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

Est. 1985

Extra, Extra!

Kid Stuff

By Jimmy Johnson


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.


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63 responses to “Kid Stuff”

  1. Steve From Royal Oak, MI Avatar

    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!

    1. TruckerRon Avatar

      While nationally traffic fatalities may be down, here in Utah:
      .
      “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.”

  2. DJJG Avatar
    DJJG

    These are good! Now, the drawing has improved by now, but, Jimmy, you know that. I can find you early Schulz panels that are awkward.

  3. Galliglo from Ohio Avatar
    Galliglo from Ohio

    Am really enjoying looking at the older strips, JJ. These were published before I discovered you!

  4.  Avatar
    Anonymous

    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.

  5. Ghost Avatar
    Ghost

    Re 9-18-20 real-time cartoon: Come Halloween, will Arlo be wanting a trick?

  6. Ed Avatar
    Ed

    Love today’s toon! Always ready willing and able, well my half is anyway!

  7. Not as Slow Avatar
    Not as Slow

    Today’s real time strip, Shake a Treat, is one of the gems. I actually clapped hands in reaction to such clarity in presentation. Thanks JJ!

  8. Ghost Avatar
    Ghost

    Happy 73rd Birthday, US Air Force. You don’t look a day older than…me.

  9.  Avatar
    Anonymous

    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.

  10. Tom C. Avatar
    Tom C.

    Wow- I have been away for a few years but glad to see the comments! Missed you Jimmy!

  11. Jeff in Ann Arbor Avatar
    Jeff in Ann Arbor

    Clue for 47 down in Sunday’s NYT crossword, “____ and Janice,” (comic.). Ooh, ooh, I know that one!

    1. curmudgeonly ex-professor Avatar
      curmudgeonly ex-professor

      Did the NYT actually misspell her name? Tsk.

      1. Nancy Kirk in AZ Avatar
        Nancy Kirk in AZ

        Tsk indeed!

      2. Jeff in Ann Arbor Avatar
        Jeff in Ann Arbor

        No, Siri did! Damn autocorrect!

  12.  Avatar
    Anonymous

    Oddly some of my posts are not appearing. Jimmy never deletes stuff. Anyone else having stuff vanish?

    No big deal, just odd.

  13. Jackie Avatar
    Jackie

    Also odd I am registered here and click the dot to keep using Jackie and I am now anonymous?

    1. Galliglo from Ohio Avatar
      Galliglo from Ohio

      Funny!

  14. Ghost Avatar
    Ghost

    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.

    1. Steve From Royal Oak, MI Avatar

      Search for Red October comes to mine. Clancy had a bit more detail than I wished for. I did read the book before watching the movie.

      I tried reading Contact after the movie came out and never finished it.

      Sometimes movies condense things and it is for the better. But it’s a matter of opinion.

    2. Galliglo from Ohio Avatar
      Galliglo from Ohio

      You ARE correct! In my humble opinion…

  15. Jackie Avatar
    Jackie

    Nope, you are right. Much better.

  16. Jackie Avatar
    Jackie

    Well, that one INSTANTLY disappeared! No pretense of posting.

  17. Short Jack Brass Avatar
    Short Jack Brass

    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.

    1. 5' 8" Jim Tin Avatar
      5' 8" Jim Tin

      ‘Twould seem so.

  18. Jackie Avatar
    Jackie

    T’were a day ayer ago. Lost me bearings fer certain by losin’ Duckworks Magazine ‘n the salty ‘uns.

  19. Steve From Royal Oak, MI Avatar

    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.

  20. Mark in TTown Avatar
    Mark in TTown

    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.

    1. Ghost Avatar
      Ghost

      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.

  21. Ghost Avatar
    Ghost

    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.

    1. Ghost Avatar
      Ghost

      Don’t feel bad, Arlo; I’ve done that myself. Several times. Even though I keep the mask on the center console so “I won’t forget it”.

    2. Bonnie Avatar
      Bonnie

      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?!

  22. Judy in Conroe Avatar
    Judy in Conroe

    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.

    1. TruckerRon Avatar

      Judy, that might depend on how much the producers paid Kathy Reichs for the use of her name. It’s amazing how some humans can be influenced by a big payoff. And it also explains why so few authors are able to gain meaningful input into or control over what the production company does with their “babies.”

    2. Ghost Avatar
      Ghost

      The “A River Runs Through It” movie was quite good, but I haven’t read the novella. Seems I should remedy that.

      1. Jackie Avatar
        Jackie

        I own it and whatever else he wrote, not much. A one hit wonder. Look on shelf?

    3. Jackie Avatar
      Jackie

      Totally true about A River Runs Through It