Ones that didn't get published

I couldn't believe that people could get fined up to $5,000 for taking someone's empty beer can from a recycling bin. How unbelievably stupid and anal. If you're a person who's called the cops because some poor person was looking through your recycling GARBAGE, then you need to get a life. Now if people who are picking through your recycling GARBAGE are making a mess, you've got a legitimate concern. But that's littering, folks, not theft. And if your a recycling hunter, then be tidy. Don't bite the hand that feeds you.... even if they don't really want to feed you in the first place.

Ones that didn't get published

I really like this one, if I do say so myself. It's just a touch of absurdity. The phrase "checkoff fees" got my imagination running, because it made me think of the famous playwright Anton Checkov. I guess this is what you get for taking too many literature courses. (On the other hand, can you ever have too many literature courses?). If there ever is an annual meeting where they decide to do some theatre, let me know. It could be a gas!

Ones that didn't get published

I feel sorry for Meaford. I really do. It seems like such a nice place and it's a shame they're going thru so many hassels lately. I'm sure there are people who are getting dragged through the muck who don't deserve to be. Time will tell, hopefully, who are the honourable ones and who are the fools.

Ones that didn't get published

I really wish there was a show like this. Of course, the kinds of people who try to keep messing with the public are likely too shrewd to go on a show like this. But it would be fun, wouldn't it?

Ones that didn't get published

How many ways can we find to keep screwing up the lives of our natives? Oh, I guess there are plenty of ways. Multiple Choice Quiz: The European Settlers to this Country have passed on a rich heritage of: A. Stupidity B. Greed C. Deceit D. Broken Promises E. Apathy

Ones that didn't get published: Stephen H. & Day Care pt. 1

This is the one I did first. The one that will be right below this one is the 2nd one I did. I wasn't totally satisfied with this 1st one. I think the 2nd one works a bit better.

Ones that didn't get published: Stephen Harper & Day Care

This is the 2nd one I did that day on this topic. This is the one I like better. Other than very rich people, are there any people out there who wake up each day saying, "Thank God there's a progressive conservative party ruining, er, I meant to say, "running" this country"????

From the cartoon vault: The next few are about Wiarton Willie

I'm pretty sure this one got published several years ago.

From the cartoon vault: Wiarton Willie Auditions

I can't remember if they actually had two or not, or whether I just wondered "What if?". Anyway here's how it might go if they had one who was just not right for the role, competing against one who was just right.

From the cartoon vault: Wee Willie (a new Wiarton Willie)

Several years ago, one of the fairly long standing Willie's met an untimely demise and they had to get a new one, who was dubbed "Wee Willie". I just played around with the idea of "big shoes to fill", only it seemed more appropriate to make it "big shadow".

From the cartoon vault: Wiarton Willie

Every once in a while they have to get a new Willie. Every year I imagine he (or she) faces the same pressure.

From the cartoon vault: The next few are in the topic area of Science

I came across this one done around a decade ago. Even bigger telescope projects have just been in the news... again... this past week. It seems some crazy ideas will never die.

From the cartoon vault

Ah, science.... you gotta love it! It seems that no sooner does one scientific body come up with one finding then another group comes up with something just the opposite. Anti bacterial soaps may be more good than bad.... I don't honestly know. But I do know this: I was a child in the 1950's and that's when the whole notion of things just can't be damn clean enough in your household really took off. Of course there were influential advocates of change who were at the head of this movement .... Mr. Clean, Mr. Proctor and Mr. Gamble, Mr. Spic and Mrs. Span, etc. etc. ... and I think they got very rich convincing a whole generation or two that the more chemicals you dumped on things, the safer everything would be.
I think in the last several years, some have begun to question this notion. Many of these people are called environmentalists.

From the cartoon vault: Here's a couple I did on gnetically altered food

Several years ago this was a hot, controversial topic. Nowadays I assume it's fairly routine. Although in the great ying/yang of life, the hot topic today in food is organically grown food. Of course one's cheap and the other is expensive. Seems the big corporations continue to thrive at the expense of the poor, while the rich not only get wealthier, but also healthier.

