CSotD: Sunday et Cetera
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A new irregular feature: Etc., where I feature political cartoons that don’t fit into a major topic but that I found interesting or amusing. The risk is that I won’t have much to say beyond “Wow,” and posting cartoons without commentary does not qualify as “fair use.”
Not that I’d be alone in doing that, but “all the other kids are doing it” is a feeble defence.
For example, I like Granlund’s piece, because we’ve all seen photos of trucks having done just this, and labeling the bridge “Low Expectations” adds to the commentary. I suppose I could natter on about my own expectations for peace in the region, but that would be gilding the lily. He’s made a lovely, simple statement that stands by itself.
At the other extreme, Berge purposefully lards his cartoon with a very long caption, which is necessary to make the point, but doesn’t leave me with much to add beyond agreeing.
Though I suppose I could combine Berge’s cartoon with Kearney’s and have a rant about narcissistic show-offs who have to have their names and faces on everything, but, again, I wouldn’t be adding much.
Though I would at least point out that to get the Special Big-Brother’s-Watching-You Passport, you have to go to Washington and apply for it in person. Everyone else gets a Normal American Passport, which does kind of suggest they gave the toddler something to quiet him down for a bit.
Juxtaposition of the Day
Here’s a story that is delightfully amusing:
Communications and Digital Technologies Minister Solly Malatsi has announced the withdrawal of the Draft National Artificial Intelligence (AI) Policy following an internal process, according to the government’s own news bureau.
It seems they drew it up using AI and it was full of fictitious sources the computer had stuck in there.
This might have run on a regular day, but while it’s good for a laugh, it doesn’t inspire much additional commentary.
Here’s another laugh that doesn’t call for commentary, and, as with Granlund’s truck, elaborating on it would detract from its wonderful simplicity.
Though I will say that I’ve been re-reading Bob Woodward’s book about the first administration, and at this distance, it is a collection of foreshadowings that Stephen King would be proud to have written.
Although perhaps it’s more like an Agatha Christie, where a group of people come together but then are bumped off one after another — Priebus, Mattis, Kelly, even poor little Scaramucci.
Fell focuses on local and regional commentary, but his captioning here provides a wider base for the cartoon, and the slogan he suggests for them provides a chill, at least to anyone with the slightest grasp of history. And slightest sense of decency.
Varvel is free to practice his own religion, and free to express his own opinions, even hateful ones. Editors can choose them or not.
But we should at least point out that, while Leviticus 18 and 20 forbid a variety of sexual practices, between them is Leviticus 19 that forbids polyester blends, tattoos, labradoodles and trimming your beard. And if we’re going to follow Leviticus 20, we must put Dear Leader to death for adultery.
This sort of thing could spark a long commentary but nothing that hasn’t been said many times and nothing people who don’t want to listen would hear. The only thing I would add is that Leviticus 20:25 appears to forbid eating penguins.
I don’t think that’s come up before.
Juxtaposition of the Day #2
I don’t feature every duplicate, or I could do a whole week of nothing but cartoons about building ballrooms on elementary schools, and there have certainly been more 8647 cartoons than we quite need.
But I came across this pair in this order, separated by several other cartoons, which caused a moment of “Didn’t I already see this?”
But coincidences don’t require discussion. They happen.
There is, however, a political, strategic benefit in dwelling on gas prices, given how egg prices impacted the 2024 elections, and gas is certainly more central to our lives.
I’m not the type who crosses the county to save five cents a gallon, but even filling up my little Honda’s tank has increased by more than $12 in the past three months, and I’m not blaming Joe Biden for that.
The topic may not provoke discussion, but it provokes.
Could be worse, of course. At least our rising fuel bills are our own damn fault. Pity the rest of the world who have to face the financial burdens without having done anything stupid themselves.
Another South African cartoon, which would be regional if the Earth were not, indeed, a Big Blue Marble. As it is, the formation of a Super El Niño will have an effect on everyone, even those of us far away in New England.
If we don’t have as many hurricanes, fine, but we get a lot of veggies from out west, and between weather issues there and having fertilizer bottled up at Hormuz, I hope you didn’t spend that big beautiful tax refund, because you’re gonna need it.
Nice accidental timing, given the US administration’s lifting of endangered species protection in the Gulf of Whatever They Call It Now, where drilling restrictions are off because of national security or whatever they call it now.
It’s been 16 years since the Deep Water Horizon disaster, and the only issue with oil and gas pollution today comes from Pete Hegseth blowing up fishing boats. And Hegseth is a completely different sort of national security issue.
But that’s not the only place where waters are threatened, and I like Jonesy’s idea for an aquarium exhibit. However, that’s where fortuitous timing comes in: He reports that this is an unsold cartoon from his back files.
Seems not everyone shares either his concern, or his dark sense of humor.
But aquariums matter, as Stantis notes and his newspaper confirms.
Fred Neil, for instance, was inspired by a trip to the Miami Seaquarium and abandoned a successful singer/songwriter career to co-found the Dolphin Project and devote the second half of his life to preserving them.
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