseless and preventable tragedy as you experienced this week, the unanswerable question comes up again and again: Why?

When that question arises, it often leads to anxious, gut-wrenching pain... because there is no good answer. This simply should not have happened. While you'll probably never get an acceptable response to "Why?", I do hope this will somehow help you, your sisters, your family, friends, fellow CSU-Fullerton students and maybe many others understand just how precious (and precarious) life is. I also hope it will encourage you to hug your loved ones a little closer, always knowing the world can change in an instant.

No one can ever know precisely what another person is going through. We simply can't step into another's skin and mind to feel what they feel. We can sympathize, but never accurately empathize. Still, having experienced vast amounts of frustration and anger over a useless lost due to another's irresponsible choices, I've been helped so, so much by helping hands and listening ears of others. If I can return this favor by helping the sisterhood, please don't hesitate to contact me. I can't promise an answer to the question of, "Why?", but I can certainly be a hand to hold and a shoulder to cry upon.

With sympathy,

Marcus Engel
Orlando, FL

Carson Is MUCH Cuter Than Me!

Do Dogs Look Like Their Owners? Yes
Friday, April 03, 2009 By Robert Roy Britt

People can guess pretty successfully what breed of dog a person might own just by looking at the owner, a new study finds.
A group of 70 people who do not own dogs were asked to match photos of 41 dog owners to three possible breeds — Labrador, poodle or Staffordshire bull terrier.
They matched the owners to the dogs more than half the time. Yet given three choices, they should have been right only about a third of the time.
"This suggests that certain breeds of dogs are associated with particular kinds of people," said study leader Lance Workman, a psychologist at Bath Spa University in the U.K.
It's no secret that people are obsessed with pets. Two-thirds of American households have at least one, and dogs are the top choice (though by sheer numbers, fish win out).
And dog owners are particularly so, suggests a study in 2007 that found when a pet goes missing dog owners contact and visit shelters much sooner than cat owners.
The analysis runs deep: Those who don't own dogs used stereotypes to match the dogs to their owners, Workman figures.
"These stereotypes persisted into judgments of the dog owners' personalities: non dog owners considered the owners of each breed to share certain personality traits, such as level of conscientiousness and emotional stability."
The real connection is only skin deep, however.
"But when we tested the dog owners' personalities, we found no strong links between any particular personality trait and choice of dog breed, so any shared qualities are only skin deep," Workman said.
A similar phenomenon happens among couples. People tend to be attracted to those who have personalities similar to their own, according to a study done in 2006. And as time goes on, similarities in appearance grow, explaining why some older couples look alike.

Southern Wesleyan University

This week, I had the opportunity to do several programs for Southern Wesleyan University in Central, South Carolina. In addition to SC now being my home away from home, it was awesome to work with such a fantastic group of students! Thanks to Nurse Lori Herron for bringing me to SWU, to all the students who attended Tuesday and Thursday chapel services and especially to the group of ladies who came to the Wednesday night faith-based program – you guys are awesome!

Thanks for helping reinforce why South Carolina is one of my favorite places in the land!

Taking Action...From My Couch

When I was a kid, I had a great-uncle who was one of those incredibly memorable folks. Not for his warm fuzziness, but more for his ardent beliefs. He was a staunch ally for his political party, his union, his hunting and gun rights and his brand of American made automobiles. On the bumper of his chosen brand of truck, he had a bumper sticker I've never forgotten:

If you don't vote, don't bitch.

These days, I've found it's just easier to stay out of political conversations. People react with such fervor to anything they don't 110% agree with that it's just not worth ruining relationships to discuss. However, back in my days of constantly discussing political issues, as soon as the conversation would turn remmotely political, I'd ask my conversational partner, "Did you vote in the last election?" If the answer was yes, game on! If no, then I'd gracefully try to steer the convo in another direction. Uncle Les' bumper sticker just sat there at the forefront of my mind. Frankly, if you don't care enough to get out and vote every so often, there's no use in listening to the opinions of someone who cares so little.

