Cartoon Saturday

As former FBI Deputy Director Andrew McCabe once commented on CNN, "My wow meter has been recalibrated recently" ...

After Secretary of Defense (not War) Pete Hegseth ended mandatory flu vaccines for service members earlier this year, more than 160 troops have contracted influenza in barracks at Lackland Air Force Base in Texas; in a unanimous decision, the Supreme Court ruled that a federal ban on gun ownership by marijuana users was unconstitutional; Ukraine carried out devastating drone attacks on oil refining facilities in Moscow, rattling Russian citizens unused to the sort of attacks Ukrainian citizens suffer daily; speaking articulately in complete sentences, former President Barack Obama opened his presidential center in Chicago on Thursday with a star-studded cast of attendees; Der Furor paused his nomination of Jay Clayton to be Director of National Intelligence, saying he would keep Bill Pulte as Acting Director and refuse to approve extension of the Foreign Intelligence and Surveillance Act (FISA) until Congress passes his "SAVE America Act" to impose voting restrictions; and in (where else?) Florida, a psychiatrist in Boca Raton has been suspended after several of his female patients claimed he asked them to bare their bodies, not just their minds, during their treatment.

Turn the screen away from the children ... this week's collection of cartoons takes a look at sex. 

Even phone sex needs to be responsible ...

I don't like cilantro, anyway ...

Somebody's not going to be barking up this tree tonight ...

It must be an incel thing ...

Gives new meaning to the term "petting," doesn't it? 

When in Rome ...

Even superheroes can have issues ...

I hope she was on the pilaf ...

Busted!

I don't think that was quite what he had in mind, do you? 

And that's it for this week's PG-17 rated Cartoon Saturday ... I hope it helped you get it up. Your spirits, I mean.

Have a good day and a great weekend. More thoughts tomorrow, when Poetry Sunday returns to celebrate Father's Day. See you then, 

Bilbo

Great Moments in Editing and Signage

Here we go again ...

Special delivery for 1600 Pennsylvania Avenue ...

It's the economy, stupid ...

He's unwittingly stumbled on the latest top-secret surveillance program cooked up by the National Security Agency, but he's probably okay until Congress reauthorizes the FISA warrantless wiretaps ...

I think they may want to work on their logo ...

Well, yes, but ...

If you've been discombobulated, help is available ...

Uh ... thanks, but I'll order from someplace else ...

For those of you who don't speak German, this is a citation imposing a 500 Euro fine for disturbing the peace in a Vienna park by farting in the presence of a police officer. You can't make this stuff up ...

My friend Birgitta found this one ... I wasn't aware that DOJ was prosecuting presidential enemies and the sharing of hair extensions ...

The vaginal alternatives will go over well with those who get hysterical over LGBTQ issues ...

There you go - another collection for another week. I hope you enjoyed them.

Have a good day and come back tomorrow for a Cartoon Saturday look at sex. More thoughts then.

Bilbo

Thursday Trees

It's time once again for another calming look at some beautiful trees. Mike is really good at not posting duplicates from week to week ... I don't have his skill and experience, so I apologize in advance if any of my Thursday Trees are repeats. Just enjoy - trees are beautiful, no matter how often we look at them.

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And that's this week's collection of Thursday Trees to tide you over while Mike continues to do battle with his cyberdemons. I hope you enjoyed them.

Have a good day and come back tomorrow for a new collection of Great Moments in Editing and Signage. See you then with more thoughts.

Bilbo

Deals, Agreements, and Treaties

Much of the world is breathing a tentative sigh of relief as it appears that something is going to be signed later this week that might possibly tone down, if not settle, the three-way war among the United States, Israel, and Iran. Just what that "something" might be, though, is not quite clear, and what it contains depends on who is describing it, and what terms they are using. 

Here are definitions of several of the terms being applied to the "something" by the various parties, culled from the Merriam-Webster Dictionary Online and the Cambridge Dictionary:

Deal - "an arrangement* for mutual advantage." This is the term used by Der Furor.

Agreement - "an arrangement as to a course of action" This is the term used by Israeli National Security Minister Itamar Ben-Gvir.

Framework Agreement - "sets out conditions agreed in advance to ensure flexibility and efficiency." This is what the something is called in news reporting.

Memorandum of Understanding - "a document that records the details of an agreement between two companies or organizations, which has not yet been legally approved." This is the term used in a statement released by Iran’s Supreme National Security Council.

Treaty - an agreement or arrangement made by negotiation; a contract in writing between two or more political authorities (such as states or sovereigns) formally signed by representatives duly authorized and usually ratified by the lawmaking authority of the state.

Of course, nobody is actually using the word treaty at this point, as a treaty generally grows out of lengthy negotiation between experienced diplomats, and under the Constitution (Article II, Section 2, Clause 2) requires formal ratification by two-thirds of the Senate. Forget about any treaties for the foreseeable future ... I include the term only to make the point about the requirement for Senate ratification, which could be difficult to obtain, if some of the reported details of the deal/agreement/framework agreement/memorandum of understanding are accurate.

