Oops... They did it again

The more you say something, the more people will believe it. It’s baffling how often the phrase “Don’t fuck up” is uttered; yet so many people continuously fuck up. The context of this very simple, somewhat sarcastic non-euphemism is not something that needs to be dissected in order to properly comprehend. The value of those words is precisely what they are worth. Now, with the presidential election heating up, or cooling down depending on who the flavor of the week is, it has become obvious that a good candidate is not present. If someone wakes up one morning and says that he or she is going to attempt to run the free world, my response to that person would be: Don’t fuck up.

In the feeble group of republicans who are trying to defenestrate Obama, the egregious gaffes that have been committed by each of these unqualified people have made me wonder if these people are consciously trying to disregard that universal piece of advice to not fuck up. The hateful ad campaign that Rick Perry released regarding a “war on religion” that he claims Obama has waged, in which Perry attacks gay people who serve in the military, should be the mistake that costs him the election. This action on his part may also destroy his political career.

In today’s robust media driven age, it is critical for people to be very careful about what they say. Politicians are scrutinized more than ever. Although hateful words are equally hurtful when they are said by anyone, Rick Perry’s remarks express his desire to lose this election. It may be the case that Herman Cain’s disturbing sexual allegations are just part of the political process. It is not the case that each of these soon to be former candidates listened to the simple words of wisdom. They fucked up.

The Truth Can't Kill You: So Swallow It

If you have read the news recently, most articles written about almost any topic have a lot to do with fear. Globally, topics regarding the European debt crisis, the turmoil in Africa, disease control in Asia, unemployment in the United States, and the potential complete cancellation of the NBA season all have one common theme: fear. It is human nature to have fears. There are several fears that affect people from all walks of life, of course, fears are not limited to people.

Why is fear the driving topic of news stories that carry many conversations in this day and age? Furthermore, what are people most afraid of? The answer is simple, but this answer creates a much bigger question. (A question that cannot be answered in one blog post.) The answer is that people are most afraid of the truth. If we are to base news on real events, and the people who report the news are simply stating facts for the rest of the world to digest, fear of the truth is in fact the biggest fear of people.

Op-Ed articles are written to stimulate thought and debate about the news, yet most of them involve the theme of fear as the force of the opinion piece. The pundits writing these pieces form opinions around current events and the impact that they may have on society. The impacts discussed are usually a negative event that could transpire. The situations addressed are all based on issues that have occurred in similar situations or how similar things could happen unless something is done about the current situation.

We are faced with the daunting task of absorbing this fear that is placed in front of us, and we cannot help but live in fear of the truth. Fear of truth does not only present itself in the form of a news story. Even if you lived in a bubble, completely insulated from news, our biggest fear would still be the truth. Is it that we don't want to know what is true, or is the truth sometimes too unbearable for us to live with?

If things were more like math, where 1+1 always equals 2, the truth wouldn't be so bad, it's the fact that emotion plays a huge part of what makes us afraid of the truth. What if it made us upset that 1+1 equals 2? Would we be afraid of that truth? What could we do about it? There's very little to be done once you know what is true. Only some things can be changed, and even in some cases, when those things appear to be variable, those things often are not.

If you accept reality and are true to yourself, only then will you no longer be fearful of the truth. If you really put some thought into it, the only time that you can actually fear the truth is when you had some control of an outcome, and if that outcome is controlled exclusively by your efforts, you will never be scared of the truth as long as your efforts were really efforts - otherwise you have already lied to yourself and that's a much bigger problem.

The Legacy of Steve Jobs

One of the greatest innovators in American history has died. He left this world a much better and more connected place than anyone could have ever imagined. The man was brilliant, he was a minimalist at heart with a multitude of ideas. He had the impact comparable to a religious leader to the world, of course with less controversy than religious leaders usually carry.

Steve Jobs is someone who will never be replaced, he pursued his passion by dropping out of college after one semester to start Apple out of his garage. He will be remembered for repeating excellence. He started with the Apple computer, he revolutionized the computer industry for consumers and developers, he then changed the music industry altogether with the invention of the iPod and iTunes, he then revolutionized the mobile phone industry with the iPhone line and then most recently, the iPad.

He reinvented the way we communicate, create and consume. He saw where the world was going; he chose to look where people will be to develop a new product instead of what already exists. The millions of people who have bought Apple products have come to rely on his products.

His death was inevitable. He battled pancreatic cancer, and fought very hard until nearly the very end. He even knew when to step down as CEO of Apple. He relinquished his position almost two months ago, he epitomized brilliance. The sad passing leaves a legacy so great: a visionary, a family man, and a company that has become a staple to most of the world.

