The crazier things that Donald Trump says and does the more he blames it on the media. Or is he mad because the only way he can control his message anymore is to stop talking? Does he forget that it is the same media that got him the nomination in the first place due to them constantly wanting to film the circus that seems to surround him?
The origin of names is a funny thing. For the greater part of humanity, no one had a surname (aka Family name or last name). First names will do. Which probably got confusing when there were an entire family of Johns. Sometimes descriptors were added to better identify them. The oldest was referred to as John the Elder. The youngest as John the younger. If there were a middle child he was probably referred to as John the Ignored Middle Child.
As you can imagine as governments and countries grew, this could become an administrative nightmare. So the baker became Baker, Michael’s children became Michaelson, etc. Sometimes a description of the person was all that was needed to come up with their surname. A short man became “Short” while a tall man might become “Long”.
All of this got me wondering and quickly NOT wanting to think about the origin of “Dickinson”
Do you know the origins of your last name or how common it is? You can find out many places including here. Share it in the comments.
OK Neflix, you have finally got me. “Stranger Things” is a great show! You disappointed me with Daredevil, underwhelmed me with Jessica Jones, and couldn’t interest me in House of Cards or Orange is the New Black. But with “Stranger Things” you have tapped into everything I loved about Stephen King, Steven Spielberg, and what the hell Steve Guttenberg, movies (I had to add another Steve).
For the uninformed, The series centers around three friends in the 1980’s – Dustin (Gaten Mattarazzo), Mike (Finn Wolfhard), and Lucas (Caleb McClaughlin) who go on a Goonies search for their lost friend all the while trying to keep ahead of the bad government agents (ET anyone) and the evil monster their work has released. I won’t give up too much else for those who haven’t seen it but I wanted to draw my cartoon homage to the show. Here is a trailer for the series.
Anyone else seen it? Thoughts?
Donald Trump must be feeling the Wrath of Khan himself for comments he made after the Democratic National Convention last week. His choice comments about the parents of slain United States soldier, Humayun Khan, has him feeling the wrath from both Republicans and Democrats.
Much like Admiral James T. Kirk (usually known as Captain Kirk in most movies) in Star Trek Wrath of Khan, Trump is facing a nemesis with the same name (though last name not first). Whatever frustration he is feeling, once again he brought it on himself.
“Black Lives Matter” For whatever reason since the phrase was first invoked, there is a large population of people who miss the point and respond “All Lives Matter.” What is missing from their understanding, IMO, is when someone invokes the phrase “Black Lives Matter” they aren’t saying ONLY black lives have meaning but rather “Black Lives Matter TOO”. It is implied in the phrase and yet so many seem to miss the point.
Let’s say you are at a birthday party and everyone is served cake but you. You say “I want cake!!” First, you don’t have to say “I want cake too because clearly everyone else has cake.” Second, imagine the response is “Everyone wants cake”. Can you see how demeaning it is. All your friends are standing around enjoying the delicious confection and have a blind spot to the fact that you have been left out. But what is worse, is they shut you down when you bring up the injustice.
And just because you support the “Black Lives Matter” cause does NOT mean you are anti police. As Trevor Noah of the Daily Show clearly points out in this video, you can be Pro Black and Pro Police….and should be.
What do you think?
Vanessa Ives, played by Eva Green, is a central figure in Showtime’s “Penny Dreadful” Series. For those not familiar, the series puts all of famous monsters from literature (Frankenstein, Dorian Gray, Werewolf, Dr Jekyll, Dracula) in Victorian London (yet in this season, the central characters have been pushed out to their own story lines outside of London in many cases).
Eva Green’s portrayal of Vanessa Ives can be both chilling and make you feel bad for her. In this season, Dracula is playing the long game to get her into his lair. Yet as good as the series is, it seems to get no love in the first two seasons from the Emmys. And it hasn’t gone unnoticed (see here and here)
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Last week of the challenge. Adding $32 to the running count as I got 7 more twitter followers and 25 more FB followers.
By now if you haven’t heard the news that the Cincinnati Zoo had to make the unfortunate decision to kill their gorilla Harambe in order to save a child’s life, what rock are you living under?? Sadly not the kind of news that Cincinnati needs or deserves.
While Thane Maynard, Cincinnati Zoo director stood by the ultimate decision it was not without regret as a long time advocate for animals both in the wild and in zoos. Of course that doesn’t stop the internet whenever a tragedy occurs to Monday morning quarterback the situation. The mob mentality that had a hundred thousand signers of a petition that the parents of the child should be held accountable. As tragic as it was, I am glad after investigation the Cincinnati police did not pursue charges.
Others use the incident to say that zoos need to be closed and the animals should run free in the wild. Zoos have been the greatest proponent of saving endangered species through education and fundraising. And yet you continually hear little noise about the poaching that goes on that causes the vast majority of these animals deaths and endangering their extinction. You want to jump on the bandwagon? Fine. Just make sure it is going on the right track.
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Looks like for the first year, the charity challenge is a bust. Might have to do something different going forward
Cartoonist using “Bearman” in their cartoons ($10 each):
Blog about the Challenge ($5 each):
New Google Plus, Facebook, Twitter Followers ($1 each)
Find out how you can support the Charity Challenge at no cost to you here.
Let me know if I missed anyone.
I have been poking fun at the right for a while so it is time for Hillary Clinton and the left to get their turn. In case you missed my Anatomy of Ted Cruz, it is here.
Speaking of love, my biggest efforts in the charity challenge are usually Google Plus. With the changes to their system, I have noticed over the last 6 months that engagement is down considerably. Last year in the first week I had 545 new followers there. This year, a measly 1 net new follower. Maybe it is becoming the ghost town everyone claimed it to be. But not giving up and thanks for all those who support the efforts each year.
Cartoonist using “Bearman” in their cartoons ($10 each):
Blog about the Challenge ($5 each):
New Google Plus, Facebook, Twitter Followers ($1 each)
Find out how you can support the Charity Challenge at no cost to you here.
Let me know if I missed anyone.
Xavier Woods is the stage name of WWE Wrestler, Austin Watson. So of course my non WWE followers won’t get the caricature reference. Xavier loves video games and comics, so I figured who else would make a great cartoon than him. His web video series “UpUpDownDown” has him providing hilarious commentary as he plays video games with or against his WWE and other friends.
Xavier is also known for his hair. While he tends to mostly wear it in a low man bun, for special events he has been known to do some crazy stuff including an homage to Rufio from the movie Hook at one PPV.
So in my homage to Xavier and in honor of UpUpDownDown, he got the caricature treatment of an UpdoUpdoDowndoDowndo.
