John B Goodman - Not Charged with Murder

Feb. 12, 2010.   At the corner of Lake Worth Road and 120th Avenue South a Bentley went through a stop sign and crashed into the Hyundai vehicle of Scott Patrick Wilson, age 23, declared dead at the scene.  The Bentley (a $250,000 vehicle) that crashed into their son’s car is owned, and was driven by, John Goodman.  John Goodman, according to many, is responsible for founding and owning the International Polo Club of Palm Beach.

Now here is where the opinion part comes in.  I’m thinking that perhaps when police officers, or later detectives and prosecuting attorney’s got involved, they realized there was a ‘Bentley’ on the scene.  And what does a ‘Bentley’ imply?  MONEY.  Not just any kind of money, but BIG money.  Do they really want to upset someone with multi-million dollar stature, a person who probably knows a lot of people who know a lot more people?  Let’s face it:  if John Smith had been involved in this kind of incident, they would have been arrested on the scene for driving under the influence, with a possible vehicular manslaughter to follow.  (See the police report here:  http://alt.coxnewsweb.com/palmbeachpost/news/PBSO_LogReport.pdf )

If it had been myself, or you – the reader – we would have been spending at least the night in jail.  But not Goodman!  Oh, no – he is way above the like’s of us.  Drinking and driving?  No big deal.  Running a stop sign and hitting – killing – another driver?  That’s okay.  Fleeing the scene to get to a phone (because we are so stupid we believe that multi-millionares with Bentley’s don’t have a car phone or cell phone?)?  Absolutely okay!

BULL$#@#!!!!!  This is just one more instance of people with money getting away with something that the average American does not.  And should the average American get away with it?  No!  You got drunk, drove a car, ran through a road sign, and killed another person – all against the law.  No one should get away with this.  But John Goodman has something the average American doesn’t – MONEY!  So he now has the same lawyer, Roy Black, that represented both Rush Limbaugh and William Kennedy Smith, among others.  John Goodman was never arrested, not even the night of the fatality, even though police reports (see the link to the pdf file) show substance/alcohol abuse.  At the scene, Assistant State Attorney Ellen Roberts was to have said, “law enforcement agencies usually arrest a DUI-fatality suspect right away only if they have reason to believe the person may try to flee. Otherwise they typically let the investigation be completed before any arrests are made”  (Jason Schultz, Palm Beach Post).

Hello?  Since when do drunken driver’s get to leave the scene of a crash, let alone a fatal crash, when testing positive for drugs/alcohol/substance abuse?  According to Florida Statute:

Manslaughter and Vehicular Homicide-s. 316.193 (3), F.S.

• DUI/Manslaughter: Second Degree Felony (not more than $10,000 fine and/or 15 years imprisonment).
• DUI Manslaughter/Leaving the Scene: A driver convicted of DUI Manslaughter who knew/should have known accident occurred; and failed to give information or render aid is guilty of a First Degree Felony (not more than $10,000 fine and/or 30 years imprisonment).
• Vehicular Homicide: Second Degree Felony (not more than $10,000 fine and/or 15 years imprisonment).
• Vehicular Homicide/Leaving the Scene: A driver convicted of vehicular homicide who left the scene of an accident is guilty of a First Degree Felony (nor more than $10,000 fine and/or 30 years imprisonment).

Well, apparently Mr. John Goodman, the officers on the scene, and the detectives and prosecuting attorneys following up feel that this statute (state law, really) does not apply to people who can afford to drive Bentley’s.

The following are quoted from various news sources related to the accident/death of one Scott Patrick Wilson (For further information, please look to the bottom of the article for various links and sites.):

“Initial sheriff’s reports said Goodman ran a stop sign at 1:05 a.m. Friday before his black Bentley convertible crashed into the side of Wilson’s Hyundai Sonata. The reports also said investigators suspect alcohol or drugs played a role.

Even so, major decisions on the case may not happen anytime soon, law enforcement officers, prosecutors and defense attorneys said Tuesday. They said investigations of suspected drunken-driving wrecks typically take weeks if not months, unless authorities have reason to consider the driver a flight risk….Law enforcement found Goodman at a trailer on a dirt road about a quarter-mile south of the crash, which occurred about 1 a.m. at Lake Worth Road and 120th Avenue South, officials with the State Attorney’s Office said Tuesday.

Goodman, the 46-year-old owner and founder of the International Polo Club Palm Beach, had gone to the trailer to use the phone to call for help, according to the State Attorney’s Office. The area south of the crash scene is mostly dirt roads and horse farms with few homes.” Jason Schultz, The Palm Beach Post

“Goodman, 46, survived. He was treated and released from Wellington Regional Medical Center hours after the crash.

