New cartoons: 50 Shots, Racist Kramer, and more
Plus: Check out my "Itty-Bitty Paycheck Funpages" cartoon in the latest issue of Bitch (Feminist Response to Pop Culture) magazine.

I guess 41 isn't excessive enough anymore. Last weekend five police fired 50 shots at three innocent black men leaving a bachelor party in Queens, killing 23-year-old Sean Bell on his wedding day. It's a far-too-familiar story, and it's a crime, not just a tragic accident. And there's no reason to think it won't happen again and again.

If you haven't seen Michael "Kramer" Richards' rant yet, it's on TMZ. I hope his career is over, but if Trent Lott can come back as Senate Majority Leader after his pro-segregation comments, maybe there's a future for Richards in the GOP leadership.

That was three weeks ago, but it looks like my spineless Democratic nightmare is already coming true. Ted Rall has some good cartoons about it.

By the way, I realize this blog is way more sporadic than usual, but I've been working on an extra cartooning project that can not as yet be revealed to the public.

P.S. In non-secret projects, I've got a two-page cartoon spread about the wage gap in the Winter 2007 of Bitch magazine, on newsstands starting tomorrow. It's called the "Itty-Bitty Paycheck Fun Pages" and it's a collaboration with writer and journalist E.J. Graff.

Mikhaela in Celebrity Auction: Win Your Yucky Body!
Oh, and Alison Bechdel and Katha Pollitt and other folks are donating prizes, too.

One of my original cartoons is part of an eBay auction (ending Dec. 5) to benefit the awesome Center for New Words in Cambridge, MA (an organization that holds an annual convention on Women and the Media that always features a cartooning panel). The winner gets to choose one of four original cartoons, such as Your Yucky Body or Conservative Children's Classics, and you also get a lovely archival color print to go with your original.

And if you don't win my cartoon, you can always buy one directly from me for that special holiday gift--they generally go for about $160 and always include an archival color print. Here's an example of what one of the originals in the auction looks like. Hint, hint.

Other cartooning prizes up for bid:
• Legendary cartoonist JENNIFER CAMPER designs your tattoo
• Original art from an ALISON BECHDEL strip

Notable non-cartooning related items on the block:
• MICHELLE TEA reads your tarot cards
• Go to a movie with Bitch co-founder LISA JERVIS
• A signed limited edition broadside from MARGARET ATWOOD
• DOROTHY ALLISON records your outgoing voicemail message
• KATHA POLLITT edits your manuscript
• Novelist THISBE NISSEN names a character in her next book after you
• Former Head Writer for Six Feet Under JILL SOLOWAY edits your script

Here's the link to all the auctions. Bid early and often!

New cartoons: Fallen Republican Heroes and more
Rejoice now, before the disillusionment sets in I actually started drawing this cartoon with Allen and Santorum on election night, but I had to wait until today for Allen to officially concede and make it true. Rumsfeld was an added bonus! I was born and raised in Massachusetts, and man, does it EVER feel good to see a liberal Democrat (Deval Patrick) in the governor's mansion again. About damn time.

Anyway, I've been neglecting this blog for a month, so here's the rest of what you've missed, in no particular order. Click to enlarge!

P.S. I only started cartooning regularly in 2002, so I've often been asked "What will you have to draw about if the Republicans aren't in charge?" Honestly, I can't wait to find out. I'm far to the left of the mainstream Democratic party, but they can't possibly do nearly half of a fraction of an ounce as much evil per day as the GOP... so maybe I'll have a little time to draw cartoons about fashion or relationships or life or something. Only time will tell.