He was the pioneer of our time. His products have changed the way we work, play, and communicate. His charisma left every audience in awe, his influence permeated corporate America while being an entrepreneur who never saw a barrier as a wall. He will be missed, but his impact lasts forever.

Is Talent a Needle in a Haystack?

I recently had a discussion with a peer regarding athletes who had either served time for crimes that they committed or were guilty of immoral activity, especially extramarital affairs. Sports is a form of entertainment, nothing more and nothing less. The admiration that one has towards a team or individual player is based on what one sees and perceives; not what he or she does in his or her private life. We admire accomplishments that we see, and look up to the people who do good in the public eye but are sometimes horrible family people and have bad habits that society has deemed unacceptable.

We often find ourselves fascinated by people performing to the best of their abilities, which makes me wonder what is it that makes us so happy about these spectacles? We pay to see people do their jobs: we go to the movies, plays, comic shows, watch sports, while we complain about the work that we do that nobody really pays to see. In fact, we usually work for people who don't show their thanks, unless something amazing happens.

Being inspired by watching one person pursue his/her dream is what motivates us. It makes us want to find our talents, to play to our strengths. We also need to be playing to the sources of our personal greatness: what truly fuels our hearts.

I started out talking about one's image, and the way that people are perceived. Performers, athletes and public figures no matter how much money they are making, or who is watching them are generally following their hearts and pursuing their dreams. What goes on behind closed doors should make it easier to decipher the good people from the talented people. It's rare to find both, but if and hopefully when you do, well, that's just fabulous.

close your mouth and let me eat: what goes in me shouldn't affect you

Everyone else was perplexed but me at yesterday's Labor Day barbecue. Once again, one of the biggest barbecue days of the year fell out on a Monday, a day that I consciously do not eat animal products in observance of Meat Free Mondays. I enjoy the “concerned” conversations that people start with me regarding my dietary choices, especially when I’m enjoying perfectly grilled fresh peppers without a bun (I don’t eat the bun because of my sensitivity to wheat).

Of course everyone has their opinions and questions about my dietary restrictions and preferences. Let it be known that I do enjoy meat and animal products, and my reasons for not eating animal products one day a week is quite simple, healthy and has some positive affect on the environment. I did nothing to demand attention. I wasn’t broadcasting my requirements, I was merely adapting to the available foods such as potato chips, vegetables, and some white wine. Somehow people kept approaching me and basically my entire gastrointestinal life story came out freely because I wasn’t embarrassed or afraid to show people that feeling well is paramount to “enjoyment” of foods that make me feel crappy – pun totally intended.

Not eating wheat or dairy is not challenging, dealing with people who are flummoxed by my restrictions is the biggest challenge that I actually embrace. I see it as an opportunity to educate people about the prevalence and growing amounts of diagnoses of food allergies and sensitivities. Additionally, my meat-free Mondays have become a great topic of conversation with people who have never heard of it – I start out by telling people that meat-free Monday is something that Paul McCartney started (it gives it a lot more credibility off the bat). I realize that my choices my sound different to some, but I truly enjoy my eating habits and feel AMAZING when I stick to the foods that I am able to eat while avoiding the foods that poison my body.

Pursuing the Promised Land

http://opinionator.blogs.nytimes.com/2011/08/28/the-meaning-of-utopia/?hp

“Ought we to despair of utopias? I believe so, inasmuch as utopias aim, in one way or another, at perfection in the form of efficiency, happiness and justice and by calling for a qualitative, anthropological and ontological transformation in order to get there. In this they deny human finiteness – that is, the always imperfect, chaotic, irregular and accidental character of the human condition.” - Excerpt from today’s NY Times

It is human nature to make mistakes, but it’s also human nature to pursue perfection. How do we balance mistakes while pursuing perfection? The short answer is that it is part of living; however, it’s a question that cannot be answered with one brief answer. In fact there isn’t a one-size fits all response to this question that has probably bothered humans for as long as people have realized that we are not perfect.

An ideal society can only exist with people who are comfortable with where they are. This is how globalization has really occurred. There have been societies filled with people who were initially comfortable and then became oppressed for various reasons by other people. Change needed to occur, and people migrated to other regions of the world. The migration of people has been driven by two primary things: freedom and the exploration for new things. Conflicts drive people to other areas so they can feel safer and have a so called "utopia".

Interestingly, a Utopia can refer to an economy, eco-sphere, or politics and the surroundings of one person for a Utopia to exist in perfection. A personal utopia can even be a pleasant dinner, however, sometimes that pleasant dinner can be food for thought: maybe a utopia is not where you want to be... Maybe it's good to be a little uncomfortable, maybe things need to be a struggle. Which brings me to my final inspiration about words I saw on a t-shirt that someone was wearing at the gym which read: PAIN IS WEAKNESS LEAVING THE BODY.

