Hey, Let's Make the Worst Sign Ever

"Dude, we've got to make a sign for tonight's game. The Nugs can clinch!"

"OH that's right! For sure, let's make a sign. But we need to make sure it's very to the point."

"Yeah, yeah. Like nothing that doesn't make sense or that's too complicated. And it should be pretty boring."

"Got it."

RetroTorch: Wilt Chamberlain Dunks

While Wilt Chamberlain dunked, teammate Tom Meschery was frozen in terror. Wilt hadn't seen the enormous robot destroyer approaching the court. Just like dinosaurs, if you didn't move, the robots couldn't see you. But, well, Wilt had moved.

Fortunately for Wilt, he was faster than Tom. Unfortunately for Tom, the robot was hungry.

I Think I Killed Brad Miller

Remember when I unearthed the video of Brad Miller cutting off his beard? That was a really emotional video that deeply affected me emotionally. And I've regretted it to this day. I'm even pretty sure that showing that video killed Brad Miller. On the inside.

It's been basically the hardest three weeks of my life, dealing with the death of Brad Miller. Since then, his points per game, rebounds per game, assists per game, and field goal percentage have gone down. And his turnovers per game went up.

And he got punched in the face.

And he missed two free-throws that would have tied a playoff game.

And he's been ridiculed across the Internet.

And he didn't get to go to Coachella.

And he didn't really like the movie Earth.

And he still hasn't seen the Susan Boyle YouTube clip.

And he burned his hand on his waffle maker.

And he can't get his DVR to stop recording every episode of The Soup.

And his Geocities account was closed.

And he had high hopes for the Asher Roth album.

And the Hipster Grifter stole $800 from him.

So it's been pretty hard on Brad too. I can't help feeling that I did this to him. If I'd have just left that video in the depths of YouTube, maybe Brad Miller would still be alive. On the inside.

The least I can offer him is this electronic collage (French for "lots of things together to make one big thing"). He's one of my favorite guys ever and I'm sorry if I killed him. On the inside.

The Most Exciting Lay-Up in the History of Lay-Ups

Magic fans are a fickle bunch. Remember two week ago when they couldn't give a rip about Dwight Howard dunking? Now Andre Miller, possibly the most boring player in the league, drives to the basket and everyone FREAKS OUT.

I've never seen so many people so pumped up for a lay-up. Anthony Johnson looks like he's going to die.

Overheard at Last Night's Lakers Game

During the first quarter... So excited to be at the Lake Show
I'm having so much fun, you must know
My mustache doesn't even connect
Spotty facial hair, what did you expect?

(Unintelligible rapping)

(Gibberish)

The Lakers I love
The things I've tried
To be part of
The team don't work
Ever wonder if it's all for you.

-------------
At halftime...

Is Jack down there? Have you guys seen Jack? Just let me know if he's down there. I need to know if he likes my black jacket and baseball hat look. I got it from him. Oh, and maybe he can explain why I'm wearing a Grambling hat.

-------------
During the third quarter...

Oh, so some honkeys get to sit in the front row, mang? Estupido. Chicano can't get some seats, hombre? NBA be cheto packin' us all back here. Mexicans and white people are different.

-------------
During the fourth quarter...


Every [expletive deleted] [expletive deleted]ing game I [expletive deleted]ing come to is a [expletive deleted] blowout. What the [expletive deleted]?! I pay [expletive deleted]ing $2600 for this [expletive deleted] seat and I have to watch some [expletive deleted] [expletive deleted]ing Mormons drag their [expletive deleted] sorry [expletive deleted]es all over the [expletive deleted] court in their [term for homosexuals][expletive deleted] baby blue jerseys that look like a [expletive deleted] robin's egg took a [expletive deleted] on them. Is it me? Did I do something to deserve this [expletive deleted][expletive deleted]?!

Does this shirt make me look fat? [Expletive deleted], it does doesn't it? [Expletive deleted]. No wonder none of these [expletive deleted]ing Lakers girls will even look at me. What a [expletive deleted]ing waste of [expletive deleted]ing money that could have went to a [expletive deleted] steak or some [expletive deleted]. [Expletive deleted] me.

Considering Von Wafer

Hey guys, you guys know that I don't usually like easy jokes that erryone on the Internet Googlebox makes. Like, yeah, Greg Oden looks old, and if you add an L to his name it makes it Olden. Hilarious. Or did you know that some basketball players look like rappers? Genius! Oh, and Magic Johnson still has AIDS!!! Great!

