Next week I’ll be leaving for a business related trip, followed by relocation related travel where I’ll be checking housing, schooling for my daughter, work,  among tons of other ‘life related’ details in a new hometown, and finalized by a short but straight family-time trip. I’ll be gone until the end of March, but I’ll post notes and updates whenever I can. Interestingly, the timing of my upcoming month-long journey happens to coincide with the anniversary of my departure the year before. Has it really been a year? Already? People say time flies, and they are right.

It’s been slightly over a year since we launched this website. It will soon be one year since I added part-time work to my full-time motherhood while trying very hard to keep this website alive and kicking. This is how I feel when I look at what we’ve covered here at Boiling Frogs during this give or take one year:

First, I see so many crucial subjects and cases that ‘could have’ been covered, many guests who ‘might have’ been interviewed, and tons of developments absent from the mainstream media that ‘should have’ at least been mentioned.

Next, I realize how much we have actually covered here despite having meager resources, how much time I’ve been able to squeeze out despite juggling domestic and work-related loads, and how much team-work we’ve been able to pull together and present here thanks to Peter B. Collins, Paul Jamiol, and our contributing authors.

And finally, I am reminded of my main objectives in creating this site, this forum, in the first place, how far we’ve come, and how far we’ve got to go. I say ‘we’ because this is truly a collective effort. It is the time and resources it takes for me to research, write, interview, and publish. It is the time and resources it takes for Peter B Collins to co-produce and co-host our podcast series. Same goes for our great editorial cartoonist Paul Jamiol and our contributing authors. And equally important are the efforts and support by our  active readers, our irate minority members, who have been supporting this site with their contributions, participation, and valuable communications, whether providing us with a heads up on important but glossed over developments, or  research, or helping with dissemination of our publication.

I must confess, for me, a novice publisher, there have been times when I’ve found it very easy to get discouraged, let myself be taken over by pessimism of the realities on the ground, to think of throwing in the towel, and just giving up. I am sure every single one of you goes through those moments; when it seems and feels like you are blowing in the wind…more like, blowing in the hurricane! On the other hand, for every single one of those moments I have many others where I find encouragement, flickering hope but nonetheless hope, through our speedily expanding membership, your support and feedback, or even a nasty response from the ‘other side’ acting as a testament to our success-however major or minor.

It’s been exactly one year since we had our first (and only) fundraising countdown for BFP. Last year your contributions and support allowed us to publish our analyses, articles, news round ups and interviews on a limited basis. This year, during the next four weeks, you again will determine how far this website will go and how much it will cover. I am thankful for all the support you’ve been providing me and Boiling Frogs Post, and I am counting on all of you to help us keep this site alive and kicking.

This site depends exclusively on readers’ support. Please help us continue by contributing directly and or purchasing Boiling Frogs showcased products.

Editorial Cartoons, also known as political cartoons, can be powerful and effective in explaining political issues and current events. Cartoons can evoke compassion and ignite outrage. They can promote ideals and act as catalysts to propel action for change through creative use of visual art.
They help shape public opinion (positively and negatively).

A few days ago, after publishing my latest op-ed piece on President Obama’s Changes on Change, I received an e-mail from Paul Jamiol, a great cartoonist who has done some really good work in depicting our nation’s downslide. He sent me the link to his recent cartoon which is related to the op-ed piece I wrote; great job, indeed! Check it out below:

Here is another good one published a while ago during one of my MSM related campaigns:

I encourage you to check out Paul’s website to see his activism expressed so effectively in cartoons – summing up important issues better than 1000 word pieces.

Now here is your turn: What do you think of political cartoons and their role today? Who is/are your favorite cartoonist(s)? Why? Also, if you can, share (provide the link) with all of us your favorite cartoon (only one cartoon, please!) related to the topics we’ve been discussing (MSM, Need for ‘Real Change,’ Campaign lies and ‘pre-selected’ candidates…). If you don’t have one already, you may want to spend a few minutes browsing the Net – it is fun, uplifting, and also highly stimulating-nothing like a well-executed punchy cartoon to get that critical thinking going….