This was an odd little sequence I did back in the summer of ’97. I am not sure if it’s ever run on the Web or not. I still remember that when it ran I received an angry email from a reader who castigated me, a “rich cartoonist,” for making fun of people who can’t afford to save for retirement. Without addressing any of the fallacies within his complaint, I never will understand why people with absolutely no sense of humor read the comics. Of course, if I want to read that kind of stuff today, I don’t have to wait for a letter or even an email. I can read comments any day of the week. (I don’t mean you people here!)
Insect Aside
By Jimmy Johnson
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45 responses to “Insect Aside”
Can one afford to *not* save for retirement? I don’t think so. Unless one doesn’t mind having to fight with Ludwig over the last can of Extra Special L’il Kitty Tuna Byproducts Yummy Treats.
And as far as comics readers with no sense of humor…well, I know were some of them hang out these days.
“…where some of them hang out these days”, dang it.
About that edit button…
yeh, I know those commenters … many live at Arcamax and GoComics! Thank goodness for this sanctuary.
Must be the constant threat of that squirrel falling out of the tree that keeps the nuts away.
And now that I think about it, a constant threat only works if occasionally you actually do it. I learned that from the Fonz in Happy Days.
We can keep our sense of humor because we appreciate you and the opportunity you provide here, Jimmy! We’re your guests and have a responsibility to behave ourselves.
GR6-and you may even think twice about fighting Ludwig for the tuna. My sister’s Siamese went on a tuna kick and refused to eat anything but. He developed neuro problems which the vet said were probably mercury toxicity. She switched him to chicken she cooked herself and he mostly recovered, but still a cautionary tale.
People who value their independence and want to have choices later in life should save and start early (with their first job). Otherwise the decisions about their life style and options for health care will be made by others, whether progeny or governmental employees.
Heck, we may find ourselves in that boat even if we do save, but hopefully not. Well this Orphan is signing off – gotta go find a pretty dress for my granddaughter to celebrate her 5th birthday (she requests blue, with wings). Y’all save some nuts for me – I’m particularly fond of cashews.
I am so thankful for the Village and its denizens, but most of all – our Grand Pooh Bah!
Rich Cartoonist? No sense of humor nor common cents! I know a lot of writers and many do not read the comments online about their articles. Many get abused on Twitter, especially female sportswriters. You would think that they were former POWs or something (sarcasm font)
Not everybody is able to save enough money to retire. I know, because I’ve tried, several times. Alas, sooner or later (usually sooner) I had to eat my retirement account while looking for work. Now, it’s Social Security, Food Stamps and VA health care. I’m also working on getting a VA pension, but even so, if my sister and I didn’t have our parent’s retirement condo (all paid off) it’d be hard.
Mickey Mantle once said, “If I knew that I was going to live this long, I would have taken better care of myself!” The same is true for financial health. You try to make decision with the long term in mind, but sometimes you have take care of today.
Part of the reason that I am moving is so that I not only will have less to take care of, but the next house will be paid for or in a very manageable mortgage and I can take advantage of the current housing market. Next year being the election year of a lame duck, I have some concerns that things will not be as good as they are now.
Fortunately most of the comments on Gocomics for A&J are reasonably civil. If you would like a comparison look at Mallard Fillmore on Arcamax. It is still very nice to hang out here where intelligence shows, if not always sanity. As for saving for retirement it has been a long strange road to my disability/retirement and if not for my VA pension we would be up the creek without a paddle. Sometimes life is such that there is no such thing as savings no matter how careful you are. Still no reason to chew out such a fine cartoonist.
I have been complaining about thinning hair as a result of thyroid medication, but it occurs to me that, in spite of some serious health problems, including cancer that the doctor says would have killed me by now, I’ve never had to have chemo or radiation treatments which would cause me to lose my hair and at that point I wouldn’t care. As previously mentioned my step-son just lost his lab and my wife’s best friend of many years has been given less than a year after she and her husband retired about a year ago. Like Bruce said, ” eat, drink and be mary…”
Very happy to see this fable pop up again; I like it a lot, it’s so funny and cute, and so well drawn! I think I saved it, but don’t now remember where … physically by cutting it from the Boston Globe, or on the computer … possibly both … hard to figure. If it makes some of us think about future planning, that’s all to the good. We all do the best we can, and we can’t turn back the clock.
Yep there are a lot of things life throws at you that tear into the savings – serious illness, serious accident, divorce, changing/losing job, acts of God – hurricanes come to mind here on the Gulf Coast, but other places have tornadoes, earthquakes, blizzards – the list goes on. I guess you do your best and then hope for the best.
I have been extremely fortunate – no divorce, got kids through school and married, had a few illnesses but nothing catastrophic, same with accidents, only one relatively minor flood. My only complaint is a little bit of nerve damage that makes it hard to walk, but hey – I can still walk, just not so fast and not so far. Life is good. Have already lost a couple of good friends from college to unexpected illness – one to cancer (she had just retired) and one that went so fast I’m still not sure what happened (I think pneumonia after flu, but didn’t like to quiz his kids). The first 65 years have gone ok, here’s hoping (crossed fingers) that the rest goes as well. Lifting a glass to you all
In the meantime, loving those grandkids! Did not find a blue dress with wings, but got a pink one that I think she will like as well.
Ghost, the story about that knife yesterday was REALLY interesting. Thanks for the link.
Nice post, Judy. By the way, where you been?
Speaking of mercury…
“Alice In Wonderland”
Staring Mia Wasikowska as “Alice” and
Introducing Ludwig as “The Mad Hatter”
Tell your granddaughter a bunch of strange people wish her a “Happy Birthday”. 🙂
You’re welcome, Nancy. Anything for you. 🙂
I saw a blog post mention by a friend of John Shirley’s, who had sent him one of the knives, and I did some research from there. I’m also a fan of Sal Glesser’s Spyderco knives (and an owner of five of them).
My old fashioned mind has no idea what Ghost is talking about, until the very last sentence. I heartily agree and want to add my birthday wishes too.
Alive. Four am wake up for tomorrow. Will catch up later. Save me a s’more!
Charlotte in NH, for the Alice, I think the actress named was in the version with Johnny Depp as the Mad Hatter. Mercury? Used in felt-making, absorbed in the nervous system of hat-makers (hatters). Toxic effects of the mercury produced strange behavior in the hatters. Ergo, “Mad as a Hatter”.
Judy, Happy Birthday to your granddaughter from me also.
Jerry in FL, my condolences on the loss of the dog. Pets are family. Like friends, they are the family we choose for ourselves.
Charlotte in NH, this version of Alice; https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9POCgSRVvf0
Debbe 😉 I thought I’d play you my walking playlist. You likely won’t be surprised by my choice of any of the tunes…
Walking Playlist – Song #1…because the drum lead-in gets you started.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=u6d8eKvegLI
Obviously, this video was made before Keith Richards was embalmed.
Oh, Ghost dearest, that remark is so naughty!
Here’s the scary part-I remember when they looked like that. They’ve outlived two of the Beatles, Peter Noone, Dave Clark, Davy Jones, Hendrix, Morrison, Joplin, etc. Maybe Ghost is right.