I don’t know how many original readers I have from the days of my first comic strip, Urban Trash, but I do know that The Biggish Five (syndicated throughout South Africa, in English and Afrikaans) is exponentially more popular and more fun to write and draw.

Following my rather bizarre departure from the corporate world in 2005, I immediately took on the daunting task of drawing funny pictures for a living, with no official experience or training. The first publication (other than my website and a now-defunct discussion board) to print Urban Trash was the South African (a weekly newspaper for expats in the UK). I’m still with them today.

This is the strip they ran in early November 2005:

A lot has changed since then.

Like my chair. It’s broken in more places now.

I started drawing for The Times in June 2007, with an offbeat one-panel cartoon called Ditwits. At the beginning of 2008, my editor spurred me into political commentary, which was a potentially dangerous move for such a large newspaper; never before had I drawn politically, nor had I caricatured anyone.

Amazingly, I haven’t been canned. Especially with an average nearing one rejected cartoon per month. (Versus Zapiro’s decades-spanning career total of two, if memory serves.) By the end of this year, and about 500 cartoons later, I will have been drawing politically for two years.

Last year, after just less than 1000 Urban Trash strips, I decided to hang up those boots nibs and venture into something less restrictive. Enter The Biggish Five (which is nearing the 500 mark).

The journey has been interesting. From eating chocolates with Desmond Tutu, to being nominated for a few awards, to receiving weird death threats (the poor guy, bless his socks, was arrested), to hanging out with Leon Schuster, to inspiring a nationally televised toast, to being turned away by every book publisher, to being turned away by generally anyone to whom I introduce myself.

This is the original Urban Trash strip. The one from which my entire career stems.

No one was hurt when swine flew, says the transport minister.

Transport Minister Nicholas Goche said in a statement issued today that the Air Zimbabwe plane was headed from Harare to Bulawayo when the crash occurred Tuesday. All 34 people on board were evacuated
safely.

What’s awesome is that a few unarmed hogs totally took out a plane.

The plane’s undercarriage collapsed on impact and it veered off the runway, damaging the plane’s nose, one engine and the wing.

Epic.

Truly epic.

But all is not lost.

Because according to Tokyo Mango, female (and, perhaps, camp male) sufferers can now change their own climate with a handy gadget that plugs into their computer and, um, boobs.

The USB Bust Beauty Pad

The USB Bust Beauty Pad, as the name (and accompanying image) suggests, even enhances beauty.

Thanko has a wonderful solution to those whose nipples get cold during winter days at the computer — The USB Bust Beauty Pad. Just plus it into your computer, slip the U-shaped pads under your bra, and cozy up as the pads get warm. The pads are meant to last about six months, and the whole set-up costs about $20.

At around 160 ront, how is this not a bargain? Now you are able to have those warm breasts you’ve always wanted.