These days, I've taken that bumper sticker and kicked it up a notch. Voting is no longer enough. Now, we've got to communicate with our elected representatives to let them know the views of their voting constituants. We have such easy abilities to let our voices be heard-not just by our votes, but by our voices. And yes, I do mean voices; calls to the offices of our elected officials, E mails, faxes and the good old fashioned hard copy letter.

Even with as politically minded as I am, until now, I've never been the guy who voiced his opinions to the guys in D.C. (or Jefferson City or Tallahassee, for that matter). But today...I did.

There are two issues near and dear to my heart which need the attention of my elected officials. So, I wrote and told them. What are these issues? Doesn't matter for the sake of this post-just know I'm taking the initiative to share my opinions with my elected officials...and I hope you will, too. An engaged, active citizen seems easier to come by these days-and with the ease of the internet, you, too, can contact your senators and Congressmen from your couch. And I hope you will

John Carroll University

Cleveland rocks! Cleveland rocks! And so does John Carroll University! I had the pleasure of speaking with John Carroll students in recognition of their disability awareness week on Wednesday, March 25. Throw in extra programs with the IFC and Pan-Helenic Council AND the Relay for Life leadership team and you've got a fun-filled day in Cleveland!

Special thanks to Brandi Rizzo, Mike Greco and Jill Smyrna in the Office of Students with Disabilities for being such great hosts (and for introducing me to one fantastic chicken philly sandwich in the cafeteria!)

A special thank you to Mike Veneri, Grand Master of the Kappa Sigma chapter at JCU for helping promote the mission of our college fraternity... AEKDB, Brother Mike!

And Carson wants to send a special "Thank You!" to Caroline for having a really great set of nails!

MADD-Florida and Law Enforcement Recognition Conference

On Sunday and Monday, March 15 and 16, Mothers Against Drunk Driving-Florida held their annual Law Enforcement Recognition Event. A candlelight vigil of remembrance and hope, a recognition banquet for some of The Sunshine State's top cops and just fun and fellowship with people who also fight the good fight!

Folks, there are a bazillion ways to help in the battle against impaired driving. There's prevention like I do, there's personal responsibility, there's liquor control, there's the bar and restaurant owners and training for those who serve alcohol, there's the law enforcement component, there's prosecution and about a million other ways we try to deter this tragic crime. But ya know? The cops are one of the biggest parts – a \nd that's why it was so cool to work with Florida's finest!

To be recognized at this event, a Florida law enforcement officer must have at least 100 DUI arrests. Impressive, huh? Yep, sure is... but what's even more impressive is just how many cops actually pull in triple digit DWI arrests! The list went on and on and on! Amazing! Then, the truly amazing thing occurred – recognition of a cop with over 1000 lifetime DWI arrests. Really, REALLY impressive! But... it got better! A cop with over 3000 lifetime arrests! These are numbers that are tough to comprehend – but that show such, SUCH a great commitment to ridding the streets of impaired drivers.

Special thanks to MADD-Florida, executive director Don Murray, Jen Alban and Kristen Allen for being such incredible hosts and clients! Thanks to Steve and Barb Kirkpatrick for picking up the dinner tab and for their commitment to stopping DUI. And thanks especially to all Florida law enforcement officers for simply doing what you do – people like me are darned appreciative!

Clemson University

On March 9, 10 and 11, I made my first trip to Clemson, South Carolina... what a blast!

In addition to working with some INCREDIBLE students, I was also invited to throw out the first pitch for the Clemson Vs. Michigan State baseball game – a first for me!

Extra special thanks to Dr. Elaine Richardson, Dr. Arlene Stewart, Kathy Cauthen (my Empower stalker!), Mike McLeod and the Universal Design team at Clemson – I cannot describe how open, accepting and welcoming my Clemson experience was... and now I have some lifelong friends there, to boot! And don't forget the bleu cheese – manna from heaven!