Keeping up with I MY-DASHIAN

Scientists have spent countless hours trying to figure out why humans do what they do. They investigate the causes and effects of biology and chemistry that create reactions to different occurrences such as eating, metabolism and even culture. Every so often, we hear the word "mutation". That term usually implies a negative thing -- cancer, illness, and any other unacceptable mind, body or brain activity that is out of the norm of physiology.

I am a scientist in the respect that I think and observe, and of course use my data to make decisions. After all, isn't that what science is about? Modern technology has given us the blessing and curse of information. The notion that the more information humans have access to, the better society will get is mostly true, but at the same time, sometimes it is better to not know, because our insanely complex brains choose how and when to process the information we receive.

I recently returned from a week-long vacation, where I escaped the daily Western grind for a long enough time only to realize that the majority of the people who I interacted with were cultural Americans who had the same human issues to deal with, that have been dealt with, and moved on from. People, like seasons go through changes. These changes are guided by environmental factors the same way a season changes. Based on the most widely used calendar, a year is 365 and one quarter of a day. The people who made this calendar also added a day every 4 years in order to create a normal equilibrium so seasons happen when WE want them to happen. The same applies to us; we expose our mind and bodies to all sorts of things, and act on our exposures. When we feel like there is something wrong, or our minds tell us that change needs to be made, and we act accordingly. A food hurts my stomach - I will avoid that food, a person annoys me - I will avoid that person; on the other hand, when a food makes you feel good - it is likely that you will enjoy that food more frequently, and when you like a person you will make it your business to see that person.

This form of human evolution is uberly evident. Humans are selfish. We do what we need to do in order to survive. Every single day, we practice the societal evolution that usually goes about unspoken. No matter what gender, people experience all sorts of physical discomfort, the only thing that we can do is alleviate the problems in the most efficient and effective way. Work is the same thing, no matter what profession you are in, we have become problem solvers. Our compensation reflects the value of the problem we need to solve.

Finally, no scientist will be able to adequately figure out the exact breakdown of one specific person no matter how hard they try. There is always going to be some type of barrier to some information that is essential to mapping out a human from the brain to the mind to the unconscious to the body.

It is my belief that members of our society will get to where we really want to be when we want to be there, but there is no formula to make that happen -- that's what I've realized on my vacation. What happens next?

Flashes of Brilliance

This is a must read

The Big Journey: You never know how far you can get without going

I once tracked a romantic relationship that I had with someone as a stock. I made an excel spreadsheet with dates, highs, lows, closing price and variables of how the relationship was going. One of the variables that I investigated was the expectation (market’s expectation) going into an encounter (“encounter” is loosely used, so please use your imagination.) This was not easy to calculate because market conditions changed based on the general encounter; if it was a planned encounter the factors for expectations were based on how we last left things. In the event that we had a random encounter, the variables and expectations changed, whom we were with, who had the “home court” advantage, and the outcome obviously was the ultimate the quantifiable number that mattered. What I mean by this is that each time we had an interaction, whether it was a phone call, a random encounter or date I would quantify the value that I put on this person, this value was not a dollar value or even a percentage, it was merely a good quantifiable number range that ranged from 0 to 100. A value of zero indicated that there was no value to put effort into this person because there would be no valuable return at that point in time; that value was never assigned. A value of 100 was putting said person too high up on a pedestal where they were considered the most precious metal in an open, unregulated market, and I was the highest bidder – I would be overpaying.

Within this range I tracked our progress, how comfortable we were and the way we interacted (as company events are marked on real stocks). Obviously, the more time and more frequently we saw each other the less volatility there was in the market aka the relationship.

As things progressed I noticed trends in my actions correlating directly to the upticks and downturns in our relationship. If I “overbought” by making a gesture that overvalued the person, I saw a decline in our progress, and if I “sold off” I saw a comeback in the price and subsequent equilibrium created in our relationship.

In a sense, I had full control over a completely irrational stock in an irrational market. This person consistently possessed the qualities of a “100” stock but “paying 100” for this person was over paying, and would create a precipitous decline in this person’s value. However, creating a lower value created a buying opportunity where the price set as a result of my actions of “selling” off by backing away from the person paid off.

Fear and emotion are relatively newer concepts that have been added to rational economic theory. The only fear that I encountered during this study was the fear of the unknown, which is solved simply by testing a theory.

