Cell Phones Mean Shorter Political Terms

scottystarnes.wordpress.com

Waleed Aly wrote an article that explains how the speed at which technology is advancing is having a negative / positive (depending upon your political views) effect on the political realm. 

Aly speaks specifically about Australia, and makes no mention of this influence in the United States, but I'm curious if we will ever get to a place in our society where we never have a double-term president again, simply based on the fact that we are getting to much information about them or their competitors. Aly notes that the 24-hour news cycle and "culture of sound-bite politics" has a lot to do with why Australia has been cycling through multiple prime ministers in the past few years.

I'm wondering if it all comes down to what people hear about a candidate within the fortnight or so before an election day that really sways their decision. However, if people have been hearing nothing but good things about someone, and then hear about a couple of skeletons in the closet a few days before an election, are people really going to vote for someone else based on that? Is that enough to sway your vote on such short notice, especially if you have no hard-core evidence that the rumors about your chosen candidate are true? 

I understand that people are busy (I'm one of those folks) and it is really difficult to gather, sort, interpret, and then act upon the massive amounts of information that are revealed to us on a daily basis. But, I would think that, overall, we make a decision about something like who we want to be the leader of our nation based on more that a 10-second video clip of some social faux pas. Right? 

Leave your comments below!

Rain Drop Dodgers: Utah, Same-Sex Marriage, and the Mormon Church

So, here we are again with a group fighting against same-sex marriages. This time it's the Mormon Church (among other entities, I'm sure) attempting to get same-sex marriages halted in Utah after a ban on same-sex marriage was lifted. Check out this article about it that was posted today, complete with video. I've pretty much summed up my argument on the general issue of people railing so vehemently against same-sex marriages in a previous post. I'm really curious about why the Mormons are so against the legalization of it since they can always opt not to perform or recognize same-sex marriages in their own institution. I guess the same goes for just about any other religious group. Why try to ban cable TV so I can't have it in my house? Just don't get cable for yourself.

According to Gallup, LGBT-identifying people only make up about 3.5% of the population of the United States. So, of that figure, there are going to be 4 factors that shrink the percentage even more.

1. Just like heterosexuals, not every homosexual wants to get married.

2. The bisexual people included in this survey may end up marrying a person of the opposite sex.

3. Some of the people who noted that they identified as gay may have only done so for the sake of the survey, but carry themselves as heterosexual throughout their daily lives (i.e., are still "in the closet").

4. If the trans-gender people marry someone of the same birth sex (for instance, a male who becomes a female marries a man), it still "appears" to be a heterosexual marriage.

Really? All this over 3.5% (or much less)? What happened to not judging people and loving your neighbor?

Again, I can understand people having different beliefs about what's good and bad or right and wrong, but, at the end of the day, if I can live my life, right alongside you living yours, does it really bother you so much if I'm allowed to do it legally and with the same rights bestowed upon you?

Leave thoughts and comments below!

Who the Duck Cares?

Chiming in on the Phil Robertson Duck Dynasty issue, I have to say I'm a bit confused.




Phil (and his sons, and their wives, and their children) are often heard on the show referencing their Christian beliefs. The last time I checked (and please do correct me if I'm off base here), the majority of Christian denominations (and variations of other organized religions as well, I might add) believe that homosexuality is an abominable sin that will keep you locked out of heaven for all eternity. They think homosexuality is wrong and disgusting. So, why, when Phil Robertson voices these views does he get suspended? I'm pretty sure everyone in his family has similar beliefs about homosexuality, so why not cancel the show altogether?

As long as he isn't actively treating anyone with disrespect, him merely voicing the beliefs of his faith doesn't seem to be cause for ostracism. Though I do disagree with his viewpoint and wish he had a more compassionate view of concepts like 'God' and 'Christianity', I can't fault him for speaking his mind.

Concerning the comments about racism in the south, I don't see what all the hoopla is about there either. He stated that he didn't see the African-Americans that he worked with ever complain or be mistreated. There are a couple of ways this can be true.

 

 

First off, let's just say he were a huge flaming racist bigot. Fine. If that were the case, if there were any (what many of us slightly less racist folks would consider) mistreatment or disrespect taking place, can't you understand that he might not see it as that? For example, those who use corporal punishment when disciplining their children will probably answer the question "Do you mistreat your child?" with a resounding "No" because they honestly believe they are simply treating the child as they are supposed to be treated when they are misbehaving or being disobedient. So, maybe he saw race-motivated mistreatment, but didn't see it as that because that's the way "they" were supposed to be treated anyway.

