Visit a Swing State, Help Get Out the Vote

Yes, it's messed up that your vote won't count for much if you live in New York or Massachusetts. But that doesn't mean you can't have an influence. My folks, for example, went canvasing for Kerry in New Hampshire. And blog reader Steve M. pointed my attention to Driving Votes, which provides resources and information on how to register voters in swing states.

Mikhaela at SPX, Oct. 2 @ 6 p.m. (DC area)
Sorry for the short notice, but I just realized this myself!

Wow. I've just been invited to speak on a panel about political cartooning at this year's SPX (Small Press Expo) in Bethesda, Maryland. I've never been to SPX before, but I hear it's amazing, and the exhibitor list is quite impressive. Some notables: Keith Knight, Jen Sorensen, Ted Rall, Paige Braddock and Megan Kelso (among many, many others).

SPX runs from Friday Oct. 1-Sunday Oct. 3, but I'll probably just be there Friday and Saturday.

New Cartoon, Four More Years: The Environment
+ please buy my books!

(click panel to see full cartoon)

In which the cartoonist reveals that George W. Bush isn't trying to DESTROY the environment, he's just trying to make it a little more relaxing and well-organized. This cartoon was inspired by watching way too many episodes of "Mission: Organization" and reading too many home decorating magazines. I'm going to be moving to a new apartment in a few months, and I'm making desperate attempts to get rid of some of the mounds of junk, clothes and papers I've accumulated over the years. I'm a packrat and recovering from a severe case of disorganization, and I felt like I was pulling out my own teeth trying to force myself to donate dresses I haven't worn since I was 13 (with the thrifty voice in my head pleading "but they still fit!!!"), and recycle back issues of the Nation.

But unlike my mismatched socks and holey jeans, there are some things you can never have too many of, and that would include owl species (or any species). OK, I'm taking this metaphor too far and it's time for me to take a nap...

I resisted doing the cartoon as a flat-out parody of Martha Stewart Living because (a) I hate to add to the mound of Martha cartoons and (b) I thought with Martha being so much in the news, the point might be obscured. Besides, you can find articles about orgaqnization and storage in any decor or "living" magazine.

This is the first in a series of cartoons about what we might expect from four more years of a Bush presidency, a series that will hopefully be cut very short in November.

P.S. If you want to get new cartoons by email, please joing my mailing list by sending a blank message to newtoons-subscribe@mikhaela.net. And yes, I'm still selling signed books.

Mikhaela in Ms.!
On newsstands now, I think

So I don't know if I mentioned this before, but the wonderful editors at Ms. decided to run one of my cartoons in their new issue--in beautiful glossy color, no less. I don't know if it's on newsstands yet, but it's the issue about women voters with the red stars on the cover.

New Cartoons: Ownership Society, RNC Field Guide, and Man of Compassion
+ please buy my books!

(click panel to see full cartoon)

Yes, I know I've neglected you lately. I've been going camping and doing some wedding photography and such things, so please forgive me. You can always see my toons at In These Times and In the Fray (or just go directly to my cartoons).

P.S. If you want to get new cartoons by email, please joing my mailing list by sending a blank message to newtoons-subscribe@mikhaela.net. And yes, I'm still selling signed books.

P.P.S. I'm curious--my originals are a bit messy, but is there any interest in buying signed high-quality prints and/or originals? Leave a comment if you're interested and I may set that up.