Archive for October, 2007
A journalist asks:
"What sort of mindset leads young people to attack the homeless? We had an incident in Aurora, Colo., last week where police say seven teens beat and stabbed a homeless man."
Disgusting, isn't it? As usual, alcoholism is the best explanation for the grotesque.
Alcoholism explains (but does not excuse) 85% of domestic violence and overall crime. There's no reason to think that attacks on the homeless are any different.
What's confusing is the attackers are teens. How could teenagers already be alcoholics (or other-drug addicts)? Because the typical addict in recovery tells us he or she triggered the addiction during the first drinking episode, average age 13.
But why would alcoholism or other-drug addiction result in such attacks? Because alcoholism causes ...
Is Erich von Daniken an alcoholic?
The latest issue of Skeptic Magazine includes a wonderful expose of a likely alcoholic imagination running wild in author Erich von Daniken, who is best known for "Chariots of the Gods?" He tried to show that only extraterrestrial beings could have brought the ancients the technology to build pyramids, among other un-earthly achievements. Skeptic rips such claims to shreds.
Skeptic also describes von Daniken's early personal life, which included convictions for fraud and embezzlement. It's possible that von Daniken's likely alcoholism, which took form in defrauding small groups of people early on, transmuted into a big-time fraud when he discovered a penchant for writing and story-telling. I wrote to Skeptic:
"Von Daniken dropped out of school to become a bartender. He was ...
Why do Latina women cheat on the husbands or boyfriends?
A Latina asks why Latina women cheat. My response, as usual, attempts to go deeper. We need to seek out root causes.
Women who cheat, like their male counterparts, often do so out of a need to wield power. In Western cultures, this need is frequently rooted in egomania resulting from alcohol or other-drug addiction.
Recovering addicts admit that affairs were a regular part of their married lives. What they can't tell us is what compelled them to cheat, which I have researched extensively. It usually comes down to that egomania.
Race is irrelevant, as is economic class, education level, gender or anything else except a parent who was an addict. Aside from learning from such a parent--actually, not so much learning ...
Nigerian scams and alcoholism
What do Nigerian scams have to do with alcoholism?
Most con artists, including Charles Ponzi, are or have been alcohol or other-drug addicts. The Nigerian scam, a variation of the up-front fee con originating in the Sir Francis Drake scam perfected by the alcoholic Oscar Hartzell, is no exception. Just as alcohol permeates the offices of penny-stock boiler-rooms, I'd bet my reputation that it does so at the offices of Nigerian con-artists.
Those unfortunate enough to meet such a con artist usually note an inflated sense of self and charm. These are both consistent with alcoholism, which causes egomania, which results in a need to wield power over others. One way by which to exert power is charm. A classic example of ...
Domestic violence and divorce
A journalist asks, "What's the connection between domestic violence and divorce?"
Wrong question.
Those interested in the driver behind domestic violence need to comprehend alcoholism and other-drug addiction. There is at least an 85% likelihood of addiction in those who commit DV. And while only 10% of the population consists of addicts, 40% of divorces involve an addict on one side or the other, and often both. In addition, among those married and divorced four times, the odds of alcoholism and other-drug addiction are close to 90%.
If we want to solve the problem--and even prevent it--we need to understand its cause. That's what my books are for, particularly "Drunks, Drugs & Debits," which gives a "gut" feel for alcoholism.
O.J. Simpson’s latest arrest: only alcoholism explains both the child-like behavior and the cast of characters, both alleged perps and victims
O.J. Simpson arrested--again
Another example of alcoholics pitted against alcoholics in the criminal justice system
"...I'm not going to blame being drunk [for having struck you] that's (sic) no excuse. (But I have decided to stop drinking and will go to AA)" (parentheses in the original). So wrote O.J. Simpson in a 1989 letter of apology to Nicole Brown Simpson.
To understand O.J., one must grasp the concept of alcoholic egomania, which compels the addict to wield power over others. This explains how even successful, talented and charming people can create a mess of so many lives. In particular, it accounts for O.J.'s success on the playing field and as an actor, because success facilitates the use of power and, therefore, alcoholism in ...
Norman Hsu arrested again: is it just plain avarice, or avarice grounded in alcoholism?