Anywhatevers, this Von Wafer situation is really busting my beans. I couldn't even enjoy my nightly watching of A Walk to Remember starring Mandy Moore. It's really bugging me that we're letting Von Wafer's transgressions go unchecked. Someone needs to speak truth to Wafer.

Throwing out his last name, because he can't help it, let's realize that there is actually somebody in 21st century America who has CHOSEN the name Von. This isn't 16th century Germany, nor is it a 1980s video game about boxing.

And yeah, he CHOSE that name. I cannot stress this enough, which is why I'm capitalizing it every time I mention it. Von was given the name Vakeaton Quamar, which as far as I can tell means "Squatting Dog," but is also a pretty great name in a 60s activist kind of way. But upon being gifted with that wonderful name, this guy CHOSE "Von." There is no conceivable series of events that I can imagine picking that name. It doesn't really relate to Vakeaton that much, and it makes him sound like a tyrant. Oh, and it's the name "Von."

Think of the things you can do with Vakeaton Quamar. Here's an incomplete list, off the top of my head:

• produce albums for A Tribe Called Quest
• be a Wu-Tang affiliate alias
• as mentioned before, participate in 1960s rallys
• overthrow a country and serve as a horrible dictator
• Afro-centric poet

Comparatively, here's what you can do as Von:

• be confused with Vin
• overthrow a country and serve as a horrible dictator

It's obvious that Von Wafer has made a huge mistake. It's not just that he now has a funny name, but he's missed some golden opportunities. If you put a guard like Von Wafer in to the draft as Vakeaton Wafer, show some grainy footage of him doing Von Wafer things, and call him an overseas project, he'd be a top 10 pick. Instead, he was a second round pick and largely unnoticed until this season. And it's all because he picked that silly name.

Robert and I have become addicted to Lost. It is freakin' awesome! If you are a fan (or even if you aren't) check out this clip. It is SOOOO funny.

My 13th Birthday

And now a guest post from my grandma Trudy.

The year was 1997 and Trey was going to be turning 13. He's always been a big basketball fan and in the past few years I'd gotten him different basketball-themed gifts that he seemed to really like. The previous year, I bought him a Chicago Bulls beret (they're his favorite team) that he wore all winter. A few years before that, I got him a complete set of Skybox cards. He told me recently that he still has them in his mother's basement. For his first birthday as a teenager I wanted to get him something really special.

During the previous summer, Trey had been really interested in a team called the Seattle Supersonics, who had played the Chicago Bulls in the championship round of the playoffs. Trey was particularly taken with a player named Shawn Kemp. I was reminded of this by my husband Harold one day when we were shopping for Trey's present. I even remember Trey getting his hair cut just like Shawn Kemp's. There was just a little square of hair on the front of his head. It looked odd to me, but he said all the kids in his subdivision had their hair cut like that. He's always been a bit of an eccentric anyways.

With this in mind, I decided to look for something to give him in DC Collectibles, a store that has a plethora of different sports memoribilia. Since we were in the midwest, it was a challenge finding any sort of Seattle Supersonics products. I considered getting Trey a Michael Jordan autographed jersey that he had worn during the playoffs, but decided that he would rather have something that wasn't Chicago Bulls. Then I saw it: a signed Shawn Kemp poster. I knew it was the perfect present.

You should have seen Trey's face when I gave it to him! He was so excited and thankful. I told him about the Michael Jordan jersey, and he assured me that he'd rather have the Shawn Kemp poster that I had purchased. I was so happy to make him so happy! Just this past year, when I visited Trey at his house I was shocked to see that he still has that Shawn Kemp poster hanging on his wall. He must really love it!

Thanks, Grandma!

I Have A Theory...

So here's a theory I came up with. I've been debating it over and over (with myself!) on whether or not it could be true.

My theory is that everyone in the world is gay, but few dare admit it.

The reason I came up with this? Well just recently, I've been noticing the growing amounts of gay and bisexual people coming out, and was just wondering: maybe all people are and are just too afraid to say! 

Crazy? Well, I was thinking, and maybe one rebellious person (there's always a bad guy in every story) wrote the Bible long ago, speaking of how man and woman were meant to be together, confusing all the new little people of the world. You know, Adam & Eve, yadda yadda yadda... Then from that day on, everyone saw homosexuality as something to be ashamed of, and became afraid to tell anyone of their same-sex attraction. 

It could be possible! Don't knock it until there's proof... (Okay, I get that there is no way of proving this, just shut up and don't be picky.)