Another option is that maybe he really did work with people who (though they may have had plenty to complain about that Phil didn't witness with is own eyes) simply did not voice their sufferings while in the presence of Phil because he was White. So, his experience with them may have very well been that they seemed happy, or at least content, with their lot in life.

I don't know that Phil was saying that there was no racism or mistreatment of African-Americans anywhere, he was just stating a fact: He never saw it / interpreted it as that. Call him aloof, call him naïve, but he can be both of those things and his statement still stands as truth.

Imagine if someone asked you, "Have you ever witnessed a German person murder a Jewish person?" My (and most people's) answer to this question would be "No." However, that doesn't mean that we're saying the Holocaust didn't take place because we weren't actually there to witness it. If someone interpreted your answer that way, you'd probably be pretty pissed. I can imagine Phil might feel the same way right now.

I think it's fascinating how people are reacting to these comments and this situation. I'm curious to see how it will all unfold. Will his family rally behind him and quit the show? Will he be reinstated after threats from viewers to stop watching? Would any of the hardcore fans actually stop watching the show?

Time will tell.

Leave comments below. I'd love to hear your thoughts.

Social Workers Getting Unpaid Overtime...Finally!

Check out this article about some child support social workers finally being given overtime pay that they were supposed to have received over the past couple of years.

I can understand that some supervisors want "results" that they can put down in black-and-white (i.e., closed cases, arrests, etc.), but if it takes me more than 40 hours per week to do that, why not pay me for my time? You'd have no problem paying another healthcare professional such as a doctor or psychiatrist. It's frustrating to try to work under that type of pressure already, so to then not be paid appropriately for it means there's no wonder  that (as the article states) there's so much trouble recruiting and / or retaining professionals in the field of social work. I can't imagine very many people wanting to do loads of extra work and not be paid for it--regardless of what field they're in.

I've heard people often speak about how the priorities in the United States seem so backwards. The average level of pay in fields like social work, counseling, or therapy are prime examples of that raucous imbalance. If I were to win an NBA championship I'd be a multi-millionaire over night. If I keep someone you love from killing themselves, make sure your children are safe, or help someone cope with mental illness so that they don't harm themselves or other people, I get somewhere between $20,000 and $50,000 a year--IF I'm lucky.

Doesn't quite make sense to me. What are your thoughts?

Accomplishing Your Goals in Life



 www.dogblog.finchester.org


Accomplishing the things we want to in life can seem like an overwhelming objective. Sometimes, that's because we have ambitions that are wildly different from the lifestyles we currently lead, and will take a little more effort than more simplistic visions. For instance, transitioning from social work to cosmetic surgery is a huge leap. Not an impossible one, just a very ambitious undertaking. Other times, this feeling of a goal being unachievable is simply because we have not yet learned what needs to be done to accomplish it. Maybe I want to buy a house, but have no idea where to start or who to ask, so I just give up because the task is so knew it can seem overwhelming. And still there are other times when people don't accomplish their 'dreams' because they haven't even sat down and thought about what they really want! Often we trudge through life doing what we think we're "supposed" to be doing according to our family, professional, or societal culture, but haven't really thought about what it is we want out of life.


Here are some steps to take that can help you get focused, inspired, and motivated to achieve whatever it is you would like to in life.

Step One: What Do You Want? 

www.catmoji.com

 It's pretty hard to give someone directions when they have no idea where they are trying to get to. So, first thing's first: What do you want?

I've often asked people this as a social worker, and you might be surprised at how often I get a blank stare, lots of "Um"-ing, or a flat out "I have no idea!"

 A new car? A more professional work environment? To move into a new house? A closer relationship with your family members? To lose weight? More money? To have higher self-esteem?

It might be worth your while to sit down and really think about what you want. Keeping in mind to shy away from what other people think you should have or should be doing. Be a little selfish. What's going to take you to the next level of happiness?

When I decided that I wanted to work in a field where I could have the opportunity to study human behavior and even get a chance to help people along the way, I was ready to move on to the next step.

Step Two: How Can You Make It Happen?

www.flickr.com

 After you know where you want to go, you use Google or some other GPS software to get you there. You research the paths, turns, and exits you need to take to get to your destination.

