I think of a comic strip such as this one from 2009 as “hitting for average.” In four panels, it has no less than three gags. In the first gag, Arlo makes a quip at the expense of Ludwig the cat; the third panel is a sight gag, with Arlo as caveman facing down a saber-toothed beast with what appears to be a seven iron, or perhaps a six; in the fourth panel is the standard punchline. I say “hitting for average,” because it’s like the indispensable baseball player who can be depended upon to get on base with above-average regularity. Of course, it’s the homerun hitters who make all the money.
I hope everyone had a wonderful Christmas holiday.
183 responses to “Evolving Situation”
LOL, I thought that was a golf club!!!
Jimmy:
I say that it has at least four gags.
Considering that Caveman Arlo is depicted in the Stone Age, having a seven or six “iron” is a well-played anachronism.
Those “cave age” roughs must have made for some mean playing.
What *is* that, anyway? A prehistoric gopher? I have never seen Janis roll her eyes harder. Thanks, Jimmy!
Was the golf club a reference to the former Mrs Tiger Woods? A .300 hitter is pretty good. Ty Cobb is in the Hall of Fame. Pete Rose isn’t, but even money says he never will be.
Believe the only N.A./Eurasian sabertooth felid genus in the Pleistocene was Smilodon. Don’t recall the specific epithet. There was a sabertooth marsupial carnivore in S.A.; don’t know if it was still around when Paleoindians got that far S.
Peace,
Don’t make me roll my eyes.
Good morning all. Just woke up. Had horrible night, I can tell my hair is no longer what my hair dreseer so carefully blew dry and flat ironed to perfection.
Don’t even have to look in a mirror.
When will our porcine aviator return to home base? I miss him and so does everyone else. Was about to say *How can anyone miss a roguish Ghost that no one sees nor knows if real? Then I remembered The Ghost and Mrs. Muir” with the incorrigible Captain and his swash and blood. I have loved him forever, since I was a girl.
I will link a YouTube video. Rex Harrison was the Ghostly captain.
Is that a left over Nike 6 iron?
Gene Tierney and Rex Harrison in an ethereal Montage from The Ghost and Mrs. Muir from 1947. I think I saw this movie much, much later in years but I fell in love with bearded rogues who swayed and loved across hundreds of books, both at sea and on land. I loved books because your own imagination supplies far more than a movie screen did.
https://youtu.be/m0YmK17iX90
Today’s current strip reminds me of my dogs when a TV program had a door bell or another dog barking in the program. They’d begin barking as well convinced it was our door.
I recently downloaded an old-school phone ring, Jimmy. Nothing says “ringing phone” like…well, a ringing phone. I’ve noticed that my last couple of cell phones do have old-style rings, but they are from the late 1990s. 😉
Swashed and swung and sworded and sailed and fought and flew and loved and left.
Hal does not understand what heroes do. Arlo does.
Ludwig isn’t eating the mouse because he’s not hungry. He caught it because it was fun, and now it’s fun catching it over and over. Once he manages to kill it, he’ll lose interest and leave it for somebody else to dispose of, probably by burial at sea.
Wasted a lot of time fruitlessly browsing lingerie sales for me which made me wonder. Who creates names for lingerie products? Most are pretty blatantly sexual and direct.
An occupation for retired older men? Men who don’t actually like women? Not women probably.
Jimmy, [retro] you have been a treasured five-tool guy on the comics page, from back when I could hold a page of comics. Your ability to mix in grand-slams while hitting into the gap day after day is a continuing treat. Looking forward to April in many ways.
[current] I will hold on to my Ma Bell copy ringtone as long as I can. It’s the business model with the push button line transfer switches, not that Princess model. I’ve had it so long people thought it was cool when it started, then mocked my confusion, retro-cool, then Old Man trademark. But darn it when I hear a phone ring, I know it’s a phone. I tried the Euro version, short-short-long pause, for a time but had to return to 1960’s heart-stopping ring.
hc, I read yours as left-handed Nike 6 iron. As in, ‘mounted backwards for a left handed genius’ to adjust an accolade.