TEAM Conference, 2009 (a.k.a. Transportation Engineers Assoc. of Missouri)

Ever think about the roads you're driving? It's a lot more than just laying down some concrete and painting some white lines down the middle-a LOT more!

Yet, most of us probably don't even think of all the scientific engineering and planning that goes into helping us get from point A to point B. A couple days ago, I first rode on the new section of I64, 40/61 in St. Louis-a project which had STL traffic tied up for a good, long while (even though it was finished two weeks ahead of schedule.) The giant interchanges, the strength of the materials, the volume (both current and future) of cars travelling these roads; there's so, SO much that goes into creating roads and bridges across our country!

And this planning starts with folks like those who were at the Transportation Engineers Association of Missouri conference. Both Missouri Dept. of Transportation engineers, as well as consultants and contractors who help get the project from idea to reality. When you take a few minutes to think about everything that goes into creating a new interstate-it's pretty darned mind boggling!

But it's more than just road creation. In fact, I was partially at the conference to help engineers understand the needs of pedestrians. Living with blindness as a disability, I have some unique needs to get around-as do all folks with visual impairments. These engineers are the ones who can help make travel safer and more efficient-for everyone!

TEAM was such a great experience...from the friendliness of my client, John Schaefer, to the ease of the business end of things with TEAM's secretary/treasurer, Tim Redmond, to my co-presenter for pedestrian safety, Melissa Anderson, the whole experience was just phenomenal! Thanks to George Butler and Associates for buying dinner at Ernie Biggs on the Branson Landing and to the guy (Keith, I think your name is?) who grabbed me at Lambert Airport in a bear hug and announced to everyone, "Hey, Mr. O.G.!" Hilarious! Thanks, TEAM, for everything you do to help people like me do what we do, too!

Montgomery County R-2 Middle School

Back in the late 80s, I was a pretty typical adolescent; getting my heart broken, going through puberty, developing my personality, getting my first kiss, playing sports.

Friday, March 20, I had some major flashbacks to that time... because I went back to my old middle school, Montgomery County R-II Middle School.

It's awesome to present for any group, but to be able to do it in my old gymnasium for a whole up-and-coming group of MC Wildcat students was just really special! Plus, this time when I went to the principal's office? It was for doughnuts - not detention!

Thanks to Principal Madonna Pund, asst. principal Chris Parker and counselor Mrs. Lavy for being such great hosts for my time back in my old stompin' grounds!

Florida Atlantic University

Last Monday, Feb. 23, I was honored to speak for the student athletes and Florida Atlantic University community. A great group of student athletes, supportive staff and lots of new Facebook friends helped make it a successful event!

Special thanks to Chris Howlett for being such a great client and for helping facilitate the event! Thanks for making my first trip to FAU such an awesome experience!

Wichita State University

Yippie! We finally made this happen!

I've been communicating with folks at Wichita State for the last couple of years, always trying to work out a visit to campus. And we finally made it happen!

Not only did I get to present for the general student population of WSU, but also for the TRIO program and the Campus Lifestaff.

Let me give you a little info about TRIO....this is some truly awesome work that I think everyone should know about...

We all know that education is the most efficient and proven way for the underprivileged to get a foothold in the world. TRIO helps make this happen. If students have an obstacle which prevents them from obtaining education as easily as other kids, TRIO lends a helping hand.

Students with lack of finances, parents with no education, disabilities, in the foster system, veterans who've served and who are now seeking an education (the Gear Up portion of TRIO is especially close to my heart)...just a fantastic way to help people better themselves through education and opportunities. Never let it be said that our government wastes all tax payers money-because this is the shiniest star of non-wasted government funds I've ever witnessed!

Special thanks to Grady Landrum, Martha Lewis, Jessica Provin...actually, just the whole department of campus life! Had such, SUCH a great time with y'all while I was in Wichita and I can't wait to come back again! Grady, you're the bomb to work with and I'm so glad we had time to get to know one another! See ya in Louisville this summer!

