We know the Holiday Season is a source of stress for many people.  It can drive people to drink, or apparently get down with a ridiculous amount of narcotics.  However, please remember that being messed up is no excuse for acting like a violent asshole…unless you’re with family.

A Southeast Side woman who sought medical attention after ingesting illegal drugs was arrested Friday after she punched a paramedic who tried to help her and spat on a nurse at the hospital where she was taken, Chicago police said this morning.

Kimberly Jones, 40, of the 8000 block of South Burnham Avenue, was charged with aggravated battery to first aid personnel and possession of a controlled substance, both felonies, and misdemeanor battery.

About 5:30 p.m. Friday, police responded to a call of a suspicious person in the 2500 block of East 72nd Street and stopped Jones. Jones told the officers she was having breathing problems after ingesting the drugs, police said, prompting the officers to call for paramedics who tried to give her medical attention.

As Jones was being interviewed by a 33-year-old male paramedic, she punched him in the face for no apparent reason, police alleged. They said she was then restrained and taken to South Shore Hospital, where she continued her combative behavior, and even spat in the face of a 38-year-old male nurse.

Police said they also found a small amount of drugs on Jones. She was treated and released from the hospital and taken into police custody.

Keep it classy, Kimberly.  But here’s some advice…

Next time you’re going to assault a public servant, you should aim a little higher.  Both Stroger and Daley could be due for an improvised minor assault from a drugged up Chicagoan.  Get high and aim higher.  See if they have the chops like this guy.

A year after five people were slain in a homeless encampment, the LA Times posted an audiovisual story about life under the 7th Street Bridge in Long Beach since the killings. It follows the stories of three people making life under the bridge and their different approaches and perspectives to homelessness.

You can read the article here: Gimme Shelter

A drug test is a technical examination of urine, semen, blood, sweat or oral fluid samples to determine the presence or absence of specified drugs. Drug testing kits are efficient and effective at screening drug use.

The most straightforward experimental evidence that there is a strong relationship between the blue-collar brain matter and the mind is the impact blue-collar alterations to the brain, such as injury and drug use. The mind-body experimentation is one of the central issues in the times of yore of philosophy, that asks us to consider if the correlation between the blue-collar brain and the mind are identical, or related in some unknown way. There are three major schools of thought on the answer, dualism. In addition to the defeatist questions, the relationship between mind and brain involves a numeral of experimental questions, including understanding the relationship between thought and brain activity, the mechanisms by that drugs influence thought, and the neural correlates of consciousness. Through most of times of yore many philosophers found it inconceivable that cognition could be implemented by a blue-collar substance such as brain tissue.

List of Literature
A history of drug use in sport 1876-1976, Paul Dimeo, 2007
Adolescent relationships and drug use, Michelle A. Miller, 2000
Drug Use Among Racial/Ethnic Minorities, Andrea Kopstein, 1998

Drug Use

Monitoring the Teens for Drug Use is filed under drug use.

Cialis or Tadalafil is a drug used in the treatment of male impotence . Generic Cialis and generic Viagra contain the same active ingredients in the same quantity as the brand name Cialis and Viagra do.

Impotence Treatments Explore proven male impotence treatments. ED is the inability to achieve or maintain a persevering erection. Nearly every man that has impotence can be helped. Every erectile dysfunction treatment has pros and cons. A penile shoot generally requires a hospital stay of only a day or two. Many men report that the come flooding back on investment in the procedure can be gratifying.

List of Literature
A controversy concerning male impotence, Aidan McGrath, 1988

Approved Links
Male Impotence
Erectile Dysfunction

How to Cure Male Impotence Naturally and Keep the Eyesight and Hearing is filed under male impotence.

Did anyone else find Belle de Jour’s unmasking earlier this week really irritating? Her smug photoshoot in her slinky satin nightdress? Her declaration that she found her sex work “so much more enjoyable” than working as a computer programmer?

I don’t really care that Belle de Jour, or Dr. Brooke Magnanti, sold her body to help fund her science career, I only care that she published a blog glamourising a sordid and life-ruining trade, in which victims regularly experience rape, GBH, substance abuse and post-traumatic stress disorder.

As Tanya Gold comments in the Guardian:

“A study published in the Journal of Trauma Practice interviewed 854 working prostitutes (including male and transgender prostitutes) in nine countries. It is a saga of battery and desolation. Behind the dry percentage figures we find punched faces, beaten bodies, broken ribs, black eyes and strangled necks.

The report found that 70%–95% of the interviewees were physically assaulted while working as prostitutes. 60%–75% were raped while working as prostitutes; of these, more than half were repeatedly raped. 65%–95% meanwhile were sexually abused as children; the line of continuity between being used as a child and being used as an adult is clear.

Over two thirds of those interviewed – 68% – developed post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD). That is more than twice the number of Vietnam war veterans who developed PTSD.”

So, on the balance of probabilities, anyone entering the sex trade as a prostitute is likely to experience  repeated rape, physical violence and mental illness. They are also likely to have experienced sexual abuse as a child. There is clearly nothing glamourous about these statistics.

According to Home Office research, nearly all prostitutes are addicted to drugs or alcohol. These women (and men) are not living out a fantasy, funding a PhD or creating publicity for their latest film/blog/book, they are risking their lives and carrying out degrading acts with often physically repulsive punters in order to support a physical addiction.

Also, lets dispel the myth that prostitutes enter their profession willingly: research from the US shows that the average age of entry into prostitution is 13-14 years, and that most of these children were recruited or coerced into prostitution.

After Belle de Jour revealed herself to the national press on Sunday, it emerged that her estranged father used more than 150 prostitutes himself, and even introduced some of these women to Belle when she was in her twenties. Her father told the Daily Mail: “Of those, four or five were deep emotional relationships, and Brooke met those women. She saw that prostitutes were human. They were women. Brooke did not approve of me seeing the prostitutes, not because they were selling their bodies for sex but because of their drug use. We had a very big falling out.”

So Belle’s father taught her that prostitution was acceptable, and Belle seemingly agreed, but strongly disapproved of drug use. I’m no psychoanalyst, but was Belle’s behaviour an attempt to prove by example that: a) prostitutes can be pleasant, intelligent people who shouldn’t be shunned be society (in agreement with her what her father taught her), and b) that prostitutes should not use drugs (challenging the aspects of her father’s behaviour which she disapproves of, and felt so strongly about that she decided to break ties with her father)? In any case, if Belle’s father had been a more positive and ethical role model, and given her a more realistic view of the dangers of prostitution, perhaps she wouldn’t have considered it as an acceptable way of funding her career.

My final complaint is about the term ‘high class prostitute’. Does anyone else see this as a bit of a contradiction?! The term is usually used to describe prostitutes who charge hundreds of pounds per hour – those who, like Belle, have university degrees and don’t solicit on the street. But surely this doesn’t make their activities ‘high class’? They are still carrying out a fairly classless transaction, the only difference being that they are charging large amounts of money for it. Wouldn’t the term ‘expensive prostitute’ be more appropriate?

I recently read a nice paper, in which the authors make the point that if drugs are legalized, they might be made legal in a strategic way to help reluctant addicts to escape from compulsion while allowing more considerate drug users to still get high.

