The Affluenza Defence - 16-year-old Ethan Couch drove while drunk and killed four people and injured two others. He had three times the legal limit of alcohol in his blood (the limit for adults, that is—minors should have NO alcohol in their blood). He also had Valium and some THC in his system. In the News - They walk among us! Enjoy - Relax and enjoy these images and videos!
Couch was drunk on stolen beer. He was driving a pickup owned by his father's company. When his passengers told him to slow down, he drove faster!
Rather than the 20-year sentence for which the prosecution asked, Texas Judge Jean Boyd instead sentenced him to 10 years of probation and time in a long-term treatment facility. That facility costs $450,000 per year, paid for by Couch’s wealthy parents. Among other amenities, it offers equine therapy and organic food choices.
During the sentencing phase of the trial, the defense argued that Couch should not be held as responsible as he might be because his parents were so permissive in their style of child rearing that Couch did not experience socially appropriate consequences for his socially inappropriate behavior. The defense’s argument for a lenient sentence is summed up in the word affluenza.
Psychologist for the defense Gary Miller is reported to have said that Couch’s parents gave their son whatever he wanted, including "freedoms no young person should have."
Examining the psychological underpinnings of the "affluenza defense" leaves me fully diametrically opposed to the concept! In essence, the defense’s argument rests on the assumption that knowing the law is not enough to deter someone from criminal acts. Instead, the person must have experienced deleterious consequences for his or her socially inappropriate or illegal behavior in the past. I feel that concept is totally without merit and completely unsupportable. Even though Couch’s parents may not have taught him that his inappropriate behavior has negative consequences, this in no way means that he was incapable of learning this lesson in other areas of his life. Even rats and other animals learn to make analogous types of discriminations based on context. Even preschoolers are sensitive to context. They learn intuitively how much they can "get away with."
I believe the judge is sending a message to Couch by allowing him to live in a "private rehabilitation home." The message is that his wealth and privilege can obviate the negative consequences of his criminal behavior. That wealth and privilege can buy someone’s way out of going to jail or to programs that are part of the public juvenile justice system. Judge Boyd’s cure for affluenza seems to be more of the same.
Affluenza is used as a diagnosis to explain Couch's behavior and why he should not be criminally responsible. The logic seems to be that young people with this affluenza suffer from a psychological deficit or even a developmental disorder. This is unsupportable by logic. It is, in fact, a paradigm of illogical determination.
At the core of this illogical argument is the undeniable fact that affluenza is not a mental disorder. It is not identified by any mental health professional organization or diagnostic manual. It is not a diagnosis for a mental disorder. In the hands of this defense team, it is a fabrication invented to serve a specific purpose.
Wednesday, December 18, 2013
The Affluenza Defense, In the News, and Enjoy
Saturday, January 12, 2013
It Is Not Easy Being a Tree
It Is Not Easy Being a Tree - A tree must:
These two trees were not prepared for being crashed into by an automobile. A tree, however, cannot be expected to be self-preparatory for such an event. After all, a tree is just that—a tree!
Photograph by Julie R. Johnson/Corning Observer
The two trees in this photograph were crashed into and uprooted by an 86-year-old female driver who—following a visit to a local hospital—was arrested for driving under the influence.
Such accidents often involve other drivers, passengers, or pedestrians—innocent bystanders.
In this instance, there were no other people involved. The trees were the only victims. The trees will receive replanting and good care. I have no doubt that they will survive.
This accident took place Thursday at 4 PM—a mere 50 yards approximately from my office. I happened upon the scene while driving home from my office. At the time, I prayed no one was injured.
People who drive while impaired by intoxication, lack of sleep, or distraction from cell-phone use, music selection, etc., are SELFISH! They think only of themselves and not of those whom they endanger.
Monday, December 22, 2008
Don't Take Your Guns to Town, Return to Sender, -and- Crash!
Don’t Take Your Guns to Town - cops charge unarmed man with 80 bank robberies
Return to Sender - Intuit faces court over spam attack
Crash! - judge’s daughter sues man she hit while drunk
On this day in history: December 22, 1984 - Bernhard Goetz shoots 4 teenage boys on the NYC subway after one of them asks him for money.
Born on this day in history: December 22, 1945 - Diane Sawyer (1945– ) Born in Glasgow, Kentucky, broadcast journalist Diane Sawyer began as a weathergirl in 1967, then became a Nixon press aide (1970), staying on after Watergate to help with Nixon's memoirs. Returning to TV news, Sawyer was the first woman correspondent on "60 Minutes" (1984–9). In I989, she joined ABC News.
Scripture of the Day: For the sake of his great name the LORD will not reject his people, because the LORD was pleased to make you his own. — 1 Samuel 12:22
Video of the Day: Futuristic Japanese Cars - submitted by Cap'n Jack
Zeus was the first subject on which I used my new Micro-Nikkor 105mm f/2.8 macro lens. Click to enlarge.
Recommended Site: David Louis Harter Photography - a showcase for the photography of David Louis Harter
Top Things for 2008!
Top Mug Shots of 2008!
Sports Illustrated Photos of the Year
For dinner Saturday, I made an Oriental salad: I sliced six large white mushrooms and cooked in boiling water for 10 minutes. I turned off the heat and combined four packages of ramen noodles. After 5 minutes, I strained the noodles and mushrooms and placed them in a large stainless-steel bowl. I added chopped green onions, diced red bell pepper, frozen peas, frozen kernel corn, and shredded chicken breasts that I had grilled earlier in the week. I made a dressing with extra-virgin olive oil, rice wine vinegar, ground ginger, crushed red peppers, ground black pepper, and lime juice. It was delicious. Leftovers followed both Laura and me to work this morning.
