Put these in your ear holes to embiggen your life.

"I don't listen to podcasts."

"I hate iTunes."

These are things I hear and don't fully understand.

The first, because that's like saying "I don't watch TV/read books/read comics/listen to music/watch movies/intake that medium".  I understand some can't do it because they lose focus or get distracted.  That's an acceptable excuse.

As for hating iTunes...  Here's a program that automatically keeps all of your content organized and up to date.  Yes, Apple may update it, and when you are synching a device there's a glitch and you have to wait for the next update to fix it.  I understand the frustration.  But it works so well for all of its other uses.

Many podcasts have websites where you can subscribe through an RSS feed.  There's also Stitcher Radio which you can subscribe to whatever you want and it will stream to your device.

For those of you like myself who are financially declined (and, I suppose, those of you who are financially inclined), you can appreciate that most podcasts are free.  Many offer premium content for those who pay/donate.

To what do I listen when working or commuting, you may ask?  Please allow me to offer some suggestions.

This Week in Blackness Radio (Formerly known as Blacking It Up) and The AfterBlack, as well as We Nerd Hard (back from a long hiatus).  (Elon James White, Aaron Rand Freeman, and friends)

Bullseye. (Jesse Thorn)

Comedy and Everything Else, and the Jimmy Dore Show.

The Dana Gould Hour.

Girl on Guy with Aisha Tyler. (Go on YouTube and search for NOASSATALL,  die laughing.)

Kevin Pollak's Chat Show, and Talkin' Walkin'.

The Mental Illness Happy Hour. (Paul Gilmartin)

Mohr Stories. (Jay Mohr)

The Pod F. Tompkast, and The Dead Authors Podcast. (Paul F. Tompkins)

RISK! (Kevin Allison aka The Red Head Gay from The State)

The Smartest Man in the World. (Greg Proops from Whose Line Is It, Anyway?)

This Week with Larry Miller.

What The Fuck. (Marc Maron)

And just about everything from Nerdist is pretty fun.

(This post took about three weeks to complete.  Babies are demanding.  I've gotten 13.5 hours of sleep in the past four days.)

So...a lot has happened.

Just about everyone knows this anyway, but what the hell.

My son Grayson was born about six weeks ago. There won't be pictures here, as Jillian has entirely justifiable privacy concerns. Feel free to email for them, though.

We're all exhausted, of course.

Amazon baby registry

Due to privacy concerns, Jillian doesn't want any pictures of herself on the Internet. I'll send photos through email in a couple days.

Hey, my parents just saw them on Wednesday.

Anyway, people have asked for the baby registry, so here you go:

http://www.amazon.com/registry/baby/11ZEG98NA5GP2

Clothes, books, and carrying wraps are the priority. Toys can wait a while...I guess...

Photos on the way

Wedding and ultrasound photographs are on the way. I just need time to pick which ones to put up.

Oh, and we'll be at NYCC, through the generosity of my in-laws.

Have you ever danced with the Devil in the pale moonlight?

Go to the links and check out the galleries.

Michael Keaton as Batman (1989) 12" Figure


Jack Nicholson as Joker (1989) 12" Figure


I don't usually go for the really big, intricately detailed, super poseable, very expensive superhero toys, but DAYUM! I really want these. Granted, there's no place to put them AT ALL, but that's never stopped me before.

If you really want me to be happy...

You'll get me a set of the Batman Incorporated toys that come out this week. And an extra Batman so I can spray-paint it with gloss black enamel.

(Okay, don't do that. I'll be begging for more important stuff later on.)

Oh, btw, getting married on the 19th.

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.