Best runner-up for story of the month ever:
Norman Hsu, until recently a large donor to Democratic Party luminaries, was arrested--again--for missing a court hearing--again--relating to charges of grand theft, to which he pleaded no contest in 1992. Hsu's sordid story is consistent with undiagnosed alcoholism, by far the best explanation for his numerous bizarre exploits.
Hsu, 56, a purported businessman whose rags-to-riches story no one seems able to explain, filed for bankruptcy twice, the first time in 1990. Just two years later, after charming friends and relatives into investing in what turned out to be a multi-million dollar Ponzi scheme, he forfeited $2 million in bail when he failed to appear for sentencing. He seems to have moved to Hong Kong ...
Actress Vivica A. Fox shows her alcoholic stripes during her recent arrest
Another runner-up:
"Dancing With the Stars" contestant Vivica A. Fox, 43, who pleaded not guilty to charges of DUI, stopped after passing a California Highway Patrol officer, allegedly driving 80 mph and weaving on the Ventura Freeway in Los Angeles. It was, of course, after she was told she was under arrest that the actress (best known for "Kill Bill" and "Independence Day") began to berate the officers. "Brother," she yelled at one of the two officers, "help a sister. Are you going to let this racist white cop do this?" She reportedly continued to speak in a "condescending manner" as she was placed into the patrol car. An arrest for DUI is an excellent clue to alcoholism. Bigotry (Mel Gibson) ...
Former Philippine President Joseph Estrada, alcoholic, gets his comeuppance
Runner Up:
Former Philippine President Joseph Estrada, who got a life sentence after being found guilty of taking $85 million in bribes and kickbacks six years after he was ousted. The 70-year-old former action-film star became a hero to millions of poor and homeless Filipinos, no doubt by engaging in a variation of the tactics used by Hugo Chavez of Venezuela: give to the poor while consuming the country's capital through a failure to invest. Estrada's government began to unravel in 2000 after a self-confessed racketeer and "one-time drinking buddy of Estrada," provincial Gov. Luis Singson, admitted to paying bribes to Estrada. According to the L.A. Times, Estrada, "a notorious playboy, lived the high life during the trial, holding parties at ...
Actors Seymour Cassel and Keifer Sutherland; singer Mindy McCready: losses can assist in whatever bottoms they need
More runners up:
Character actor Seymour Cassel, 72, who narrowly lost a bid to become president of Hollywood's most powerful union, the Screen Actors Guild. Cassel, whose career was derailed over two decades ago by a stint in federal prison, became a member of the SAG board six years ago. One former board member "found his behavior very troubling and erratic" and says that Cassel was one of the reasons he "chose not to run again." Cassel, the only child of a mother who was a traveling dancer and a father he never knew, is described as a "loose cannon" and has had run-ins with several fellow professionals, including former president of the American Federation of Radio and Television Artists John ...
The Salvation Army, the down-and-out alcoholic’s best friend, gets stung by one of their own
Under watch:
Former Salvation Army fundraiser Timothy Peter Janusz, 44, who pleaded guilty to robbing the charitable organization and four elderly donors of more than $300,000 while he was director of planned giving for the charity in Hawaii. Janusz, who has degrees in law and business administration, previously served time for stealing $2.2 million from an elderly Colorado couple. The Salvation Army, one of the functions of which is to help down-and-out addicts get and stay sober, had not known about Janusz's criminal past. They have revamped their procedures to require criminal background checks for those who deal with the public.
Tennie Pierce get $1.49 million, enabled by L.A.’s political elite
Los Angeles Mayor Antonio Villaraigosa and the L. A. City Council, for settling a harrassment and hazing case involving former L.A. firefighter Tennie Pierce. Pierce sued the city for failing to discipline co-workers when they put dog food in his spaghetti, after calling himself "Big Dog" during a volleyball game immediately before the incident. Pierce had a history of engaging in similar pranks with his fellow firefighters. He took away $1.49 million for his success in mocking the system.
Christine Prody enables O.J. Since she’s an addict too, how could we expect a different reaction to the alleged burglary?