A treaty also requires a degree of mutual trust among the signatories that it has been negotiated in good faith and will be upheld by all the signatories. If I were the Iranians, I'd question whether anything signed by Der Furor is likely to be honored, given his track record of tearing up treaties he doesn't like or changes his mind about** and his penchant for kinetic negotiation. Likewise, if I were a competent American President, I'd question whether any treaty signed by a government made up of hardcore religious fanatics could be honored beyond the next fatwa. And if I were either one, I'd wonder if an Israeli government that didn't even have a role in its negotiation would refrain from actions that would blow it up.

I hope that whatever has been agreed to by whoever has been negotiating pans out, and that it doesn't represent too much of a humiliation for the United States. Given the fact that its terms remain secret and that a high degree of linguistic sleight-of-hand and evidence-free bombast being used in public discussion, I'm not optimistic.

Have a good day. Expect better from your government, but don't hold your breath.

More thoughts coming.

Bilbo

* An "arrangement" is defined as "an informal agreement or settlement especially on personal, social, or political matters."

** NAFTA, the Paris Climate Accords, and the JCPOA (the original Iran nuclear treaty negotiated under President Obama) come to mind.

What Our Children Are Learning from Their President

I grew up in a time (1950's-60s) when we looked to our elders for examples of behavior and guidance on how to treat others. My parents were among the most patient and polite of people, and I like to think that my attempts always to be polite and consider the thoughts and feelings of others are a golden legacy left by the sort of people we don't always see any more.

I have three children and six grandchildren, and I like to think I've been a positive model for their behavior So far, things look good. But I wonder, as we approach Father's Day this coming weekend, what lessons my grandchildren and - gasp! - eventual great-grandchildren are learning from the behavior of the sitting President of the United States.

Der Furor was elected in large part because he bluffed people into thinking he was something he is not and never was: a brilliant deal maker, a strong and powerful personality feared and admired by all, an expert in everything, devoutly religious, a man who cares deeply about the hopes and fears of the average American, etc, etc, etc. He has proven himself to be none of these. Instead, these are the lessons he provides for the next generation: 

It's okay to mock the disabled.

Never apologize for anything - it's a sign of weakness.

Never admit you are wrong - it's a sign of weakness.

Laws only apply to losers.

Name-calling is fine. The ability to come up with childish nicknames for your enemies shows how clever you are.

Science is useless unless you can monetize it immediately, and especially useless if it stands in the way of business growth and profit.

Empathy is for suckers.

Fear anyone who is not white.

Cheating is perfectly okay unless your opponents do it.

Bullying is a legitimate way to get what you want.

A woman's job is to be quiet, beautiful, and submissive. 

Stealing from charities is okay.

Reading is a waste of time.

There's nothing wrong with dishonoring the dead.

The truth is whatever you want it to be; there's nothing wrong with lying if it gets you what you want.

Always blame others when things go wrong.

Always take credit for the accomplishments of better persons.

I could go on, but I feel bad enough already. If you're okay with this sort of behavior, I'm sorry for you and for your children.

It will take decades to repair the damage Der Furor has done to the nation, but I fear it will take longer to repair the damage he has gleefully done to our national character and to the values our children are learning. 

Think hard about this when you vote in the November midterm elections and in the 2028 presidential election. Character used to matter. Make it matter again.

Have a good day. More thoughts coming.

Bilbo

Musical Sunday

Today, June 14th, is a sad day for many of us here in the United States. It's Flag Day, the day on which we traditionally honor Old Glory, The Stars and Stripes, the symbol of our nation ... but this year, the 250th anniversary year of our country, the day has been debased as a pagan appreciation of Der Furor, the self-absorbed would-be tyrant who has done more to ruin the nation than anyone in our history.

On this day, I need something beautiful to remind me of better things and better times, and so I've decided to go with this classic love song by the great Eric Clapton ...

Here are the lyrics -

It's late in the evening

She's wondering what clothes to wear

She puts on her make up

And brushes her long blonde hair

And then she asks me

"Do I look alright?"

And I say, "Yes, you look wonderful tonight"

We go to a party

And everyone turns to see

This beautiful lady

That's walking around with me

And then she asks me

"Do you feel alright?"

And I say, "Yes, I feel wonderful tonight"

I feel wonderful

Because I see the love light in your eyes

And the wonder of it all

Is that you just don't realize how much I love you

It's time to go home now

And I've got an aching head

So I give her the car keys

And she helps me to bed

And then I tell her

As I turn out the light

I said, "My darling, you are wonderful tonight"

Oh my darling, you are wonderful tonight

On this day, I am thankful for my lady, who is wonderful tonight and every night ... and day ... and helps me remember that the world is not all bad, no matter how hard some people work to make it so.

