There are only a couple of days left to donate to your favorite charity to receive the benefits of tax deductions. I am listing 20 charities here. The first 10 will be charities not affiliated religiously. The second 10 (coming tomorrow) will be Jewish charities - because that is where my expertise lies. Any charity or not for profit on the list has either personal significance or significance to close friends. However, as an employee of a not for profit, I do not gain anything from any of these endorsements.
1. The Multiple Myeloma Research Foundation
2. National Multiple Sclerosis Society
3. Autism Speaks
4. Pancreatic Cancer Action Network
5. The Innocence Project
6. Homes for Our Troops: Building Specially Adapted Homes for Troops with Disabilities
7. International Planned Parenthood
8. American Brain Tumor Association
9. Parkinson's Disease Foundation
10. National Alliance to End Homelessness
Tuesday, December 30, 2008
Monday, December 29, 2008
Who to blame for Gaza crisis
I am sitting in an office in Jerusalem as I write this piece about Israel’s attack on Gaza.
But I want to be clear that I have no more insight into the crisis than if I were sitting in my condo in Chicago looking at the snow. The only difference is I spend my day with Israelis, but life here, in Jerusalem, is normal and seemingly safe.
A coworker and I joked yesterday that if he gets called up to the reserves, he will be getting shot at as I phone him for directions to get from one place to another. (This is my first time driving in Israel.)
“Sharna, this is kind of bad time,” he joked holding his phone to his ear.
“But I can’t figure out how to get to this hotel in Talpiyot; it will only take a minute.”
.
Today’s news is focusing on the rising death toll in Gaza and the outrage of the Arab population against the Arab League that has not met about the attacks. Also in the Jordanian parliament a member lit an Israeli flag on fire and then stepped on it to put out the fire. (smart guy! He could have burned down the fake parliament. If a fake parliament burns, does anyone smell it?)
Perhaps I am being too glib in the wake of this humanitarian catastrophe. But how can I be anything else when this situation was predictable six months ago when the Egyptians negotiated the so called cease fire otherwise known as time to amass weapons for Hamas and time for Israel to spy from the air where Hamas is amassing the weapons? Or the cease fire where Hamas was firing rockets into towns in southern Israel as the Israelis in Southern Israel are terrified and furious with its government for not caring about them or as the song here says, “coffee at home in Tel Aviv, rockets at home in the South.”
This situation is a failure of the international community and of the Arab League, not to mention the power vacuum in Washington. Indeed, the populace of Arab states should be angry about the situation in Gaza. However, their viciousness is misguided as it is fueled by hatred of Israel, Anti Semitism and Anti Americanism. Their message gets lost in their burning effigies.
What they should be angry about is that during this cease fire the nations of the Arab League and the International Community should have been bettering the lives of the Gazans through building of schools, hospitals, industry, etc. instead of twiddling their thumbs awaiting the cease fire to break and all hell to break loose. Instead the Israeli-Palestinian conflict is some strange pawn in an International game where Israelis and many, many Palestinians end up being the big losers.
Remember, Egypt has a border with Gaza. It’s not Israel’s (sole) responsibility to help Gaza (who elected a government – Hamas - that doesn’t recognize Israel’s existence and tosses rockets into its southern cities to rebuild its infrastructure. Arab governments could have been smuggling in supplies and blockaded the Iranian weaponry.
This conflict serves Arab governments in many ways: it raises the cost of oil, it provides a bargaining chip for Arab governments in terms of its relationships with the Security Council, and perhaps mostly importantly, when Israel attacks Gaza it serves as a distraction from their own countries’ failings and demonizes the Jewish state in the eyes of the media and the international community.
But I want to be clear that I have no more insight into the crisis than if I were sitting in my condo in Chicago looking at the snow. The only difference is I spend my day with Israelis, but life here, in Jerusalem, is normal and seemingly safe.
A coworker and I joked yesterday that if he gets called up to the reserves, he will be getting shot at as I phone him for directions to get from one place to another. (This is my first time driving in Israel.)
“Sharna, this is kind of bad time,” he joked holding his phone to his ear.
“But I can’t figure out how to get to this hotel in Talpiyot; it will only take a minute.”
.