Union College

As a Kappa Sigma fraternity pledge back in 1997, I had to memorize a great deal of fraternity history. Not just my own fraternity, mind you, but of the fraternity system in general. One of the first things I was required to know was a little something called the Union Triad.

Union College (just outside Albany, NY) is an institution with such a rich history. The traditions there are just as long-standing as any university in the country. The architecture, the birthplace of the Greek letter fraternity system, the high academic standards-just a fabulous place to be!

Last summer at the AHEAD conference in Reno, the Disability Support Services professional at Union, Shelly Shinebarger, picked up a copy of my book. I hate that she and I didn't get to meet in Reno because she has just been such a terrific person since we've been communicating! Upon reading "After This..." Shelly wanted to share me with the Union community. Awesome for me because, with all the work I do in the Greek system nationwide, it was sweet to go back to the mother land!

Thanks to Shelly for being such a fantastic client and great person (let's be sure to try to grab dinner in Louisville this summer!) and Timothy Dunn, the director of Greek life (who is just one funny guy)! A special shout out to Andie and Liv for being my text messaging buddies after the program... the reaction and impact you guys showed from my program is the reason I do what I do!

Detroit Country Day School

Thanks to computer snafus, it's taken almost a month to get this posted about my awesome, AWESOME trip to DCDS! An incredible group of students, a fantastic school and teachers, staff and faculty who truly care about the best interest of ALL students... just so inspirational, to me, to be in such a great educational environment!

Thanks to Jim DeSantis for helping arrange everything, to Cynthia Goldberg for giving me the opportunity to work with the 6th, 7th and 8th graders and (especially) to all the DCDS students who are now my new friends on Facebook! You guys rock!

A Lesson From Justin Timberlake

February has always been Grammy month. For a music lover like moi, this is a big thing. When I was 14 and smack dab in the middle of my O.G. phase, I'd fire up the old VCR (remember those?), tape the Grammys and watch L.L. Cool J and Run DMC over and over and over again. Ah, good times!
But this year I admit I just wasn't that interested. This could mean I'm getting old, or that the glitz just isn't as impressive without Adidas sweat suits and ginormous gold chains. Yee-ahhh, boyz!
Either way, the day after the broadcast I heard a story from behind the scenes that made me wish I'd paid more attention. A couple hours before the curtain lifted, one of the acts pulled a No Show. The panicked producers began to brainstorm on who could pull off a last minute - Grammy worthy performance. Justin Timberlake had just finished his dress rehearsal when the producer cornered him. Seeing the look of panic on the producers face - before even knowing the problem, Timberlake immediately asked, "What can I do to help?"
Within half an hour, they'd pieced together an all-star duet by the Rev. Al Green and Justin Timberlake, backed up by Boyz II Men with Keith Urban on guitar. Even if you're not a fan of any of these musicians, ya gotta admit, it's a ton of talent for one stage to hold!
In a moment of crisis, when someone steps up to do something that isn't required, we usually call that person a hero. I may not go so far as to call Justin Timberlake a hero, but the producer sure might!
Truthfully, I'm not even real familiar with Justin Timberlake's music (other than "In A Box" from SNL - one of the funniest moments on that show... EVER!)
But, I am a HUGE fan of the, "What can I do to help?" attitude.
The reality is, we're living in some tough times. Some may even call it a crisis. No doubt about it, the economy and all the stress revolving around, well, pretty much everything might make you want to be the one looking to receive help. But here's something I believe is important: If you're feeling vulnerable - stop! Help someone else!
Having the "What can I do to help?" attitude immediately makes one feel prosperous and fortunate. And the help doesn't have to be financial; there are so many ways to offer assistance to another. And when you do, you'll automatically feel a little more stable and secure.
Anyone with any amount of success who is honest will tell you they didn't do it alone. We all need a little help, now and then. When you see another's crisis and step in to offer help, it creates a reciprocal attitude that will come back to help in your moments of need. That's just how the universe works.
Lend a hand. Give a dollar. Share your prosperity. Step in at the last moment to do a duet with Al Green (wouldn't mind doing this myself!) Whatever you can do to help another is assistance that benefits... everyone!
Marcus Engel is a professional speaker/author who inspires audiences to achieve success by making intelligent choices. Blinded by a drunk driver at age 18, Marcus battled through two years of recovery and 300 hours of reconstructive facial surgery to reach his goal of returning to college. After graduating from Missouri State University in 2000, Marcus began sharing his story professionally to audiences nationwide. In 2002, Marcus founded his own publishing company with the release of his autobiography, "After This...An Inspirational Journey For All the Wrong Reasons." His latest book, "The Other End of the Stethoscope" was released October 2006. His messages of empowerment and motivation have been witnessed by hundreds of thousands through his keynotes, his autobiography and his monthly newsletters. Marcus Engel is a speaker, a message, a story you will never forget! Visit http://www.MarcusEngel.com for more information!
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C'Mon, People!

