Lovely story about Rob Reiner. Part of me hopes it wasn't his son. The sad truth is that mental illness, addiction, etc. also strike families that seem impervious to horror. RIP Ron and Michele. Condolences to the rest of the family dealing with two tragedies.
As for President Orange Snake, may the horror and pain and anger that he inflicts on others inflict him and his equally hateful progeny.
I think you mean to say: you hope that the Mango Mussolini is afflicted by an equal measure of the horror, pain and anger that he inflicts. I couldn't agree more. Any suggestions for the best circle of hell for him?
He deserves one of his own. That said, I pray that no human is bad enough for hell. But a few billion years in purgatory feeling the pain he's inflicted on others seems appropriate.
In a philosophical mode: I tend to think that people who are soulless killers have something in their mental makeup that makes them basically inhuman. And if the rest of us really cared about ending their behavior, we, as a society, would care enough to learn what causes that kind of behavior, even if it takes centuries. The question also arises - are there people who truly have zero empathy, zero humanity that cannot be explain by some genetic or mental defect?
You raise a deep philosophical question. To whit: are we more than our genes or are our genes our destiny. At a certain level, I'd say our potential to be human is wired into our genes, but that phenotypes are determined by the interaction of genes with their environment (both pre- and post-natal). This gets complicated with the recognition of the importance of epigenetic modifications and genetic chimeras that are seen in many individuals. In sum, we are conditioned to become a specific kind of an organism. A neotenous ape. A potential human. Beyond that all bets are off. Something apparently made the Tangerine Tyrant into what he is. It's not human. Stephen Miller is another example. But not Steve Bannon. Maybe Baron is a third. Not the older boys. Don't misunderstand: Bannon and the older boys are profoundly fucked up, but in very human ways. Stephen Miller has no humanity, nor - apparently - does Baron. As to being without a soul: what the hell is a soul? And what are you calling a mental defect?
I've long been of the opinion that Trump's father beat (perhaps literally) every scrap of empathy out of him. A lack of empathy makes for a subhuman opportunistic monster. He'll do anything because he feels nothing at all. Momentary physical pleasure is all he has. He feels no love, no remorse, no anguish, nothing, and that's why everything is about him. He has only money and the momentary amusement it, and the manipulation of others can bring him. To all intents, he is a zombie under the skin, dead inside.
I tend to think that what's broken in those people isn't what we today call a mental defect. I think it's something physically that is going on inside the brain. Scientists don't really understand, yet, how the brain - all of those cells and tissues - really works. Perhaps we never will.
Calling something broken (unless it's a bone) is metaphor and if one wishes to truly discover what causes a behavior, we need to be cognizant of what is metaphorical and what is organismal.
Two questions: 1. what is "thought"; 2. and what is "physical action in the brain"?
My favorite aural skit by The Firesign Theater is a spoof of a More Science High School assembly/pep rally. The principal, who is not a good orator, is trying to connect with "the kids." A voice calls out from the depths of the student body: "what is reality?" And another voice responds: "who cares?" first voice: "eat it. Eat it raw!" Principal, flustered says: "raw. Raw. Raw. That's the kind of spirits we have in this school" 2nd voice: "Fuck you!" Principal - walks off the stage and says, soto voce: Fuck you, too.) End scene.
Actually, “Trump Derangement Syndrome” would more accurately describe the people who continue to follow or serve our Dear Leader and Savior Donald J. Trump. May the cankles be with you.
Nobody brings a child into the world and pours themselves into loving them and raising them with the thought that someday their child will grow up to murder them. I am focused on grieving Rob and Michelle's passing, and on the sad reality that mental illness sometimes takes tragic turns. Nothing (and no one) else to see here. 🤨 I wish comfort and peace to the family and friends who knew them and loved them and are just trying to get through the days to come.
There's a short on YouTube that has examples of men, seemingly perfect men, who ended up destroying their wives, children. Family eliminators, it called them. Normally, they tend to be family head.
Yes, some parents unfortunately are like that, though they're not the ones I had in mind above, the average parents who "pour themselves into loving them and raising" their children.
Thank you, Clay. Your toon and blog are truly on point today. Rob Reiner would have certainly taken issue with orange blob's "comments". He is truly disgusting. Keep on keeping on!❤️
Thanks for that, Clay. Of course there IS Trump Derangement Syndrome. It's experienced by those who see him as a messiah. As acceptable. As anything more than a pariah, which is what he should be: an outcast (apologies to Andre 3000 and Bigboy.) Ghoulishly, I look forward to hearing about the arrest; the possible motive. But mostly, I wish to mourn Rob Reiner. He was always consistent. And always civil. (Even to Bill Maher. Frankly, I was sometimes amazed.) He will be eulogized for his humane ideals, treatment of others, and great humor. Reiner (both he and his father) were mensches. Estelle was in all his films until her death. Her ad lib line in When Harry Met Sally is among the more famous from films in the 1990s - "I'll have what she's having." Again ghoulishly, I wish to read whatever Albert Brooks writes about his great life-long friend. But I am, frankly, bereft at this news.
Your words are exactly what we needed to hear. Thanks for that. Love the toon, too!
