FB: Minnesota Intercollegiate Athletic Conference

[OzJohnnie]

Social Host laws have sprung up like the crocuses and tulips are supposed to have by now. This "let's-get-tough-on-kids-drinking" law du jour is a prime example of knee-jerk legislating. What? Due process? The constitution can't really mean that. The constitution is only supposed to protect my gun rights and make sure "under God" is in the Pledge of Allegiance!
HA!

The principle in the first half of your statement agrees with the principle in the second half of your statement.  Much like myself.  The arguments are positioned as incompatible, but they don't have to be.

[OzJohnnie]

(Full disclosure: I was a goody-two-shoes that never drank in HS and only on rare occasions in college.  These days I love a good glass of wine, or better yet, a stiff pour of bourbon, but it's still a once-every-few-weeks indulgence rather than a regular affair, so my opinions may well be influenced by my goody-good attitude because I was never cool enough to be invited to these parties).

I too was a goody-two-shoes in HS.  Then I joined the Navy.  These days... are more influenced by that latter than the former.

[DuffMan]

Sorry, Oz, but this is what I am picturing. 

[OzJohnnie]

Sorry, Oz, but this is what I am picturing. 

Ha!  That made me belly laugh

[Knightstalker]

Chargers Brought Against Father and Son in tragic death of a student in western Minnesota at an underaged drinking party

Geez.  Multiple parties previously so although the father was unaware of this specific one, it is reasonable that he should have been.  Cripes.  Thanks son.

But this really gets me.  Roll on youthful accountability:

The 19-year-old Stratmoen, charged with underage drinking and fleeing law enforcement, wrote on Twitter just hours after Anyasike died that "I'm glad I got to spend your last night with you. Keep the party going up there."

I'm always amused that we value the 'Youth Vote' come election time but then you see things like this and you think, "Youts got no sense of actions and consequences."  Apparently, the bad decisions that led to this event are not important.  Keep that party going, dude.  That quote there really tweaks a sore spot with me.

Me too.  I tend to agree with the idea that 18-year-olds should be able to drink legally, but when you see thoughts like this, it makes me wonder "Do I really want to make it any easier for an idiot like that to get his hands on alcohol?"  One of the major concerns I have with lowering the legal age to 18 is not necessarily that 19-20 year old kids at college would drink unabated, but moreso that 18-year-old seniors in high school would be able to furnish their even younger high-school classmates with all they can drink, and at some point we do have to wonder about the wisdom of making it easy for high school kids to throw their own parties.  Lord knows, while good parents can certainly make a difference, 16-year-olds are going to do some dumb things without alcohol; what the heck will they do if their 18-year-old buddy can buy it for them?  I'm probably not the first person ever to think of this, but has there ever been discussion of dropping the legal age for consumption of alcohol to 18 while maintaining the legal age of 21 to purchase it?  Seems that might make it more reasonable for college-aged kids to drink legally while reducing the risk of HS parties furnished by 18-year-old seniors.

I do agree that it's pretty senseless for a kid to die because he felt the need to run from the cops over drinking, but nor am I going to throw a pity party for kids that were doing something that they obviously knew was wrong.  Whether it should be illegal is another issue, but right now it still is illegal.  Is it sad that a kid died?  Of course, but I'm in the camp with OzJohnnie that would rather tell teens with this type of attitude to get off my lawn.

(Full disclosure: I was a goody-two-shoes that never drank in HS and only on rare occasions in college.  These days I love a good glass of wine, or better yet, a stiff pour of bourbon, but it's still a once-every-few-weeks indulgence rather than a regular affair, so my opinions may well be influenced by my goody-good attitude because I was never cool enough to be invited to these parties).

When I was a senior in HS back in the old days and the drinking age in NJ was 18, I used to make money every weekend buying beer and selling it at 300% mark up to underclassmen.  That was also back in the days when you could give your kids a beer or glass of wine at home with dinner and nobody got arrested.  We used to get caught partying in the woods and the cops would either take our beers away and send us home or block our cars and trucks in and made sure we did not leave until morning and were sober.  Now in NJ if you get caught drinking underage, you lose you driving privileges for six months or if you do not have a license or permit, they tack another six months after you are eligible before you can get it.