For dinner Sunday, I grilled ahi steaks and filet mignons. Laura dry-rubbed the filet mignons with a special mixture I had previously prepared. She encrusted the ahi steaks with sea salt, ground black pepper, and sesame seeds. It was entirely too foul to grill outdoors, so I used our small indoor grill. We also had baked potatoes with sour cream and chives and an excellent bottle of Clos du Bois Cabernet Sauvignon 2003. It was an incredible meal.
Fog! It is foggy this morning! The path leading to the rear yard and carport, where Laura parks her Yaris, was so wet and nasty that I offered to drive her around the block and down the alley to her car so that she could avoid all the path. The fog is clearing nicely now and should be fully gone by 9 AM or so.
I recall many years ago experiencing the worst fog I have ever encountered: My rock band was performing in a club in Chico, CA, and I was living in Paradise, CA—a drive of approximately 25 minutes. It was so foggy when I began my journey home at 2:30 AM, that when I came upon a large semi and trailer as I began driving the Skyway toward Paradise, I decided to simply follow the rig and take advantage of his superior lighting system. As I followed him, when he turned, I turned; when he slowed, I slowed; and so on. In due course, he stopped. I stopped. Suddenly, there was a rapping at my side window. I lowered the glass, and I heard, "I'm home. Where are you going?" As it happened, the semi driver's house was only about two miles from my house, and I found my way home with relative ease.
Thursday, August 30, 2007
Crash!, This Land Was Your Land, -and- You're Not It
Crash! - DUI driver flees with body in window
This Land Was Your Land - man gets 6 months in jail for building fence
You're Not It - Colorado school bans tag
On this day in history: August 30, 1859 - At the University of Göttingen, PhD candidate Albert Niemann isolates the alkaloid C17H21NO4 from leaves of the plant Erythroxylum coca. Niemann names his white, powdery discovery "cocaine" and observes firsthand its peculiarly strong anesthetic effect: "it benumbs the nerves of the tongue, depriving it of feeling and taste."
Born on this day in history: August 30, 1918 - Ted Williams (1918 - 2002) baseball player "The Thumper" was the last baseball player to bat over .400; had .344 lifetime batting average; Hall of Fame, 1966.
Scripture of the Day: “Consequently, you are no longer foreigners and aliens, but fellow citizens with God's people and members of God's household,” (Ephesians 2:19)
Video of the Day: World's Tallest Man Meets the Smallest
I went shopping at Sav-Mor Foods (conveniently, a mere block from our house) yesterday at 3:30 PM, following my departure from my office. (Since I arrive at my office by 7:30 AM each morning, I generally leave at 3:30 PM.) It was 107 degrees. I took my purchases to Mr. Nitro, unloaded them into him, and returned my shopping cart to the storage area. I noticed the numerous shopping carts abandoned throughout the parking lot by unthinking, uncaring, un-Christian miscreants and was reminded of Joyce Meyer's admonition that we should always return shopping carts. I have always done so, but Joyce's directive always comes to mind whenever I see that others do not do similarly.
As I walked back to Mr. Nitro, I saw a tiny, frail woman of perhaps 90 or more, obviously struggling in the extreme heat, returning her shopping cart. I took it from her and said, "I shall return this for you." "Thank you," she said, "and God bless you!" I replied, "You are certainly welcome, and may God bless you, as well!" Common decency and human kindness seem such simple matters, yet they are eschewed by so many. This is unfortunate, certainly.
Last Evening's Dinner: I sautéed julienned white onion and minced garlic in extra-virgin olive oil and sea salt. When the onion was translucent and caramelized, I added sliced white mushrooms, ground turkey breast, ground black pepper, ground cumin, Italian seasoning, and ground Cayenne pepper. I sautéed this, stirring often, until the turkey was cooked. I diced eight large tomatoes (beautiful, delicious, home-grown tomatoes from Corey's garden) and added them to the sauté pan. When Laura arrived home, she tended to the pan, stirring and blending the ingredients and flavors. I cooked a package of Barilla fettuccine for 9 minutes. (The package recommends 12 minutes, but I find that 9 minutes produces superior, al dente results.) I drained the fettuccine and added it to the sauce. Laura stirred it, and I took it to the table. I broiled some garlic bread that Laura had prepared. At the table, we added fresh grated Parmesan cheese and crushed red peppers. It was a delightful meal.
A quantity of leftovers followed Laura to Chico this morning for her lunch, and there still remains sufficient leftovers for another fine meal.
Tuesday, May 01, 2007
Heat of the Moment, Abracadabra, -and- Crash!
Heat of the Moment - ocean currents to blame for warming
Abracadabra - magicians sue over revealed secrets
Crash! - family staged 23 accidents to collect insurance
On this day in history: May 1, 1942 - The 215th and final hanging occurs at California's San Quentin maximum security prison. Subsequent executions utilize the facility's gas chamber, and, ultimately, inmate's choice of that or lethal injection.
Born on this day in history: May 1, 1939 - Judy Collins (1939 - ____) folksinger, film maker. She was a 1960s coffee house singer who hit it big with "Both Sides Now;" 29 albums including "Wildflowers," 1967 and "Living," 1971.
Today's Video: Tom Cruise Mastercard Ad
VIDEOS: The videos are now available via the link "Amazing and Amusing Videos" in the Links section, below the visitor counter.
Happy May Day! May Day in the United States is commonly regarded as a commemoration of the execution of the Haymarket martyrs, who were arrested after the Haymarket Riot of 1886 in Chicago, Illinois, which occurred on May 4, but was the culmination of labor unrest which began on May 1. In this form, May Day has become an international celebration of the social and economic achievements of the working class and labor movement.
Now, get to work!