This old Sunday A&J probably is more relevant now than ever. If you don’t understand it, don’t worry: someone will explain it. That’s the great thing about commenters! The joke, such as it is, does range toward the “obscure” end of the scale, but that was deliberate in this case. As a good cartoonist should, I try to make my humor understandable to the optimum number of readers (I heard that; I’m serious!). I’m never sure what that number is, but no one can produce an indecipherable comic every day and expect to be appreciated, though some have tried. However, now and then I think it’s fun to challenge you, the reader, just a little bit.
Code Green
By Jimmy Johnson
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58 responses to “Code Green”
Ha, Ha, Ha! Thanks Jimmy. My best laugh so far today and much appreciated.
I’ll admit it took me a second. Nicely done, JJ.
For others looking for the answer, the hint is in the title.
Got it . – KC4YQL
For anyone growing up near the water and in a certain range of years, this one was easy.
Think steel wool soap pads.
I had to break out my Little Orphan Annie decoder ring. Drink more Ovaltine.
Having been in the Coast Guard for 27 years, I immediately got it. Actually was puzzled – at first – why J thought this was obscure humor….
I’m with David; any Boy Scout – or at least any Boy Scout who made Second Class – would (as I did) spot it at once.
not if you passed using semaphore flags.
That is how I did it – but ALL us of learned …—… (as well as 3 shots, 3 fires, 3….of anything).
Yeah, got it when I re-read the header, and I’m N8HAA. The haa’s on me.
How’s everything in Vicksburg? -KC4YQL
Also, it could be a manic depressive progression.
My dad was a telegraph operator in the war, so I got it right away. Going out to cut my hedges in a few!
My dad was a telegraph operator in the war, so I got it right away. Going out to cut my hedges in a few! Plus being a Girl Scout…
Even before Boy Scouts, I had a set of walkie-talkies that had a printed placard on the back. Even though I never licensed as a ham radio operator I remember the (small) uproar when the licensing requirements changed to “no code” requirement.
Hey, I was a no-code in the first month. Then passed all the written tests. Then passed my 5wpm. Later re took the General test when the speed was dropped. Never re-took my Extra exam.
Had to know the code to be a First Class Scout.
or Semaphore
I’ve had my ham license for 50 years….I didn’t get it.
Steve, did you have your morning coffee yet? 😀
I don’t drink coffee…For me morse code is sound and not something visual. Once I read the comments and saw that it was code, then it was easy. But I had a little trouble distinguishing that they were dots and dashes.
Steve, from what I remember, the true users of Morse were all about the sound. I was never proficient, but I bet you would have easily identified it if there had been a di-di-dit dah-dah-dah di-di-dit audio with the cartoon. 🙂
Absolutely. I learned the code in the 60’s and passed the 5 WPM. Thirty years later, my Dad finally got his Extra (20 WPM and exam) and our agreement was that I would get my general (13 WPM) I forgot about it and a week before the exam I did a crash course and passed the test.
I might have just mentioned this here at A&J the other day, so I apologize if I am being repetitive.
I love it when you have to ponder the strip for a moment, as this one did. Nobody thought to insert music as a clue? As in, the 1970’s supergroup ABBA and their song catalogue.
ABBA was one group whose music [with some great bass tones] I truly enjoyed. I recall hearing of them only in 1980, buying a record by mail, and almost wearing it out. Bought a tape or two later on and did wear them out to the extent of their physical breakages! Repairing a tape with cellophane sticky tape does not work well, it developed. Had/Have a disc of the group currently, but no machinery upon which to play same – unless I do so on this laptop, in which case I cannot be reading JJ’s efforts.
As for this strip, I found it a “gimme” although I have zero scouting, radio, or military experience.
Here’s a Japanese duo from 1976 singing “S.O.S.”:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Yick1M_StCE
A type of cute, and to many insufferably so. Thanks for the lesson, TR!
Among fans of fancy/expensive flashlights, there is a tempest (“in a teapot”/”nontrivial”) about a common built-in function to automatically send certain signal, which flishlights usually implement as letter-space-letter-space-letter. I was pleased that Jimmy depicted it here correctly, without the spaces. I am aspie, so I align with the “should be correct” faction. I am logical, so I align with the “anyone who would understand the meaning without spaces, would understand the meaning with spaces” faction. Sic transit blinkity blinkity.
I’m of the school of one-can-never-have-too-many-flashlights. I have a few of those.
Or pens.
I just checked in. I had an appt to go to renew my notary public commission before month end so I actually had to get up and drive 40 miles round trip. (Yea). I even left the house before this was posted – like I did when I was working.
Got it right away – WF9V
Price of gas at my corner is $0.969. Low gas prices during a Stay At Home Order, is like a bald man winning a comb.
Which reminds me of this silly song from VeggieTales my kids would sing:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LtHr7gluh08
____me if you can, I’m feeling down
And I do appreciate you being ’round
____me get my feet back on the ground
Won’t you please, please ____me?
I understand the price of a barrel of oil actually went into negative numbers a few days ago. I was wondering when gas stations would start paying us to take gasoline off their hands. 🙂 But it didn’t last. The oil market, as they say, “settled down” after a couple of days, and oil prices went back up above zero.
Local area prices range from $1.19 to $1.66 per gallon according to my GasBuddy app. But not far north of here, the app shows gas going for $1.25, and just south of here at $1.04.
Here in central Utah we’re accustomed to drops in gas prices lagging about 2-3 weeks behind the rest of the nation. And they do seem to rise about a week after everyone else. 🙁
Another former Coast Guardsman who had to learn Morse for basic training, and Morse in flashing light to sit for a Merchant Marine license. The flashing light was harder because you couldn’t afford to look down as you were writing the message. 🙂
The link tells the story:
https://www.ksl.com/article/46744713/have-you-seen-this-dog-steals-dentures-makes-owner-snort-with-laughter