Little Elvira

I needed a good transition piece for this update and after much – oh what do you call that thing you do with your brain? Oh yes… - thinking, I decided to settle for none other than ‘Elvira, Mistress of the Dark’. See, Halloween is coming up and before that even I’ve got another ‘special event’ to work with, so… just trust me on this.

Now for you purists out there, please no threatening letters about how Elvira is a cheap knock-off of Vampira or even Morticia Addams. Of course she is but she’s had the good decency to never deny it!!

Actually, I’ve always found Elvira to be a hoot – sort of like ‘Mystery Science Theater 3000’ except with the differences of (a) she deals with really bad horror movies (vs. really bad ‘sci-fi’ movies) and (b) well, she has an incredibly nice rack (hey, I went as long as I could during this Breast Cancer Awareness series without getting sexist, cut me some slack). Besides her own little shows and the occasional dip into humor, she’s made a number of appearances in various films, even in non-Elvira character-roles such as ‘Pee-wee's Big Adventure’ (she was Biker Mama… no, I don’t remember that either).

She was also in the CLASSIC ‘Allan Quatermain and King Solomon's Mines’ starring Richard Chamberlain and Sharon Stone (wow, THE dream couple of the past 50 years in the movies!!!). She was the evil queeny person, just here on the left in the poster (hang on, this is worth a zoomed photo, too). I never saw it, but I am guessing she was really good at holding up her gold bra thing.

And for a lady about to hit 60, her ‘alter ego’, Cassandra Peterson, is still more than AOK in the looks department if you ask me. She’s also a really giving celebrity, donating her time for a number of worthy causes including PETA (essentially the ‘be nice to animals’ people) and AIDS fund-raising!!

Remember folks:
Healthy Boo-Bees are Happy Boo-Bees!!!

And please buy this shirt at zazzle.com, otherwise they might sue my butt off….

Font is creepygirl with some minor modifications.

Little Wonder Woman

This posting meets several criteria for our on-going Breast Cancer Awareness Month tributes!!

We started the month with ‘Famous Boobies Throughout History’, and certainly, the lady that brought perhaps the most attention to the Wonder Woman character – the absotively beautimous Lynda Carter – has always met that criterion in our book. In fact, we nearly got suspended SEVERAL times in 6th grade for our anatomically and rather accurately descriptive drawings of her in this great role. You could say even then my portrait seemed to ‘pop out’ of the very page!!

As some background, especially for you young’uns, Lynda in fact is a former Miss World USA. After winning this most hallowed (?) of awards, she embarked on her career as an actress (well, she had already done the rock’n roll thing). A short while later, she found what would wind up being perhaps her greatest success, when she became the star of the somewhat cheesy yet revered ‘Wonder Woman’ series.

The show would prove to be hugely popular and is still being broadcast today in countries around the world. Lynda has continued to be involved in the television and film industry for years, even producing various award winning shows or films. She also appears as a live entertainer around the world, including headline performances in Las Vegas, Lake Tahoe, Reno, Atlantic City, Monte Carlo and the London Palladium.

But that’s not all! As you no doubt have noticed and even signed up for the pending DVD documentary (send $19.99 to reserve your copy today!), Little Ziggy then changed gears from just well-known boobage and began honoring women who have either survived breast cancer and/or done something fantastic for the cause. And Lynda is no exception!

The ageless and still incredibly lovely Ms. Carter has also been involved in many charitable causes, including a pioneering role with the Susan G. Komen Foundation (for breast cancer education and research) from whom she received the Jill Ireland Award for volunteerism. Other good causes that she has played a key role in promoting or help direct include the Red Cross, U.S.O., Ronald McDonald House, and many charities benefiting children.

And finally, to complete this feel-good trifecta, we are happy to give a Ziggy Nixon patented ‘Shout Out’ to Wonder Woman Day. Now for those of you not in the know, for the fifth year in a row, the mythological champion is embraced as the iconic symbol for a charity benefit for multiple domestic violence prevention-intervention agencies.