Given the recent events of the stock market volatility, it has come to my attention that the stock market has been acting the same way I have seen my test relationship portray itself. In mid-July, on the over-priced heels of the end of QE2 when corporate America was releasing earnings results that were well beyond Wall Street’s expectations, the market was essentially a “100.” You couldn’t pay more, but you had to pay more in order to reap the benefits. Now, the market is in panic mode, the market knows that it was put up on pedestal, and we as a nation became too available.

The New York Times published an article discussing neurofinance, a relatively new term that has tried to explain how “our primal circuit can, and often do, override our reason when it comes to investing.”

According to this article, investor sentiment changed after the collapse of the markets three years ago. The same can potentially be said about a person’s relationship sentiment following a failed relationship. The failures in the market have proved that people lack confidence in their relationship with the market moving forward. Contrast this to someone being hesitant about entering into a new relationship of any sort after experiencing any type of “relationship malfunction,” and you begin to realize that this crazy time in the market is a lot like life. We never really know what is going to happen next no matter how much we prepare ourselves.

The stock market experience, like the relationship experience will open you up to something new and exotic, those that are old and familiar, those that bring up lots of questions, those that bring you somewhere unexpected, those that bring you far from where you started, and those that bring you back. But the most exciting, challenging and significant relationship of all is the one you have with yourself; and if you can find someone to love you that you love, well, that's just fabulous. In today’s market it is important to find value, be cautious, keep your guard up and most importantly, remember that learning from experience is what builds a beautiful mind.

The Importance of Support

Due to the recent and untimely death of the young and talented Amy Winehouse, I began to think and analyze the circumstances regarding the singer's demise. When the news scattered the Twitterworld and the all the news outlets picked up on the news of her death, the world reacted with a guarded sadness -- people were not THAT shocked to hear that a Grammy winning twenty-seven year old had been found dead in her London apartment.

Winehouse’ experiences with drugs, alcohol, and the scrutiny of her romantic life have all been overshadowed by her immense talent. Her five Grammy Awards and revitalization of the music industry are proof enough that the singer had a "good life." That was from an outsiders point of view. The "success" that she experienced from a very young age that catapulted her to a level of super-stardom and immortality all came crashing down on Saturday. An autopsy is scheduled for Monday, but no arrests have been made, and the mere speculation that this death is drug related cannot be ignored as the cause of death, then again, we won't know definitively until autopsy results are released.

Drug abuse has become a very real issue that has been publicized, especially in the celebrity world. Throughout the modern "celebrity era" there have been dozens of drug related premature deaths of actors, singers and entertainers. The world has been saddened briefly by these events and then moved on. With the emergence of "Celebrity Rehab" on VH1 and shows that deal with the trafficking and growing use of drugs as innocent as marijuana to severe abuse of doctor prescribed drugs and homemade drugs, a legitimacy has evolved to drug use.

Amy Winehouse had a net worth a tens of millions of dollars, she could have almost anything that she wanted, and yet she is dead at 27 years old. We all know she has battled addiction, something that is clinically a life-long disease that needs to consistently be treated. The singer made people happy with her music, and her life was presumably cut short by a demon that had haunted her for a long time.

Sadness is a universal feeling that all humans are capable of feeling. Many people seek healthy remedies such as therapy, exercises and activities that stimulate the brain to be happier. Unfortunately, there are other people who use drugs to cope with the sometimes harsh realities of life. Friends and family are the best support for anyone dealing with any sort of sadness or feeling of emptiness in one's life; yet sometimes as Coldplay once said "you get what want, but not what you need." This may have been Amy's life.

We don't choose our parents and lives that come with the turmoil or bliss of being born, but we have a choice to face life head on, but it doesn't hurt to have a support group to make the hardest days that much easier.

RIP Amy.

A Woman's Right to Choose Her Food

Literally billions of years of pregnancy have taken place with people eating meat, wheat or chicken, it's yours for the picken"

Emily Deschanel has been a vegan for along time and pregnant for a lot less. She has been able to do what is best for her body, wouldn't you think that she would be doing best her growing fetus' body?

The debate should cease about what is and what isn't good for a fetus. Maternal instincts often speak louder than any other authority figure; and in this situation the mother is always right. Eating as a vegan in a non-vegan society cannot be easy, but is completely doable. There are ongoing counterproductive remarks against people who choose a specific and even more so when someone is carrying a child.

The religious tolerance that this world experiences borders on the intolerance of certain people's dietary restrictions and beliefs. People who come up to me and are shocked that I am unable to tolerate certain foods look at me like a I some type of leper. I have not only done nothing wrong, but I have embraced a lifestyle that leaves me more comfortable. So the next time you want to make a pregnant woman uncomfortable, remember that she is probably carrying a baby that is making her uncomfortable enough.

