Wednesday, February 29, 2012

Scams

Dry Bones cartoon: Scam, Nigerian, email, ,
The bogus Nigerian scam emails seem so obviously phoney to us ...now. But outrageous scams often seem silly only in retrospect. Did you ever hear the story of George Parker? No?

According to Wikipedia:

"George Parker (1870–1936) was one of the most audacious con men in American history. He made his living selling New York's public landmarks to unwary tourists. His favorite object for sale was the Brooklyn Bridge, which he sold twice a week for years. He convinced his marks that they could make a fortune by controlling access to the roadway. More than once police had to roust naive buyers from the bridge as they tried to erect toll barriers."

Other public landmarks he sold included the original Madison Square Garden[citation needed], the Metropolitan Museum of Art, Grant's Tomb and the Statue of Liberty. George had many different methods for making his sales. When he sold Grant's Tomb, he would often pose as the general's grandson. He even set up a fake "office" to handle his real estate swindles. He produced impressive forged documents to prove that he was the legal owner of whatever property he was selling. He also successfully sold several successful shows and plays, of which he had no legal ownership.

Parker was convicted of fraud three times. After his third conviction on December 17, 1928 he was sentenced to a life term at Sing Sing Prison by a Judge McLaughlin in the Kings County Court. He spent the last eight years of his life there behind bars. He was popular among guards and fellow inmates alike who enjoyed hearing of his exploits. George is remembered as one of the most successful con men in the history of the United States, as well as one of history's most talented hoaxers. His exploits have passed into popular culture, giving rise to phrases such as "and if you believe that, I have a bridge to sell you", a popular way of expressing a belief that someone is gullible." -more

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Tuesday, February 28, 2012

Fill ér Up (1982)

Dry Bones

(1982) Dry Bones cartoon: Economy, gasoline, fuel, Automobiles, Shuldig, Optimism,
Today's Golden Oldie is from 1982.

Thirty years ago this month!

Another "I could run it today as is" cartoons! It shows Mr. Shuldig in a wildly "look at the bright side" optimist mood.

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Monday, February 27, 2012

Fill 'er Up!

Dry Bones cartoon: printers, Technology, gasoline, fuel, ink, Economy,
All this bellyaching about the high price of gasoline at American Gas stations?? Folks are freaking as prices pass $5 per gallon?!!

What I am upset about is the price of computer printer ink !
Recent conservative calculations show that computer ink is being sold to us at a price of between $5,000 and $6,000 per gallon. At those prices they should be giving us their ink-guzzling printers for free!

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Friday, February 24, 2012

Facing Iran

Dry Bones cartoon: Iran, Europe, Appeasement, WMD, Nukes, boycott, ban, the West, Israel,
"World Leaders?:
Fears grow of Israeli attack on Iran
JERUSALEM - "For the first time in nearly two decades of escalating tensions over Iran's nuclear programme, world leaders are genuinely concerned that an Israeli military attack on the Islamic Republic could be imminent - an action many fear might trigger a wider war, terrorism and global economic havoc.

"High-level foreign dignitaries, including the United Nations chief and the head of the American military, have visited Israel in recent weeks to urge its leaders to give the diplomatic process more time to work. Israel seems unmoved, and United States Defense Secretary Leon Panetta has reportedly concluded that an Israeli attack on Iran is likely in the coming months." -more

Just in from Reuters:

Russia: Israeli attack on Iran would be catastrophe
After UN nuclear watchdog declares collapse in talks with Tehran, Russian FM says military action would have dangerous consequences; Khamenei: "Pressures, sanctions and assassinations will bear no fruit.

"Russia warned Israel not to attack Iran over its nuclear program, saying on Wednesday that military action would have catastrophic consequences." -more

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Thursday, February 23, 2012

Conditions for Peace (2002)

Dry BonesFebruary 11, 2002

(2002) Dry Bones cartoon: Muslim, Islamists, Arabs, Middle East, Peace,
Today's Golden Oldie was done 10 years ago this month.

Another cartoon that is as depressingly true today as it was ten years ago!

