Political Cartoonist Of The Week: Jen Sorensen

Growing up in a predominantly Amish community known for its scrapple, chow chow and hog maw, it’s not surprising that cartoonist Jen Sorensen’s sense of humor is exaggerated, outlandish and down right amazing. And we’re not just saying that, either. Jen’s stuff is featured regularly in the Village Voice, Daily KOS and MAD Magazine, and has won seven awards from the Association of Alternative Newsweeklies, including first place just this past year. Check out more of her stuff here.

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Five Creepy New Ways Police Can Intrude On Your Rights

The Article: 5 Creepy New Ways for Police to Intrude on Your Rights by John Knefel in AlterNet.

The Text: One of the most disturbing trends in law enforcement in recent years is the hyper-paramilitarization of local police forces. Much of the funding for tanks for Fargo’s hometown cop shop comes from the Department of Homeland Security. The feds have a lot of money to throw around in the name of preventing terrorism, and municipalities want to get that money. As anyone who has done budgeting knows, the best way to ensure your funding stays high is to request a lot of money and spend it all.

As a result, every year the police get more tools, gadgets, weapons, and surveillance technologies that, whatever their stated purpose, serve to give cops greater capabilities to curtail the rights of anyone unlucky enough to be standing in their path.

We were going to list these in order from least to most creepy, but that proved far too challenging. So here are some cop tools you may not be familiar with, in no particular order.

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Converting Your Cell Phone Into A Survival Tool

Ever been in the unenviable position of being stuck in the middle of nowhere? Luckily, the stuff in your pocket can be converted into life-saving tools and implements. Using even a free cell phone, a cell phone can be broken up into parts that can be then used as a survival tool. Just read the infograph above!

Infograph originally posted on All That Is Interesting: Turn Your Cell Phone Into A Survival Tool.

Two Decades Of The Donald Trump Troll

If the C/2012 S1 comet actually hits Earth, I hope it only singes off Donald Trump’s hair.

How To Know When Your President Isn’t A Dictator

Yeah, so this is a pretty good starting point. Or if, say, you criticize your president and aren’t immediately taken to a gas chamber.