Do the same with whatever you've decided you want in your life. Through books, social networking, internet searches, other web sites, and radio and television shows you can learn everything you need to about how to get started on the path to accomplishing your goal.

Want to be a cake decorator? You can find hundreds (if not more) of videos on YouTube alone all related to information on how to decorate cakes. There are books about starting a small business that can help you work for yourself, or even web sites dedicated to helping you find a position doing what you love which could help you find a job working for someone else as a cake decorator.

If you want to save up for retirement, look for various methods people have used to do that better and find the one that works best for your situation. Are there retirement accounts that offer more interest than others? Is there a penalty for withdrawing the money within a certain time frame?

Once you have an idea of the steps you need to take, make a list of them so that you have a clear concept of what needs to be done.

In order to do the kind of work that I wanted, I knew I needed at least a bachelor's degree in something related to studying human behavior and I knew I also needed some experience working in the field. How do you get experience when you don't have any (and are therefore very unlikely to actually get paid to work anywhere)? Volunteering, of course. That's how I got my foot in the door at my first job. I was able to do that while I was working on my formal education.

Step Three: Execute

www.workyouenjoy.com

 You know where you want to go, you have the directions you need, now it's time to start the car and get moving!

Once you've made your list of what various tasks need to be completed to reach your ultimate goal, all that's left to do is to...well...do them!

Keep in mind that some lists may have steps that require a longer timeline than a day or two. These would be tasks such as getting a certain certification or license or becoming proficient in a particular trade. Can you become a master welder in a week? Can you learn to speak Spanish fluently in 30 days? Can you save up enough money to visit Europe in three weeks? For some lucky people, the answer may be 'yes'. For others, the answer is 'no', and that okay! Just take your time and, one step at a time, start making your dreams come true!

It took that four years of school and another two years of graduate school before I really settled into the field. That a devoted 6 years! Patience and persistence are key.

 Happy accomplishing!


Originally written for TLCLouisville.com and posted at: http://tenderlaundrycare.blogspot.com/#sthash.RCAn6ZbD.dpuf

For Fun: A Question About Gay Marriage

I have heard various arguments for and against the legalization of homosexual marriages, civil unions, and even the social acceptance of homosexuality in general, but I have trouble understanding what the "big damn deal" is related to these topics.

 A friend of mine regularly, sarcastically makes statements such as, "the economy is terrible, people are committing ridiculous atrocities, but whether are not gays can get married--that's the most important thing!"

So, it does beg the question, why has the issue of gay marriage been on the United States' stage for so long? It reminds me of how long various subpopulations of the United States have had to fight to be treated equally throughout history, when their cause was really a very simple, justified (seemingly cut-and-dried) argument: We're humans of the world and citizens of this country, so we should be treated as such without any undue restrictions on our rights and freedoms. Easy...right?

 

Why does the United States seem to be so far behind many other developed, or developing, countries when it comes to various social issues? Why so long to universally abolish slavery? Why so long to allow people besides land-owning, white males the right to vote? Why so long before a non-white, disabled person, or female becomes leader of the country? How many countries are there left in the world who don't use the metric system? Well, that's more of a technical than a social issue, but it follows the same vein. :D

 It just seems so bizarre to me that people can claim that it's such an insignificant issue when compared to things like the state of the economy. However, if homosexual marriage is such a small thing, why not just let homosexual marital unions be adorned with all the same rights and honors as heterosexual marital unions, and actually call it "marriage" so we can all just move on with our lives?

Think of it this way: If you have a classroom filled with children, and you've given a cookie to everyone else--the child of an interracial married couple, the child of a minority race couple, the child of an elderly couple, the child of a young couple, the child of a single parent, the child of parents with mental health issues, the child of parents with criminal records, and so on--why then withhold a cookie from the child of a same-sex couple? Especially if all the child wants is the single cookie that everyone else received (not 3 cookies, not a brownie, not extra play time at recess), just to be treated the same as everyone else in their environment? Why have daily disruptions in the classroom, extra monitoring by you as a teacher to make sure the child of the homosexual couple doesn't get a cookie, and protests and attempted lawsuits from parents related to alleged discrimination, all when you could just give the child a cookie and have an extra morsel of peace in the class? Why not tie up that loose end while you move on to tackling these larger, more pressing issues?

What catastrophe will befall your classroom if this one last child is given a cookie?
What doom will come to our planet if homosexual couples are allowed to marry?