As for Christians, (or people of other religions who oppose homosexuality) they're so far in denial that they would never think about being with someone of the same sex in fear of doing their precious God wrong... Or would they? ;)

I understand that men have for centuries used women to breed their offspring, (I won't bore you with the whole 'the sperm and the egg' notion) but would God really have given us the ability to develop new humans in other ways - ie. IVF - if he didn't want the whole of the world to be gay? I seriously think it's conceivable that God himself is gay and we have the whole thing wrong: prop 8 should be questioning the marriage between a man and a woman and Christians should be questioning whether or not God would forgive people committing 'straight sex'.

I also understand that the sudden burst of people 'coming out' around me may just be because I'm getting older, more experienced at life etc... But just think about it: How great would the world be if it was just G.A.Y?!

P.s. Obviously, if you're 'straight' and reading this, you're gonna be sat there saying "What a load of bullsh*t, I know I'm straight!" But my theory also suggests that straight people are just too insecure and scared to admit their love of the same sex because we got it all wrong from the very beginning.

Birdman Meets Birdman

You know me, I don't need no introduction. It's Baby, the numba one stunna, I shine every summa. The one and only Birdman, I fly in any weather.

But I be hearin they some balla callin his self Birdman. That aint gon fly, playboy. Baby, Brian, B, Bubba, you can call me what you feel, but you best know that I'm the Birdman. BRRRRRR.

I know he can't outstunt me when come to these cars, believe that. Earrings be trillion cut and my grill be slugged up. Normally, beef I don't discuss. Homeboy outta line, gon get his mondayfriday head bust. But this a clear case a copyright infringement, whoadie.

This boy be hoppin out the E class Benz? This boy got the alligator seats with the head on the inside? When the light hit his ice do it twankle and glisten? I know he ain't stunt like me. I just bought me a platinum football field. He ain't got that new Mercedes, wit da bubble eyes. I got that ON DUBS. That three wheel ride with a tire in the middle? I got that ON DUBS. TVs in all my cars, whoadie.

So why dis busta be callin his self da Birdman? Lemme peep homeboy.

Oh for real? Homeboy stay fly! I aint messin with no crazy white boy who lookin like a rooster on some down South meth addict tip. Playboy welcome to come to my next parkin lot party, and get his roll on, ya heard me? YA HEARD MEEEE? BRRRRRRRR.

Cruel Irony

So I said to Chauncey, our next game is on "Earth" Day. LOL

Ha.

Chill Out Justin TimberLakers

Look, Justin Timberlake, I like you. I've seen you in concert twice solo and once with *NSYNC. I bought both of your records the day they came out. One time, I signed autographs at a mall because these two young girls thought I was you and it made their day. I even didn't think Alpha Dog was THAT bad. I mean, it was pretty bad, but I've seen worse movies. Like The Love Guru.

Just kidding, I didn't see The Love Guru. Everything else was true though. And Black Snake Moan was even enjoyable most of the time. My point is, in general, I think you're a pretty legit bro. But why don't you relax with the Justin Timberlaking for a little bit?

You were at the Lakers game last night, kissing your Jessica Biel (who, let's be honest, has kinda fallen off since I Now Pronounce You Chuck and Larry) and dancing. Now, I understand that you can't help dancing all the time; it's what you do! And you do it well, but come on. We both know you're not really a Lakers fan.

You're from Tennessee, right? People in Tennessee don't like basketball. We both know this. They like football, sometimes golf, NASCAR, and racial insensitivity. I know you like golf (INTENSE) and I remember *NSYNC playing football on MTV or something like that. You don't have to act all Justin Timberlake all the time, just because you're at the Lakers game.

Okay, you did play in all those weird charity games back when you and Britney would wear matching jerseys, but you were terrible. I guess that means you have a little bit of credibility in that sector, but I'm just asking you to chill out with all the Justin Timberlake-ness. Maybe just be like 25% strength Timberlake. The girls will still go crazy, and guys will probably not hate you as much.

By all means, go to the Lakers game, if you must. But you don't need to wear a zany hat AND wacky glasses AND a jacket that you designed. And you certainly don't have to be "on" all the time. Look at your smile, Justin. No one is that happy at a Jazz game.

Basketball if fun, so keep having your fun. You don't have to be Super Fan #1. Look at Jack, he's more famous than everyone on the court other than Kobe and he just sits there like a normal human, checks out girls a third his age, and occasionally yells at refs. You don't see him dancing around all nimbly pimbly like Fred Astaire on Adderall.

One last thing; be nice to Andy Garcia, please. That guy can't get a decent seat for the life of him. People are still pretty mad about the third Godfather.

Sorry

No posts today. Except this one.

