One small slip for fact-checkers, one giant leap for fake news

I love it when fake news gets taken for real news, especially since it usually has more grains of truth than the so-called 'real' news on networks like Fox, etc.

Here's an article about a recent 'fake news' piece causing a big stir internationally: One giant slip in Bangladesh news

... and the story by our friends at The Onion that started it all:
Conspiracy Theorist Convinces Neil Armstrong Moon Landing Was Faked.

Speaking of fake news, check out our stories on the Humor Times website and/or fake news blog sometime (as well as in our printed publication, of course!), like this one:

Palin's Latest Shocker: Hosting New Talk Show

Homeless make a buck selling Humor Times

We've been working with an organization that helps out homeless people in San Francisco, giving them copies of the Humor Times to sell on the street. It gives them a way to make a few bucks, while spreading the title around and hopefully making a few new fans of the paper.

It's feels good to be able to help unfortunate folks help themselves. People walking on the street like to help out homeless people more when they see that they are being productive in some way. They might even discover they like political humor too!

Call it our little stimulus package -- stimulating the economy on the street, while stimulating your funny bone at the same time!

We hope to be able to duplicate the effort in other localities. Let us know if you have any good ideas for us. And if you see a homeless man or woman offering you the Humor Times one day, don't ignore them, help them out. Buy a copy, and then share it with a friend.

The good vibes will just keep spreading out that way! And Lord knows, we need more of that these days. Thanks.

18th Anniversary Issue of the HUMOR TIMES out now!

I'm very proud and excited to announce that the 18th Anniversary Issue of the Humor Times is out now!

That's right, the Humor Times has come of age. It's been a great ride, and we're looking forward to the next 18 years, assuming the world doesn't implode before then. The way things are going, who knows?

But that's exactly why it's a good thing the Humor Times is here to lighten things up! We tackle current issues with gusto, look at the news sideways, and lampoon politicians with glee -- all just to poke fun... at the media, at our elected officials, at celebrities and ultimately, at ourselves.

Talk about a stimulus -- we've been stimulating the nation's funny bone since 1991!

If you've never seen a copy of the Humor Times, I tell people it's kind of like the Daily Show in print. It's a completely irreverent look at politics and current events, so it never gets stale.

Right now, we've got an Anniversary Special going -- sign up for a year's subscription (12 issues), delivered right to your door, for only $15.95 ($2.00 off)!

Just use "HTanniv" in the discount code blank to receive your discount!

Or, try it out for three issues for only $4.95 (reg. $5.95)!

Do you prefer getting your reading material online? Sign up for the PDF edition of the Humor Times for only $7.95/year (reg. $9.95)!

Of course, no matter what you do, you'll want to sign up for our free "Cartoon of the Week and More" email newsletter, and we hope you visit our website at www.humortimes.com often!

New Humor Times website additions: a forum and a 'fake news' blog!

I'd like to announce that our Humor Times website has added a long-time-coming forum and a 'fake news' blog.

The forum is something we've wanted to have for a while now, to allow political humor aficionados to share with like-minded surfers from around the globe. We hope you will check it out, logging in is easy, and lively discussions are already underway! Don't see your topic of interest? Start one!

The blog, called "Faux News," is actually an extension of the Faux News section already on the site -- fun 'fake news' stories lampooning the so-called serious news outlets and their shoddy 'news' coverage. These are original Humor Times stories -- think of it as the Daily Show in print! We wanted to present the stories in a blog format to allow you to comment on them and add your own observations/satire/jokes. Please do!

First issue of new era is out!

With the new year in 2008, we are beginning a new era here at the Humor Times. For nearly 17 years, the publication has been available free all over the Sacramento area, supported by advertising.

Over the last few years, the advertising revenue of this local edition began to wane, until we were actually losing money on it. This can be explained by any number of factors, including the fact that print advertising is down nationally, due in large part to the rise of the internet. The Bush economy, too, must share a big part of the blame, as small businesses are struggling all over, while the huge corporations rake in record profits. (And niche publications are very dependent on small, local businesses.) Whatever the reasons, however, we decided to end the free edition and concentrate solely on the national, subscription edition of the Humor Times. The current issue – out now – is the first without the accompanying local version.

