Creative Writing Class

I'm taking a Creative Writing class just for fun and during one of our workshops I secretly did these quick sketches on my iPad with the Brushes app. Shhh, don't tell my teacher.

Remembering JFK

This month is the 50^th anniversary of the assassination of President John F. Kennedy. NBC news has brought out some extraordinary archival footage of Kennedy on Meet The Press during his presidential campaign in 1960. Bryan Williams featured Kennedy's most memorable speeches, from civil rights to peace on Earth. The NBC website also features this remarkable interactive page with interviews from various people, including former President Clinton, Jane Fonda and Oliver Stone, reflecting on JFK. Meanwhile, over in looney, right-wing media world, historians have publicly criticized the right-wing media for their attempt at trying to revise history and erroneously paint Kennedy as a conservative.

Lou Reed

Lou Reed Dead at 71.

Kudos to Sheryl Gay Stolberg and Mike Mcintire

Major kudos to Sheryl Gay Stolberg and Mike McIntire for their informative New York Times article on the government shutdown, which exposes the outside groups behind the anti-obamacare crusade.

Trayvon Martin

Imagine if you had a 17 year old child who was walking home from the store at night. A man driving down the street suddenly starts following him, gets out of his car and starts chasing him and then attacks and fatally shoots him in the chest. Imagine if the man who murdered your child then got off on self defense. How would you feel? How is it self defense when the murderer gets out of their car and chases someone? Please sign the petition created by Benjamin Todd Jealous, President of the NAACP, calling on the U.S. Justice Department to file civil rights charges against George Zimmerman.

James Gandolfini

After James Gandolfini’s recent, tragic passing I realized I had never watched The Sopranos before but always wanted to. I started a major marathon watching every episode from the first season. I am now up to season 4 and there are 6 seasons in total. I’ve come to the conclusion that it’s definitely one of the best shows ever made for television. I'd always thought the show was just about the mafia but after watching it I realize it’s about family and it’s brilliantly well done. A very tight-knit, dysfunctional family but family nonetheless. Gandolfini is amazing in it of course. RIP Mr. Gandolfini, we'll miss ya. I’m powering on with my marathon until I finish every episode so if you need me knock on the shell.

The Conversationalist

This is my friend, Daniel Baylis. Check him out at his travel project website, The Conversationalist.

Wendy Davis Is My New Hero

Wendy Davis is my new hero. This week Republican lawmakers in Texas were about to pass a draconian bill that would have closed 80% of abortion clinics in Texas. In an amazing stance, Democratic state senator, Wendy Davis took over the state floor for an unbelievable 13 hour marathon filibuster without any coffee or bathroom breaks. Her efforts successfully caused the vote on the bill to miss the deadline. Davis has now received national attention from the media for her heroism. In tribute to Davis I’ve drawn her iconic, pink running sneakers that she wore on the night of her filibuster. Davis has now announced that she will run for governor of Texas, if she has enough support, prompting current republican Governor Rick Perry and the right wing media to attack her. Thank you Wendy for everything you do and sticking up for women’s voices. I feel as if republican lawmakers are trying to drag this country back into the dark ages before modern medicine existed. I've said this many times and I'll say it again that I will always support a woman's right to choose what to do with her own body over anyone's personal or religious opinion about abortion.

DOMA Struck Down

It was a historic day yesterday when The Supreme Court struck down DOMA giving LGBT couples full marriage equality in states where same sex marriage is legal. Rachel Maddow had a great piece last night detailing what this means for LGBT couples as well as all Americans. The image that I thought summed up best the excitement and celebration of the day was President Obama, who supports marriage equality, calling from Air Force One and congratulating happy couple, Kris Perry and Sandy Stier. Perry and Stier are two of the plaintiffs, who challenged Proposition 8, which was also struck down by the Supreme Court yesterday.

John Boehner and Donald Trump

John Boehner and Donald Trump as Oompa Loompas

Michael Hastings

Author, Michael Hastings died in a car accident early yesterday morning in Los Angeles. He was only 33 years old. I had such a major crush on Hastings for the longest time. I'm absolutely shocked and devastated. He was so smart and handsome and such a talented writer. Goodbye Mr. Hastings. You made the world a much better place and you will be missed enormously.

Ian Curtis

Today is the anniversary of Joy Division lead singer, Ian Curtis' death. On this day in 1980 he took his own life. He was 23 years old. In 2011 former Joy Division band member, Peter Hook paid tribute to Curtis with a reflective article in the Guardian.

Four Mothers for Mother's Day

In honor of Mother's Day here are four Mothers for you. Mother Teresa, Mother Jones, Mother Courage and Mother Goose. Enjoy. (Inspired by Mother Jones' Tim Murphy)

Men Who Wear Glasses

The sixth illustration in my Men Who Wear Glasses series is Kurt.

Men Who Wear Glasses

The fifth illustration in my Men Who Wear Glasses series is Rudy.

Men Who Wear Glasses

The fourth illustration in my Men Who Wear Glasses series is Omar.

Men Who Wear Glasses

The third illustration in my Men Who Wear Glasses series is Johnny.

Men Who Wear Glasses

The second illustration in my Men Who Wear Glasses series is Martin

Men Who Wear Glasses

This is the first illustration in a new series I’m working on featuring men who wear glasses. Why draw men with glasses? Because I’ve always thought that glasses make a man look handsome and sophisticated. And why not? The first man with glasses in the series is Jeffrey. All illustrations are made with Brushes for iPad.