Here's Your Proof

If you've ever doubted the accuracy of this Internet weblog site, don't. Everything you ever read on here is true. Just two months ago I posted this absolutely brilliant deconstruction of Vinny Del Negro's coaching methods. Included in that post was this picture:

You might have thought I was joking and that these really weren't Vinny Del Negro's notes. Compare that play on the left to this one that Skeets captured during Saturday's game against the Celtics:

Eerily similar, aren't they? This just goes to show that I know things. But how?, you might wonder. I can't reveal that, but you should know the question isn't what are Vinny Del Negro's plays; it's WHEN are Vinny Del Negro's plays.

Susan Boyle vs. This Kid

Susan Boyle wasn't bad. But this kid is amazing. And I don't think these singers are masterminded by Simon Cowell. The fact that both of these clips are almost too sweet and movie-like to be believable is just a result of good editing, in my opinion.

Carmelo and Chauncey Come Back to Earth

Space was really cool LOL but we want to talk about the Playoffs. Right Chauncey?

Word.

Love For Daddy

My boys love their DaDa. Here's a cute video as proof. :)

Good Action I

As there is nothing actually happening in the NBA today or yesterday (aside from the Devil collecting on last year's deal with the Celtics) here's some good action:

• During the playoffs, I'll be doing little videos for Hardwood Paroxysm. There is going to be no editing or coherence or substance, so you should definitely tune in. Apparently, there will be antiquated sayings.
• I've also recently started writing little music blurbs for The Singles Jukebox. I know just as much about music as I do about basketball. Take that for what it's worth.
• One last thing I tend to know lots about: random basketball goods. As such, I'm now writing the Phenomenal Swag posts for Skeets.

So those are other places you can find my musings on various subjects. Now on to more good action.

• Here's a video of me performing Seal's number 1 hit "Kiss by a Rose" while driving around with Lady Gaga:
• If you'd like all The Brad Miller Show videos, along with outtakes, never-before-seen footage, and other extras on a DVD for a low price, email me. I'm talking nice menus, high quality video, and laughs for literally probably an hour, all for around 6 dollars. It's an unbeatable deal. Also, be on the lookout late this summer for an amazing Brad Miller production.
• As a reward for making it this far (you haven't made it this far), here's another chapter of my book. If you, or anyone you know, want to publish it, email me. I'm easily bought.

(click for full-size)

Whatever, Dwight Howard

It's finally happened; the slam dunk has lost its cache.

You're probably thinking, "yeah, right. Go back to Alabama where they don't even have SLAM at bookstores and you'll end up having to read Can I Keep My Jersey? even though it's not that great. That's what you deserve for saying dunking isn't cool anymore. A place that hates basketball. Go there." But I didn't even say dunking isn't cool, so you're kind of being a jerk.

The point is, this picture of Dwight Howard. I carefully analyzed each and every human in it who isn't Dwight Howard in order to test my theory. Check it out:

(click for full-size)

KEY

Green - actually enjoying this slam dunk shot

Yellow - refusing to watch, out of boredom

Red - visibly upset by the dunk

Light blue - skeptical

That's inarguable evidence right there, pal. These people are so fed up with Dwight Howard just dunking all the time. They're like, "sweet dunk Dwight." Then they roll their eyes to their friend behind Dwight's back.

So why don't you just lay off and stop telling me to go back to Alabama. I saw a kid there wearing a full Dwight Howard uniform, but with the new Melo's and socks, TO THE BEACH. Think about it.

Buppy and Jer-Jer

Hello all! I have the computer for a minute (don't have one during the day usually...) so I am posting!!! Do read Robert's blogs below. Love them, Honey! Thanks for keeping the blog alive and sharing your insights.

Anyway, my family have been bugging me for more pics of Jeremy (who, thanks to our distance from family, has only been able to meet my mom so far... so the fam has to see him via the blog)... I WILL now deliver. I'll post some adorable video clips of my Peter later (when I want to wait forever for them to load, ha). He is such a sweet boy and I LOVE HIM so much!

Thanks and have fun viewing! Try not to hurt yourself looking at SO MUCH DANG CUTENESS. (-Jocelyn)

Footnotes and General Conference

I have been perusing the text of the talks from the latest General Conference and made what I consider to be a nifty discovery. The footnotes of many of the talks don't just contain citations; many of them actually contain valuable substantive comments from the speakers. This means that following the counsel to read and study the talks will do more than simply help us remember what we've already heard; it will also provide us with access to additional insights and ideas from the speakers themselves.

