Alex Raffi Blog

Glad to be able to repost this cartoon that originally ran on November 15, 2001

2011-05-01T20:50:00.000-07:00

Originally published in the Henderson Home News paper of Nevada.

So proud of our troops.

It's a good day.

Unnecessary Amendments

2011-04-26T21:53:00.001-07:00

We see this in business, politics and even the school system. There's a limit to how much you can change a thing before it breaks. Sue at my office mentioned how Nasa spent so much time and money creating a pen that would work in space. The Russians just used a pencil.

Creative Maturity

2011-04-10T22:22:00.000-07:00

Much of our lives are spent analyzing things like the environment, politics, society, economics, art, parenting, crime, war, religion, etc. The list could go on forever. But one vital thing we tend to forget to do is to acknowledge our own ego amidst our day-to-day lives. It is our ego that motivates most of our decisions and drives us into any given direction.

Working in business, we are inundated with problems daily, whether it be operational issues, human resource challenges, customer concerns and more. To succeed in business, one must be a problem solver. However, one of the main obstacles in developing your own ability to be that problem solver is oftentimes our inability to set our own perspective and needs aside. That's because, more often than not, many professionals have the need to be perceived as a problem solver, but that desire overrides actually being a problem solver.

There are solutions.

We must always understand that the choices we make require analytical thinking with emotional tempering. Not the other way around. Ego is a good motivator but a terrible problem solver. Simply put, learning to manage your own ego is what separates the professionals from the wannabes. Creative confidence is shown not by those professionals who say they have the best ideas, but by those who showcase their ability to be flexible, responsive and nurturing of any good idea regardless of its origin or where that idea is headed at any given moment.

It takes a talented professional to set their ego aside and immediately listen to, discuss, address and solve problems on the spot, all the while knowing they may not have all of the right answers just then. Addressing challenges or opportunities in this manner can be difficult for some to do, impossible for others. But, as I mentioned, this ability separates the pros from the amateurs.

Compromise requires sacrifice. Sacrifice requires humility. Humility requires confidence. Confidence comes from creative maturity.

Creative maturity may seem like a contradiction in terms, but it is an absolute must when the goal is to produce the best solution possible for any situation. The dichotomy of exploring your options and ideas with a free and open mind while limiting your ego analytically isn't always easy, but it is possible.

For those looking to further their own development in this area, the first step is to set aside the egotistical need to be “right” and instead learn how to trust others – and yourself. This means allowing yourself to be open to impromptu discussions, to step outside of your area of expertise and provide your thoughts (they do matter), to feel confident in the fact that you do have something to contribute and that your opinion is valuable. I encourage you to put yourself and your ideas on the line, especially during those instances where there is no time to prepare. You'll be surprised at what you're already capable of doing. For the no-holds-bar always idea making, problem solving machines of the world, who typically already have a highly developed sense of troubleshooting needs, I say it's okay to take a backseat at times when you're around others who are new to this creative maturation process. Allow them to venture out, learn and come to trust more in their own abilities and the concept that there is always more than one solution to any given problem. In doing so, it will help build their confidence.

Managing your ego is difficult to do and, as a business owner myself, it's absolutely critical that everyone on my team is able to creatively mature. Without a proper balance of overall maturation, business doesn't work. The environment naturally segments itself into "control freaks" (who become resentful and frustrated) and "wannabes" (who begin to create their own self-imposed walls the hinder their own progress and growth).

An efficient and effective way to reach the best solution in the shortest amount of time is to commit to muting our emotional needs to be right and realize that this sacrifice is required for the best solution. One does not feed the other.

GOVERNMENT SHUTDOWN?

2011-04-07T23:32:00.000-07:00

An oxymoron (plural oxymorons or oxymora) (from Greek ὀξύμωρον, "sharp dull") is a figure of speech that combines contradictory terms. Oxymorons appear in a variety of contexts, including inadvertent errors such as extremely average and GOVERNMENT SHUTDOWN.

St. Baldrick's 2011 - Team "Bald by Design"

2011-03-06T16:37:00.001-08:00

The donations to St. Baldrick's are granted to some of the most brilliant childhood cancer research experts in the world to find cures and improve the quality of life for patients and survivors.
The Foundation funds more in childhood cancer research grants than any organization except the U.S. government.

We did it! Bald by Design raised more money than anyone this year!
Our team raised over $42,000 this year, making us the 3rd highest fundraisers in the entire country this year! Go team!

Creative Courage - Inspiration

2011-03-01T23:27:00.001-08:00

It's human nature to share things that inspire us. Where some of us fall short is in stopping there. The key to becoming an innovator is sharing the results of our inspiration. Talk about what we've built because of what inspired us. Become the inspiration you are seeking. Participate in innovation. Don't just advertise it.

Join my St. Baldrick's event.

2011-01-18T23:40:00.000-08:00

Each year, 160,000 children are diagnosed with cancer worldwide. Cancer is the number one disease killer of children in the U.S. and Canada. Research saves lives.

Creative Courage with Alex Raffi

2011-01-17T16:04:00.001-08:00

Onesheet design for the sheep counting dream.

2011-01-08T10:22:00.000-08:00

Happy New Year!

2010-12-31T22:32:00.001-08:00

Water levels in Southern Nevada have fallen steadily for nearly a decade.

2010-12-28T20:50:00.000-08:00

Water is one of the most politically charged issues in Nevada today, and it's certainly one of the most important.

