Author: Leonard Buschel

VIDEO – SUE THE F**KERS – July 16, 2026 – The wrong-way driver in the Route 1 crash that killed Massachusetts State Police Trooper Kevin Trainor in May had been served 10 alcoholic drinks, nine of them at a Saugus restaurant, in the hours before the deadly collision, according to a new report Hernan Marrero, a 50-year-old man from Roslindale, also died when his Jeep collided with Trainor’s cruiser in Lynnfield just after 2 a.m. on May 6. The 30-year-old Trainor had just finished a shift and was headed home when he heard about the driver going south in the…

YES? – July 17, 2026 – What Do You Think? Can an employer become liable for an employee’s negligence when he’s driving to work? The family of a man who was killed by a waterproofing company employee’s erratic driving argued yes and said the worker’s compensation “special mission” exception should apply to render the employer liable in tort. It hadn’t been that long since the employee left rehab for drug addiction, but since that time he had moved up the ranks of his father’s waterproofing company. According to his father, the employee, who was later sentenced to 10 years imprisonment…

ONLY IN AMERICA – July 22, 2026 – This is how the denial of care business model works: The commercial health insurance float is the cash a company holds onto during the time gap between collecting premium payments from customers, denying medical care and actually paying out medical claims to healthcare providers. . Insurers are highly motivated to artificially widen the gap between receiving a premium and paying a doctor. The industry uses an arsenal of chaotic administrative barriers and lengthy review processes to slow down reimbursements while patients in need wait for medical care. On a hospital’s balance sheet,…

And TikToc? – July 20, 2026 – The generation known for heightened anxiety, rigorous standards, hatred for happy hours and a deep love of vaping is holding family responsible for a slew of critical issues — including their mental health and bad work ethic. According to the study, published by Edubirdie, 25% of Zoomers now blame their parents for their physical or mental health problems, 17% say they’re the reason they struggle in relationships, and 15% fault their folks for their low motivation.  Read More

THE 156 YEAR OLD MAN? – July 26. 2026 – As many search for antiaging remedies or longevity hacks, scientists believe adding years to one’s life could be a thing of the future. Researchers at the Skolkovo Institute of Science and Technology used a model to determine the maximum human age if “all aging hallmarks were eliminated except somatic mutations.” Read More

SHOT GLASS? – July 23, 2026 – Mötley Crüe drummer Tommy Lee recalled the lowest point in his drug addiction during the height of the band’s success. “There was a point where, I was with my bass player, and we were just doing a s—t load of heroin and we ran out,” Lee recounted him and his bandmate Nikki Sixx filling up the cap with whiskey. They “pulled a couple of syringes” and injected it into their veins, hoping to replicate the high of heroin. “We were shooting Jack Daniels,” Lee confessed. “At that moment, I went ‘OK, we could…

PRISON OR REHAB? – July 25, 2026 – According to police, Dr. Mitsuki Kimura, who lives in Edogawa Ward, is suspected of leaving eight used syringes and three bottles of anesthetic — weighing approximately 174 grams in total — in the men’s and multi-purpose toilets at Hamacho Station. Police believe the suspect was using the station stalls to secretly inject himself with the medical-grade anesthetic. During questioning on suspicion of violating the Waste Management and Public Cleansing Act, Kimura admitted to using the drugs to achieve a sense of euphoria, but he denied the allegations of illegal dumping. “My judgment…

“Anything that gets your blood racing is probably worth doing.” – Hunter S. Thompson, 1937-2005

IRONIC and TRAGIC – July 10, 2026 – A man who was shot during an officer-involved shooting in downtown Albuquerque last weekend has died of an apparent overdose after he was released from the hospital, Juan Ortega, 40, died at a residence in the 6000 block of Dennison Road SW on Thursday. Police say narcotics were found near his body. Ortega was recovering from a gunshot wound he sustained on July 3. Leading up to the shooting, Ortega and Stephen Griego, 41, were fighting in the area of Central Ave. and 3rd St, according to police. APD responded to the…

SCHOOL SUPPORT – July 11, 2026 – An estimated 600,000 college students in the United States identify as being in recovery from substance use disorders, yet fewer than 200 colleges and universities offer formal collegiate recovery programs, according to Saint Leo University. Only a small percentage provide dedicated sober housing. “Recovery starts with community, dignity and hope, and these are values that align deeply with Saint Leo University’s Catholic, Benedictine mission,” said Jim Burkee, president of Saint Leo University. “Dewey and Becky Mitchell’s extraordinary generosity and vision will allow Saint Leo University to create a life-changing program that provides support,…

VIDEO – BETTER LIVING THROUGH CHEMISTRY – July 6, 2026 – Consumer Reports found that one-quarter of the products tested contained concerning amounts of additives. When contaminants were added to the analysis, that rose to more than one-third of the products tested. Consumer Reports also contacted the makers of the flagged products. For shoppers, Consumer Reports recommends reading ingredient labels carefully, especially on brightly colored or highly processed foods. Consumer Reports also suggests limiting how often you eat products flagged as concerning and paying closer attention to the foods you buy regularly. WATCH