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Wednesday, February 22, 2012

Iranian Game Plan

Dry Bones cartoon: Iran, Europe, Appeasement, WMD, Nukes, boycott, ban
"They won't buy": according to the Times of India:
India, China plan sharp cuts to Iran oil imports as US presure mounts

BEIJING/NEW DELHI: "India, China and Japan are planning cuts of at least 10 per cent in Iranian crude imports as tightening US sanctions make it difficult for the top Asian buyers to keep doing business with the OPEC producer.

The countries together buy about 45 percent of Iran's crude exports. The reductions are the first significant evidence of how much crude business Iran could lose in Asia this year as Washington tries to tighten a financial noose around Tehran.

The cuts would add to a European Union ban on Iran oil imports, which comes into effect on July 1," -more

"They won't sell": from FARS Iranian News Agency:

Iranian Oil Minister Issues Ultimatum to EU Members

TEHRAN (FNA)- Iranian Oil Minister Rostam Qassemi called on the European countries to make a final decision on oil imports from Iran, warning that they will be sanctioned by Tehran otherwise.

"Iran has recently imposed a ban on oil exports to Britain and France as the main two states which pushed the EU to sanction oil imports from Iran.

Tehran's Sunday decision to cut oil supplies to Britain and France came after the EU member states decided to impose a ban on Iranian oil, but said that they would put their decision into effect after six months in a bid to find a replacement for Iranian energy supplies." -more

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Tuesday, February 21, 2012

Oy! (1983)

Dry Bones

(1983) Dry Bones cartoon: King Solomon, Pessimism, Optimism,
Today's Golden Oldie is from 1983.

It's one of the cartoons that was selected to be included in the traveling Dry Bones exhibit/catalog which will be released on April 20th 2012.

It's part of my having been awarded the "Golden Pencil" award from the Israeli Museum of Caricature and Comics for my "lifetime achievement".

In addition, I've been appointed a Senior Fellow of SIGNAL (Sino-Israel Global Network & Academic Leadership)

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Monday, February 20, 2012

His eMail problem

Dry Bones cartoon: email,  Technology, Shuldig, guilt,
I use Mr. Shuldig as my alter ego.
To say what I'm thinking.
Today's effort is embarrassingly close to what I'm going through.
Too many email addresses!

Yikes!

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Friday, February 17, 2012

Iran, Israel, and History

Dry Bones cartoon: Iran, Israel,  Holy War, War, Terrorism, Ahmadinejad, Shi'ite, Islamists,  Islamism,
I find the use of Mr. History to be comforting.

It's because he's looking back at our problems after they're over. In our history.

So the question I'd ask is: "Did you find the cartoon comforting? funny? depressing?"

Nu?

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Thursday, February 16, 2012

Strikes, Snow, and a One-Day Weekend (1982)

Dry BonesFebruary 05, 1982

(1982) Dry Bones cartoon: Snow, Jerusalem, Strike, Weekend,
Today's Golden Oldie is from 30 years ago this month.
February 1982.

Interesting that the latest local Israeli news at this moment is about the short nasty strikes we've been having and the prediction of a snow storm in Jerusalem this upcoming one-day weekend.

Sigh.

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Wednesday, February 15, 2012

Bombing Attacks

Dry Bones cartoon: Naive Newsman, terror, Israel, Islamism, Iran, Media,
The Western news media coverage of the "Israel story" has been anti-Israel for quite some time.

A while ago I started playing with a character I called the Naive Newsman. The premise was that he is too naive to understand the slant he's supposed to put onto the news. I've become tired of the idea so, with the latest series of Iranian-backed Islamist terror attacks, I decided to show that he is no longer naive.

He's "ready for prime time"!

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Tuesday, February 14, 2012

Money Money Money (1987)

Dry BonesFebruary 04, 1987

(1987) Dry Bones cartoon: Kirschen King Solomon, Economy, Kibbutz, West Bank, Settlements, Taxation,
Today's Golden Oldie is from 25 years ago this month.
February 1982.

Yup.
Another old cartoon that I could run today as is!