President Obama signs repeal of 'don't ask, don't tell' policy

2010-12-22T23:10:00.000-08:00

The Sheep Counting Dream by Alex Raffi read by Debi Raffi

2010-12-21T16:13:00.000-08:00

A message about my book.

2010-12-13T21:19:00.001-08:00

A poem written by my grandfather for my 6th Birthday.

2010-11-29T22:14:00.000-08:00

This is an amazing poem written by my grandfather in 1974. My dad just gave it to me so I wanted to post it to this site as a record and small example of his amazing talent. He died when I was very young. But still remember him sitting in his desk at night typing away on his typewriter. We was a writer, poet and composer of musicals and plays. Any semblance of artistic talent I have came from him. I tried my best to translate it into English. I'm open for suggestions and edits.

The trumpets sounded
And the drums rang
The future goals of the patriots
Are now dictated by the victors

An Independent village was born
Spearheaded by Artigas
Who with bravery in battle
Saved Uruguay

August 25 would shine
As never the sun shone
From the East flag
Which reflected the melting pot

August 25 was
when Alex saw the light
In a foreign Homeland
Bringing glory and joy
for his fathers and relatives
Away from the beloved homeland
That with cheers and songs
Celebrating his arrival

Six years already have past
The years of the little man
A rascal alive and growing
nesting in his pleasures

the echo of his accent come
On this glorious day
A sweet event celebrating
This beautiful boy

We have you close
Although you are far away
And in the original flight
Comes your reflection

Deepens the thinking mind
full of dreams
thirsty beats the heart of emotions.

Sending one thousand kisses
and six little tugs on the ear
while we wish for a beautiful
future of years.

Be Happy with your sister who
as a pair together has blessed
for ever the way of your destiny

Finally after 10 years..... I'm almost done.

2010-11-14T10:31:00.001-08:00

How to draw with letters for kids.

2010-10-20T22:31:00.000-07:00

I received a request for a video to show how to draw with letters. So here it is. This is meant for beginners. Hope you enjoy.

Working on a new painting

2010-09-18T22:20:00.000-07:00

It's been about 5 years since I've made non-pixelated artwork. Nice to get back to basics. Got my hands on 2 large format canvas for 50% off. Nice reason to create new art...

My Panorama page done in 2001 for the Henderson Home Newspaper.

2010-09-02T10:51:00.000-07:00

I did this for Tim O'Callaghan when I worked on the Good old Henderson Home News Newspaper. They let me write an entire Panorama section. Very generous of them and fun to do. I really miss the newspaper business sometimes.

The puppet master.

2010-08-25T22:06:00.001-07:00

One of my illustrations was used in Green Peace magazine (Germany)

2010-08-24T07:43:00.000-07:00

Click on the image to view the page. Let me know what it's about. I don't speak German.

Great moment in History

2010-08-10T00:38:00.001-07:00

BP doing what it takes.

2010-07-25T00:58:00.000-07:00

Are you ready for the pain?

2010-06-22T00:38:00.001-07:00

The fourth grade was no treat for me. I was a skinny kid then (hard to believe looking at me now), debilitatingly shy (again, hard to believe) and a constant daydreamer (which placed me on the low end of average when it came to academics). Compounded by the fact that I was new to Good Shepherds Catholic School in Beverly Hills, Calif., and of course you’d end up with an awkward kid like me, right? As a result, I spent a great deal of my early scholastic career avoiding being picked on. (That's me to the left.)

The only classmate who had a more difficult time than I did was a boy named Steven, who had the misfortune of being nearsighted, a straight-A student and overweight. He just happened to draw more negative attention than I did. Even at an early age, I quickly learned that my best defense against the school bullies was to stay within range of Steven. Who’d want to pick on me when they had Steven nearby to pick on instead?

It was at the tender age of 9, while staying in range of Steven, that an event – one that would teach me a lesson I would never forget – occurred at recess. The school bully, Calvin Coolidge, decided he’d gather a group of boys, including Steven and me, to play a game of circle. It was a pretty simple game. Everyone stood in a circle and, at the whistle, all tried to push one another out. The last one left (usually Calvin) was the winner and dubbed the “boss” of the playground.

I was usually one of the first kids to hit the asphalt outside the circle, and this day was no different. Steven, on the other hand, found a nice position in the center where he stood, immobile and terrified with his arms crossed hoping nobody would notice him. The game progressed quickly. Many scrapes and bruises later, everyone found themselves looking in from the outside of the circle. Everyone, that is, except Steven and the meanest, toughest, most freakishly over-developed boy in the school, Calvin.

In kid terms, Calvin was out for blood. He circled Steven, looking him up and down as he panted, sweat dripping off his face.

“You’re next fatty,” Calvin repeatedly said. “Are you ready for the pain?” Steven steadied himself. “Here it comes,” shouted Calvin. Calvin charged at Steven, bounced off of him and hit the ground as if he were made of rubber. Steven didn’t budge – not even an inch.

This is when something strange began to happen. We all realized that Calvin may have met his match. He continued to try to push Steven out of the circle, but, still, Steven would not budge. My classmates began chanting: “Steven! Steven! Steven!” It was then Steven opened his eyes for the first time since the beginning of the game. As he looked out over the crowd – a sea of kids and a nun – that had gathered to watch and cheer him on, the look of fear quickly switched to that of confusion before slowly shifting to one of confidence. Steven crouched, placing one hand to the ground, faced Calvin, charged and knocked him out of the circle with force. He was victorious.