My husband and I recently saw Rob in This is Spinal Tap ll. Though it’s hard to top the original, I’m still glad we saw it. (Cool story and pic by your ex and partner!)
Trump has outdone himself in his vile and inappropriate response to the 3 shootings: Brown U, Australia, and the Reiners. He thoroughly disgusts me. He’s incapable of not making it about him. He’s either railing about TDS or saying, “things happen,” which he also said to MBS about Khashoggi in the Oval Office.
It’s pathetic and, yet, this is all we can expect from our Narcissistic Commander in Chief.
Thank you for turning it up to 11. I bought Spinal Tap II last week and had just watched it on Saturday morning. I kept laughing and saying - This is so my sense of humor. I sang along with all the songs. When I taught, I slipped in "turn it up to 11" as often as needed. And when I was teaching art History units... I couldn't discuss Stonehenge without the song playing at 11 in my brain, and my hand moving in front of my mouth so they couldn't see me smiling! Thank you for the cartoon and observations.
This weekend was horrible. I saw Trump’s comments about the Reiners, whose deaths felt personal, elsewhere and here. I’ve not searched: did he tell Australia to stop allowing immigrants, if the shooters were, in, not acknowledging that the Muslim fruit seller who tried to stop one of the perpetrators of hate, may too have been? To not bother with more restrictive gun laws and just send the military to the people to look strong is better? Or best: “thoughts and prayers” work wonders against violence.
That Muslim gentleman is a true hero. He threw himself into the middle of danger just to save lives. He didn't stop to ask which side those people were on. He risked his own life to save other humans.
Yeah, the woke wars lead to violence… whether we should tax the rich, or eat them. I favor taxing… “meat” of the rich is all fat, and tastes hatefully bitter.
We had a pet ferret who loved the song “Eat the Rich”. The strong beat and the word “eat” seemed to draw her in. Yeah, off topic, but i can not hear a reference to that song without seeing a dancing ferret.
To amass a great fortune a great crime must be committed. I forget the source for that (or an analog along those lines - great fortunes are based on great crimes), but it's rather a truism. I think the cut off can be much lower than a billion dollars.
I think I love your commentaries more than your drawings.
Thank you for being knowledgeable and not just shooting off
to be heard. So grateful that we didn't lose your voice.
So sad. A weekend of tragedy. 😭
But, I can count on you, Clay, to come up with a good toon and great commentary.
Lovely story about Rob Reiner. Part of me hopes it wasn't his son. The sad truth is that mental illness, addiction, etc. also strike families that seem impervious to horror. RIP Ron and Michele. Condolences to the rest of the family dealing with two tragedies.
As for President Orange Snake, may the horror and pain and anger that he inflicts on others inflict him and his equally hateful progeny.
I think you mean to say: you hope that the Mango Mussolini is afflicted by an equal measure of the horror, pain and anger that he inflicts. I couldn't agree more. Any suggestions for the best circle of hell for him?
He deserves one of his own. That said, I pray that no human is bad enough for hell. But a few billion years in purgatory feeling the pain he's inflicted on others seems appropriate.
In a philosophical mode: I tend to think that people who are soulless killers have something in their mental makeup that makes them basically inhuman. And if the rest of us really cared about ending their behavior, we, as a society, would care enough to learn what causes that kind of behavior, even if it takes centuries. The question also arises - are there people who truly have zero empathy, zero humanity that cannot be explain by some genetic or mental defect?
I believe that the worst torment for Pharoah Cheato would be to truly see who he really is. Not this fantasy that he has created in his mind.
Isn't there a novel by Oscar Wilde that does that?
Picture of Dorian Gray.
You raise a deep philosophical question. To whit: are we more than our genes or are our genes our destiny. At a certain level, I'd say our potential to be human is wired into our genes, but that phenotypes are determined by the interaction of genes with their environment (both pre- and post-natal). This gets complicated with the recognition of the importance of epigenetic modifications and genetic chimeras that are seen in many individuals. In sum, we are conditioned to become a specific kind of an organism. A neotenous ape. A potential human. Beyond that all bets are off. Something apparently made the Tangerine Tyrant into what he is. It's not human. Stephen Miller is another example. But not Steve Bannon. Maybe Baron is a third. Not the older boys. Don't misunderstand: Bannon and the older boys are profoundly fucked up, but in very human ways. Stephen Miller has no humanity, nor - apparently - does Baron. As to being without a soul: what the hell is a soul? And what are you calling a mental defect?
I've long been of the opinion that Trump's father beat (perhaps literally) every scrap of empathy out of him. A lack of empathy makes for a subhuman opportunistic monster. He'll do anything because he feels nothing at all. Momentary physical pleasure is all he has. He feels no love, no remorse, no anguish, nothing, and that's why everything is about him. He has only money and the momentary amusement it, and the manipulation of others can bring him. To all intents, he is a zombie under the skin, dead inside.
I tend to think that what's broken in those people isn't what we today call a mental defect. I think it's something physically that is going on inside the brain. Scientists don't really understand, yet, how the brain - all of those cells and tissues - really works. Perhaps we never will.
