Too Many Kids

I am not the only person to be upset about this woman in California. Doctors, radio show hosts (Adam Carolla), and everyone else are almost as confused as I am. The biggest thing is that ALL of her children were out of wedlock. Now, I am not so conservative to misunderstand that shit happens and you can have children out of wedlock in our modern society and survive. However, she now has had 14 KIDS out of wedlock. She had the last eight via fertility treatments after she had already had 6 children at home. Excuse me, her mother's home (she still lives with her parents). The mother of 14 has a life goal to become a MOM (yeah, that wasn't a joke). She went to the fertility doctor because she wanted another girl. Really? How selfish is that? She lives with her parents (who recently declared bankruptcy) and can't support herself and her 6 kids, yet she wanted one more? What doctor would give her the treatment if she already had 6 kids? At what point to we draw the line? Well, ma'am, you have 6 kids, fertility is NOT for you. Plus you can't support even one more on your own. This 14 child family will be a drain on the system of the most egregious variety. She doesn't NEED more kids and at some point (if natural methods aren't working) fertility treatments must be denied or regulated.

I hate to rant against this mother (who is 33 years old), but I feel she is irresponsible. The physicians even advised her that they should remove some embryos so that the others would have a greater chance at survival. Nope. So now she has 14 kids, lives at her parents, and will clearly have a difficult time providing for them. This is the debate we should have in our nation. When is it too much of a good thing? I have no problem with large families, but single (or married) moms who live at their mom's house with 6 kids ALREADY...SHOULD NOT GET FERTILITY TREATMENTS!!! The children of this mother are the ones who will suffer the most (due to her selfishness) and that is the saddest thing about this story.

This presents the nation with a very important ethical argument. Can you just procreate regardless of your current situation? And when will our population outgrow the nation's capacity to sustain life? I DO NOT have the answers to these questions, but from this situation to crack babies, we need to start talking about this issue. Maybe abstinence education is not the answer. Maybe we need to be more proactive about educating the masses regarding sex. I don't know. What do you think?

PETA: Publicity front for Extremely Two-Faced A**holes

Oh boy, PETA is at it again. Michael Vick and PETA had an agreement to shoot an anti-dogfighting public service announcement upon Vick's release from prison. I think this was a great idea: one thing I have repeatedly complained about is the willingness of PETA and our society to tear down Michael Vick for his actions, instead of also taking advantage of his position in society to get word out to the entire dogfighting subculture. Vick's representatives asked for one thing: for PETA to give him their support when he asked for re-instatement with the NFL. PETA balks at the request, pulls the offer from the table, and makes the following recommendation:

"Saying sorry and getting his ball back after being caught enjoying killing dogs in hideously cruel ways for many years doesn't cut it," said PETA President Ingrid E. Newkirk. "Commissioner Goodell knows that he has an obligation to the league and to millions of fans, including children who look up to ballplayers as idols, to make sure that Michael Vick is mentally capable of remorse before he can touch, let alone wear, an NFL uniform again."

Ingrid Newkirk, are you for real??? First of all, explain to me what mental capabilities I would need before being able to "touch" an NFL uniform. Your reaction is symbolic of the problems that exist in today's politics and advocacy groups. First, you go after Vick, for a justifiable reason, and in some ways I understand and even commend the work you did to bring light to Vick's horrible acts. Now, when you have an opportunity to do something positive for society, for animals, and for Michael Vick, all you do is try and flex your muscle to get the NFL to bow down to your demands? Who are you helping with this? Who the hell are you to tell the NFL how they should or should not evaluate Michael Vick? You are supporters for ethical treatment of animals. Serve your purpose, do your job, and stop making propaganda and publicity out of every opportunity. You've just lost a tremendous opportunity for curtailing and curbing illegal dogfighting using preventive measures rather than combative ones. You and your organization make me sick.