Details of the crash are scant. Detectives say Goodman was driving south on 120th Avenue when he ran the stop sign and struck Scott Wilson’s car, which was westbound on Lake Worth Road. The Hyundai sank into the canal and Goodman’s $200,000 Bentley came to a stop on a nearby sidewalk, according to a dispatch log.

A 911 caller reported the crash, seeing the smashed-up Bentley, metal, glass and signs that a car may have gone into the canal.

Deputies and paramedics arrived around 1 a.m. Neither the Sheriff’s Office nor Palm Beach County Fire-Rescue confirmed early media reports that Goodman may have fled the scene.

Scott Wilson died at the scene. ” Brian Haas and Missy Diaz, Sun Sentinel

“Investigators suspect John B. Goodman was drinking when he ran a stop sign and plowed into Scott Wilson’s car.

At the accident scene Scott Wilson’s friend have created a memorial in his honor. Meanwhile, many are asking why the suspected drunk driver,  John B. Goodman, founder of the International Polo Club Palm Beach,  hasn’t been charged with anything at this point.

News Channel 5 Legal Analyst Michelle Suskauer says the investigation will take some time.

‘They are waiting on toxicology reports right now to determine if he was under the influence and what he was under the influence of,’ explains Suskauer.”  Kristyn Caddell, wptv.com

http://www.flhsmv.gov/ddl/duilaws.html

http://www.palmbeachpost.com/news/investigation-into-wellington-polo-owners-crash-may-take-245131.html

http://articles.sun-sentinel.com/2010-03-09/news/fl-goodman-wellington-polo-death-20100309_1_fatal-crash-polo-club-owner-crash-scene

http://www.wptv.com/content/news/centralpbc/wellington/story/Questions-surrounding-Wellington-fatal-car-acciden/n1xoT6VzW0aBy39tbYJycg.cspx

http://articles.sun-sentinel.com/2010-02-13/news/fl-wellington-fatal-crash-20100212_1_mr-goodman-crash-lake-worth-road

To this date Mr. Goodman has not been charged for anything. It has been over a month now and there are no legal charges and even though the police reports shows drunk driving Mr. Goodman has never seen a night in jail. How many of us have ever enjoyed that kind of treatment? Not me.

Screen For Life

Colorectal cancer is 90%preventable …..So why is it the second leading cancer killer?  I can tell you why, men and women once they hit 50 are not getting the recommended screenings.  The Center for Disease Control (CDC) states.

“If everyone aged 50 years and older had regular screening tests, at least 60% of the deaths from this could be avoided.” Screening Saves Lives

Colorectal cancer usually starts from polyps in the colon or rectum.  As time goes by polyps can turn into cancer.  So if you are getting your screening done regularly polyps can be removed before they become cancerous.  When they are found early the prognosis is good.

In the early stages when most preventable there may be no symptoms at all as you develop colon cancer.  You could have no idea and colon cancer could be developing and growing within you.  That is why having a screening test is so crucial.

So who gets Colorectal Cancer?  Both men and women can get it.  Most frequently found in adults over the age of 50, and the risks increase with age.  Your risk factor will increase if you have a family relative that has had colorectal polyps or colorectal cancer, inflammatory bowel disease, or a genetic syndrome such as familial adenomatous polyposis (FAP) or hereditary nonpolyposis colorectal cancer.  If you are at high risk speak with your physician about getting screened earlier. 

I have a female friend that is 43 years old and has a family history of colon cancer.  Her family physician recommended a simple non invasive take home test to detect blood in the stool.  Sure enough they found some blood and did some further investigating with a colonoscopy.  Polyps were found just before they had turn cancerous.  Lucky for her it was caught early and she is now on an alternative screening schedule.

There are several tests that are available, speak with your physician to decide which is right for you.  The colonoscopy is the most thorough in that it check the entire colon.  I have had not one yet but I hear it is not as bad as one may think it is.  However, I highly recommend the fecal ocult blood test annually.

I hope this friendly reminder helps to educate you and act as a push in the right direction.  So next time someone you know and love turns 50 years old – forget the Over The Hill balloon and get them information regarding colon cancer.  Screening is key to saving their life.

Internet 2010

So where is the Internet going this year? Is it gonna be another social network that we will allow follow like mindless drones? Will it be something creative and groundbreaking? There is no better way to see the feature of the internet than PLUGG in Europe.

This convention has been featuring for years the hottest new trends and the most innovating online businesses and this year their are not going to disappoint.

Looking over the big news makers of this year’s Plugg, I can see a lot of B2B development but some end user new products and services stand out.

Fits.me – is a new website that claims to change the world of online shopping as we know it. This is aimed to be a virtual dressing room where you can try on, mix up and coordinate your purchases before you pay for them and get them in the mail. I for one think is brilliant as after last Christmas, I am no longer allowed to buy my wife anything from the web . The site is not up yet but it will be functional shortly.