Building on Wonder Woman's legacy and the life-saving work done by the heroic workers of the non-profit groups, Excalibur Comics in SE Portland will host the fifth and final Wonder Woman Day on Sunday, October 24th from noon to 6pm. The free all-ages event will include local and national artists signing comics and special edition prints, as well as a silent auction of original art contributed by more than 200 of the world's top artists. The Portland event will benefit Bradley Angle, one of Portland's leading domestic violence agencies, as well as multiple domestic violence programs throughout the area.

Additionally, a second Wonder Woman Day benefit will take place on Sunday, October 24th, in Flemington, NJ, at Comic Fusion, as part of their “Super-Hero Weekend.” This East Coast event will benefit Safe in Hunterdon, a domestic violence shelter in New Jersey.

Some key points the organizers have raised:

- Almost 300 pieces of original artwork will be auctioned between the two Wonder Woman Day events. All art is posted to view at the event and at www.WonderWomanMuseum.com;

- Portland's Mayor, Sam Adams, has officially declared October 24th to be "Wonder Woman Day" in the City of Roses;

- And previous Wonder Woman Day events have raised a grand total of more than $89,000 to benefit survivors of domestic violence and their children.

This year, the Wonder Woman Day event will feature an online component as well, as multiple items from the Portland art auction will be concurrently available on eBay. Again, 100% of the proceeds from the art auctions and other activities during Wonder Woman Day go to the domestic violence programs!

For more information about Wonder Woman Day, please see

http://www.wonderwomanmuseum.com/ or visit their Facebook site!

For the link where we lifted so much of our info about Lynda Carter, please see

http://www.wic.org/bio/lcarter.htm !

Little Shaft

(ok, stop giggling, this is serious!!)

Richard Roundtree played the iconic 1971 character ‘Shaft’, one of the most memorable movies of the mid-1970’s! Over 20 years later (1993), he would be diagnosed with breast cancer.

He had actually found the lump while filming a movie in Costa Rica. Luckily, Roundtree admits that because he is a bit of a hypochondriac, he got it checked out once returning to the US. This would ultimately save his life!

Still, despite what was a trying and difficult fight and recovery, for years after his diagnosis and treatment for breast cancer, Roundtree kept quiet about his status as a cancer survivor. However, while at a celebrity golf tournament to raise money for a mobile breast cancer diagnostic unit, he opened up about his fight against the disease. "I just got up and told everybody that I was a breast cancer survivor. The room was totally silent. I think it dawned on people that men can be affected by this, too."

Male breast cancer comprises only 1 percent of all breast cancer cases -- not a surprising figure, since men's bodies contain only about 1 percent of the breast tissue found in women.

In 2007, there were estimated to be about 2,000 men diagnosed with breast cancer, compared with 178,000 women newly identified with the disease. Breast cancer in men most commonly appears as a lump, like the one Roundtree found in his left breast.

Roundtree, now in his late 60’s – still active and successful in acting – spends part of his time traveling around the country and speaking to different groups about his experience. "Not talking about my cancer was really tough," he says. "And now that I do talk about it all the time, it's really become a backhanded blessing. I was getting on a plane recently and a flight attendant ran up to me and said 'You saved my husband's life.'" Her husband had a lump in his chest and only agreed to get it checked out after she showed him an article about Roundtree.

IMPORTANT: studies have shown that men whose female relatives test positive for cancer-causing gene mutations are at higher risk for cancer, but often don't know it. So guys, get your girls to get checked and girls, help return the favor!!

For more, please see this very good article or other inputs about Roundtree’s successful fight.

Font based on the movie’s posters, drawn with Paint and PowerPoint!

Little Angels

I wanted to modify my recognition of Breast Cancer Awareness Month by deciding to concentrate on some of the many heroes who have survived this terrible disease.

Whereas I would have loved to include pictures of the many moms or friends who are part of this crowd, especially with the input from a few Facebook fans, I ultimately went with a few perhaps better known names:

From right to left:


Jaclyn Smith
She played Kelly Garrett in the TV series and was the only original female lead to remain with the series for its complete run (1976–81).

