Bailout Boondoggle - for Cartoonists

Done any political cartoons? Here's a topic from the New York Times article that came out this morning (February 24, 2009, U.S. Pressed to Add Billions to Bailouts).

My idea involves an elderly gentleman (Uncle Sam in tatters) sitting on a park bench and tossing food to pigeons (the banks), squirrels (the automakers), and some other small animal to signify A.I.G., the insurance company - with labels on their little bodies to help those who don't figure out the symbolism. All the creatures are fat and greedy-looking and they are starting to get menacing, demanding more and more food from the little old man and even tearing at his clothes and hair in their greed. Somewhere in the background will be the states clamoring for crumbs.

It's too bad I can't think of a way to toss in images of children in the background (the children whose lunches he tossed to the creatures), to symbolize our futures being tossed away to feed the already bloated companies that have squandered their own funds are now are begging for even more money in the bailout boondoggle.

If this creates a good image in your mind's eye, think about drawing it and submitting it to the editorial section of your favorite newspaper. And send me a copy, please.

Circadian rhythms and sleep cycles

Now that the "bug" has departed, I am working to flip my sleep schedule upside down. I miss sleeping at night like most humans. I've been awake 15 hours so far and working at my computer, and so far I have survived. My previous attempts have ended in failure, but surely today will be the day I succeed. I can almost taste my victory...okay, it's just that lovely little Hershey Nugget that melted all over my tongue and dissolved into a pool of chocolatey ambrosia in my mouth. Already I want a nap, but I know that a 9-hour sleepfest would ensue if I go upstairs to catch 40 winks. I daren't allow myself even 10 winks until my work is done for the day. Zzzzzz....

Germs (continued)

Okay so let's call it a 96-hour bug. I still don't feel "right" and can't face the idea of eating anything except carbs - toast, applesauce, even some plain pringles (but those made me burp). Very weird.

Germs etc.

Turns out it was some kind of 24- to 48-hour bug. Kinda funny, really, because the day before that I had filled out a survey about health care and checked the box saying I never get a flu shot because I hardly ever get sick.

I was miserable last night. I had a fever that turned me bright red (that's what a creamy complexion gets you when you're sick), shakiness, a horrible headache, and let's not even talk about that pesky little lower GI problem. And now my sweetie's sick too. He's about 8 hours or so behind me in symptoms...and he missed his first day of work in 6.5 years! You've got to be pretty miserable for that.

Anyway I'm feeling a bit better now and I need to get to work. I'm behind on everything (that's what happens when you lose a whole day). I'll bring you up to date here when I can.

Angst and Malaise

Do you ever feel like running away? That's me today. Call it a brain short-circuit, if you will. Nothing I can say today would be worth your time to read it, so I'll refrain from posting until the steel wool in my brain goes away.

A Moment of Silence

A moment of silence for Guido Carabajo, please, and a tear for another life unlived, another promise unfulfilled.

A Birthday, Then a Grisly End That Spanned 20 Miles

Elder Care and Big Brother

Sensors Help Keep the Elderly Safe, and at Home
http://www.nytimes.com/2009/02/13/us/13senior.html?th&emc=th

My comments will follow in the next post.