Eat up, drink up, and enjoy life.... Just let people do it in the way that I want. (disclaimer: when I say "drink up" I do not mean in any way shape or form drinking alcohol during pregnancy.

Modern Orthodox: not my M.O

Many people will not like what I have to say. Good.

Tonight I went to a "Modern Orthodox" Synagogue to commemorate the third anniversary of my father's passing. The Hebrew term for this is "Yartzheit." I toiled with the idea of going to a place of worship, because quite honestly I don't buy it. I asked some of my closest friends what I should do, and the consensus was to go. I tried going to a synagogue that was not immersed in the community that I was raised in, but the weekday nightly prayers are scarce in Los Angeles.

I ended up going with my oldest sister and mother to the place I spent countless hours on Saturdays during my formative years. As a child, I had no say in the matter, the same way I ate when I was told, and not when I wanted to eat. As an adolescent, my "choices" were pushed, and I accepted it... and then I grew up. There was no quantifiable difference in me spiritually throughout the years, I merely became the person I wanted to be. Not a person who prays, not someone who observes Orthodox Judaism, I am a Jewish person, period. Label me how you want.

As I entered the sanctuary (they really need to change the name of this room) of Beth Jacob in Beverly Hills, I saw someone from my formative years who I did not care to see. I didn't run away, I faked a smile and said "Hi, it's so great to see you!" Those words that came out of my mouth in my head were actually "I have to see this fucking tool?" I walked in to see some familiar faces, none of which I was excited to see. I semi-cordially had a Lakers discussion with a 75 year-old accountant who I've seen age as he's seen me grow up - wonderful.

I sat in the back, zoning out all the bullshit that was being recited by the cantor. In between the afternoon prayer "Mincha" and the evening prayer "Ma'ariv" some guy from Yeshiva University, who is paid to study Talmud all day for the summer gave a speech about the concept of a Kohen -- the most sanctified tribe member, for lack of a better term -- killing someone and his repercussions. The answer to his remedial question is : who the hell cares? He rambled on for about five minutes aimlessly, and suddenly, out of nowhere someone in the audience abruptly cut him off and left the speaker humiliated and speechless. In Judaism, the action of embarrassing someone is compared to killing that person. The fact is, that no matter how terrible this speech was, it was 100% wrong of this low-life to cut off the speaker for no reason at all.

The thesis of the speech was completely out of context and relevance to anything today or even in the last 100 years. The irrelevance factor annoyed me, even pissed me off a little bit -- I was somewhere that I did not want to be hearing about bullshit that will NEVER apply to anyone in the audience. IF anyone ever kills someone, the justice system will run its course, for better or worse. The insensitivity of this person cutting off another idiot clearly didn't solve anything. It did not help ease my discomfort of being somewhere that I totally did not want to be, I should have been wearing one of those t shirts that say "I'd rather be skiing." As a person who chooses not to take part in these rituals, and paying my respect to my dead father by saying meaningless words on a specific day on the Jewish calendar, I was completely offended and mortified that this is what a Modern Orthodox synagogue was offering. I knew better growing up, I saw it coming, and I even saw some of the brainwashing that took place to some of my peers to become these black an white people who are obsessed with anything Judaism related. To me, it's the same as someone who gets into drugs, alcohol or any other addiction that makes people go crazy.

This is a synagogue that is not foreign to scandals. Please ask me about the scandals if you are so interested, I promise they are juicy. Disrespecting people by offending them publicly is wrong. I had to witness it, which completely devalued any attempt I had at getting any meaning from the service tonight. Thanks Beth Jacob.

I'm writing this blog to inform, not to get people to stop going or go elsewhere. There is just too much bullshit out there to worry about the bullshit religion that labels itself in ways that are just silly. I respect people, and listening to this bullshit that was then cut off rather maliciously, completely undermined my feelings of celebrating the beautiful but short life of my father who accepted me for who I am, the same way he accepted everyone else with all f their baggage.

I started this blog by saying that many people will be unhappy with what I have to say, synagogues don't have that disclaimer before you enter; maybe they should.

Independence Day Meat Free Monday Style

As a contributing member of society, I have elected to take part in the growing trend of meat free mondays. Not only is it good for your health, but it also is wonderful for the environment. There is less pollution to the planet and to your body by taking on this new phenomenon. While I do enjoy a great steak from time to time, it is not a core part of my diet, and I feel healthier for it.

This weekend marks America's 235th birthday, and to celebrate, millions of Americans will be firing up the BBQ and celebrating the country's independence. However, this Fourth of July happens to fall out on a Monday this year. I happened to stumble upon this Independence Day, vegan dish that can be used as my celebratory cuisine for America's birthday. Of course there are more meat-like recipes out there to replace the hamburgers, hot dogs, and steaks that America loves to grill, but adapting to this healthier alternative is just like America becoming independent.

