The US is a badly wounded predator at this point. A gimmick like the ERS won't help with the fundamentals, but it might be capable of making things much worse in, and with, other countries—that's assuming it even gets started.
If their functions aren't clearly delimited, they will probably try to assume additional powers — there's little downside risk to that as any failure can be blamed on external factors.
I’d want one a bit simpler and more easily readable;
on top of that, the current one doesn’t support some extended character sets (e.g. Cyrillic), and some day I want to translate Rat’s top hits into other languages.
The art changes are so subtle as to go unnoticed unless prompted. The changes that would improve the strip would be making the humans less rigid, add directional/realistic eyes and use perspective in the background. Basic drawing is really quite easy, but if you have to work towards that end I fear you will paywall TF out of 'Rat Says' and I'm already supporting enough creators to feed a small African village and would miss out on one of my morning ritualistic reading favorites.
ERS? Have we robbed Peter so badly that we now must rob Paul? Wake me when the Gov't slashes/abolishes the DoD and SSA. ٩◔̯◔۶
Basic drawing: I tried to learn some ~45 years ago but they kept yelling at me that I’m doing it wrong so I didn’t learn much. I’m still improving slowly over these two years (I hope).
Paywalls: Some day, a 24-hour shift might be introduced but everyone would still get one cartoon a day, at the same time. Archive won’t be paywalled because many pieces are reposted elsewhere so it makes no sense to limit them at the source.
Thank you for the thoughtful reply and didn't take my comment as a criticism, but rather trying to anticipate what input you may be wanting. You got criticized for art 45 years ago? How heartless! The one thing public schools are most efficient at is crushing the living spirit of a creative mind. Do you have a bio somewhere about your upbringing and what the system of repression was like in your day? I have a million questions about life under (harsh) dictatorship and what you did to find freedom where there was serious peril in doing so. Funny thing is, many who live in the West may not admit it, but we all live under various degrees of authoritarian rule.
I thoroughly enjoy your strip and try and be sure I'm up in time to get in on the peanut gallery then watch the reaction unfold. If/when you paywall, perhaps my stack will take off and subbing you will be offset by all my loving and loyal supporters.
ヽ(⚈‿⚈ )ノ
Good luck, God bless and keep Mr. Rat ungovernable!
Late Soviet system wasn’t particularly harsh anymore but at times it was quite stupid. As for drawing, at my time someone had a “bright” idea that kids should be forced to draw in color from the get-go and forbidden from using black or gray (not sure if it was a local quirk or systemic policy). With 30 kids in class, it resulted in the teacher running around and yelling at each trespasser in turn. :)
I see, thus the largely monochromatic theme. There was a rat cartoon of the 60's called Ignatz that was also very anti-establishment and way ahead in its day.
I don't understand what Trump is proposing. Is he going to charge the world for all the political interference that the USA inflicts? Will we have to pay for the 'privilege' of having US bases in our countries? Surely he would balance his books better if he withdrew from supporting totalitarian globalism? Oh.... wait a minute.... that is what he wants, huh?
I’ve given the U.S. balance of payments only a cursory look but there doesn’t seem to be any capital flight problem, at least not at the statistical level.
Emerging markets experience however suggests that if you try to limit capital export with bureaucratic means, it instantly increases.
I was thinking more about the US trying to prevent its citizens from taking their assets with them, if and when they begin to extricate and expatriate themselves, like RATS fleeing a sinking ship. I think more than a few of us have looked around for a land with cheese that is not so moldy, or at least chewed on the idea.
Well, 'outside' was a serious bruiser yesterday. Every time I think I've viewed the bottom of life, someone proves me wrong. Good thing no one is worth going to prison over. *sigh
Here's to hoping today is a better day. Love to all :)
Yes. The American government can be pointed OUT instead of IN, like any government. We 🇺🇸 cannot do granular, we never could. We are an enormous Federation and always were - it’s organic and not designed.
At the top of any large sprawling organization you must SUMMARIZE, here we are …
We 🇺🇸 shall Extract and Oppress OUT , We shall not Extract and Oppress IN.
Our version of IRS is called slightly differently but ~65% of Rat’s readers are in the U.S., so we adjust the vocabulary. That’s also why we measure cheese in pounds not kilos. :)
The US is a badly wounded predator at this point. A gimmick like the ERS won't help with the fundamentals, but it might be capable of making things much worse in, and with, other countries—that's assuming it even gets started.