In the final few issues of the free edition, we invited our longtime Sacramento readers to join our growing ranks of satisfied subscribers, and to our delight, many have. We hope even more will, as they begin to miss the free version. The subscription edition has always had a lot more content, and is well worth the paltry $17.95/year (12 issues) we ask for it, we believe! You can even get the downloadable PDF version for a mere $9.95/year!

And right now, you can get $2 OFF the domestic (USA) and PDF (available internationally) rates, just by ordering a subscription and entering "HTnews" (without the quotes) in the Discount Code blank! Hurry, this offer is limited!

If you've never seen the publication, you can order a free sample for a limited time to check it out. It is a 24-page tabloid size magazine, full of the best political humor you'll find gathered together anywhere! It features the finest in editorial cartoons, humor columns and "fake news." If you like Comedy Central's Daily Show and Cobert Report, for example, or political humor of any kind, you'll love the Humor Times!

’Tis the Season – To Give the Gift of Laugher, the Humor Times!

As I write this, our culture is in the midst of the annual holiday advertising blitz, with every newspaper, every tv channel, every radio station and every website hurtling a constant barrage of "messages" from their sponsors telling you exactly what you should be buying for your husband/wife/kids/friends/co-workers, etc, etc. It seems to start earlier and earlier every year. We used to joke about how quickly after Thanksgiving it started, but now it's a seamless "Hallow-Thanks-Christmas" season.

And the Christmas carols - oh my! How long must we endure them?

The increasing commercialization of the holidays is inevitable, I suppose, so what are we to do?

Well... if you can't beat 'em, join 'em, as they say!

So here at the Humor Times, we're joining the "holiday chorus." Yes, it's time for our own shameless self-promotion and requisite truth embellishment, so here goes…

Sure, all those other products tout how "original" they are - but who can compare to the originality of a gift like a subscription to the Humor Times?! Not only is it the best collection of political humor around, but it's a gift that lasts all year long, and spreads the smiles far and wide!

Since "laughter is the best medicine," that means it's one of the healthiest gifts you can bestow upon your friends and relatives as well!

Sure, you may be seen as a cheapskate if it's the only gift you give. But when given as an extra, it makes you look incredibly generous! Plus, you can always give multi-year subscriptions, if you're trying to make your gift total a more respectable one.

And as they say in the commercials, it's sooo convenient! We've improved our website ordering system by leaps and bounds, so you can go to our Humor Times subscription page and order multiple gift subscriptions very easily. (The more you buy, the cheaper they are! See back cover.) And if you do it before the end of the year, you'll even get rewarded with a HALF-PRICE subscription for yourself! (You can extend your present subscription by a year at half price as well.) And we'll even send a gift card in your name to the recipient, if you like. (If you want this current issue sent, so that their subscription starts by Christmas, just say so in the "how did you find us" box.) Just enter "HumorHoliday" in the Discount Code box to get this special.

So what are you waiting for? Do it now, before you forget! Give the Gift of Laughter, today!

Thanks for spreading the smiles! Oh yeah, and Happy Holidays, Peace on Earth and all that other touchy-feely stuff!

P.S. The Humor Times has launched a free weekly email newsletter! We hope to add some cheer to your week with a Cartoon of the Week, a column by the world's best political comedian, Will Durst, some titillating "fake news" from the Giant Napkin, a Joke of the Week and an invitation to enter the monthly Cartoon Caption Contest, as well as other features. Sign up right here. It's easy to unsubscribe if you want, and we promise not to share your email info with anyone! (You can see what it looks like in your browser, here!)

Humor Times in the news! Ending free edition in Sacramento as of 2008

Here's a recent article about the Humor Times ceasing it's free version in Sacramento as of December 2007, after 16 years in the capitol city – available only by subscription as of 2008.

Sacramentans have busted a gut at the scandals, boondoggles and foibles of public figures for 16 and two-thirds years—and for free no less. Come January, loyal readers of the Humor Times, formerly the Comic Press News, will have to pay for the monthly collection of political cartoons and columns launching slings and arrows at the stars of the nation’s current events.
Read more here...

Also, publisher/editor James Israel was interviewed on Access Sacramento, broadcast Oct. 1, 2007. The interview is also about the end of the free version of the paper, as well as the art of political cartooning, etc. Listen to it here:
Interview Part 1
Interview Part 2