Man vs. Fat

I understand that TV is supposed to be mindless, and the MPAA and FCC have too much time on their hands to deem what is and what isn't suitable for children of some, most and all ages are able to watch. Since most TV is garbage, (as I have said, the majority of the TV that I watch is live sports); I know what I am getting myself into when I "unwind" before I go to sleep.

With the growing health epidemics called obesity and heart disease plaguing America, I find it highly unfortunate that any TV network pays and profits from "Man vs. Food". The Travel Channel offers this rubbish programming during the summer when healthy people may be out of town, yet the concept of the show is absolutely disgusting.

Adam Richman travels the United States looking for the most gluttonous foods available, and then is "challenged" to eat this heart-stopping, belt bursting food, acid inducing food. Not only does he have to eat this food that should send most people to the ER, but he has to eat this food in under a certain amount of time - not enough time to enjoy what might be delicious food.

Moderation has been the word of the century, but clearly America did not get the memo when some TV execs green-lit this show. In addition to heart disease and obesity, the next growing epidemic is diabetes which is spiraling out of control in this world, and especially in the lower classes who are glued to TV without outdoor and active activities offered to them.

I've had enough of the MPAA and FCC telling me forever that the word "FUCK" is offensive, when the same people who regulate the words that come out of the mouth's of people ON TV should be regulating what goes into the mouth's of other people being watched on the same TV.

The Game of NO OFFENSE

The NBA has been on rampage making sure that homophobia is banished from the game of basketball. Just over a month ago, Kobe Bryant was caught on national TV using a derogatory slur against gay people. The NBA handed out a large fine of $100,000 for his words, and the LGBTQ world applauded the NBA for its quick and strong reaction to Kobe's misbehavior.

Shortly after that, president and CEO of the Phoenix Suns, Rick Welts, came out publicly. The NBA executive is one of the most high-profile figures still active in sports to declare that he is gay. This was a positive step forward in the world of sports and the progressive world that has encouraging these brave actions.

Former NBA player and current NBA analyst, Charles Barkley responded to the recent anti-gay and gay openness by saying, "I’d rather have a gay guy who can play than a straight guy who can’t play.” He is absolutely right. People make a big deal out of the possibility of of homophobic responses in the locker room, the fact remains that these people are here to do a job, and get paid A LOT of money for it.

There's never been a peep from anyone who works in business, law, or medicine who works with openly gay people. A brilliant manager of a hedge fund, trial lawyer, or surgeon is never questioned for his or her sexual preference -- the quality of their work speaks for itself.

Last week Joakim Noah, of the Chicago Bulls was fined $50,000 for using a gay slur directed towards a spectator during the Eastern Conference Finals. He apologized almost immediately and absorbed his punishment with grace. People will make mistakes, people will be insensitive, but as things seem to be going people are becoming more tolerant in the world of sports, and especially basketball.

What I've been eating

Normally food is not something that I would blog about, but recently I have been having stomach issues. Readers, please use your imagination when I say stomach issues. Over the last few weeks, almost everything I ate did not agree with my stomach. I'm not talking like a small argument that people have everyday, I'm talking about an all out war, where whatever went into my mouth was dead WRONG.

After basically not eating for nearly three days, I regained my appetite and slowly began eating "normal" foods again. I started out with plain rice, chicken soup, and simple tuna sandwiches without any veggies or sauces. Then I my body was aching for more substantial food (a good sign) and I had a plain hamburger from Pico Kosher Deli with a knish. So far so good. That was Thursday.

Friday my diet contained a protein-filled breakfast with egg whites and toast, and I was feeling good. For lunch I had a meal from Real Food Daily with my Vegan-Gluten Free partner who we shall refer to as "VGFGF". Friday night VGFGF and I ventured to simple pea soup and chicken salad with very little dressing for myself and a steamed vegetable salad for her. and it digested FAIRLY well. Saturday brunch was at Le Pain Qutidien, egg whites and bread with jam -- worked out well.

Saturday night we went to a sushi restaraunt that we had never been to, Takami Sushi in Downtown LA. The ambience gets an A, the knowledgability of the staff regarding the food, food intolerances, and dietary choices gets an A+, but the availability of gluten free and vegan food were scarce.

After that meal I can definitely say that my stomach was back o normal! I haven't jumped into the sauces, and I just observed my first Meat Free Monday! My vegan meals today were not only delicious, but healthy and nutritious. I feel more energetic overall, maybe my excitement and energy is due to the VGFGF being back in town.