Calling something broken (unless it's a bone) is metaphor and if one wishes to truly discover what causes a behavior, we need to be cognizant of what is metaphorical and what is organismal.
The most basic principle of General Semantics is that all thought is the result of physical action in the brain.
Two questions: 1. what is "thought"; 2. and what is "physical action in the brain"?
My favorite aural skit by The Firesign Theater is a spoof of a More Science High School assembly/pep rally. The principal, who is not a good orator, is trying to connect with "the kids." A voice calls out from the depths of the student body: "what is reality?" And another voice responds: "who cares?" first voice: "eat it. Eat it raw!" Principal, flustered says: "raw. Raw. Raw. That's the kind of spirits we have in this school" 2nd voice: "Fuck you!" Principal - walks off the stage and says, soto voce: Fuck you, too.) End scene.
Actually, “Trump Derangement Syndrome” would more accurately describe the people who continue to follow or serve our Dear Leader and Savior Donald J. Trump. May the cankles be with you.
What Trump wrote was appalling but not surprising. He is sickening.
No empathy, no compassion and no filters. No decent person will cry when he dies.
Nobody brings a child into the world and pours themselves into loving them and raising them with the thought that someday their child will grow up to murder them. I am focused on grieving Rob and Michelle's passing, and on the sad reality that mental illness sometimes takes tragic turns. Nothing (and no one) else to see here. 🤨 I wish comfort and peace to the family and friends who knew them and loved them and are just trying to get through the days to come.
There's a short on YouTube that has examples of men, seemingly perfect men, who ended up destroying their wives, children. Family eliminators, it called them. Normally, they tend to be family head.
Yes, some parents unfortunately are like that, though they're not the ones I had in mind above, the average parents who "pour themselves into loving them and raising" their children.
True. Unfortunately, there are also children who become eliminators. Sad.
Thank you, Clay. Your toon and blog are truly on point today. Rob Reiner would have certainly taken issue with orange blob's "comments". He is truly disgusting. Keep on keeping on!❤️
Perfectly said!!!💕
Thanks for that, Clay. Of course there IS Trump Derangement Syndrome. It's experienced by those who see him as a messiah. As acceptable. As anything more than a pariah, which is what he should be: an outcast (apologies to Andre 3000 and Bigboy.) Ghoulishly, I look forward to hearing about the arrest; the possible motive. But mostly, I wish to mourn Rob Reiner. He was always consistent. And always civil. (Even to Bill Maher. Frankly, I was sometimes amazed.) He will be eulogized for his humane ideals, treatment of others, and great humor. Reiner (both he and his father) were mensches. Estelle was in all his films until her death. Her ad lib line in When Harry Met Sally is among the more famous from films in the 1990s - "I'll have what she's having." Again ghoulishly, I wish to read whatever Albert Brooks writes about his great life-long friend. But I am, frankly, bereft at this news.
Your words are exactly what we needed to hear. Thanks for that. Love the toon, too!
My husband and I recently saw Rob in This is Spinal Tap ll. Though it’s hard to top the original, I’m still glad we saw it. (Cool story and pic by your ex and partner!)
Trump has outdone himself in his vile and inappropriate response to the 3 shootings: Brown U, Australia, and the Reiners. He thoroughly disgusts me. He’s incapable of not making it about him. He’s either railing about TDS or saying, “things happen,” which he also said to MBS about Khashoggi in the Oval Office.
It’s pathetic and, yet, this is all we can expect from our Narcissistic Commander in Chief.
Thank you for turning it up to 11. I bought Spinal Tap II last week and had just watched it on Saturday morning. I kept laughing and saying - This is so my sense of humor. I sang along with all the songs. When I taught, I slipped in "turn it up to 11" as often as needed. And when I was teaching art History units... I couldn't discuss Stonehenge without the song playing at 11 in my brain, and my hand moving in front of my mouth so they couldn't see me smiling! Thank you for the cartoon and observations.
This weekend was horrible. I saw Trump’s comments about the Reiners, whose deaths felt personal, elsewhere and here. I’ve not searched: did he tell Australia to stop allowing immigrants, if the shooters were, in, not acknowledging that the Muslim fruit seller who tried to stop one of the perpetrators of hate, may too have been? To not bother with more restrictive gun laws and just send the military to the people to look strong is better? Or best: “thoughts and prayers” work wonders against violence.
That Muslim gentleman is a true hero. He threw himself into the middle of danger just to save lives. He didn't stop to ask which side those people were on. He risked his own life to save other humans.
Yeah, the woke wars lead to violence… whether we should tax the rich, or eat them. I favor taxing… “meat” of the rich is all fat, and tastes hatefully bitter.
We had a pet ferret who loved the song “Eat the Rich”. The strong beat and the word “eat” seemed to draw her in. Yeah, off topic, but i can not hear a reference to that song without seeing a dancing ferret.
He is a POS. But this toon and blog… wonderful. 💔
To amass a great fortune a great crime must be committed. I forget the source for that (or an analog along those lines - great fortunes are based on great crimes), but it's rather a truism. I think the cut off can be much lower than a billion dollars.
💔