Steven was the hero of the day, the “circle king,” the center of attention, and stood taller than I’d ever seen him. Actually, we both stood a little taller that day. And although Steven eventually went back to being the “fat kid” others would pick on, he no longer cowered. He faced his tormenters, perhaps not with the dramatic flair he displayed that afternoon in the circle, but enough to where his days at school became much more bearable. I still hung out with Steven at the playground, not because I feared Calvin, but because I respected Steven.

You never know where inspiration will come from. And you never really know what is possible until you muster up the courage to face challenges or people who torment you. Now, whenever I’m faced with a situation that may feel impossible or intimidating, I face those fears and think of Steven and Calvin. I knock the problem out of that circle because that circle is mine.

Joe Barton has mixed priorities.

2010-06-17T23:28:00.000-07:00

BP or not to BP.

2010-06-16T23:15:00.000-07:00

I want my life back!

2010-06-16T00:21:00.000-07:00

It's been a while since I've done a cartoon. Sometimes life gets in the way. I'm sure this pelican can relate to unexpected shifts in your existence. I plan on doing many more cartoons on the spill. I need to get it out of my system. Please feel free to share any of them as much as you like. Let's hope that this disaster is our turning point as a society.

My spooky brush with a zombie in Charleston.

2010-06-15T15:08:00.000-07:00

People are saying they can also see a woman in a white dress visiting a grave.

My weird photo taken during our trip to Charleston

2010-06-09T22:10:00.000-07:00

I took this photo during a Ghost tour my wife and 6 year old daughter took in Charleston, South Carolina. Pretty creepy. It's been describe to me as a Pareidolia. I think it's pretty cool. This image has not been altered at all. I took it with my Blackberry. That should explain the poor quality. I enhanced the last image to show a clearer image. Let me know what you think?

42

2010-05-25T21:37:00.000-07:00

In the hilarious book titled, "The Hitchhikers Guide to the Galaxy," authored by Douglas Adams, there is a moment when a famous question is posed: “What is the answer to the ultimate question of life, the universe and everything?” After inputting the question into a super computer, the answer that was provided was “42.” The computer, noticing the confusion its answer caused the people, explained further to say that the true problem is that nobody really understands the question. Hence, the reason they also did not understand the answer.

I think I’ve found the right question. I’ve listed the process I went through to find the correct question to the meaning of life below.

1) Are you happy?
2) Do you laugh daily?
3) Are you loved by someone?
4) Do you love someone?
5) Are you challenged daily?
6) Are you proud of your work?
7) Are you proud of your choices?
8) Can you trust the people around you?
9) Can you solve problems?
10) Are you contributing to the life of others?
11) Are you a good person?
12) Are you doing your best?
13) Are you teaching?
14) Are you learning?
15) Are you part of the solution?
16) Do you have empathy?
17) Do you try to make a difference?
18) Do you make time for yourself?
19) Do you hold the door open for others? (Symbolically and literally.)
20) Do you try to experience other cultures?
21) Do you try to surprise yourself?
22) Do you wonder why things are the way they are?
23) Do you work to live, instead of live to work?
24) Do you do things that are hard?
25) Do you tell people what you like about them?
26) Do you allow yourself to have your mind changed?
27) Are you able to manage your ego constructively?
28) Are you brave enough to try to understand the pain of others?
29) Have you ever helped a stranger?
30) Have you ever attempted to create art?
31) Have you ever shed tears of pride and joy?
32) Do you appreciate what you have, no matter how little?
33) Have you ever expressed your true self to anyone?
34) Have you ever stood up for someone who needed help?
35) Have you ever forgiven an enemy?
36) Have you ever given help anonymously?
37) Do you ever make time to notice something beautiful?
38) Do you try to improve the lives of those around you?
39) Do you listen?
40) Do you see?
41) Do you lead by example?
42) Do you share what you’ve learned?

Finally, I think that the real question to the answer of life, the universe and everything is this.

How many of these questions can you answer “yes” to? If your answer is “42” then you’ve figured out the answer already.

My version of Jockey full of Bourbon by Tom Waits

2010-05-25T00:02:00.001-07:00

Jockey Full of Bourbon | Musicians Available

My Petco Metaphor

2010-04-20T10:52:00.001-07:00

This is how I feel most days...

An illustration I did in 2001 for the Henderson Home News.

2010-04-15T22:39:00.000-07:00

What if Congress designed Rocking Chairs.

2010-04-02T19:42:00.000-07:00

What will you create?

2010-04-02T11:02:00.000-07:00

What will you create? | Music Upload

Lyrics

Music.
HOOOHAAAHAAHAA!
What will you create?
Hee Hee Haa Haa Hooo Hoo Hee Hee!
AAAHHHHHHHH!
What will you create?
AHHHH!
WAAAAHHHH
What will you creat?
HEY! HAHAHAHA!
AAHHHH!
What will you create?
OH NO!
HUH?
AYEEEE!
AAAAHHHHHH!
WAAAAAAAAYYYYYYEEEEEE!

Chicken Piccata

2010-03-31T23:06:00.000-07:00

Chicken Piccata | Music Upload

This is a song I put together tonight just for fun. It's about an actual dream I had.

