I’ve recently been accused of not being a hipster, so I’m a little sensitive these days. But Garry Trudeau might be a tad bit out of touch with the times…

I don’t usually read Doonesbury, by Garry Trudeau. I do like it, think it’s extremely clever, but I regularly read only a handful of comics.  (list to be divulged at another time.) But for some reason, I looked over and took a look at a story arc starting October 17.

One of his characters, Rick Redfern, the journalist, about 50 years old or so, I guess, just started a blog. He’s excited because somebody finally linked to him. (I wanted to get permission from uclick to reprint it, and it took a couple of days to get an answer – No. Unless I want to cough up $50. From a BLOGGER?  You gotta be kidding.) So here’s a link.

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"What's a 5-letter word for a woman who's both a barracuda and a pitbull?" ©D.Barstow 2009

I don’t know, tell me. I don’t do crossword puzzles, I do Soduku. (Actually, my favorites are logic problems.)

But you know who they’re talking about here, right? Did I get the animals right? And the word they might be thinking of? Only a few more days left to love this cartoon! Not to say anything negative about Sarah Palin – she’s taken enough teasing. But the election will be over, and then things will become clearer. This cartoon can be taken a couple of different ways. (Hey, it’s more original than commenting on Sarah’s farking hair.)

Note: no swear words appear in this post, but feel free to use your imagination. And yes, two 5-letter words come to mind right away, and they’re not proper names.

The Drawing
I’m not sure if the perspective here is totally right. I do know her desk is right. It’s an antique, with a brand new laptop on it. She has a pleasant view of the backyard as she writes a note to a friend. The cartoon as reproduced is too small to see that her eyes are serious, bordering on annoyed. However, they have a hot marriage.

PS. I still do cartoons that I think are funny, not to get someone elected. So don’t go thinking you know which way I roll.

One might consider this an example of poor boundaries on my end, or simply showing my hand, but I’m going to divulge a little trick that cartoonists or writers might want to use when working with an editor.

Act as if paying that month’s rent isn’t all that. Have fun in spite of the tanking stock market. Be playful.

I wrote to an editor that has never bought any cartoons from me before. After listing some key positives about my writing and cartoons,  and encouraging her to buy something, I closed with this:

As the 1-800 Dentist might say, “Seriously. It’s time.”

Most likely she laughed and laughed, as she hit the delete button.

(This assumes you know the 1-800 Dentist ads. I love them so much, with that wise-cracking east coast actress,  [Suzi Barrett, according to the 1-800 Dentist himself, who comments below!!] that I turn the sound ON for them. I can’t wait for new ones!)

Another bulletin from Jones, the mysterious MySpace writer, who I think secretly writes for Phil Hendrie:

Oct 7, 2008 12:49 PM
Subject: may not be renting out Disneyland for birthday bash

Body: I know I promised many of you that I planned to reserve Disneyland for a 54th birthday bash in late March, but I am now having second thoughts. My utility bills were higher than expected this month, and there has been a marked increase in Bass E’s food consumption [his basset hound] –among other things. So, as it stands now, it looks doubtful I will be able to afford the type of party I promised, and know I deserve.

If it is any consolation, I think I could get a few of us 2-3 free rides at Knotts Berry Farm on a Monday or Tuesday night, after 11 p.m., in the same month.

If this news causes you to delete me from your friends list, I understand.

I never expected to have to send this type of bulletin.

Someone’s comment:

talk about a bummer. turn your damn a.c. off….Have you considered Magic Mountain?

Jones‘ reply:

That’s a good suggestion. I know the fighting is better at Magic Mountain.

"I think we timed it just right. Election fever overshadows bank failures."

If you are expecting analysis of the bailout package(s) and bill, explanations of why these banks failed, why the markets have plunged to unimaginable depths, and where you should invest any money  you have left now…well, you’ve come to the wrong blog.

I’m just a cartoonist.

However, I think I caught the presidential race fever! Even though WAMU is was my bank!

The Drawing
I love solid blacks and white! I’m a little concerned the VP’s dress may be too loud for the banking dress code, but this IS Casual Friday. I have a crush on the man at the bottom.

Do you think I should have shortened the caption just a smidge? I was trying to think of a word other than overshadows, but…couldn’t.

TIME, this one’s for you.