Aug 21st 2012 07:49 am There’s Leo!
I think the above cartoon would be one of my favorites from all the cat cartoons I’ve done over the years. I know it would make the top ten. That reminds me: I was supposed to do a cat book next, wasn’t I? No, that’s not a teaser. I really haven’t done anything toward it yet. However, I am at least thinking about it, again.
Posted by jimmyjohnson / Vintage A&J
58 Responses to “There’s Leo!”
Rickmeister on 21 Aug 2012 at 8:03 am #
While I appreciate the Ludwig cartoons, I can’t help but wonder: have Arlo and Janis ever considered getting a dog? Don’t recall having seen any strips in the past where that subject has been broached. Most folks I know that own pets have at least one of each. Just pondering…
Dave in MA on 21 Aug 2012 at 8:12 am #
Most people I know who have pets fall into the cat category or the dog category, but rarely have I seen anyone with at least one of each.
Sandy on 21 Aug 2012 at 8:22 am #
Put me down for an advanced copy of the Ludwig book!
Galliglo in Ohio on 21 Aug 2012 at 8:34 am #
I grew up in the country where both dogs and cats were outside animals. I like both but have to admit that I DO like cats more than dogs – and for precisely the reason in today’s vintage strip.
I remember dogs from my youth – primarily beagles – who were always in the submissive mode. They seemed to be saying, “Love me, oh love me, please – PLEASE love me!” Cats, on the other hand, always retain their dignity. Even when twining around the ankles, begging for food, cats never cower!
Mindy on 21 Aug 2012 at 8:57 am #
Why should cats “suck up,” Jimmy? They already own the universe! That’s part of their charm, they tolerate us mere humans. And, as you know, females are most often likened to felines.
david on 21 Aug 2012 at 9:04 am #
Your cat cartoon about “a matter of perspective” is probably my favorite (comparing Ludwig as perceived by Janis and by a tunnel-dweller).
Burns on 21 Aug 2012 at 9:08 am #
A&J with a dog? Noooooooooooooooooooooo! (You can see that I’m a cat person. And yes, sign me up for that book too, Jimmy!)
minnesotadon on 21 Aug 2012 at 9:11 am #
Jimmy I am just not a cat person. That is probably why I just don’t get some of the toons with Ludwig in them, and don’t find the ones I do get near as humorous as any other A&J toons. I won’t stop watching but Ludwig is just not my cup of tea! Thank you for all of the time you spend at this site to keep us mear mortals entertained.
sandcastler on 21 Aug 2012 at 9:16 am #
Cats rule! Cats are cool!
Nancy in Bucks County on 21 Aug 2012 at 9:31 am #
Cats are entertaining, but I prefer the companionship of our dog. My in-laws love critters. When we met they had 5 cats, 3 dogs, 2 horses, 1 goat, and 1 rabbit. Oh, and 3 teenage boys.
Blinky the Wonder Wombat on 21 Aug 2012 at 9:32 am #
I’m firmly in the dog camp. What others see as fawning behavior, I see unquestioned love. Yes they are goofy, but that makes them even more endearing. On the other hand, cats aloofness and independence does nothing for me; it seems more like a business relationship: feed and shelter me and I will keep the vermin away.
Mark from Maine on 21 Aug 2012 at 9:47 am #
It stands to reason that only houseplants are more evolved than cats: you bring the food to houseplants; cats have to go their dishes . . .
Dave in MA on 21 Aug 2012 at 9:56 am #
Not sure where people get the perception that cats are aloof and independent. Our 5 cats come running when we come in the door. They want to be played with, picked up, cuddled with, and heaven forbid we don’t pay attention to them because they’ll climb up and get right in our face looking for attention.
Playful, loving, interactive, social…..
emeritus Minnesota biologist on 21 Aug 2012 at 9:58 am #
Cats vary and dogs vary.
On another subject sometimes of concern here:
http://www.boston.com/news/local/massachusetts/articles/2012/08/20/study_southern_butterfly_species_growing_in_mass/
emeritus Minnesota biologist on 21 Aug 2012 at 10:01 am #
That full website ends: growing_in_mass/ .
sandcastler on 21 Aug 2012 at 10:04 am #
Mark from Maine, at least the cats remind you when you forgot to feed them, the plants just turn brown. This explains the fat cats and dead plants that own us.
Don Robertson on 21 Aug 2012 at 10:45 am #
The best thing about cats is they do not have owners.
