tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-138517072024-03-06T22:29:04.723-08:00Fighting Words BlogAbell Smithhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05093026898879135181noreply@blogger.comBlogger689125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-13851707.post-26278820738703937412010-07-19T16:08:00.000-07:002010-07-19T16:49:07.293-07:00Fighting Words: 7/18/10 Cartoon...<a href="http://www.fightingwordscomics.com/ArchivePages/071810.html"><img src="http://www.fightingwordscomics.com/Toons/338DicksEarmarksTN.jpg" align="middle" border="0" hspace="8" vspace="3" width="250" /></a><br /> <br /> "<b><i><a href="http://www.fightingwordscomics.com/ArchivePages/071810.html">Norm Dicks' Earmarks</a></i></b>"<br /> <br /><br />Been a while since I posted on this blog, so here's a good opportunity. My latest cartoon did not make it into the Kitsap Sun this time, although it was nobody's fault... circumstances of the story changed a bit after I had finished the 'toon.<br /> <br /><br />Rep. Norm Dicks has a long <a href="http://seattletimes.nwsource.com/html/localnews/2012294255_dicks07.html">history</a> of being quite generous in handing out earmarks to local companies, even some to campaign donors such as Port Townsend company Intellichek Mobilisa. Dicks has been under even more scrutiny lately, having emerged from an ethics investigation connected to earmarks, which lead to new self-imposed rules stating that he would "not approve requests for earmarks that are directed to for-profit entities." Of course, Dicks has also garnered attention as the newly-appointed chairman of the powerful Defense Appropriations Subcommittee, taking over for the late John Murtha.<br /> <br /><br />A couple of weeks ago, the HuffPo Investigative Fund released a <a href="http://huffpostfund.org/stories/2010/07/two-sides-same-earmark">report</a> suggesting that Dicks was already finding ways around this new rule, by funneling the earmarks to companies via non-profit groups. In this case, although the earmark was directed to the University of Washington, it appeared as though Intellichek Mobilisa was still receiving money, since they often worked closely with UW on such projects. After HuffPo broke the story, both <a href="http://www.publicbroadcasting.net/kplu/news.newsmain/article/0/1/1673716/KPLU.Local.News/Congressman.Dicks.Responds.To.Earmarks.Story.">Dicks</a> and <a href="http://www.peninsuladailynews.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=2010307119988">Intellicheck Mobilisa</a> rather forcefully denied the report. And then, after the 'toon was done, it <a href="http://seattletimes.nwsource.com/html/localnews/2012359596_dicks15.html">appeared</a> that HuffPo was wavering and might not even stand by their own reporting.<br /> <br /><br />I still think Dicks handled the earmark poorly from a P.R. standpoint if nothing else, even if he didn't technically do anything wrong. I haven't seen anyone deny the fact that the language in previous Intellichek Mobilisa earmarks is nearly identical to the UW earmark, which to me just looks bad. With all the increased scrutiny he's been under, I would've hoped he'd have handled it a bit more tactfully...Abell Smithhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05093026898879135181noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-13851707.post-77572215548722434572010-05-06T14:17:00.000-07:002010-05-06T14:18:16.142-07:00Fighting Words: 5/3/10 Cartoon...<a href="http://www.fightingwordscomics.com/ArchivePages/050310.html"><img src="http://www.fightingwordscomics.com/Toons/334DrillBabyTN.jpg" align="middle" border="0" hspace="8" vspace="3" width="250" /></a><br /> <br /> "<b><i><a href="http://www.fightingwordscomics.com/ArchivePages/050310.html">Drill, Baby, Drill</a></i></b>"<br /> <br />Abell Smithhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05093026898879135181noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-13851707.post-61389296065087028132010-04-21T14:09:00.001-07:002010-04-21T14:09:57.537-07:00Fighting Words: 4/19/10 Cartoon...