I noticed also, by comparing the footnotes of the most recent General Conference with last October's General Conference, that there are a great deal more footnote comments in the newest Conference. I would deign to say that speakers are increasingly utilizing footnotes to express ideas that didn't quite fit into the verbal form of their speeches.

Here are some of the gems I discovered (and one puzzle I encountered) as I perused the footnotes of this April 2009's General Conference:

• Elder D. Todd Christofferson provided the most substantive footnotes of all in his talk The Power of Covenants. Take, for example, this profound, citation-free insight in Footnote 2: "Some see only sacrifice and limitations in obedience to the commandments of the new and everlasting covenant, but those who live the experience—who give themselves freely and unreservedly to the covenant life—find greater liberty and fulfillment. When we truly understand, we seek more commandments, not fewer. Each new law or commandment we learn and live is like one more rung or step on a ladder that enables us to climb higher and higher. Truly, the gospel life is the good life."
• In his talk on temple attendance, Elder Scott encouraged listeners to "Understand the doctrine related to temple ordinances, especially the significance of the Atonement of Jesus Christ." But only if you look at the footnote will you see what he thinks you should read to begin to gain such understanding.
• Elder Nelson, in his talk on prayer, offers a particular source of articles in his first footnote and asserts: "The sincere student of prayer will gain much from a study of those articles." I checked them out and they do teach some powerful lessons on prayer.
  
• My wife and I debated whether Elder Stevenson was being literal or figurative when he talked about young children being encouraged to touch the temple in his talk Sacred Homes, Sacred Temples. A footnote contains a story about a man encouraging his granddaughter to actually place her hand on the temple wall and door, remarking, "Remember that this day you touched the temple. One day you will enter this door."
• Some talks have only scripture references for footnotes and others have scripture citations inserted directly into the body of the text and so require no footnotes at all. I don't know if this is the choice of the speakers or the editors; if it's the editors, why is it not consistent throughout all talks?

On a related note, take a look at this Times and Seasons blog post that speculates on what it means when a book is mentioned in General Conference. It refers in particular to Elder Eyring's mention of the story popularized in the movie "Black Hawk Down."

at work

Here I am on a Monday night at work.

For you bloggers who do not know I work at an on-campus job at a computer lab.

I just check students in and assist them if they need it, but 80% of the time their fine.

I just finished a bag of Ruffles, my weakness. 

Those being chips in general.

And now I'm about to drink a Dr. Pepper

Another weakness of mine.

Awesome.

I didn't get the tattoo the other night,

I don't know I just flaked out.

I'll try again in a couple of months or weeks.

This week for my "Every week do something new for your New Years Resolution" is to TAKE PICTURES!

I'm going to try really hard & follow through with it.

I took a couple already, here is a picture of my friend who decided he would randomly allow a friend to paint his face, I know its disturbing. 

I'm in Alabama

I am driving a Chevrolet Aveo.
I am staying in a Holiday Inn.
I am eating at a Waffle House.
I am getting sunburned.
I am wearing boat shoes.

Ergo, content will be meager until Thursday.

But first, a two man play I call "We Move as One."

-------------

We Move as One

Fin.
-------------

Abortion: The Legal View (Part 2 of 3)

This is the second part of a three-part series on abortion. The order of angles in which I address this topic are The Moral View, The Legal View, and the Political View. There will be some overlap. Click here for Part I.

The Legal View

As a housekeeping matter, I said in Part I that Elder Nelson was not calling for activism by members who seek to overturn the law. Following conversations with others, I realize I may have overstated that claim by implying that the church as a whole would not be in favor of de-legalizing abortion. The church has taken a public stand on many moral issues and there's certainly the possibility that the church would feel the need in the future to advocate laws regulating abortion consistent with the church's moral position.

That said, this post will focus on the legal aspects of abortion. Specifically, I will address several Supreme Court cases that have dealt with the legalization and regulation of abortion, starting with Roe v. Wade. Most of my comments/insights are the result of class discussion and thought. Some details were extracted from Wikipedia.

Roe v. Wade, 1973
Some people mistakenly think that abortion was illegal prior to 1973. In actuality, it was restricted in many states, but not universally illegal. Texas was one of the states where abortion was restricted. It was in that state that Roe v. Wade was born.

The Roe v. Wade case revolved around a Texas law that criminalized all abortion except where necessary to protect the life of the mother. The plaintiff filed suit under the name of Jane Roe (a pseudonym to protect her identity), claiming that she had been raped and should be able to have an abortion. The defendant was Dallas County District Attorney Henry Wade, representing the State of Texas.

