Written by Azizi Powell
The first pancocojams post [i.e. when this pancocojams blog was first launched] is https://pancocojams.blogspot.com/2011/08/is-jumping-broom-black-appropriation-of.html
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I was motivated to launch this pancocojams blog because I has submitted a post on the subject of Black Americans and jumping the broom" to a blog called Society Pages (later renamed "Sociological Images"). However, that blog's editor rejected that post because she said it wasn't sociologically relevant to those people who visited her blog. it should be noted that a month earlier, that same editor published the first post that I had submitted to her blog: "Race and the Changing Shape Of Cheerleading" https://thesocietypages.org/socimages/2011/07/21/race-and-the-changing-shape-of-cheerleading/ July 21, 2011
I'm grateful that that editor published my post on cheerleading. And I'm also grateful that she rejected my post on jumping the broom because it motivated me to stretch myself and find an online vehicle that would enable me to publish subjects that I considered relevant without relying on anyone else to decide their relevancy and without relying on anyone else to publish them online for me.
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MY MULTI-PAGE WEBSITE COCOJAMS.COM & COCOJAMS2 BLOGSPOT
On January 1, 2001 I launched a multi-page cultural website entitled "Cocojams" with the technical help of a new friend Lucas Musewe. I totally relied on Lucas to publish any content on that website-including any additions and corrections.
Cocojams.com was consistently online for more than 14 years. I marvel that Lucas Musewe stuck with that website for so long. With the exception of a small grant that I had received from the Pennsylvania Council on the Arts, Lucas and I were volunteers. Around 2010, I happened upon a Google blog, and was delighted to find out that the format of Google blogs was easy to use for people like me who weren't technically savvy. Shortly thereafter I launched a Google blog called jambalaya which showcased YouTube music or dance videos of what I referred to as "Black cultural gems from around the world". That "jambalaya" blog served as the prototype for pancocojams and was soon retired when pancocojams was launched on August 29, 2011.
In late October 2014, the cocojams.com website became inaccessible, I believe, because of server problems. On October 28, 2014, I was still not able to visit cocojams.com online, so I decided to use my back-up files for the children's recreational rhymes examples that had been published on cocojams.com to launch a Google blog for that material. I named that blog "cocojams2" https://cocojams2.blogspot.com/.
Although the www.cocojams.com website did reappear for a time in November 2014, at that point I decided to discontinue that website and mostly focus on my pancocojams and cocojams2 blogs.
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ASTROLOGICAL PLACEMENTS FOR THE FIRST PANCOCOJAMS POST
As pancocojams visitors may be aware, in addition to history and folk culture, I'm also interested in astrology.
Here's the information I found about the major planetary placements for the date of the first pancocojams post -and therefore the date that pancocojams blog was launched-
From AI Overview: Planetary placements for August 29, 2011
Here's a breakdown of major placements:
Sun: Virgo (August 23 - September 22).
Moon: New Moon (a potent time for new intentions).
Mercury: Likely in Virgo or moving into Libra (needs precise time, but generally late summer).
Venus: In Cancer (emotional nurturing, family focus).
Mars: Moving from Leo into Cancer (action, passion, personal drive).
Jupiter: In Aries (growth, new ventures, bold action).
Saturn: In Libra (structure, relationships, justice).
Uranus: In Aries (innovation, rebellion).
Neptune: In Pisces (spirituality, dreams, compassion).
Pluto: In Capricorn (transformation, responsibility, foundations).
This period highlighted themes of practical application
(Virgo Sun), emotional needs (Cancer Venus), and big-picture restructuring
(Saturn in Libra, Pluto in Capricorn) as Hurricane Irene impacted the US East
Coast, aligning with powerful, sometimes turbulent, planetary energies."
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MORE ASTROLOGY - PANCOCOJAMS' EDITOR'S NATAL PLACEMENTS
Mostly for my own study combined with the information given
above about the astrological placements for the launch of pancocojams blog, here's the breakdown of major astrological planetary placements for my
date of birth: December 16, 1947.
These astrological placements are given
without the time, geographic location, and degrees although I know that
information.
Sun in Sagittarius
Moon in Aquarius
Mercury in Sagittarius
Mars in Virgo
Venus in Capricorn
Jupiter in Sagittarius
Saturn in Leo
Uranus in Gemini
Neptune in Libra
Pluto in Leo
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DATES FOR MY FIRST COMMENT AS A MEMBER AND AS A GUEST ON THE MUDCAT FOLK MUSIC FORUM & MY LAST COMMENT AS A MEMBER ON THAT FORUM
These dates are given without information about any astrological planetary placements.