I’m no fan of B.S., denial and all around entitlement issues. That’s why I’ve been enjoying, “C’Mon, People!” by Bill Cosby so much.

Cosby has caught a lot of flack for calling out African Americans for, what he says, is an attitude which glorifies the negative which, in turn, diminishes the work of MLK, Malcolm X, Harriet Tubman and Fredrick Douglas.

In “C’Mon, People!” he even adds sidebars to chapters called, perfectly, “Call Outs.” These call outs are from well respected, educated individuals who share a montra of personal responsibility, as Cosby does. Here’s a comment from Dr. George McKenna which, I think, summarizes some important points for everyone…forget your race, this is good advice for humanity:

“We have to look at ourselves. We can’t be embarrassed by that, or offended by the one who holds up the mirror. Let’s say, ‘Okay, we know we got some problems. Let’s try to deal with them and stop blaming other folks.’” Now, when we underachieve, we compare ourselves to some other underachievers and celebrate being the best of the pitiful. And that, ladies and gentlemen, is the definition of insanity. When you create an alternative reality and believe where you are is normal, you are insane.”

Whatcha think? Have you created your own version of reality? I’m guilty of this in the past, but (I hope), never again. It’s denial, pure and simple…and I choose to live in the real world, not a world I’ve mentally created where I feel more comfortable.

How about you? Have you ever re-written reality, just to make yourself happy? We all know reality can’t REALLY be re-written, but there are sometimes those who, after working really, really hard at it, can choose to view things to their favor-no matter which way reality falls. Those are the people who are infuriating and pathetic at the same time. And ya know? I’ve been one of these people. But after choosing to view reality instead of the pitiful world I’d created, I saw how reality, when looked at straight on, isn’t nearly as intimidating as we usually think it is.

DebeHoffman.com

As I recently posted, my friend (and the sister of my favorite nurse and "After This..." character, Barb DeWalle) Debe Hoffman, was recently diagnosed with leukemia. Her nephew, Mark, fought a long battle with a rare form of cancer and his web site, MarkDewalle.com, was a huge help before, during and after his passing to everyone who loves their family.

Debe is just entering the world of blogging with her own site, so if you'd like to see the first steps of her journey and offer her an encouraging word, you can find her at: www.DebeHoffman.com

Ask, Listen, Learn

A month ago, both computers used to run my business were hit (we think) with a nasty computer virus. While neither Marvelyne nor I is qualified to diagnos this for sure, it's the most likely scenario when two computers, within 10 minutes of one another, have their operating system corrupted.

Even now, a month later, we're still mopping up the mess...and maybe creating a few more along the way. Yesterday, we realized Marvelyne's brand spanking new machine wasn't performing all it's functions. Quite literally, from noon until nearly 11 p.m., she sat in front of the computer, most of the time dealing with tech support. At one point early on, tech support had her do a full system restore (and if you're not geeky, this consists of taking every file, setting, driver, etc. off the hard drive and doing a process where by the machine starts anew.) Should this be necessary on a three week old machine? I think not.

