Please Tell Me WTF this Guy's Problem is...or does he really have a point?

After a lackluster career in the NBA and abroad totalling 13 professional teams, Paul Shirley, has taken a break from pounding the parquet to...pounding on the Haitian people.

Directly from his column:

"I haven’t donated to the Haitian relief effort for the same reason that I don't give money to homeless men on the street..." "Based on past experiences, I don't think the guy with the sign that reads 'Need You're Help' is going to do anything constructive with the dollar I might give him. If I use history as my guide, I don't think the people of Haiti will do much with my money either." (At least he waited for an appropriate time to roll out his economic and humanitarian analyses.)

But if Shirley's personal anecdotes should fall on deaf ears, he also parlayed his apathy directly to the Haitian people:

"Dear Haitians," he begins, "First of all, kudos on developing the poorest country in the Western Hemisphere. Your commitment to human rights, infrastructure, and birth control should be applauded.


"As we prepare to assist you in this difficult time, a polite request: If it’s possible, could you not re-build your island home in the image of its predecessor? Could you not resort to the creation of flimsy shanty- and shack-towns? And could some of you maybe use a condom once in a while?"

And to show that he wasn't biased towards only impoverished and down-trodden foreigners, Shirley gives his two cents on our own country's recent natural disaster:

"We did the same after Hurricane Katrina," he writes. "We were quick to vilify humans who were too slow to respond to the needs of victims, forgetting that the victims had built and maintained a major city below sea level in a known target zone for hurricanes. Our response: Make the same mistake again. Rebuild a doomed city, putting aside logic as we did."

...wow, is this guy a polymath or what?

Coincedentally, Shirley has been informed that his freelance writing skills are no longer required at ESPN. Unlike both Katrina and the recent earthquake in Haiti, we could see that one coming a long way off.

And the People have Spoken...

Here are the two arguments (from the ones that I received - thank you everyone) regarding the same-sex marriage debate:

FOR:

I am a gay woman legally married to my wife Tonya in the state of California. We were married on 10/08 when it was legal to do so and remain legally married in the state of California today. Together since 2002, we were able to get married because we FINALLY could; it felt amazing to be able to do so legally in front of our family and friends.

I want to share a few examples why we would like to see gay marriage federally recognized, this goes beyond California and needs to change nationally for everybody. Many people think gay couples already have access to the same rights as straight couples, but this is simply not true.

After our wedding and ruling that we were still married even with Prop 8 passing, I was excited to have Tonya see about adding me to her insurance policy at work as her "legal spouse". What we learned is that the IRS federally mandates the rules regarding benefit plans. As the federal government does not recognize same sex marriage, I can only be considered Tonya's "domestic partner" regardless of the fact that we are "legally" married in California. (We filed for domestic partnerships years ago. We also paid a lawyer nearly $4000 a few years ago to write up wills, power of attys, etc. etc. to try and protect one another legally "just in case". If our marriage was federally recognized, none of this would be necessary; we would have those rights automatically. Imagine your “domestic partner” is sick and you rush to the hospital without your power of attorney documents and you are denied access to your domestic partner’s room. Does this seem “the same” as marriage? If you think this does not happen to gay “domestic partner” couples in the U.S., you are 100% wrong.)

The difference is that Tonya can add me to her policy "after taxes" on her paycheck as a registered domestic partner. As a legally married gay couple in California, we get the pleasure of "paying more" just because we are gay, this is unfair and wrong.

Legally, gay couples cannot file joint federal tax returns, we cannot be "next of kin" in the hospital UNLESS we have legal papers drawn up and show "proof" we have a right to be there. There are many many more examples. All of this is VERY frustrating! Tonya and I are "legally" marriage in California, we want “the same” rights as married couples vs. legal federal discrimination.

An amazing speech that Patricia Clarkson gave in June 2009. http://www.huffingtonpost.com/patricia-clarkson/heres-to-the-violets-my-t_b_215383.html
 
AGAINST:

"The implications for children in a world of decaying families are profound. A recent article in the Weekly Standard described how the advent of legally sanctioned gay unions in Scandinavian countries has already destroyed the institution of marriage, where half of today's children are born out of wedlock.