Diagnosed with breast cancer in 2002, Jaclyn Smith has this advice for anyone facing the disease: Don’t go it alone. "I believe in the power of girlfriends," Smith told Prevention magazine. "I believe that family and friends, and especially other women, can make a profound difference during cancer treatment."

Kate Jackson
Played Sabrina Duncan in the series.

Jackson is a breast cancer survivor of two battles with the disease, in 1987 and again in 1989. After a partial mastectomy and radiation, she won her fight and shared her experience to highlight the importance of mammograms. She also serves as a spokeswoman for the American Heart Association.

Kate's dimensions were 'stretched' in terms of her vertical differences to her colleagues and less pronounced in 'other areas', not because I think she was significantly different there but she was definitely dressed that way!


Farrah Fawcett, or Farrah Fawcett-Majors
as she is still known to many, played Jill Munroe in the first season of the series in 1976.

Her iconic swimsuit poster – on which this illustration is based and also helped spur my own body into puberty – is still ranked easily as the best selling poster print ever. Her hairstyle went on to become an international trend, with women sporting a "Farrah Do" or "Farrah Hair." Her hair style predominated American women's hair styles well into the 1980s.

Sadly, she was diagnosed with anal cancer in 2006 which required intense chemotherapy and invasive surgery. After believing to be cancer-free, she was rediagnosed with the disease some months later. She died on June 25, 2009.


Font is 8-track, with some squishing and fancy colorizing involved. But what a great name for such a groovy 70's style font!!

Little Gaia (aka Mother Earth, Mother Nature)

This one was actually done by special request. I wanted to combine both the activities for Breast Cancer Awareness Month with the Climate Awareness 'Work Day' on 10/10/10 (see 350.org for more info).

In this case, my 'Gaia' has hair of sparkling water, an ivy wreath adorning her brow, sunset eyes, hyacinth breasts with sweet Chrysanthenams (sp?) through which she can feed her children, a lovely field of white flowers for arms and Our Home continuing to be guarded in her very womb. Wow, that was actually quite poetic!!

However, her legs show the wear and tear of the climate change - or corrections - or however you want to look at it. KEY: whether you believe in 'warming' or not, no one can deny that changes are occuring in our environment.

My own personal take is that it is 'global correction' (trademark pending), which is going to be oh so much worse than the global warming folks think it will be. I just think the Earth has found a way to recover from some bad stuff over time, and doesn't give a heck-darn about the fact that fixing things might just be bad for us little humanoid insects crawling around everywhere.

Important: I do however believe that we can positively influence BOTH these causes!! Let's keep all our lovely ladies alive and healthy for the rest of their 'natural' lives, ok?

Font is vtks focus and I think it is really awesome (I doubled it up a bit and played with the 'internal' shadowing, but it's very cool indeed)!

Little Cleo

This is the 2nd in my series for Breast Cancer Awareness Month!

Although history seems to argue a bit about Cleopatra's 'features' - she is reported to have been attractive despite possessing a good sized schnozz (supported by some pretty amazing coins found with her profile) - you can't argue with her 'successes' with some of that era's most powerful men. Ergo, methinks she had at least some nice healthy puppies going for her, nudge nudge say no more!

Strange though, this is now our 2nd historically significant woman in this series - and both had issues with snakes. Go figure.

Also interesting was that of all the films or other 'showings' found featuring the Cleopatra character, the most risqué outfit was from a silent film in 1917!! Wowzers. I'd have to say though from personal taste, I prefer Claudette Colbert's take on her, with Monica Bellucci a close 2nd!

For a good ‘research’ collection, check out this link!

Font is modified silubr.

Little Eve

In honor and acknowledgement of 'Breast Cancer Awareness Month', I decided on doing a series of selections of your (read: my) Favorite Boobies from throughout History!! I also wanted to push myself back in a direction where the pics were a bit more 'simplified' (with several previous inputs being a bit too 'involved'), but that's besides the point.

