DRAWING on OBSERVATIONS

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The incomparable David Levine passed away yesterday. The Maestro of pen and ink used his biting wit and tremendous draftsmanship to prod the political elite like no other.

I was conflicted about todays doodle. Before I read the news, I was taking a short holiday hiatus until after the new year. if you think it seems like a sacrilege to pick up a pen in the memory of a man who was a god with a pen and nib, I’m not sure I disagree, but I was compelled to draw… and maybe that is the greatest compliment I could give him.

Rest in Peace

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From todays NYT

His Fine Art

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Civil rights leader, politician, entrepreneur, lawyer, legal representative of Malcom X passed away this week. He was 89.

Ball point pen on the morning newsprint

The Christmas Day bomber reminded us that we still live in a dangerous world

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This was an interesting year, marked by a deep recession, the inauguration of the first black US President, an heroic landing of a jet in the Hudson River, the collapse of our banking system, a giant ponzi scheme, Wall Street being bailed out and Main Street being shut out, the New York Yankees winning the world series, the passing of legendary thespians, artists and the king of pop, the escalation of a war in Afghanistan, and as of yet, no health care bill. I enjoyed doodling the people who drove said events, thanks to all who stopped by. I wish everyone a healthy happy holiday and a prosperous 2010.

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Angelic actress Jennifer Jones passed away yesterday from natural causes. She was one of the biggest film stars of the 40′s and 50′s. Nominated five times for Academy Awards, she won the Oscar for her portrayal of a nun in The Song of Bernadette. Her off screen life was as turbulent as and interesting as any Hollywood screenplay. The young actress met her first husband, Robert Walker while they were both students of the American Academy of Dramatic Arts in New York. They had two sons together, but divorced in 1945. She would marry twice more. In 1949 to famed Hollywood producer David O. Selznick, and in 1971 to multi millionaire, California industrialist and art collector Norton Simon. Norton founded the Norton Simon Museum in Pasadena, California. Upon Simon’s death in 1993 Mrs. Jones became involved in running the museum as Chairman of the Board and spent her final years overseeing major renovations of the museum’s interior, designed by architect Frank Gehry, as well as the gardens. She was 90.

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Robert Menendez objects to the Republicans stall strategy. Doodled on the train.

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I’m in a mad rush this morning…one minute doodle, no time to write, and off to NY, but trust me this is todays big story

Ball point pen on the morning newsprint

My humble apologies, I’m in a mad rush to get to a morning photo shoot today, so this is a real quickie from the obits. Oral Roberts and Sol Price passed away yesterday. Both founded things that made lots of money. RIP

Ball point pen on the morning newsprint

Bizarre that on December 15th 2008, one year ago to the day, the big story was about an Egyptian correspondent who stood at a George W Bush press conference in Iraq and yelled “This is your farewell kiss, you dog” before throwing two shoes at our president. (here are my corresponding doodles from one year ago today)

Today’s news is about Massimo Tartaglia, who threw a souvenir statuette at Italian Prime Minister Silvio Berlusconi. But unlike Bush, who dodged the incoming shoes, Berlusconi tragically took it square in the face breaking his nose and knocking out two teeth. To add insult to the prime minister’s injuries, the mentally ill assaulter actually has supporters and a fan page on facebook….Bizarre

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Senator Joseph Lieberman in not another face in the crowd. He’s a democratic independent.

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Dominick Dunne, famous for chronicling the affluent and their courtroom battles has posthumously released his final book “Too Much Money” It’s a novel, but many familiar with gossip and society will recognize the real-life people he dishes the dirt on.

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Square foot for square foot, there is no place on earth I find more inspiring than the Metropolitan Museum of Art. That sentiment, shared by so many, is in no small part due to it’s charismatic director from 1967 to 1977 Thomas Hoving, who passed away on Thursday from lung cancer. He was 78.

From todays NTY

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It seems as if the democrats congratulate themselves on a daily basis for going to work each day… that doesn’t bode well for the legislation.

Ball point pen on the morning newsprint

I like the concept of Karma. Where no god or man can determine the fate of another, but rather each of us creates our own destiny by the natural laws of cause and effect. Do good, plant positive seeds and you will reap what you’ve sown. Accordingly, plant negative seeds and your fate will reflect that poisonous intent. Sadly, I find little evidence that such a thing exists. At least not this morning.

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The $1.5 billion the US sends to Mexico to wage war on drugs in addition to the cartels battling one another have unsettled the illegal drug market. But with billions in illegal profits at stake, the murderous thugs are steadfast. Once huge cartels have splintered into smaller teams, many having crossed the border into the US. Juan Estrada Gonzalez is one of nine on trial in San Diego for running a team of kidnappers and hit men.

Previous post on drug traffickers

Todays article in the NYT

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For the past fifty one years Tommy Rowles has been behind the same bar. He left school in Dublin at 14, left home at 18, arrived in New York with $80 in 1958. He wandered into Bemelman’s Bar looking for a bathroom, ended up behind the bar and has been ministering to thirsty patrons at the upscale Carlyle ever since. He’s served drinks to Harry Truman, Jack Lemmon, Paul McCartney and you, If you walk in between 11:00 am and 6:00 pm.

Cheers!

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Laws intended to curb junkets have done little to stop our representatives from jet setting around the world at the expense of US lobbyists. Jim Sensenbrenner recently toured a prince’s vineyard and castle in Liechtenstein then spent an afternoon at a ski resort in the Alps. The $14,708 trip took advantage of a loophole in the law where lobbyists can give large sums of money to nonprofit groups that sponsor the travel. And although lobbists cannot go on the same plane, they can travel to the destination and meet the lawmakers once they get there. The top travelers, by number of trips since 2007 are John Lewis with 40, John Conyers with 39 and James Clyburn with 28. By Cost, it’s Richard Lugar with 82,266, Lloyd Doggett with 81,637 and Russ Canahan with 81,175. Continue Reading

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ABC’s Washington correspondent, host of Sunday morning news program”This Week” and one time Clinton aid is in negotiations to replace Diane Sawyer as the host of Good Morning America.

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General McChrystal is the Commander of International Security Assistance Force (ISAF) and the Commander of U.S. Forces Afghanistan (USFOR-A). He has the responsibility for implementing President Obama’s new surge strategy and quick withdrawal in Afghanistan.

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Speaking at West Point, the Commander in Chief President Obama informed the nation that he will increase US troops in Afghanistan by 30,000 but will begin to withdraw said troops in 18 months.

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The United Arab Emirates claim to be one country, but the religious, oil rich Abu Dhabi and it’s current emir, Sheik Khalifa bin Zayed al-Nahyan seem hesitant to step in and bail out the secular, upstart Dubai, leading many to speculate about a rift between the two emirates. Dubai’s reported debt now stands at 148% of it’s GDP.