It is predicted now, based on demographic trends in this country, that more than half of the babies born in the 1990s will spend at least part of their childhood in single-parent homes.
Social scientists have been surprisingly consistent in warning against this fractured family. If it continues, almost every child will have several "moms" and "dads," perhaps six or eight "grandparents," and dozens of half-siblings. It will be a world where little boys and girls are shuffled from pillar to post in an ever-changing pattern of living arrangements-where huge numbers of them will be raised in foster-care homes or living on the street (as millions do in other countries all over the world today). Imagine an environment where nothing is stable and where people think primarily about themselves and their own self-preservation.

The apostle Paul described a similar society in Romans 1, which addressed the epidemic of homosexuality that was rampant in the ancient world and especially in Rome at that time. He wrote, "They have become filled with every kind of wickedness, evil, greed and depravity. They are full of envy, murder, strife, deceit and malice. They are gossips, slanderers, God-haters, insolent, arrogant and boastful; they invent ways of doing evil; they disobey their parents; they are senseless, faithless, heartless, ruthless" (v. 29-31, NIV).


It appears likely now that the demise of families will accelerate this type of decline dramatically, resulting in a chaotic culture that will be devastating to children." Excerpt from http://www.nogaymarriage.com/tenarguments.asp

What a Week It's Been

Thank you to everyone that has been sending thoughts, arguments and questions on the topical issue of same-sex marriage. I have been going over submissions as well as working on my own, unfortuantely with the devesating Earthquake in Hiati, much of my attention (and my friends') has been focused elsewhere. Don't fret, my patient followers. I will post my findings soon. I think this same-sex marriage debate is the equal rights issue of our day. And again, I thank you for all your passionate depositions of your 2 cents.

On a side note, if by chance, you are looking to donate to the Haitian relief funds, please be careful. There are a host of scams and degenerate swindlers lurking among the shadows of the web. Stay with bigger and well-established companies like the http://www.redcross.org/ (or if you know of any reputable ones, please post) even if you've been blessed with an "official" letter from a disenfranchised Haitian relative of a Ugandan prince trying to regain access to his $50 Million trust fund that only your $2K can secure...he'll never get me again....kidding  :p

Should We All Suffer Equally??

I am, in the wake of the socially-monumental, same-sex marriage vote (re: prop 8,) pushing the controversial envelope with an open (and respectful) forum to discuss this incendiary issue. I intend to posit the best arguments on BOTH sides (and welcome feedback from you). While some may question which arguments qualify as best, or if there are really any good arguments by the opposition (whichever side of the fence you mow,) I will take only one from each. The decision will be totally subjective, but I do have my moments of serene objectivity and lucid decision-making (mind you, this comes from the same noodle that thought taking apart all the clocks in my house and putting them back together was a reasonable afternoon activity for a bored 8 yr old, but I digress)

Over the next week, as I try to round up the good, the bad and the ugly points-of-view from each lobbying group, please let me know what YOUR opinion is. I promise I will read, digest and respond to all comers (not the biggest feat considering I only have 27 followers, but still, it's the thought that counts.) I also promise that if you come up with a better argument than my own or any I've found, I will give you full credit, a chocolate chip cookie, a gold star, my favorite tee-shirt, and wash your car. If that's not enough, you'll of course have the honor of being exhalted by the 27 coolest people on the planet. How can you say no to that??

Problem Following Blog

I am aware of the login issue with "following" from redirected gmail accounts (among others.) I'm looking into a solution and will post asap. If anybody has figured it out please post a comment. Thanks!
Sent from my Verizon Wireless BlackBerry

UPDATE:

I'll organize this better later, but I wanted to put out a few basic requirements to follow (google glitches aside.)

1. Locate the "follow" button on the right-hand side of the screen (it sometimes appears at the very top on the left as a link, but it's more fickle than my grandma.)
2. You must have a valid and direct gmail, yahoo or twitter account to register to follow. What this means is that redirected email accounts aren't working [if John's email is john@johndoe.org but it redirects to a gmail account like johndoe100000@gmail.com, John must use the actual gmail account login NOT the johndoe.org login.]
3. To avoid problems, sign out of your google, yahoo or twitter account BEFORE clicking the "follow" button on the right.
4. Also, sometimes google automatically provides you with a gmail account login. If this login is old or not yours, click on the "sign in with a different user" link just below the login and password fields.
5. If you don't sign out, use a redirected blog or sign in with your current gmail account, you could run into an issue like this:

I'm following Browe's blog privately b/c I couldn't figure out how to

follow with updated information...it's using my profile from two years

ago! Random, but I will be able to follow which is the point. xoxo

If you are experiencing a unique issue please email me directly and I will do my best to fix. I hope this helps!!