Today’s news is focusing on the rising death toll in Gaza and the outrage of the Arab population against the Arab League that has not met about the attacks. Also in the Jordanian parliament a member lit an Israeli flag on fire and then stepped on it to put out the fire. (smart guy! He could have burned down the fake parliament. If a fake parliament burns, does anyone smell it?)
Perhaps I am being too glib in the wake of this humanitarian catastrophe. But how can I be anything else when this situation was predictable six months ago when the Egyptians negotiated the so called cease fire otherwise known as time to amass weapons for Hamas and time for Israel to spy from the air where Hamas is amassing the weapons? Or the cease fire where Hamas was firing rockets into towns in southern Israel as the Israelis in Southern Israel are terrified and furious with its government for not caring about them or as the song here says, “coffee at home in Tel Aviv, rockets at home in the South.”
This situation is a failure of the international community and of the Arab League, not to mention the power vacuum in Washington. Indeed, the populace of Arab states should be angry about the situation in Gaza. However, their viciousness is misguided as it is fueled by hatred of Israel, Anti Semitism and Anti Americanism. Their message gets lost in their burning effigies.
What they should be angry about is that during this cease fire the nations of the Arab League and the International Community should have been bettering the lives of the Gazans through building of schools, hospitals, industry, etc. instead of twiddling their thumbs awaiting the cease fire to break and all hell to break loose. Instead the Israeli-Palestinian conflict is some strange pawn in an International game where Israelis and many, many Palestinians end up being the big losers.
Remember, Egypt has a border with Gaza. It’s not Israel’s (sole) responsibility to help Gaza (who elected a government – Hamas - that doesn’t recognize Israel’s existence and tosses rockets into its southern cities to rebuild its infrastructure. Arab governments could have been smuggling in supplies and blockaded the Iranian weaponry.
This conflict serves Arab governments in many ways: it raises the cost of oil, it provides a bargaining chip for Arab governments in terms of its relationships with the Security Council, and perhaps mostly importantly, when Israel attacks Gaza it serves as a distraction from their own countries’ failings and demonizes the Jewish state in the eyes of the media and the international community.
Wednesday, December 10, 2008
Illinois passes emergency law forcing next governor to star in reality t.v. show
In a special session concluded at midnight on Wednesday morning, the Illinois house and senate unanimously passed a bill forcing the next governor of Illinois to star in his/her own 24 hours a day, 7 days a week, 365 days a year reality show.
The reality show will play on WGN, to the glee of the Tribune Company, which declared bankruptcy the day before Gov. Rod R. Blagojevich was arrested by the FBI on corruption charges.
“That *&%$ governor really saved our asses,” said Tribune owner Sam Zell.
The State and Zell have hired Mark Burnett to be creator and producer of the channel’s programming.
“The hope is that if the Governor of Illinois is on television all of the time, he/she will be less likely to accept bribes and engage in corruption,” said Sara Feigenholtz, 12th District State Representative.
The bill was endorsed by the FBI.
“We can’t afford to investigate and prosecute another Illinois governor,” said U.S. Attorney Patrick Fitzgerald. “Chicago has gang problems, we still haven’t found Bin Laden, it would simply be less expensive to produce a reality show where the public could watch the governor’s every move.”
Burnett is hoping that the next person elected will be single, attractive and fit so that they can film a “The Bachelor” or “The Bachelorette” series while the governor is in office.
“Husband and wife stuff is boring,” Burnett said. “How amazing would it be to see the governor making out while on a boat on Lake Michigan and then making out with someone else the next day at the Lincoln Memorial Museum in Springfield?”
In the reality television tradition, Burnett said, the next governor will face a myriad of challenges besides balancing the budget, getting funding for public transit, and improving performance in Illinois public schools.
Proposed episodes include having the governor spend time in jail with other convicted Illinois politicians for an “It Could Happen To Me” series. The governor would play a game show to pick, “Who was wrongly put on Death Row?” Also in the works is the governor attending a semester at the University of Illinois and rushing a sorority or house entitled: "I'm cool enough to be Governor but am I cool enough to go Greek?" During the sweeps periods look for, “Torture or Talking?” and “Bribe or Banter?”
There is even hope of training the governor in curling to represent the U.S.A in the 2016 Olympics being vied for by Chicago. Others are hoping the next governor will train for double dutch jump rope, which Chicagoans are trying to make a sport in the 2016 Olympics.