Then, after fighting this battle into the late night, we learn the sad, hard truth...ya know that whole system restore you did about six hours ago? Yeah, that wasn't really necessary. Boom! Six plus hours down the crapper.

And why was this done? Because tech support did not ask questions. Instead, they jumped in at whatever point they could and started to run towards a goal. That's all fine and good, and I empathize with how tough it must be to deal with customers all day long who are always, ALWAYS in a pickle. Still, had more questions been asked before creating a diagnosis of the problem, we could have saved a day's work.

This isn't really an isolated occurrence, as I'm sure you know. It often happens where, without all the facts, someone jumps to conclusions, only to learn later that had they gathered more info, it would have led to a different outcome.

As I go into this coming weekend, one of my biggest goals is to remember to ask questions, gather info and make decisions once I have all the facts. Establishing this as a pattern is one of the things I personally need to work on-a lot! I hope this tech support example will show you, faithful reader, the benefits of asking questions, listening to the answers and, when all info is present, act accordingly.

Taking A Chance On Something You Think You Won't Like

I could very well be the only person on earth who actually likes sardines. Weirdo, I know.

And really, what's to like? You have to open some oddball can, then look down at these little fishy bodies laying there, all stinky and covered in mustard with their little dead fishy bones sticking out of their dead fishy bodies. "Appetizing" is not the word that comes to mind.

But if I eat one of these things...wow! Granted, it's no Bissinger's Chocolate or anything, but it's still tasty!

And ya know how I know sardines are so good? I went against my "better judgement" (i.e. prejudice) and tried one. And the rest, as they say, is history...

Similar thing happened tonight. Whether it's blindness related, or just because I get bored easily, I'm not much of a movie buff. The video description service at our local Regal Cinema has changed my movie experiences for the better, but I'm just a hard sell on flicks. If I can set through the whole thing and it wasn't knock-my-socks-off fantastic, I keep thinking, "There's two hours and $30 I'll never get back."

So, why would I read movie reviews? I wouldn't usually. And why would I listen to radio podcasts of movie shows? Again, typically, I wouldn't.

My fav talk station, 97.1 FM out of STL, has a weekly program called Max On Movies. For someone who doesn't love film, I just pass over this section every time I'm grabbing my Dave Glover Show podcasts. My mistake!

See, I'm headed out on a four night work trip in a few days. Lots of plane time means lots of podcast time. So, figured I'd just stop in the Max On Movies spot and take a gander...man, shocker!

Sure, Max reviews the movies, but he also has a couple interviews with two of my favorite authors; Neil Gaimon and Chuck Palahnuick (did I get that spelling right?)

Both these authors would easily rank on my top 10 of all time favorite authors. Throw in Stephen King, Hunter S. Thompson, Ridley Pearson and Douglas Coupland and we've got a party (especially if Hunter S. Thompson brings the goods from "Fear and Loathing in Las Vegas"...which is highly improbable since he's dead. But, I digress...)

So, I downloaded these podcasts and am super, SUPER pumped to get to hear an interview with Neil Gaimon. I just discovered Gaimon's work within the last year or two and, since then, have been reading everything I can get my hands on of his. This is going to make for an especially interesting listen somewhere between here and Albany, or Albany and Wichita.

And who'd have thunk it? Me! Getting something cool out of movie talk! And just think, had I not reached in and grabbed that slimy sardine to learn how good they are, I'd never know the joys of fishy goodness! And if I'd just kept passing over Max on Movies, I wouldn't get the Gaimon interview, either!

Awesome!

Happy Birthday, Carson!

Yep, that's right...it's Carson's 8th birthday!

And what does Carson want to do for his birthday? Well, he started off the morning with a yummy late breakfast (he had a big day at the doggy day spa yesterday, so he wanted to sleep in today.) Then, it was back to his bed for a mid-morning nap. This afternoon, he got extra play time in the yard, lots of extra scratches and he'll get his birthday present (a new Nylabone...but shh! Don't tell!) later tonight!