Enabler of the month:
O.J. Simpson's girlfriend, Christine Prody, who stood by Simpson in court, reportedly commenting at one point that O.J. could not have committed the latest alleged crime and that he certainly didn't murder Ron and Nicole. However, after a brief break-up six years ago, Prody sold a story to the National Enquirer in which she claimed that Simpson had confessed to her that he killed Ron and Nicole. Theirs appears to be typical of the relationships between co-addicts. O.J. called the police in 1999 after Prody went on a two-day cocaine binge, while Prody accused O.J. in 2000 of breaking into her home, among other rocks in their 10 years together.
Betsy Gotbaum enables Carol Anne Gotbaum’s alcoholism even after she dies. Message to the Gotbaum family: learn from your mistakes and move on.
Enabler of the month:
Betsy Gotbaum, the New York City's "public advocate" and likely 2009 mayoral candidate who is Carol Anne Gotbaum's stepmother-in-law, said the Gotbaum family believes Carol Anne "seems to have been manhandled" by Phoenix police during her arrest at Phoenix's Sky Harbor International Airport and are contemplating a lawsuit for wrongful death. According to an eyewitness, Carol Anne became irate and out of control while repeatedly screaming "I'm not a terrorist" after she was not allowed to board an airplane for arriving late. Police of course (it's an airport for God's sake!) intervened and handcuffed her. They left her alone for five or 10 minutes in a holding cell at the airport, where she apparently managed to strangle ...
Is Douglas R. Andrew, author of “Missed Fortune 101,” an incompetent, a bad person–or an alcoholic? A review of this catastrophically bad piece of work.
Review: "Missed Fortune 101" by Douglas R. Andrew
The mass of evidence in my book, "Drunks, Drugs & Debits: How to Recognize Addicts and Avoid Financial Abuse," shows that financial abuse--as all thug-like behavior--is usually rooted in alcohol or other-drug addiction. A book advancing ideas that could easily result in financial catastrophe for those who implement its ideas could easily be written by a person with the disease of alcoholism. This is particularly true for someone who should know better.
I have no way of confirming such alcoholism. However, when errors are consistently made with the singular goal of selling the mark on one of two ideas--that only an idiot wouldn't hock his home to the hilt and invest the proceeds in ...
Why are so many older men jerks?
Problem men
Dear Doug:
At age 61 and in good shape, I am having a terrible time finding decent men to date. After a date or two I learn that many are egotistical, lying, bombastic and pontificating jerks. What happens to men in their 50s and 60s anyway?
I left my marriage of 32 years after giving up trying to fix myself with therapy while my husband drank, as he always did, his fifth of vodka a day, more recently with no worries and no job. What's the story here, anyway?
Signed,
Giving up on men
. . . .
Dear Codependent,
Some columnists might simply comment that not all men are like those you've dated, but you shouldn't need a man to be happy.
True, but that's just ...
Does O.J.’s arrest on burglary charges mean he’s he’s stupid?
"He must be stupid"
"He skated on two murder charges, and he managed to get out of other charges of much lesser gravity since then. How did he manage to get himself back in trouble again? How stupid do you have to be?"
So asked former prosecutor Marcia Clark, who was the lead O.J. Simpson prosecutor in the criminal trial a dozen years ago, about O.J. and his recent arrest.
The questions assume that O.J. is not a brain-damaged individual, who is capable of learning from mistakes. Unfortunately, the evidence suggests that he never kept his 1989 promise to Nicole, in which he said he would never hit her again, stop drinking and attend A.A. meetings. As a practicing alcoholic, O.J. would be ...
What does it take to put a snake down one’s throat?
Alcoholic Antic-of-the-Month
Story from "This is True" by Randy Cassingham, with his "tagline:"
"STUPID SERPENT SUCKER: Matt Wilkinson, 23, of Portland, Ore., describes himself as a 'snake collector'. Several weeks ago he found a 20-inch rattlesnake and brought it home. After drinking a six-pack of beer, he was holding the snake when his ex-girlfriend, who was over for a party, saw it. "She said, 'Get that thing out of my face'," Wilkinson said. 'I told her it was a nice snake. Nothing can happen. Watch,' he said, as he stuck the snake into his mouth. But 'it got ahold of my tongue,' he said. As his tongue swelled up from the snake's venom, nearly choking off his airway, his former girlfriend took ...