Food intolerance tolerance

I recently began dating a wonderful person who happened to be a vegan. As a regular meat eater, even though I have cut down my meat intake by more than fifty percent, I didn't blink for a minute at having to eat at Vegan-friendly establishments with my partner. As our romance continues to blossom, my partner has recently been diagnosed with Celiac disease; like any concerned partner, i quickly noticed that the real world (read Whole Foods WFMI) takes gluten free and vegan diets very seriously.

I frequently go to Whole Foods, even though it is more expensive than other grocery competitors, to buy produce and almond milk. I myself have a dairy intolerance that requires me to have non- dairy milk with my cereal. I cant help but notice the extensive gluten-free and vegan alternatives that are offered at this store.

Furthermore, the ample amounts of gluten free options at two of my favorite vegan Los Angeles restaurants, Native Foods and Real Food Daily make dining out with my very significant other easy and delicious. I have totally embraced the restricted diet lifestyle myself, and do not experience any hindrances in my day to day life. So much so, that I am always seeking out gluten-free, vegan options and having nothing but good things to say about these products!

Sadly, my dairy intolerance is not as widely accepted in the yogurt world. Not that I was a huge fro yo consumer, but I definitely enjoyed my fair share of the delicious treat. The only non dairy fro yo that I have found is at Big Chill on Westwood and Olympic in Los Angeles. There hasn't even been an "adjustment" phase for me to be tolerant of my VGFGF because in addition to my love for vegan food, my partner is more than a pleasure to be with.

Dr. Addict: Does America need a dose of reality?

The bulk of TV that I watch is sports and news shows. One of the shows that I watch regularly is Nurse Jackie on Showtime. In recent years, Showtime has created some excellent original programming that has rivaled HBO. Nurse Jackie is about a drug addict nurse who is selfless, caring, and most importantly a great nurse.

In the most recent episode, Jackie’s husband is portrayed in a darker light when he breaks up a bar fight in his own bar by banging a baseball bat on the bar and kicks out the two drunk people fighting. This scene transpires with Jackie and their two young girls in the bar watching the “nice guy” father figure protecting his property.

Immediately, the father explains to his children, with the help of their mom and aunt that he was not going to hit the men fighting. He explains that he was only trying to scare them into leaving, which they did. The scene ends up portraying the bar owner/ father as a hero instead of the observed angry person that the children saw have a fit of rage.

The show somehow finds a way to show Jackie’s husband as somewhat of a bad guy who cannot catch a break while the audience constantly is rooting for Jackie, the lying drug addict, to succeed. I find it somewhat disturbing that while drug abuse is not glamorized in this show, the protagonist is the person who the audience wants to succeed especially with her drug problem.

In this era, where we have heard of way too many prescription drug overdoses, and young people are using drugs recreationally either to cope with a harsh reality or out of “boredom,” it upsets me that the writers of this adult show want their audience to be jubilant when Jackie uses drugs. I understand that it is just a TV show, but Jackie seems to get away with too many close calls that make me wonder what the show is trying to prove.

There is a major difference between illicit infrequent use of drugs that is glamorized and the addiction to drugs that is shown in carefree light. Jackie’s lack of consequence and escape from trouble through her manipulative ways is not something that even the most mature adults should be watching. Maybe reality TV has some value for the public. Maybe seeing what drugs and other terrible things can do to people and their families is the best deterrent for abuse.

Obama: Actor in Chief

Last week when President Obama came to Los Angeles, the buzz about his arrival was not about how cool it would be to see him, nor about his presence in the Greater LA Area being something of a boost to the depleted and unemployed urban center. There was plenty to talk about his arrival to LA as the cause for traffic jams in a city already used to too much traffic.

News agencies were reported the President's arrival schedules, street closures and of course alternate routes. Hollywood, Obama's biggest supporters were the main supporters at the $35,800 a head fundraising dinners took place for him. Obama, who ran his last election on "hope" is now running his 2012 reelection campaign on fumes, literally. He is talking about having cleaner and more efficient cars in addition to putting people back to work (something that is very difficult to do without raising taxes).

Obama has been an advocate of protecting the poor and less fortunate classes of people throughout his presidency, yet he ONLY reached out to Hollywood moguls, and the people who he doesn't need or want to protect financially. This elbow-rubbing excursion delayed several people who are dependent on hourly wages in getting to work. While I understand the importance of fundraising for a presidential election, something that I have done successfully (but not successfully enough). The President who wants to be reelected should be reaching out to the workers who really want and need his welfare programs.

We all know that Los Angeles is an attention hungry city. Catering to the superficial needs of high society is part of life in LA, however this should not come at the expense of the taxpayers (read: me) getting home late from work and having my quality of life, even temporarily decreased because the Hollywood execs want to eat mediocre food for obscene prices.

