Spies like us.

What is it about human kind? Many of us are innately driven to spy on our fellow humans. Not only in the interests of group security (which may be justified in some circumstances, since our species seems to naturally spawn dangerously evil desire in defective minds)... but also, simply because we CAN!

The habit affects us in all walks of life. Particularly rife in politics and business, it is doubtless driven by power-lust, pre-occupation with secrecy, envy and meglomania. More often than not, the only fruit it bears is intense embarrassment for the perpetrator(s), as is the case today with Australia as a corporate entity in its relationship with Indonesia.

My reaction is ... serves us bloody right!

Full circle?

Today's cartoon is a kind of addendum to one posted within the past week. The new PM appears to have closed the boat loop by looping the loop? He started off sloganeering to stop boats... now he's giving them away!

Let's hope there's no basis to reports alleging that some elements of the Sri Lancan navy are up to their elbows in facilitating people-smuggling, rather than actively participating in efforts to stop the trade!

Small Potatoes

As I've probably mentioned here previously, my favourite branch of the cartooning game has always been comic strips. Of course, the subjects and formats a 'toonist is invited to deal with, almost always dictate the form of humorous illustration to be used. Only rarely does the scope of op/ed work (in which most of my contracted stuff fell) lend itself to the sequential panel method of humorous comment. In their pure form, comic strips were usually free-lanced to publishers as a stand-alone feature. At least, that was my experience during the 'print' era.

Early in the 1980's the editor of a fortnightly national computer news-paper/magazine approached me to author a comic strip, in his words...  'to lighten the tone of the IT jargon-filled organ a little'. Naturally, I jumped at the chance. Despite ZERO experience or familiarity with IT (this was around the time the first Apple desk-top was being launched) I almost immediately had to dream up a story-line which would sustain a feature based on the computer industry for a reasonable period of time. What evolved was Rare-Bits which, after a stuttering start, went on to run for about10 years before it finally died with the whole mast-head itself. More on that saga in the future.

Well into the electronic publishing era (c2004) a second chance at strip work occurred when Travelweek, in which my op/ed cartoons and travel industry 'nabob' caricatures had been appearing since the late 1970s, was undergoing a make-over. Instead of my usual single panel cartoon comment, I suggested we could do a 'sunday' type comic strip which could perhaps explore the humour inherent within the travel industry more adequately than the extant vehicle. My mate, the editor (who had been in charge since I started as a contributor) agreed ... and Small Potatoes was born,

Below is the 'trailer' published the edition before SP proper got aired for the first time in April 2004, plus another example from later in that year. Also, there are a couple from 2005. Interestingly, the 'sand-castle' one was initially rejected because the ed. thought it a little too close to the tsunami event itself

. Can't remember if it was published later ... but, no matter, I was paid anyway.

Vic. parliament shut-down.

Anyone notice? The 'lower'-house in the Victorian state parliament was shut-down until November 26. by the Speaker a couple of days ago. He cited repeated rowdy and unruly behaviour on the part of members. Was that the real reason?

Facts may lead doubters to think the government-appointed speaker was actually motivated by something else. With the government trailing in opinion polls, it has become imperative they avoid a vote on any crucial matter which may lead to toppling them on the floor of the house. They used to 'enjoy' a one seat majority in the house ... counting on the support of a former elected government member who, mid-term, was accused of doing something very naughty in parliamentary terms and, chose (or was obliged?) to resign from the party pending the outcome of legal investigations. For a  time this precarious situation worked... but, a festering relationship with the government in general and, apparently, the speaker in particular, has the allegedly errant 'independant' vowing to vote with the opposition on controversial legislation.

Creating some breathing-space?

Snakes alive!

Local newspapers have alerted denizens of this area to beware of snakes as the weather starts to warm up (hopefully) around the outskirts of greater Melbourne.

Apart from its main safety intent, the warning also triggered today's cartoon in the absence of any other overtly lampoonable breaking news.

Rock spiders.

Not much about today's news to elevate the spirit. Especially, not the disclosure that investigations carried out by international law-enforcement agencies working together, has un-covered a world-wide ring of child pornography peddlars operating in many countries including Australia. One heartening aspect of the affair was the parallel announcement that 65 of the low-lifes have been 'busted' by local cops.

If I truly hate anything with a passion... it is the kind of human pond-scum who abuse children in any way. I hope they put every one of the guilty bastards away for ever!

My word, Clive!

Mr. Palmer caught uttering a JFK speech verbatim as being one of his own?!

What was he thinking? Does he think at all? Or, is he just another buffoon taking his place in the Canberra vaudeville show?

Meanwhile, 'bye to Kevin '07.