Their suggestion is that drugs should be legalized but unable to be purchased immediately. The idea is that the rational and in control drug user will plan ahead and so never penalized by this rule. The addict however, who bounces from craving to craving, would be protected by the fact that he could never satisfy a sudden craving. The authors put the point this way,

Another situation with similar characteristics is drug use. Scholars
recognize that “craving is a motivational state . . . equated with the subjective
desire for the effects of a drug.”123 Craving, like depression, not
only motivates certain behaviors, but it crowds out virtually all considerations
other than, in this case, drug taking. In a neurological study
of addiction, Frawley refers to a “process of . . . increasing the behavior
that facilitates drug or alcohol use and eliminating behavior that
interferes with or does not lead to drug or alcohol use. This leads to a
kind of ‘tunnel vision’ on the part of the addict.”124 This effect is most
dramatically evident in the behavior of cocaine addicts, who report
that “virtually all thoughts are focused on cocaine during binges;
nourishment, sleep, money, loved ones, responsibility, and survival
lose all significance.”125

An interesting feature of craving is that it drastically affects people’s
decisions about present actions, but has comparatively little effect
on decisions involving only future outcomes. Thus, an addict
might be willing to pay a tremendous amount to obtain a drug immediately,
but would not agree to pay such a large amount for the drug
in the future.126 This suggests a policy lever less drastic than banning
drugs and more asymmetrically paternalistic: dispense drugs legally
with a mandatory waiting period (much as a pharmacy takes time to
fill a prescription).127 This kind of forced waiting provides a way to
protect the future self from the craving current self. Since perfectly
rational users will plan ahead, the forced delay imposes little cost and
it may benefit drug users who are able to make comparatively rational
decisions for the future.

I’m not sure what I think about this point, but I guess the general idea is that the addict wouldn’t buy drugs in the middle of a craving because it would do nothing to end the craving. He would then face his purchase decision under more rational lights later after the craving has passed.

In yesterday’s post I showed how Judges chapter 19 teaches us not to trust our human nature to do the right thing.  When everyone does what seems right in their own eyes, society melts down.  Some people are good but others gang rape and murder young women, because it seems right in their own eyes.

British culture has reached a similar situation to that of Israel in the time of the judges.  Everyone does was feels right according to their human nature.  Bankers stuff their pockets with other peoples’ cash, which is little more than legalised theft, because it seems right in their own eyes.  MPs feather their nests with the taxpayers hard-earned cash, because it seems right in their own eyes.  Drug dealing, binge drinking, sexual promiscuity and pornography are part of the fabric of society as people do what seems right in their own eyes.

When this happened in Israel the people cried out “nothing like this has happened before, what are we to do?”

First, they tried to sort the mess out by taking matters into their own hands.  This is the secular approach, where humans believe that they have the solution.  Israel used heavy handed tactics to wipe out the evil in their ranks, but that simply created another problem elsewhere, like squeezing a balloon.

We find half of the solution to the social malaise in Judges 19:1, “at that time Israel had no king.”  The problem was not the lack of a king per se as God was their king.  The problem was a lack of respect for His authority.  And so, the choice for every human being is either to do what seems right in our own eyes or to do what is right in the kings eyes.

People have a God given instinct to look to leaders in authority, kings, prime ministers and presidents, we expect them to do the right thing.  The question we need to ask about our current batch of hapless world leaders is, “where do they get their authority and direction from?”  It is not from God.  Therefore, government is run by what our leaders think is right in their own eyes.

As Chancellor, Gordon Brown steered the economy of this nation in a way that he thought was good, in his own eyes.  In reality, he helped fuel a speculative bubble by borrowing and overspending, selling the nation’s gold reserves and squandering it all on expensive government projects.  Secular governments are monetarily and morally bankrupt.  We can have no respect for leaders who make things up as they go along.  For three or four generations we have drifted away from our once Christian ethos and world view and this is where we find ourselves.

We need a king, someone all people respect and obey.  We need God to rule in our hearts and minds.  At this time, there is no respect for the King and everyone does what he thinks right in his own eyes.

Tomorrow, I’ll blog on the second half of the solution from Judges 19.

When I was eleven and twelve my mother had a pretty nice boyfriend, who I will call D.  He lived in New York, and came to Ann Arbor frequently for visits to his son, and to my mother, and other friends, who I believe he was in the drug dealing business with.

I don’t know how my mother met this group of people, but they were a major part of her social life for a year and a half, or thereabouts.

Unlike some of the other boyfriends my mother had around this time and after, D was a nice person who took an interest in us kids. Once, when my father, who we rarely saw, showed up out of the blue to take us for a weekend, I became upset that I didn’t have anything nice to wear. D took me to the most expensive department store in town, where we used to be able to afford before my parents divorced, and bought me a beautiful embroidered green jumper, and ruffled white blouse.

He was also likely to hand us $20 bills to buy milk at the corner store, and tell us to keep the change. And I can remember him offering us cavier and Wheat Thins one morning for breakfast before we insisted that we wanted to go to the corner store to get milk for our cereal.

I don’t remember why this happened, but I was invited to go to New York with him for a visit. He both spoiled me, and neglected me while I was there: taking me to FAO Schwartz to buy a doll that, along with the rest of our toys and books, our mother made us leave behind when we moved to California; and one night taking me to dinner at some friends of his, with whom he planned to go to the theater, leaving me behind.

The three of them began drinking before dinner, finishing off some number of bottles of wine. They continued to drink throughout dinner, and by the time dinner ended, all of them were pleasantly drunk. After dinner, they had a few more drinks before setting out for the show. I stayed in the apartment, which I remember as dimly lit in a reddish-orange color. I don’t recall how I occupied my time, but I know I slept for a while, and that I became worried at some point because it seemed they were gone for a very long time.

Eventually they returned: they had stopped at a bar for a few drinks, and once home, opened another bottle of wine. Finally, D and I left, to check out a party that was happening that night. When we arrived, at a dark building in a dark warehouse district, most everyone at the party was already passed out from whatever substances they had been imbibing–legal and not. D toured through the warehouse, and decided that there wasn’t enough action to make it worth staying, so we left.

At this point it was about two in the morning. We were in an isolated, dark area of the city, and there weren’t any taxis to be found. We walked and walked. At some point, D took off his leather jacket and said to me, “If anything happens, take my jacket and keep walking.” Already somewhat afraid of the dark neighborhood, I began to worry, and to wonder what might happen, and where I would walk to if something did indeed happen. My imagination has always been overactive, and this direction from D, did nothing to make me feel safe.

Finally we found a cab; the driver was willing to take us, but we had to wait while he had a meal. We arrived back at D’s Greenwich Village apartment not too many hours before daylight, and both fell soundly asleep.

The next day, D slept in for many hours with a hangover, and I explored his apartment, discovering that he was probably seeing women other than my mother, and discovering my first lesbian erotica in the text of a Grove Press paperback.

Despite my scare of the night before, I was not sorry I had been chosen to make this trip to visit D. Today, as an adult, I think the whole scene was a recipe for disaster, and probably fits into the category of bad parenting. I sometimes wonder whatever happened to him.

I wonder also, what the cab driver made of a tall, somewhat drunk black man, walking among a warehouse district of New York with a young white girl. If he thought anything at all of it, he didn’t comment.

Pain and Wastings

Author: Carrie Mac

Page Length: 122

Reading Level: 3.6

Genre: Fiction

PLOT SUMMARY: Ethan grew up on the bad side of town near Main and Hastings known to others as Pain and Wastings. Ethan’s mother was involved in prostitution and drugs – a life that eventually led to her murder. Ethan has been forced to grow up in foster homes. His anger and indifference to the world has landed him in legal trouble for which he is assigned to spend time with an emergency response crew. The events that happen on the nights out working the neighborhood remind Ethan of the pain he’s tried to avoid but just can’t escape anymore.