They have staff.
phil in Missoula, MT on 21 Aug 2012 at 10:52 am #
F Minus has a take on modern pirate activities today…
http://www.uclick.com/client/spi/fm/
As for astronomical features and cats, we have the Cat Eye Nebula
http://apod.nasa.gov/apod/ap110424.html
and the Cat Paw Nebula
http://apod.nasa.gov/apod/ap080304.html
Alyre on 21 Aug 2012 at 11:06 am #
I lost my cat buddy Trouble July 29th…had her 13+ years and she was a character. She would climb anything I asked her to (slapping the trunk of a tree was a signal) go up and keep looking down at me to see how far I wanted her to go…whenever I said “that’s far enough, common down” she would turn about and come down at a breakneck pace… if i was sitting by the fire with freinds and she was walking by on the other sid eof the yard, I would say ” hey Trouble, come on over and say Hi” she would immediately change direction come over and give a bit of love to evrybody..then move on to her buisness….if I overslept I would feel a paw gently tap my nose ( not so gently if i didn’t respond) she would meow as soon as i opened my eyes…she loved to hang with me and I with her. Whenever I picked up my acoustic she would come over and position herself in a good listening spot. She was a great cat and I miss her. Anybody can call a dog. A dog will love anybody unconditionally. A cat has a richer personality and can be very loveable, intelligent and interactive. But, unlike a dog, it has to be earned.
Dave in MA on 21 Aug 2012 at 11:23 am #
Alyre, you’re lucky. My cats run and hide when I pick up my acoustic guitar (been playing since 1974). In fact, the nylon string classical guitar and the steel string folk guitar have the same effect. (You must play far better than I….)
Neko in San Jose on 21 Aug 2012 at 11:33 am #
Meow meow meow meow MEOW!!!!! NOW! =^-^=
Norm in Utah on 21 Aug 2012 at 11:35 am #
Dogs have owners; cats have staff.
And from an old Garfield bookmark:
Cats are keen!
Cats are great!
Cats are clean-
They lick your plate.
Another advance order for the Ludwig book.
But what I would really like to see is a “Complete Arlo & Janis.” that would be a series of books that presents every strip ever done in chronological order, as is being done with PEANUTS.
John in Richmond Texas on 21 Aug 2012 at 12:32 pm #
I’d like to cut in here for a sec about how helpful this site has been. Yesterday Trapper Jean mentioned William Windom passing, I probably would have missed the little article in the Houston Chronicle had I not known to look for it. He was great, I saw him in person 40? years ago and I supplied his wikipedia picture. . . Another thing is, I learned about the Beau Hunks here . and the BEST thing is here is where I learned about forwarding regular junk/telemarket etc calls to each other -LOVE it !
Ghost Rider 6 on 21 Aug 2012 at 12:52 pm #
So, Mindy, females are most often likened to felines, eh? I’m just ponderin’…
Oh, I get it!
Dave in MA on 21 Aug 2012 at 1:20 pm #
GR6 – don’t be catty!
John in Richmond Texas, please explain how that is done….
Mindy on 21 Aug 2012 at 1:49 pm #
I think, Ghost, you misinterpreted my comment.
News flash: The Virginia Polytechnical Institute, a/k/a Virginia Tech, has advised the County extension agent that the cure for bamboo is to spray the leaves industrial strength weed killer. A guy from Georgia Tech told me [and this is where I got my ideas] that he recommended bulldozers, napalm, high explosives and tactical nukes because you can’t kill the Demon by spraying the leaves, you have to literally take it out at the roots. Shame on me, I never was a Hokies fan anyway but now I guess I gotta pet the Georgia bulldog? I think the Ramblin’ Wreck was closer to the heart of the matter.
And we’re all sorts of animals people.
Dave in MA on 21 Aug 2012 at 2:06 pm #
“I guess I gotta pet the Georgia bulldog” – um, is THAT what they’re calling it these days?
Blinky the Wonder Wombat on 21 Aug 2012 at 2:14 pm #
Humorist Dave Barry once said that his most popular columns were about Ernest his dog and Zippy, his small auxiliary backup dog. I still chuckle recalling how the dogs were so trained (or maybe so dumb) that they knew they had to go through the screen door on the back porch to get into the backyard. When Hurricane David removed everything but the screen door (including the porch) the dogs still stood barking at the door when they wanted to go out into the yard.
John in Virginia on 21 Aug 2012 at 2:23 pm #
I once had lunch on the Georgia Tech campus, Dave in MA. That’s what she meant. Uh huh.
[How do you make one of those avatars or icons or whatever that seem to be winking?]
John in Virginia on 21 Aug 2012 at 2:55 pm #
Mindy Update….Dearly Beloved went to a local pharmacy about an hour ago to find syringes sans needles with which to inject weed killed into the bamboo rhizome/root system. She’s mad as a wet cat, since cats were the topic today, because they treated her like a junkie trying to pull a scam. [None of the workers knew her; the regualars were gone.] More than a little torqued, which is something to admire from a distance, she made a few comments, left…and then call the Southern States Cooperative, the farm supply in this region. They not only have the syringes in various sizes, they have the liquid weed killer and said her Georgia Tech method was definitely doable, come on down. Seems the injection process is used for a myriad of rhizome plant systems and the farm supply guys thought nothing of syringes being used for weed control methodology. I don’t dare say that we should have checked with them sooner, even if I’m as guilty of not thinking about it as she isn’t.