All fun stuff aside, this 8th birthday of Carson weighs on me a little bit. Yes, it seems just like yesterday that I came home from Jersey with this maniacal black Tazmanian Devil at the end of a harness. Took a little while for us to become a working team, but these days, it's hard to even remember those first years of breaking him in. And every dog lover has to face fact: dogs simply don't live as long as people. The Seeing Eye estimates a guide dog's working life to be 7 to 9 years. Carson is now at 6.5 years and I know his retirement is in the cards (though hopefully not for a few more years) On the whole, the last couple of years has only seen him slow up maybe 10%...and that's not much! Just like all of us, as he ages, I expect to see that more, but I'm pleasantly surprised that now, at the hitting of the big 8, he's still just about as spry andenergetic as when he was 3 or 4. I'll consider myself lucky for having had his presence in my life for the last 6.5 years, and toast Carson to as long of a working relationship as we can have...and then to the happiest (and most deserved) retirement any dog can have (and we'll all cross our fingers that's still several years away)...Happy Birthday, Carson!

Just Some Anonymous Names

I really suck at the whole "Six Degrees of Kevin Bacon" game. Could be just because I'm not a big movie buff, or could be because I'd rather concentrate my brain cells on the people I know personally, not those who starred in films with Kevin Bacon.

And yours truly knows a ton, A TON, of people. See, I have this philosophy:

Everyone in the world is a friend until they give me reason to think differently.

Unknown rice farmer in the hills of China? Yep, my friend. Random Ukranian woman I've never met? Friend. Medicine man in Bali? Buddy.

Yet, if you're like me, someone tells you of a tragedy with one of THEIR friends and it doesn't hit home like if I'd know this same person intimately. Sure, everyone says the appropriate things, "I'm sorry" or gives some helpful news, "I'll be praying for you..." but it's not nearly like when you know the person. So, if random Chinese rice farmer suddenly dies and I hear of it, my pain doesn't go terribly deep-even though I consider him a friend, it's not like we're intimate, dig?

But what about when you do know the people? What happens when you ARE intimate? It's a very, very different dynamic.

Right now, I have two people who are getting a lot of my mental, healing and praying energy, Debe and Hilary.

Let's start with Debe. Remember in my book, Barb, my favorite nurse? Wonderful woman who treated me like the 18 year old guy I was, not some anonymous patient. I will always, ALWAYS have a special place in my heart for how Barb took care of me when I couldn't take care of myself. Why did she do such a great job? First off, it's just who she is. But second, Barb had two sons, both around my age.

Notice I used the word "had." In 2007, at age 24, Barb's youngest son succumbed to a rare form of cancer. Devastating for anyone to lose a family member, but a son at such a young age is a bigger kick in the head.

As time has moved on and Barb has begun healing, we learn of another, Barb's sister, Debe. I've met Debe twice; first time at my book release event back in the fall of 06, second time was the day after her nephew, Mark, passed away. Just last week, we learned that Debe was diagnosed with leukemia. I know Debe by default through Barb, but as she (Debe) loves someone I love, it brings everything a step closer.

Now, let's bring it closer than that. Again, a character from my book, Hilary. Hil and I lived in the dorm together, took English classes together at Missouri State and, somewhere over the three years living in New Hall, became the best of friends. Hilary believed in me when I darned sure didn't believe in myself. Her friendship was a constant-something that isn't easy to maintain when you were friends with a guy as emotionally off kilter as I was that first couple of years of blindness. Hilary and I have stayed friends through those college years, post college and while she was in medical school and still, now 15 years later, we still talk a few times per month. Back in October while on my west coast tour, I was pumped to be able to spend the weekend with her at her home in Boise.