LYRICS

It was 4:12 A.M. and my wife just woke me up.
It seems I had a bad dream.
It was kind of a weird dream.
So I was in an apartment complex with my wife.
She’s cooking something on the stove,
I can’t remember what it was but it smelled really good.
Chicken Piccata, I think, I love the Chicken Piccata
So we’re sittin there and we’re talking, having a good time,
laughing, talking about our daughter.
Then there’s this loud thud.
And the wall behind her crumbles.
And we start to free fall.
There is rubble everywhere.
As we start falling down, down, down, down,
deeper and farther.
And I reach out to her and I can’t seem to reach her.
But I catch the look on her face
and see’s thinking the same thing I’m thinking
I guess this is it.
I guess we’re done.
It’s just a matter of time now I guess.
There’s kind of a calm sense of panic.
Oh well.
I mean it was real.
It felt real.
I was overcome with this feeling of sadness.
You know you really start to appreciate it.
When you start to realize that
This is it.
You know it’s kind of cliché.
But you really gotta saver all the moments,
you know, as they say.
Cause you never know when the ground is going to
fall out from under you.
I’m glad to say that I didn’t feel like it was all a waste of time.
I was just, I was just sad that it was all over.
And I do remember.
And I do remember.
Thinking out loud.
To myself as I fell.
Kicking in the are as I was reaching for my wife.
I called out.
No.
No.
And that’s why my wife woke me up.
Cause I was screaming, No, No, No, in bed.
So I guess you gotta figure what is the moral of this, this dream.
and I think that it’s.
Always take the time to appreciate a good dish of Chicken Piccata.
Cause, it could be your last.

Catholic Priest Sex Abuses Crimes Ignored by Church.

2010-03-27T23:39:00.000-07:00

Fun with photoshop

2010-03-23T21:24:00.000-07:00

The Never Ending Expansion of Life and Cheese.

2010-03-18T09:28:00.000-07:00

4:12 A.M.: A few minutes ago my wife woke me up from a dream. It made an impact on me so I decided to write about it.

In the dream Debi, my wife, and I were staying or living in a large high-rise apartment complex. Similar to the one both my aunts live in currently in Montevideo Uruguay. Except I know we are here in Henderson, Nevada because Deb is telling me about some hilarious discussion Elli, my daughter, and her were having on her way to school. Both of us are in the kitchen and Debi is preparing something to eat. We are chatting while some kind of news show is playing in the background on the TV. It’s some kind of interview with a scientist.

I’m sorry about the vagueness but please remember it’s a dream so the details are pretty foggy with the exception of the last few seconds.

The man on television was discussing the theory of “Multiverse”. To my surprise Debi was actually acting interested. I am a major nerd when it comes to scientific curiosities. I love learning as much as I can about the nature of the universe. I love trying to wrap my mind around Einstein’s theory of time and space. It’s one of my many small pleasures in life. Debi on the other hand always gives me a big eye roll whenever I try to share some of these odd ideas with her. It’s always been a funny exchange. She’ll reluctantly let me rant about whatever I just learned, and I take full advantage of the time I’m wasting for her. This time though, she was acting fascinated by the idea. Really curious. This was the perfect time to explain the fascinating idea of the ever expanding block of Swiss cheese that is the “Multiverse” theory. I start going into it with her and it’s really exciting cause she is listening this time with no eye rolls or heavy sighs. I mention how in this way of looking at the universe. We are not alone. We are just one of an endless number of constantly expanding universes that resemble the bubbles you find in Swiss cheese. How each universe is expanding exponentially along with the space between them. I explained how we could never reach the end of our universe in any meaningful way because it’s expanding so quickly. Thus explaining how, to the people inside the bubble, the universe seems endless. We go into how the particles that make up the universe have a specific quantity. So it’s logical to think that the arrangements of these particles will likely repeat themselves because of the ever expanding nature of the multiverse theory--in the same way you would have to repeat your wardrobe eventually because there are only a certain number of combinations you could make with them. This then leads to the possibility of similar galaxies to ours down to even the clothes on our backs etc... These ideas always fascinate me and make me appreciate the complexity and beauty of life. How lucky we are to participate. How exciting it is to have a child who is discovering all the cool stuff you already know. How meaningful it is to be able to share these moments with someone who loves you enough to put up with your silly obsessions. I can smell the coffee Deb is making and I can see her preparing to interject with a question when suddenly there is a loud thud.... The wall behind her gives way along with the floor. Both of us are in a sudden free fall. I can see debris falling all around us and I’m clutching for her as she’s screaming. I have the presence of mind to realize that this is the end of everything for us. It was all coming to an end... I have ran out of time. I had this odd rational sense of panic. My thoughts went to Elli. Is she okay? Is this happening to her? I’ll never see her face again. I have to picture her in my mind before I die. I want her face to be the last image in my mind. I can feel myself kicking in the emptiness as I fall. And I call out... NO!!! ....NO!!!

It’s at that moment that Debi wakes me up. The nightmare portion of my dream was so sudden that my heart rate didn’t even go up. All I could think of is how full and alive you can feel in one instant and have it all taken away the next. I don’t know what caused the collapse of the building in my dream. It doesn’t matter. It’s the idea that the time we spend here is finite. The sudden desperation and realization that it’s coming to an end is what hit me most as I laid there in my bed unable to sleep again. This desperation is a reality to so many people in our world. It’s as constant and endless as the Multiverse theory suggests. The smallness you feel when you consider the epic nature of the universe is palpable. But the fear of losing that seemingly insignificant life is just as epic to each of us. In the reality of my situation within my dream I felt a very real and deep sense of regret, not for the way I had lived my life--it was regret for the suddenness of how it can be taken from me. I love to be surprised. I think that’s why I love reading about new discoveries in science. It reminds me that life is amazing. Everything, in fact, is amazing. If more people realized that there might be cause for less regret. I think I’m going to eat some Swiss cheese for lunch today and kiss my daughter for the 4 millionth time.