 We've already seen civil unions be legalized in several states and those states have not fallen into ruin (unless I've missed some piece of news somewhere). Those states were not swallowed up by the Earth, never to be heard from again. Life seems to have gone on pretty much as normal.

So, if anyone cares to share (respectfully, I hope!), what do you believe would be the ultimate calamity that would take place if homosexual couples are allowed to marry legally all throughout the United States?

I'll note that I'm afraid people will think I'm trying to insult their intelligence, ask a trick question, or start an argument, but none of these are true. I'm seriously curious to hear directly from my audience what you think will happen. For people to feel so strongly about this issue, there has to be something pretty devastating that they think will take place if homosexual marriage were to be legalized fully.

 

2 Tips for Creating the Relationship You Want

If you haven't been getting what you are looking for out of your relationships, there are a couple of possible steps to take. I'll use three example scenarios along the way to help illustrate the points.

Example 1: Lulla wants her son, Steve, to stop interrupting her when she speaks.

Example 2: Carla wants her husband, Fenton, to say "Good morning" to her when they wake up.


Example 3: Chantelle wants her intern, Paul, to come to work on time on a consistent basis.

1. Speak on It!

The first question to ask yourself about the situation is, "Have I voiced my concern?" And I'm not talking about anything passive, like "dropping hints". I mean really sitting down with this person and speaking clearly to them about what you expect.

Lulla might sit down with Steve after dinner one night and say, "Steve, there's something you've been doing that really leads me to feel disrespected. When I talk to you, you often interrupt me in the middle of my sentences. In the future, I hope you'll let me finish my thought before you speak. As my son, I expect you to treat me, other adults, and even your friends with that level of respect."

Carla could talk to her husband over dinner: "Fenton, I feel really neglected and sad when you don't say 'Good morning' to me when we wake up. As my husband, I expect that you will treat me with even more manners than you would treat a stranger or an acquaintance. So I'm hoping you'll say 'Good morning' to me in the future."

Chantelle pulls Paul aside: "Paul, I feel irritated and exasperated when you come to the office late. Sometimes I have important things I want you to help me get done before morning meetings and it really puts me in a bind when you're not here. I expect you to be at the office by 9:00 a.m. each and every morning, just like my supervisors expect from me. Your future supervisors will most likely expect the same of you as well. I don't want you to start bad habits here that could jeopardize your employment in the future."

2. Be the Change You Want to See!

The next question to ask yourself about the situation is, "Am I giving what I want?" If you want to be listened to, are you listening? If you want to be hugged more, are you hugging? If you want to be treated with respect, are you treating others with respect?

Sometimes we can selfishly (and hypocritically) want things from someone that we aren't willing to do ourselves. Often, after an extended period of offering up the behavior we want, we find ourselves receiving it on a more regular basis.

For Lulla, she would do well to make sure that she doesn't interrupt Steve when he's talking. Often, especially in the case of single parents, there's an example that is being set, even if it's for undesirable behavior. Lulla may not even interrupt Steve on a regular basis, but maybe she interrupts her husband, friends on the phone, or her own parents. Steve may just be mimicking what he sees from the primary example-setter in the household: Lulla.

For Carla, it might be helpful if she initiates her mornings at home by saying "Good morning" to her husband first, instead of waiting for him to do it. It might also serve as a reminder to do so for him, since he may have gotten used to not saying it if she's been letting the behavior "slide" throughout the marriage.

For Chantelle, she might do well to make sure she's punctual herself. Since her issue with Paul is him not getting to work on time first thing in the morning, it becomes even more important for her to be on time to things that he actually sees, such coming back from lunch and going to midday meetings on time.

If you decide to try these out, please leave a comment!

First posted for Tender Laundry Care @ http://tenderlaundrycare.blogspot.com/#sthash.Ha15MRoX.dpuf

5 Ways to Decrease Household Expenses

1. Turn Your Thermostat Down (Way Down)

 

 

Many people have heard the rule about turning your thermostat down by 2 - 3 degrees in the winter and up by the same amount in the summer. However, depending upon where you live, you may be able to get away with even more drastic cuts to energy consumption.

