CARTOONS of the WEEK: Giving Thanks and Puzzling Over Pre-Dawn Shopping

The News-Herald - November 29
While my son camped out for a midnight sale on Thanksgiving, and my wife and daughters set out before dawn on the "Black Friday," to grab up retailers' "door-buster" or "early bird" specials, I did something really crazy ... I slept in! Took the day off, didn't set the alarm and slept until the turkey and stuffing and pumpkin pie coma from Thanksgiving dinner had worn off. I have my own traditional day to do my Christmas shopping - Christmas Eve!

The News-Herald, The Press & Guide - November 25

Thanksgiving is a time when we count our blessings and near the top of my list, after family and friends, are my readers, my editors and the news staffs who produce all the stories that inspire my cartoons throughout the year. These are the greetings I sent out to readers of The News-Herald (top) and the Press & Guide (bottom). Happy Thanksgiving to all the readers of Pen Points, too!

That's the Point!

CARTOON of the WEEK: Education Funding Has to Get Creative

The Press & Guide - November 18
All Michigan school districts - including Dearborn Public Schools - are facing severe funding shortages due to budget cuts by the governor and the state legislators. There's no better investment of our tax dollars than in the education of our kids, but just when we need it most to compete in a global economy, that investment is being cut by officials. Press & Guide editor Tim Powers let me lampoon the current status of education funding with this shot at just how far we may have to go, to give our kids the education they deserve and need!
That's the Point!

CARTOON of the WEEK: Any Business is Good Business in Today's Economy

Crain's Detroit Business - November 16
There's a lot of talk about the "new economies" (green, blue, tech, etc.) and the positive impact that they may have on the metro Detroit economy, if sufficiently exploited. In discussing this week's ideas with my editors at Crain's, we agreed completely on one thing - any business is good business! That discussion led to this idea.
That's the Point!

CARTOONS of the WEEK: Some Seasonal Silliness and Election Season Silliness

The News-Herald - November 4

OK, I admit it, sometimes I'm inspired to just do something silly. And sometimes my editor, Karl Ziomek, actually lets one get into print. This idea came from a personal experience on Halloween morning, with a last-minute stop at my local Walgreens. The Halloween merchandise was strewn throughout the main aisle, and all marked down 50%. However, just above it all, poised to take over at the stroke of midnight (I imagined) was all the Christmas merchandise! I couldn't resist ... on my way out, I took a Santa hat off a display hook and placed it atop a half-off ceramic jack-o-lantern in a personal commentary upon the seasonal "merchandising mash-up!"

The Press & Guide - November 4

In considering what kind of post-election comment for November 4, I realized that sometimes important local issues - in many municipalities - are decided (sadly) by the people who don't vote! While voter turnout in Dearborn and Dearborn Heights was respectable, my editor, Tim Powers, allowed me to take this tongue-in-cheek jab at voting booth "no-shows" nonetheless.
That's the Point!

CARTOON of the WEEK: DAC-Forest Lake Merger Makes the Longest First Hole in Detroit

Crain's Detroit Business - November 2

In discussing this idea with the editors at Crain's Detroit Business, we considered several different visual approaches. I offered that I thought the most recognizable "character" that could be portrayed is the iconic DAC building itself. My editors agreed, and we commented upon the affiliation between the Detroit Athletic Club and Forest Lake Country Club with this - slightly twisted - take on the partnership.

That's the point!

Off the Drawing Board: This idea started very differently (see my original rough #3 that I offered), but the editors at Crain's suggested a more action-oriented take, including having a golfer - in full gear with clubs - showing up in the DAC dining room. Once we agreed that the DAC itself was our best visual (see above), we decided on the offbeat, somewhat unexpected twist of golfers on the roof that appeared on November 2.