A pithy comic strip about life, love, lust and puthy cats.

Est. 1985

Extra, Extra!

Half Baked

By Jimmy Johnson


Buy the new book, "Beaucoup Arlo & Janis!"Today's "Arlo & Janis!"
When this cartoon originally appeared in 2009, my long-suffering editor Reed Jackson called to thank me for reflecting what goes on in his home when his wife bakes for the holidays. This made me feel good. Comics editors see a lot of comics, and they rarely have time or inclination to comment.

By the way, the T shirts are on sale now. I told you there would not be much fanfare. I also said I would return yesterday and discuss price. I’m sorry, but I was so busy making this thing happen that I didn’t have time to do that. The short-sleeve T shirts are $30, and the long-sleeve are $35. Yes, that’s a little pricey, I know. The software at eBay will tell you shipping is free, but it’s not. It’s simply factored in already, but it’s true there are no additional fees for shipping and handling. They’re just T shirts, but others and I have put a lot of effort into producing the best T shirt we can. Our T shirt is about as local as T shirts can be. Several colleagues have a hand in its production, and it’s labor intensive. I’ve already told you it takes nine manual passes of an ink squeegee to produce the sports-car shirt. I’m not going to tell you they’re a bargain; I just hope, if you buy one, you won’t be disappointed. To shop, just click on the subtle little banner at the top of this page. Thank you!

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188 responses to “Half Baked”

  1. Ghost Rider 6 Avatar
    Ghost Rider 6

    The footprint of my old Dell 17R laptop is ? 175 sq in.

  2. Ghost Rider 6 Avatar
    Ghost Rider 6

    I know that the symbol for “approximately equal to” is not “?”, but WordPress must think it is.

  3. curmudgeonly ex-professor Avatar
    curmudgeonly ex-professor

    Even my machine can find a ~ .

  4.  Avatar

    Did I tell you all that when I typed Christ as a word Spellcheck inserted Christmas? Insidiously correct Hal here put Christmas into Christ but had no problem with Agnostic or Atheist as words.

    I was probably not using the Lord’s name as I should have been but I spelled it correctly.

    No attempt to be politically correct here but someone is. And did it consistently and repeatedly as I rested my hypothesis.

  5.  Avatar

    Tested, Hal, TESTED! That isn’t what I am resting!

    Actually I may be coming down with a viral crud which will nix my carotid bypass and I am totally in agreement I need one.

  6. Rick in Shermantown, Ohio Avatar
    Rick in Shermantown, Ohio

    I decided to quit pussyfooting around, and I ordered a black Ludwig long and an icon charcoal short.

    Now, the primary battle will be keeping them away from Mrs. Rick.

    Hmm…

    Could buy a couple for her. couldn’t I?

  7. Mindy from Indy Avatar

    In reference to the big tree – years of experience. After tree is assembled, fluff branches and festoon with the light strands plugged in first. A bit more awkward that way, but this allows for easy replacement of any burned bulbs and locating any damaged wiring missed during tear down. (Blacklight is roughly .1738 rodent.) Flip the lights OFF for decorating – this is HUGE. Everything looks fantastic with the lights on. However, the first couple years I learned the hard way placement is everything. Silver ornaments turn dark grey, and clear ones virtually disappear on an unlit tree. So white ones go on first, then silver, then clear. The icicles (and long ornaments) must hang freely. Observation: All white ornaments that are NOT orbs are exceedingly rare finds. My dream is to find a set of clear/frosted (glass or acrylic) candy canes. I have several colored sets for the four foot tree, but alas not joy for the big one.

    As for today, I must report that for the general public, “infamy” has become “barely remembered history.”

  8. sandcastler™ Avatar
    sandcastler™

    Infamy was history to me, born between the wars: WWII and Korea. Dad was in when WWII started, defended the west coast before be tossed ashore on Normandy. Knew lots of vet of both of those wars. Later served with some of them in Vietnam.

  9. Ruth Anne in Winter Park Avatar
    Ruth Anne in Winter Park

    Mindy: Is this what you have in mind? http://www.americanchateau.com/Set-of-4-Pieces-5-Art-Glass-Twisting-Clear-Candy-Cane-Christmas-Drop-Ornaments-ZZ16598/

    I did this search – ornament “clear candy cane” – and found that along with some that were made of beads. The bead ones were red and white but you could make your own and do clear and white (or whatever beads you like, I guess).

