cartoon heaven!!!

perhaps mad magazine rigged the presidential primaries this time around. both candidates already appear incredibly cartoonish!! mcain looks like the face on an old west wanted dead or alive parody and obama looks like a cartoon for alka seltzer. he perpetually has that gassy smile plastered across his face. too bad im not a cartoonist, because i would have so much fun sketching these two characters.
hilary clinton and john edwards did not look cartoonish. this my friends is why neither won the democratic primary.
remember folks... you heard it here first!!

jules feiffer

two thursdays ago i went to the most amazing book reading at the strand. the author who spoke was jules feiffer . im embarrassed to say that i had never heard of the pulitzer prize winning cartoonist and satirist. however time out magazine had advertised that a gentle cartoonist who also was a satirist as well as political satirist who had written a cartoon for the village voice for 4o something yrs was going to be at the strand for a book reading... well that definitely peaked my interest.

anyway, mr. feiffer was this adorable older man who outlined his career and described how he persisted in creating his own brand of satire. as bold as his vision was, he also maintained his integrity . he was a gracious team player for those he wrote for.

there was even a woman in the audience who thanked him for his contribution to an 80's tween magazine she had edited, and thanked him for how wonderful he was to deal with.

mr. feiffer spoke about his works and exhibited the most wicked and sharp sense of humor i have ever heard.

after the book reading i skimmed through his new book the explainers which is a compilation of all of his strips for the village voice from 1956-1966 and it really tickled my funny bone.

needless to say i purchased the book. i wanted to have this book signed by its author. as they say there is no time like the present.

there is nothing like a book reading to open up a world that one never knew existed.

its purim every day on ny subways....

the only subway system i have had experience with is that of the ny subway system. and what a wild ride it has been. for 2 dollars a ride or whatever it is these days ( i have an unlimited ride metro card for 81 dollars a month and the rates have changed recently) you will not lack for live entertainment. wanted or not. nothing like being on your way home from work, feeling like every bone in your body aches , just wanting some peace and quiet, and "bANG" they invade. the subway performer. you try to ignore them and read your book but it is impossible. they are just so loud that the noise goes through you. and you cant get up and change cars because you would have to give up your coveted seat .which is worth more to you than peace and quiet on a subway car. so you dont change cars. and you hope that the performer is someone who will quickly change cars after imposing their invasive shpiel. you hope its not a subway preacher rambling on about jews and non-jews with a voice that gradually rises to a crescendo as she speaks. you hope its not an alleged homeless subway parent doing a song and dance act with their kids. you hope not to get hit in the head when they do their somersaults. you hope there aren't any elderly missionaries on board . especially none that were born jewish. and now are not. or women on board who look straight ahead and say "i dont know why people say im a woman when im really a man". or someone from the united homeless organization reminding one to go home and thank g-d one has a home. and if one decides not to donate at least to give a smile....there's a purim shpiel everyday on the new york subways....