Jenn Rafael

Christmas Angel

By Jenn Rafael on December 17, 2013 Broadside moments

The holidays approach and our focus naturally turns inward toward our families. As I scan the serene setting in our living room, I listen to my wife and daughter talk about Christmas. The tree is adorned with ornaments, decorations sit atop the mantel, and gingerbread cookies are on the counter. It is a scene out of a Norman Rockwell painting. And then something sniffs my ear. It is Angel, our dog. You may recall Angel, our German Wire Hair and something else mutt. My daughter named her. (She also wanted to name her Tinkerbell or Fairy. Angel was the least…

Broadside of the Week – Dec 16, 2013

By Jenn Rafael on December 16, 2013 Broadside cartoons

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Drawing heroes

By Jenn Rafael on December 13, 2013 Hero of the week

This is not your every day hero story. These people have never been to boot camp, nor have they received combat pay. But in my eyes – and in the eyes of many troops – they are heroes nonetheless. They draw funny pictures for a living. Art by Tom Richmond A lot of people draw cartoons, but these guys are a different breed of cartoonist. They travel to military hospitals to cheer up the men and women who have literally sacrificed for their country. They head out to combat zones to boost the morale of those on the front lines.…

What Veterans miss most

By Jenn Rafael on December 13, 2013 Stories

This is an excellent article sent to me by Jo Ann of the Wyakin Warrior Foundation. It is written by Mike Stajura, a Veteran who gives his perspective on the things Veterans really miss about the military. Click on the image to read the article.

Greenside of the Week – Dec 12, 2013

By Jenn Rafael on December 11, 2013 Greenside cartoons

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Greenside of the Week – Dec 11, 2013

By Jenn Rafael on December 11, 2013 Greenside cartoons

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I wish I had been there

By Jenn Rafael on December 10, 2013 Videos

This is absolutely in the “too cool” category. I won’t spoil the video. Just watch it. Setting: Smithsonian’s National Air and Space Museum in Washington DC. [youtube]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gIoSga7tZPg[/youtube]

Broadside of the Week – Dec 9, 2013

By Jenn Rafael on December 9, 2013 Broadside cartoons

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Baby Blues

By Jenn Rafael on December 6, 2013 Stories

Sometimes I really love my job, and today is one of those days. Today I get to write about a great cartoon strip written by a couple of great guys who happen to be incredibly loyal and supportive of our troops. Drawn by Rick Kirkman and Jerry Scott (Rick does the lion’s share of the drawing; Jerry does most of the writing), the cartoon follows the life of a young couple with a growing family of infants and toddlers – and in the process describes the life of just about every family who has raised kids. Starting its run in…

Leadership by email

By Jenn Rafael on December 5, 2013 Broadside moments

What has happened to us? Whatever happened to, you know, talking to people? Electronic media has become too prolific. There are so many ways to tap out a quick text, email, instant message or what have you that it is almost becoming difficult to pick up the phone or (shudder) get out of the chair and actually talk to someone face to face. I think we have become a passive-aggressive society. The Merriam-Webster dictionary defines passive-aggressiveness as: “being, marked by, or displaying behavior characterized by the expression of negative feelings, resentment, and aggression in an unassertive passive way.” In other…

Author Jenn Rafael