Jackie, Topper is a fun story, too. Though its production value was lower, or the surviving print has suffered. I think the days of blaming the man for lingerie design are behind us. There are still men to be sure, but I think Coco Chanel, Edith Head, and others may like recognition.
Morphy, right now good lingerie seems to be European and what most of us can afford comes from China like everything else.
As a retired sales rep who.had to deal with.the Chinese confusion over American holidays and colors,.I can say I see.a lot of that in the lingerie and their names.
Yes, Topper didn’t have as good production. The other had superb.
emb, It always takes me a little longer to draft a reply for you, I hope you appreciate the extra effort.
I’m pretty sure celebrating the birth, and eventual recognition at Epiphany, of our Lord and Savior is considered non-secular. And tolerated well by others, as we respect, acknowledge, and tolerate their traditions. Although Pascal was referencing our one true God in three forms, the logic applies to all matters of faith.
Do scientists know what they are doing, or are they faking it and hoping for the best, like the rest of us? Does my spouse really love me, as I do them? [hunh, plural seems odd, but I’m failing at a gender neutral, third person, singular object pronoun]
I only desired to add enjoyment to anyone interested. I commented on, and framed the discussion along with posting the link. You found a way to make it about your accomplishments.
By the way, those computers do not have that ability innate in their silicon. These functions were programmed by skilled professionals, often self-taught. Streamlining a tedious process for future writers. That creation process itself was hard won, there were many early versions more tedious than quill and parchment.
I find my interest in FF waning when your teasing feels like dropped crumbs asking for attention. If given the opportunity to know something about the item in advance, I could experience it with knowledge. This is why stage programs give an outline for the audience to read prior to curtain. This is done for Wagner [VAAHGuh-ner], Shakespeare, or Annie Get Your Gun. Not for spoilers, but to enhance the pleasure of the evening.
emb, may I request the respect? When you comment in contrast to me, please do the courtesy of naming me. It could reduce the confusion of your meaning, if politeness is not reason enough.
Jackie, sorry if I was short. Had something on my mind.
Cheers.
Well, I was being inane Morphy. Don’t feel well enough to be much else!
I will beat Mark to it and say Carrie Fisher died, from Star Wars, should there be those who do not know. I suspect she has been on life support and taken off after Christmas. My friends are reacting like Ghost saying 2016 sucks.
Here’s a short comment, not directed at anyone specifically. Anyone else remember college and their profs bring highly academic and unable to stop being that way? Always lecturing? So they remained that way forever?
Jackie, I saw the news. Memories and respect for Carrie’s accomplishments and struggles. But my most sincere prayers are for Debbie, on the loss of her daughter.
I enjoy exchanging knowledge in both directions, and discussing opinions. I’ve been told I lecture, mostly by teen-aged people expressing frustration. But your observation is valid, all the same.
Morphy, I on the other hand have spent a lifetime torn between that “Am I sexy frivolous woman or a highly intelligent brain?” You couldn’t be both in my day, you were type cast.
I enjoy your essays and our profs in residence at the Village. I can even understand them.
You made me start thinking about past accomplishments too. For some of us they are the past, for others they continue or become our lives. That is allowable.
Me, I thought of Carrie’s little dog. He was with her on the plane. They were inseparable, as I am with Dickens.
Morphy and Jackie, and the 1933 King Kong has always beaten its successors and remakes hands down, because it’s use of stop-motion is much better looking than man in a suit or CGI. I will say the CGI in the first Jurassic Park movie is my favorite use of that technology.
I don’t mind lecturers, if they are interesting and good at their work.
Mark, King Kong is one that shows my youth. The mid-70’s(?) remake made me jump out of my seat using the most low-tech stunt possible. A fearsome decorated native, from below camera, jumps up right in front of you, with no audible forewarning. Screams loudly, beginning in the same frame he is first seen. Had my heart pounding. Can’t even give proper director’s credit without going to look it up though. Unfortunately, I have never caught a revival or festival showing ’33. Even on the small screen Fay can make you fell sorry for the big lug.