Nov 30th 2009 09:52 am Why clowns?
Think about it. There was a time when inflatable punching bags were ubiquitous, and most of them carried the image of a clown. A clown? Why were we, as children, all encouraged to punch the living daylights out of a clown? OK, don’t think about it.
This Web thing isn’t working very well, is it? I believe part of the problem is my somewhat lax resolve to post “first thing every morning.” Well, by the time I’m caffeine-charged and distracted by this and that, it’s “too late” to update. I think I’m going to try updating later in the day. I’m not sure when exactly, but I’ll give it a try and see how that goes. So, stay tuned!
I’m very sorry I missed Thanksgiving week. As some of you may remember, I like Thanksgiving. I hope you had a good one.
Posted by jimmyjohnson / Vintage A&J
38 Responses to “Why clowns?”
Matthew on 30 Nov 2009 at 10:00 am #
Mr. Johnson, don’t worry about the guilt & obligation. When you get to it, update. All will be well. Keep up the good work on the strip. That’s most important. Hey! Any word about the book, THE COMPLETE ARLO & JANIS, VOLUME 1?
By the way, your Thankgiving Day strip was quite good.
Jeff in Utica on 30 Nov 2009 at 10:17 am #
I have visited A&J.com daily for years now. (Although I don’t post much.) I for one would not mind a late update one bit. I would rather hear from you late than not hear at all. You can even set aside a two or three days a week. M-W-F or whatever days are less busy for you.
If you feel guilty about this I am sure you can make it up to us by posting more than one strip at a time.
The only thing I would like to see is a perma-link to the current strip. It seems a little thing, but I don’t like having to navigate to the current strip on the days you don’t update. Maybe stick it at the top of the page, is it possible?
Have you thought anymore about an Arlo & Janis FAQ that I suggested a long time ago?
Connie on 30 Nov 2009 at 10:36 am #
Not to worry Jimmy! By the time I get caffeine-charged it’s time to jump in the shower and get ready to go to work. I get nothing done in the mornings but sitting on the couch, drinking coffee and staring at the TV or the computer screen. Sometimes both, but only after my second cup of coffee.
Just be glad you’ve got a life in real time and enjoy!
Mike in Hartland on 30 Nov 2009 at 11:08 am #
When I first started coming to this site, back in the old format, I would log in at 6 am EST. I didn’t realize for a long time that I was reading what was posted the day before. I appreciate it every time Jimmy posts. And don’t mind talking about anything as long as one person doesn’t monopolized the conversation. It’s fun to hear different points of views.
Jim in Dallas on 30 Nov 2009 at 11:09 am #
I don’t mind updates whenever you get to it, either. But a 2-week-long vacation/hospital trip needs some reassurance. When I was a kid, I had a punching clown, too. And a punching Batman! His utility belt had a whistle or something in it. Not sure why I was being encouraged to punch a superhero, myself!
sandcastler on 30 Nov 2009 at 11:23 am #
Guilt is a trip best not taken, if you must, express a small amount of remorse and move along. Today’s strip with Arlo making a self-purchase just before the big holiday is all so manly, we guys all do it
David on 30 Nov 2009 at 12:29 pm #
Don’t worry about it. I can’t get here every day either, so I enjoy catching up on the days that I missed. What would be really sad is if you got tired of posting entirely — your site provides a nice oasis of humor in an otherwise humorless and busy day! Thank you!
Bob from Minneapolis on 30 Nov 2009 at 2:53 pm #
I had one of these punching bags as a kid, inflatable on top with a rounded, weighted bottom (filled with sand?). This pre-dated Weebles in the wobble-but-they-don’t-fall-down toy category. But they do fall down when they develop a leak, which mine did so quickly that I don’t really remember what was on it, but it wasn’t a clown. Was it Snoopy wearing boxing gloves? Or, it may have been Superman or Spider-man. . . .Ah, ha! Google reveals it was probably Batman. (I remember it had a yellow background, and this looks familiar.):
http://www.nerdcore.de/wp/wp-content/uploads/2008/04/bop_toys.jpg
Jim in SE Mississippi on 30 Nov 2009 at 3:02 pm #
You Da Man, JJ. You do what works for you, and I don’t think you’ll hear any complaints from this side of the blog.
My Thanksgiving was great; I hope yours, and everyone else’s, was too.
Bob from Minneapolis on 30 Nov 2009 at 3:09 pm #
Maybe I should add that I don’t remember being too upset when that punching bag sprang a leak, because I always wanted to be the “good guy.” Like what Jimmy said about being “encouraged to punch the living daylights out of a clown,” beating up Batman wasn’t really my thing.