You can learn about Multiverse theory by clicking ---- here.

Health? Care?

2010-03-16T00:18:00.000-07:00

Missing something?

2010-03-11T22:36:00.000-08:00

We must make time to love "every" moment.

2010-03-07T09:44:00.001-08:00

We must make time to love "every" moment. Even flowers grow out of dark moments. Proving that every moment is vital. Good or bad, big or small, they affect the whole of your life. Life is a succession of moments and to live through each of them, is in itself a success.

I'M BALD!!!! St. Baldrick's March 6th 2010 fundraiser.

2010-03-07T08:16:00.000-08:00

Five examples of things we avoid during a creative brainstorm session.

2010-02-23T08:18:00.000-08:00

Imagine Marketing is an idea factory. And like any factory, the key to success is efficiency. Although the creative process can seemingly take a considerable amount of time to go through, rushing it could eradicate the quality of an idea we develop for a client.

However, just like any service provider in their line of work, we develop and implement standards that help to streamline the creative process. There are simple issues our team regularly avoids during the process, all of which can stifle creativity.

Here are five examples of things we avoid during a creative brainstorm session:

The inner critic: It will always be your greatest enemy. It comes from the fear of being judged or of being perceived as talentless or ignorant. This is a difficult hurtle to overcome, but it is the most important one because your best work will always be left at the bottom of a pile of self doubt.

Piling on messaging: This happens often, especially with people who don’t understand the creative process. Ideas and creativity are mysterious and have the ability to do anything, so people try to cram as much as possible into one idea. There is a limit to the weight an idea can bare. A cluttered, complex idea may feel gratifying to the creator, but it will only be an obnoxious mess to the observer. The message must always be precise and to the point. It is important to realize that although there is no limit to the process one goes through to come up with an idea, there is a limit to effective creativity in the end product.

Lack of knowledge: Writers always say “write what you know.” If you have been hired to create something for a client, you really need to understand everything about them that is relevant to the goal. After a while of going through the process, you should be able to trust your instinct enough to ask the right questions, thereby giving them the creative results they need.

Following rules: The rules in the creative process can be complicated. There needs to be an objective as well as a limit to the development of ideas. If a person offers an idea nobody likes, they should be given a chance to explain why the idea can be effective. It is unwise to kill ideas immediately. Great ideas have often come from concepts that were initially disregarded but fought for. That being said, if the idea is still not effective to the majority after it’s explained, you must move on.

Being too creative: There is a tendency to get excited about an idea and take it way too far. Exploring concepts is dandy, but there is a fine line between creative exploration and wasting time. Always remember the objective and realistic implementation of an idea. Stay on time and within budget otherwise it’s a pointless endeavor.

Global Warming

2010-02-21T23:00:00.000-08:00

Hemingway once wrote a story in just six words

2010-02-16T00:42:00.000-08:00

Hemingway once wrote a story in just six words ("For sale: baby shoes, never worn.") and is said to have called it his best work.

I gave it a shot:

“He believes every lie he tells.”

“Her last words were “I’m bored”

“My son held her hand, regardless.”

“The hypocrite controlled everyone he knew.”

“The cigarette ashes gently arced downward.”

“She could fix anything with string.”

“His grandmothers hair smelled like diesel.”

“She would never walk slow enough.”

“The photograph I lost revealed everything.”

“Her voice once made him happy.”

$10 goes a long way...

2010-02-15T15:22:00.000-08:00

I'M GETTING MY HEAD SHAVED FOR CHARITY!!!

I will be participating in the St. Baldricks's fundraiser this Saturday. Imagine is trying to raise money and ANY contribution you could give would be greatly appreciated. The fundraiser raises awareness and money for children with cancer. It will be a ...fun event with live music as some of you might already know I love everything Irish. Hope to see you there and again thanks for taking the time to consider a donation or even participating. Spread The Word!

More information below.

Even $10 goes a long way... http://www.stbaldricks.org/participants/mypage/participantid/365256
Got to the site to donate and enjoy a pint with good friends...

Go raibh maith agaibh!

(Thank you)

A.

Speed drawing of POTUS Obama.

2010-02-10T22:26:00.003-08:00

2010-02-03T23:59:00.000-08:00

Read the story here

How to draw a Dragon.

2010-02-02T21:41:00.000-08:00

I think all artists, that are able, should do this. It's a great way to take the mystery out of something we take for granted. I always have people looking over my shoulder so fascinated at the process of creating artwork. I've argued this point with many people. I think everyone, EVERYONE has the ability to be creative. I think creativity in all it's incarnations egsists in all of us. I see them as a hall of doors. Some people have closed doors and others have them wide open. Others keep those doors locked but always have the keys hidden somewhere. The ability to create art is not God given to just a few. It's Man nurtured by all who choose to. It's something to be worked for. Something you labor after. Practicing the craft over and over again is what makes you good at it. Anyone who would like to be able to draw a Dragon could do so. Not the same day but after spending the time drawing over and again. When I say art I mean all forms of art. Writing, acting, singing, painting, architecture... Now I do believe some people are born with some of these doors already open. But that the doors exist in all of us. It's just a matter of going for it.

