The Times Chickens Out

claytoonz

The New York Times is probably the best newspaper in the United States, if not the entire world, but they have never respected editorial cartoons or cartoonists. While they have reprinted syndicated cartoons (I know this because they’ve reprinted mine), they have never employed a staff cartoonist, and for this, they are quite proud.

However, their international edition has made use of them for years, using syndicated cartoons and hiring cartoonist Patrick Chappatte. Now, after running a cartoon a month and a half ago that drew condemnation for antiSemitism, the Times has decided to stop running political cartoons entirely.

The Times would never ditch opinion columns over one offending columnist, which proves their disrespect for cartoons.

This news gained widespread attention after Chappatte, who did NOT draw the offending cartoon, published a blog post about the Times’ decision. Previously, the Times dropped using syndicated cartoons after the controversy and…

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Commentary #90: “9-year-old boy raises nearly $80K to give bulletproof vests to police K-9s”

This is such a sweet story & Lord knows we need more of those! As problematic as a lot of police officers can be, the dogs deserve protection.

Hot Shot Headlines

Image Credit: Brady’s K-9 Fund (BK9F)

I stumbled upon this story on Facebook recently. Way to go, Brady!

Here’s the link to the post from my local news station:

• 9-year-old boy raises nearly $80K to give bulletproof vests to police K-9s

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In Ohio, the local news has been following Brady Snakovsky for nearly a year now. At that point, in November 2018, Brady had raised enough money to donate more than 50 vests to K-9s in nine states. That’s incredible!

Image Credit: Brady’s K-9 Fund

Bulletproof vests for police K-9s can cost more than $1,000. Brady got the idea when he and his mom were watching an episode of “Live PD,” where a K-9 did not have a bulletproof vest. With his mom’s help, Brady started a GoFundMe.

As of June 2, 2019, Brady has raised enough money to donate 85 vests. Currently, there’s a waiting list of 57…

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An Interview with Author and Cover Creator, Ginger Elinburg

From B’s cover for “Crimson Vows,” I can say that Ginger is incredibly talented! If anyone is searching for a cover artist, please read the interview to learn how you can work with a great one!

B.W. Ginsburg

Today I will be interviewing Ginger Elinburg (@elinburgedits), creator of the book cover for my new novella, Crimson Vows. Ginger is also a talented independent author, known for her books: Wicked Welcome, Whispered Deceit, her newest release, Demon’s Angel, and many others. To check out Ginger’s books, please click the link below:

https://www.amazon.com/Ginger-Elinburg/e/B00HUUC11Y?ref=sr_ntt_srch_lnk_2&qid=1559617650&sr=8-2

How did you get interested in graphic design/designing book covers?

First, I’d like to say thanks for the interview. I’m a little nervous, so I’ll probably make a few typos

I’ve always loved editing photos and creating something new by merging two or more pictures together.

What was the first cover you designed?

The first cover I ever designed was for my own book Wicked Welcome. It was the original cover and I used photos that I had taken myself.

What’s your favorite thing about designing book covers? Your least favorite?

Favorite thing – That *gasp* moment…

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5 Simple Things Restaurants Can Do to Be More Accessible to Fat People

While I don’t normally curse in my own posts, I think the Fluffy Kitten’s cusses are beyond reasonable!

Fluffy Kitten Party

I’ve been thinking a lot about accessibility lately. And it seems like the restaurant world is, too: The Washington City Paper recently published a great, long-form piece by Laura Hayes about the lack of accessibility in D.C.’s restaurants. Today, Washington Post restaurant critic Tom Sietsma announced that he will start including accessibility information in his reviews, after years of being asked about it by his readers. Including information like this in restaurant reviews is important: critics like Sietsma can make or break restaurants, they send business to restaurants’ doors, help fill their tables, and can take their brand to new heights (or severely tarnish it). When a critic slams a particular dish, or a negative review is published, restaurant owners often scramble to make amends and right their wrongs. Food critics wield considerable power. And when they make an effort to call out the ways an establishment is

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New Novella by B.W. Ginsburg – Crimson Vows!

B.W. Ginsburg

Hey everybody! I have some very exciting news. My new novella, Crimson Vows, is now available in ebook and paperback formats on Amazon.com!