If your thermostat is set for 72 degrees for the winter for example, can you stand to roll it back to something like 65? Some people are naturally prone to getting colds, so living this way might not be the best idea for them. For others who are relatively healthy, this simple move could save you hundreds over the course of the winter. Pulling the thermostat up to 78 or 80 during the summer could do the same thing. Of course, turning your heating and cooling units off altogether during the milder seasons of fall and spring is how you could find yourself saving loads in energy bills and saving your cooling and heating appliances some wear and tear.

Practicing this method has reduced my energy bills by about 70%. I used to pay around $150 per month in gas and electric when I lived alone. Then, after starting to monitor the thermostat more closely, with the help of my husband, the bills came down to between $90 and $100 per month, with another person living with me. In theory, my energy bill should have (nearly) doubled, but it went down, just by taking this simple step.

 

 

 

2. Get a Wood-burning Stove

 

Many models aren't exorbitantly expensive, and you can burn things besides wood in them (nothing dangerous like Styrofoam, of course!). A wood-burning stove is a great way to heat a room without the added cost of gas or electric furnaces. The value goes up if you have a home with only a couple of people living in it. Heating the living room, for instance, and having everyone do the majority of their activities there (watching television, playing on a computer, talking on the phone, doing homework, etc.) instead of in their own rooms means everyone is able to share each moment of available heat, instead of spending extra money to make sure that multiple rooms are comfortably heated all at the same time. Also, if you can get by one burning fallen branches, twigs, and leaves from your yard, you wouldn't have to spend much, if anything, on actual firewood.

My grandmother has a model like the one below. She has a relatively small living room area, but it's just her, and she's chronically cold, so the stove has really helped her be able to be comfortable without sky-high bills.

 

 

3. A Manual Mower

Using a manual lawn mower (or "push mower ") may not sound very attractive at first, but your wallet will be thanking you later. Because you don't have to buy fuel for an automatic mower, you'll be saving money. An added bonus is that a push mower allows a chance for you to incorporate exercise into your home maintenance, so you're killing two birds with one stone. Depending upon how fit you are and what kind of time commitment you're willing to make may determine whether or not using a push mower is really a feasible step. Most people have one yard or another that could be mowed relatively quickly with a push mower (usually the front yard). Feel free to then use your automatic mower for the rest of your property. Even this change can cut your fuel costs by as much as half, depending upon the size of your property.

I got one for my home when I first bought it since the property is only about a tenth of an acre, and most of that is the home itself. The most maintenance needed is a blade sharpening, and I still haven't needed to do that in the nearly 4 years I've been using the mower.

 

 

4. Hang Dry and Cold Wash

 

Washing your clothes in cold or warm water, as opposed to hot, decreases the energy used to heat the water. And hanging your clothes, inside or outside, to dry instead of using the dryer is a great way to reduce the cost of operating the dryer for multiple loads of clothes.

 

 

5. Day of Energy Sin

 

Pick one day during the week (strangely enough, this usually ends up being Sunday for most people) on which you can go (relatively) wild with the energy usage. On this day, the laundry gets done, TV shows on your DVR get watched, home-wide vacuuming is completed, and hot meals for the week are cooked. This way, you have one day to get it all done, then you don't do it throughout the week. In this manner, you save money because you don't do laundry every single day, or vacuum individual rooms all throughout the week, or use the stove to cook meals all throughout the week. When we get into the habit of doing these energy-consuming activities every day, we're likely to use much more energy than we would if we confined it all to within a single day, and made the energy used on The Day of Energy Sin last all week long.

Let me know if any of these tips are part of your bill-saving routine, or if there are any others not mentioned here that you swear by.

Sweet Tooth vs Waistline: No Contest

 

 

If you've decided to engage in that hellish battle that is weight loss, congratulations! However, as hard as we may try to choose a better diet, sometimes our little sweet tooth can be a very large obstacle to keeping our calories down each day. Here are 3 swaps that you can start making in order to feel more full and satisfied while cutting back on the calories you consume.

(Red Seedless) Grapes

 

These sweet little orbs offer a good source of vitamins C and K and are only 104 calories per cup. If we compare eating grapes to eating some other small, round treat such as milk chocolate M&M's candies, the difference can be startling. A single 1.69-ounce package of M&M's costs you about 236 calories, whereas 1.69 ounces of grapes would only cost you about 31 calories. As an added bonus, grapes carry only about 5% of the sugar as the same amount of M&M's (7 grams for grapes, versus 132 grams for the candy). This is an especially sweet trade-off for people currently managing, or at risk for developing, diabetes. Keep in mind that our bodies can often process basic, natural sugars (such as those found in raw fruit) much more easily than the complex, human-altered sugars that are often found in processed foods such as chocolate.

