Attempted Bloggery

All the Above Cartoon Caption Contests and More

Attempted Bloggery's Arid Index

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Friday, September 27, 2019

Barbara Shermund's Grave Marker

The fundraiser to bury the ashes of pioneering cartoonist Barbara Shermund alongside her mother received strong public support. It was organized by Caitlin McGurk, Associate Curator and Assistant Professor of the Ohio State University's Billy Ireland Cartoon Library & Museum, and Amanda Gormley, the artist's half niece. Since December 19, one-hundred fifty-two donors contributed $8676 to the GoFundMe project. The burial took place in May of this year. Now Ms. Gormley writes that on Thursday, September 26, the grave marker was placed.

Photo courtesy of Amanda Gormley

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Barbara Shermund

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Wednesday, September 25, 2019

The Cartoon Collections Caption Contest #42

The downloadable image for the Cartoon Collections Caption Contest #42 contains the string warnedaboutsplashing, which suggests that Drew Panckeri's original caption is something like "Didn't I warn you about splashing?" That's pretty good. Here's what I was able to came up with:

"Now for a spell I once cast on Tom Brady's footballs."
"Didn't I say at lunch to wait an hour before swimming?"
"I have a rule against skinny dipping."
"It's for your safety. I just turned the lifeguard into a frog."
"I'll turn you back for a nice chunk of your pension fund."
"I see the swimming charm doesn't work without a wand."
"Next time I'll look up the correct floating charm."

October 4, 2019 Update: The Winner

In his analysis of the contest, seven-time New Yorker Cartoon Caption Contest winner Lawrence Wood mentions one of my entries and why it doesn't quite fit:

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Drew Panckeri

Witches

Swimming Pools

All These Cartoon Caption Contests and More

Attempted Bloggery's Dog Paddling Index

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Tuesday, September 24, 2019

License Plate for an Optimist?

A license plate spotted over the weekend in Central New York seems ideal for those who see the glass as half full.

"CHEER UP"
New York State license plate

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License Plates

Attempted Bloggery's Cockeyed Index

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Monday, September 23, 2019

My Entry in the New Yorker Cartoon Caption Contest #678

It was a tall order to compose an entry for the New Yorker Cartoon Caption Contest #678 from the issue of September 23, 2019, but I went with a caption that, like me, is somewhat traditional. The drawing is by Victoria Roberts.

"Isn't it time we tied the knot?"

September 30, 2019 Update: The Finalists

October 7, 2019 Update: I voted with Santa Monica.

October 14, 2019 Update: The Winner

Note: Last week cartoonist Farley Katz drew a hypnotic cat having its way in the kitchen. Better do what the cat wants and check out Contest #677.

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Victoria Roberts

Giraffes

Fall

All the Above Cartoon Caption Contests and More

Attempted Bloggery's Twisted Index

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Thursday, September 19, 2019

Excuse Me: A Postcard from Liana Finck

New Yorker cartoonist Liana Finck's new collection Excuse Me: Cartoons, Complaints, and Notes to Self is set for publication next week on September 24. Back on August 17, an intriguing offer appeared on Ms. Finck's Instagram account: preorder her book that weekend and send her a copy of the receipt; she in turn would reward you with a hand-drawn postcard. Nearly 2,500 people liked her post, and she left a similar one on Twitter (only seven likes there, including mine, but it's the one I actually saw).

https://www.instagram.com/p/B1RSr8olpE2/

It's a good offer and of course I took advantage of it. One hopes many other fans did too. I gave the artist the chance to opt out of having the drawing appear on social media if she wished, but then who wouldn't want to have a drawing grace this blog? I wondered to myself if she suspected how the Postal Service might treat a postcard like this containing delicate original art. I knew it very likely wouldn't arrive in perfect condition and I figured that probably could be considered part of the fun.

And here it is!

So the card is indeed a little scuffed in the center but, hey, the postal service was never perfect. I, for one, am delighted.

Do you know what else delights me? It's the correct placement of the serial comma in the subtitle of this book. Here is a rough, same as in the above Instagram post, without the comma:

And here is the finished version with the comma in all its glory:

Perhaps there's hope for the world yet.

Note: Obviously, I am not the only fortunate recipient of such a postcard. Other splendid postcards from Liana Finck have been posted on social media here and here. For those who don't care to use social media themselves, Attempted Bloggery welcomes submissions of original drawings by the artist.

Ms. Finck's book tour dates for Excuse Me are listed here on her Instagram account. Follow her on Instagram or on Twitter for updates. Copies of Excuse Me also may be ordered from the usual places.

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Liana Finck

Go Ahead! Watch Attempted Bloggery's Index Go Postal.

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Wednesday, September 18, 2019

The Cartoon Collections Caption Contest #41

Don't heckle my entries in the Cartoon Collections Caption Contest #41. The drawing is by Pat Byrnes.

"You need new materiel."
"That one was old when Robby told it."
"That's easy. One to draw the robot with the light bulb and five thousand to write the caption."

September 25, 2019 Update: The Winner

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Pat Byrnes

Robots

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Attempted Bloggery's Open Mike Index

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Tuesday, September 17, 2019

Helen's Copy of Fifty Things That Aren't My Fault by Cathy Guisewite

Fifty Things That Aren't My Fault: Essays from the Grown-Up Years (2019) is written and illustrated by Cathy Guisewite, creator of the comic strip Cathy. This past weekend I came across a copy personalized to one Helen at a Manhattan second-hand book shop. It was signed and inscribed on April 2nd with a full-length drawing of Cathy.

Note: Attempted Bloggery welcomes submissions of original drawings by Cathy Guisewite. Who wouldn't?

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Signed Books with Original Drawings

Attempted Bloggery's Faultless Index

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Monday, September 16, 2019

My Entry in the New Yorker Cartoon Caption Contest #677

Are you mysteriously drawn to my entry in the New Yorker Cartoon Caption Contest #677 for the issue of September 16, 2019? The drawing is by Farley Katz.

"Now I'm the one who needs a rescue."

September 23, 2019 Update: The Finalists

September 30, 2019 Update: I voted with LA. It seems to me the cartoonist's intention is to have the man under hypnosis speak the caption, but the three captions selected by the editors each had the cat speaking instead. The incorrect attribution of the caption happens every now and then and there's not much one can do after the fact. The caption I voted for can, I think, be said by either character whatever the contestant's intention.

October 7, 2019 Update: Winning Caption

Note: Last week cartoonist Paul Karasik's caveman cooked a giant drumstick on the barbie, and he wasn't even Australian. Grab a paper plate and head over to Contest #676.

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Farley Katz

Cats