Sunday, January 12, 2025

The Funny Papers:Ann Telnaes Resigns

Last week Pulitzer Prize-winning cartoonist Ann Telnaes announced she had resigned from The Washington Post after the newspaper refused to publish that cartoon upo there depicting billionaire Post owner Jeff Bezos on bended knee in front of President-elect Felon:

“I have had editorial feedback and productive conversations—and some differences—about cartoons I have submitted for publication, but in all that time I’ve never had a cartoon killed because of who or what I chose to aim my pen at. Until now.”

The cartoon depicts Bezos, Meta founder Mark Zuckerberg and OpenAI chief Sam Altman on their knees, handing over bags of cash to a statue of The Felon next to a lipstick-holding Los Angeles Times owner Patrick Soon-Shiong and bowing Mickey Mouse. Telnaes said the cartoon “criticizes the billionaire tech and media chief executives who have been doing their best to curry favor with incoming President-elect,” satirizing “these men with lucrative government contracts and an interest in eliminating regulations making their way to Mar-a-lago.”

The Association of American Editorial Cartoonists [AAEC] condemned The Post’s decision, accusing the newspaper of “craven censorship” and “political cowardice":

“Editorial cartooning is the tip of the spear in opinion, and the Post’s cowering further soils their once-stellar reputation for standing up and speaking truth to power. We weep for the loss of this once great newspaper.”

 The AAEC then called on other cartoonists to finish Telnaes’ sketch and post it online in a show of solidarity.

After resigning, though, Ann Telnaes created another cartoon and here it is:


Saturday, January 11, 2025

Why Is It ...

… that I want to start booing people during conversations that don’t interest me.

… that when I was a kid I could fall ten feet off the monkey bars, jump up and yell, ‘I’m fine,’ but these days when I try to scoop ice cream that’s a little to frozen I dislocate my shoulder.

… that I find myself at that age where the only club you’re gonna catch me at now is Sam’s Club.

… that my friends don’t understand how to text with purpose. I can’t be Hey, Heying everyday….

… that male bees have it made; they die right after mating. That’s their life. Honey. Nut. Cheerio.

… that most of my co-workers understand what I’m saying just by my facial expressions, eye rolls and slights twitches, but the ones who don’t will do so soon enough.

… that I don’t always go the extra mile but when I do it’s because I missed my exit.

… that there is nothing funnier than hearing a work friend use their fake customer service voice in public and thinking, ‘That’s not the real you.’

… that if it’s the thought that counts, I’d probably be in jail by now.


Friday, January 10, 2025

I Didn't Say It ...

Pete Buttigieg, Secretary of Transportation and the first Senate-confirmed gay Cabinet member, sharing a memory of former President Jimmy Carter:

“President Jimmy Carter’s leadership, intellect, and moral example ennobled our country, during and ever since his presidency. President and Mrs. Carter were also extraordinarily gracious and kind to Chasten and me, receiving us warmly at their home and making us feel like friends even as we sat amazed by their presence and grace. There will not be another like President Carter, but his life and example will continue to make America and the world a better place for generations to come.”

Jimmy Carter was the kind of Christian human all Christians should strive to be, though sadly most political Christians fall well short of the mark.

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Karla Sofía Gascón, trans star of “Emilia Perez,” Golden Globe award-0winning film, speaking at the show:

"I was at the border of suicide. I always thought I was going to have to give up this work that I love and that I would end up on the streets. There was a moment where I had to confront a lot of people in the industry and in my personal life. I don't know why, but there are people that take a lot of joy in destroying other people's lives. Even now, there are still people who write horrible things to me. In France, there was a whole campaign against me when I received the (Cannes) award. There are people who think they can destroy others whom they consider weak, but they found their match with me. I'm a warrior. I chose these colors tonight, the Buddhist colors, because I have a message for you: The light always wins over darkness. You can maybe put us in jail. You can beat us up, but you never can take away our soul, our existence, our identity. And I want to say to you: Raise your voice for freedom. I am who I am, not who you want. Thank you so much."

Stand tall, stand proud, speak up; Silence = Death.

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Debbie Wasserman-Schultz, Florida Democrat Representative, on The Felon’s desire to “take back” the Panama Canal:

“It is utterly preposterous to suggest that we are going to send our military into Panama to, quote, ‘take back the Panama Canal.’ We have a treaty with Panama. We have a free trade agreement with Panama. We are no more going to take back the Panama Canal than Panama is going to come in and try to take the Mississippi River from us.”

But his ignorance, along with that of the goose-stepping, fear-mongering GOP traitors to America, might try to make it happen.

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Adam Kinzinger, former GOP Congressman and Country over Party patriot, on the MAGAt infighting:

“So Elon Musk stripped the blue check because someone hurt his feelings? Dude lay off the ketamine, talk to a therapist, help the poor, retire, talk to your kids, and grow up. He’s going to keep strangling this place. If you love him great, but don’t pretend he’s for free speech.”

Elon is as much for Free Speech as The Felon is for the Me Too movement.

