Got Blackness?

http://bccostudios.com/

I got hooked on to the works of one comedian and activist Elon James White through Jillian. My exposure first started with a video series entitled This Week in Blackness. While the title is somewhat misleading (not exactly weekly, nor has it been updated in a while), it has been entertaining and thought-provoking.

Outside of TWiB, EJW hosts an audio podcast (available through iTunes) called Blacking it Up, which broadcasts live through Ustream Monday through Friday. Joining Mr White is critically acclaimed, internationally renowned poet Ms Bassey Ikpi, and America's Premiere straight man*, Mr Aaron Rand Freeman. In this program, they talk about politics, current events, and whatever else is on their minds.

On Sundays, there are two live audio podcasts, also available through iTunes. One is called the JTMScast, covering all sorts of nerdery, hosted by Tatiana King. What does JTMS stand for? Any proper nerd would recognize the line "Jaga, take my strength! As lord of the Thundercats, I command you!"

They nerd hard. It's not a game!

The other Sunday podcast is called The White House. It is generally a blend of the other two shows, with a bigger focus of telling stories and of friends just hanging out and having fun, and anything goes.

I spend my working days listening to this stuff. It keeps me entertained and challenged. I love it. Please listen, and share it with friends.


* - in comedic terms, not sexual identity terms.

Dorothy Brady, RIP

So, my paternal grandmother died Friday night.

Dorothy Rasmussen Brady, 89, of Deer Creek Blvd., Meco, passed away Friday, March 4, 2011, at home with her loving family at her side.

She was born in Cleveland, Ohio on May 3, 1921, a daughter of the late Lewis M. and Catherine McNealy Rasmussen.

During World War II, Dorothy was one of the first women to enlist in the U.S. Navy WAVES Program, and served her country as a pharmacist's mate 2nd class dental technician. While on duty in Oxford, Ohio, she met her husband, James Brady, whom she married on November 21, 1944. After the war, the couple resided in Chicago, Ill., where they raised seven children.

The Bradys moved to New York in 1970 and settled in Broadalbin. After many years as a homemaker, Dorothy spent nine years as an employee of the Fulton County Infirmary. She moved to Meco after the death of her husband in 2001.

Dorothy had deep feelings about volunteerism and cheerfully gave of her time wherever help was needed. Starting as a volunteer receptionist in a local hospital in Chicago, she continued her work in New York as co-chairman of the ladies Auxiliary of the Fulton County Infirmary and as a library attendant at the Wilkinson Memorial Book Station in Broadalbin.

She was a member of the Johnstown Chapter of the National Society Daughters of the American Revolution and served many terms as chairman of its National Defense Committee.

Dorothy was a communicant of the Holy Trinity Parish in Johnstown.

In addition to her husband, she was predeceased by a great-grandson, Henry Bruckelmyer.

Dorothy is survived by her seven children, 13 grandchildren and 24 great-grandchildren of whom she was very proud; and several nieces and nephews.

Heading to California

We're flying out to Long Beach tomorrow to spend Christmas with Jillian's parents, and flying back on the 29th. Bowie will be at our place to take care of Wash while we're gone.

I'm looking forward to the upper 60s weather.


It's my second time flying. The first time was in 2003 for my friend Thom's wedding in Tacoma, WA.

I'm so very tired.

32, the Flu, Dad's Stroke, and JerrySpringerville

Last Monday was my 32nd birthday. We celebrated by taking advantage of a secret Black Monday sale at a comic shop and knocked a couple of Absolute editions off of my wish list. That night, we started to feel the early symptoms. Tuesday was more of the same, but Wednesday was miserable. At least Jillian didn't have a fever. Mine broke early Thanksgiving morning - and Wash decided it was the perfect time for breakfast.

For Thanksgiving, we had some fake drumsticks from May Wah, sweet potato corn bread, wild rice with cranberries & almonds, lentil loaf, mushroom gravy, roasted garlic & veggies, mashed potatoes, pecan pie, and cranberry cheesecake. We spent the rest of the day and Friday just resting.

Saturday we started to finally organize our bookshelves. We're through half of the books (not counting the comics on the shelves, they've been organized since Day One), and almost out of shelf space.

It was 2:30 AM when I realized Mom had called me multiple times, with two vague messages of "call me back, it's important!" So I called, and surprisingly, Mom was quick to answer. That morning, Dad had felt dizzy, and his left fingers were tingling, and soon had a strong headache. He told Mom to call an ambulance.

Meanwhile, his own mother was in the hospital having ten pounds of fluid drained, for the second time.

Dad was taken to the local hospital and had some tests. He had a "small" stroke. There wasn't any blood in his brain, but there was a lot of pressure on his eyes. Aside from that, Dad seemed okay; he was awake and functional. Mom said that he was in better shape than she was. The doctors had him transferred to Albany. Barring any other problems, he should be released in a few days.

Now, for the Jerry Springer part of our show:

My ex-brother-in-law is engaged to a woman who doesn't want him to have any ties to his previous life, and she doesn't know her ass from her elbow. He owes my parents a lot of money, and one day he calls up my sister and tells her that she'll have to pay it, that he's not doing it anymore. So Mom calls and leaves a generic message at his home and on his cell phone. He then texts my sister saying that if Mom calls him again, he'll charge her with harassment. And I'm pretty sure that he has custody of the kids, since it was my sister who left for another man (and that sure as hell didn't work out).

Edit:

Dad came home Monday night. They couldn't find anything else wrong with him. He just has to take aspirin for the rest of his life.

Bath Time

This is Wash after a very necessary bath. (I'm just now getting the pictures from my camera. Sooo lazy.)

I woke up Sunday morning, fed Wash, and went back to bed. Got up a little bit later to discover he pissed on one of the dividing curtains we have separating the entrance from the living room. He must have gotten tripped up into the curtain as well, because he got his own piss on him.

Into the sink he went!

As you can guess, he was not pleased.

Red

Very loosely based on the comic if the same name by Warren Ellis & Cully Hamner.

It's great fun. Go see it.

Some good news

I'm going back to work on Thursday. Same job I had before.

Washburne Van Gogh

Behold, our new kitty.

Washburne - from the Firefly character, because of his friendly demeanor.

Van Gogh - after Vincent Van Gogh. His left ear had mites which cut off some blood vessels, preventing it from growing properly.

Wash is about three years old. He was abandoned by a previous owner. Another couple had found him in their back yard and fed him for a little while, but as they had two cats (and a third that recently died of cancer), they weren't ready to take him in. So they talked to their friends, and their friends work with my friends, who knew we are very kitty friendly. The couple has paid for all of his shots and other medicine. We have to wait a few weeks before taking him in for the Big Snip.

Wash has kitty HIV. It's not a big deal for cats as it is in humans. But if we adopt another cat while we have Wash, it should already have HIV, otherwise Wash will infect it.

We've had him for two hours now. He's making himself comfortable on the couch, sleeping next to me.

Sorry for the spam

My email account was hacked. BOOOO! Ah well, one new password later...

Table giveaway

I've had this table since I first moved to Astoria, and it has served me well. It's bade of a ballistic textured plastic and can hold up to 400 lbs. Six feet long, 30 inches deep, and 30 inches tall. It locks into position when unfolded. Each half has a handle so it stays closed when you're carrying it.

The table is now redundant in this apartment. Jillian doesn't want it around, and I don't want to throw it out. I paid $80 for it six years ago, and there's nothing wrong with it.

If anyone is interested in taking it (or know someone who would), please let me know. Otherwise, it goes on Craigslist.