FYI:

Whooping cough declared state epidemic‎ [In California]

Officials Urge Vaccination

On Wednesday, California Department of Public Health Director Mark Horton called for children to be vaccinated against whooping cough and urged parents, family members and caregivers of infants to obtain a booster shot (AP/San Francisco Chronicle, 6/23).

Since January, the state has confirmed 910 whooping cough cases and five infant deaths resulting from the highly contagious respiratory disease. Authorities are investigating 600 additional cases that could be classified as pertussis (Linthicum/Lin, Los Angeles Times, 6/24).

The number of confirmed cases is more than four times higher than the number recorded at this point in 2009, putting the state on pace for the worst outbreak of the disease in 50 years, according to the San Jose Mercury News (Messinger, San Jose Mercury News, 6/23).

I'm going to be in the Bay Area 4th of July weekend (really from June 30th through July 8th, bouncing here and there, working Th/Fri and Tues-Thurs).

So anyone who'd be up for breakfast, lunch, dinner, fireworks, whatever, email me at the profile addy! I'll have a rental car, and especially into stuff to do over the weekend, though could be into dinners Tuesday or Wednesday night also (I'll be staying in downtown Oakland those nights).

If you'd like to read my latest on Daily Kos...it's here. [link]

Ok, my friends are competing in thie cute baby contest; prize of $25000, which would be a hell of a head start on college funds.

It's [link] :Playing in the Pool: by n8shome

It is a cute pix, and they are lovely friends, so please go over there and peruse and vote if you want.

I don't usually do this stuff, but it would be great if they won.

I wrote a little thang for our company's blog about my recent brush with International TV Stardom: [link]

While you are there, you might want to check out the rest of the site--it showcases the work we do, which I think is extremely cool.

For all you wondering what I am doing with my time down here in New Orleans, behold!

Help us raise money to build a KABOOM! playground in the Irish Channel (our new neighborhood here in NOLA)! Marriott is our funding partner and covering most of the cost but we are responsible for raising $7,500 on our own. We will accept any donations - no amount is too small. Click here to help the kids and the community.

I am the volunteer coordinator for this project. I know that most folks are too far away to volunteer time, so I thought I'd provide an option to volunteer funds.

Donations are tax deductible. Lemme know if you have any questions.

I'm going to start doing a Rachel Maddow diary on DKos, much like City LightsLovers Countdown diary...it should be up...um, this evening, sometime, and I plan on making it...pretty much daily. If you could be into that, please stop in. Thanks!

My niece has two tickets to the HullabaLOU Music Festival in Louisville, KY that she is trying to sell. They are Friday only tickets, Regular Reserve Seating. She's selling both tickets for $95. They're normally $95 each (plus $13 Ticketbastard charges). The headliner for Friday is Bon Jovi. If you're interested and want to buy the tickets, please email me at my profile addy.