Here is what the book’s about:

Emily Bradford has just turned sixteen. She’s about to experience something she never thought possible. As Emily grapples with the fact that she has a special gift and holds the key to stopping a horrible crime, she must work hard to save the life of a young woman and many more to follow.

Vince Ashcroft is not in a good place in his life. His father is abusive, his mother struggles to keep her head above water, and no matter what he does, Vince can’t seem to be truly happy. When faced with an impossible choice, Vince finds himself falling off the edge of sanity and into an ocean of cruelty and malice.

To purchase your copy of Crimson Vows, please…

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Where’s The Pro-Life Crowd?

“Pro-Life” must mean pro-ALL-life. Not just fetal life. Women’s lives. Children’s lives. Prisoners’ lives. ALL LIVES.

claytoonz

Earlier this week, a 16-year-old boy from Guatemala died after being apprehended at the U.S. Border. He is the fifth migrant child since December to die after being apprehended at the U.S. border.

The boy was “found unresponsive” during a routine welfare check Monday morning at Weslaco Station, the facility where he was being held. The boy was taken into custody after crossing the U.S. border in Texas’ Rio Grande Valley on May 13 and was due to be moved into custody of the Department of Health and Human Services Office of Refugee Resettlement, which oversees care of unaccompanied or separated migrant children after they are initially processed by immigration authorities.

Do you have right-wing whackanoodles among your friends and followers on social media? If so, have they been going ape in rejoicing about the numerous abortion bans taking place in red states across the nation? Of course they have…

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… Ready For It? (Giveaway)

If you haven’t read “You Know You Want It,” you really need to check it out. Wanna check it out for free? Check out Carla’s blog post.

Things Carla Loves

On June 11, my debut novel, You Know You Want It, will be available for you to win one of twenty free giveaways.

View this post on Instagram

On June 11, courtesy of @thevoraciousreader, you will have the opportunity to grab one of TWENTY free copies of You Know You Want It. Sign up now and be prepared to receive your free novel (plus hundreds of others!) To grab a FREE copy, you MUST register via #voraciousreaders. A major shout out to @shaunandjessplus8 for letting me know about this great website for upcoming new authors!!! #giveaway #countdown #free #twentybooks #june11 #youknowyouwantit #maryborough #maryboroughauthor #frasercoast #frasercoastauthor #author #writer #indieauthor #indiewriter #writersofinstagram #win #booklovers #bookclub #comingsoon #chance #chancetowin #insta #tagafriend #thingscarlaloves @clementine_ford @bookmarkchronicles @booksbysea

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To receive a free copy, you will need to register with Voracious Readers.

For authors, you can also register your book…

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No Wiggle Room For Women

If & when I figure out how to contact Supreme Court justices to share our objections, – not that it’ll do a whole heckuva lotta good – I’ll let you all know. 😥

claytoonz

Renting a moving truck from U-Haul to go from Alabama to Connecticut will cost somewhere between $600 to $800, depending on the size truck you need. Why did I look this information up? Because, if you’re in Alabama, you need to get out. As a public service, I’m giving you an idea on the cost.

Why did I pick Connecticut? Because some state officials in Connecticut have offered safe haven to Alabamians who wish to escape their state’s new restrictive abortion laws. Though the law isn’t actually legal yet despite the governor signing it, Alabama seeks to become the most restrictive state in regards to abortion. Connecticut, which has codified abortion, is the most progressive on the subject. Alabama wants to ban abortion entirely, even in the case of rape and incest. If this law becomes an actual law, a woman in Alabama impregnated from rape could face a stiffer…

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Men and Mental Health

Nothing is stronger, to me, than sharing your fears, feelings, & concerns. Anyone who tells you different is a jerkwad.

Blind Injustice

As some of my readers know, I’ve had some experiences with intrusive thoughts, which is when one struggles with unwelcome, unpleasant, and upsetting thoughts and ideas. These experiences led me to write about mental health from a faith (Christian faith, more specifically) point-of-view a couple of months ago.

Writing about mental health from a faith perspective is important. However, given the sobering statistic that 77% of those who die by suicide in the United States are men, as well as the fact that we are in the midst of Mental Health Awareness Month, I think it’s important to have a discussion about men and mental health.

The thing about men, at least in the United States, is that
we have expectations connected to our gender identity that make it problematic
to be open about our mental health. We’re taught to be tough, strong, not show weakness,
not…

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