REVIEW: For an Orca book, this one was pretty good. I really liked the pacing and the way the author slowly reveals the tragedy that Ethan has so carefully disguised and tried to ignore responding to all these years. This book does deal with sex in the form of prostitution by both his mother and Kelly. In the story, drug use issues are prevalent and murder takes place. This is an intense read that the kids would probably stay hooked on—beware of all the “inappropriate” content.

AREAS FOR TEACHING: sequence of events, internal conflict, external conflict, character traits, dialogue, cause and effect, point of view, flashback technique

TOUCHY AREAS-PAGES: p. 104 “the man had finished, zipped up his pants…” and “her head bloody,” p. 96 “long enough to squeeze me through my jeans and give me a French kiss”

RELATED BOOKS: The Beckoners, Crush, Charmed, Retribution, Storm

RELATED MOVIES: “Forrest Gump”

RELATED WEBSITES:

http://www.orcabook.com/contributorinfo.cfm?ContribID=148

http://www.goodreads.com/author/show/360816.Carrie_Mac

http://www.teendrugabuse.us/teendrugstatistics.html

http://www.teen-drug-abuse.org/

REVIEWED BY: Dayna Taylor

celebrity,challenges,Charlie Hill,civil suit,clearwater,court personnel,courtrooms,divorce,drug use,florida,FOX 13,Getty Images,Hulk Hogan,Jennifer McDaniel,John Graziano,Judge George Greer,Linda Bollea,Linda Hogan,low light photography,Paparazzi,photography business,security,Terry Bollea

Hulk Hogan’s Divorce

souce: http://www.timboylesphotography.wordpress.com

June 18, 2009 · 1 Comment

  Hulk Hogan is a worldwide celebrity living through a very public and ugly divorce and it shows.

  He’s got millions of fans around the globe, but he’s also got millions of people who are very critical of his lifestyle, his actions and of his very public family dramas and disasters.

   He’s what is known in the journalism world as an all-purpose public figure.     It’s a term used by the U.S . Supreme Court in defining and protecting the first amendment:  The right to a free press.   In short, it means that if you choose to live your life in the public eye, you also agree to endure public criticism as well.   

  It’s the reason why tabloid newspapers, web sites and magazines can make a fortune over the latest Jon and Kate escapade, Paris Hilton’s alleged sexual promiscuity and whether Florida Governor Charlie Crist is gay or not.    It’s the reason every television station in Tampa Bay, as well as TMZ and at least one freelance videographer can show up, shoot and broadcast every tawdry tidbit said in court or outside it.

  There are limits to what the press can print about all-purpose public figures and there are penalities for writing or broadcasting items that are libelous or harmful to their reputations.  But, to win a civil suit for libel, a public figure must prove “actual malice” or that the news outlet KNEW the item was false or used “reckless disregard” when publishing an item it thought MAY be false. 

     It’s very difficult to prove actual malice, yet a few celebrities have been successful in suing news outlets and many have also been successful in getting retractions and apologies without going to court.

    I’m not here to cast judgement in the case.  I’m merely an observer with an insight.  A man with a camera hired to document the hearing and put the images in the public domain.

  Hulk no longer looks like the wrestling superstar I grew up with.   I understand he was a character there.  He was a man playing a part, a role.  He was making a living.

  The reality of his life lately is much less glamorous and much more traumatic.  Hulk looked like a man who was losing this round.    He often appeared to be praying for relief.

      Hulk’s estranged wife, Linda, currently gets $40,000 a month to maintain her lifestyle.   Her attorney said she had over $740,000 in her own bank account when she was given the monthly alimony.  This hearing was held because Hulk is trying to have that 40K figure reduced, claiming she spends it on drugs and her 19-year-old boyfriend.

  Linda denies using drugs and has produced a drug screening that says she’s clean.  Hulk brought two witnesses to court to say differently.

Hairdresser Tracy Morgan testifies

  Tracy Morgan used to style Linda’s hair.  She’s also done work for both Hulk and his current girlfriend Jennifer McDaniel.  Apparently, Morgan doesn’t style Linda’s hair anymore.  She testified that Linda used to ask her to cash checks for her, then have Linda’s drug dealer deliver drugs to Morgan’s business in an attempt to hide the purchases from Hulk’s attorneys.  Linda’s attorney called the testimony a “complete fabrication” and repeatedly asked Morgan why she kept looking into the jury box where the press was seated.    It was a dynamic battle during the cross examination.  Linda’s attorney was very aggressive during his questioning of Morgan.  Morgan was equally aggressive from the witness stand and was reprimanded several times by Judge George Greer to answer the question that was asked.  Ironically, Judge Greer at one time also was known world-wide.  He was the Judge that presided in the Terri Schiavo case and ruled that her feeding tube should be removed.  She died in 2004 as a result of his rulings.

Judge George Greer admonishes the witness

   Divorce cases are notoriously ugly, more so when celebrity and large sums of money are at stake. 

Linda reacts to a witness’s testimony

  The hearing ended without any decisions.  Apparently, Hulk has more witnesses to testify regarding Linda’s spending habits.  The hearing will resume in July.  The divorce case itself has yet to begin.  Both Hulk and Linda are also facing a civil suit from John Graziano’s family regarding Nick’s careless driving and the devestating injuries that cost John a normal life.  Some people even say that this divorce is an effort to hide and divide the family’s wealth in preparation for the large amount of money that could be awarded to Graziano’s family.

  I don’t know.

  Both Linda and Hulk brought their current paramours to court for some reason.  It may be spite.  It may be companionship and support.  It may be for public relations.  It may be because the press was there.  I cannot speculate. 

Linda Bollea (Hogan) and Charlie Hill

Hulk Hogan and Jennifer McDaniel leave the hearing

  Am I a paparazzi?  Nope!  Getty Images does not endorse paparazzi behavior.  I do not hide in trees, stake out restaurants nor chase people down the street.  This was/is a legitimate news story.  Many people don’t care about it, nor wish to hear about it.  Many people do.   

  Do I like covering the case?  I must admit I do to an extent.  It’s a slice of life.  I’ve spent many days in courtrooms over the years and there are powerful emotions and decisions exhibited there.  This hearing was especially dramatic with accusations of drug use, fame-seeking witnesses, lying, cheating and alimony-money-hiding. 

  I like shooting stories with drama and emotion.  I like capturing them.  I like the challenges of shooting in a low-light courtroom with no flash.  I like bantering with the baliffs and court security people and other press that are there.    I like being an observer. 

  An intern from FOX 13 was sitting beside me during the hearing.  I asked her afterwards if this was her first time in a courtroom and she said it was.  I told her to savor it.   Few court hearings have this much drama in such a short period of time.

  For me, it’s also a dramatic change of pace from shooting weddings and models and actors and families and children and everything else I do.  I actually believe that it’s good to shoot a wide variety of  things.  It challenges me, it makes me step outside comfort zones. 

  I think it makes me a better photographer.

  And, it makes me happy that I’m on the viewfinder side of the camera and not the opposite one.

On Monday, the Akron Beacon Journal published a thought-provoking article about treating drug addicts rather than sending them to jail. Here’s a few interesting statistics presented in the article to support the case:

• According to federal data, 7.6 million Americans needed treatment for illicit drug use in 2008, and only 1.2 million — or 16 percent — received it.
• Thirty-seven percent of those seeking treatment don’t get it because they can’t pay for it — and many land in prison.
• Counselors often earning less than the $40,000 per year that it costs to keep an inmate in prison in many states.