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Linda Lavin, who passed away last week, recalling the second episode of her TV series Alice and how it featured a gay character:

“There was a football player friend of Mel’s who came to town. He was big, and tall, and handsome and blonde and he invited me out to dinner ... And then he came back to the apartment, we’re sitting on the sofa, and Alice is very fond of this guy and wondering why he is not more attentive or affectionate. So she starts asking him little questions like ‘Are you married?’ ‘No,’ he says. ‘Are you engaged?’ ‘No,’ he says, ‘I’m gay,’ and that’s the end of act one ... [When Alice tells Mel about his friend] he says ‘You’re crazy. He’s a football player, and he’s all man and he’s not gay,’ and that’s Mel. That’s his small-minded, bigoted … he had planned this hunting trip with his friend and they were going to also take Tommy [Alice’s son but] ... Alice didn’t want Tommy to go hunting with this guy [because of her] homophobia, her ignorance, her fear. [But] then she submits to the reality that they have made this plan and they’re going to go, and she grows up. She grows up. She accepts the situation. In a half hour, she grows up in what took us maybe as a generation, 100 years. [When Tommy returns he’s upset at shooting a deer] so, it went from the place of homophobia, of fear, of a strange invasion into her life of something she didn’t know how to handle, to something even more serious, which was a child’s loss of innocence. The more we come out of those closets, the more we accept each other, and I think that’s what television can do.”

All that from a TV sitcom and a wonderfully evolved and smart woman. Brilliant

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President Joe Biden and Dr, Jill Biden, on Jimmy Carter’s passing:

“Over six decades, we had the honor of calling Jimmy Carter a dear friend. But, what’s extraordinary about Jimmy Carter, though, is that millions of people throughout America and the world who never met him thought of him as a dear friend as well. He was a man of great character and courage, hope and optimism. We will always cherish seeing him and Rosalynn together. The love shared between Jimmy and Rosalynn Carter is the definition of partnership and their humble leadership is the definition of patriotism. He showed that we are great nation because we are a good people—decent and honorable, courageous and compassionate, humble and strong.”

I see a lot of Jimmy in Joe Biden; I hope his life post-presidency is as filled with hope and joy and love as his good friend’s life.

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Thursday, January 09, 2025

Bobservations

I don’t really have a Carlos story, though he is still planning a vacation for us at the end of January, in time for my birthday and to take the onus off Fuckuary, my least favorite month.

I have been trying to get details from him and he’s very good at secret keeping. I don’t know if we’re flying, boating, trainspotting, hiking or driving, going South or North or East or West, or what clothes to pack and for what occasions.

I’m starting to wonder if he’s gonna hire a driver and drop me off somewhere, in the middle of nowhere, and make me fight my way home.

Pray I make it …

This Tuxedo Says is from June 2020:

It’s hard remembering which day of the week it is, or even, sometimes, which month. Tuxedo feels your pain …

The Felon is claiming that all his plans, including his tax cuts for the richest Americans will be paid for by the tariffs.

Yes, he’s that stupid if he thinks we believe this, and MAGAts are even stupider because they are buying it.

Earlier this week I once again declared my lust for Stanley Tucci and bald men, but I need to make it clear: it’s not all bald men, especially ones who look like a lump of unmolded clay or a giant eraser head:

I didn’t have the time to do a fashion roundup for the Golden Globes so I will just give you my Best Look and my Worst Look:

My BFF Nikki Kidman rocking a 60’s hairdo and a sexy backless number wins hands down while Kerry Washington looks like she stole a cheap pink sheet from the No-Tell  Motel on Hollywood Blvd. and is doing the Walk of Shame is my Worst Dressed.

PS Kerry’s hair; oh, honey, no … no.

While Vice President Kamala Harris was swearing in the recently elected senators for their new terms, she greeted new Senator Ruben Gallego, his wife who was carrying their young daughter, and his son. Harris asked Gallego’s about how their day was going and the boy replied:

“I’m sorry you didn’t win.”

Harris hugged him and said:

“Oh, you know what, sweetheart? But you know what? Do you worry about it because there’s still so much work to do. We’re not defeated.You know what that word defeated means?”

Just think, we could have more of that instead of a race baiting traitor.

Nancy Mace’s hopes of banning transgender women from sharing a bathroom with her on Capitol Hill appear dashed for now after her proposed controversial bathroom ban was not included in the GOP’s House rules package unveiled this week—a surprise omission less than two months after Speaker Mike Johnson reportedly assured Mace it would be included.

Be gone, Nancy Mace, before someone drops a house on you.

Aaron Pierre is an English actor who trained at the London Academy of Music and Dramatic Art and has appeared in the period drama miniseries The Underground RailroadOld and Mufasa but who cares about that: Would You Hit It? 


Wednesday, January 08, 2025

Architecture Wednesday: Denver Four Square

Step into the timeless elegance of this meticulously reimagined 1912 Denver Square, a captivating blend of classic charm and modern sophistication. Purchased on its 100th birthday in 2012 it was lovingly transformed to echo the spirit of a boutique hotel in Paris, with clean lines and refined details throughout.

As you enter, a sense of grandeur envelops you, with marble tile flooring guiding you through the entryway and into the living with its original brick walls exposed, elegant panel molding and a dramatic black fireplace.

An open-concept kitchen—a chef's dream—beckons with its expansive layout and luxurious marble countertops, while the adjacent dining room with built-in China hutch opens to a cozy family room retreat with French doors leading to the outside; and just off the kitchen is a boldly colored pantry and laundry area that also opens to the back garden.

Upstairs a solarium, a peaceful sanctuary bathed in natural light, serves as an extension of the master bedroom, complete with a walk-out terrace, en-suite bath and walk-in closets. On the same floor are another bedroom, home office and bathroom, while the basement level features two more bedrooms and a bath, as well as additional laundry space.

This home is a touch of the old with a dash of the new, with both history and a hint at the future in its walls.

As always, click yo emBIGGERate …

Dwell