The bill initially faced some opposition when one representative asked, “What about when the governor poops or is naked and stuff?”
However, once an amendment was added that all unfamily friendly material would be aired only on premium channels (with subscription proceeds going to the Chicago Transit Authority), the bill was passed.
When asked if he thought anyone would run for governor under these conditions, President Elect Barack Obama said that he he thought they would. “If we aren't willing to pay a price for our values, then we should ask ourselves whether we truly believe in them at all.”
And that price will be aired on Channel 9 beginning in 2010 or sooner if Blagojevich resigns or is jailed first. Blagojevich is in talks for a reality show of his own called: “Blagojevich Behind Bars.”
The reality show will play on WGN, to the glee of the Tribune Company, which declared bankruptcy the day before Gov. Rod R. Blagojevich was arrested by the FBI on corruption charges.
“That *&%$ governor really saved our asses,” said Tribune owner Sam Zell.
The State and Zell have hired Mark Burnett to be creator and producer of the channel’s programming.
“The hope is that if the Governor of Illinois is on television all of the time, he/she will be less likely to accept bribes and engage in corruption,” said Sara Feigenholtz, 12th District State Representative.
The bill was endorsed by the FBI.
“We can’t afford to investigate and prosecute another Illinois governor,” said U.S. Attorney Patrick Fitzgerald. “Chicago has gang problems, we still haven’t found Bin Laden, it would simply be less expensive to produce a reality show where the public could watch the governor’s every move.”
Burnett is hoping that the next person elected will be single, attractive and fit so that they can film a “The Bachelor” or “The Bachelorette” series while the governor is in office.
“Husband and wife stuff is boring,” Burnett said. “How amazing would it be to see the governor making out while on a boat on Lake Michigan and then making out with someone else the next day at the Lincoln Memorial Museum in Springfield?”
In the reality television tradition, Burnett said, the next governor will face a myriad of challenges besides balancing the budget, getting funding for public transit, and improving performance in Illinois public schools.
Proposed episodes include having the governor spend time in jail with other convicted Illinois politicians for an “It Could Happen To Me” series. The governor would play a game show to pick, “Who was wrongly put on Death Row?” Also in the works is the governor attending a semester at the University of Illinois and rushing a sorority or house entitled: "I'm cool enough to be Governor but am I cool enough to go Greek?" During the sweeps periods look for, “Torture or Talking?” and “Bribe or Banter?”
There is even hope of training the governor in curling to represent the U.S.A in the 2016 Olympics being vied for by Chicago. Others are hoping the next governor will train for double dutch jump rope, which Chicagoans are trying to make a sport in the 2016 Olympics.
The bill initially faced some opposition when one representative asked, “What about when the governor poops or is naked and stuff?”
However, once an amendment was added that all unfamily friendly material would be aired only on premium channels (with subscription proceeds going to the Chicago Transit Authority), the bill was passed.
When asked if he thought anyone would run for governor under these conditions, President Elect Barack Obama said that he he thought they would. “If we aren't willing to pay a price for our values, then we should ask ourselves whether we truly believe in them at all.”
And that price will be aired on Channel 9 beginning in 2010 or sooner if Blagojevich resigns or is jailed first. Blagojevich is in talks for a reality show of his own called: “Blagojevich Behind Bars.”
Sunday, December 7, 2008
thought on Hudson tragedy
I read a book a few years ago by Jason DeParle, “American Dream: Three Women, Ten kids, and a Nation’s Drive to end Welfare.” The book popped into my head after reading today’s headline in the Chicago Tribune: “The troubled life of William Balfour, the suspect in the slayings of Jennifer Hudson's family members: Documents show a depressed, suffering man with an unhappy childhood and a lack of stability”
Balfour is accused of killing singer and actress Jennifer Hudson’s nephew, Julian King, mother, Darnell Donerson, and her brother Jason Hudson. The horrific murders rocked the country and further exposed the City’s rising murder rate, specifically in Chicago’s South Side neighborhoods.
Today’s newspaper article summarizes the public records featuring Balfour, which journeys his encounters through the juvenile justice and child welfare systems. The picture painted is of an abused, unwanted child evolving into a drug using, abusive gang member suffering from some degree of mental illness.
The likely end of Balfour’s story will be behind bars or leaving the world from a lethal injection. Jennifer Hudson will somehow move forward with her life, however one can when they are haunted by the murders of loved ones.