I asked my students to read the article and give their opinion on whether drug addicts should be helped or jailed. All of them agreed that addicts should be given drug treatment instead of overcrowding jails and prisons. Here’s one student’s opinion:

There should be more treatment for people on drugs. Providing treatment is less expensive. Jail doesn’t help them stop using drugs. There should be treatment centers in every community. Then the people who want help have access to it. They could get the tools they need to stop the addiction. It’s hard trying to quit using something that takes over your mind and body, but with a little, it could be easier. Federal money should be used to start the programs. People can’t stop because they don’t know how to stop. This could fix that problem.

What do you think?

Maybe it’s because of the people I hang out with, but there has been a lot of talk about this Agassi fellow of late.

I remember when he was big in the early nineties, when acid washed jean shorts, florescent colors and frosted tips weren’t a sign to run as quickly as you could in the other direction as they are today, but actually considered cool.  Unfortunately, 60 minutes showed some advertising footage of Agassi from the nineties the other night, and I was disappointed because what I remembered was a hell of a lot cooler than the actuality.  Then came the later years, symbolized by a shaved head and a more serious persona.  By the time he retired, most of the people who had been so adamantly against him when he was a flamboyant and rebellious newcomer embraced him as one of the greatest players the sport had seen and many even went so far as to consider themselves fans.  And no matter how you felt about him, most sports fans remember his stirring speech when he retired from the sport at the 2006 US Open.

For a long time I didn’t hear anything from or about Agassi.

And then I hear that he’s written a book.  And that in that book he discusses his use of crystal meth.

Nadal and Federer were not pleased.  Navratilova was damning.

And after reading many articles, watching both 60 Minutes’ and ESPN’s coverage, I’m torn.  I can’t decide if this is a case of someone used to living years in the spotlight and being controversial having trouble fading into the background?  Or is this a genuine gesture motivated by the need to be honest and forthcoming?

Agassi doesn’t have bad intentions in writing his book and coming clean about what was going on behind the scenes throughout his tennis career.  Had it been me advising him, I would not have told him to refrain from writing or publishing the book, but I would have told him to wait.  Because it is a fascinating story and he is a compelling personality, and his story should be told and there are many waiting to soak it up.  But, I would have told him to wait until his name wasn’t as recognized among kids who now might think of the drug as less dangerous since he is associated with it and was able to play at a high level while using it.  To wait until a few more of his rivals had retired so those that competed against him might feel a little less cheapened by his blatant disrespect not only for the sport but for their contribution to it as well as their time and energy.

But now it’s out there.  And while part of me wants to appreciate the book for what he claims it is, an open and honest look into his life, I can’t help but think that the motivation was more than slightly tainted with that old Agassi urge to rebel.  To be noticed.  To be different.  To fight, even when you’re not quite sure who you’re fighting against.

Since H1N1 is overall a milder flu than even the seasonal flu, the need for rapid identification of cases is likely less important, except in specific cases (as referenced below).  Although, milder overall, H1N1 continues to affect young people more so and the death rate among that group is much higher than normally seen with the seasonal flu.  Rapid detection tests for H1N1 in doctor’s offices are proving to be only modestly accurate with over one third of cases that were positive for H1N1 testing falsely negative.  This means that 1 in 3 persons tested were told, based on a negative test result, that they did not have swine flu, when in fact they did.  The implications for this are obvious, as persons who feel they do not have swine flu may be more lax in taking precautions to prevent transmission to other family members or persons they have incidental contact with.  Careful attention to hygiene, especially hand washing, remains among the most important measures we can take to prevent transmission to ourselves or others of flu viruses.  Additionally, any person with a flu like illness, during this unusual year, should be more vigilant than ever in making sure that they are not the cause of additional cases . . . ben kazie md

Although still used in doctors’ offices and emergency departments, “rapid influenza diagnostic tests” actually do a fairly poor job of sniffing out H1N1, a growing body of evidence shows. Scientists reported last week in The Journalof the American Medical Association that one-third of California patients hospitalized with H1N1 flu had a negative rapid test, which looks for influenza A virus in a sample swabbed from the nose and gives results in a half-hour or less. However, a different test that uses the more sophisticated polymerase chain reaction – or PCR – technology, which can take a single piece of DNA and generate thousands to millions of copies, confirmed they had influenza A or H1N1 – an A strain – in particular.

‘Rapid influenza tests’ often fail to detect H1N1 – http://www.usatoday.com/news/health/2009-11-09-flurapidtests09_ST_N.htm

The recent appearance and worldwide spread of novel influenza A (H1N1) virus (1,2) has highlighted the need to evaluate commercially available, widely used, rapid influenza diagnostic tests (RIDTs) for their ability to detect these viral antigens in respiratory clinical specimens. As an initial assessment, CDC conducted an evaluation of multiple RIDTs. Sixty-five clinical respiratory specimens collected during April–May 2009* that had previously tested positive either for novel influenza A (H1N1) or for seasonal influenza A (H1N1) or A (H3N2) viruses by real-time reverse transcription–polymerase chain reaction (rRT-PCR) assay were used in the evaluation. The results showed that, although the RIDTs were capable of detecting novel A (H1N1) virus from respiratory specimens containing high levels of virus (as indicated by low cycle threshold [Ct] values), the overall sensitivity was low (40%–69%) among all specimens tested and declined substantially as virus levels decreased (and Ct values increased). These findings indicate that, although a positive RIDT result can be used in making treatment decisions, a negative result does not rule out infection with novel influenza A (H1N1) virus. Patients with illnesses compatible with novel influenza A (H1N1) virus infection but with negative RIDT results should be treated empirically based on the level of clinical suspicion, underlying medical conditions, severity of illness, and risk for complications. If a more definitive determination of infection with influenza virus is required, testing with rRT-PCR or virus isolation should be performed. Additional evaluations of the accuracy of RIDTs in detecting novel influenza A (H1N1) virus should be conducted.

Evaluation of Rapid Influenza Diagnostic Tests for Detection of Novel Influenza A (H1N1) Virus — United States, 2009 – http://www.cdc.gov/mmwr/preview/mmwrhtml/mm5830a2.htm

Most patients with clinical illness consistent with uncomplicated influenza who reside in an area where influenza viruses are circulating do not require diagnostic influenza testing for clinical management. Patients who should be considered for influenza diagnostic testing include:

• Hospitalized patients with suspected influenza
• Patients for whom a diagnosis of influenza will inform decisions regarding clinical care, infection control, or management of close contacts.
• Patients who died of an acute illness in which influenza was suspected.

Interim Recommendations for Clinical Use of Influenza Diagnostic Tests During the 2009-10 Influenza Season – http://www.cdc.gov/h1n1flu/guidance/diagnostic_tests.htm

Results During the study period (April 23 and August 11, 2009) there were 1088 cases of hospitalization or death due to pandemic 2009 influenza A(H1N1) infection reported in California. The median age was 27 years (range, <1-92 years) and 68% (741/1088) had risk factors for seasonal influenza complications. 66% of those with chest radiographs performed had infiltrates and 31% required intensive care. Rapid antigen tests were falsely negative in 34% of cases evaluated. Secondary bacterial infection was identified in 4%. 21% received no antiviral treatment. Overall fatality was 11% and was highest (18%-20%) in persons aged 50 years or older. The most common causes of death were viral pneumonia and acute respiratory distress syndrome.

