Sunday Mail: 60th Celebrations

Posting a cartoon every weekday leaves no room for me to simply share news, ideas, and other stuff with you, so here's a Dry Bones feature called: 'Sunday Mail: Letters from Dry Bones'.

Party Time
We Israelis celebrated the 60th according to the Hebrew calendar (which fell this year on May 8) We partied, went to the beach, had barbecues, waved flags, went to parades, and sat in holiday traffic jams. But according to the civil calendar, Israel’s anniversary is celebrated on May 14. And so it is that a flood of international dignitaries, celebrities, and in general, important folk, are about to descend on the country to kick off the 60th celebration.

Guests
George Bush will address the Knesset (our parliament). Former British Prime Minister Tony Blair will attend the celebrations, along with former Soviet leader Mikhail Gorbachev. Also visiting will be the presidents of Ukraine, of Albania, of Latvia, of Poland, of Rwanda, of Georgia, of Croatia, of Slovenia, and of Burkina Faso, along with the prime ministers of. the Slovak Republic and of Hungary. The Chancellor of Germany visited in mid-March for an early 60th celebration and the French President is scheduled to visit in late June. Elie Wiesel, media tycoon Rupert Murdoch, former U.S. Secretary of State Henry Kissinger, Google founder Sergey Brin, and Facebook founder Mark Zuckerberg will also be coming to the party.

Gifts
The Dry Bones "Israel at 60" Commemorative Mugs make great gifts. And they're not on sale in any store. These souvenirs are a limited edition and will only be available until the end of 2008. After that, you'll have to go to eBay and pay some outrageously inflated collector's price. Right now you can snag one or more of these mugs at an embarrassingly low $19.95 each. They are large (a hefty, 15 oz.) ceramic mugs with big, comfortable easy-grip handles. They are dishwasher and microwave safe. If you don't get one now, you'll be kicking yourself next year. Click on the photo below for more info, to take a peek at the other side (which is even prettier), and perhaps to buy one.

Only $19.95 each for these Dry Bones Commemorative Mugs?

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Hezbollah at War

Today's front pages of every Israeli newspaper and all of our media, are screaming about Olmert's maybe going to have to step down because it looks like maybe he's going to be charged with criminal charges about stuff he did while mayor of Jerusalem.

Doing a daily editorial cartoon, however, means that I try to comment on the most important story.

So I was torn between the Olmert corruption story and Hezbollah's declaration of war on the Lebanese government, where the moves by the Iranian/Syrian axis now seem to be taking a dangerous turn.

So did I pick the significant topic to "cover" ?

What do you think?

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Israeli Independence Day (1990)

Yom HaAtzmaut, Israeli Independence Day. Back in 1990 we were coming to grips with the twin surprises of the West turning its back on us and the miraculous rescue/return of the Jews from Russia and Ethiopia!

In this cartoon, done in April of 1990, I used my Miss Israel character to show the mood of the country on her birthday.

To see how she looked in 1978 click on Israel at 30.
And for this year's Miss Israel click on Israel at 60.

And a Happy Israel Day to us all!!

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The Car

Ethanol was supposed to be the solution. Now it's part of the problem?!

According to the Associated Press:

With Food Costs Rising, Ethanol Benefits Now Questioned
WASHINGTON (AP) - "Just months ago, ethanol was the Holy Grail to energy independence and a "green fuel" that would help nudge the country away from climate-changing fossil energy.

Democrats and Republicans cheered its benefits as Congress directed a fivefold increase in ethanol use as a motor fuel. President Bush called it key to his strategy to cut gasoline use by 20 percent by 2010.

But now with skyrocketing food costs - even U.S. senators are complaining about seeing shocking prices at the supermarket - and hunger spreading across the globe, some lawmakers are wondering if they made a mistake.

"Our enthusiasm for corn ethanol deserves a second look. That's all I'm saying, a second look," said Rep. Jane Harman, D-Calif., at a House hearing Tuesday where the impact of ethanol on soaring food costs was given a wide airing.

In a dramatic reversal, ethanol has shifted from being an object of widespread, bipartisan praise to one of derision, even among some of its past supporters." -more

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Israel at 30 (1978)

In yesterday's cartoon I showed a "little girl" Israel anticipating her birthday party in 2008. In the posting I promised to show you how I've depicted "Miss Israel" in the past, so...

...click on the cartoon below to open a larger, more readable version of this full page Dry Bones Golden Oldie that celebrated Israel's 30th Independence Day (Yom Ha'Atzmaut) back in 1978 .

Click on the cartoon above to open a larger, more readable version of this full page Dry Bones Golden Oldie of "Israel at 30".

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A President at Her Party!

The continued imprisonment of Jonathan Pollard has become an ugly stain on the reputations of both the U.S. and Israel. Given the ineptness of a succession of Israeli governments in handling the "Pollard Affair", and the embarrassing silence of major American Jewish organizations, we are reduced to hoping for a "birthday present".

* * *

In previous years I've tried to capture the flavor of Israel at significant birthdays ...drawing Israel as a sultry, sexy, Mediterranean beauty. On her 60th, however, the little girl and her birthday wish seemed more appropriate.

I'll try to dig up a previous "Israel on her Birthday cartoon" to post as a Golden Oldie to show you what I mean."

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Sunday Mail: "Israel at 60" Mug

Posting a cartoon every weekday leaves no room for me to simply share news, ideas, and other stuff with you, so here's a Dry Bones feature called: 'Sunday Mail: Letters from Dry Bones'.

Dry Bones Celebrates "Israel at 60"
This week begins the festivities commemorating Israel's 60th year of Independence.

For the occasion I created the Official Dry Bones Commemorative Mug. These large (and dare I say attractive ?) souvenirs are a limited edition and will only be available until the end of 2008. After that, you'll have to go to eBay and pay some outrageously inflated collector's price.

I just received an email from a loyal reader who is coming to Israel with his family and wanted to know where the "Dry Bones Store" was.

Well, I hate to break it to you guys but there is no "Dry Bones Store" and there's no way you can get your hands on one of these gorgeous commemorative mugs other than by clicking on the picture below.

Being a terrible businessman, I've priced these mugs at an embarrassingly low $19.95 each. They are large (a hefty, 15 oz.) ceramic mugs with big, comfortable easy-grip handles. They are dishwasher and microwave safe. If you don't get one now, you'll be kicking yourself next year. Click on the photo below for more info, to take a peek at the other side (which is even prettier), and perhaps to buy one.

Only $19.95 for this Dry Bones Commemorative Mug?

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