However, when reading Balfour’s rap sheet, the question screams, “Could this have been prevented?” Was Balfour destined to be a triple murderer or might the Hudson nightmare never enveloped had Balfour been intercepted somehow by a loving family or the state?
Some of the answers to these questions and more are delivered in Jason DeParle’s book. However, DeParles’ book investigates why some fail to succeed during the economic boom of the 1990s. My concern is that in economic good times, our prisons were still filled, what is going to happen during this recession or perhaps eventual depression when so many more young children will be exposed to the stress and quick sand of large scale poverty?
During WWII, children were evacuated from London to the countryside to save them from the brutalities of the forthcoming air strikes. How are we as a society preparing to protect the meekest and most vulnerable of our society: our children?
Was Balfour destined to kill three people when he was born? I don’t think so. It sounds like he was failed by so many people on so many levels and eventually became a cold blooded murderer.
Where could Balfour have been helped before he became a monster? Because although the Hudson family deserves justice, isn’t that justice futile if we don’t begin addressing the larger issues that are causing these violent crimes to proliferate our city?
They were all once children. How can we stop them from becoming murderers?
American Dream
The Troubled Life of William Balfour
Balfour is accused of killing singer and actress Jennifer Hudson’s nephew, Julian King, mother, Darnell Donerson, and her brother Jason Hudson. The horrific murders rocked the country and further exposed the City’s rising murder rate, specifically in Chicago’s South Side neighborhoods.
Today’s newspaper article summarizes the public records featuring Balfour, which journeys his encounters through the juvenile justice and child welfare systems. The picture painted is of an abused, unwanted child evolving into a drug using, abusive gang member suffering from some degree of mental illness.
The likely end of Balfour’s story will be behind bars or leaving the world from a lethal injection. Jennifer Hudson will somehow move forward with her life, however one can when they are haunted by the murders of loved ones.
However, when reading Balfour’s rap sheet, the question screams, “Could this have been prevented?” Was Balfour destined to be a triple murderer or might the Hudson nightmare never enveloped had Balfour been intercepted somehow by a loving family or the state?
Some of the answers to these questions and more are delivered in Jason DeParle’s book. However, DeParles’ book investigates why some fail to succeed during the economic boom of the 1990s. My concern is that in economic good times, our prisons were still filled, what is going to happen during this recession or perhaps eventual depression when so many more young children will be exposed to the stress and quick sand of large scale poverty?
During WWII, children were evacuated from London to the countryside to save them from the brutalities of the forthcoming air strikes. How are we as a society preparing to protect the meekest and most vulnerable of our society: our children?
Was Balfour destined to kill three people when he was born? I don’t think so. It sounds like he was failed by so many people on so many levels and eventually became a cold blooded murderer.
Where could Balfour have been helped before he became a monster? Because although the Hudson family deserves justice, isn’t that justice futile if we don’t begin addressing the larger issues that are causing these violent crimes to proliferate our city?
They were all once children. How can we stop them from becoming murderers?
American Dream
The Troubled Life of William Balfour
Sunday, November 16, 2008
Mawwiage
This summer I counted, and no exaggeration, I am an unmarried person who has been to 73 weddings since I was 4 years old, most I have attended since I was 23. I have signed two ketubas and one marriage certificate. I have been in the bridal party of seven of the weddings. I would say, and this is a guess, of the 73 weddings I have cried at 50 of them. Even though I am still single, I still love weddings - even if it sometimes causes me to temporarily and melodramatically dwell sadly on my lack of relationship success. However, this self wallowing is eventually overcome by acknowledging the optimistic beauty of two people who commit to join together through the bonds of love to journey through life as a team ready to encounter whatever emerges, be it the good or the bad.
I know this notion of marriage is idealistic, especially when about one in two marriages end in divorce. But isn’t this continued idealism central to the American spirit that “anything and everything is possible?” It is not this pursuit of the American dream that has made our country, albeit flawed, so great? Think of the basketball player shooting free throws repeatedly outside during the middle of winter to perfect his shot; the immigrant who opens a restaurant with a menu full of food from his native country hoping to provide a better life for his family; the artist who lives in poverty trying to get discovered to someday make a living; the researcher who works with tiny cells hoping to find a cure for cancer. All of these people pursue their goals because they are driven by the idealism that is their right, as an American, to strive for happiness.