Conclusions In the first 16 weeks of the current pandemic, the median age of hospitalized infected cases was younger than is common with seasonal influenza. Infants had the highest hospitalization rates and persons aged 50 years or older had the highest mortality rates once hospitalized. Most cases had established risk factors for complications of seasonal influenza.

Factors Associated With Death or Hospitalization Due to Pandemic 2009 Influenza A(H1N1) Infection in California – http://jama.ama-assn.org/cgi/content/abstract/302/17/1896

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In the news . . .

Federal judge sides with artist over trademark dispute with University of Alabama for highly accurate sports paintings.

More tax trouble–actor Nicholas Cage owes $6 million.

All-star pitcher busted for marijuana possession after being pulled over for speeding.

Actress Sandra Bullock and husband Jesse James fight custody battle with James’ ex-wife, and famous porn star, Janine Lindemulder.

Canadian court convicts man of Internet luring for not taking reasonable steps to check child’s age.

To keep with changing times, Disney reverts Mickey Mouse to his wiry, ornery, 1930s form.

Recap of most popular, banned iPhone apps.

Canadian judge confiscates boy’s Nintendo Wii for bad behavior. Meanwhile, China looks to abandon boot camps for Internet-addicted youths after death of 15-year-old boy.

Is AT&T’s lawsuit against Verizon for its “there’s a map for that” commercial the right approach? Coincidentally, the inventor of the cell phone, Martin Cooper, goes on record stating that phones have gotten too complex.

Gone so soon? Federal judge orders BlueBeat to stop its 25-cent sales of songs from the Beatles catalog.

BRITNEY, JACKO, JESUS AND RON JEREMY

“Dear User, عفواً، الموقع المطلوب غير متاح. Sorry, the requested page is unavailable. إن كنت ترى أن هذه الصفحة ينبغي أن لا تُحجب تفضل بالضغط هنا. If you believe the requested page should not be blocked please click here. لمزيد من المعلومات عن خدمة الإنترنت في المملكة العربية السعودية، يمكنك زيارة الموقع التالي: For more information about internet service in Saudi Arabia, please click here: www.internet.gov.sa”

If the screen 0n your desktop shows this message, you might have typed one or more of these words on your search engine…breast, boobs, tits, ass, butt, sex, Britney Spears, Micheal Jackson, Jesus Christ, Ron Jeremy, jew, Judaism, anal sex, rimming, fellatio, gay, homosexual, Madonna, Pamela Anderson, Tommy Lee, bisexual, erotic, erection, ménage à trois, blow job, Pope John Paul, pig, Piglet, pork, bacon, pork chop, Budha, Budhism, Hinduism, Catholicism, Scientology, glory hole, butt plugs, hymen, penis, vagina, foreskin, clitoris, Playboy, Playguy, Basic Instinct, Babe: Pig in the city movie, honcho, Seancody, slut, hooker, Chichilarue, transsexual, transvestite, lesbians, dikes, semen, sexual intercourse, fuck, uncut, bottom boy, circumcised, cybersex, Paris Hilton, Ana Nicole Smith, dildos, twinks, fags, deflower, virgin, vibrator, dominatrix, hoar, erectile dysfunction, naked, stripper, blackjack, poker, casino, BangBus, Girls Gone Wild, xxx, crucifix, holy rosary, bible, Christianity, Mother Mary, sadomasochism, David Bowie, Boy George, George Micheal, Israel, masturbation, kinky, bdsm, fetish, leather daddy, bareback, hand job and now even the new term “gay chicken” and Oprah’s “vajayjay”

BABE: PIG IN THE CITY

In 2000 my second job was in Riyadh for more than a year, in Dhahran for 2 years, and it’s really hard for a movie buff like me to search info in the net when you’re a graphic designer who likes American Movies, and I’m not even talking about porn,  just mainstream movies like “BABE: Pig in the City”, even my friends who are doctors and nurses can’t search for “breast”cancer because of the word “breast”-even for medical research purposes your not allowed to see tits. Saudi Arabia ranked 161st out of 173 countries for “freedom of the press” according to Reporters Without Borders in 2008. Going online in Saudi Arabia where internet censorship is common is rather like visiting a parallel universe run by the world’s strictest, most bigoted parents. Entire sites disappear without warning. Keyword filtering and ISP blacklists prevent you from accessing any sites that the kingdom doesn’t think you should see. The most aggressive censorship focused on pornography, drug use, gambling, religious conversion of Muslims, and filtering circumvention tools.

SEXUAL NATURE

Incoming press is strictly controlled by censorship officials, primarily for content of sexual nature. Photos of women in books, magazines, and product packaging are routinely censored with black markers if any skin is showing and sometimes pages are just ripped right out. Meanwhile, books, videotapes and electronic media brought into the country may be subjected to censorship at customs. Pork in any form is prohibited, and so is pornography.

Other countries that have censorship in the internet and other medias are Belarus, Burma, Cuba, Iran, Libya, Maldive, Nepal, North Korea, Syria, Tunisia, Uzbekistan, Vietnam, Turkmenistan and China.

So, after completing school and getting a Master’s, I find myself with a lot of disk space taken up by papers that I’m not doing anything with.  I might as well put some of them on here…maybe 1 or 2 people will be interested.  Enjoy and let me know what you think!

The Substance of Music:

The Relationship Between Substance Use, Musicians, and Other Artistic Individuals

Abstract

Musicians along with other creative individuals are a population that suffers from a public perception, whether correct or incorrect, of drug use and abuse.  The purpose of this paper is to investigate the relationship between music, creativity, and substance abuse issues, as well as examine possible reasons for its existence and possible implications for counselors.

Relationship Between Substance Use and the Arts

Musicians, painters, poets, and artists of all forms have long been associated with edgy lifestyles, defiance of social norms, free spirited attitudes, and mental abnormalities.  From Vincent Van Gogh to Mozart to Silvia Plath, there have certainly been a fair share of “poster child” artists who have created renowned pieces of art while trapped in relentless minds (Ludwig, 1989).  Often, such instances lead into behaviors of self medication that make situations worse, and affect not only the artist, but also his or her work and the world around them.  As several studies have indicated, substance abuse problems share a close relationship with creative minds (Gronnerod, 2002; Ludwig, 1990; Singer & Mirhej, 2006).  Just why is it that artists seem to have such a propensity towards mental health issues and especially substance abuse problems?

This paper is an attempt to delve into the reasons for the hardships that so many artists go through, and the amazing masterpieces that often emerge from the madness.  Why artists are such an intensely creative and yet troubled population is a topic of importance, not only for the artists themselves, but also to the understanding of mental disorders in general.  Specifically, this paper will examine the possible reasons and implications of musicians and other creative individuals who fall victim to the grasp of addiction to drugs and alcohol.  An examination into this topic will hopefully shed light on why these individuals have an inclination towards addiction, and how they might be helped.  First, a short investigation into the relationship between creativity and substance use will be explored, and how this relationship might affect the artistic mind.  Next, the connections between drugs and music in particular will be examined to find why and how these two separate entities seem to play such an integral part in each other’s evolution.  The relationship between musical preference and drug use as well as the physiological connections that may be present will be considered.  Finally, a discussion of the implications and possible clinical applications of this knowledge in counseling settings will be presented.