Click https://pancocojams.blogspot.com/2025/12/how-i-became-member-of-mudcat-folk.html "How I Became A Member Of Mudcat Folk Music Forum & Some Observations About Mudcat"
Date of my first comment on Mudcat as a guest: -July 25, 2004 [discussion thread: "Jim Along Josie: lyrics and origin"]
Date of my first comment on Mudcat as a member - September 5, 2004 [discussion thread: "Kumbaya"]
Date of my last comment on Mudcat as a member -August 26, 2014* [discussion thread: "The Term People Of Color-Let's Nix"]
*This date refers to the last comment that I posted about a Mudcat thread and not the six comments that I subsequently published between November 3 and November 11, 2014 introducing my new blog cocojams2.]
-snip-
I was aware when I voluntarily withdrew my membership from Mudcat that this was around the same time that I had voluntarily discontinued my cocojams.com website.
However, until I looked up this information yesterday, I didn't realize that the month and day of my first comment on Mudcat as a guest and the month and day of my last comment on Mudcat as a member were very close to the month and day that I launched this pancocojams blog (by publishing this blog's first post.)
-my first comment on Mudcat as a guest: July 25, 2004
-my first post on pancocojams - August 29, 2011
-my last comment on Mudcat as a member [that pertained to a discussion thread subject and not introducing cocojams2] - August 26, 2014
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I believe this means something, but I don't know yet what it means.
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Thanks for visiting pancocojams.
Visitor comments are welcome.
It was until I re-read the discussion thread for a 2011 pancocojams post on the Nigerian word "Akata" that I realized that I had included some information about my natal (birth) astrological aspects in a reply I made to a commenter in that post's discussion thread.
ReplyDeleteHere's part of that visitor's comment and my reply to that portion of that comment:
https://pancocojams.blogspot.com/2025/12/comments-from-discussion-thread-of-2011.html "Comments About The Nigerian Word "Akata" That Is Usually Considered To Be A Derogatory Referent For African Americans"
13 [partial quote]
j2y2k3, January 31, 2019 at 1:37 AM
..."Nigerians, and really just Africans in general, don't have a culture that is heavily interested in analyzing language. I'm trying to imagine myself attending a lecture or having philosophical conversations with friends and family about "Akata", or "Aje Butta vs. Aje Paco." In America, we do that a lot. We analyze words, their meanings, debate over who should be able to say some terms and others. I've spoken to other foreigners, some Asian and some European, and we all kind of see it as being a product of sensitivity, but since I've lived in America most of my life, I see it as more a product of America's culture war."
-snip-
In a subsequent comment, this commenter wrote "I was born in the U.S. and really until I was 8 and lived in Nigeria."
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Reply
14. Azizi Powell, January 31, 2019 at 4:04 AM
"j2y2k3, I appreciate your comments and I'm intrigued by the statement that "Nigerians, and really just Africans in general, don't have a culture that is heavily interested in analyzing language."
As you can probably tell, it's my nature to analyze words and their meanings...I never considered that I do this because of any sensitivity. If I were to attribute it to anything, I'd attribute it to my astrological signs (Virgo rising meaning Mercury rules my natal chart and my Mercury is in Sagittarius in the third house.) I'm not going to explain all of that but be that as it may, I'd love to hear (read) more about Africans not analyzing language."
Here's why I wrote that I would attribute my tendency to analyze words and their meanings to those astrological placements:
DeleteAI Overview - information about Virgo rising [astrological natal chart]
"A Virgo Rising (Ascendant) sign means you present as analytical, modest, practical, and detail-oriented, focusing on refinement, service, and self-improvement, often seeming reserved but highly competent and hardworking, driven by Mercury's influence to notice subtle details and organize information. They have a clean, sometimes plain aesthetic and are perceived as dependable, but can struggle with perfectionism, anxiety, and overthinking details. "...
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AI Overview-information about Mercury ruling your natal chart:
"In a natal chart, Mercury ruling means the planet Mercury governs your personality, especially communication, thinking, and learning, often making you curious, witty, and adaptable, typical for Gemini or Virgo risings; its house and sign placement reveal how you express this"...
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AI Overview - information about Mercury in your 3rd house
"Mercury in the 3rd House signifies a sharp, communicative mind focused on immediate surroundings, siblings, short trips, and learning; natives are witty, curious, excellent communicators (writing, speaking, digital media), adaptable multitaskers, and often enjoy deep bonds with siblings, though they can struggle with staying on one topic or goal. This placement amplifies mental agility, making individuals excellent researchers, teachers, or writers, thriving on intellectual exchange and local exploration. "...
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AI Overview - information about Mercury in Sagittarius
"Mercury in Sagittarius signifies an expansive, optimistic, and philosophical mindset, characterized by enthusiastic communication, a love for big ideas, higher truths, and exploring possibilities rather than getting bogged down in small details or drama, leading to visionary thinking, a desire for freedom of thought, and a focus on meaning and inspiration, often expressed through adventurous learning and movement. "...
As that post's title indicates, I believe that these astrological placements help explain not only why I was motivated to launch pancocojams, but how I curate this blog.
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