If their functions aren't clearly delimited, they will probably try to assume additional powers — there's little downside risk to that as any failure can be blamed on external factors.
I noticed where you moved the titles. 🤗 Good compromise. Why would you change the font?
I’d want one a bit simpler and more easily readable;
on top of that, the current one doesn’t support some extended character sets (e.g. Cyrillic), and some day I want to translate Rat’s top hits into other languages.
Ah, got'cha.
The art changes are so subtle as to go unnoticed unless prompted. The changes that would improve the strip would be making the humans less rigid, add directional/realistic eyes and use perspective in the background. Basic drawing is really quite easy, but if you have to work towards that end I fear you will paywall TF out of 'Rat Says' and I'm already supporting enough creators to feed a small African village and would miss out on one of my morning ritualistic reading favorites.
ERS? Have we robbed Peter so badly that we now must rob Paul? Wake me when the Gov't slashes/abolishes the DoD and SSA. ٩◔̯◔۶
Basic drawing: I tried to learn some ~45 years ago but they kept yelling at me that I’m doing it wrong so I didn’t learn much. I’m still improving slowly over these two years (I hope).
Paywalls: Some day, a 24-hour shift might be introduced but everyone would still get one cartoon a day, at the same time. Archive won’t be paywalled because many pieces are reposted elsewhere so it makes no sense to limit them at the source.
Thank you for the thoughtful reply and didn't take my comment as a criticism, but rather trying to anticipate what input you may be wanting. You got criticized for art 45 years ago? How heartless! The one thing public schools are most efficient at is crushing the living spirit of a creative mind. Do you have a bio somewhere about your upbringing and what the system of repression was like in your day? I have a million questions about life under (harsh) dictatorship and what you did to find freedom where there was serious peril in doing so. Funny thing is, many who live in the West may not admit it, but we all live under various degrees of authoritarian rule.
I thoroughly enjoy your strip and try and be sure I'm up in time to get in on the peanut gallery then watch the reaction unfold. If/when you paywall, perhaps my stack will take off and subbing you will be offset by all my loving and loyal supporters.
ヽ(⚈‿⚈ )ノ
Good luck, God bless and keep Mr. Rat ungovernable!
Late Soviet system wasn’t particularly harsh anymore but at times it was quite stupid. As for drawing, at my time someone had a “bright” idea that kids should be forced to draw in color from the get-go and forbidden from using black or gray (not sure if it was a local quirk or systemic policy). With 30 kids in class, it resulted in the teacher running around and yelling at each trespasser in turn. :)
I see, thus the largely monochromatic theme. There was a rat cartoon of the 60's called Ignatz that was also very anti-establishment and way ahead in its day.
I don't find the current artistic style unsatisfactory at all. It's got its own charming personality.
I don't understand what Trump is proposing. Is he going to charge the world for all the political interference that the USA inflicts? Will we have to pay for the 'privilege' of having US bases in our countries? Surely he would balance his books better if he withdrew from supporting totalitarian globalism? Oh.... wait a minute.... that is what he wants, huh?
You don’t suppose this ERS might be looking for capital flight, among other things?
I’ve given the U.S. balance of payments only a cursory look but there doesn’t seem to be any capital flight problem, at least not at the statistical level.
Emerging markets experience however suggests that if you try to limit capital export with bureaucratic means, it instantly increases.
I was thinking more about the US trying to prevent its citizens from taking their assets with them, if and when they begin to extricate and expatriate themselves, like RATS fleeing a sinking ship. I think more than a few of us have looked around for a land with cheese that is not so moldy, or at least chewed on the idea.
I'm with Rat--in spirit. Must go outside. :/
Well, 'outside' was a serious bruiser yesterday. Every time I think I've viewed the bottom of life, someone proves me wrong. Good thing no one is worth going to prison over. *sigh
Here's to hoping today is a better day. Love to all :)
Yes. The American government can be pointed OUT instead of IN, like any government. We 🇺🇸 cannot do granular, we never could. We are an enormous Federation and always were - it’s organic and not designed.
At the top of any large sprawling organization you must SUMMARIZE, here we are …
We 🇺🇸 shall Extract and Oppress OUT , We shall not Extract and Oppress IN.
DE LIBER, OPPRESSO.
God Bless America.
God Help the rest of you.
Fly, you Fools. Run.
Our version of IRS is called slightly differently but ~65% of Rat’s readers are in the U.S., so we adjust the vocabulary. That’s also why we measure cheese in pounds not kilos. :)