Substance and Creativity

Before delving into the specific issue of art and drug use, a broader examination of the relationship between general creativity and substance abuse seems appropriate.  Creative persons such as authors, painters and musicians have long been associated with substance use.  Jazz, for instance, is rooted with connections to such substances as marijuana and heroin (Singer & Mirhej, 2006).  American jazz musicians in the early part of the 19^th often lived poor and downtrodden lives, with little or no other income than their music.  Because of this, marijuana use allowed them to play for long hours with little breaks, thus enhancing their income as well as their “artistic imagination” (Singer & Mirhej, 2006).  Record producer Michael Cuscuna summed up the jazz musicians lifestyle in a few words, “Anyone who thinks that it’s easy to go onstage every night, three hundred times a year, and create something new, will never get the toll that it takes to be a jazz musician” (Singer & Mirhej, 2006).

In a study conducted by Ludwig (1990), biographies of 250 creative persons were reviewed.  Of these persons, 34 were chosen to be the subject of investigation into the relationship between alcohol and their own creative experiences.   This sample consisted of 28 writers and poets, 4 musical composers and performers, and 2 visual artists.  The biographies of all artists were carefully reviewed by a number of readers and were subsequently transposed onto data collection forms that concentrated on personal characteristics of the artists’ such as family, demographics, childhood experiences, schooling, professional achievements, and so forth.  This data was then compared, discussed, and agreed upon by the readers (Ludwig, 1990).

Using an innovative approach originally developed by Richards (1981), Ludwig was able to classify possible relationships between substance use and creativity among the subjects of the study.  This method helps to simplify the extremely complex relationships between alcohol use, creativity, and the often volatile lives of the artists.  Classifications for the substance/creativity relationship included: Alcohol intake directly increases creative output; Alcohol intake indirectly increases creative output; Alcohol intake directly decreases creative output; Alcohol intake indirectly decreases creative output; Creative output directly increases alcohol intake; Creative output indirectly increases alcohol intake; Creative output directly decreases alcohol intake; Creative output indirectly decreases alcohol intake; Intervening variables directly affect either creative output (more or less) or alcohol intake (more or less) (Ludwig, 1990).

All 34 artists studied were classified into one or more of the categories listed above.  Contrary to many of the artists’ original assumptions that alcohol increased their creative ability, 76.5% of them were determined to fall into the category of Alcohol intake directly decreases creative output, and only 8.8% had a direct benefit from alcohol use (Ludwig, 1990).  Ludwig found throughout the course of the artists’ lives that drinking at an early stage might have facilitated the creative process, after one or two drinks to “loosen up.”  As the artists became used to this drinking to facilitate work, some began to depend on the effects of substance, not only for their work, but also for their lives, “The detrimental effects of alcohol, as should be apparent, also tend to worsen over time as alcoholism progresses in severity and individuals lose the capacity to separate their drinking from their work” (Ludwig, 1990).

It is hard to imagine how drugs could facilitate creativity, especially in debilitating dosages, but Ludwig found a common element in the 8.8% of artists who were classified under alcohol intake directly increases creative output. Where alcohol and other substances might show actual improvements in artists’ ability to work is in cases of other ailments that he or she may face.  For instance, if an individual suffers from mental issues such as depression or physical issues such as chronic pain, alcohol might alleviate this and allow the artist to continue work.  After time, the substance of choice creates a dependence and is needed to ward off its own symptoms of withdrawal. The substance acts as a mechanism for alleviating personal ailments that prevent the artist from functioning on a physical, mental, and artistic level.   Of course, this self medicating process is detrimental to the overall health of the individual, and often leads to even more severe problems than the initial cause for using the drug (Ludwig, 1990).

Music and Substance Use

Musical Preference and Drug Use.

Several studies have been conducted to observe the relationships between substance use and personal preference in listening to or playing music. (Chen, Miller, Grube, & Waiters, 1995; Chesky, Hipple, & Ho, 1998).  Using the Alcohol Use Disorders Identification Test, Chen and colleagues tested several research questions regarding the consumption of liquor and the listening habits of individuals from 15-25 of rap music in particular.  One of these questions focused on whether or not alcohol and drug use was associated with preference for music.  The study found that listening to certain genres including heavy metal, punk, rap, R&B, reggae, rock, and techno was significantly and positively related to the use of alcohol (Chen et al., 1995).  The authors add caution to their findings, however, indicating that no causal relationship was present.  While a significant relationship existed between musical preference and substance use, the propensity towards using the substance might have encouraged the inclination to the particular type of music, or vice-versa.  Either way, some connection was established, and further investigation was encouraged.

Another similar study by Forsyth, Barnard, and McKeganey (1997) investigated the association between musical preference and adolescent drug use in Scotland.   Through survey research, respondents answered questions pertaining to favorite styles of music, prior use of illegal substances, and other demographical information.  The data from the study confirmed the belief that a significant relationship existed between musical preference and drug use.  In this case, the genre most associated with the practice of using illegal substances was rave music, which includes techno, jungle, house, trance, and a variety of other sub-genres.  In fact, 64.3% of children in the study who had ever experimented with any form of illegal substance had indicated that their favorite choice of music was rave (p < .01) (Forsyth et al., 1997).

At the time of this study, a political debate regarding pop-culture was emerging as two prominent musicians of the popular bands Oasis and East 17 made several statements deemed “pro-drug.” The assumption was that youth might imitate the attitudes of the popular musicians towards drugs and that substance use among adolescents would rise.  Contrary to that belief, however, the data from this study did not support a positive relationship with drug use and preference for popular music. Although, as with the previous study, a causal relationship cannot be established with these results, a relationship most certainly exists, and the reasons for the existence seem to reach further than simply thwarting to an issue of popular culture gone wrong (Forsyth et al., 1997).

According to Markert (2001), “critical attention to lyrical content is typically based on one of two intellectual traditions: (1) music is popular because it reflects the values and beliefs of those who consume it, or (2) music is didactic and acts as a socializing agent by teaching behavior” (Markert, 2001).  Whether music reflects the beliefs of a society or acts as an outlet for teaching popular behavior, the fact that substance use has and continues to permeate music makes the medium an interesting focus of study into the attitudes of a culture towards legal and illegal mind-altering drugs.  Due to the results of Forsyth et. al., along with the documented tendency of musicians to use drugs and other substances at a higher percentage than the general population (Ludwig, 1990; Chesky, Hipple, & Ho, 1998; Gronnerod, 2002), it seems that underlying factors other than just pop-culture might contribute to substance abuse among creative individuals.

Physiological relationship between drug use and music.

Although the link between certain types of music and substance abuse has been studied and relationships have been discovered, the actual causes for this relationship have been extremely difficult, if not impossible, to pinpoint.  Without venturing inside the human mind, finding the reasons for why drugs and music are so closely tied remains a mystery.  In 2006, Fachner attempted to delve further into this topic by examining the actual effects that drugs paired with musical stimulus have on the brain.  Due to the advent of the EEG (Electroencephalograph), changes over time in the brain can be precisely measured, and can be related to stimulus or events that cause those physiological changes.

Using a sample of four individuals, Fachner measured brain activity under normal conditions and under the influence of cannabis (Fachner, 2006).  While playing three selections of music, all participants showed lower activity with perception of high frequencies and significant increases in activity (p <.025) with slower frequency sounds.  More activity was found in the midbrain, which is responsible for emotions, memory, and selection, when under the influence of cannabis. Also intensified were patterns present of the parietal alpha band, which may indicate heightened attention to the perception of acoustics (Fachner, 2006). Although these results cannot be widely generalized due to the small sample of the study, the implications for further research and the possibilities to understanding the link between music and substance use are promising.

Performance and Abuse

In order to acquire a further understanding of just why music and substance use shares such an integral part in each one’s existence, it is important to look at the relationships with and the mindsets towards drug use among practicing musicians.

Perceptions of drug use among musicians.