  10.  Avatar

    Mindy from Indy I wanted to say as a retired Christmas designer of showroom trees designed to sell wholesale buyers the products on them a pure white, clear or silvered tree is the absolute HARDEST tree to do. We always had one decorated to sell the ornaments but I have noticed lately that there aren’t many of those ornaments on the trim aisles.

    I always dumped my samples so I am sure I don’t have any stored. These things go in cycles too. This year I am seeing a ton of turquoise, hot pink, purples in neon colors. I think I will get my minions to get down boxes out of second floor attic but I doubt I’ve any you could use.

    Your tree is beautiful and well composed. And yes, Virginia, there is a design art to Christmas trees.

  11.  Avatar

    I think Mark’s idea to make your own excellent. I also have made snowflakes and other beaded ornaments. Ribbons are still available in clears and sheers and ornaments can be made with those and beads easily.

    What I really came to tell JJ was that I put five tee shirts in my basket and got a message on all to Remove From My Order Cannot Ship to Your Locale.

    So, I am putting them in one by one and ordering them singularly and paying that way but please put the danged shirts in one box to ship!!!!! Love, Jackie Monies

  12. Mindy from Indy Avatar

    Ruth Anne – More like these. I actually have these exact candy canes. They are acrylic. I have others that use a clear acrylic in them. Just not the white and clear together. I don’t really want them to hang like an ornament, but hook on a branch like a proper candy cane.

  13. Ghost Rider 6 Avatar
    Ghost Rider 6

    Last night, I set up a 24″ Christmas on the living room coffee table at my mom’s apartment. (And invested considerably less time and effort than did Lady Mindy, of course.) It was pre-lighted and came with a few half-dollar-sized hanging ornaments, but I purchased and added several more ornaments. It isn’t much, but it made her very happy. As that did me.

  14. Ghost Rider 6 Avatar
    Ghost Rider 6

    sand, I have an idea why these never made it to the battlefield. (Probably got filed right under the plans for the Flying Jeep.) And you probably thought a parachute landing zone was dangerous.

    http://cdn.warisboring.com/images/8402.png

  15.  Avatar

    You are a good son. Go a little further and find a beautiful fresh living red azalea with a beautiful basket and bow, my favorite Christmas plant. In full bloom. Substitute a pink or white one if you can’t find reds.

    Modify that statement, you are a good person.

  16.  Avatar

    OK gang, I ordered three Cobras and two Ludwig all in XL. If I don’t fill them up they can be loose. I like loose thank you, I know I am naked underneath, I don’t need everyone else to know.

  17.  Avatar

    Ebay and PayPal and I are still going around. I will give their computer a little more time and see what they confirm.

  18. sandcastler™ Avatar
    sandcastler™

    GR6, love that this play set comes complete with M3 armed action figures. If the personal gyro copters didn’t kill the enemy from laughter, the wild fire of the M3 would have.

  19. Ruth Anne in Winter Park Avatar
    Ruth Anne in Winter Park

    Mindy: I see what you mean – those are much nicer than the ones I found.

  20.  Avatar

    OK, I admit the British and UK were different but I have several friends who served during Vietnam in their countries service over in Asia. Why would they cross train as paratroopers, glider plane pilots, heavy machinery operators, etc? We’re gliders used in Vietnam? I know they were in WWII and Korea. Do we still use gliders?

    I know we dropped machinery in to build roads, landing strips, helicopter pads. Do we still do these things? See what one photo stirred up in an idle mind?

  21. Old Bear Avatar
    Old Bear

    Mark thanks for the 07/12/15 @1:38

    I too miss Are You Being Served

    We had cage free birds – they had nests they went into to deposit eggs.
    Don’t know if they were better off than caged birds, there are benefits (for the bird)
    to both.

    Good for you Ghost!

  22. Mark in TTown Avatar
    Mark in TTown

    Ghost, remember seeing pictures of these when I was a kid. Never saw one in action before: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=W3FS3D1rCos

  23. Old Bear Avatar
    Old Bear

    Mindy f I

    They use to have (MIL did beading) a bead that had 3 knobs on the end of a
    short stalks, hole through the center that would sort of nest when stacked.
    Wire when up though the center and was bent into a cane – could be one color
    or alternate.

    My pride is the 12 days of Christmas made from salt dough.
    12 of each all painted different. Don’t put out the full set much any more.

  24. Mark in TTown Avatar
    Mark in TTown

    Ghost, this looks like the ones in your link: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=61VAxd-J9U8