Boston Marathon Explosion

A sad news day today when two explosions hit the Boston Marathon. As of this posting Boston Police are reporting 23 injured, 2 dead. Federal officials still have no suspect at this time. President Obama addressed the nation today where he said: “On days like this there are no Republicans or Democrats -- we are Americans, united in concern for our fellow citizens.”

Today my thoughts are with the city of Boston and my heart goes out to the victims and their families.

Roger Ebert

Thumbs down :(
Film critic Roger Ebert dies at 70.

Rick Grimes

This is my interpretation of the character, Rick Grimes from The Walking Dead played by Andrew Lincoln. Yes I am obsessed with the show. There are only two more episodes this season, the first of which airs tonight. I am so excited I think I'm going to have a heart attack before the finale airs next Sunday. Damn you Walking Dead creators *shakes fist*

R.I.P. Jason Molina

 R.I.P. Jason Molina


"It's gonna take a whole 'nother life to get it right."

"Silent sorrow with us. As long as there's no forgiveness"

Scott Prouty

The man who recorded the 47 percent video, Scott Prouty finally came forward and gave his first interview to Ed Schultz last night. Prouty was working as a bartender during the Mitt Romney fundraiser when he recorded the infamous video. Prouty revealed it was actually Romney's comments about factory workers in China that prompted him to eventually release the video. He explained in detail why he didn't come forward publicly until now because he wanted the spotlight to be on the video and not himself. Prouty said, "The motivation was just to expose him for what he said." Finally Prouty apologized to his employers for potentially putting their business in jeopardy by releasing the video. Schultz called Prouty, "A guy with a lot of guts." The interview is in four parts which can be viewed here:

Part1

Part2

Part 3

Part 4

Douglas Adams

Remembering Douglas Adams (11 March 1952 – 11 May 2001)

State of the Union Address

During last night’s State of the Union address, President Obama revealed his incredibly ambitious second-term agenda. The speech included policy proposals such as increasing the federal minimum wage to $9 an hour, expansion of preschool, infrastructure investment, gun control, immigration reform and a cap-and-trade program to limit carbon emissions.  I’m very proud to call this man my President and never in my life have I been more proud to be a Democrat. Watch the entire address here.

Six Portraits in Six Days: Nancy Keenan

Day six in my Six Portraits in Six Days series is Nancy Keenan, president of the National Abortion Rights Action League (NARAL). In May of 2012 Keenan announced that she would step down as president of NARAL but still continue her work with other women’s health groups. During her time at NARAL Keenan fought diligently for women's access to healthcare and birth control. In 2006 Keenan was listed as one of the 100 most powerful women in Washington, DC by Washingtonian magazine. In 2006 and 2008 NARAL helped more pro-choice politicians earn seats in Congress. However, after a setback in 2010 when a large number of republicans became elected, 2011 and 2012 sadly saw record numbers of new anti-choice laws enacted in states since Roe V. Wade.

Six Portraits in Six Days: Diana DeGette

Day five in my Six Portraits in Six Days series of people who are making a difference is Congresswoman Diana DeGette. DeGette has long been a leader on the issues that are important to the Democratic Party. DeGette was responsible for writing Colorado’s indispensable “bubble bill” which protects patients from harassment at abortion clinics and medical care facilities. Recently DeGette has introduced essential legislation for tougher gun control laws in the wake of the Sandy Hook shooting.

Six Portraits in Six Days: Bill Keller

Day four in my Six Portraits in Six Days series is writer for The New York Times, Bill Keller. Keller served as executive editor for The Times for nine years until 2011 when he stepped down to become a full time writer for the newspaper. In 2011 Keller wrote a bold, outstanding article urging other journalists to ask political candidates tougher questions about their religious views. Later Keller said of his article, “I would want to know if a candidate’s faith guided his or her views on the issues, if religious doctrine would be a justification for excluding some categories of citizen (gays, for example) from the rights and protections the country promises.”

Six Portraits in Six Days: Barak Goodman

Day three in my Six Portraits in Six Days series is co-founder of Ark Media, Barak Goodman. Goodman wrote and directed the praised documentary "Clinton” which aired on PBS in 2012. In recent years Ark films have received several accolades, most notably, Goodman’s film “Scottsboro:An American Tragedy” which received an Oscar nomination in 2001 for Best Documentary and won an Emmy in that same year for Outstanding Non-Fiction Special.

Six Portraits in Six Days: Anne-Marie Slaughter

Day two in my Six Portraits in Six Days series is Princeton Professor, Anne-Marie Slaughter. In July 2012, Slaughter wrote an article for The Atlantic entitled "Why Women Still Can't Have it All." The article became a viral hit and sparked numerous debates about gender equality and work-family balance. It quickly became the most popular article ever published in The Atlantic.

Six Portraits in Six Days: Christine Quinn

Six Portraits in Six Days. This is the beginning of a new series of portraits featuring people that I admire who are making a difference. I will post one new portrait a day for six days. Day number one is Speaker of the New York City Council, Christine Quinn. Quinn has always been outspoken in her support for LGBT rights. Back in July of 2012 Quinn advocated for the closing of the Chick-fil-A on the NYU campus. More recently, Quinn called out Supreme Court Justice, Antonin Scalia’s comments when he equated anti-sodomy laws to bans on murder and bestiality.