TRAGIC – July 17, 2026 – On her own social media, Rikki documented her journey into sobriety over the last few years. Last March, she shared a photo about being sober, and captioned it: “Winning at life.” Rikki also shared how her loved ones, including her own teen daughters. “I know time’s are hard right now, but I believe in you like nobody else ever will!! I love you mom!!!” her daughter wrote in a letter to Rikki in November 2024, which Rikki shared on her social media. “And since you don’t get the appraisal you deserve, I’m here to…

REWARD SYSTEM – July 15, 2026 – Stanford team’s examination of 157 clinical trials of treatments for cocaine, including both psychotherapy and medications, found little clinical benefit with one notable exception: contingency management, a program that leverages motivational incentives, or “carrots,” to help shift an addict’s behavior. Methamphetamine — despite its reputation as being more addictive than cocaine and certainly more damaging to the brain — was shown to be similarly responsive to contingency management. In a typical scenario, a participant who provides a negative drug test receives a reward — a “reinforcer” — such as vouchers, small amounts of…

AUDIO – MOCKTAIL? – July 16, 2026 – As a 30-year-old who is now nearly 7 years sober, there is nothing better than watching your friends collectively bin alcohol for a whole month, mostly because it means I no longer feel like the odd one out at the pub! But let’s be honest. Social events without a liquid security blanket can be intimidating, and downright awkward. But don’t worry – I like to think of myself as a seasoned pro at this, and I’ve got you. I’ve had to navigate my fair share of sticky situations, dodge intrusive questions, and…

HEALTHY MOVE – July 14, 2026 – “By banning single-use vapes, we are helping to prevent nicotine addiction before it starts and creating a cleaner environment for everyone,” said Health Minister MacNeil, echoing talking points that have driven disposable vape bans in countries such as the UK. The new ban is only part of Ireland’s wider crackdown on nicotine vapes. In 2025, for instance, the country imposed the European Union’s highest tax rate on e-liquids. Meanwhile, the Public Health (Tobacco Products and Nicotine Inhaling Products) (Amendment) Bill 2026, introduced earlier in the year, seeks to further restrict safer nicotine products…

GRANT RESCINDED – July 17, 2026 – Neighbors had picketed outside the property at 2100 S. Western Avenue and packed a town hall in April to oppose the project, with some expressing fears about drug users coming to the area. The nonprofit Fred Brown Recovery Services was seeking to acquire the five-acre property and turn it into a 106-bed inpatient recovery center for “veterans…, the justice-involved, the unhoused, and those with co-occurring conditions.” The facility also would serve about 200 outpatients a day. About 70 elderly residents who live in a nursing home on the property would have had to…

GREEDY CAPITALISM KILLS – July 17, 2026 – In 1996, Purdue Pharma launched OxyContin, a potent and addictive narcotic, with a deliberate commercial strategy. OxyContin would enter through the cancer-pain market, where physicians were already accustomed to prescribing opioids, and from there expand into the far larger market for chronic, non-cancer pain. The campaign that followed was aggressive and, as courts have since established, deceptive and criminal: Purdue understated the drug’s addiction risk and has twice pleaded guilty to federal criminal charges over its marketing of OxyContin. But its marketing strategy worked. Prescribing highly addictive narcotics became common practice for…

VIDEO – ONLY SAD MUSIC – July 16, 2026 – More than 300 overdose reversal kits were handed out to affected neighborhoods Wednesday by Neighborhood Safety Unit Sergeant Anthony Cucci and partnering Metro agencies. “PLEASE be cautious – NEVER ever assume you truly know what is in street drugs. It only takes a small amount of fentanyl to become deadly to users,” MNPD said in a post. MNPD also reminded Nashvillians that Naloxone is available and free at the Metro Nashville Health Department. “There are also 428 locations countywide equipped with ONEboxes that each contain 2 doses of Narcan,” MNPD…

VIDEO – SONG OF THE WEEK – 1980 – One of the most delightful moments in television history brings together the incomparable Liza Minnelli and the beloved Muppets for a joyful performance of “Everything’s Coming Up Roses,” the celebrated finale from the Broadway musical *Gypsy*. WATCH

STICK WITH THE WINNERS! – July 21, 2026 – John Lehr is the star/creator/writer for “10 Items or Less” (TBS), “JailBait” (Sony/Crackle) and “Quickdraw” (Hulu). He created/produced pilots for Fox (“Team McPhearson”), TBS (“John Lehr’s Movie Club”) and Comedy Central (“Let it Ride”). Script/development deals include “Retreat” (NBC), “The Loop” (HBO), Troubadour (MTV), “Life on Mars” (Sony/BBC), “King of Beers” (EUE), “Tommy Chong’s Pipe Dreams” (TBS). Lehr is one of the original Geico Cavemen from the wildly successful commercial campaign. He appeared in dozens of spots, including the first commercial as a caveman boom operator, the caveman in therapy with…