Cartoon inspired by State of the Union.

2010-01-31T22:40:00.000-08:00

Partisanship is nowhere to be found in Washington so these cartoons are both reflecting a lack of partisanship.

Have A Nice Day. a short film by Alex Raffi

2010-01-31T18:32:00.001-08:00

Permanent marker.

2010-01-30T08:32:00.000-08:00

Messing with Final Cut Pro.

2010-01-28T19:48:00.001-08:00

Elli sings the blues

2010-01-21T22:40:00.001-08:00

Photo of Pat Robertson.

2010-01-17T20:27:00.001-08:00

Conan vs. Jay

2010-01-15T01:04:00.000-08:00

Fruit of the Looming Terrorist Threat.

2010-01-09T22:12:00.000-08:00

Calvin Trillin was onto something when he predicted the underwear bomber in 2006 on the Daily Show with John Stewart.

The Daily Show With Jon Stewart

Mon - Thurs 11p / 10c

Moment of Zen - Calvin Trillin's Prediction

www.thedailyshow.com

Daily Show
Full Episodes

Political Humor

Health Care Crisis

Zinc by Zoe Keating

2010-01-04T16:54:00.000-08:00

http://www.in-c-remixed.com/ In early 2007 the Grand Valley State University New Music Ensemble recorded Steve Reich's masterpiece Music for 18 Musicians. What followed for this young ensemble was nothing short of a dream--a critically acclaimed at-dawn performance at the Bang On a Can Marathon, a feature article in the New York Times, a segment on NPR's Weekend Edition, glowing CD reviews in over thirty publications, reaching #1 on the iTunes and Amazon classical charts, and spending eleven weeks on the Billboard charts. Perhaps WNYC's John Schaefer summarized it best when he called the recording "The story of the year in classical music."

32 ways to wear a cap.

2009-12-17T22:08:00.001-08:00

Learning with Elli

2009-11-29T17:06:00.001-08:00

Children's book progress.

2009-11-27T23:42:00.000-08:00

Made some time to work on my children's book yesterday. Hope to finish it soon. I'm spending a lot of time on the illustrations. I want it to be really fun for kids to look at. Let me know what you think?

A cartoon I did in 2001.

2009-11-24T19:16:00.000-08:00

Creating an editorial cartoon in 10 minutes.

2009-11-22T00:48:00.000-08:00

I started this without knowing what the gag was. Just to see if I could come up with it on the fly in 10 minutes. It was more like 11:40 but I cut out some of the pauses so it would fit in the 10 minute YouTube restraint. It's all in real time. didn't speed up the video. I just draw in a manic nature normally. Hope you enjoy it. Cheers.

Elli and a chicken go to a party

2009-11-19T06:46:00.001-08:00

A Snake from a number 2.

2009-11-16T22:20:00.001-08:00

How to draw Lion from a #5

2009-11-16T21:26:00.000-08:00

If Congress Designed Pencils.

2009-11-14T00:57:00.000-08:00

Still working on my children's book. Progress is slow unfortunately.

2009-11-12T22:59:00.000-08:00

Jump rope politics

2009-11-11T08:27:00.000-08:00

My daughter Elli teaches me how to fix everything.

Do they say plagiarism is the sincerest form of flattery? hmmmm?

2009-11-10T21:18:00.000-08:00

So here is the only cartoon I know of that I'm almost positive was plagiarized. You be the judge. This cartoon ran in the Henderson Home Newspaper on November 8th, 2007.

And this cartoon was published by cartoonist Randy Bish - Pittsburgh Tribune-Review on Tuesday, November 10, 2009

What should I do people? Does it look like I have a case?

REGRET

2009-11-07T23:30:00.001-08:00

sketch website.

2009-11-07T19:48:00.000-08:00

I tried this site out http://sketch.odopod.com this is my first little sketch.

Cartoon Caption Contest

2009-11-03T15:39:00.000-08:00

Here is an old cartoon of mine. I've removed the caption so you could give it a shot. Send me your ideas. Post them in the comment box below. Give me some funny!

Here are some submittions I received from FB and Twitter:

Craig Galati
"That's it. No more listening to Rush Limbaugh!" or "Halloween has gotten out of control this year!" or "Dear, your parents need to quit spoiling the kids!"

Brian Rouff
"We're starting a new holiday tradition."

Teri Erhard Davis
"Shouldn't you be getting the kids ready for church?"

Gigi Raffi Blansett (My sister)
You shouldn't let Santa call my sister for gift ideas!!!!

Robert Crawford
"Just because late term abortion is illegal, honey, doesnt mean you should spend the rest of the kids childhood trying to find a loophole."

@ricklondon
"Gladys, If worse comes to worse with this economy, yes, you are right, we could write a screenplay"

@LeeHiller
"When I said the kids could play "Red Neck Rampage" this Christmas I meant the computer game Amy!"

@NoNoDrama
"Gift cards are sounding good now!"

F Andrew Taylor
Look, if they weren't safe, they wouldn't have let me buy them.

Amber Swanson
"You NEVER said no alligators in the house!"

Brandy Ferro
Hunny, what happens in Vegas is suppose to stay in Vegas!!!