2ND UPDATE:

I removed a couple options from the blog to cut down on any coding conflicts within it. I am hoping this results in an easier following experience. The blogger simply has kinks in it, but it's free (so, I'm trying very hard to resist the urge to complain.)

Again, thank you everyone for your interest in joining.

I Have Achieved Greatness...Kinda

Thanks to Big D (nobody calls him that,) I'm officially in double digits with my blog followers!

The prize (don't get your hopes up, you ain't gettin' crap) goes to Danyel Clark, as he actually became the 10th person (and NO relatives...though my girlfriend is on there - thanks Jen!) A great friend and an even better human (than I).

It seems like only yesterday I was courting my first follower *sniff*

I'm not going to make a big deal out of this moment *sniff sniff*

I think I'm capable of quickly taking a simple (albeit, self-congratulatory) moment

...and I'm done.

"Everybody loves me. Babies, dogs, hot girls, cougars."

I feel like MTV's new show, Jersey Shore, simply cannot escape discussion. Not since Jerry Springer has debauchery, idiocy and random violence been so fabulously celebrated on the boob tube in one neat and entertaining forum. Vinny, Paulie, Ronnie, Sammie, Jwow, Snookie, Angelina, and last, but certainly not least, Mike "The Situation" are a delightful train wreck; a sinful indulgence and shocking view into the newly-blossoming branch of the dysfunctional, American-reality-TV-show, family tree.

For those of you who have not been blessed with this shockumentary experience, Jersey Shore pits 8 self-proclaimed "guidos and guidettes" (whatever that really means) in a Real World-type environment. The housemates are required to work shifts in the landlord's T-shirt shop in return for free rent (and national infamy,) but get the rest of the time to style their gelled-up hair (I've never seen someone actually use an entire bottle of hair gel in a single session) get drunk and start fights (what more could a guido ask for?) What eventually ensues from this cookie-cutter, MTV set-up is more than even the most sinister TV exec could conjure up in his wildest and most wicked of dreams.

Whilst there are numerous viewing gems to be discovered in Jersey Shore, I especially enjoyed the step by step "guido dance lesson" or as Paulie D and Ronnie so eloquently put it: "beatin' up that beat" (though, the floor-slapping, spasmodic hip-gyrations and fist-pumping resembled more an African Anteater Ritual than actual dancing.) I think, however, one of the most iconic sound bites from this already legendary series comes from the show's only (as of yet) evictee, Angelina. When pressed on why she refuses to go in to work she retorts, in all honesty mind you, "I feel this job is beneath me. I'm a bartender. I do great things." We know you do, Angelina. Many a life has been saved by your deftly concocted Appletinis. How late is Applebee's open again?

But more importantly than its outlandish characters, however, is the show's focus on educating the glass-eyed, TV-obsessed, teenage masses…because at the end of the day, Jersey Shore is not simply another sensationalistic exploitation of America's underbelly, but a modern Lyceum, the likes of which even Aristotle would be proud. Where else could I say that I learned how to use a whole bottle of hair gel to style a frickin' sweet blowout, or how to simultaneously (and smoothly - thanks Situation) swap chicks that aren't "digging the hot tub" with some appropriately intoxicated skanks who are? I learned that a giant stenciled Cadillac emblem on your living room wall can only be outdone by one tattooed on your wicked-hot bod (nice one, DJ Paulie D.) And of course, (nimbly tying in the theme of education) I learned that NYC school teachers will hit a bitch if she mouths off too much.

Ladies and Gentlemen...The Jersey Shore.

The Single Most Important Question of this New Year

How are we to pronounce 2010? Is it the chic "twenty ten", the lavish "two thousand ten" or the minimalistic "10"? It seems that this is the burning question in offices, coffee shops and elevators nationwide. Bravo America for keeping the sophistication of social discourse running at peak performance.