A decade later, when Star Wars came out, I still couldn’t understand why any kid would want to pretend to be Darth Vader. Why would anyone want to be the bad guy, except (maybe) on Halloween? I mean, Darth didn’t even get the girl by being the bad guy! (Which would have been even creepier than if Luke got the girl, as things turned out, but I digress.)
John in Richmond Texas on 30 Nov 2009 at 3:49 pm #
I remember my Popeye punching bag; a clown, sure, but why would you want to punch Popeye? I also had an inflatable dinosaur from Sinclair, but it wasn’t very punchable. It’s funny; when you watch a character’s dream in a movie or on TV, you see them in the dream, but you should really see the dream through their eyes. I always dream of celebrities, but I never know if it’s their character or the actor. Jack Klugman and Tony Randall tried to kill me in a bowling alley, but when I played a scene with Lauren Bacall she was very nice.
Today 11/30 – Yes ! been there, done that. My wife has gotten irked about it. It’s gotten that if she sees something in a resale/antique store and Christmas is the next gift occasion, she’ll say “get that for me for Christmas”, likewise if we’re in a Barnes & Noble and I need a DVD or CD, she’ll get it and make me wait til Christmas.
Greg on 30 Nov 2009 at 3:57 pm #
I don’t think you should feel guilty about not posting every day either. I too have been a regular visitor from the old format days, and have never minded waiting a few days between posts (or more, when necessary). While we may all like to think you do nothing but lounge around in your undies and draw all day long, we all understand that in reality you are just as busy throughout your day as we are in ours. As far as posting evenings instead of mornings, I say do what is best for you, we’ll enjoy the A&J no matter what time you update.
curmudgeonly ex-professor on 30 Nov 2009 at 4:07 pm #
Greg-
Speak for yourself! I can’t say I ever thought of JJ’s attire, but, if I must, I prefer the image of an older southern gentleman with a mint julep in hand or a 40-ish backwoodsman with a jug of corn squeezin’s over his shoulder!
However, “chacun a son gout”….
spot on 30 Nov 2009 at 4:16 pm #
what about a nice suit?
sideburns on 30 Nov 2009 at 4:21 pm #
I must have been lucky; my last comment went right up, even though it was from a different computer in a different city.
One thing this strip makes me wonder about though: why are so many children frightened by clowns?
Cris in NC on 30 Nov 2009 at 4:40 pm #
sideburns,
Maybe so many kids (and some adults!) are scared of clowns because no matter how hard you punch those bags, they pop right back up again (until the aforementioned and much dreaded leak, of course!). What kid WOULDN’T be afraid of something that won’t stay down no matter how hard you punch, kick, or wallow (in NC, it’s “waller”) around on it?
Then again, it could just be their makeup and hair – things with strange (i.e. out of the ordinary) faces tend to freak out a lot of little kids. My niece is now 19 and is terrified of clowns although she can’t really say why they bother her so much…
Bill in Paducah on 30 Nov 2009 at 5:37 pm #
So I come back this afternoon, and there’s no update -what’s up with that!!
Bill
(g,d & r)
PS – I love today’s retro strip!!
debbie on 30 Nov 2009 at 7:15 pm #
I will try not to hog the blog, he! he! as to J’s attire? Until now, had never considered it, hmmm……will think about it now (gotta go, bye.)
Jim in SE Mississippi on 30 Nov 2009 at 7:23 pm #
curmudgeonly ex-professor:
I’m thinking he works in like golf togs; or, if he’s having a Margaritaville-type day, a la Jimmy Buffett, a tee shirt, shorts and flip-flops. And I hope your son gets over his gout soon. (I know, I think I’ve used that one before.)
Does anyone else feel that art imitates life, and therefore someone probably gifted JJ with a barn coat recently?
Jim in SE Mississippi on 30 Nov 2009 at 7:39 pm #
Either my computer has developed the ability to see an hour into the future, or this blog is still running on Daylight Saving time. If it turns out to be the former, I’m going to start day-trading stocks.
Sili on 30 Nov 2009 at 7:52 pm #
This is why.
As long as you keep the new strips coming (and they’re really very very good lately), I don’t believe anyone will complain.
And if you need a few days off from that as well, go on! We won’t be going anywhere.
Ghost Rider 6 on 30 Nov 2009 at 8:22 pm #
I once saw a clear-cut case of globophobia (fear of balloons) in an adult male. I wonder what would have happened if he had been exposed to an inflated clown figure.
RayRay From MW the place that made Water Famous on 30 Nov 2009 at 9:57 pm #
I agree with with everyone else. Post when you can and the regulars will keep us entertained in between. I have came here pretty much every day since Janis was trying out new hairstyles some years ago, and have not been disappointed yet.