President Barack H. Obama

WOW. Even typing that title is amazing to me. Maybe I am overexcited and overzealous. Maybe I am not thinking rationally, but going to the inauguration was one of the best experiences of my life. Yes, we had to wake up very early after very little sleep and go stand in line for 30 minutes to get a train in below freezing temperatures, but I would still say it was worth it. We arrived in DC around 6:20am or so. It was below freezing with a brutal windchill, but we were determined to get to the mall and get a great spot. We thought we were wearing enough layers, but 8+ hours in below freezing temperatures will begin to wear on your body...but more on that later. We were sent back and forth (the police were giving conflicting instructions), but finally made it to 12th, where we could enter the mall. After standing for another 45 minutes or so, they finally allowed us to cross around 7:40am.

We entered the mall and couldn't believe how many people we were seeing. It was amazing. They were playing footage from a few days prior (I am unsure if the audience realized this as they responded as if it were live...hilarious), but it was still building the drama. In the back of my mind I was preparing for the worst (bombs, assassination attempts, etc.), but I was hoping for the best. After hours of waiting and being bumped by people that were randomly walking through the crowd (but not really getting anywhere), we caught a glimpse of President Obama on the big screen. The crowd cheered! But then we realized he was with President Bush and most began to boo. The best transition in emotion for crowd response in a long time.

Another great unintentional comedic happening was the mics being on as 'important people' took their seats onstage. Lots of small talk and funny little comments... Finally it was time to bring in the real important people (First Lady Michelle Obama, preceded by the First Daughters...all looking like royalty) and the crowd was eating it up. We began to chant for Obama! We could not wait for the first black President to be sworn in.

After a long prayer by Rick Warren, we finally got to the preliminaries. Vice President Biden, Aretha, and an amazing instrumental ensemble that was ridiculously precise and perfectly 'feeling' each note they played. The chills were beginning. Then we began the swearing in of our President. OUR PRESIDENT!!!! President Obama stumbled through those lines, but that added an air of gravitas to the proceedings that can not be describe. It showed that even cool as silk Obama felt the immense importance of that action (and was appropriately nervous/excited). Here is where things really took off!

The speech began and we all were eager for each word. I can't describe it (seriously, you had to be there), but we felt that we were part of the ceremony. I felt a connection with President Obama. It was surreal. I was immensely proud to be an American. Excited to be cold amongst the throngs. Barely feeling my extremities, yet oddly, fully aware of each word and emotion it invoked within me. It was a great, repeat GREAT, experience. President Obama's speech gave hope to so many and inspired us all. Yes, he man not be the greatest President ever or even decent, but I have hope that our future will brighten slightly...don't you?

What do you mean, "you people"???

As Barack Obama's historic inauguration is right around the corner, I couldn't help but remember all the political propaganda that was being put out this election season, fear of "the black" taking over, mistrust of Obama's religion, heritage, etc. This led me to think about the role of race in my psyche and the impact it's had on my life thus far. One particular topic that keeps coming up is the "all you people" mindset. Here's an example of what I'm talking about:

Five years ago, I had a minor car accident in Baltimore. While I was making a left turn from the middle turn lane at an intersection, the person to the left of me, in a left turn only lane, decided to go straight. We both got out of our cars, and the other driver, who happened to be black was screaming at me. No matter what I said to him (including pointing out the sign that said "left turn only") he wouldn't calm down. Across the street, a security guard saw the commotion and started walking over. Now, the security guard also happened to be black, and I began to have reservations about whether he would be fair to me in his account of the situation, because the other driver was also black. When he came over, he calmed the guy down, made him realize it was his fault, and managed the situation quite nicely.

It bothers me to some degree that I allowed myself to feel the way I did when the security guard was walking over. I know that had the cop been a different ethnicity/race from the driver, I would not have had any qualms about his/her judgment. Alternatively, had the cop been Indian, like me, then I would have had more trust in his ability to see things my way.

As an Indian in America, I have always been a minority everywhere I've lived, and I grew up in a predominantly white area. Despite my exposure to different cultures and people, at some level I can't help but group a race of people together and assume that they have biases which would cause them to forgo their better judgment and support someone from their own race. In other words, in a situation when I am in the minority, surrounded by a group of people predominantly from another race, I expect them to be racist.

