"Some beehives suffer from "colony collapse disorder." Be careful, Mr. President." ©D.Barstow

When I was little, I remember lying on the living room couch with a sore throat and an upset tummy, miserable as only sick children can be. My grandmother was playing cards with a few of her friends, and I couldn’t have felt less festive. One of her friends, Aunt Rita, made me honey toast. I didn’t even want it, but I ate some, and I was instantly healed.

No one pointed at me as if it was a miracle, but that was okay- I was pretty shy, so I just sat up, got dressed properly, and went to play. Even having experienced this, and having read that honey was used in World War 1 as a wound healer in the battlefield, because of its antibiotic qualities, and other good things that bees put in honey, I don’t eat it all that often. But I do collect honey cookbooks or pamphlets I come across, and I like to buy local honey from any place I visit, as a souvenir!

That’s about all I know about bees or beekeeping, but a few months ago, when I investigated the whitenose syndrome that has been killing off bats,  I read in several sources that scientists suspect it’s related to the devastating die off of bees, which syndrome is called, “colony collapse disorder.” This affects pollination and crops even more than bats do.   Treehugger writes about it here.

The cause or causes of the syndrome are not yet fully understood, although many authorities attribute the problem to biotic factors such as Varroa mites and insect diseases (i.e., pathogens including Nosema apis and Israel acute paralysis virus). Other proposed causes include environmental change-related stresses, malnutrition and pesticides (e.g. neonicotinoids such as imidacloprid), and migratory beekeeping.

Quote from Wikipedia, so, um, not much homework there, Treehugger. Wiki also suggests cell phones might be a factor. Hmm.

So I’m not sure whether it was the name of this syndrome, with the word colony in it (as in, penal colony like Gitmo), or the fact that I was browsing the New York Times online and discovered that they have a whole blog on beekeeping (!), that made me think of Barack Obama as a beekeeper. Hey, if it’s good enough for the Times, it’s good enough for me! And he surely does have a potential big bee sting on him from the fallout of closing Guantanamo. (Or is it called Gitmo? All mixed up.) I love how they call the prisoners “detainees.” I guess it’s legally correct, but these are dangerous people, not guests at a hotel.

The LA Times had an interview with Cheney, who said only 3 of the prisoners (“detainees”) were waterboarded. I have to say, I hate torture of any kind, and personally, I think it’s worse than killing someone. So it’s not okay. But one of these 3 men boasted that he beheaded Daniel Pearl. Beheading is trying to take someone’s dignity, as well as their life, and I guess the Mideast thinks that’s hunky-dory. I find it revolting and inhuman.

So President Obama has a full plate trying to be “sensitive” towards the prisoners, yet not allow any bees loose to sting this country.

The drawing: very soft colors, with that lime green that I love so much. The trees are lined up with the symmetry and plan of an 18th century English garden. Here’s to you, Jane Austen, and your very civilized world.

More cartoons:

1. Do you have to fill out any forms to join the Tea Party?
2. Obama sends a Valentine’s Day Card to the GOP.

Image from HuffPo, which I ASSUME got permission from Andrews McMeel. AM is very strict about any kind of image use, as they should be.

A California initiative on the November ballot — Proposition 2, the Prevention of Farm Animal Cruelty Act — will phase out the cramming of veal calves, breeding pigs and egg-laying hens into small cages and crates.

The Huffington Post has an interesting interview with  Patrick McDonnell, the creator of the comic strip MUTTS. (I don’t believe in reading the PuffPost regularly, when they don’t believe in paying their writers (over 2000 now), when it’s the BIGGEST BLOG in the world. (We won’t go into the fact that Arriana Huffington is a billionaire, too.)) 

MM: What inspired you to run a whole week of strips on the humane treatment of farm animals?

PM: Prop 2 is just too important to not tackle. Even though the reform will be modest, it puts a stake into the ground that the way we treat farm animals matters.

MM: Why is Prop 2 important to you, and what can your readers do to help?

PM: Because 20 million animals will be directly impacted, suffering less, if this measure passes. It will also send a clear message to the factory farm conglomerates that, once people are made aware, they will not tolerate the way most animals raised for food are treated in this country.

Patrick is also on the board of the Humane Society. Yay, Mutts!

The other cartoonist I wanted to give a bow to is Dan Piraro, of Bizarro fame.  I think I only saw one or two cartoons about farm animals recently, but he has been associated with Farm Sanctuary for a long time, and has donated a lot of work to them. Farm Sanctuary is a co-sponsor with HSUS on Prop 2. Yay for them!

Dan talks a lot about being a vegan in his blog. He also talks about his half-nekkid wife who does stunts in NYC for Peta.

More cartoons:

1. Something about gays, a Time Magazine un-cartoon of the week.
2. Take this election cartoon to the voting booth with you today.

"It's a poll. And I'll call you a weenie if you're undecided."

Well, the big day is here. I doubt anyone will be looking at cartoons today, but life goes on, as do blogs and bloggers, so here I am.

And no, I’m not undecided! I’m very decided!

I’m really worried about Yes on Proposition 2. It’s about pigs and veal, but mostly about chickens, since California is apparently an egg state. I did not know that. They want farmers to give hens more room, instead of having NO room in cages to use their wings, stand, sit, anything. Seems like it’s not too much to ask. The animals are alive on this green earth. Not for long (egg hens are allowed to live for only about 6 months), which is even more reason for them to have a few moments of happiness and peace.

Eggs would cost a penny more under Prop 2. But the farmers are wailing that it will put them out of business… and we’ll have to get eggs from Mexico…or China! Hee! I hope eggs travel well!

The drawing
I like the angle. I wish I had some of his popcorn. The phone is kind of old, but a princess phone is always good to have when there’s an earthquake, and you need a landphone.

But is she really a nice person, calling someone a name? Yeah, totally. Nicer than I would be!

More cartoons:

1. Cartoonists that love animals and aren’t ashamed.
2. Easter cartoon on the birthers.