<a href="http://www.fightingwordscomics.com/ArchivePages/041910.html"><img src="http://www.fightingwordscomics.com/Toons/333TeabagRaffleTN.jpg" align="middle" border="0" hspace="8" vspace="3" width="250" /></a><br /> <br /> "<b><i><a href="http://www.fightingwordscomics.com/ArchivePages/041910.html">Tea Party Raffle</a></i></b>"<br /> <br />Abell Smithhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05093026898879135181noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-13851707.post-66766214852476165652010-04-21T14:08:00.000-07:002010-04-21T14:09:06.568-07:00Fighting Words: 4/12/10 Cartoon...<a href="http://www.fightingwordscomics.com/ArchivePages/041210.html"><img src="http://www.fightingwordscomics.com/Toons/332McKennaRockStarTN.jpg" align="middle" border="0" hspace="8" vspace="3" width="250" /></a><br /> <br /> "<b><i><a href="http://www.fightingwordscomics.com/ArchivePages/041210.html">Behind the Rock Star: Rob McKenna (LOCAL 'TOON)</a></i></b>"<br /> <br /><br /><br />Cartoon #5 for the Kitsap Sun...Abell Smithhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05093026898879135181noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-13851707.post-8425605780060023362010-04-21T14:05:00.000-07:002010-04-21T14:07:59.837-07:00Fighting Words: 4/8/10 Cartoon...<a href="http://www.fightingwordscomics.com/ArchivePages/040810.html"><img src="http://www.fightingwordscomics.com/Toons/331-2WAsalestaxTN.jpg" align="middle" border="0" hspace="8" vspace="3" width="250" /></a><br /> <br /> "<b><i><a href="http://www.fightingwordscomics.com/ArchivePages/040810.html">Tax Store (LOCAL 'TOON)</a></i></b>"<br /> <br /><br /><br />Cartoon #4 for the Kitsap Sun...Abell Smithhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05093026898879135181noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-13851707.post-13700377128120741872010-04-03T15:04:00.000-07:002010-04-03T15:05:36.258-07:00Fighting Words: 4/5/10 Cartoon...<a href="http://www.fightingwordscomics.com/ArchivePages/040510.html"><img src="http://www.fightingwordscomics.com/Toons/330EnvironmentDebateTN.jpg" align="middle" border="0" hspace="8" vspace="3" width="250" /></a><br /> <br /> "<b><i><a href="http://www.fightingwordscomics.com/ArchivePages/040510.html">Debates on the Environment (LOCAL 'TOON)</a></i></b>"<br /> <br /><br /><br />Cartoon #3 for the Kitsap Sun...Abell Smithhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05093026898879135181noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-13851707.post-36068443111928652692010-04-03T14:41:00.000-07:002010-04-03T15:03:24.510-07:00Fighting Words: 4/1/10 Cartoon...<a href="http://www.fightingwordscomics.com/ArchivePages/040110.html"><img src="http://www.fightingwordscomics.com/Toons/331EyeOnMediaTN.jpg" align="middle" border="0" hspace="8" vspace="3" width="200" /></a><br /> <br /> "<b><i><a href="http://www.fightingwordscomics.com/ArchivePages/040110.html">Eye On the Media</a></i></b>"<br /> <br /><br />This is a special cartoon that I did for Seattle paper <i><a href="http://eatthestate.org/" target=0>Eat the State!</a></i>, done in the tradition of the <a href="http://www.theonion.com/" target=0>Onion</a> or the <a href="http://theyesmen.org/" target=0>Yes Men</a> (see their <a href="http://www.nytimes-se.com/">classic spoof</a> of an issue of the New York Times). <i>ETS!</i> has been a wonderful supporter of my cartoons for years, and it looked last week like this was going to have to be their last print issue. A bit of <a href="http://eatthestate.org/14-14/FROMKITCHENPrint.htm" target=0><b>good news</b></a>, though: they secured some last-minute funding, and will be around for at least three more issues, hopefully more.<br /> <br /><br />And, I committed a bit of a cartoonist faux pas in this cartoon. When I was writing and drawing it, I had a cartoon image in my head of Glenn Beck as a blubbering mess, with tears streaming down his cheeks. Turns out there was a reason I had this image in my head... <a href="http://www.mattbors.com/archives/618.html" target=0><b>Matt</b></a> did it a couple weeks ago. I guess this is kinda like unintentionally ripping off a "<a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Cartoon" target=0>Ziggy</a>," but not quite as embarrassing because I'm stealing from a much more talented cartoonist...Abell Smithhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05093026898879135181noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-13851707.post-20184814948149936832010-03-21T17:01:00.000-07:002010-03-21T17:10:54.441-07:00Illo