photography

July 22, 2016 Image

Comparison of Political Parties through Congressional Interns

Pictures say it all… Intersectionality is the face of the Democratic Party. With the Republicans? It’s almost always white men. Women and people of color are essentially invisible.

Nel's New Day

Watching the GOP convention this week was painful on a large number of levels, one of them being the struggle to show minorities in both the speakers and the audience. Out of 2,472 delegates, only 18 are black–less than one percent. That’s down from the peak of seven percent in 2004. Only 20 percent of the 71 prime-time speakers are white. This is the party of Donald Trump.

The look of whiteness at the RNC is patterned in this photograph of GOP congressional interns, proudly taken by House Speaker Paul Ryan (R-WI).

PaulRyan interns

Below is the photograph of Democratic congressional interns, thanks to Audra Jackson, an intern working for Rep. Eddie Bernice Johnson (D-TX). What an amazing difference!

democratic interns

According to Valcy Etienne, Johnson said that Jackson’s selfie was an “excellent idea” because the interns “represent the future of our party and where we’re going.” She added:

“I wonder if the Republicans…

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June 20, 2016 Gallery

Louis P. Tosti – My Dad, in Memorium

1923-2016

RIP “Little Iggi” – my nickname for my father when I was growing up and couldn’t pronounce “Luigi.” That was the name I heard my grandparents—”TiTi” and “Mommy T”—call him.  Born in 1923, he passed away late last Tuesday, June 14, 2016.  Here’s a memorial in pictures along with his official obituary.

baby picture of Louis P Tosti

Louis Peter Robert Tosti as an infant in 1923 in The Bronx, New York City

Picture of Louis P. Tosti as a toddler

Louis Peter Robert Tosti as an toddler in  the Bronx, New York City

picture of Mom and Dad at their wedding. Dad on the left. Mom on the right.

Mom and Dad at their wedding reception at Fort Monroe, Hampton, VA on December 29, 1951. Taken in front of the Hotel Chamberlain.

1953

Mom and Dad in the year I was born. Top Left – Martha, Top Right – Lou Bottom Left – Linda, Bottom Right – Joanne

1974

Mom and Dad in 1974

Joannes wedding Mama Ti Dad Mom Titi

My parents and grandparents at my wedding in 1975. L to R: Estherina Sera Pellegrino Tosti (aka Mommy T), Louis Peter Robert Tosti, Martha Magdelene Bowery Tosti, and Antonino Rocco Tosti (aka TiTi)

Lou Tosti October 2, 2011 IMG_9538

Dad at my Mom’s wake, October 2, 2011 in Richmond Virginia

Note: As these are family pictures, please do not copy  the pictures without our permission. You may, however, share this blog in its entirety if you wish.

His Obituary

Louis P. Tosti, 93, a 72 year resident of Yorktown VA passed away on June 14, 2016. The son of the late Antonino Rocco Tosti and Estherina (Pellegrino) Tosti was born in The Bronx, New York in 1923, studied Mechanical Engineering (B.S. 1944) at the City College of New York and [Master of Science] Administration [in Management Engineering] (M.S. 1972) at George Washington [sic] (my records say it was Georgetown) University in Washington, D.C. For 36 years, he worked for NASA at the Langley Research Center as an aeronautical engineer and retired in 1980. During his career, he helped develop advanced VTOL aircraft for the military and was a leader in the Scout Rocket Project, a cornerstone in the history of space exploration.

Following retirement from NASA, he assisted the elderly as a tax counselor, was treasurer of the Ruritan Club, a member of the Peninsula Sales and Marketing Exchange as well as the Hampton Roads Power Squadron. He enjoyed traveling, photography, ballroom and country dancing.

Lou was predeceased by his sisters, Myra T. Antonelli, Adele T. Stephenson and Vivienne T. Monteiro-Olivastro and his former wife Martha B. Tosti. He is survived by his five children Linda G. Tosti-Lane (Dave Tosti-Lane) of Brier, WA, Joanne L. Tosti-Vasey (Joe Vasey) of Bellefonte, PA, Mary J. Harley of Parkersburg, WV, Janet T. Baker (Michael Baker) of Bumpass, VA and Anthony B. Tosti (Andrea Gerwers-Tosti) of Simpsonville, SC; seven grandchildren Joshua Baker (Genie Baker), Genesa Benton (Justin Benton), Katharina Tosti, Raphael Tosti, Sophia Tosti, Julianna Tosti and Kenneth Vasey; four great grandchildren, Jack Baker, Olivia Baker, Gavin Benton and Jacob Benton and his beloved companion of 30 years Grace E. Hale.

A memorial service will be held at 6:00 PM on Wednesday, June 22, 2016 at Amory Funeral Home, 410 Grafton Drive, Grafton, VA, 23692. The family will receive friends following the service. A graveside service will be held at a later date to be determined at Valley Forge Memorial Gardens, King of Prussia, PA.

 

November 17, 2014 Video

Ireland Images, Blessings Sayings

Last April, my friend Mary Vollero was invited to show her video —The Long Goodbye — about the last days of the Garman Opera House at the international Corona Fastnet Short Film Festival in Schull, County Cork, Ireland.  FYI, I previously blogged about the demise of our town’s historic theatre, which you can see here, here, here, and here. After losing the court battle, the Bellefonte Borough Council had the theatre torn down between December 30, 2013 and January 15, 2014 (additional pictures can be seen in my Facebook “RIP Hotel Do De and Garman Theatre” album.

When Mary told me she had been accepted at the festival, I teasingly said, “Could I come in your suitcase?” She laughed and then a couple of days later called me and asked if I’d like to go with her.

picture of Joanne Tosti-Vasey and Mary Vollery

Left: Joanne Tosti-Vasey
Right: Mary Vollero

So on May 21, 2014, the day after the two of us helped staff our precinct for the Pennsylvania 2014 Spring Primary, we left for Ireland and flew to Cork and then drove to Schull in West Cork. We attended the festival in Schull for several days and did a bit of touring in County Cork.  We drove/took a ferry to tour West Cork, including the Altar Wedge Tomb, Bandon, Goleen, Long Island – Inishfada, Macroom, Mizen Head, and Schull.

We both took lots pictures of our trip. We also stopped in Bandon to pick up an Irish cloak that I ordered and paid for online in April after finding out I was headed to County Cork. This is the same store that my sister had purchased the  green Irish cape for me as a gift for our mutual birthday in 2013 (see picture above of me with Mary Voller0). Here’s a picture of me wearing the heavier-weight Irish cloak I had custom-made by Siobhan Wear, picked up in Bandon, and brought home with me.

Picture of Joanne wearing her custom made Irish cloak

Joanne at home wearing her custom-made Irish cloak in the fall of 2014.

Mary then turned her pictures into a subtitled video with Irish music.  I think she captured our visit quite well.  Here it is:

“May good and faithful friends be yours, wherever you may roam.”

And,

“May your day be touched with a bit of Irish luck, brightened by a song in your heart, and warmed by the smiles of the people you love.”

− two of the Irish blessings included in this photographic video: my wish to all my readers.