Auchtoon!

Originally published in the Grand Rapids Business Journal, August 18, 2008

Originally published in the Grand Rapids Business Journal, August 11, 2008

This one is a tribute to our cat, Cassaundra (aka, Poo!). I love her, and I think she loves me, but for 18 years now I get the distinct feeling she considers me a walking meat bag — a passably adequate servant who provides an occasional skritchin’, attends the litter box, and can be conveniently eaten if necessary.

Originally published in the Grand Rapids Business Journal, August 4, 2008

Okay, I will admit this is slightly strained, making a connection between Blackwater (a military consulting group) and FannieMae/FreddieMac (the psuedo-governmental mortgage banking whatever-they-ares). But it is true that both are benefiting by having the federal government throw bags of cash their way. And I’m not blaming them. Who refuses bags of cash? The other connection is the timeliness: Fan and Fred recently got bailed out and Erik Prince, founder/owner of Blackwater, is on a PR spin to manage Blackwater’s public perception — they are now a friendlier and more shiny with 50% less shooting people in the face. Prince is also a born and raised West Michigan guy, so the comic has that goin’ for it, which is nice.

Tune in next week when I tie together the Russian invasion of South Ossetia to rising Great Lake water levels. Weee!!!

Originally published in the Grand Rapids Family magazine, July 2008

Hey! Click the whale to check out a Flash animation my dear ol’ Halo Burger buddy, Mert, and I did for our friend Doug’s new venture, WhaleDrop.

Originally published in the Grand Rapids Business Journal, July 28, 2008

Originally published in the Grand Rapids Business Journal, July 21, 2008

Originally published in the Grand Rapids Business Journal, July 14, 2008

The only thing I want to add here is that I really, really hope this isn’t prophetic because I do a lot of work in the healthcare industry. But booms tend to bust, and there certainly is a lot of air pumping up the healthcare bubble right now….

Originally published in the Grand Rapids Business Journal, July 7, 2008

It’s all at once terribly frightening and comfortably reassuring on the day you realize that nobody in any profession really, really knows what the hell they are doing. Case in point: Bankers. Oh sure, they appear to be very knowledgeable and secure in their spiffy tailored suits sitting bolt upright behind their manicured desks. But as it turns out, they are frumpled messes casting about for clues just like the rest of us. A year ago bankers would practically visit you in public restrooms to stuff cash in your pocket, taking with them used urinal cakes as collateral for the loan. Now, well, you have this week’s comic. The pendulum swing has been radical, to say the least.

Originally published in the Grand Rapids Business Journal, June 30, 2008

Michigan has been described as the Saudi Arabia of fresh water. Now Michigan and the rest of the states and providences that share the Great Lakes are taking positive steps toward limiting the shipping of water from the region. Read about the details. I guess that would make it the OPEC of fresh water. Can’t wait for the time when Presidents of the United States drop by to grovel….