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Monday, February 13, 2012

Israeli Income

Dry Bones cartoon: Knesset,  Economy, economic crisis, Strike, ,
Here in Israel we are having labor problems. We just went through a general strike. One sector, however, has no problems. It just gave itself a retroactive raise in pay. Yup. The Knesset.

Details from the Jerusalem Post:

MKs unanimously approve raising their salaries

"One day before a planned general strike by the Histadrut labor federation over contract workers, the Knesset House Committee on Tuesday voted to give MKs a monthly raise of almost NIS 1,200, as well as a one-time payment of almost NIS 15,000.

MKs’ salaries are raised according to increases in the country’s average salary. In 2008, the increase was 3.3 percent. In 2009 there was a freeze.

The freeze remained in effect until now, although in 2010 a public panel that determines MK salaries recommended that legislators receive another 3.3% raise, which came to NIS 1,191 per month, with the updated monthly salary being NIS 40,891.

The eight MKs attending Tuesday’s House Committee meeting, all of whom were from the coalition, voted in favor of the raise.

MKs will also receive a one-time payment totaling NIS 14,995, representing a retroactive raise for January 2012 and all of 2011."-more

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Saturday, February 11, 2012

Cartoonist Award

Letters Fron Dry Bones
Letters Fron Dry Bones
Exciting News! : I wanted to share the good news with you so I'll just quote Arutz Sheva:
Dry Bones: 40 Years of Zionist Cartooning
Long-running political cartoon Dry Bones to receive award from the Israeli Museum of Caricature and Comics.

"The political cartoon Dry Bones and its creator, Yaakov Kirschen, will receive the Israeli Museum of Caricature and Comics’ “Golden Pencil” award next week. The prize is awarded annually as a lifetime achievement award and a prize designed to encourage creative young artists and students.-more (including video interview)

Video Interview:

To see the Arutz Sheva interview with Kirschen on YouTube, just click on YouTube Interview

Letters Fron Dry BonesFor info on how to help us please click on DONATE

Thanx
blog@mrdrybones.com
Yaakov Kirschen

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Friday, February 10, 2012

War in Syria

Dry Bones cartoon: Alawite, Sunni, Shia, Iran, Syria, Islam, genocide, Russia, China, Assad,
Russia and China are being demonized in the West for not signing on to a one-sided UN condemnation ...against the Iran-backed Assad forces and ignoring the Moslem Brotherhood-backed Sunni forces. Any theory that I might present to explain the situation would make me sound like a conspiracy nut. So what do YOU think is really going on?

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Thursday, February 09, 2012

Syria (1982)

February 12, 1982

(1982) Dry Bones cartoon: Muslim Brotherhood, Alawite, Assad, Syria, unrest, religion,
Today's Golden Oldie is from 30 years ago this month. February 1982. What was going on? Syrian President Assad's Alawite forces were massacring rebelling Sunnis.

According to Wikipedia

"The Hama massacre occurred in February 1982, when the Syrian army, under the orders of the country's president, Hafez al-Assad, conducted a scorched earth operation against the town of Hama in order to quell a revolt by the Sunni Muslim community against the regime of al-Assad.The Hama massacre, carried out by the Syrian Army under commanding General Rifaat al-Assad, President Assad's younger brother, effectively ended the campaign begun in 1976 by Sunni Islamic groups, including the Muslim Brotherhood, against Assad's regime, whose leaders were disproportionately from president Assad's own Alawite sect.

Diplomatic reports from western countries stated that about 1,000 were killed. The Syrian Government characterized the claims as lies and accused countries of "flagrant interference in Syria's domestic affairs."

Based on its sources, Amnesty International estimated that between between 5,000 to 25,000 were killed in the fighting on all sides. -more

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Wednesday, February 08, 2012

Tu BeShvat

Dry Bones cartoon: Tu B'Shvat, Jewish Culture, Holidays, Tu B'Shvat,  Tu Beshvat, Trees, New Year, Environment, Judaism,

Hag Sameah!

Happy Holiday!

You can check out previous Tu B'Shvat cartoons by clicking on
TREES.