Nikki Williams
You promised me UFC tickets last year and I got nothing, So I improvised!!

Joe Cygan
"I'll get the car keys."

Marek Biernacinski
"Must be from your side of the family."

Tom Fay
I know that your an environmentalist and I'm not. Really we need to think about the kids!

Candice Cummins
I told you NO COMMERCIALLY themed pajamas.

Melissa Anne Rothermel

"Our last babysitter left for ... personal reasons. She loved the kids though. I'm sure you three will get along just fine while I'm gone."

Giving Thanksgiving thanks.

2009-11-01T17:15:00.000-08:00

Trick or Treatment

2009-10-29T23:18:00.000-07:00

My drawing lesson for kids who think they can't draw.

2009-10-28T09:40:00.000-07:00

A few of my Paintings

2009-10-27T19:02:00.000-07:00

When time allows, one of my favorite things is to put on some music pick up a brush and spend a few hours painting. The act of painting is the pay-off. The process is very satisfying. A while back i enjoyed a wonderful class taught by Tom Dowling. I learned a lot from him in that class. I realized that the gift is in the process. I'm grateful to be able to express myself creatively daily and in so many different mediums. Wether you consider yourself artistic or not, everyone should go out and buy a canvas, buy some basic colors and a brush and go crazy. It feels good to put color on canvas. It's kind of liberating. Give it a shot and let me know how it goes.

Thank you Home News and Boulder City News

2009-10-24T09:22:00.000-07:00

The newspaper that hired me as graphic designer and editorial cartoonist has officially been discontinued. Another victim of the new economy. I really love that paper and all the people involved with its creation and distribution. All my best to Tim O'Callaghan and his wonderful family. Thanks for all you've done for me over the years. there is a very large hole in the Henderson, Nevada community. But the impact of the papers and the record it has kept will be evidence of it's importance to the growth of Henderson and Boulder City.

SOCIALIST!

2009-10-23T05:48:00.000-07:00

Elephant painting

2009-10-22T19:31:00.001-07:00

This is a painting I did around 1985 I think. The quote below is what it says in the little rectangle under the image of the elephant. I always liked this painting. It’s currently hanging in my home. Funny how things stay with you. I’ve misplaced, given away or sold many of my older paintings. Wish I had the sense to keep better records of them.

There is a fine line between cute and ridiculous.

2009-10-22T09:25:00.000-07:00

Ebonics cartoon fiasco

2009-10-21T22:51:00.001-07:00

This is an editorial cartoon I did for Rebel Yell newspaper from the University of Las Vegas Nevada back in 1997. It caused some trouble for what I see now as obvious reasons. The cartoon was trying to illustrate how in my opinion we don’t need to teach our teachers how to understand and speak ebonics to communicate to African American students. I had read a story that some schools were doing this. Needless to say the irony of the cartoon was lost on the students. I received many letters and phone calls at the paper, all pretty much the same. “Alex Raffi is a racist and an idiot.” The newspaper editor was very supportive. (You can see the editorial response to this cartoon here) And I did have the opportunity to explain the point of my cartoon to some of the angered readers personally. But still I really felt bad about it so I decided to ask for some advice from someone I respected very much. Berkley Breathed, creator of “Bloom County” & “Outland”. Amazingly he offered me his advice. I learned a lesson early on that doing this kind of work is a privilege. Yo better be clear on what you mean. I still believe in the point of the cartoon but I executed it very poorly as Mr Breathed explained in his letter. (You can see the letter by clicking here).

Here is the response cartoon and some of the letters I received from angry readers. Just found this in my old files and thought I would add it. (You can click on it to enlarge for easier read.)

I really felt bad about it so I decided to ask for some advice from someone I respected very much. Berkley Breathed, creator of “Bloom County” & “Outland”. Amazingly he offered me his advice. This is the letter bellow.

Poetry & Perspective

2009-10-21T09:36:00.000-07:00

There is a poem I love by the great Pablo Neruda. I love it for a few reasons. It has an oceanic theme throughout that I appreciate. I have a deep love for the sea and always feel at peace when I’m near it. I love spending time in the poem. It helps me put things in perspective.

Enigmas - By Pablo Neruda Abridged

You ask me what the lobster is weaving there with
his golden feet?
I reply, the ocean knows this.

You say, what is the ascidia waiting for in its transparent
bell? What is it waiting for?
I tell you it is waiting for time, like you.

You ask me whom the Macrocystis alga hugs in its arms?
Study it, study it, at a certain hour, in a certain sea I know.

You question me about the wicked tusk of the narwhal,
and I reply by describing how the sea unicorn with the harpoon in it dies.

I want to tell you the ocean knows this,
that life
in its jewel boxes
is endless as the sand, impossible to count,
pure,
and among the blood-colored grapes time has made the
petal hard and shiny, filled the jellyfish with light, untied its knot,
letting its musical threads fall from a horn of plenty
made of infinite mother-of-pearl.

I am nothing but the empty net that has gone on ahead
of human eyes, dead in those darknesses,
of fingers accustomed to the triangle, longitudes
on the timid globe of an orange.

I was like you, investigating the endless star,
and in my net, during the night, I woke up naked,
the only thing caught, a fish trapped inside the wind.

Art that is done well should always be open to interpretation so I would like to take a moment and tell you what this poem means to me.

