Kid Stuff

by

Since we’re revisiting some really old material, we might as well emphasize son Gene as a young boy, for that element of the strip has long vanished. Little-kid jokes always were fun and, yes, easy. It’s hard to think of Gene being born into an era when the landline telephone still enjoyed primacy, but it’s true. This is, after all, the “Summer of 35” celebration, an observance of 35 years of Arlo & Janis.

51 thoughts on “Kid Stuff”

  1. After reading today’s strip I was going to comment that there are fewer fatalities on the roads that last year. It certainly has but I haven’t been able to google the clear data. The articles keep saying that the rate of deaths per miles driven has gone up. Certainly there has been a lot more crazy drivers out there. Before traffic was so slow due to congestion and now people think that it is the Indianapolis Motor Speedway!

    • While nationally traffic fatalities may be down, here in Utah:
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      “The Utah Department of Transportation reported Wednesday that 102 people lost their lives from Memorial Day to Labor Day, and that deaths are up 20% on state roads between Jan. 1 and Sept. 7.”

  6. Obviously I was reading you from the beginning. Did Houston pick you up from the beginning? Those were the days of the Comics Wars with both papers carrying two and a half pages of strips daily and multi pages on Sundays.

  11. Using real time events, how about a tropical storm/hurricane that misses the kids on the coast or does minimal damage? Great storyline.I remember the chicken rescue group in Key West wrapping the chickens from off the streets and stacking them in backseats of autos to take inland.

    That is not to say I find hurricanes funny. I have been through too many, in Lafayette, New Orleans, Louisiana, then Houston, Texas. But definitely great drama for the crew on the Coast. Turned out I miss them.

  17. Winston Groom, 77, author of the 1986 novel, “Forrest Gump,” died on Thursday at his home in Fairhope, AL.
    Does anyone other than me feel that the movie “Forrest Gump” was superior to the novel “Forrest Gump”? And, like me, that that’s the only example of that occurring which you can recall? Fee free to correct me if you feel I am wrong.

  20. Avast, ye hearties! I am sore confounded! Buckle me swash, did the annual Parley like a Buccaneer festivities slip by in the smoke and darkness? With narrrrry a sighting by glass or from crow’s nest! Or Arrgh there more than one Talk like a Pirate day in the year?

    It had passed me unnoticed. I saw it on a lingering Wikipedia tab when I went through pruning my browser. Thought I remembered one or two observers of silliness around these parts, low these many seasons we’ve shared. All keep well and stay safe.

  22. Today’s (9-21-20) strip is SO prevalent. Everyone that I have spoken with has done that!

    My daughter spent the last week with us and she really was homesick. But she loves her life in Orlando. She may be headed to Germany for at least 3 months, so she is glad that she made it home.

    My MIL ended a phone call with my wife with “I can’t wait until Christmas when everyone will be together!” My wife and I have devised a plan that we would spread Christmas over 2-3 days so that we don’t have 20 people in the house exposing themselves to a 91 year old woman. Now my wife is worried that it is going to be a big fight. I told her that sometimes her Mom just says things without really thinking about them. She really has been understanding but also impatient. Christmas will just have to be different this year.

  23. Ghost, and Steve from Royal Oak, One comes to mind: True Grit. I think both versions were better than the book because the visuals added a great deal combined with the casting of performers to fill the roles. I can think of many that did the books a huge disservice, such as Starship Troopers and The Hobbit.

    • I’ll give you True Grit, Mark, but call it equal between novel and movie. I loved the dialog and turns of phrase in the novel. But the movies were great and had great visuals. I’m re-reading the book, as some of it was set practically in Jackie’s backyard.

  24. Re 9-20-20 real-time cartoon: Someone on the Dark Side apparently thinks cartoon characters shouldn’t wear masks, as cartoon characters aren’t real and don’t get sick. Well, I thought Farley wouldn’t die, because he was a cartoon dog, but he did.

    • Including what is turning into a huge Democrat/Republican argument! Good grief! Can’t it just comment on the occasional forgetfulness of us all without turning into a s— storm?!

  25. Ghost, et al: In most of my experience, I see a movie I like and find the book a must richer experience. But sometimes that is not the case. I enjoyed the movie “A River Runs Through It” and went looking for the book (actually it is a novella) but did not like it anywhere near as much. Go figure.

    When watching the TV series “Bones” I saw it was based on the mystery series by Kathy Reichs. I went to the library to check out her books and really liked them. But the TV series had almost nothing in common with the books other than the name of the main character (Temperance Brennan) and, loosely, her occupation as a forensic pathologist. I wonder if the author feels bad about that.

  26. Steve f RO – be careful – that wedding in Maine got out of hand. A Super Spreader. 177 got Covid.
    .
    Judy i C early TV was REALLY like that – the name and a character were only thing the same.
    Movies liked to include a woman even if there were none in the book.
    .
    Ghost – the end of True Grit the movie (IMHO) was better than the book.
    .
    The end of The Maltese Falcon (Tom says: “What is this thing” Sam: “The thing that dreams are made of.”) was way better
    than the book ending. ( And it was an after thought). Though the screen play follows the book closer than any other I have read & seen.
    The cinematography and sets were excellent. Colorization did nothing for it – and is shown in B&W almost exclusively now.
    .

  28. The little “Equinox Ritual” referenced in today’s strip? Ooooh, why didn’t I ever think of that. Yeah, time isn’t kind to much of anything. You acquire some wisdom, maybe. That’s a good thing at least.

  29. Sadly the comments on today’s comic degenerated quickly after a brief reference to Seattle by one commenter. They were agreeing with the sentiment of the strip and made the mistake of bemoaning the end of BBQ season and the start of the rainy season in the Seattle area. Amazing how something lilke that could set people off.

  31. I never post nor read The Dark Side. There are some odd people over there. I do read and post in the Facebook page Fans of Arlo and Janis. I trust Jim the moderator/Administrator to herd us up and cut out any bad doggies.

    No it takes little to set people off. Surely I have told the story of the little yellow ducky on the Easter chocolate in my candy store?

    It ended with the SWAT team, the suicide prevention team, child social workers taking the baby while mother was taken by police to mental hospital. Really ruined sales on Saturday before Easter

  32. Mark we boxed candy in attractive white boxes tied in ribbons. She saw the yellow ducky going in some6 else’s box.

    She was going to kill baby, kill herself, kill customer, etc
    We got customers out, police came SWAT team set up. Bonnie my sweet designer clerk talked her into letting her hold baby and pass it outside..

    This took up a couple hours on day before Easter The lady with the tiny Duckie never got it and I seem to recall eating it personally

  33. I watched “Cosmos” last evening and was mildly entertained but not impressed.

    I will give it one more chance before I make a decision to watch or not to watch.

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