This foundation is based on the 17th century philosopher John Locke’s writings that: “Man being born, as has been proved, with a title to perfect freedom, and an uncontrolled enjoyment of all the rights and privileges of the law of nature, equally with any other man, or number of men in the world, hath by nature a power, not only to preserve his property, that is, his life, liberty and estate, against the injuries and attempts of other men.” (source: http://www.fordham.edu/halsall/mod/1690locke-sel.html)
This notion of liberty is taken further in the U.S. Declaration of Independence that “we hold these truths to be self-evident, that all men are created equal, that they are endowed by their Creator with certain unalienable Rights, that among these are Life, Liberty and the pursuit of Happiness.” Source: http://www.ushistory.org/declaration/document/index.htm
The next logical question is, “what defines happiness?” Happiness is anything that does not infringe on the natural rights of others. Just because it might make you happy to kill two people, doesn’t mean that it is your natural right to do so because of the harm it inflicts on the two people and their families.
If, as Americans we believe in this idea of life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness, then laws such as Proposition 8 in California must be repealed or declared unconstitutional and gay marriage should be federally legalized so that all marriages are recognized in every state in the country.
Last week, I spoke with a middle aged woman from California who couldn’t disagree with me more. “I have friends who are gay. I’ve sent them gifts for their commitment ceremonies. I wish them all the love in the world. But you will never convince me differently, marriage is between a man and a woman and that’s final.”
And you know what, she has a right to her opinion. In a way, I know where she’s coming from. I don’t entirely understand homosexuality, but I entirely understand very little when it comes down to it. I have no idea why I’m a heterosexual and why others are homosexual. I cannot relate to the two guys at Whole Foods holding hands choosing which soda to buy. But should opinion or ignorance or lack of understanding alone be the basis of legislation or should the constitutional foundations of our democracy serve as the guideline? She may think that marriage is between a man and a woman, just like there have been people throughout history who have thought that voting was a right only to be held by white men, that blacks and whites should not be able to marry and that Jews should not be welcomed in certain neighborhoods. Eugenics, racism, Nazism, are all based on opinions, but they are opinions that violate the right to “life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness,” that we, as Americans, hold sacred, more sacred than any one line from the Hebrew Bible.
If members of the GLBT community believe that marriage will provide them with happiness, then why should they not be allowed to marry? If liberty means equality under the law, then why shouldn’t GLBTs be allowed to obtain the full rights accorded nationwide by marriage? If two members of the same sex want to join together through the bonds of love to journey through life as a team ready to encounter whatever emerges be it the good or the bad, why as fellow Americans, as heterosexual Americans, not wish them all the best.
And if it so happens that my 74th wedding is a gay one, just let me know if it’s casual, semi formal or formal, so I know what dress to wear (or buy), where you are registered, and please invite me with a date if there’s not a lot of single people attending, because it sucks to sit through a wedding alone while everyone is dancing. And please. Make sure your wedding planner does not put me at the kid’s table. I know they are single too, but come on!
Coverage from the LA Times
Mawwiage clip
I know this notion of marriage is idealistic, especially when about one in two marriages end in divorce. But isn’t this continued idealism central to the American spirit that “anything and everything is possible?” It is not this pursuit of the American dream that has made our country, albeit flawed, so great? Think of the basketball player shooting free throws repeatedly outside during the middle of winter to perfect his shot; the immigrant who opens a restaurant with a menu full of food from his native country hoping to provide a better life for his family; the artist who lives in poverty trying to get discovered to someday make a living; the researcher who works with tiny cells hoping to find a cure for cancer. All of these people pursue their goals because they are driven by the idealism that is their right, as an American, to strive for happiness.
This foundation is based on the 17th century philosopher John Locke’s writings that: “Man being born, as has been proved, with a title to perfect freedom, and an uncontrolled enjoyment of all the rights and privileges of the law of nature, equally with any other man, or number of men in the world, hath by nature a power, not only to preserve his property, that is, his life, liberty and estate, against the injuries and attempts of other men.” (source: http://www.fordham.edu/halsall/mod/1690locke-sel.html)
This notion of liberty is taken further in the U.S. Declaration of Independence that “we hold these truths to be self-evident, that all men are created equal, that they are endowed by their Creator with certain unalienable Rights, that among these are Life, Liberty and the pursuit of Happiness.” Source: http://www.ushistory.org/declaration/document/index.htm
The next logical question is, “what defines happiness?” Happiness is anything that does not infringe on the natural rights of others. Just because it might make you happy to kill two people, doesn’t mean that it is your natural right to do so because of the harm it inflicts on the two people and their families.
