I follow British editorial cartoonists and cartooning organizations on twitter so this morning there were several posts about the death of Tony Benn, a revered figure in UK politics. I have to admit I wasn’t aware of the impact he had on British politics. Listen to what he says about democracy and money in politics- and take a look at his ‘Five questions of Power’:
I’m afraid I have to agree with Benn that “It’s questionable whether either in America or Britain we have a democracy” when money is considered speech by the Supreme Court. See questions 2, 3, 4.
Author: Ann
More sketches of CPAC 2014 speakers
CPAC 2014
The crazy conservatives are back in town. A few of the speakers:
Anti-gay discrimination in the name of religion
I cannot tell you how furious I get when hearing a politician or representative from a special interest group trying to justify these so-called “Religious Freedom” bills now making their way through several state legislatures. These bills would allow businesses to deny services to gays because of the employer’s religious beliefs- which isn’t any different from not allowing blacks to sit at lunch counters reserved for white customers.
My take at the Washington Post
UPDATE: Arizona Governor Jan Brewer vetoes bill
RELATED: Oklahoma judge rules Texas’ gay marriage ban unconstitutional; cites “state-imposed inequality”
George W Bush still doesn’t get it
This past Sunday ABC’s This Week ran an interview with the former president where he talked about his involvement with veterans and the difficulties they face when re-entering civilian life. At one point Bush gets somewhat emotional and says “I’m in there with them”. No, you’re not. You (and your administration) are the reason so many are in a place where you are not.
Kiev
Terrible news in Kiev this morning and not a peep from Putin.
Sochi sketch
I haven’t watched the Olympics for years (not a fan of the media turning every US athlete’s life into a production number) but I did watch some of the ice dancing this year. I especially enjoyed watching Meryl Davis and Charlie White’s performances, not just for their abilities but for the caricature potential. I couldn’t resist Davis’ perfect porcelain doll features and White’s crazy hair.
CalArts, A113, and Bill Moore
The March issue of Vanity Fair has an article about the the early character animation program at California Institute of the Arts, better known as CalArts. It focuses mainly on the students who attended when the program first started in 1975 and a few years afterwards. Even if you’re not in the animation business you’ll recognize some of these names: Tim Burton, John Lasseter, Brad Bird, Glen Keane, Nancy Beiman, Jerry Rees, Mike Giaimo, John Musker, to name a few. It really is amazing all that talent came from a small art school within the span of a few years.
The article gives the reader some behind-the-scenes glimpses into life as a character animation student at CalArts; the life drawing classes (which for many students was their first introduction to nude models), the infamous Halloween parties, the meaning behind the room A113, and the profound impact one of the teachers had on so many of the students.
That teacher was Bill Moore. Formerly from the famous Chouinard Art Institute, he taught color and design and was the one who influenced so many of the students in the character animation program. I attended CalArts in the early 80’s and had Moore as my teacher during my first year, the last class he taught before becoming ill. As the article mentions, he was quite a character and very intimidating. I remember agonizing over projects and the fear which would fill the classroom when he walked in to review our efforts, hung on the wall for review. We all had heard the legend of Bill Moore (who always had a lit cigarette in his hand) setting on fire any work he didn’t like. But he was a wonderful teacher. I learned everything I know about design from Bill Moore. And even though he sometimes came across as too tough, too insensitive- I still have a vivid memory of him briefly letting his cranky persona down.
At the end of particularly stressful design class my classmates and I retreated to our animation desks to resume work on our pencil tests and lick our wounds. My friend and cubicle mate, Lynette was especially irritated with Moore that day and decided to challenge him as he walked looking around as he did occasionally after class. Why do you act that way when you teach, she asked him. Do you have to be so rude? I expected him to reply with his usual one-liners but instead his expression softened and said “because when you get out there it’ll be much worse”.
Notes from my first day in Bill Moore’s class
A design assignment for Bill Moore’s class- 1983 (I recall him not being particularly impressed)
Taiwan & China hold first direct talks since 1949
With the Olympics underway and the non-stop Chris Christie coverage, you’re probably not going to get much mention of this historic development in the American media. I worked and lived in Taipei for a short time in the late 1980’s and although I wasn’t interested in politics at the time, I remember very well when my taxicab driver proudly explained to me how Taiwan had many big guns pointed on their north shore towards mainland China in the event of an invasion.
A soldier’s 10th deployment
Last night’s State of the Union proved Speaker Boehner really does need an intervention for his tanning bed use, VP Biden has now officially turned into your crazy old uncle, and the GOP has jumped the shark in choosing patriotic backdrops (notice the apples; pie anyone?) for their SOTU responses. But what continues to stick in my mind is the moment when President Obama introduces Army Sergeant 1st class Cory Remsburg. No, not because of the two minute standing ovation he received and the understandable emotional reaction people (and myself) had- but to this line in Obama’s introduction:
“A few months later, on his tenth deployment, Cory was nearly killed by a massive roadside bomb in Afghanistan.”
His 10th deployment. Think about that for a minute.
Plenty of news orgs are characterizing this as the SOTU high point, but I haven’t read any stories or heard any of the talkingheads this morning pointing out the outrageousness of a soldier on his 10th deployment and how it illustrates the constant state of war this country is in. Our politicians are great at waving flags and giving standing ovations for injured soldiers while ignoring what this does to a country and its people’s souls.
W. Virginia Gov. Earl Ray Tomblin: drink the water at your own risk
The governor from West Virginia is certainly earning his pay. At a news conference yesterday Tomblin said that area residents should make their own decisions about drinking the water from West Virginia American Water’s Elk River plant after the Jan. 9th chemical spill. That’s right, your representatives will continue to fight any meaningful regulations protecting your air and water and when something happens, you’re on your own.
West Virginia chemical spill
The spill happened last Thursday but it looks like the MSM is finally understanding the magnitude of this story after the Sunday morning talk shows ignored it. It’s still a developing story, but there’s at least one question which should be answered: Why is a chemical substance which hasn’t been tested for humans allowed to be housed near a river which supplies water to communities?
For more on the spill and methylcyclohexane
For more coverage, go to The Charleston Gazette.
For my animation on the subject, from Monday