Carrots

Next to celery sticks, carrot sticks and baby carrots are probably very close to being what a lot of people think of when the word 'diet' is said. Carrots are so versatile that they can cover the savory and the sweet ends of the spectrum. For the sweet, just grab some! Baby carrots have a wonderful, lightly sugary flavor. Raw carrots (meaning you can still see a green top or at least still see where it used to be) can be boiled in order to really make the sugar in the carrot a prominent flavor for those of us who like sweet things.

For the savory, grab some vinaigrette dressing. If you're careful with the amount, even light Ranch dressing would suffice. When comparing a snack like carrots to something like honey barbecue potato chips, you can easily see how much more bang for your caloric buck you get for this substitution. A snack-sized bag of Lay's Honey Barbecue potato chips has 160 calories per ounce, while an ounce of carrots only has 10 calories. For the same calorie count, you could have eaten 16 ounces (an entire pound) of carrots (talk about feeling full)! Not to mention that carrots also provide a good dose of vitamin A and have about 50% of the sugar and only 20% of the sodium found in the potato chips.

 

 Freshly Brewed Sweet Tea or Lemonade

It's pretty well documented that one of the major sources of our calories (and sugar) throughout any given day is in the sugary drinks that we consume. As a rule of thumb, however, when you are part of the process of making a meal or drink, you have more control over what goes into it, and can therefore eliminate much of the things that do your diet harm.

For instance, sweet tea can be made palatable with a tablespoon or so of lemon juice and maybe a teaspoon or two of white sugar. Each teaspoon of sugar only has 15 calories and weighs in at about 5 grams. So, for an 8-ounce glass of tea, your calorie count could be as low as 18 calories, since lemon juice (if you just squeeze a wedge to get it) only has 1 calorie, tea can add up to 2 calories per 8 ounces, and water (of course) doesn't have any caloric value.

Compare this to Arizona brand's lemon tea. 8 ounces of it will cost you 90 calories and 24 grams of sugar! Yikes! And to add insult to injury, this tea isn't commonly offered in standard 8-ounce servings, but come in either huge 23.5-ounce cans or 20-ounce bottles, meaning that drinking one of these containers of their tea actually gives you between 2.5 and 3 times as much sugar and calories as just brewing a cup or two for yourself.

The same goes for lemonade. With a tablespoon or two of lemon juice and maybe 3 teaspoons (15 grams) of sugar in an 8-ounce glass of water, you've got a cool, delicious, refreshing drink. However, if you were to purchase a can of Minute Maid lemonade--IF the can only held 8 ounces of lemonade--you'd have to sacrifice 100 calories and 27 grams of sugar. But, since people are usually more likely to drink those other four ounces because they came with the container, you'll probably consume the full 150 calories and 40 grams of sugar. But if you stick to the cup of lemonade you make yourself, you could drink up and only consume about 15 grams of sugar for a total of 45 calories. Now that's a sweet deal.

Though making these sorts of swaps are pretty much certain to help increase the amount of weight you lose on a weekly basis, remember that exercise is the yin to calorie management's yang. So, to increase the chances of you reaching your weight loss goals, be sure to incorporate plenty of movement into your daily routine. Check out www.NutritionData.Self.Com for more info on the nutritional values of various fruits and vegetables, along with info about various processed snack foods. If you can't find a product on the Nutrition Data site, just go to the manufacturer's site: www.DrinkArizona.com, www.MinuteMaid.com, www.FritoLay.com, www.MMs.com



Any other favorite swaps you want recognized? Leave them in the comments section!

Paul Walker's Passing

By now, you've probably heard all about Paul Walker's death in a car accident yesterday. You can read more about it here.

I found it interesting that many people who are wishing him a peaceful rest, do it only after talking about him not being able to make another Fast and Furious movie or how sexy they thought he was. Maybe I'm just being overly sensitive (that is a very real possibility), but comments like "I need more F&F!" and "Oh, no! He was so sexy!" just come off to me as somewhat disrespectful. It's almost as though people are more concerned about his death being some sort of inconvenience for them, versus being the ending of someone's life--a person who had feelings, hopes, goals, family, and friends.

I'm sure (or at least I hope) this is just the shock talking and doesn't reflect what little Paul really meant to these people.

What do you think?