Another great service out there is English-Attack.com. For those of you that have relatives that can’t speak English and have a tough time learning it through conventional methods – community college, church group, etc. – this website will provide the first 100% free, 100% entertainment way of learning English. I for one again am excited about the promises of this site as I have grown impatient to my mother’s slow learning curve .

All in all it is safe to assert that the Internet has a lot more B2B products in the workings than retail or public use. But I am still going to have a drink knowing that there is no new social network coming up to fill up my mailbox.

Copyright Jen B Photography

OMG – I do not know about how the story goes at your house but every episode I have the tooth brushing showdown in the bathroom.   I have two girls ages 1 & 3, both with their own agenda.  I am feeling like a terrible mother today because I realized I am lacking in teaching my daughters good oral hygiene.

I get the I am tired or I didn’t have any candy today!  Excuses that sometimes I give to.  Shame on me!!

So I began my Internet search as always when I wonder what to do, thinking their must be a better way.  I found that both of my girls should have been to the dentist by now, and that I am really going to have to forge the brushing battle at minimum twice a day!!  So I have scheduled appointments for both girls to see a kid friendly dentist and will share with you what I found from other mothers and “experts”.

The American Academy of Pediatrics recommends that you take your child to visit the dentist for the first time around the age of 12 months.  At this stage, the dentist will be able to identify potential problems and will recommend regular regimen of visits and cleanings at the age of 2!  OK so I am so very behind – what a bad mommy I am feeling like today!

Obviously going to the dentist will be scary for a toddler the first time,  just think of the stress involved with the brushing at home or going to see the pediatrician.  So try to make it a  fun positive experience or growing milestone.  Express they are such a big girl now and they are so lucky to go see a dentist – they will get a prize for visiting, etc.

Ask your dentist to give you some additional tips on getting your child to brush their teeth.  I have read some parental advice that went as far as having daddy hold the child upside down while mommy brushes the teeth (since it is hard to keep your moth closed in this position ?!? OMG seriously?).

I think the following ideas sound like the route I am going to take:

1.  Let your toddler pick out their own tooth brush – color, character etc.

2. Offer training tooth paste in different flavors.

3. Get a fun timer or play a song for two minutes – so your toddler will know when it is time to brush & stop.

4. Provide a reward of some kind (sticker chart) - at least until the new desired behavior is achieved.

5. Get a brush for mommy or daddy to do with them to model the appropriate behavior in their bathroom.

6.  Take my turn brushing regardless of the protesting!!  Hard yes – but better than having to sit through the torture of having your child need to get a cavity filled!

Hope this helps and inspires you to fight the battle regardless of how hard it is, ignore the excuses and schedule your toddlers regular dental exams.

Every night just before dinner the request for snacks begin.  My daughter is teeny tiny and just does not have an appetite.  What she likes one day she will not the next, I have had a hard time deciding on how to handle this.

There is always the old wives tale – they will eat when they get hungry.

Or you could go to the extreme, I remember as a child not being to get up from the table until my plate was cleared.  The stubborn child I was, I spent many nights sitting there until it was time to go to bed.

My tummy says its not hungry !

How do you keep dinner time a fun, sharing family time when stressed about nutrition?  I decided to do some research and found many different approaches.  Below are some of the ones that I felt would work best in our home. 

1. Change the environment – “picnics” are always fun inside & out, move to the dinning room for fancy dinner.  We have done this and had great outcomes.

2. Change the utnesil or plate – big girl fork or spoon & fun paper plates.

3. Get them involved with cooking & setting the table.

4. Get them active treasure hunt or a fun game of follow the leader.  This will get their appetite going.

5. TV can work some of the time and sometimes it can be a distraction.  The key is mix it up.

6. Try a variety of foods & offer new ones.

7. This actually is the one suggestion I found on many sites – do not make meal time a battlefield.  Provide encouragement, offer alternatives, & encourage them to enjoy family time.  They may just begin eating once the control issue is gone. This is the one that I have not done but will change immediately.

8. Make it pretty – decorate with a smiley face or make into a flower.  Use fresh fruit, veggies or anything you are having dinner to create a fun environment.

9. Take them to the farmers market, food shopping, or picking fresh fruit or veggies.  My oldest loves helping Nana & Papa in the garden.

10. Try not to give drinks prior to mealtime.  I think this is why I have such a hard time with breakfast – my daughter does not eat well so I still give her a bottle in the morning when she wakes up & before bed – whole milk, scoop of enfamil next step, & chocolate syrup upon request.

Well I am interested in trying some of my newly acquired tips & tricks.  Hopefully some of this will inspire you to make it fun and make it count!

