Not smoking in a casino...BRILLIANT!

Atlantic City has finally gotten around to fight the casinos on their exemption from the New Jersey Smoking Ban. Unable to agree on a complete ban, the council agreed to a compromise that would allow smoking in 25 percent of the casino floor. While initially bemoaned by the casinos as a sure-fire way to lose revenue and jobs, there is an interesting article in today's Press of Atlantic City written by Donald Wittkowski about how the casinos are already figuring out ways they can profit from this ruiling. You can check out Wittkowski's article here.

Bush in Delaware

The combination of Bush visiting delaware to tout his focus on the environment, and being bored while waiting on content for the paper, merged into this sketch of our fearless leader. To be honest, I had hoped to post more rough sketches and life drawings like this, but time hasn't been on my side.

Maybe this will get the train running.

My sketchbook

I thought I'd go a different route today and show everyone my sketchbook. I'm attempting to come up wiht some ideas for Saturday's Press of Atlantic City cartoon, and this is pretty much how I do it.

Good luck trying to read it!

Global warming

As winter finally sweeps into the Garden State, this cartoon doesn't quite seem as timely as it should. Regardless, it's here for you to enjoy.

Manning...to Iraq?!?

The King is a Fink!

The Best of Times, The Worst of Times

David Astor over at Editor & Publisher has posted a short commentary about a new "golden age" of cartoonists that are appealing to readers with their computer enhanced coloring and website animations. But the same cartoonists are also putting in more work for less pay, something that newspapers seem to enjoy.

You can check out the article here.

Whelan on deck

A little Atlantic City politics for you fine folks today. NJ State Senator Bill Gormley announced that he would step down on February 15, allowing his Republican successor to get on the job before having to run for "re-election" in November. This has caused a scramble in the Republican party in an attempt to fill the power vacuum. Gormley and U.S. Representative Frank LoBiondo disagree on who should succeed Gormley, and the two are backing different candidates to fill the 2nd Legislative District seat.

Gormley backs Assemblyman Frank Blee, while LoBiondo is in favor of Egg Harbor Township Mayor Sonny McCullough. Since Gormley and LoBiondo are bitter rivals, stemming from the 1994 Republican primary that LoBiondo won amid allegations of ethical abuses and federal election-law violations, don’t expect this to go well.

And waiting patiently on the side to battle whoever emerges is Democratic Assemblyman and former Atlantic City Mayor Jim Whelan.

This should be fun. It’s great to be a cartoonist!

If you want to read more, there’s an article on the Press of AC’s website by Thomas Barlas that you can check out here.

Screw Wacom!

I just saw this video over on Mark Anderson's blog, and was blown away!!!

In this video, Jeff Han and Phil Davidson demonstrate how a multi-touch driven computer screen will change the way we work and play.

I just want to throw away my keyboard, trash my wacom, and burn all dreams of owning a Cintiq! Just give me a real brush that I can drag against the screen, and I'll be happy!

And I can save the lives of trees :)

Tip of the hat to Mark Anderson, YouTube and Fast Company

Chicago Tribune for sale! Anyone?!

iPhone, meet iBudgetCrisis

The iPhone is all the buzz. Who cares that it will cost between $500 and $600? People need to get one when they first come out. I think Corzine should get one. Granted, I'm assuming you can add the "balance budget" button, or the "consolidate services" feature.

Don't drive on my lawn!

There is an issue at the Jamesburg Park Conservation Area. It seems that it's 1,500
acres of mostly woods and trails is being destroyed by these idiots running buckshot over the terrain in their all-terrain vehicles. It is despite the fact that it is clearly prohibited, and that signs are clearly posted.

I wonder if these are the same people that think global warming is a myth, or that we're winning the war in Iraq. One can only guess...

Corzine, listen to Mike

Do you want to go to Iraq?

Lets keep talking, and talking, and talking....

I don't know about all of you, but I'm getting sick and tired of hearing about property tax reform. Even one of my editors told me he's sick of cartoons about property tax reform!

So I hope the legislature can just pull up their sleeves, make the necessary cutbacks (sorry labor unions), and punch it through.

Wanna' be a CEO?

I had to do a cartoon on this douchbag. Robert L. Nardelli, the CEO of Home Depot, resigned as criticism swirled around him due to his performance, pay package and management style. It was Nardelli's bright idea to market Home Depot more to trade professionals that to do-it-yourself-ers. When homeowners made the switch to Lowes, investors' made their views heard.

It's not all bad for Nardelli, since he did leave with a $210 million exit package in the bank. And just in case, Home Depot gave him 3 years of health coverage.

If you'd like ot enrage yourself further, check out Mark Stein's story at the New York Times here.

Property taxes anyone?

Gormley goes out on top

State Sen. William L. Gormley, the powerful legislator in control of the Atlantic County Republican machine, announced that he won't seek reelection in 2007, which would have been his 9th term.

His decision has sent Atlantic county politicians scurrying for position. It sets up a highly competitive race for the 2nd district State Senate seat, most likely between Republican Frank Blee, the Assembly Minority Whip whom Gormley has already endorsed, and James Whelan, a freshman Democratic Assemblyman and former Mayor of Atlantic City.

There's a nice breakdown of the fallout and jockeying for the GOP in thePress of Atlantic City written by Thomas Barlas: Gormley decision has potential GOP candidates scrambling

McGreevey, you dirty, dirty man

So in the middle of the night, they snuck out ol' Greevey's portrait, slapped it up on the wall of the state house, and called it a night. It was as if they were embarrassed to be hanging it up in the first place.

By the way, I fought the urge to but a bag of Israeli Couscous next to his grapes.

Van Drew, don't be a blockhead

State Assemblyman Jeff Van Drew, D-Cape May, is pushing for a referendum to bring sports betting to Atlantic City. In order for this to happen, not only would it have to pass a State Assembly not interested in putting it through. It would take an act of Congress to enact, due to a federal law passed in 1993 allowing sports betting in only four states: Montana, Nevada, Oregon, and Delaware.

Despite the adversity, Van Drew is focused on bringing sports betting to AC. He introduced a bill last year, only to see it voted down, and is committed to keep on trying, no matter how many times the ball is pulled away from his foot.

If you'd like to read more, here's a story from the Press of Atlantic City written by Shawn Hardie: Long odds, high hopes for sports bets in A.C.