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.

To Block or Not to Block...THAT is the Question

Peter wants to share his Perfect Bunches of Lilies with you!

Do you, Peter?? Do you really???

I know that I'm bringing it on myself, to certain degree (I can, after all, take responsibility for my own actions...sometimes,) but I am wavering on "unfriending" you on Facebook. You've taken it upon yourself to habitually invite me to every inane, online application, event and fan group possible. No, I don't care which new flower you've planted in Farmville, who's joined your gang in Mob Wars or which pseudo-celebrity has your panties in a bunch. Are you really that bored (and lazy) that you spend your time on the computer harvesting imaginary plots of land, recruiting fictional goodfellas or trying to get me to be VP of the national, Carrot Top fan club??

STOP SENDING THIS CRAP TO ME BEFORE I BLOCK YO ASS!!

I realize that Facebook has evolved into a juggernaut of an infinitely-scalable, social networking platform, but at some point enough is enough. Practice a little restraint, Peter! I know that you (and other Facebookers) legitimately have interesting events going on (and for that reason, I don't block invites outright) but I'm fairly sure that you, along with many of my other friends (and I use that term loosely as we are talking about Facebook, here) aren't so bubbling over with altruism that you just need, ABSOLUTELY NEED, to share your fantastic, daily adventures with me. What I suspect is that you (and your itchy, trigger-fingered, e-viting cohorts) really don't have much going on in "reality" (completely justifiable air quotes, btw) and try to make up the difference with a booked-up, virtual social calendar instead...I'm not fooled.

P-ART-Y in Santa Monica

I recently had the pleasure of co-hosting a fabulous art party in Santa Monica with my gorgeous, fashionista, LA It-Girl, Jen Egan. Local and non-local artists graciously loaned their pieces for exhibition and sale, but that was, believe it or not, not the highlight of the evening. Yes, indeed, it was the guests. As is normally the modis operandi for "art" themed parties, a host of eclectically hip party-patrons floated in and swirled about truly making it a light-hearted and festive evening.

The beautiful, private Santa Monica home (already sporting some great artwork) coupled with the fabulous friends of Jen and I were the perfect match of venue and visitors. Genres on display ranged from witty sketchings and mini-paintings by the talented Matt Orser (mattorser.com)

 

to Mattia Biagi's endearingly macabre, tar-dipped teddy

and Dana Louise Kirpatrick's beautifully schizophrenic homage to the tragically tortured DJ AM. The six and a half foot piece surprisingly equally dominated and assimilated with the other works.





















other party favorites of the night included Rameses' work which were both expertly rendered on aluminum

as well as the extremely talented, Alexandra Nechita, a true art prodigy who has been selling her exquisite tableaux since the ripe old age of 9.














Mix in great art, passionate artists on hand promoting themselves, regaling in the festivities and basking in adoration of the slightly inebriated guests and you have a marvelous vignette proving that Santa Monica can still put together a crisply cultured event with the best.

And That is Why You Fail...

I've left this below article unedited, and have freely given it the floor first before airing my response.

American liberals, leftists, social progressives, socialists, Marxists and Obama supporters, et al:

     We have stuck together since the late 1950's, but the whole of this latest election process has made me realize that I want a divorce. I know we tolerated each other for many years for the sake of future generations, but sadly, this relationship has run its course.
     Our two ideological sides of America cannot and will not ever agree on what is right so let's just end it on friendly terms. We can smile and chalk it up to irreconcilable differences and go our own way.



Here is a model separation agreement:


     Our two groups can equitably divide up the country by landmass each taking a portion. That will be the difficult part, but I am sure our two sides can come to a friendly agreement. After that, it should be relatively easy! Our respective representatives can effortlessly divide other assets since both sides have such distinct and disparate tastes.

     We don't like redistributive taxes so you can keep them.. You are welcome to the liberal judges and the ACLU. Since you hate guns and war, we'll take our firearms, the cops, the NRA and the military. You can keep Oprah, Michael Moore and Rosie O'Donnell (You are, however, responsible for finding a bio-diesel vehicle big enough to move all three of them).

     We'll keep the capitalism, greedy corporations, pharmaceutical companies, Wal-Mart and Wall Street. You can have your beloved homeless, homeboys, hippies and illegal aliens. We'll keep the hot Alaskan hockey moms, greedy CEO's and rednecks. We'll keep the Bibles and give you NBC and Hollywood ..

     You can make nice with Iran and Palestine and we'll retain the right to invade and hammer places that threaten us.. You can have the peaceniks and war protesters. When our allies or our way of life are under assault, we'll help provide them security.

     We'll keep our Judeo-Christian values.. You are welcome to Islam, Scientology, Humanism and Shirley McClain. You can also have the U.N., but we will no longer be paying the bill.

     We'll keep the SUVs, pickup trucks and oversized luxury cars. You can take every Subaru station wagon you can find.

     You can give everyone healthcare if you can find any practicing doctors. We'll continue to believe healthcare is a luxury and not a right. We'll keep The Battle Hymn of the Republic and the National Anthem. I'm sure you'll be happy to substitute Imagine, I'd Like to Teach the World to Sing, Kum Ba Ya or We Are the World.

     We'll practice trickle down economics and you can give trickle up poverty your best shot. Since it often so offends you, we'll keep our history, our name and our flag.

     Would you agree to this? If so, please pass it along to other like minded liberal and conservative patriots and if you do not agree, just hit delete. In the spirit of friendly parting, I'll bet which one of us will need whose help in 15 years.



Sincerely,


John J. Wall

Law Student and an American


P.S. Also, please take Ted Turner, Sean Penn, Martin Sheehan, Barbara Streisand, &

Jane Fonda with you..


P. S. S. And we won't have to press 1 for English.

Mr Wall,


     While I think your little diatribe has been spun with a modicum of wit (and holds true to a conservative stance even in the face of apparent ridiculousness…I mean, who really wants the rednecks?) and a flair for comedy, it really is a sad statement of where we are as a people and a nation. The fact that there still exists individuals with intelligence (and I use that term loosely) who continue to equate healthcare with luxury or compassion of the financially less fortunate with triviality is equal parts frustrating, laughable and dangerous.
     Intellect fostered by education (which I would assume you would undergo in Law School...but on second thought, maybe not) should push back against the subjectivity of our station of birth and help us see beyond ourselves into the vista of objectivity and result in a healthier world-view. Instead, your letter reeks of narrow-mindedness, self-interest and hate (disguised as tongue-in-cheek humor.)
     When you practice intolerance and wear your condescension like a badge, you debase yourself and all who come before and follow you. Have we really rebounded back in time to the ideologies of the cold war and the tenants of imperialism? The very reason we aren't like Iraq, Afghanistan or any other "enemy" nation to which you allude is that we have a dichotomy of thought and perspective in this country. The conservatives keep the economy running and the liberals keep our society from falling completely into the hands of immoral tyrants. It's worked so far. Hopefully, we'll be able to meet somewhere in the middle down the line where we aren't synchronously reliant on welfare and intent on forcing others on to it. 
     We can have a win-win economy and a win-win society, if we but simply admit the possibility of its existence. Why not focus the laser of your mind on a slightly loftier goal and worry more about how we can improve the state of affairs for all versus concerning yourself with the seat of blame?

Sincerely,
Browe W. Merriweather
Human

P.S. I also find it funny that the liberals, Obama supporters or to whomever else you allude in your letter were the very people that largely bailed out your precious wall street jackals and fatcat CEO's (wow, welfare's not that bad when you're on the receiving end, huh?)


P.P.S Yeah, that's how you write post-postscript, you donkey. Not P.S.S. Try reading books instead of burning them.