A new twist to the war! Victory may be at hand! She greatly enjoys the prospect of injecting the bamboo and seeing it overdose! The lady is cold!
John in Virginia on 21 Aug 2012 at 2:55 pm #
Fortunately, not all the time…
Bob, near Mark on 21 Aug 2012 at 2:57 pm #
John in Virginia,
(Trying a few to see if they all work)
There are
*:
:/
Bob, near Mark on 21 Aug 2012 at 2:58 pm #
Well, two of them didn’t.
You make the winking Smiley by typing a ; followed by a ) with no space between the two.
Do a search for smiley text code.
Ghost Rider 6 on 21 Aug 2012 at 3:05 pm #
Mindy: Maybe, maybe not.
John: I believe it’s called an emoticon. And I believe it’s semi-colon parentheses closed. I have now exhausted my knowledge of things technical.
Industrial strength weed killer in a syringe, eh? Seems that could have more than one use. Be nice to our girl, John.
sandcastler on 21 Aug 2012 at 3:22 pm #
sandcastler on 21 Aug 2012 at 3:23 pm #
:-\ hmmmm
sandcastler on 21 Aug 2012 at 3:24 pm #
Them no workie so hottie must be internet demons.
John in Virginia on 21 Aug 2012 at 3:55 pm #
Oh, golly, Ghost, I never thought of the “other” uses. It takes a worried man to sing a worried song; I’m worried now, but I won’t be worried long…one way or another. See you guys tomorrow. Maybe.
sideburns on 21 Aug 2012 at 4:06 pm #
Am I the only one here who thinks that sooner or later Guy Fieri is going to show up and put Gus’s diner on Triple D?
phil in Missoula, MT on 21 Aug 2012 at 4:07 pm #
Mindy…go to the grocery store and buy a bottle of Cajun Injector. It’s a marinade that you inject into chicken (or whatever) so it marinates from the inside. Good stuff and it comes with a syringe so when you’re done cooking , you can go after the bamboo.
Debbie in Alabama on 21 Aug 2012 at 4:11 pm #
I would like to sorta preorder.
sandcastler on 21 Aug 2012 at 4:42 pm #
sideburns, would be even sweeter if Jimmy Buffet was doing a gig at the dinner that night. While dreaming, maybe our Jimmy could drop by for an afternoon book signing.
Mindy, never mix kitchen tools with weed killer; no one on the jury will believe it was accidental.
Mark in TTown on 21 Aug 2012 at 4:43 pm #
Mindy, go to Tractor Supply or the closest co-op and you can probably find critter sized syringes sans needles there. The kind they use to give oral meds to large critters.
I’ve had cats, dogs, lizards and hermit crabs. Cats are my favorites. Dogs are great fun when you want to be active, cats are fun to watch. A small laser pointer or flashlight beam will drive a cat crazy.
BTW, the video link I posted yesterday is my dog. At least she was till my wife and I split. She (the dog) will fetch a ball till she is ready to drop, or play with the balloon till it pops. As a puppy she was too small to jump up on the bed so she learned to climb the bed rails to get up. No coaching from us was involved.
Mark in TTown on 21 Aug 2012 at 4:44 pm #
Oh, Mindy. one other thought about the bamboo. Empty your used cat litter on it. That stuff will kill anything!
Susan in NC on 21 Aug 2012 at 4:52 pm #
Seems like A&J dogsat one time for a neighbor … or am I thinking of some other comic… I’ll see if I can find it.
Bob, near Mark on 21 Aug 2012 at 5:50 pm #
Our late German Shepherd (a dog, not my daughter who lives in Bavaria) could never figure out why helium balloons didn’t come down. He’d sit there and bark at it until we’d pull it down and throw it at his nose so he could bop it back up to the ceiling.
Ghost Rider 6 on 21 Aug 2012 at 6:34 pm #
Mark, did the hermit crabs come when you called them?
Susan in NC on 21 Aug 2012 at 6:41 pm #
Ok, I found it. Hope it doesn’t go into moderation. A&J dogsat for Astor, a yellow lab, from 8-23-99 to 9-29-99. This link contains all of 1999 – just scroll to 8-23. http://tonyc.com/ajarchive/1999/
Hope the link works.
As a bonus, I found where Jimmy “reveals” that Ludwig is actually portrayed by a Yorkie. Go to GoComics and look at the week of 7-19-04.