RUMORS NOT TUMORS – July 4, 2026 – The internet completely lost its mind after early whispers claimed that Hollywood timeless beauty Sanaa Lathan had a dramatic, heart-wrenching sit-down with wellness stage anchor Keke Palmer, allegedly crying that being a “raging alcoholic entirely ruined her life.” Sanaa’s real wellness journey is a beautiful masterclass in self-care, not a Hollywood tragedy! First of all, honey, let’s look at the actual itinerary directly like a supportive peer, not a rigid lecturer! While both powerhouses are completely dominating the 2026 Essence Fest daytime lineup, they are actually leading two entirely separate, incredible movements.…

BLAME GAME – July 17, 2026 – When Diana Estep’s teenage son Drew became addicted to drugs, she spent hours researching rehabilitation methods and sent him to therapy-focused centers around the country. Looking back, however, Estep told IW Features that after Drew’s experience, she firmly believes that the rehabilitation industry was incentivized to keep her son addicted. Now, she raises awareness about the widespread impact of drug use and the misguided policies that enable it. “People who suffer are not bad people,” she said. “Drew always struggled as a child, and we could never get the help he needed, so…

10 MAY BE EVEN RISKIER – July 15, 2026 – Alcohol is often treated as a routine part of social life, but a new analysis suggests that even levels many Americans consider moderate carry measurable health risks. The study links drinking with a higher chance of death, disability, and chronic diseases, including cancer and heart disease. The findings appeared in the Journal of Studies on Alcohol and Drugs, which is published at Rutgers University. The research, called the Alcohol Intake and Health Study, was initially commissioned by the U.S. federal government to help inform the next U.S. Dietary Guidelines. The…

HE LIVES! – July 15, 2026 – Phil Collins opens up about his past battles with alcohol addiction in a new interview with British music magazine MOJO, revealing that fellow rock star Eric Clapton once talked him into a not-wholly-successful stay at his Crossroads Centre rehab facility in Antigua. Collins has previously written about his battle with alcoholism in his revealing 2016 autobiography Not Dead Yet. The former Genesis man turned successful solo artist spoke of turning to alcohol to fill the “gaping void” in his life following the breakdown of his third marriage and subsequent divorce in 2006. “Night…

SO IS CANCER – JULY 14, 2026 – So Cai, who was 30 and had “never touched a cigarette in my life” started occasionally indulging in “a little social cigarette.” And since that inaugural cig, she’s observed an upswing in smoking in her circles. “It’s the friends I would’ve never expected,” says Cai: “high-functioning, wonderful, successful people.” Emily Atkin, a friend of mine and author of the climate crisis newsletter Heated, gauges the shift in public sentiment around smoking based on people’s reactions to her electric blue tank top emblazoned with the plea “PLS DO NOT GIVE ME A CIGARETTE…

NOW NOT LATER – July 13, 2026 – One of the most heartbreaking statements I hear from families is: “We wish we had called sooner.” Rarely do families reach out the first time they notice something is wrong. More often, they spend months, or even years, trying to solve the problem themselves. They read books, have countless conversations, establish new rules, issue ultimatums, rescue, forgive, and hope.Families often believe seeking professional guidance means they have failed. In reality, it usually means they have reached the limits of what any loving family can reasonably manage alone. As a psychotherapist and interventionist…

BUYER BEWARE – July 15, 2026 – Thousands of people could avoid dying of heart disease by reducing ultra-processed foods experts said, as a modelling study suggests junk food may be driving up to a third of cases. Millions of people eat UPFs such as ready meals, breakfast cereals, protein bars, fizzy drinks and fast food. In the UK and US, more than half the average diet now consists of UPFs. For some, especially people who are younger, or from disadvantaged areas, a diet comprising as much as 80% UPFs is typical. Previous research has linked UPFs to serious harm…

AUDIO – LUCKY KENTUCKY – July 17, 2026 – Addiction Recovery Care, once the largest for-profit drug treatment company in Kentucky, said it has settled two major federal legal disputes that accused the company — and it’s former CEO — of fraud. Known as ARC, announced Thursday it had agreed to settle with the US Department of Justice. LISTEN ONLY

THE SADDEST GOAL – July 17, 2026 – Retired NHL great Claude Lemieux allegedly admitted to relapsing after 12 years of sobriety the night he died by suicide, according to TMZ Sports. Lemieux’s family had noticed a change in his behavior over the past year, leaving his wife of 30 years, Deborah, to confront him. After he allegedly acknowledged that he had relapsed, Deborah told him to leave the house, according to the outlet. Lemieux then was found hanging in the family’s furniture store May 28, roughly five hours later by his son, Brendan. Deborah had called Brendan after confronting…

NOT TO? – July 14, 2026 – When I was a teenager in Upstate New York, I passed joints the way other kids passed notes in class. Friday nights behind the bleachers with my friends was the only place I could exhale, an escape from the chaos waiting at home, bracing for the next eruption from my father, who was an addict himself. It was 1980, long before Nancy Reagan’s “Just Say No” campaign, which researchers later said was ineffective, and before the war on drugs became the cultural crusade of the mid-80s. In 9th grade, I wrote a detailed…