#18 Ulysses S. Grant (1869-1877)

The eighteenth president of the United States: Ulysses S Grant.

Grant was a civil war hero, and during his presidency fought for the rights of African Americans, winning passage of the fifteenth amendment.

Even though many historians rate him as one of the worst presidents, anyone who so tenaciously persecuted the KKK is alright with me!

#17 Andrew Johnson (1865-1869)

The seventeenth president of the United States: Andrew Johnson.

After Lincoln was assassinated Johnson became president of the United States. Unfortunately during his presidency civil rights for black people took a step backward and he allowed many of the racist policies of the south to continue.

I recently saw an article where Johnson was named as the worst president in U.S. history.  Even worse than Buchanan, which I find surprising.

Todd Akin = Moron

A bit of political venting.

If you haven't read the news at all in the last 48 hours Todd Akin, a Tea-Party Republican from the House of Representatives, recently made the following statement in a television interview:

"From what I understand from doctors, pregnancy [as a result of rape] is really rare.  If it's legitimate rape, the female body has ways to try to shut the whole thing down."

Barring how insulting and ignorant his comments were, the scariest part of me is that this guy is actually on the United States House Committee on Science, Space and Technology, and he doesn't even know how the female reproductive system works.  There really should be a scientific aptitude test that politicians have to pass as a pre-requisite to serving in congress; let alone to serve on the department that has jurisdiction over NASA, the Department of Energy, the Environmental Protection Agency, the National Science Foundation, and the Federal Emergency Management Agency (to name a few).  In fact, there are only four congress people on the entire board that have a background in sciences other than the medical profession (and political science of course).  Perhaps the real scariest part is that the committee on science, space and technology is dominated by lawyers.

#16 Abraham Lincoln (1861-1865)

The sixteenth president of the United States: Abraham Lincoln.

Definitely my favorite of the presidents.  I can't help but lament that they just don't make politicians like this anymore: honest and honorable.

I think most people know his history, so instead I'll write down a couple of my favorite Lincoln quotes:

"It has been my experience that folks who have no vices have very few virtues."

"Better to remain silent and be thought a fool than to speak out and remove all doubt."

#15 James Buchanan (1857-1861)

The fifteenth president of the United States: James Buchanan.

Buchanan was the president leading up to the civil war.  He made a few lackluster attempts to prevent the south from succeeding from the union that were ultimately ineffective.

Buchanan was also the only US president to remain a bachelor, and his niece acted as hostess in the White House.

Croak Blockers

Just playing around with colours and shading styles again.  I'm trying to give it the crayon look in the style of a lot of the Pixar concept art.  

#14 Franklin Pierce (1853-1857)

The fourteenth president of the United States: Franklin Pierce.

Nobody has much to say about Pierce.  His policies in office brought the country closer to the civil war, and his party replaced him in the next election.

On the bright side, he had a very impressive comb-over.

#13 Millard Fillmore (1850-1853)

The thirteenth president of the United States: Millard Fillmore.

Fillmore was president in the 50s so the issue of the slavery was ubiquitous.  During Fillmore's presidency slavery was abolished in the District of Columbia, but the Fugitive Slave Act was also passed, which more than cancelled out the advantages of abolishing slavery in D.C.

Daredevil Redesign

The challenge this month over at superheroofthemonth was to do a redesign of Daredevil.  I've always been a fan of Daredevil, but was never super fond of the costume.  I don't understand why he needed a big "D" on his chest.  You'd think the horns would enough of a calling card.


For my version of Daredevil I obviously wanted to play up the devil aspect (all the better to scare criminals). I also wanted to make the mask reflect his blindness.  I also gave his feet a cloven hoof look because it seems like he could have better balance and it would give him a bit of grip when he scrambles up walls (like a mountain goat).