Obama claims to be a man of the people, in Los Angeles he is the man of the people everyone tries to look like.

Miller LOW LIFE

I'm only 25 years old but I know a lot about beer. It is not my first choice of "adult beverages," but I can tell a good beer from a bad beer. As an avid sports fan, I tend to see many of the advertisements during sporting events that billions of dollars are spent on annually.

The beer commercials have gained popularity from Super Bowl commercials with talking frogs, beautiful horses, and of course objectified women. We all know that sex sells, and as a marketing tool, sex is a huge money maker, but in this modern era there must be limits to the offensiveness of recent beer commercials that have portrayed women as second class citizens.

Miller Lite has been illustrating men who drink light beer other than Miller Lite as feminine, and thus "less of a man" or "weaker like a woman." http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lPiBFaTWqIs

This commercial states that there men who drink other light beers are weaker and should hit a golf ball from the ladies tee (closer to the hole than a regulation tee in golf). Besides nothing being wrong with hitting from a ladies tee in a friendly, social game of golf, there isn't anything wrong with drinking another beer if it pleases you.

Miller Lite has taken a marketing approach that would only appeal to a group of men who are so chauvinistic that I have chosen to not buy their beer, even though I have not been a patron of their products in the past. Sports happens to have a much broader audience than just ultra-macho, sexist males, and Miller Lite has yet to address the true demographics of the common sports fan.

Again, I don't always drink beer, but when I do, it won't be Miller Lite.

I'm an ALL STAR... That doesn't mean I'm going to the game.

Today is the NBA All Star Game, an annual mid-season soiree/ entertainment weekend for professional basketball. As an avid sports fan, and a huge fan of basketball, especially the LA Lakers I watch the All Star game for the purpose of being entertained, nothing more, nothing less. I don't really care about the outcome, because it doesn't affect the outcome of the season for any players or teams.

Last year, I went to the All Star game in Dallas, Texas -- I was able to get tickets mainly because there were over 100,000 seats at Cowboys Stadium for a basketball game that normally is watched live by 20,000 spectators. I enjoyed myself at the game, and while it was an experience of a lifetime, it is not something that I need to make an annual event for me.

This year, the All Star game is in LA, at Staples Center - my second home... Over the past few days, people have approached me and asked me if I am attending the game today. My response has steadfastly been "no." And when people respond with a shocked "WHY?!?!?!?" I answer them with the same answer "Because I don't want to spend $10,000 on a ticket to a meaningless game."

Yes, I am passionate about sports and basketball, and YES, it would be an awesome experience, especially because it's at Staples Center, a place I truly love to be, but TEN THOUSAND DOLLARS for a decent seat for a meaningless game would be dumb. I am perfectly happy watching from the comfort of my own home on a brand new 55 inch flat screen TV.

It's just funny that people are asking me about such trivial things in my life, when there are so many much more meaningful and exciting things going on in my life. Just ask!

The Coolest Guy in the Gym

A few weeks ago as I was leaving the locker room at a local gym, I couldn't help but notice a crowd surrounding a rather large man with long hair. I had seen this guy before, and being an LA native, I couldn't care less. The crowd of men was surrounding this man known as "Fabio."

Growing up in LA, I have become immune to A-list celebrities, so there was no need to pay any attention to this Z-lister, a person who I have seen at the gym numerous times before. Given the fact that Fabio had a little group of half-dressed men surrounding him, I started to wonder if he was really that cool.

Was this the equivalent to that popular, star athlete in high school who can't add 2 and 2, but owns whatever room he's in? Whatever the case may be, I was eager to hear what these grown men were talking about with this long-haired man. The truth is, all I heard were bits and pieces about random travels to South America. Not that this didn't interest me, but I had no intention of becoming part of this conversation.

I go to the gym for a purpose - to maintain my health and feel good - if I wanted to socialize with other half-naked men, I wouldn't choose the gym as my venue of choice. I have an objective to achieve while in the gym, and as I grow older, my time becomes more valuable. Talking with anyone in the gym extraneously as this quorum of men were doing with this good for nothing has been, proved to me yet again how silly this world can be.

Pop culture is cool, seeing a celeb out anywhere is something one can mention, but NOTHING is going to be accomplished by talking to this guy in the locker room when all I can think about is the food I'm about to consume after my healthy workout.

Fabio probably loves the attention, HIS NAME IS FABIO!!!! You can't blame him for capitalizing on the stupidity of American culture, but there is a time and place for everything... and the men's locker room at the gym is not the place to socialize even with the coolest guy there.