A Birthday Wish

I don't ask for much, do I?

Since 2021, I’ve been taking a selfie of myself on my birthday using my Polaroid camera. I ran out of film this year, so here is a picture of me on my birthday about 83 years ago. Also, every kid should be as happy as this little turd was on his birthday.

This post will be a short one. I am sending this out on my birthday, and I’m using that as an excuse to write less than I normally would. If you’d like to wish me a very happy birthday, save it buddy. It isn’t because I don’t want to hear from you. Or to receive a birthday beer (a pilsner in case you were wondering) from you. It’s because I would rather you do something very specific — a donation to the Middle Eastern Children’s Alliance.

As you may have seen in the headlines, the situation is horrific. Horrific doesn’t even begin to capture it. The UN children’s fund reports that over 50,000 children have been killed or injured since the start of the genocide. The UN was also reporting that up to 14,000 more babies could die if they didn’t receive aid. Since that was reported a few weeks ago, barely any aid has been distributed, and when it was distributed, Israeli forces opened fire on the recipients. Like I said, horrific doesn’t even begin to capture the reality that the children and the people of Gaza face. So, please do give whatever you can.

A quick update before I go!

I am still working on part II of my story on the CIA surveillance of Roque Dalton, but you can read part I here. I also released a new episode of Over the Loud Speaker, my monthly YouTube show, over at the Hayward Herald. In this latest episode, I interviewed my former art teacher about saving Hayward’s last open space. Lastly, the project I’ve been working on alongside a group of dedicated housing organizers for the last few years, the Eden Community Land Trust, has officially formed as a 501(c)(3) nonprofit. I am so excited we have finally gotten it off the ground! It hasn’t come without its many, many hurdles and headaches. We can now raise funds to help us acquire land and housing to steward and preserve the affordability for generations to come!

Thanks again to those of you who are able to donate to MECA, which is doing the crucial work of providing emergency aid to Gaza. #freepalestine

Here is an illustration I made for the Freedom Flotilla breaking the blockade in Gaza!