Two weeks ago, Hilary called with the news: she'd just been diagnosed with breast cancer. She's 33. You'd think with as many people as I know, I'd be a lot more likely to have lost a lot of friends-not so. Thankfully, other than older relatives, I've lost very few friends. When my BFF tells me she's got a cancer diagnosis, it causes me to take a good, long look at life and how fragile it really is. Nothing makes someone view their own mortality like a friend being diagnosed with something awful.

Well, good news on the Hilary front. The lumpectomy was performed yesterday, the cancer had not gotten into any lymph nodes and she should be released from the hospital in, oh, about five hours. As far as cancer goes, this is about the best case scenario.

So, back to the idea of anonymous names...chances are, you don't know Debe. Or Barb. Or Hilary. I do. They're my friends, not just a random name.

Although you may not know them, I'm asking for you to do them a favor. Hell, do ME a favor: If you're the praying kind, pray for them. If you're the meditating kind, throw some healing energies their way. If you're the athiest kind, hope for modern medicine to do it's thang and keep these people safe. They may be anonymous names to you, but to me, they're friends...

Because They Don't Have To...

As you may read on EE blog, I'm a Shriner. Funny hats, little cars, good times and a whole, WHOLE lot of love and financial support for the Shriners Hospitals for children.

At every stated meeting, different clubs within the Shrine present checks to help out the hospitals (for kids with orthapedic injuries, birth defects or burns, Shriners Hospitals offer free care. Like, totally free-even transportation).

At this past meeting, a club got up and presented a check from a fundraiser...for nearly $10,000. That's five figures, folks! And that was just one presentation but, by far, the largest I've seen since becoming a Shriner a year ago.

Following the $10K presentation, another fellow stood up to make a check presentation, this one for $50. That's $50, no extra zeros at the end. Looked kinda paltry after the $10K check presentation.

But then, we got to hear the story...

There's a little hole-in-the-wall bar and grill near the Shrine Club building in Sanford, Florida. After some of the meetings, Shriners will stop in for a libation or two. They've gotten to know the owner and the wait staff and, as Shriners usually are, they're generous with tips.

Completely on their own, with no Shriner involvement whatsoever, this bar decided to do a little fundraiser during the Superbowl. During that fundraiser, they came up with $50. That check was passed along to our stated meeting and went right into the transportation fund.

When you get the story, it makes that $50 seem a lot, lot bigger. Why? Because the bar didn't have to do that. They have no obligation to raise funds for any chairity, much less for ours. They're not founded around a mission of philanthropy-they're just a bar. And they didn't have to do anything...they just wanted to.

And that, faithful reader, is the kind of donation that makes $10K donations seem a little less grand...and $50 to seem a whole, whole lot more valueable.

Is Marcus MIA?

Well, yeah, sorta. I'm fine, just been ridiculously swamped. During the first real work week of the new year, within 10 minutes, both my computer AND Marvelyne's computer were hit with a massive computer virus. Bam! No windows, no working machines-nothing. Even now, weeks later, we're still trying to mop up the mess. This caused a purchase of a new machine for each of us, but mine hasn't even arrived. Moving into a new machine, new OS and new JAWS software could mean I'll continue to be MIA for a bit...but cross your fingers it all works out okay.

Secondly, mE's mother had surgery and that same week, my parents arrived into town to start their snowbird vacation. We were hopping for a few days, but it's so good to have family visit at any time.

Thirdly (is that a word?), it's just been life in general. Early last week, I spoke at Detroit Country Day School and, if the 200 new Facebook friends is any indication, the students had as good of a time as I! Pics to come as soon as our computer systems get a little more established.

And now? Here I sit, on my couch, feet up with a remote in hand, ready to watch the Superbowl! Actually, I could care less about who's playing the game-I just want to see The Boss do his thang!

With Tom Petty last year, and Springsteen this year, I'm glad to see the NFL getting rock icons to perform the halftime show...the days of Brittany Spears out there wearing a sock on her arm are over...and should stay that way. So, bring on the Boss!