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I didn't know what subject to deal with today.

Reading the newspapers at my local cafe revealed the current possibilities; the "double dip" recession, Islamist Turkey, the Palestinians, Palestine at the UN, Bibi standing isolated speaking to the world at the UN, the Eurozone crisis, starvation in Africa, the lynch attempt at the embassy in Cairo, etc. etc. etc.

While going over the topics I absent-mindedly doodled a picture of Mr. Shuldig reacting to the news. I looked at what I had done and laughed.

I traced it for today's cartoon.

Spectator Sports 2011

The daily reversals on the Stock Market are serious business. They are signs of the economic crisis, a possible "double dip" recession or worse, the collapse of the Dollar, etc. . . . yes, there is much to say about the current situation of one day's sell-off panic and the next day's mini-boom. But at heart I'm a cartoonist, so the up down motion of the market reminded me of a tennis match. I couldn't resist, gave in to temptation, and drew today's cartoon. Superficial, but fun. . * * * Last minute notice: I'll be at the cartoon and animation festival at the Tel Aviv Cinematheque tomorrow presenting my Yale findings on the secret codes of antisemitism and explaining the detective work involved in finding them. I'll be speaking in English. The date is August 18 (Thursday) at 7:30 PM. There's a 37 nis entry fee. The TA Cinematheque is at 2 Sprinzak St. Tel: (03) 606-0800

For details click here. If you're in the neighborhood, come on over and say hello.

Summer 2010

Two current (issued within two days of each other) expert opinions about whether or not to worry about a double dip recession.

1. No reason to worry:

No fear of double dip recession: US treasury chief

WASHINGTON: "US Treasury Secretary Timothy Geithner dismissed fears of a double dip recession in an interview aired on Sunday, but warned of a slow US recovery with the economy only gradually gaining strength.

Geithner was asked on NBC's "Meet the Press" whether he thought the economy would dip back into recession before things got better.

"No, I don't," he answered. -more

2. Start worrying:

Chance of double-dip recession is high: (Reuters)

- "The state of the economy is worrisome and there is a high possibility of a double-dip recession, one of the property market's most well-known economists said on Tuesday.

Robert Shiller, professor of economics at Yale University and co-developer of Standard and Poor's S&P/Case-Shiller home price indexes, told Reuters Insider he does not know where home prices may be headed, but believes the economy may be on a precarious path.

"For me a double-dip is another recession before we've healed from this recession ... The probability of that kind of double-dip is more than 50 percent," Shiller said.

"I actually expect it." -more

* * * As for me ... I plan to worry. It's the Jewish thing to do.