In 1998, a study by Chesky, Hipple, and Ho examined the perceptions that musicians have towards alcohol and substance use in general.  Providing an online format of the UNT Musician Health Survey (UNT-MHS), the researchers were able to reach a large sample of musicians with various backgrounds from all over the United States.  This survey is divided into five sections which include demographical information, musculoskeletal problems of musicians, non-musculoskeletal problems, lifestyle and environment issues, and a section for comments and feedback.  As for the issue of the perception of drug use among musicians, the following question was posed, “In your opinion, is there widespread drug use among musicians?” (Chesky et al., 1998).

In response to the above question, 29% of the total sample of 2,773 musicians responded “yes.”  Of these musicians, with personal backgrounds ranging from classical music to popular genres, approximately 1 in 3 felt that widespread drug use is apparent among musicians.  Furthermore, 58.2% of male respondents age 20-29 answered “yes,” as well as 42.1% of female respondents of the same age group (Chesky, et al., 1998).  The researchers caution the reliability of this data, alluding to the limitations of internet surveys and the fact that the respondents could not be monitored in a clinical setting.  Even so, the fact that such a high percentage of musicians perceive widespread drug use among their peers as a reality is striking.  With its limitations, such a study warrants further investigation into why this is the case, and why musicians view their own community as one in which drug use is so common.

The role of drugs in the lives of musicians.

The famous adage of “Drugs, Sex, and Rock and Roll” illuminates the very apparent ties between the life of a musician and the social expectations that he or she faces.  Classic images of the rock star relaxing with guitar in hand, cigarette butt hanging from mouth and women by his side is in stark contrast with the reality of life on the road.  In 2002, Gronnerod investigated the role of illegal and legal substances in amateur rock bands.  Through interviews with 32 musicians aged 18-30, Gronnerod found several telling signs affirming that this tie to drugs is still very real and often plays out with musicians who may never achieve the status of glorified rock star (Gronnerod, 2002).

Many of the musicians whom Gronnerod interviewed had found themselves in situations where alcohol and drug use was accepted or even encouraged.  Due to the fact that many musicians play in bars, restaurants, and other licensed premises, the consumption of alcohol is often a usual occurrence.  A large amount of the musicians who were interviewed saw their gigs as celebrations rather than work, and even if their primary income is music, the blur between work and play becomes more apparent, and “there are no clear lines of demarcation marked with alcohol between celebration, playing as work, or an ordinary weekend in many musicians’ lives” (Gronnerod, 2002).

In the 1920s, as the genre of jazz began to emerge, musicians utilized substances just to get through their daily rituals (Singer & Mirhej, 2006).  Even today, it is not uncommon for musicians to face poor living conditions for weeks or even months at a time, little money for food, little sleep, and little more than a far off dream to keep sane.  Drugs and alcohol to the musician, then, are unfortunately addictions of necessity rather than excess (Gronnerod, 2002).  One musician, after returning home from a tour, stated that his daily drinking habits on the road continued after he was back, and expressed the difficulty of regressing to a normal home life.

After time, addictions and other substances including “hard drugs” often find their way into the mix.  According to one artist, “there really are guys who think they play better rock because they shoot heroin” (Gronnerod, 2002).  Heavy drinking is accepted in settings such as bars or concert venues, and the loss of self control can and sometimes does lead to alcoholism and other dependence problems.  Discussing the looming threat of alcoholism, a 27 year old drummer in Gronnerod’s study confessed, “It scares me, I feel it [the threat of becoming an alcoholic] is sitting right there behind my back” (Gronnerod, 2002).  The difficulty in dealing with this along with poor living conditions and constant performance expectations can make substance abuse a foreseeable problem in the field of popular performance music.

Discussion

While the use of alcohol and drugs within the artistic community is a widespread concern, the aforementioned investigations into the relationship between illegal and legal substances and the creative mind have shed some light on the matter.  As indicated in the studies of Ludwig, the intake of substances while participating in the creative process is not particularly beneficial, and can even lead to problems in a majority of artists involved.  Yet, a relationship between musical preference and drug use persists (Chen et al., 1995; Forsyth et al., 1997) as does the perception that musicians actively partake in drug use at a greater extent than the general population (Chesky et al., 1998).  Furthermore, physiological changes that seem to heighten awareness of musical perception could account for the link between cannabis and music (Fachner, 2006). Jazz musicians for many years have utilized the effects of drugs for the practical purposes of staying awake for extended periods of time and increasing awareness of musical ideas in their improvised performances (Singer & Mirhej, 2006).  This, however, can lead to dependency issues that affect not only the musician, but also the audience and the culture in which the musician takes part (Gronnerod, 2002; Singer & Mirhej, 2006; Markert, 2001).  Herein lies the struggle of the creative mind that feeds off of a constant need for innovation while under great pressures to produce the elusive masterpiece.

Acknowledgement of the issue is the first step towards helping the individuals who are struggling to cope with it.  Musicians caught in the grasp of alcoholism and other drug addictions are a population at risk, but because the perception of drug use among their community is one of acceptance, help is not always easy to find.  Counselor professionals need to closely examine the connections between drug abuse and creative individuals, (including, but not limited to musicians), in order to help them cope with the dangers of their addictions and the consequences of a difficult lifestyle.

Several organizations have been formed to address this need, some of which include MusiCares and Musician’s Assistance Program.  MusiCares, as part of the Recording Academy and the Grammy Foundation, is an organization that focuses on helping struggling musicians in times of need.  While the program helps artists with issues ranging from financial to personal emergencies, a central focus of MusiCares is to aid individuals within the music community who suffer from addiction and substance abuse issues.  Several programs fall under the direction of the MusiCares organization, including the Safe Harbor Room for artists at various awards ceremonies, addiction recovery and support groups, and the MusiCares MAP fund, named for the Musician’s Assistance Program.  The Musician’s Assistance Program, which until 2004 worked as a separate entity, has joined forces with MusiCares and has created a strong base for support (MusiCares, 2005).

Although structures are in place to help struggling musicians, the reasons for the connection between music and drug abuse are still difficult to identify.  Studies regarding the physiological aspects of the link help to explain how the two actually coincide, but the lack of decent sample sizes and the difficulty to obtain information on illegal drug use while maintaining ethical standards is of great concern (Fachner, 2006).  Research into the social aspects of how musicians and other creative artists begin using drugs is also of importance.  If counselors are able to reach this population before they fall to methods of self-medication, artistic individuals would have a greater chance of learning coping strategies that would keep them from becoming addicted.  While no one method to prevent drug use and addiction is fool proof, the process of targeting help towards this population in need is one step closer to reducing the number of artists who use drugs.  Our lives are all affected by music, and we owe it to musicians to help them deal with the hardships that come along with the intense desire to create.

References

Chen, M. J., Miller, B., Grube, J.W., & Waiters, E.D. (1995). Music, substance use, and aggression. Journal of Studies on Alcohol, 67(3), 373-381.

Chesky, K. S., Hipple, J., & Ho, K. (1998). Perceptions of widespread drug use among musicians. Texas, USA: University of North Texas, Texas Music Education Research.

Fachner, J. (2006). Set and setting in an electrophysiological research paradigm on music perception under the influence of cannabis and correlated brain function. Music Therapy Today, 7(2), 333-357.

Forsyth, A. J. M., Barnard, M., & McKeganey, N. P. (1997). Musical preference as an indicator of adolescent drug use. Addiction, 92(10), 1317-1325.