This ends up being my mentality when I am in other situations as well. For example, as an American-born Indian, Indian immigrants tend to not respect my values, or sense of Indian culture. If I am in a group of Indian immigrants, I expect a degree of bias against me. The same could hold true for religion, and numerous other types of categorizations that our society places on people.

However, race is such a sensitive issue in this country, this type of thinking has actually been criticized very publicly in the past. If any of you are tennis fans, a few years ago (around 2001), Lleyton Hewitt was playing James Blake, and was unhappy with one of the line judges who happened to be black. He shouted at the chair umpire, and claimed that the line judge was favoring James Blake with his calls, because of his race. Hewitt was blasted in the media, in newspapers, etc. for thinking that way, and was portrayed as ignorant and racist.

I want your opinions on this issue: Do you feel the same way when you're "outnumbered", so to speak? Is it specific to one race of people, all races of people? Would you trust one race of people more than another race? What roles do you feel stereotyping plays in all of this? Do you think this mentality is unique to race for yourselves? Is this type of thinking actually wrong?

In the news again...for all the wrong reasons.

Sadly, Adam Jones is in the news again for another shooting. Watch the ESPN Outside the Lines video below and leave your thoughts.



And here is Adam Jones' "response".



Even if he is completely innocent, we all know that avoiding the appearance of evil is the best policy. Why put yourself in a situation that comprises your image? LAY LOW! Don't go to Atlanta when you are on suspension from the NFL. You know we have great strip clubs. Why tempt yourself? This is why we need to educate folks. It seems to me that Adam Jones is having a hard time keeping away from bad folks. We know that "Slugga" Morris has allegedly extorted money from Jones in the Las Vegas situation. Even if Adam Jones isn't his friend or associated with him in any way, why would he not immediately leave the club if "Slugga" was present? Why go to "Slugga's" stomping grounds? Morris is part of the notorious International Robbing Crew (out of New Orleans and based in Atlanta).

Adam Jones admits to being an alcoholic and claims to attend AA meetings regularly. He also admits he has done wrong. However, if you are already under scrutiny for violence at a strip club, then why don't you stay home. Call a few of your boys, hire some private strippers (saves money in the long run), and party the night away. There will be no threat of violence and no trouble with the NFL.

Adam Jones, I hope you continue to get your act together and surround yourself with positive influences. And STAY OUT OF STRIP CLUBS!!! Please, for your own sake.

Katt Williams and Steve Harvey

I have several thoughts about the recent rift between Katt Williams and Steve Harvey. At first I couldn't care less. I don't think Katt Williams is a great comic. I think he is average at best. I don't think Steve Harvey is a great comic. I think he is average at best. Steve Harvey has laid claim to being one of the original kings of comedy. Katt Williams feels that Richard Pryor, Bill Cosby, Eddie Murphy, and Robin Harris are the original kings. And both are claiming to be better than the other. Why does this bother me? Because I dislike both of their comedy styles. There isn't any intelligence in their comedy. In my opinion, they are only slightly better than BET Comicview (sometimes good, but mostly redundant and ignorant). Comedians must have some intelligence in their acts. Even Richard Pryor, Bill Cosby, and Eddie Murphy brought an intellect to their game. Currently, my top comedians are Paul Mooney (wrote for Richard Pryor) and Dave Chappelle (watch any of his specials...classic!). My all-time favorites include Pryor, Cosby, and Murphy.

Maybe I have a problem. But I can't stand to hear about rims, chicken, and watermelon at every show. Broaden your act! You don't have to give up your "blackness" (check out this Paul Mooney clip, watch the "Analyzing White America" video). I think that we need to speak out against the Katt Williams explosion. He is funny at times, but he brings nothing to the game.

And if you feel differently, please enlighten me. But his comedy seems extremely shallow. He has no range and can't get deeper...

I leave you with this performance...hilarious.