DumpSome recent caricatures of various local figures:<br /><br /><img src="http://www.fightingwordscomics.com/Toons/03-01-10-NormDicks.jpg" align="middle" border="0" hspace="8" vspace="3" width="266" height="359" /><br /><br />Congressman Norm Dicks, who just got John Murtha's chairmanship of the Defense Appropriations Committee<br><br><br /><img src="http://www.fightingwordscomics.com/Toons/03-01-10-JayInslee.jpg" align="middle" border="0" hspace="8" vspace="3" width="299" height="312" /><br /><br />Congressman Jay Inslee<br><br><br /><img src="http://www.fightingwordscomics.com/Toons/03-01-10-ChristineGregoire.jpg" align="middle" border="0" hspace="8" vspace="3" width="254" height="326" /><br /><br />Governor Christine Gregoire<br><br><br /><img src="http://www.fightingwordscomics.com/Toons/03-01-10-BreeSchaaf.jpg" align="middle" border="0" hspace="8" vspace="3" width="286" height="393" /><br /><br />Olympic bobsledder (and Bremerton native) Bree Schaaf<br><br>Abell Smithhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05093026898879135181noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-13851707.post-5512042240261010762010-03-03T16:06:00.000-08:002010-03-03T16:10:05.688-08:00Server email problems today...... if you're trying to get a hold of me. Please try calling, or direct message me on <a href="http://www.facebook.com/profile.php?ref=profile&id=1111381954">FB</a> or <a href="http://twitter.com/abellsmith">Twitter</a>...<br /><br />thanks!Abell Smithhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05093026898879135181noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-13851707.post-46073440560442552642010-02-23T14:05:00.000-08:002010-02-23T14:06:37.532-08:00Fighting Words: 2/22/10 Cartoon...<a href="http://www.fightingwordscomics.com/ArchivePages/022210.html"><img src="http://www.fightingwordscomics.com/Toons/326RepubHCRplanTN.jpg" align="middle" border="0" hspace="8" vspace="3" width="250" /></a><br /> <br /> "<b><i><a href="http://www.fightingwordscomics.com/ArchivePages/022210.html">Republican Response Plan for Health Care Reform</a></i></b>"<br /> <br />Abell Smithhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05093026898879135181noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-13851707.post-46332713401984689882010-02-10T22:47:00.000-08:002010-02-10T22:49:35.030-08:00Fighting Words: 2/8/10 Cartoon...<a href="http://www.fightingwordscomics.com/ArchivePages/020810.html"><img src="http://www.fightingwordscomics.com/Toons/325DemocracyGameTN.jpg" align="middle" border="0" hspace="8" vspace="3" width="250" /></a><br /> <br /> "<b><i><a href="http://www.fightingwordscomics.com/ArchivePages/020810.html">Democracy: The Board Game</a></i></b>"<br /> <br /><br />Late 'toon for this week. <br /><br />I also did Bush once before as <a href="http://www.fightingwordscomics.com/ArchivePages/030507.html">Rich Uncle Pennybags</a>...Abell Smithhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05093026898879135181noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-13851707.post-44377551603075926312010-01-25T23:46:00.000-08:002010-01-25T23:47:15.775-08:00Fighting Words: 1/25/10 Cartoon...<a href="http://www.fightingwordscomics.com/ArchivePages/012510.html"><img src="http://www.fightingwordscomics.com/Toons/324FilmsCampFinTN.jpg" align="middle" border="0" hspace="8" vspace="3" width="250" /></a><br /> <br /> "<b><i><a href="http://www.fightingwordscomics.com/ArchivePages/012510.html">Great Moments in American Jurisprudence</a></i></b>"<br /> <br />Abell Smithhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05093026898879135181noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-13851707.post-3261938631211590682010-01-21T16:09:00.000-08:002010-01-21T16:13:54.054-08:00Funny TimesCheck out the current (Feb) issue of <a href="http://www.funnytimes.com/">Funny Times</a>... you'll see a Fighting Words cartoon there!Abell Smithhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05093026898879135181noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-13851707.post-70691206205156221002010-01-12T00:47:00.000-08:002010-01-12T00:48:07.739-08:00Fighting Words: 1/11/10 Cartoon...