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Tuesday, February 07, 2012

New Year of the Trees (1981)

January 16, 1981

Click on the cartoon below to open a larger, more readable version of this full page Dry Bones Special:
1981 Dry Bones cartoon Tu BeShvat, Tu B'Shvat, Shuldig, Doobie, Holidays, Jewish Culture, Jewish, Judaism,

Tomorrow is Tu B'Shvat. The Jewish New Year of the Trees. I'm posting this Golden Oldie full page cartoon from a Tu B'Shvat way back in 1981. Back then I was doing a weekly full-page "Weekend Dry Bones" cartoon in the Jerusalem Post. In this Golden Oldie we see Doobie the Dog eager to find out what this week's page will be about, and about what "role" he'll be playing in it..

Mr. Shuldig often represents my sweetest, most Zionist, most Shmaltz-ladden feelings. Doobie the dog is there to represent my more cynical (down to earth?) side.

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Monday, February 06, 2012

Assad the Alawite

Dry Bones cartoon: Alawite, Sunni, Shia, Iran, Syria, Islam, genocide4
Assad is not "killing his own people"! What is really going on in Syria is a war between the ruling Alawites (a kind of offshoot sect of Shia Islam) and the Sunni Moslems. So the Iranian Shias are backing the Alawites and Al Queda backs the Sunnis.

To understand the picture that the main stream media won't show you click on a Reuters report called Against Syrian anger, Assad’s Alawite Muslim sect feels fear.

So if Assad's people (Israel's mortal enemies) face genocide and ethnic cleansing in Syria, what does the Jewish State do? According to the Cyprus Mail:

Israel readies for Alawite refugees if Asssad falls

"Israel is making preparations to house refugees from Syrian President Bashar al-Assad's minority Alawite sect should his government fall, Israel's military chief told a parliamentary committee today.

"On the day that the regime falls, it is expected to result in a blow to the Alawite sect. We are preparing to take in Alawite refugees on the Golan Heights," a committee spokesman quoted Lieutenant-General Benny Gantz as saying."-more

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Friday, February 03, 2012

CAPTCHA

Dry Bones cartoon: Captcha, Shuldig, Computers, Technology, hi tech,
The annoying "prove you are a human being by showing that you can read messed-up letters" is called a CAPTCHA, which is an acronym for "Completely Automated Public Turing test to tell Computers and Humans Apart".

The "Turing test" is a fascinating test proposed by Alan Turing in 1950, and important to computer scientists, theorists, and dabblers in Artificial Intelligence. You can read about it at Wikipedia's entry about Turing test

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Thursday, February 02, 2012

Thou Shalt Not (1992)

February 10, 1992

(1992) Dry Bones cartoon: Israel,  Kosher, Politics, religion,
Today's Golden Oldie cartoon is from 20 years ago this month. February 1992. Sigh. Another of those cartoons that could be run today without any changes.

BTW, If you don't know about mixing wool and linen, it's called shatnez. For the whole story check out the ShatnezTtesters of America.

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Wednesday, February 01, 2012

Cyberwar

Dry Bones cartoon: hacking, Computers, War, Nerds, Technology, Wikileaks,
Latest Report:
Cyberwar report: Israel, Finland best prepared for conflict
31st January 2012 16:01 GMT

Analysis: Israel, Finland and Sweden are more prepared than larger nations to fight a conflict in cyberspace, according to a McAfee-backed cyber-defence study.

The study, Cyber-security: The Vexed Question of Global Rules, is based on interviews with experts in the nascent field by by McAfee and Security & Defence Agenda, a defence think-tank. No metrics are involved in the study, which even McAfee admits is largely subjective. Brussels-based SDA based its conclusions on "in-depth interviews with some 80 world-leading policy-makers and cyber-security experts" in government, business and academia in 27 countries as well as an anonymous survey of 250 world leaders in 35 countries.

For the record, among the key findings of the report are the contention that the state of cyber-readiness of the US, Australia, UK, China and Germany all rank behind that of smaller countries such as Israel, Sweden and Finland. -more

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