When the case reached the U.S. Supreme Court, the justices first considered whether the Texas law infringed upon a Constitutional right. While acknowledging that the Constitution did not explicitly mention a “right to privacy,” the Court held, as it had in previous cases, that the Constitution implicitly guaranteed a right to privacy. They further held that such right of privacy was “broad enough to encompass a woman’s decision whether or not to terminate her pregnancy.”

How, according to the Court, does denying a woman the right to an abortion violate her privacy? The court says it’s all about the right to make personal decisions, harking back to a Supreme Court decision from seven years earlier in which the court held that whether or not to use birth control was a private decision.

Concluding that the plaintiff had a constitutional right to an abortion did not end the analysis, however, because a law that infringes upon a Constitutional right can still be valid if the State has a compelling justification for the law. In this case, Texas argued that it viewed life as beginning at conception, and it had a compelling interest in protecting life from the moment of conception onward. To a lesser extent, the State also argued that abortions endangered the health of the mother, and they had a compelling interest in protecting the health of the mother as well.

In response to Texas’s arguments, the Supreme Court said that the State’s interest in protecting life only became compelling at the point of viability (i.e. the point at which the fetus could survive outside of the womb, which the court said fell at the beginning of the third trimester). The Court agreed hypothetically that if meaningful human life really did begin at conception, that would be compelling enough to uphold the Texas law; but noting the varying opinions between doctors, scholars, and religious leaders, the Court said it could not decide when life really begins and therefore had to address the question objectively, by looking at viability. (Some argue that even though the Court stated that it did not want to decide when life begins, it essentially did decide it by focusing on the time of viability).

With regard to the life of the mother, the Court said that the State could not regulate abortion to protect the health of the mother until after the first trimester, because at that point the risk to the woman of having an abortion would be greater than the risk of childbirth (based on available medical evidence).

In other words, after Roe, no state had a right to regulate abortion during the first trimester, and only had the right to regulate it in the second trimester, pre-viability, to protect the health of the mother.

It’s interesting to note that since this case has been decided, medical science has challenged the original notion of when viability begins, as premature babies are surviving outside of the womb at ever-earlier stages.

Planned Parenthood v. Casey, 1992
After Roe, abortion became an enormous political issue. The Roe v. Wade decision itself was heavily criticized, the plaintiff in Roe later regretted her fight for abortion rights and became a huge pro-life advocate who still rallies with pro-lifers today, and making abortion illegal became a fundamental plank of the Republican party in every post-Roe Pesidential election.

Every Republican president thereafter made opposition to Roe a staple of his campaign, and each Republican president vowed to nominate Supreme Court Justices who would be in favor of overturning Roe v. Wade. Between 1973 and 1992, there was only one Democratic President—Jimmy Carter—and he didn’t get to choose any Justices. As more and more of the old Roe majority died out, and as Republican presidents replaced them with seemingly pro-life Justices, it began to seem apparent that the Republican party would eventually prevail in overturning Roe v. Wade.

Thus the stage was set for Planned Parenthood v. Casey in 1992. This case evolved out of a Pennsylvania law which placed a series of restrictions on women who wanted to have abortions. The law provided, except in cases of medical emergency, that no physician could perform an abortion on a married woman without receiving a signed statement from the woman that she had notified her spouse of her decision. Similarly, the Pennsylvania law provided that women under 18 could not receive abortions without parental consent. And women had to wait 24 hours after an initial consultation with a doctor before receiving the abortion. The law also required abortion facilities to file certain reports regarding every abortion that it carried out. The laws were challenged as being unconstitutional, relying on the Court’s reasoning in Roe v. Wade.

By the time this case reached the Supreme Court, there were a whopping eight Repulican-nominated Supreme Court Justices on the court. Everyone knew that Roe was about to be overturned and that states would soon be free to regulate abortion to whatever extent they felt was proper. However, after the arguments had been heard and a vote was taken by the Justices, it appeared that only five Justices were in favor of overturning Roe. These justices were Chief Justice William Rehnquist, Byron White, Antonin Scalia, Anthony Kennedy, and Clarence Thomas; they all favored upholding all the abortion restrictions of the Pennsylvania law and in effect reducing Roe to dead letter.

Though there were only five of nine Justices who were in favor of overturning Roe, it was still a majority. So Chief Justice Rehnquist began writing his opinion, explaining the legal reasoning for overturning Roe and placing the issue of abortion rights within control of the states, just as it had been before Roe.

And then Justice Kennedy changed his mind.