Gronnerod, J. S. (2002).  Te use of alcohol and cannabis in non-professional rock bands in Finland. Contemporary Drug Problems, 29(summer), 417-443.

Ludwig, A. M. (1989). Reflections on creativity and madness. American Journal of Psychotherapy, 43(1), 4-14

Ludwig, A. M. (1990). Alcohol input and creative output. British Journal of Addiction, 85, 953-963.

Markert, J. (2001). Sing a song of drug use-abuse: Four decades of drug lyrics in popular music – from the sixties through the nineties. Sociological Inquiry, 71(2), 194-220.

MusiCares. (2005). Community Services Report. Retrieved April 22, 2007, from http://www.grammy.com/PDFs/CSR_MC.pdf.

Richards, R. L. (1981). Relationships between creativity and psychopathology: an evaluation and interpretation of the evidence. Genetic Psychology Monographs, 103, 261-324.

Singer, M. & Mirhej, G. (2006). High notes: The role of drugs in the making of jazz. Journal of Ethnicity in Substance Abuse, 5(4), 1-38.

R.I.P. LENNY BIAS  1963-1986

I recently viewed espn’s 30 for 30 a series that highlights sports greats behind the scenes and away from all the glitz and glamour. The most recent installment featured the late Len Bias. For those of you youngins who are unaware of who exactly Len bias is, I have compiled a few videos for you to get a faint idea of the impact that Len’s life (and death) had on sports… period.

Physically gifted,and humble, Len was often categorized as a future great of the NBA with the likes of Michael Jordan and Magic Johnson. Len’s life was cut short due to his recreational drug use and denied himself the opportunity to ever be known as one of the elite. Sadly it leaves the burning question in my mind “What if….” “what if he got to shine with rob parish and larry bird?” “How good could he have really been?”…. we’ll never know. 

From the Times of London comes an article by Andrew Sullivan about legalizing marijuana and how, basically, in some areas of the USA, it’s already happened. It’s a good article, and one I highly recommend reading.

I really hope the laws on this do change. Keeping pot illegal is very, very stupid (as are the laws keeping other drugs illegal). People are going to use it, in large numbers, and without paying taxes on it. They’ll also continue to fund a lot of the very evil behavior by drug lords around the world.

Make it legal, make it safer, make some money off it.

In a world where people are presented with problems, a world where everything just doesn’t go as it seems, this world, the world that we live in, we tell our problems to those who can help us. Shrinks. However, who are there for them, to hear their problems? Shrink is a powerful, emotional and unique film which focuses on the world which is slightly more controversial than people care to admit. It tells the stories of a string of numerous individuals which eventually meet at an emotional junction by the end of the film.

One of those individuals is Dr. Henry Carter (Kevin Spacey), a highly paid professional shrink for the stars on the verge of an emotional breakdown himself. Having recently suffered severe and emotionally painful events, he starts to lose his connection with his patients, it could be said that ‘Shrink‘ focuses on his self-discovery. The film also features the likes of; Holden (Robin Williams) an alcoholic who feels as if he has lost his masculinity, Kate (Saffron Burrows) a celebrity mother who’s boyfriend is cheating on her, Shamus (Jack Huston), a trying drug addicted actor who desperately searches for work, Daisy (Pell James) the assistant to a hypochondriacal agent, Jemma (Keke Palmer) a struggling African American coming to terms with her mother’s suicide, Patrick (Dallas Roberts) the hypochondriacal agent previously mentioned and Jeremy (Mark Webber), a budding and talented writer who struggles with establishing a reputation in the film and literary industry. Spacey’s performance throughout the film has to be commended though, its sharp, on edge and displays a profound vulnerable side to his character. It also has to be noted that he so effortlessly creates a side to the protagonist which desires emotion but at the same time pushes it away with the frequent use of drugs.

Shrink deals with many disputatious issues including; drug use, the pressures of the workplace, society’s expectation of said individual, surrogacy, commitment and ultimately, the ability to deal with grief. These issues on the other hand are combated impressively at a constant rate throughout the entire film and it brings me pleasure to say that this is in fact a well made film, it’s also independent which makes it ever more enjoyable. Shrink gives us an insight into the darker side of Hollywood and that behind all the glamour and all the commercialisation, lies a vulnerable foundation; the people Hollywood rely on. An excellent film which comes with an excellent recommendation from me.

It was a lie that never would have seen the light of day, but Andre Agassi felt it needed to be revealed.

In his autobiography, “Open,” Agassi reveals that in 1997, he lied to the ATP about a positive drug test that came as a result of his use of the drug crystal meth.

The release of the book and its revelations about his use of the drug has drawn mixed reactions.

“To me it seems terrible,” Rafael Nadal said at an awards ceremony in Madrid on Thursday. “Why is he saying this now that he has retired? It’s a way of damaging the sport that makes no sense.”

Former tennis player Mary Joe Fernandez described Agassi’s confessions as “a bit of a shock.”

“It takes a lot of guts and courage to come out and say something that nobody would have really known about,” Fernandez said. “I’ve always admired Andre. He was a huge part of inspiring my generation, and he did a lot of great things and continues to do a lot of great things. He’s opening up now, and that’s his choice. Maybe people can learn from it and not make the same mistakes.”

Along with the shock and criticism from others, Agassi received a strong voice of support from fellow American tennis player Andy Roddick.

“Andre is and always will be my idol. I will judge him on how he has treated me and how he has changed the world for the better,” Roddick wrote on his Twitter page.

Along with the reactions came questions of Agassi’s motivation in revealing the drug use.

“We’re not here to kick a guy now that he’s back up, although in fairness we’ve always found honesty to be more refreshing when it doesn’t come at $31.99 a copy,” said Ray Ratto, a CBS columnist.

Agassi’s book is set to hit stores on November 9^th.

Approximately one-third of young women in the United States become pregnant before the age of 20. Teen pregnancy is an issue for a number of reasons. Teen mothers struggle to complete their educations and generally fall into a lower socioeconomic status. On the other hand, abortions can have complications and often cause emotional turmoil. Children born of teenage mothers may also suffer consequences. They are less likely to receive proper health care, nutrition, and social and cognitive stimulation. In addition, babies of teenage mothers are more likely to have a low birth weight, which can result in severe developmental disorders. The following is a list of facts and statistics, emphasizing the problems related to teen pregnancy.

• Eighty percent of teen mothers must rely on welfare at some point.
• Only about one-third of teenage mothers receive a high school diploma.
• Teen pregnancies are associated with a higher amount of alcohol and drug use
• There are over 200,000 teen abortions every year.
• Teen pregnancy costs the United States at least $7 billion annually.
• The sons of teen mothers are 13% more likely to end up in prison, while teen daughters are 22% more likely to become teen mothers themselves.
• Approximately 25% of teen mothers who give birth have another baby within 2 years.
• More than 80% of teen pregnancies are unplanned or unintentional.
• 7.2% of mothers receive no prenatal care, while many others receive delayed prenatal care.
• 46% of all 15-19 year olds in the United States have had sex at least once.

Although these  teen pregnancy statistics seem bleak, there has actually been a steady decline in teenage pregnancy over the years. It has decreased more than 36% from it’s peak in 1990. With modern forms of birth control that are more easily accessible to teens, fewer girls are getting pregnant. In addition, fewer teenage girls are becoming sexually active at a young age. Educating young women and encouraging them to pursue their goals are two ways to discourage teen pregnancy. Due to the fact that teenage pregnancy has so many negative consequences for the mother, the child, and society as a whole, we need to make an active effort to find new prevention methods.