Side burns I have a 27 year old niece that is deathly afraid of clowns. I am thinking that one of those punching balloons must have blow up with her
Mindy on 01 Dec 2009 at 3:51 am #
Updating later in the day would be perfect, Jimmy! That way I wouldn’t have to put my mornings on hold in anticipation! [I'd much rather put my afternoons on hold since that gives me times to recharge my batteries, and, no, I don't need any Smart Alec comments there! LOL!] Whatever suits you suits me as well. I look forward to the updates regardless of the time. It is, after all, 3:51 in the morning or the day after your last update and I’m still tickled to have found it!
Jean from Dahlonega GA aka Trapper Jean on 01 Dec 2009 at 6:05 am #
Jim in SE Mississippi-from your previous post, yes I do have red hair, sort of in the mid-auburn range.
Greg-I don’t know whether to thank you for that thought or not. I was happy thinking about JJ in his Jimmy Buffet attire of shorts, flipflops and Hawaiian shirt. Of course these days that would have to include the barn coat.
JJ-it’s your blog, Dear, so update it when it works for you. We’ll be here, and we seem to be able to play nicely together, so it’s all good.
Thanksgiving was quite lovely, thanks, with family and good food abounding. Hope yours was, too.
debbie on 01 Dec 2009 at 6:28 am #
Post anytime, JJ…I try to check back several times during the day just in case. This was a pleasant surprise too.
louisiana-lady1937 on 01 Dec 2009 at 6:51 am #
Hang in there Jimmy Johnson, we are rooting for you!
HC on 01 Dec 2009 at 9:05 am #
Here’s another vote for post any-time.
Bob, near Mark on 01 Dec 2009 at 10:00 am #
Sounds like we’re all hanging out at the racetrack talking about “post time.” I suppose some of us are up and on line early looking for a new post at the starting gate. Some check the site around lunch time down the back stretch. We could use our cell phones to check out the site while on the rail at our friendly neighborhood watering hole. And then some can look just before they hit the hay at the finish line. If all of our family members use the same computer at home, we will just have to jockey for position at the keyboard.
sandcastler on 01 Dec 2009 at 12:07 pm #
Jimmy post any time you please. Do be respectful of Mindy, seems she has heavy morning drainage.
John in Richmond Texas on 01 Dec 2009 at 12:15 pm #
I run into what sideburns does. I’m cookied in at work and at home, both places automatically show my name and email address under “Leave a Reply”, but every time I send in my two cents worth from home, it’s moderated. I have very low self esteem, I first thought my comments were deemed too stupid or lame.
About other subjects discussed here – I have very strong feelings on political, social, cultural things. My wife and I attend our local and state conventions as delegates, etc. I start to want to make lengthy responses to some of the posts, but eh, if I got started it would be hard to stop.
But – I emailed Cafepress and told them they need to make available a calendar where we could pick our favorite 12 Sunday A&J’s That’s what we need !
sideburns on 01 Dec 2009 at 1:23 pm #
You misunderstand, John. That post was the first one from that computer, so I expected it to be moderated. Somehow I got lucky (in that, at least) and it didn’t.
As far as Thanksgiving, it was great. I had an excellent dinner in the Staff Lounge of the convention I’d helped set up, then spent the weekend attending and running it while keeping up on my annual NaNoWriMo novel. Got home Monday afternoon, and reached 50K on my book at about 7:30 PM, with hours to spare. Now, I’m going to spend December finishing the first draft.
Bill in Boulder on 01 Dec 2009 at 7:38 pm #
Hi Jimmy! When I first stumbled across your blog here I couldn’t believe all the great comics from my favorite strip, cached so conveniently together. I spent far too much time preusing the collection and really enjoying it. But blogs tend to evolve from servant to master, especially for creative people who are always looking toward what’s next.
If I were you, I’d start thinking about putting this to bed and instead get fired up on somethng new (like doing a book of A&J cartoons where you can cut loose and don’t have to stay inside the lines?) ‘Cause it sounds like you’re burning out on htis blog thing (as happens to just about everyone sooner or later.)
Even though we fans want more and more, I don’t think we want more at the cost of your creativity and humor. That’d be as appropriate as hitching Pegasus to a plow, as the old saying goes…
Mark in Boston on 02 Dec 2009 at 12:02 am #
Clowns ARE scary. They act in irrational ways and you just know that running up to you and punching you in the face and running away laughing is just something they would do.
debbie on 02 Dec 2009 at 6:53 am #
The strip postings are always good, but I think I appreciate the insights just a tad more, post any time of the day or night…….
spot on 03 Dec 2009 at 5:32 am #
clowns give one a headache
spot on 03 Dec 2009 at 5:42 am #
because of their excessive silent conversations
spot on 03 Dec 2009 at 6:01 am #
come to think of it, what are poor clowns to do?