CARTOONS of the WEEK: Smart enough to know where the jobs AREN'T and no pain, no gain supporting Relay-For-Life

The News-Herald - April 28
Governor Granholm may want her legacy to be "the education governor," but even a bunch of kids can see that she's leaving the state's economy desperately short of those good-paying jobs that she's urging our educated graduates to pursue!
The Press & Guide - April 28
Leo's Coney Island kindly held a fund-raiser in support of the upcoming Relay-For-Life events in Dearborn and Dearborn Heights last Sunday. Congratulations to Leo's for the community spirit, and congratulations to all those community-minded citizens - like this guy - who "gave it their all" to support Relay-For-Life with a fork!
That's the Point!

CARTOONS of the WEEK: Appreciating our public servants, and appreciating the humor that government provides

The News-Herald - April 25
While I understand fiscal difficulty (that's standard operating procedure with my household budget these days!), it's always painful to learn about any municipalities that must make cuts in the areas that protect the lives and safety of residents. I wanted to give a vote of thanks to all police officers and firefighters who face cuts or worse - layoffs - because of the current financial situations in their cities. Already under-paid, I just want them to know they're not under-appreciated!
The Press & Guide - April 21
Sometimes city government in action is more like a TV reality show than a legislative session. But that's not necessarily bad ... it gets our attention, and hey - it's entertaining!
That's the Point!

CARTOON of the WEEK: (Not) Ready for takeoff?

Crain's Detroit Business - April 19
Detroit Metropolitan Airport is a remarkably efficient operation and may be only fully appreciated by someone like me, who regularly travels with all their personal care products in a quart bag and a comfortable pair of shoes that are easy to slip off and on. Believe me, compared to many other major airports from New Jersey to Mumbai, "DTW" is a gem! That's why it's so important that the authority that runs the place gets a new contract inked with the manager who's responsible - Lester Robinson.
That's the Point!

Off the Drawing Board: My first concept drawing for this cartoon was two-dimensional and the gag was, frankly, flat and uninspired. I thought of the gag that made it into print while sitting in bumper-to-bumper freeway traffic. I sent the idea to Jennette Smith, my editor at Crain's Detroit Business from my BlackBerry - no I didn't text and drive, it was rush hour. The three-dimensional drawing of the plane gave the image some visual drama, to support the improved punchline.

CARTOON of the WEEK: I did know Jack

The News-Herald - April 18
Years ago, as the editorial cartoonist for The Daily Tribune, in Royal Oak, I had the opportunity to make a number of cartoon comments about Dr. Jack Kevorkian. He lived in a downtown apartment just two blocks from the newspaper and he was a regular in our office, and throughout the downtown neighborhood. The release of the HBO film, "You Don't Know Jack," with its Downriver connection, gave me an opportunity for another Kevorkian cartoon; something I wanted to do because I did, in a sense, "... Know Jack."
That's the Point!

CARTOONS of the Week: Our annual (spring) case of playoff fever and a different 'ailment' in Dearborn

The News-Herald - April 14
Even though the Red Wings opened the Stanley Cup Playoffs with a loss at Phoenix on Wednesday night, Hockeytown is grateful to the team for our annual case of spring "playoff fever" that they've been giving us for nearly two decades!

Lets-Go Red-Wings! ... Let's-Go Red-Wings! (lemme' hear you!) ... Let's-Go Red-Wings! ...

The Press & Guide - April 14
When Press & Guide Editor Tim Powers and I talked about the ongoing struggle of the the current administration to deal with the looming budget deficit in Dearborn, I remarked, "It would be easier for them if they just came up with a list of what the CAN afford to fund!" Sometimes they come easy ... unfortunately, it's not the kind of topic a local editorial cartoonist likes to have to deal with.
That's the Point!

CARTOON of the WEEK: Down on the (Motown) Farm

Crain's Detroit Business - April 5
With a serious plan in the works to develop urban farming within the City of Detroit, I thought it was important to take an alternative look at how this new "industry" might impact Detroit's culture and image. Motown becomes "Grow Town" ... and no cartoonist can resist drawing - at least once in his or her career - a Grant Wood parody!
That's the Point!


Off the Drawing Board: Thanks to the good judgment of my fine editors at Crain's Detroit Business, ideas like this one never make it print. Maybe it's because I had dual majors in Fine Art and History at Wayne State but, personally, I thought this was a very funny parody of the "urban farming" concept - and actually practical, too ... if we could develop a market for squirrel pelts.

CARTOON of the WEEK: Happy Easter! Drop the marshmallow egg and back away ...

The News-Herald - April 4
When we were kids, we left the Easter Bunny carrots and he, in turn, left us chocolate bunnies, marshmallow eggs and jelly beans. Now, it's politically incorrect to consume refined sugar and borderline child abuse to provide such "poison" to kids. So now they get the carrots, which is OK, really - because that leaves the marshmallow eggs and jelly beans for mom and dad!
That's the Point!