Have a good day and enjoy the rest of your weekend. More thoughts coming.

Bilbo

Cartoon Saturday

Are you ready for the White House cage fight tomorrow, as we show the rest of the world what we value?

Der Furor was loudly booed during his appearance at the Knicks-Spurs game at Madison Square Garden on Monday; asked to provide evidence of the voter fraud he claimed was pervasive in the California elections, House Speaker Mike Johnson said that “Some of these efforts are so diabolical and so far upstream that it’s impossible to prove, but I think everybody knows instinctively, something is wrong here, and that’s a concern;” after heavy pushback from members of Congress of both parties, Der Furor withdrew his nomination of Bill Pulte to be Director of National Intelligence, and replaced him with the equally unqualified but somewhat less objectionable Jay Clayton, former head of the Securities and Exchange Commission; SpaceX debuted on the Nasdaq exchange on Friday in the largest Initial Public Offering in history, making Elon Musk the first known trillionaire ... at least on paper; and at Gatwick airport in the United Kingdom, ground workers were carefully searching for a venomous snake that was spotted on an airplane arriving from Mexico after Samuel L. Jackson was reportedly unavailable to take charge of the &$%@#$! search.

This week, a look at the cartoonish side of eating out ... 

Uh ... I think I'll have the tea instead ...

It was worth asking ...

Maybe it's time for the steak ...

Well, he would, wouldn't he? ...

Well, that's the sort of recommendation one expects in this economy ...

It's a new take on wraps ...

A perfectly valid question ...

Whatever works ...

Have you seen the price of wine lately? ...

I think "screwage fee" is useful in a lot more situations than this in the present fee-based economy ...

And there you have it - the latest edition of curated cartoons for your much-needed humor injection. I hope you enjoyed them.

Have a good day and be sure to come back tomorrow for our Musical Sunday visit with Eric Clapton. More thoughts then.

Bilbo

The Right-Cheek Ass Clown for June, 2026

A new month brings new opportunities to recognize those who strive to distinguish themselves by rising above the prevailing high level of ass clownery. The job of singling out the awardees doesn't get any easier, but I will rise once again to the occasion and do the tough work of skimming the surface of the swirling cesspool of lunacy in search of the biggest chunk.

Ladies and Gentlemen, Dear Readers, it gives me no particular pleasure to announce

The Right-Cheek Ass Clown for June, 2026

and the award goes to

Director of National Intelligence Designee

(Recently Withdrawn)

Bill Pulte

SPECIAL NOTE: I actually wrote this award earlier in the week, when the Pulte nomination was announced. Since then, the degree of horrified pushback from both sides of the Congressional aisle led Der Furor on Thursday to withdraw Pulte's nomination and replace him with - are you ready? - yet another individual with absolutely no intelligence or military experience, Jay Clayton*, U.S. Attorney for the Southern District of New York and former Chairman of the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC). I decided to just go ahead and give Mr Pulte this award with some minor editing, in recognition of his demonstrated willingness to abuse a position of trust in the service of Der Furor's vengeance program. Read on.

In a regime already noteworthy for the number of unqualified individuals appointed to positions of national responsibility, Der Furor's designation of real estate magnate and current director of the Federal Housing Finance Agency Bill Pulte to be the Director of National Intelligence deserves special opprobrium.

Replacing hapless nonentity Tulsi Gabbard, who at least had military service if not the required intelligence experience, with Bill Pulte, who had neither, led even a handful of spineless Congressional Republicans to question the wisdom of the appointment. Mr Pulte's sole "qualification" for the DNI position is his unquestioning and unwavering dedication to Der Furor, and his willingness to exploit his government position to support Der Furor's search for revenge against his political enemies. 

There really isn't much more to say about the appalling depths to which we have sunk when one of the most sensitive and important national security positions in the government is handed to the hackiest of political hacks.

Ladies and Gentlemen, Dear Readers, the Right-Cheek Ass Clown for June, 2026, is Bill Pulte, the unqualified vengeance monkey who very nearly became the nation's most senior intelligence manager and Blackmail Enabler in Chief. Our foreign enemies surely recoil in fear at the depth of our professional intelligence leadership bench.

Have a good day and be sure to come back tomorrow for a Cartoon Saturday look at the increasingly expensive luxury of dining out. More thoughts then.

Bilbo

* Mr Clayton does, however, offer the advantageous qualification of having been part of regime efforts to slow-walk the release of the Epstein files. 

Thursday Trees

Mike's blog is still down until his computer woes are over, and so here's our next temporary Thursday Trees post to tide you over until he's back on line ...

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#14 - I could spend hours on that bench

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That's it for today's fill-in edition of Thursday Trees - I hope it gave you a lift while we wait for Mike to get back to professional online tree farming.

Have a good day, and be sure to come back tomorrow for the naming of the Right-Cheek Ass Clown for June - more thoughts then.

Bilbo