Justice Blackmun, who was in favor of upholding Roe, was up late one night writing his planned dissent to Rehnquist’s majority opinion when he received a note from Justice Kennedy. Justice Kennedy wrote that he had been persuaded by fellow Reagan-Bush justices Sandra Day O’Connor and David Souter to join in a secret opinion that reaffirmed Roe. Justice Blackmun's would-be-dissenting opinion then became a concurrence in line with the new majority. When Chief Justice Rehnquist found out what had happened, he wasn’t pleased, but he couldn’t prevent the result. His majority opinion became the dissent.

The new principal opinion (the one written by Justice O'Connor and joined by Kennedy and Souter) relied heavily on the precedent of Roe v. Wade. It has been speculated that since many people pessimistically viewed the Court as making decisions based on personal opinions rather than the authority of the Constitution, several Republican Justices took this opportunity to demonstrate that though they were personally pro-life, they felt it was necessary to honor past decisions when such decisions were based on sound legal judgment (even though the Court has often overturned its own decisions both before and after this case).

In what turned out to be a complex intersection of concurrences and dissents, the ultimate law that came out of Planned Parenthood v. Casey discarded the trimester framework analysis from Roe in favor of a new undue burden test shaped by Justice O’Connor. The ruling of Roe was upheld in most other respects. From Wikipedia: “Applying this new standard to the Pennsylvania Act under challenge, the plurality struck down the spousal notification requirement, stating that it gave too much power to husbands over their wives and would worsen situations of spousal abuse. The plurality upheld the State's 24 hour waiting period, informed consent, and parental consent requirements, holding that none constituted an undue burden.”

When the decision was announced, the pro-choice crowd had to scrap the protest speeches they had prepared. But when the dust settled, even they were dissatisfied with the decision because it lightened (albeit only slightly) the restrictions that had been placed on states by Roe.

Gonzales v. Carhart, 2007
This case was about a Congressional law which banned a certain type of partial-birth (aka late term) abortion. The details of the procedure are quite gruesome and I don’t want to explain them here, but it is important to note that the law at issue did not ban all types of partial-birth abortion—only one specific type that Congress felt was particularly inhumane. Congress had chosen not to ban other types of late term abortions because such procedures were sometimes necessary to save the life of a mother.

The Supreme Court upheld the law, and several Republican justices took the opportunity to reiterate that they were still in favor of overturning Roe and leaving the legislation and regulation of abortion to the states.

Modern Trends
There are currently four Justices on the Supreme Court who are in favor of overturning Roe, just as was the case in 1992. These four Justices are not going anywhere anytime soon as far as we know, but it’s unlikely they will gain a fifth vote in the near future, which means that those in favor of overturning Roe are and will likely be in the minority for some time.

Today, some state legislatures are trying to get around the Supreme Court’s decision in Roe v. Wade while still eliminating unnecessary abortions. The North Dakota House approved a bill that defines life as beginning at conception, thus ensuring that a state has a compelling enough interest to regulate abortion from Day 1. (That bill is not yet a law and might not stand a good chance of becoming one.) North Dakota has also taken other interesting steps in the legislature to help encourage life over abortion.

Jill Bennett

I realized earlier this week when I was reading UK lesbian magazine DIVA that I don't blog about Jill Bennett enough.

Now usually, when you ask a dyke who her favorite all-time lesbian is, they'd probably answer 'Ellen!' or 'Rosie!' But to be honest, I'd have to say Jill.

So she's not as well known as Portia or Leisha, but she's high up on my own personal 'inspiration' list: she's talented - Jill played Michelle on season 3 of here! TV's Dante's Cove and the infectious Andrea on lesbian comedy web series 3way - she's absolutely gorgeous, and she actually cares about the world, in particular, one of my all-time favorite topics, gay rights.

Currently dating SheWired's Cathy DeBuono, Jill recently protested outside the mormon church that funded anti-gay proposition 8 for the way in which gay people are now classed as second class citizens in California. (Below.) This is just one of the many things Bennett has done for gay welfare, as well as sharing her life with the lesbian community - both on SheWired and AfterEllen.com - ensuring people everywhere that being gay really is ok.

For constant personal updates on Jill, follow her on Twitter: twitter.com/jillbennett14.
Alternatively, click over to SheWired.com for Jill's current video blogs or go to her MySpace page at MySpace.com/JillBennett.

I personally think she's one to watch out for: she's certainly impressed me over the past few years.

Saturday Night

It's Saturday night in Bedford, TX and I am laying in bed.

I hope to be with some missed friends very soon that I barely get to see because of school.

I might even be getting my tattoo tonight..eek! I don't know, I should just go do it.

Currently I am reading Redeeming Love & everyone should read it. It's a beautiful, heart tugging story, I'll put it that way.