If, as Americans we believe in this idea of life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness, then laws such as Proposition 8 in California must be repealed or declared unconstitutional and gay marriage should be federally legalized so that all marriages are recognized in every state in the country.
Last week, I spoke with a middle aged woman from California who couldn’t disagree with me more. “I have friends who are gay. I’ve sent them gifts for their commitment ceremonies. I wish them all the love in the world. But you will never convince me differently, marriage is between a man and a woman and that’s final.”
And you know what, she has a right to her opinion. In a way, I know where she’s coming from. I don’t entirely understand homosexuality, but I entirely understand very little when it comes down to it. I have no idea why I’m a heterosexual and why others are homosexual. I cannot relate to the two guys at Whole Foods holding hands choosing which soda to buy. But should opinion or ignorance or lack of understanding alone be the basis of legislation or should the constitutional foundations of our democracy serve as the guideline? She may think that marriage is between a man and a woman, just like there have been people throughout history who have thought that voting was a right only to be held by white men, that blacks and whites should not be able to marry and that Jews should not be welcomed in certain neighborhoods. Eugenics, racism, Nazism, are all based on opinions, but they are opinions that violate the right to “life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness,” that we, as Americans, hold sacred, more sacred than any one line from the Hebrew Bible.
If members of the GLBT community believe that marriage will provide them with happiness, then why should they not be allowed to marry? If liberty means equality under the law, then why shouldn’t GLBTs be allowed to obtain the full rights accorded nationwide by marriage? If two members of the same sex want to join together through the bonds of love to journey through life as a team ready to encounter whatever emerges be it the good or the bad, why as fellow Americans, as heterosexual Americans, not wish them all the best.
And if it so happens that my 74th wedding is a gay one, just let me know if it’s casual, semi formal or formal, so I know what dress to wear (or buy), where you are registered, and please invite me with a date if there’s not a lot of single people attending, because it sucks to sit through a wedding alone while everyone is dancing. And please. Make sure your wedding planner does not put me at the kid’s table. I know they are single too, but come on!
Coverage from the LA Times
Mawwiage clip
Tuesday, November 4, 2008
WTF?
If you need a break from election coverage, yesterday NPR aired a five minute segment on the history of the F-bomb. It wasn't just for kicks. There is a U.S. Supreme Court case about it and oral arguments are today. I'm curious if any of the justices will drop the F-bomb or if they will use other terminology.
It would be cool to hear Justice Ginsburg tell Justice Scalia to.... And she just might if Obama is elected president. No. No. I'm sure they are all friends and then just "bring it on" when it comes time to decide the cases.
The best part of the segment is that it's safe for work - unless you're a teacher. Then maybe not. Or if you work somewhere silent (ashram, library).
Enjoy.
If you want to learn more about the case go to my favorite Supreme Court web site, here.
It would be cool to hear Justice Ginsburg tell Justice Scalia to.... And she just might if Obama is elected president. No. No. I'm sure they are all friends and then just "bring it on" when it comes time to decide the cases.
The best part of the segment is that it's safe for work - unless you're a teacher. Then maybe not. Or if you work somewhere silent (ashram, library).
Enjoy.
If you want to learn more about the case go to my favorite Supreme Court web site, here.
Saturday, November 1, 2008
Political Cartoons
With the decline in the popularity of print media, I worry about the future of one very important element of the daily newspaper: political cartoons. In this longest of presidential campaigns there have been some hysterical political cartoons, but I don’t know that anyone is looking at them.
Part of the problem is that the cartoonists are, with the rest of the world, trying to figure out how to make money on the web. My goal for this blog was to list 10 really funny recent political cartoons. It is very difficult to navigate cartoonist web sites because they want you to look at their work, but then again they don’t want you stealing it ad they’d really rather you look where it’s being syndicated because that’s how they get paid.
I don’t know the answer. But it’s probably not making it difficult to see the cartoons.