A man wakes up in the hospital, bandaged from head to foot.  The doctor comes in and says,
“Ah, I see you’ve regained consciousness. Now, you probably won’t remember, but you were in a pile-up on the freeway.  You’re going to be okay, you’ll walk again and everything, but…”Something happened. I’m trying to break this gently, but the fact is, your willy was chopped off in the wreck and we were unable to find it.”
The man groans, but the doctor goes on,
“You’ve got $9000 in insurance compensation coming and we have the technology now to build you a new willy that will work as well as your old one did – better in fact! But the thing is, it doesn’t come cheap. It’s $1000 an inch.”
The man perks up at this.
“So,” the doctor says, “It’s for you to decide how many inches you want. But it’s something you’d better discuss with your wife. I mean, if you had a five inch one before, and you decide to go for a nine incher, she might be a bit put out. But if you had a nine inch one before, and you decide only to invest in a five incher this time, she might be disappointed. So it’s important that she plays a role in helping you make the decision.”
The man agrees to talk with his wife.
The doctor comes back the next day. “So,” says the doctor, “have you spoken with your wife?”
“I have,” says the man.
And what is the decision?” asks the doctor.
“We’re getting granite countertops.”

P.S. You ever find yourself in this situation give Granite Group a call… lol!

Fiber for Everyone

Women should try to eat at least 21 to 25 grams of fiber a day, while men should aim for 30 to 38 grams a day.

I personally have found that increasing the fiber in my diet has assisted with weight loss and taking care of hunger pains.  Only warning I give is that it may increase your opportunities for being more gassy than classy – hence the added benefit prevention of constipation!  Many studies have suggested that increasing your fiber intake may reduce your risk of colon cancer as well.

Many breads, cereals, pastas, and even some yogurts have increased levels of cholesterol lowering fiber.  Making good choices when shopping and eating out is imperative.  There are a growing number of products that market their levels of fiber however, many of these are functional or isolated fibers.  Manufacturers may add ingredients such as polydextrose, inulin, and maltodextrin to increase a products fiber content percentage.

I have decided to revisit my shopping list and replace some of my previous choices with the following  grains, fruits, vegetables, and snack options.

Grains

• whole grain breads,  bagels, muffins, & buns
• whole grain pastas
• breakfast cereals or bars with at least 5 grams of fiber per serving – this comes with a 2 bar gassy warning

Fruits

• dried fruits (my girls love them) – apricots, raisins, raisins
• berries such as blackberries, blueberries, raspberries and strawberries
• oranges, apple with skin, avocado, kiwi, mango and pear

Vegetables

• dark green leafy veggies – broccoli, spinach and green peas
• dried peas & beans  (kidney, lima, chick pea, & black eyed peas)

Nuts & Seeds

• almonds, whole flax seed, sunflower seeds, & soy nuts

Just making this list made me hungry!  Life is about choices and making a healthy food choice does not always mean eating diet food or something reminding you of cardboard.

eBay Certification

I try to provide as much experience and focused commentary on this blog as possible. While I know a lot about the Internet and business I am not the Jack of all trades. As such I always look to partner up with creative minds, experienced individuals and experts in their field. It is my pleasure to announce that Trance Henry, an education specialist for eBay will be our resident writer for all things eBay and online sales.

Mr. Henry is an accomplished eBay specialist and a successful business owner. He is also an instructor at John A. Logan Community College in Carterville Illinois and the number 2 eBay specialist in the state of Illinois.

Terance has begun his journey with eBay back in the early 2000 and since has accomplished milestones only few other eBay specialists have. He has sold and brokered anything from Salvador Dali paintings to boats and homes. His experience is truly one of a kind and anyone that wants to start or better their online business has something to learn from his experience.

Mr. Henry is also an active member of his community, the President of Marion Main Street, a consultant on IT matters for the City of Marion Illinois, City of Harrisburg Illinois and numerous million dollar businesses in the area. He is also the marketing mind behind SI Small Business Solutions, an internet promotion, design and marketing company servicing clients worldwide.

Please come to Tenaweek.org frequently and read up on his posts and I will assure you that his words, ideas and inside information will be tremendously helpful to your future endeavors, online or elsewhere.

Just like predicted Google will throw their hat into the social network arena, launching Google Buzz.

The company claims that their new social network will be far more complex than just a status update service – such as Facebook and Twitter – and reading their platform documentation, they are not lying. With state of the art cross network integration – pictures from Flickr, videos from Youtube – as well as a massive network infrastructure, Google is poised to become a serious rival for the sorts of Facebook and Twitter. Not only that but it is NOT another product you need to sign up for. It is seamlessly integrated withing Gmail or any other Google application so as long as you are a Google member – and there are over 120 million of them – you are already a part of the Buzz.

Oh yes and there are also apps out for iPhone as well as Nexus One mobile devices – you didn’t think Google was going to pass out on that market segment did you?

Check out the video below for a product tour provided by Google: