Mar 21st 2012 06:46 am Black Watch
Today’s retro strip is an old classic that I know many here won’t mind seeing again. As for yesterday’s A&J, the strip that apppeared in newspapers, I said I would tell you something about it. I hope I didn’t oversell the thing; it’s not a big deal. However, many of you seem to want to know how things work. Yesterday’s strip was a good example of a cartoonist pulling one out (insert your favorite metaphor). I wanted to do a strip about the arrival of spring. I noticed it came early on the calendar this year, but I couldn’t really think of a joke. I normally work fast, but I was stuck. I even drew the characters in position, with no gag, no words in their mouths. Frustrated, I put it down and went to work on other strips. Finally, with deadline looming and the other five strips in the can, I picked up the strip and, voila, Janis spoke her lines. OK, it’s not the greatest comic strip ever, but that’s not the point. It’s a good comic strip, one that was nothing one moment and finished the next. Trust me. It could have been worse.
Posted by jimmyjohnson / Vintage A&J
64 Responses to “Black Watch”
Dave in MA on 21 Mar 2012 at 7:09 am #
Came early?
I disagree.
For Americans, the vernal equinox landed on March 21, only 36 out of 100 years in the 20th century. And from 1981 to 2102, Americans will celebrate the first day of spring no later than March 20.
Read the full explanation here:
http://www.space.com/881-date-changed-start-spring.html
March 21st was the exception. Spring came late those few years that it fell on March 21 in America.
Steve from Royal Oak, MI on 21 Mar 2012 at 7:19 am #
Great insight Jimmy. I think most people assumed that you always thought of the dialog first and then drew the strip. I really thought with all of the warm weather, that it was a very appopriate observation.
sandcastler on 21 Mar 2012 at 7:24 am #
Thanks for the peak behind the curtain.
Mindy, please note it is not the gardening or cammies; we are just men of a certain age as was clearly pointed out in today’s strip.
Mindy on 21 Mar 2012 at 7:59 am #
Jimmy, there are no “bad” or “disappointing” A&J cartoons! You present a daily slice of life for us to observe, savor, ingest, share and appreciate. What makes A&J so great, in my opinion, humble or not, is show us the humor, gentleness and love of our own lives.
Enough of the philosophy, I’m getting all warm and fuzzy and can’t have that since I have to venture outside and fight the jungle that used to be my garden. Sandcastler? You’re so sweet.
David in Austin on 21 Mar 2012 at 8:12 am #
Dave in MA,
I believe Jimmy (and Arlo) were referring to the time of day that Spring officially began. This year it was at 12:14 am, EST. Last year, in comparison, Spring started officially at 7:21 pm EST (but on March 20th).
Ruth on 21 Mar 2012 at 8:21 am #
Dave in MA — I think JJ was refering to the exact time of the vernal equinox (12:14 am Central time) when the sun was directly over the equator and not just the date. While 20 Mar is the most common date the exact time of the vernal equinox made it very early on 20 Mar in the central time zone or late on the 19th in the mountain and pacific time zones.
Mark from Maine on 21 Mar 2012 at 8:23 am #
We love the behind the scenes, Jimmy. Remember, a work of art is never really finished, merely abandoned. But if you work on deadline, it’s finished . . . and you’re happy.
Judy in Conroe on 21 Mar 2012 at 8:28 am #
The scientist in me is interested in the discussion about the timing of spring, but it is far surpassed by the Janis inside me that is excited and thrilled by the glorious exuberance of flowers and fresh growth popping up everywhere. Woo hoo!! (doing the happy dance)
By the way – the bluebonnets are blooming like crazy here in Texas.
emeritus Minnesota biologist on 21 Mar 2012 at 9:21 am #
In America [the USA]? Even excepting Hawai’i and Alaska, the contiguous 48 comprise 4 time zones. Both equinoxes and both solstices, like full, last quarter, new, and first quarter moons are all instances, not durations. We generally settle for down-to-the-minute [see Dave and Ruth, above]. If the vernal equinox occurs at 0041 EDT in NYC on 21 March, it is also occurring at 2341 EDT in Minneapolis on 20 March.
Mindy from Indy on 21 Mar 2012 at 9:31 am #
My take on the early spring – I thought Janis was excited about all of the beautiful weather that had her flowers in bloom before spring had officially sprung. Here in IN, we’ve had blooms for weeks!
Symply Fargone on 21 Mar 2012 at 9:44 am #
My favorite season is the Spring, well no wait it’s Summer, but then again I love the fall and the Winter…must be why I am in New England with bases in Mass and Maine…I can’t make up my mind! I just love the seasons. This time of year I am usually getting all my weather gear on and taking my first rides while shivering. this year I did it in a tshirt. Amazing! Here the crocuses are just starting to peek through the soil, the forsythia buds are just ready to burst. The yard is clean and raked the debris is gone and I have a window to get at the bittersweet right now and cut it out. Time to wash the bikes and take a putt. Er what was I trying to say….Life is good and JJ you echo it every day for us.
TruckerRon on 21 Mar 2012 at 9:45 am #
Dave in MA, thanks for the link with the detailed explanation. It all makes perfect sense now, but my head — like the Earth — is now spinning!
sandcastler on 21 Mar 2012 at 9:54 am #
Judy in Conroe, lovely crop of blue bonnents this season. Drove from Houston to Austin last weekend, heavenly fields of blues and other bloomins.
John in Virginia on 21 Mar 2012 at 10:38 am #
Why does “black” have “that” effect on most males?
John in Richmond Texas on 21 Mar 2012 at 11:15 am #
I had already pegged yesterday’s as a keeper, I like those that illustrate husband and wife being “on different planes”. Yes, the bluebonnets are having a good year and supposedly the peaches will be great this year, we’ll be heading out US290 more than once
Tom (Somewhere in Georgia) on 21 Mar 2012 at 11:52 am #
John in VA- one of life’s wonderful mysteries, eh? Black and red are the colors that theatrical wardrobe specialists once used to present “sexy.” Now it’s just less fabric, i fear.
NDK on 21 Mar 2012 at 12:26 pm #
The spring coming early strip was just another example of your genius. I enjoyed the two-levels of conversation, as it is so typical of most male-to-female communication. Yet, somehow, it works.
David Cadogan on 21 Mar 2012 at 12:47 pm #
I am with those who thought it was a great cartoon.
Dan in SWMo on 21 Mar 2012 at 2:26 pm #
Jimmy, you may have judged the “early spring” cartoon as good but not great. For me, it was great. But, then, I am reacting to it from my own personal perspective. First, the whole question of how to define spring is one of my own hobbyhorses (I totally reject the idea that it only begins with the equinox). As a nature lover and gardener, I have always defined the seasons by the actual weather and growing conditions; and as an amateur linguist and historian, I see the solstices as mid-winter and mid-summer, thus making the equinoxes also astronomically the middle of those seasons, if you feel you must use those astronomical markers as the defining limits of their seasons. Secondly, though my wife and I are more often than not on the same wavelength, there are enough times that we start out from different originating thoughts at the beginning of a discussion, that “two separate conversations” is an apt way of looking at it. Your strip so beautifully brought these two issues together in the same gag, that I consider this one of your best efforts.
Mark in Boston on 21 Mar 2012 at 3:34 pm #
Up here in New England, summer arrived on March 19. Temperature right now (at 5:33 p.m.) is 78 degrees.
Boise Ed on 21 Mar 2012 at 4:04 pm #
John in Virginia (Why does “black” have “that” effect on most males?): Is it really MOST males? It does seem to be a recognized stereotype, but doesn’t have that effect on me, either. When I was a wee boy, as I recall, the black undies were more likely to show through her clothing, therefore titillating my adolescent mind. So perhaps that is at the root of the stereotype.
John in Virginia on 21 Mar 2012 at 4:52 pm #
I’m just grouchy, Boise Ed, because I was out of the country and missed the “sexual revolution” or whatever it’s called now.
Mark from Maine on 21 Mar 2012 at 5:09 pm #
High of 85.3 at our house today. Wow. Welcome spring! On yesterday’s date back in 1993, we had a record low. Nine below for my first winter in Maine. Everything else after that winter has been easy.
sideburns on 21 Mar 2012 at 5:40 pm #
I think Spring is the loveliest time of the year,
I do;
It’s true.
Don’t you?
‘Course you do…
Bob in Orland Park on 21 Mar 2012 at 6:30 pm #
“Old men have those thoughts year-’round”. Since I’m in the “senior” category I have to agree.
Hoag in MA on 21 Mar 2012 at 6:56 pm #
“Major Strasse has been shot. Round up the usual suspects.”
Casablanca on the BIG screen. What a great day at the movies. Speaking for this “Old Man”, I have thoughts of Love each time Ingrid Bergman smiled.
Mark in TTown on 21 Mar 2012 at 9:25 pm #
Well I am thoroughly in agreement with Arlo’s opinion, “the younger women don’t get better looking as I get older.” Thought balloon: “The older ones do!”
And JJ, I thought the spring strip was perfectly timed. Thank you for not forcing the idea early.
Mindy on 21 Mar 2012 at 11:49 pm #
Ah, sideburns introduces poetry! I’ll add this:
Spring is sprung
Fall is fell;
Summer here it hot as heck.
Mindy on 21 Mar 2012 at 11:49 pm #
Is! Is! Ah, Lord, why do I always hit the 1d10t button?
sandcastler on 22 Mar 2012 at 8:03 am #
Mindy, we know you’re not blonde; maybe you can claim to have lost a finger in a garden accident. Would that be a story for another time?
TruckerRon on 22 Mar 2012 at 8:51 am #
Well, since we’re doing seasonal poetry, here’s one my wife sings (to me, not the kids!):
I wear my pink pajamas, in the summer when it’s hot.
I wear my flannel nighties iIn the winter when it’s not.
And sometimes in the springtime and sometimes in the fall,
I jump right in between the sheets with nothing on at all.
I love spring and fall!
Mindy on 22 Mar 2012 at 9:30 am #
Ah, sandcastler, those “stories for yet another day.” They’re not all purple prose, you know!
Jerry in Fl on 22 Mar 2012 at 10:00 am #
Greetings and felicitations, whatever they may be, back from the road again, still trying to help mother maintain her independence at home, a situation that many of you are familiar with I am sure. Anything seems to be possible in this weird year and we are doing this with my mother while we simultaneously wonder how many more years we will be able to maintain our own independence at home. I have delayed my next visit to Shands where they tell me I’m a genius because I can recite the alphabet backwards. It’s surprising that I’m retired as the backwards alphabet is a skill that I’m sure is extremely necessary in today’s workplace. Having addressed dementia, (can’t remember the zip code) my thanks to JJ for having apparently addressed a slight problem which cropped up a couple of weeks back. We don’t need that kind of problem here. Besides , I’m crackpot enough for this forum.
Jerry in Fl on 22 Mar 2012 at 10:05 am #
Oh yeah, tree fog? That reminds me that this time of year it usually gets very froggy in the evening. but that has rarey been the case so far this year.
Jim in Daphne on 22 Mar 2012 at 10:16 am #
Nice article in the Mobile Register today about Jimmy’s upcoming visit to the Mobile Library. I don’t know about that librarry but I know the Daphne Library, across the Bay, has a copy. I donated the extra copy that was shipped with my order of three to them. Have a good trip to Mobile, Jimmy.
Dave in MA on 22 Mar 2012 at 10:55 am #
sideburns, stop poisoning those pigeons in the park.
Boise Ed on 22 Mar 2012 at 11:01 am #
John: Now it’s called “history.”
Norm in Utah on 22 Mar 2012 at 11:23 am #
Here’s mine (sadly, not original)
Spring is sprung,
The grass is riz.
I wonder where
The flowers is!
Ken of Framingham on 22 Mar 2012 at 3:49 pm #
John in Virginia on 21 Mar 2012 at 10:38 am #
“Why does “black” have “that” effect on most males?”
I don’t know, John– for me, the effect would be greater if Janis wore tigress or leopard-print.
sandcastler on 22 Mar 2012 at 3:53 pm #
I have never viewed Mindy’s prose as purple, though some have had a hint of blush. A nice blush can be more revealing than a thousand words.
Mindy on 22 Mar 2012 at 5:20 pm #
Is my prose purple? I’ll stop. I promise. Just tell me, Dave in MA, who sang that song, “Poisoning Pigeons in the park/something, something after dark…” I can’t remember except that the lyrics were clean if not exactly…normal?
John in Virginia on 22 Mar 2012 at 6:30 pm #
If you change, Mindy, we’d miss your effervescent pseudo-blondeness.
Besides, now that Peyton is with Denver, my favorite colors are purple and gold [I'll still cheer for him and Ely but I just can't get myself around all that orange...].
Ruth Anne in Winter Park on 22 Mar 2012 at 6:43 pm #
Mindy: Poisoning Pigeons in the Park – Tom Lehrer (multiple Youtube versions available)
Mindy on 22 Mar 2012 at 7:26 pm #
Thank you, Ruth Anne! I actually did a Yahoo search and came up with zip on that! I was thinking it was Mark [Russell?] the political satirist who sometimes uses a piano and sings. I never thought of trying Youtube!
Jerry in Fl on 23 Mar 2012 at 10:21 am #
Did the stormy weather keep everyone in bed this morning? The kitties even slept in this morning until Cilla demanded I feed her at 10:15. Ah, retirement. Why did they have to invent getting older and try to ruin retirement?
Robin in Fl on 23 Mar 2012 at 6:19 pm #
Jerry
On this side of the county, the storm didn’t really move in until mid morning, so I had already been for a run. And I’m retired and don’t have to!
It didn’t really start storming until we were on the way out. Naturally.
Kitties don’t care about storms or any other excuse you have for not feeding them!
Mark in TTown on 23 Mar 2012 at 9:55 pm #
We had thunderstorms and even hail here around 730 this morning. I was working and boom, the lights went out. They came right back on but it took me 10 minutes to reboot the computer and log back into all the software I use to work. I had already fed the cats when I got up at 530. If I don’t, I won’t get to sleep in anyway once they hear the alarm.
Froggie was a’courtin again this afternoon. I like to hear them at night too, but it isn’t that warm overnight yet.
sandcastler on 24 Mar 2012 at 8:49 am #
Looking at Saturday’s strip makes me wonder if JJ has our cat under observation. Somewhere Jimmy has picked up the very essence of filinedom and draws it with uncanny accuracy.
Jerry in Fl on 24 Mar 2012 at 10:06 am #
When I have been away for a few days I try to glance back over the days that I missed to get the gist (whatever that is) of recent discussions) I recall mentioning the mastedon (or was it a mammouth?) in the Harvard museum and the murder that accompanied it. It seems that a staff member had heard of the skeleton being for sale and he thought that it would make him a faculty favorite if he could secure the exhibit. All he needed was $3000 and as was his usual situation, he was broke. Another wealthy faculty member was persauded to loan him $3000 with the promise of repayment in a short period. The purchase was made and the exhibit was very popular, although gambling was even more popular with the purchaser. It became necessary to delay repayment of the loan until one evning the gentleman who gave the loan was seen heading for the museum. The next day the man could not be located until the museum custodian came forward with his story. The previous evening, while making his cleaning rounds,the custodian was taking a shortcut through the building which happened to include a passage behind a museum wall. Noises from the other side of the wall attracted his attention and peering through a crack in the wall he saw the professor canceling his debt by dismembering the body of the gentleman who had come to attempt to collect his money. I recall that the murderer was arrested but I don’t remember his fate. (Use of the word shortcut was entirely coincidental)
Jerry in Fl on 24 Mar 2012 at 10:18 am #
Parenthetically speaking (which is actually hard to do) do I use too many?
Mark in Boston on 24 Mar 2012 at 1:06 pm #
Some people (in particular my neighbor (do neighbors count?) Bill (who doesn’t count, except up to 10 (in base 2))) think I use too many parentheses.
Mary in Ohio on 24 Mar 2012 at 2:11 pm #
Jerry – seems I read about that murder – didn’t realize it involved a fossil to begin with. I think the perp was convicted when they found some of the bones not totally consumed in the building’s furnace.Wasn’t it at one of the Ivy League schools?
curmudgeonly ex-professor on 24 Mar 2012 at 3:04 pm #
Jerry: Who dismembered whom? I’d think the staff member would have been a more likely perpetrator than the professor….
Mindy on 24 Mar 2012 at 3:28 pm #
Doctor Lector?
TruckerRon on 24 Mar 2012 at 5:50 pm #
To learn more about “The Mastodon Murder” try: http://bit.ly/GPsKTz
I’m glad it’s possible to shorten such long URLs with bitly.com!
Galliglo in Ohio on 25 Mar 2012 at 7:40 am #
Can’t get the Sunday strip on gocomics! But if you go the the link below, you can see it – and it’s a goodie!
http://news.yahoo.com/comics/arlo-and-janis-slideshow/
Leo in LA on 25 Mar 2012 at 8:58 am #
OH good. Another BEEZER cartoon. (SU 25Mar12) George Herriman used to do Beezer cartoons now and then in Krazy Kat. Beezer, a word you don’t hear too much anymore. But Arlo sure has one, Que no?
Lindy from Eureka, CA on 25 Mar 2012 at 12:43 pm #
I too was unable to view it at comics.com. Thank you for the link.
sandcastler on 25 Mar 2012 at 12:45 pm #
GiO, thanks for the link.
Jerry in Fl on 25 Mar 2012 at 3:53 pm #
It was at Harvard. My memory, (laugh track), tells me it was a mammoth, but it may have been a mastedon. I’ll pass on explaining the difference but feel free. The story was on a very late night tv show recently. The story was aparently true as opposed to the following. The murder victum was subsequently given the deserved credit for obtaining the specimen and his reconstructed body stands proudly today next to the mammouth.
Jerry in Fl on 25 Mar 2012 at 4:00 pm #
moth or mouth? Quien sabe?
Jerry in Fl on 25 Mar 2012 at 4:10 pm #
Like the victum, I stand corrected. It is a mastodon and if you go to the above site and scroll UP you wil see a beautiful picture of the actual exhibit, by far the best that I’ve ever seen.
Mark in TTown on 25 Mar 2012 at 7:18 pm #
Is GoComics having a problem today? (Sunday) I tried several times but couldn’t see the Sunday strip. All the ads loaded just fine, but no strip. I finally got to see it thru the Seattle paper’s online comics. And it was worth the wait! I think either Arlo needs bigger wineglasses or to stop sniffing so deeply.
And along the same line as Arlo and his wine preferences, search out a Ray Stevens song called Bubba The Wine Connoisseur.
Jerry in Fl on 25 Mar 2012 at 10:30 pm #
And speaking of Denver, my apologies to the Colorado Mammoth. You know who you are.