The political cartoon has an awesome history, dating back to the 1500s when soon to be Protestants were insulting the pope. The tradition continued through to the 13 colonies who used political cartoons as a means of protesting the British king.
Some of these cartoons go against my political leanings, but they are still funny. One is offensive.
Also, if you’ve seen a good political cartoon lately, share the link with us.
And if you want to sign up for a daily political cartoon, this seems to be the place to do so: http://list.cagle.com/
I am purposely not telling you what they are about because I think it's more fun to just be surprised by the cartoon. It has a bigger effect.
1.
http://z.about.com/d/politicalhumor/1/0/H/P/2/haunted-white-house.jpg
2. http://www.chicagotribune.com/news/opinion/chi-edcart-multimediagallery,0,5944816.cartoongallery?index=chi-081030bennett-cartoon
3. http://www.chicagotribune.com/news/opinion/chi-081030ramirez-cartoon,0,6633218.cartoon
4.
http://www.chicagotribune.com/news/opinion/chi-081024anderson-cartoon,0,3649633.cartoon
5. http://www.chicagotribune.com/news/opinion/chi-081024granlund-cartoon,0,958057.cartoon
6. http://www.chicagotribune.com/news/opinion/chi-081024ramirez-cartoon,0,1713420.cartoon
7.
http://cagle.com/caglecards/main.asp?image=/news/OJJailed/images/bish.jpg
8. http://statesmanjournal.com/apps/pbcs.dll/section?template=zoom&Site=J0&Date=20081022&Category=OPINION&ArtNo=81021051&Ref=AR&Profile=1048
9.
http://www.comics.com/comics/rudypark/archive/images/rudypark2008111111601.gif
10.
http://editorialcartoonists.com/cartoons/KeefeM/2008/KeefeM20081016_low.jpg
and this is my all time favorite, introduced to me by the folks at Facing History and Ourselves.
http://web.pdx.edu/~tothm/pluralism/street%20calculus.pdf
Part of the problem is that the cartoonists are, with the rest of the world, trying to figure out how to make money on the web. My goal for this blog was to list 10 really funny recent political cartoons. It is very difficult to navigate cartoonist web sites because they want you to look at their work, but then again they don’t want you stealing it ad they’d really rather you look where it’s being syndicated because that’s how they get paid.
I don’t know the answer. But it’s probably not making it difficult to see the cartoons.
The political cartoon has an awesome history, dating back to the 1500s when soon to be Protestants were insulting the pope. The tradition continued through to the 13 colonies who used political cartoons as a means of protesting the British king.
Some of these cartoons go against my political leanings, but they are still funny. One is offensive.
Also, if you’ve seen a good political cartoon lately, share the link with us.
And if you want to sign up for a daily political cartoon, this seems to be the place to do so: http://list.cagle.com/
I am purposely not telling you what they are about because I think it's more fun to just be surprised by the cartoon. It has a bigger effect.
1.
http://z.about.com/d/politicalhumor/1/0/H/P/2/haunted-white-house.jpg
2. http://www.chicagotribune.com/news/opinion/chi-edcart-multimediagallery,0,5944816.cartoongallery?index=chi-081030bennett-cartoon
3. http://www.chicagotribune.com/news/opinion/chi-081030ramirez-cartoon,0,6633218.cartoon
4.
http://www.chicagotribune.com/news/opinion/chi-081024anderson-cartoon,0,3649633.cartoon
5. http://www.chicagotribune.com/news/opinion/chi-081024granlund-cartoon,0,958057.cartoon
6. http://www.chicagotribune.com/news/opinion/chi-081024ramirez-cartoon,0,1713420.cartoon
7.
http://cagle.com/caglecards/main.asp?image=/news/OJJailed/images/bish.jpg
8. http://statesmanjournal.com/apps/pbcs.dll/section?template=zoom&Site=J0&Date=20081022&Category=OPINION&ArtNo=81021051&Ref=AR&Profile=1048
9.
http://www.comics.com/comics/rudypark/archive/images/rudypark2008111111601.gif
10.
http://editorialcartoonists.com/cartoons/KeefeM/2008/KeefeM20081016_low.jpg
and this is my all time favorite, introduced to me by the folks at Facing History and Ourselves.
http://web.pdx.edu/~tothm/pluralism/street%20calculus.pdf
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