[finsleft]

As happened during prohibition, per capita alcohol consumption increased, as did alcohol related deaths. Driving it underground makes it harder to regulate, and makes it more dangerous. Plus makes more criminals than we really need.

"Those who cannot remember the past are condemned to repeat it."
George Santayana - December 16, 1863

[OzJohnnie]

"Those who cannot remember the past are condemned to repeat it."
George Santayana - December 16, 1863

I always forget that quote.

[OzJohnnie]

As happened during prohibition, per capita alcohol consumption increased, as did alcohol related deaths. Driving it underground makes it harder to regulate, and makes it more dangerous. Plus makes more criminals than we really need.

This line of reasoning always drives me to schizophrenia.  I fluctuate wildly between, "Hell, yeah, brother!" and "Civil society demands rules!"  I tend to fantasize, "Just become a hermit and let the world rot."  Maybe the worst outcome but just get those damned kids off my porch!

[Robert Zimmerman]

Kudos to you St. Cloud Times on your new format and realizing that people could read your paper online without a subscription just by opening each article in an incognito window.  I will miss reading Frank's SJU coverage this fall.

[OzJohnnie]

No brawl last night but it was a tight thrilling finish between the Hawks and Essendon. Here are the last six minutes along with the corniest locker room celebrations in professional sport - a tradition in AFL from the days of amateur footy.

http://youtu.be/YxngQozw4kI

[Robert Zimmerman]

Jimmy G. back at the helm of the offense?

http://www.sctimes.com/story/sports/college/2014/03/29/sjus-ramler-finalist-st-scholastica-job/7071221/

[OzJohnnie]

Jimmy G. back at the helm of the offense?

http://www.sctimes.com/story/sports/college/2014/03/29/sjus-ramler-finalist-st-scholastica-job/7071221/

Dang. Not that Jimmy may be back at the helm but that we could lose Ramler after only one season.  The other candidates better be pretty crash hot or he's a goner.

[faunch]

Jimmy G. back at the helm of the offense?

http://www.sctimes.com/story/sports/college/2014/03/29/sjus-ramler-finalist-st-scholastica-job/7071221/

Dang. Not that Jimmy may be back at the helm but that we could lose Ramler after only one season.  The other candidates better be pretty crash hot or he's a goner.

Not good....Kurt's not only a good coach he's the best recruiter SJU has.  I'd hate to have him recruiting against us.  I realize that St. Scholastica is in the UMAC but he'll be able to get some kids SJU should get.  I think the St. Scholastica job is a lateral move at best.  Yes they've won their conference a couple times but whenever they play anybody of any substance they get beat and usually beat bad. 

[OldAuggie]

Jimmy G. back at the helm of the offense?

http://www.sctimes.com/story/sports/college/2014/03/29/sjus-ramler-finalist-st-scholastica-job/7071221/

Dang. Not that Jimmy may be back at the helm but that we could lose Ramler after only one season.  The other candidates better be pretty crash hot or he's a goner.

Not good....Kurt's not only a good coach he's the best recruiter SJU has.  I'd hate to have him recruiting against us.  I realize that St. Scholastica is in the UMAC but he'll be able to get some kids SJU should get.  I think the St. Scholastica job is a lateral move at best.  Yes they've won their conference a couple times but whenever they play anybody of any substance they get beat and usually beat bad.

I am guessing that St. Scholastica would like to join the MIAC someday so maybe they see this as the right move to get them ready to compete.

[faunch]

Jimmy G. back at the helm of the offense?

http://www.sctimes.com/story/sports/college/2014/03/29/sjus-ramler-finalist-st-scholastica-job/7071221/

Dang. Not that Jimmy may be back at the helm but that we could lose Ramler after only one season.  The other candidates better be pretty crash hot or he's a goner.

Not good....Kurt's not only a good coach he's the best recruiter SJU has.  I'd hate to have him recruiting against us.  I realize that St. Scholastica is in the UMAC but he'll be able to get some kids SJU should get.  I think the St. Scholastica job is a lateral move at best.  Yes they've won their conference a couple times but whenever they play anybody of any substance they get beat and usually beat bad.

I am guessing that St. Scholastica would like to join the MIAC someday so maybe they see this as the right move to get them ready to compete.

Very likely...truth is that if they join the MIAC they'll be lucky to be a mid level team in the conference in football.