<a href="http://www.fightingwordscomics.com/ArchivePages/011110.html"><img src="http://www.fightingwordscomics.com/Toons/323RacialProfilingTN.jpg" align="middle" border="0" hspace="8" vspace="3" width="250" /></a><br /> <br /> "<b><i><a href="http://www.fightingwordscomics.com/ArchivePages/011110.html">Barack 'n Bernanke's Repair Shop</a></i></b>"<br /> <br />Abell Smithhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05093026898879135181noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-13851707.post-62683232557951852302009-12-28T21:38:00.000-08:002009-12-28T21:40:06.148-08:00Fighting Words: 12/28/09 Cartoon...<a href="http://www.fightingwordscomics.com/ArchivePages/122809.html"><img src="http://www.fightingwordscomics.com/Toons/322EconRepairTN.jpg" align="middle" border="0" hspace="8" vspace="3" width="250" /></a><br /> <br /> "<b><i><a href="http://www.fightingwordscomics.com/ArchivePages/122809.html">Barack 'n Bernanke's Repair Shop</a></i></b>"<br /> <br />Abell Smithhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05093026898879135181noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-13851707.post-17020612449285715892009-12-24T16:27:00.000-08:002009-12-24T16:28:28.122-08:00New Design Page!<a href="http://abellsmith.com/">Check it out</a>...Abell Smithhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05093026898879135181noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-13851707.post-32878081460297301972009-12-21T23:43:00.000-08:002009-12-21T23:44:50.697-08:00Fighting Words: 12/21/09 Cartoon...<a href="http://www.fightingwordscomics.com/ArchivePages/122109.html"><img src="http://www.fightingwordscomics.com/Toons/321GodzillaTN.jpg" align="middle" border="0" hspace="8" vspace="3" width="250" /></a><br /> <br /> "<b><i><a href="http://www.fightingwordscomics.com/newest.html">Public Emergency!</a></i></b>"<br /> <br />Abell Smithhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05093026898879135181noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-13851707.post-54697878233837358762009-12-07T17:52:00.001-08:002009-12-07T17:52:56.212-08:00Fighting Words: 12/7/09 Cartoon...<a href="http://www.fightingwordscomics.com/ArchivePages/120709.html"><img src="http://www.fightingwordscomics.com/Toons/320MediaConspiracyTN.jpg" align="middle" border="0" hspace="8" vspace="3" width="250" /></a><br /> <br /> "<b><i><a href="http://www.fightingwordscomics.com/newest.html">Breaking News: Secret Plot to Destroy Journalism</a></i></b>"<br /> <br />Abell Smithhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05093026898879135181noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-13851707.post-6594732279629109322009-11-23T21:51:00.000-08:002009-11-23T21:52:30.822-08:00Fighting Words: 11/23/09 Cartoon...<a href="http://www.fightingwordscomics.com/ArchivePages/112309.html"><img src="http://www.fightingwordscomics.com/Toons/319XmasJobsTN.jpg" align="middle" border="0" hspace="8" vspace="3" width="250" /></a><br /> <br /> "<b><i><a href="http://www.fightingwordscomics.com/newest.html">Christmas-Time is Here!</a></i></b>"<br /> <br />Abell Smithhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05093026898879135181noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-13851707.post-4453450957347623042009-11-09T20:28:00.000-08:002009-11-09T20:33:02.323-08:00Fighting Words: 11/9/09 Cartoon...<a href="http://www.fightingwordscomics.com/ArchivePages/110909.html"><img src="http://www.fightingwordscomics.com/Toons/318GOPParentingTN.jpg" align="middle" border="0" hspace="8" vspace="3" width="250" /></a><br /> <br /> "<b><i><a href="http://www.fightingwordscomics.com/newest.html">The Republican Guide to Parenting</a></i></b>"<br /> <br />Abell Smithhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05093026898879135181noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-13851707.post-76380247656015495962009-11-03T12:11:00.000-08:002009-11-03T12:34:30.164-08:00State of the Toon AddressMany apologies for the spottiness of Fighting Words 'toons this year. If you haven't guessed, there's no new 'toon this week, and, for the forseeable future, Fighting Words may have to become a bi-weekly feature while I stabilize my income. That means spending the majority of my time on <a href="http://www.fightingwordscomics.com/design.html"><b>design jobs</b></a> that bring in the green stuff.