We are all inquisitive by nature, some more than others, but we all posses a general curiosity about life, the universe and everything. This poem is a discussion taking place in a dream. It describes an abstract conversation between man and his perceptions. Neruda uses abstract thoughts to represent something deeper than the literal meaning. Taking a moment to consider the non-obvious nature of the world is difficult at times. You need to open yourself up and look at the world in a pragmatic way. I find comfort in the fact that the scope of our understanding of life is in no way diminished by our total lack of understanding of it. We need to first know what to ask. At times it seems we give ourselves so much credit for answering the wrong questions.

Neruda takes you to the beginning and attempts to help the reader realize that the answer to every question lies within our own perceptions. They are not shared as truths universally. And with that understanding, at least for me, it helped me to appreciate what I have and what inspires me to try to act accordingly.

Neruda suggests in his poem that the reader has asked a question.

“You ask me what the lobster is weaving there with his golden feet?I reply, the ocean knows this.”

Our unrealized perceptions find it quaint that we are curious. The answer given is a call to action. The search for the answer becomes the solution to the question.

“You question me about the wicked tusk of the narwhal, and I reply by describing to you how the sea unicorn with the harpoon in it dies.”

The narwal is an odd looking whale with a tusk that protrudes from its mouth. An animal feared and once thought to be a monster. The creature is used to describe how we make snap judgment. The answer is relative to the asker. People live within their own values and morals. In my view that is what Neruda touches on with this verse. We are all slaves to our experiences. A person who lives a peaceful life is affected by cruelty differently than a person who had never known a life without cruelty. It’s natural to see how difficult it is to make judgments on choices or what is right and wrong when the fact that all of us are so tightly wound in our experiences and fears that it makes highly improbable that any of us will ever see things the same. I have always felt that understanding people instead of vilifying them for believing differently is instrumental in the evolution of humanity.

“I want to tell you that the ocean knows this, that life in its jewel boxes is endless as the sand, impossible to count, pure, and among the blood-colored grapes time has made the petal hard and shiny, filled the jellyfish with light, untied its knot, letting its musical threads fall from a horn of plenty made of infinite mother-of-pearl.”

He starts these veses with “I want to tell you...” There is so much to be excited about in the discovery. I think here he is speaking of the need for fluidity with ideas. Time can shift mountains, heal wounds, build forests and ruin great empires, I’m pretty sure it has the ability to change an opinion or two. Life is ever changing and evolving. We may as well enjoy the ride and follow suit.

“I am nothing but the empty net that has gone on ahead of human eyes, dead in those darknesses, of fingers accustomed to the triangle, longitudes on the timid globe of an orange.”

Again the idea that we live in our own perceptions is humbling. We capture information and hold it from whatever place we are dwelling. The only thing we have to temper and form that information is our experiences and familiarities – things that are comfortable and safe, not necessarily the truth.

“I was like you, investigating the endless star, and in my net, during the night, I woke up naked, the only thing caught, a fish trapped inside the wind.”

I love this metaphor. We are always casting our nets out hoping to capture wisdom. We try to unlock the world’s mysteries, but at the end of the day we discover that the answers we capture in that net are just our own core beliefs and perceptions molded from our experiences and motivations. We judge the answers and only keep the acceptable parts that are comfortable to our existence.

Perception is everything. But being a little more thoughtful about our own perceptions might lend a bit of wisdom we never expected to find. The trick is to keeping fishing.

Recycled Violence.

2009-10-19T16:54:00.000-07:00

Study for a new painting on apathy.

2009-10-18T23:09:00.000-07:00

This is a sketched out study for a large format painting on apathy. The visual came to me many years ago during a creative art class.

My children's book

2009-10-18T23:05:00.000-07:00

I've been working on this book so long now. I need to finish it. I'm ready to get it done and start working on it full boar and then my ADD kicks in and I stop. I'll get it done this year. I have to. I promised my daughter.

Obamas peace prize at home.

2009-10-13T21:45:00.000-07:00

The king counting his coins. by Alex Raffi 2000

2009-10-13T16:05:00.000-07:00

“There are many things that we would throw away if we were not afraid that others might pick them up.” - Oscar Wilde

Liberals, Conservatives..... & Moderates?

2009-10-12T08:21:00.000-07:00

I created this cartoon in 2004. I still think it holds water.... No pun intended... Maybe a little.

Glen Beck Don't Cry

2009-10-07T07:52:00.001-07:00

2009-10-03T12:57:00.000-07:00

U.S. Loses Bid for 2016 Olympics. Obamas Enemies rejoice.

2009-10-02T20:07:00.000-07:00

2009-09-30T23:13:00.000-07:00

2009-09-12T23:26:00.000-07:00

Okay, I think this is my last healthcare cartoon for a while. I'm often amazed at the inconsistency of where people draw the morality line.

Working on my next cartoon idea.

2009-09-12T13:59:00.000-07:00

Hmm. All I can think about lately is healthcare. So I think I'll give it one more shot. Next topic may be the environment. We'll see. Have you guys got any suggestions for future cartoons?

2009-09-11T00:10:00.000-07:00

There is Bigfoot, the Loch Ness monster, leprechauns and bipartisanship.

2009-09-11T00:08:00.000-07:00

This idea was given to me by a friend on twitter @toadstar. Thanks brother.

2009-09-11T00:07:00.000-07:00

2009-09-11T00:03:00.000-07:00

A sketch I did while waiting for a plane.