Jazz Stink

I removed the Jazz widget from the top of this page because I'm sick of being reminded how bad the Jazz have been doing lately. Maybe I'll put it up again if they manage to make it through the first round of the playoffs, though I'm not hopeful. Yes, I am a fair weather fan. What of it?

The End of Carmelo Anthony's Space Adventure Letters?

Sup, Earthlings. It's me, Carmelo Anthony.

As you're well aware, me and my buddy Chauncey Billups have been travelling all around Space, doing Space things. We've seen some crazy stuff. Stuff that you can't see on Earth. Like for instance, we saw Earth. The whole thing. You can see little pieces when you're on Earth but to see it all, you have to go to Space.

And we went to Space. As I said before. Here's the proof.

That's me and Chaunce in deep dark space, posing. Giving cold looks. LOL We had a great time. Ain't that right Chauncey?

Yessir.

But we were up in Space the other day, and Chauncey throws Independence Day in the DVD player. That's one of his favorite Fresh Prince movies. But we're watching it in Space, which makes it even more relevant. Chauncey looks at me and says, "fossil fuels." And I knew what he meant.

We been using so much fossil fuels being up here it's ridiculous. And we like the environment, so we decided to come back and go green. So that's basically it. We're back from Space to save the environment with going green. Probably won't here much about our trip until the book comes out, which is supposed to be summer of 2009. It's going to be otherworldly good. LOL

Peace for now, everybody.

Keep it real,

Melo

If Vin Diesel Was Commissioner of the NBA...

• Each team would have two jerseys: skins and white v-neck.
• Every player, official, and team employee would be allowed to keep their first name, but their last name must be changed to Diesel.
• Shaquille Diesel would have several MVPs.
• Drunk driving would be punishable by banishment from the league. Street racing, however, would become part of All Star Weekend.
• In fact, All Star Weekend would take place on a deserted city block in downtown Los Angeles every year.
• The NBA Finals would no longer have home court advantage, since the championship series would be played in the California desert. It's name would be changed to Basketball Wars, and rather than playing for a championship trophy, the winning team gets the pink slips to the losing team's cars.
• We would call below average players "busters."
• The three-point field goal signal done by referees would be changed from arms raised above head to arms extended to either side of the body, parallel to the floor. Every arm muscle available should be flexed.
• The shot clock would be shortened to 10 seconds.
• All commercials would feature the tagline: "The NBA - live your life a quarter at a time."
• All players would be required to shave their heads.
• There would be A LOT more Asian players.
• The Detroit Pistons would be the center of the basketball universe.
• The NBA would be the most popular sport in America, even though its premise is totally ridiculous and unbelievable.

The Brad Miller Show: Brad Miller Cuts His Beard

In this thrilling conclusion (maybe...) to season one of The Brad Miller Show, our hero sheds his facial hair.

I Made It

Guys, I was violently ill this week. I couldn't even sleep through the night and I ate about 150 Tums in 2 days. I didn't know if I was going to live through it. My life flashed before my eyes. It was like watching a Brad Miller video, but with somewhat less headbands. I was terrified.

Would I ever get to see the Bulls make the playoffs again? Would I ever get to make a really good sign for them?

It was horrible. Laying there on my couch, I was pleading. If Carl Landry can get shot and live through it, why do I have to die from eating two bowls of chili at 10:00 pm? Then I started thinking, will I ever get to see Carl Landry play again?

I mean, he got shot, you guys. Just in the leg, but it's still significant. 50 Cent got shot 9 times and he's alive. Didn't I deserve to live? I had just started to go green, too. I think I was making an impact. My movement, the go green movement that I created, has already reached Los Angeles.

Sure, some people have taken it too far. Like the Bobcats. They just made a joke of my movement with their silly green uniforms. I wouldn't miss the Bobcats and they're smug, "Look at us we're wearing green uniforms" attitude.

I was determined though. I had my Tums and my will and I promised myself that I wouldn't be outlived by Dikembe Mutombo. That'd just be embarrassing.But the thing I'd miss the most of all, besides my family and friends, but probably more than some of my "friends" (haters), was that I'd never get the chance to see your brother and your dad play basketball again.

They were such an inspiration to me. Such a motivation to keep fighting for my life, while I was eating Tums. If it wasn't for them, I don't know if I'd have survived this horrible illness called sweat sickness. I saw it on The Tudors and it was really deadly, so I'm pretty sure that's what I had.

But I made it, guys. And I have your dad and brother to thank. Tell Brian and Steve I said, "thanks." They'll know what it means.