Starting today, for at least the next month (but maybe a few days longer as circumstances allow), I’m going to do a little Christmas charity here at the cartoon blog. Here’s how it’s going to work:

1. High-quality, full-color cartoon prints are going to be on sale for $30, which will include shipping (although if it’s an older cartoon that isn’t in color, then it’s going to be black and white). I’ll sign them if you want me to.

2. All of the money collected by December 15, with the exception of what I need to spend on shipping (the reinforced envelopes and the postage usually ends up costing between $4 and $5), will go to a holiday charity for underprivileged children and / or families in the Lincoln and Omaha areas.

Kill two birds with one stone this year! Give your loved ones a unique gift while also giving to those less fortunate! Ever wondered how you can tell Jon Camp “Merry Christmas” and help needy children at the same time? Here’s your chance!

Click here to place your order — just be sure to tell me which cartoon you’d like. Either tell me the date and publication or just copy the web address here on the blog.
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So many of Daryl Cagle’s syndicate cartoonists went to the Abraham Lincoln well that he created a separate category on his site — Lincoln Likes Obama.

You can get the “Crying Lincoln” from David Fitzsimmons; the “Smiling Lincoln” from Steve Breen and Clay Jones; the “Fist Pumping Lincoln,” also from David Fitzsimmons; the “Thumbs Up” Lincoln from Mike Keefe, John Darkow, Scott Stantis and Mike Luckovich; the “Giant Lincoln Holds Tiny Obama in His Hand” from Vince O’Farrell and Bruce Plante; and my favorite, the “Terrorist Fist Jab Lincoln” from Jeff Darcy.

There are a few others in the roundup, but Cagle forgot to include “Obama Contact Lenses Lincoln” from Jeff Koterba.

A sketch I submitted to the Journal Star on Friday, seen only by my editor and me:

From the Journal Star coverage of Monday’s city council meeting:

Before voting on the projects, Councilman Ken Svoboda turned the tables on Seacrest, asking him to clarify who he was representing, since he represents many entities, such as the private business group 2015 Vision, Antelope Valley and the Downtown Lincoln Association.

Svoboda said “the whole conflict of interest thing has really bothered me” and asked Seacrest whether there is a “fuzzy gray line” when it comes to whom he’s representing.

Sara and I voted Friday morning, so I really have nothing to do today other than fret. The line was long, the wait was about 90 minutes, but the crowd was in good spirits. I was actually surprised at how pleasant everyone was and how tolerant they were of the delay.

Over at the Daily Dish, Andrew Sullivan has shared a Nebraska voter’s report. It’s kind of fun to see fellow Nebraskans popping up there.

Any of you readers want to share your voting experience?

UPDATE: Another Nebraskan chimes in at the Dish.

Ahead of us in line was three-generations of an African American family. It was the first time voting for all three of them. The youngest, who graduated high school last year, was calling his friends and getting them out of bed while we waited in line. He was describing the polling place and giving directions for getting there. After he voted, he had probably the biggest grin I’ve ever seen.

Omaha World-Herald cartoonist Jeff Koterba’s October 19 cartoon lampooned the recent controversy involving the University of Nebraska – Lincoln’s decision to invite University of Illinois at Chicago professor Bill Ayers to speak at an education conference. In Koterba’s cartoon, he depicts a University official, beneath a “University of Nebraska – Lincoln” banner, saying “And now, as part of our conference to better understand the Mideast, a man we invited long before we learned of his controversial background…” Standing at the other side of the podium is Osama bin Laden.

My initial intention was to request comment about this cartoon from Koterba as well as several other related parties, but after a few rounds of emails with Koterba, I thought it might be more interesting to just hear the cartoonist’s thoughts. Unfortunately, Koterba did not respond to repeated requests asking for permission to reprint the cartoon with this discussion, so I have no visual aide to share.

The following discussion is from a series of emails sent between October 20 and 27. I’ve waited a week in anticipation of a response from Koterba, but I’m now assuming a week of silence means no response is coming. I will update this post if a response does come.
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A reject for the holiday of misfits:

Check it out.

A must-read post from fivethirtyeight.com.