<br /><br />A few things you can do: <br /><ul><li>Shoot an email to your favorite local <a href="http://aan.org/alternative/Aan/NewsweeklyDirectory">publication</a> and ask them to run Fighting Words...</li><br /><li>Hire me to do a <a href="http://www.fightingwordscomics.com/design.html">web design, business logo, or other design or illustration</a> for you!</li><br /><li>Follow me on the <a href="http://twitter.com/abellsmith">Twitter</a> or friend me on the <a href="http://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=1111381954">Facebook</a>, and know the minute a new 'toon goes up.</li><br /><li>Keep tuning in to check for new developments... including a complete redesign of my website (coming soon)!</ul><br /><br />Thanks for stickin' with me! I'm not gonna quit the cartoon... I've got too much to say, and I've put too much damn work into it up to this point. But production of the 'toon is gonna be a little inconsistent while I get my business pointed in the right direction...Abell Smithhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05093026898879135181noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-13851707.post-73865595871543403072009-10-25T19:37:00.000-07:002009-10-25T19:38:58.823-07:00Fighting Words: 10/26/09 Cartoon...<a href="http://www.fightingwordscomics.com/ArchivePages/102609.html"><img src="http://www.fightingwordscomics.com/Toons/317SecretsBibleTN.jpg" align="middle" border="0" hspace="8" vspace="3" width="250" /></a><br /> <br /> "<b><i><a href="http://www.fightingwordscomics.com/newest.html">Mysteries of the Bible Revealed!</a></i></b>"<br /> <br /><br />Actually supposed to be last week's 'toon, but delayed in production due to work schedule...<br /> <br />Abell Smithhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05093026898879135181noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-13851707.post-4365440765382794002009-10-13T00:46:00.000-07:002009-10-13T00:47:20.532-07:00Fighting Words: 10/12/09 Cartoon...<a href="http://www.fightingwordscomics.com/ArchivePages/101209.html"><img src="http://www.fightingwordscomics.com/Toons/316GamedayTN.jpg" align="middle" border="0" hspace="8" vspace="3" width="250" /></a><br /> <br /> "<b><i><a href="http://www.fightingwordscomics.com/newest.html">Gameday</a></i></b>"<br /> <br /><br />Kinda similar to one I did a couple weeks ago, but I wasn't really happy with that one...<br /> <br />Abell Smithhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05093026898879135181noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-13851707.post-52691417649359197422009-10-07T20:41:00.000-07:002009-10-07T20:42:29.154-07:00Fighting Words: 10/5/09 Cartoon...<a href="http://www.fightingwordscomics.com/ArchivePages/100509.html"><img src="http://www.fightingwordscomics.com/Toons/315HappyTalesTN.jpg" align="middle" border="0" hspace="8" vspace="3" width="250" /></a><br /> <br /> "<b><i><a href="http://www.fightingwordscomics.com/newest.html">Happyland Tales</a></i></b>"<br /> <br />Abell Smithhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05093026898879135181noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-13851707.post-15304349067955373192009-09-28T21:49:00.000-07:002009-09-28T22:01:08.237-07:00somethin' extra...<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg7Q7tiPMdz1l8xEzpEX5_T9D3ncdf6h6WG_BYvA87EuMwp_Jwp0se9V4IlA9YypJt3fRZlhiVGPM0ilwlPjhD4q60jWHnA9uHU1qDHJD1mBHlKlSxQSJxwTHqTvnDytueSJHLD/s1600-h/calvin.jpg"><img style="float:left; margin:0 10px 10px 0;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 288px; height: 248px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg7Q7tiPMdz1l8xEzpEX5_T9D3ncdf6h6WG_BYvA87EuMwp_Jwp0se9V4IlA9YypJt3fRZlhiVGPM0ilwlPjhD4q60jWHnA9uHU1qDHJD1mBHlKlSxQSJxwTHqTvnDytueSJHLD/s320/calvin.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5386747315705624194" /></a><br />I had to shrink this way down in the 'toon, so I wanted to post it full size. I haven't tried to draw Calvin in over 20 years...<br><br><br />That said, how pissed would I be if a piece of my work was ripped off (as Watterson's has been) to serve as a commonly-recognized symbol of douchebaggery?Abell Smithhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05093026898879135181noreply@blogger.com0