Mark in TTown on 21 Aug 2012 at 6:48 pm #
No, they just wandered around the terrarium watching what goes on. The first one was sort of an accidental pet. We found it wandering around in our back yard in Tennessee. Must have gotten away from someone who had it out in their yard. Or someone just got tired of it and let it go. I knew it wouldn’t survive there and brought it in. After reading up on them, I learned they do better when there is more than one so got another to keep it company. If I ever do a road trip to the Keys I will take them along and release them there. They are a native species down there and all are wild-caught since they require the ocean to breed.
John in Richmond Texas on 21 Aug 2012 at 7:57 pm #
Dave in MA — I don’t know if it’s universal, I have Comcast – have a list of the numbers that call too often, then hit *63, and follow recorded instructions, pick one of the numbers to have calls forwarded to and enter all the others to forward to it and you can keep adding more later as needed our phone will still ring about half a ring when one calls, then stops and doesn’t register in the caller ID log
Mindy from Indy on 21 Aug 2012 at 8:40 pm #
Blinky the Wonder Wombat – I remember that Barry article. I love his boat stories too.
In other “root” news, all of my genealogy leads have currently run cold. While I try to decide which generation of unimaginitively named “John Schmidt” I plan on giving a what for in the after-life, I will have to take a moment an extend my sympathies to one of them – John Nepernch Lawerence Schmidt. In a family of John Henrys and Mary Elizabeths, I have no idea what could have inspired such an awful moniker.
curmudgeonly ex-professor on 21 Aug 2012 at 11:26 pm #
Indy/Mindy: Sorry to hear of the genealogical dead-ends. Did the newly-indexed 1940 federal census give any aid before you hit the wall? I was one of the indexers and, more so, one of the arbitrators.
Speaking of which, eMb, if any of your kith, kin, friends, Romans, and/or countrymen are into genealogy, be forewarned that, in said 1940 federal census, your family name was recorded incorrectly. Searchers will find you if they double the 3rd letter of your family name, as that is what the census taker did.
Dave in MA on 22 Aug 2012 at 6:55 am #
John in Richmond Texas. thanks for the details.
We don’t have a home phone. I’ll have to check and see if this will work with our cell phones.
Mindy from Indy on 22 Aug 2012 at 6:57 am #
Haven’t really looked at 1940. I’m really focusing my efforts to my Mother’s side at the moment. (I have an aunt on my dad’s side that has the half pretty well under control.) As for my Mother’s side, I’m right about the Civil War for the ones that were already state-side. Unfortunately, one family keeps moving, another is lousy with John Schmidts, and another seems to have popped up from nowhere! As for census indexing errors, I’ve located a Schmidt record that was listed as “Admire.”
My biggest frustration is I have a copy of an indenture document from 1683 and I cannot locate census (or ANY) record of the corresponding families. Any suggestions there
Robin in Fl on 22 Aug 2012 at 8:00 am #
Mindy
Taking a stab here: ship’s records from Germany? I know the English have extensive ships records from way back that still survive, and somewhere I read the Brits have a great online archive. John Schmidt would of course be Germanic, so maybe records from Germany 9for a start).
Symply Fargone on 22 Aug 2012 at 8:14 am #
@John in Virginia,
Emoticon and special character help is here: http://messenger.msn.com/Resource/Emoticons.aspx/
YMMV, Symply easy ways to be Fargone!
sandcastler on 22 Aug 2012 at 8:15 am #
Robin in FL, I know the Scottish have extensive church records. Have family branches traced back as far as far as Sixteenth century on some branches to as late as 1733 on another. Have learned many insightful facts about my bloodlines.
Jean in Dahlonega Ga aka Trapper Jean on 22 Aug 2012 at 9:02 am #
First, the business part: Jimmy, I would like to sorta pre-order my copy of The Ludwig Book, please! Thank you.
Mindy-bite your tongue, Sweetie! The bulldog is the mascot of the University of Georgia, not Georgia Tech! Ugga may be cute and sweet and all, but he is The Enemy. Georgia Tech’s mascot is the Yellow Jacket. The fight song is indeed The Ramblin’ Wreck.
On the subject of canines and felines, I never had a cat as a child because my mom really disliked them. I have no clue as to why, but she did. I was, however, raised by a series of Boxers-the dog, that is, not the pugilists. My grandfather had a female Boxer that guarded my crib and I was given my own dog when I was three, and he and I grew up together. Since then I have had several other Boxers and a few mutts, plus several cats. I am now owned by three cats and two dogs, one a Corgi/Beagle/whatever and the other a Boxer. She weighs 75 pounds and thinks she is a lap dog.
Oh, one of my favorite dogs was my Corgi Cupcake. Sometimes at night it was hard to get him to come back in when I called, but I found that if I shined the flashlight on the ground he would follow the light in. It may have taken a few minutes, but it worked.