David Baldinger - Cartoonist & Photographer

I tried this last year and it didn't seem to make much of a splash. I guess it is just easier for some people to lob purchased junk at a loved one than to actually do a helpful deed. I decided to try again. Please feel free to spread the pdf. around if you like the idea. The pdf. can be downloaded from my site David Baldinger's Cartoons & Stuff .

Khaldoon Gharaibeh I "met" a Jordanian cartoonist through email recently. We've been chatting through Yahoo Messenger. The past week or so, he has been visiting his home in Jordan. He has been living in Dubai working for various newspapers and magazines. More people need to reach out to people of the Arab world. There would so much less misunderstanding and fear. Khaldoon is not a practicing Muslem and I'm not a practicing anything so it is pretty easy to converse. :)

I dumped the images from my digital camera and discovered this shot my son took of himself in the bathroom mirror. I don't even bother to ask anymore...

I forgot that there was no People's Weekly World published Thanksgiving week. I did a cartoon as usual. I also has some unasked for help while I was drawing the cartoon. Kupkake, the kitten, was sprawled out across my light board. By the time I was able to grab my digital camera, she changed position but was still making life difficult. She also likes to chase the arrow on the computer monitor. It's funny when she reaches under trying to find a way to grab it.

According to Capitol Hill Blue , there is a GOP memo floating around that has "GOP insiders" floating "blue sky thinking" ideas about how and what could happen that would launch Emperor George back to the top of the popularity charts. Not surprisingly, they are hoping for another terrorist attack to boast his ratings as he would, they hope, spring into action and save us all from the afternath. As if the Katrina response doesn't give all of us with sense the willies at the thought of another disaster where we would have to rely on "strummin' George's" response. So far, I haven't come across any major news source checking into the validity of the memo. Even if the memo is not true, I still would believe that George's minions are secretly hoping for some sort of diversion to pick the boss up out of the bottomless pit he's dug for himself. Cuba's Granma newspaper reported this but, of course, they would not be taken seriously by a...

I'm a sucker for wittle kitties. So shoot me. The first picture is Kupkake with her new cuddle buddy and the second is of her giving unwanted assistance to my wife while she was restringing her guitar.

I discovered today that my cartooning hero, Ares, has an official web site now. I find his drawings to be pure genius. I suggest everyone visit his site and browse the galleries. I hope you find him as amazing as I do. By the way, Ares lives and works in Havana, Cuba. La Web de Ares

Thousands Protest Bush's Policies at Trade Summit Our fearless leader believes that the mass protests against his presence in South America is just the free speech of people who "disagree with him and they have a right to do so." He is either incapable or lying about his knowing the truth that the protests are about more than just a little disagreement. Does he not know that his policies have had a devastating affect on millions of people around the world? I refuse to believe that even he is that clueless. I think he just doesn't care and will not allow anyone or anything in the way of his warped neocon agenda. They say he will have a better reception in Panama. I wonder why? Could it be because it has been a puppet state since ousting Noriega? Nothing like a good ol' banana republic to make one feel welcome.

This is the hole my son spends most of his time in. Not only is it a miserable mess, it smells funky. I think I need to get some of the deodorizer that they use at crime scenes to chase the stench away. We go around about this every day. How hard is it to put dirty clothes in the basket or put Playstation games back in their cases and onto a shelf? The kitchen is one room away and he finds it impossible to put dishes in the dishwasher. He is 18 and I think he needs SuperNanny to come in and straighten him out!

We decided on, I guess calling the new kitten Kupkake. She is so dainty. I don't normally use effects filters on my images but I liked the way this filter enhanced the blue and green eyes.

Hidden behind the monstrous Super Wal-Mart, here in my hometown, is the remnants of the former mall that sat on this spot since the mid 1960's. The only structure left is an annex building that houses some small businesses, a bank and the shell of the closed Cinema theater. I pass it every day as I drive my son to work. Every time I pass it I remember so many of the movies I saw there as a kid. The most memorable, of course, was Star Wars in 1977. I can still remember the thrill of those opening credits, John Williams' overture and a film the likes of which no one had ever seen before. I remember my Mom and Dad were house sitting for my Aunt that week. I would have been 16 years old. I also remember being exhilarated coming out of the theater, walking to the car and for the ride back to my Aunt's house. Only those of us who experienced Star Wars fresh on its initial release can understand the feeling I describe. Does anyone remember that it was the radio advertising fo...

After many years of not being allowed pets by the evil landlord of my former apartment complex, we finally have been able to aquire a little puffball. She doesn't have a name yet. She's a feisty little thing too.

BREAKING: Roethlisberger Has Knee Surgery Just to show what is considered important, local TV here in Pittsburgh found it necessary to interrupt regular programming to broadcast a press conference with Steeler's coach Cowher. I just don't know if I can wait until the regular evening news to find out about this earth shaking news! Oh boy, they've just announced that we will be getting Fans' reaction tonight. That should be as interesting as the interludes in those old Elvis concert movies where they interviewed some embarrassing fans. Poor Elvis reduced to performing for the socially challenged. I am expecting terrible towels to be flown at half-mast for Roethlisberger's frickin' knee. When I worked at a local newspaper as the photographer, I was subjected to covering Steeler's training camp. This was in Latrobe PA at St. Vincent's College. It was my observation that pro football players are just over grown, over paid High School kids. I'm not sure wh...

"There is no question. I first learned about Valerie Plame working at the CIA from Karl Rove," Cooper said. Did any of us think otherwise? Some of tidbits of amusing news fodder: Mexico has officially joined the International Court and also rejected signing the US 's permission slip that gives immunity to the US. Apparently, not doing this get your international aid from the US cut off. Something is happening. More and more countries are rejecting the US demands and proceeding with membership, aid be damned. The US appears to be losing a lot of influence as it becomes harder to justify its hypocrisy. I think threatening a country with financial repercussion falls into the extortion category. If there is a rogue nation roaming the planet, it is the USA. The new motto of the US should be: "Do as We Say, Not As We Do"