From the cartoon vault

It seems like it's very wrong for athletes to tamper with their bodies using chemicals, but it seems that the powers that be have said it's o.k. to alter food.... and that we can all put that into our bodies. I'm not saying it's good or bad, I'm just saying it's kind of an interesting paradox.

From the cartoon vault

At one time I think there was talk of famous space pioneer John Glenn going back up into space. I don't know if he ever did it or not, nor do I care. But at the time it seemed kind of funny to me.

Ones that didn't get published

Perhaps one reason this didn't get published is because of the name I gave the dog. At the same time there was some tragic, local story about some dog named "Fi", I believe. At the time I drew and submitted this, I wasn't aware of that story. The "Fi" was not a poodle, as far as I know. When I drew this, I just randomly decided to make the cartoon dog a poodle and it seemed like a good french poodle name is "Fifi". End of story.

Ones that didn't get published

There's an ongoing war going on between these two groups and it's been going from one appeal to another as the decision on this keeps flip flopping. So I just tried to imagine some absurd situation where the two parties are playing a game of scrabble and they both hit on seven letters, including a key blank tile, that will spell out appeals. If you play Scrabble you'll know that seven letter words get you a big bonus score.

Ones that didn't get published

I was actually disappointed that this one didn't make it. But hey, that's show biz.

Ones that didn't get published

Sure, it's important to study things. Right, students? But do we really need to spend so much time and money on things that are fairly obvious? I think sometimes, studies are just ways of postponing doing anything.

Ones that didn't get published

Actually, I doubt very much that Bill has made this resolution. And even if he was to say he was, I'm not sure it would be sincere.... like a lot of resolutions we all make. Anyway I just wanted to play around with the whole idea. If you know your ancient folklore you'll hopefully get the reference to "The Trojan Horse" story.

from the vault: 199?

Several years ago some people were actually annoyed at people who used debit cards under the delusion that it took up too much of their precious time. For a while some grocery stores actually instituted a cash only line to pacify those fools. As a dedicated debit card user, have you ever been in a line where someone who is paying takes minutes shuffling through his or her pockets or purse looking for the exact change? Maybe they should have included an asterik.... "Cash Only* ...*if you
just fork over some money quickly and accept change back.

from the vault: 199?

The dust bunny is named "Harvey" and if you have ever seen the classic Jimmy Stewart movie titled "Harvey" about the guy who thinks he sees a giant bunny named Harvey then you know where that's coming from.

from the vault

Several years ago these laser light pens were new novelties. The most distressing thing about them was they were relatively cheap and they were being sold just about everywhere AS TOYS!!!! Needless to say, a bunch of dumb-ass teens thought it would be great fun to buy them and shine them in people's eyes (which could cause damage) or shine them on the more personal parts of other people's bodies. Even some dumber-ass parents even bought them for their kids. I had one shone in my eyes once, from down a hall, and let me tell you it was no fun for several hours.

from the vault: 1998??? One more Clinton one for now.

Every once-in-a-while I like to get a little more artistic. I'm quite happy with this one which is based on the famous American painting "American Gothic" by an artist named, I think, Grant Wood.

from the vault: 1998???

The Monica is Monica Lewinsky. If you lived during that time, you probably know what I'm talking about. If you don't, then you'll have to check out Bill Clinton's history. By the way... it'll be interesting to see how history text books, in the future, cover this aspect of the Clinton saga.

from the vault: 1998???

I sometimes signed my name using the symbols you see in the bottom right corner. It uses the symbol for man with the circle and arrow, and below that I put a row of Z's (zeees, if you use the Amer. pronunciation. (I'm not American, by the way, ... which is something my spell checker keeps pointing out as it underlines in red every time I use a Canadian spelling.) Plural of man is men... add some Zees and you get Menzies. Clever, if I do say so myself. Anyway, I used to argue with myself on whether I should use a pen name or not. Now, I just use my own name. No ducking, no hiding.

from the vault: 1998???

If you saw the movie "Something About Mary", you'll probably get this joke. If not then you might be scratching your head. After you've scratched enough, you should rent the movie. It's one of the funnier ones of recent years!
P.S. ... In the past, for a time, I signed some cartoons as "Mingus" which is a Scottish variation of the name "Menzies". Actually, I have a way less Scottish blood in me than my name might suggest, but that's another story.

from the vault: 1998