In this case, you have Eve, who we have serious doubts if she was blonde, Caucasian or even had such nice skin, despite what the Kansas Board of Education wants us to think!! But she did hold to the adage - well, at least once - of 'an apple a day keeps the doctor away'... Of course, they always forget to add 'yes, you may be healthy but God will be really mad at you!!'

REMEMBER: checked puppies are happy puppies!! I have no idea what that means (hee hee), but a heroic friend of mine who has survived this terrible disease told me that!!

Title font is 'Theodore Fancy Open'.

EPILOGUE:

Note that despite several requests, we will NOT be presenting a FAVORITE, uh, WEENIES from throughout History series... After all, we do have some sense of decency (oh ha ha, I crack myself up sometimes)...

Little Arthur (Dent, that is, of 'Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy')

This was a good transition piece for me. I wanted to go from banned book week (yes HHGTTG is on some lists!!) to just general silliness again.

Anyway the whole banned book thing was going over like a lead balloon, so why not?

Ah, Arthur Dent, one of my favorite all-time anti-heroes!! And fans, please note that he comes complete with disheveled pj's and robe, Babelfish in his ear, and even 5 o'clock shadow. I mean seriously, didn't anyone ever notice that during a TV series and a movie or two, that he never had to shave? The beard effect I tried worked, but my new trial with hair texture was not so successful. I blame it on warp head, very similar to nap head.

I tried my hand at a 'Marvin' as well (the perpetually depressed robot), instead of using any of the existing versions. I wound up just using some weird effects from our new PowerPoint program.

I don't like it (the program) and certainly my Martin doesn't hold a candle to the one from the '05 movie. Classic.

The book does however contain the best advice ever: Don't Panic!

One of these days I've got to try that... maybe tomorrow.

Little Animal Farm

Too subtle? Hm.

I wasn't sure by this time if it was still banned book week but I wanted to still run with it.

For this piece I was able to draw CONSIDERABLY on my own corporate experiences. I have literally sat in on conversations where these type of check lists were discussed!

I mean, who gives a rat's patootie if the company survives as long as we get our bonuses right?

So no fancy fonts, just Napoleon and friend smugly making their way back to the office. I did enjoy this book and the accompanying very accurate animated film out teacher showed us, but these days I found Orwell's links into actual events and people a bit too obvious and contrived. Maybe I'm just getting cynical in my old age (duh, ya think?).

I especially liked the dogs (even if I got the 'joy' of using real pigs to place hair on my executives... something right about that). I based 'them' in large part on the Dobermann from 'Up' (surely the Master will be most plea... SQUIRREL!!).

Just turned my model head shape sideways and went with it. That's fair isn't it?

Little Lord of the Flies

This piece continued the recognition of Banned Book Week, featuring William Golding's 'Lord of the Flies'.

I wasn't really sure how to approach this because this book raises a lot of images of situations and historically relevant things that have nothing to do with a bunch of young kids ship-wrecked on some island.

So I just decided to throw in lots of neat jungle effects and what I hope is a fairly representative take on a kid that's been on a deserted island for a while (what the almost rasta blonde hair and some grubbiness for effect)! But beware: you're being watched!!

Great font found (searched in the font library under 'evil' ... which also gave the font they use for 'Family Guy' ... go figure) called 'You Murderer'!!

Little Alex

In recognition of Banned Book Week (you can't really say 'in honour of', can you?). This is the Little Ziggy version of Stanley Kubrick's version of Anthony Burgess's main character Alex from 'A Clockwork Orange'. Hang on, I think I got those right.

I have been researching 'banned books' this week and it is really an eye-opening experience. I'm surprised that my own Advanced Placement English class in High School didn't catch flak, as most of the list was required reading. Heck, I even read Camus and Kafka during this time and they were even REAL for'ners!!

Font is Timepiece which is the actual font used for the movie. Background is an image of Beethoven's face (Alex being a huge fan and apparently having same printed as a pattern on his blinds in his apartment... no I don't remember that either). Oh and apologies to CLM and the REAL Alex.

And no, I will not answer inquiries as to what is on his sleeves or what is at the end of his cane-knife. Some things you just have to find out for yourselves!!