Today, I’ve chosen another really old A&J for you, from 1987. I talk a lot here about the evolution of my drawing and sometimes about the evolution of the writing, but I don’t think enough is made of how much the personality of the characters has evolved over time. Arlo and Janis both have become familiar, knowable individuals. In the early days, as in this cartoon, nothing defined the players beyond an air of whimsy that always has existed within the strip and married-couple banter, hopefully from a fresh perspective—mine—but still married-couple banter. The development of the characters is, of course, a reflection of growth in drawing and in writing, yet it’s more: while a sum of the whole, it almost is a separate metamorphosis, the satisfying outcome of the cartoonist’s craft.
Punch Line
By Jimmy Johnson
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252 responses to “Punch Line”
I’ll have to go back when I have more time and give Jimmy’s above thoughts the attention they deserve.
Debbe 😉 Yes, it was Wordsmith Denise we decided we want to write our eulogies (what we’d like remembered about us). Perhaps fortunately, she doesn’t know enough of the details of my life to write my obituary (what will be remembered about us). 🙂
No problem, Denise. None of my scribblings here comes with a copyright. And that was original to me, or at least as original as anything written can be.
And yes, Ruth Anne, I suspected a librarian’s retirement might be something like the proverbial bus-man’s holiday. Enjoy.
Today’s strip is a perfect example of why my wife no longer allows me to fix anything around the house.
Ruth Anne, the way I heard it was that you couldn’t get to hell without changing planes in Atlanta!
I am always very interested to see strips that I previously only saw on the date of their original publication.
At this point in time, both Janis and Gene had the upswept cowlick thingie going. Janis would revisit it with the infamous “saucepan” hairdo of the early 2000’s, leading to the Hairstyle Poll followed by the infamous “Weasel Words” explanation on the first version of the A&J website.
While I don’t miss the upswept cowlick thingie, I still enjoy the writing. Don’t overanalyze, JJ. One reporter asked the Beatles upon their arrival in the US “Why do you think your fans are buying so much of your music?” When no one else responded, Ringo said, “It pleases them, I think.” There is no more analysis needed than that.
Mark
Thanks for link
We have one similar to one pictured – not so fancy. It still works and we dust it off
every few years.
Also have one that is in two hardside suitcases – 1 case splits apart ( front & back) so
there is stereo definition. The other has a Garrard changer and amps. Early transistors
that don’t work in cold temps.
Took a cheap fare that was routed through ATL – since that time I have paid the extra.
Normal 3 hr journey was over 8 hrs, not worth the hassle.
Speaking of stop-overs in Atlanta…
https://www.thedodo.com/airline-loses-hairless-cat-1191850579.html
I just like when you slip something dirty past the syndicate.
Jimmy, I agree.
Dear emb … I miss hearing from you, and the Old Faithful geyser eruptions, and all. Can you get someone to fix the glitch that’s keeping you from posting, or maybe you aren’t feeling well? Now I’m worrying about you.
Debbe, no, you have certainly never said anything to annoy me! You are the dearest person, and I am so interested in the many problems and adventures you have with the henhouse (and your family). I love reading your daily posts. I don’t find a lot to say, many times, for I seldom look at the links you and the other Villagers are always sending each other — sorry, but I am not into the music performers that you guys all like so much. And I don’t send out links myself because I simply cannot remember how to do it! Also have never watched much TV so references to old shows go right past me.
Ruth Anne, that’s okay, asking you was a shot in the dark … RLS is not so popular nowadays, but I have always liked him a lot. I will indeed ask a librarian and see what he or she comes up with. Thank you anyway.
Here you go, Charlotte…a pretty decent song by a pretty decent songwriter performed by a pretty decent band:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hpdJ8oW3Kxw
Sigh. Don’t go back, reposted:
The last …. whatever this adds up to … hours from June 7: Go to work, fight and lose to paperwork – again. Type up detailed instructions, as best as I know, for book work for my day off. Leave at 5:30p to make mad dash to Fort Wayne to attend some of aunt’s sister’s viewing. Leave 9:30p to return back to work to get “absolutely required to submit book work tomorrow” counts complete (no one knows where to put them, not “required” to close bookwork. !!!!! ) for book work girl. Fall into bed 2am. First phone call at 9:30a – To quote “bookwork girl” – “I’m stupid, I can’t read/follow [color-coded and numbered!] instructions. What am I supposed to do with this stuff?” Muffle annoyed screams. Housework. Bed at 10p. Call from second store at midnight that my third shift girl had been robbed, again. At store until 2a. Go home. Sleep two hours, come back. Dash out an order, lose to paperwork. Work until 5p, go to bed, go back in at 2a. Work until 2p. Come home and turn I to vegetable on couch. Current.
About the robbery – for the second time, the same girl never acknowledged persons entering store, nor looked up until gun was pointed between her eyes. I cannot impress upon her that her inattentiveness has gained a reputation, and she now is actually part of the problem. I would love to be shut of her, but unfortunately, have not found a suitable replacement.
I have put in a request for a pair of retired K9 officers, each “on duty” for 12 hour shifts getting 24 hour coverage (preferably with blood-stained muzzles and low tolerances for stupid people ?).
“…(never) looked up until gun was pointed between her eyes”? For the second time?! I’ve seen some slow learners in my day, but that one comes close to taking the cake.
Lady Mindy, sounds to me as though you are being expected to run a fairly high-speed, low-drag operation with low-speed, high-drag employees and support personnel. If so…ain’t never gonna work.
Oh, Mindy… Love you…
Ghost – I am supposed to be eliminating the “drag.” However, we require employees to pass a (very) basic math test, drug test, AND background check. Sadly, such qualifications are rather hard to come by. “How many felonies can I have?” is a common question. I had one young miss become absolutely LIVID because I wouldn’t hire her after missing all but two math questions. She couldn’t believe she wasn’t going to be hired, to run a register, because she couldn’t add, subtract, or calculate sales tax. Sigh.
I feel your pain, Lady Mindy. Apparently too many of today’s youth never imagined it would take more than the ability to Tweet or post Facebook entries to get them through life.
Lady Mindy, I personally liked your security idea, but borrowing from Matt Helm’s observation that “You can’t kill people just because they’re SOB’s; you’d never know when to stop”, I’m afraid the same would hold true for letting K-9s eat stupid people.
I never said eat. Put the fear of Cujo in them, hopefully. 🙂
Oh, and today’s real time – Arlo’s expressions in the last two panels are perfection.
http://www.classicalmpr.org/listen
Rhapsody In Blue – coming up.
GR6: I prefer this piece by the same writer, but by a younger group with better camera work.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fNU-XAZjhzA
Debbe 😉 “Here we go again…”
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QQF5IBnQte8
Not sure how to give you the link but, I think all will enjoy the singing of Lara Fabian. I think you can get it on U Tube or I Tunes. I found her in an Italian Language blog. Here is the U Tube URL just in case: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VnxcXr0euE4&feature=youtu.be
It is titled Lara Fabian-Adagio.
Enjoy!
Blessings.
Denise, that is so true. Although one time I escorted a customer to Japan and he told everyone in our group that he finally met someone that talked more than his wife. I immediately started to get very self-conscious about my talking until he told he ” Oh don’t feel bad, at least you usually have something interesting to say”
I am in Leon Mexico on business. When I was in Italy, I had no issues with my cell phone but basically I could not get the signal to work when I landed in Mexico. Wifi allowed me internet access but my phone wouldn’t let me call using Wifi. So I turned that option off and suddenly my cellular service is working. Ate at 6:30 AM and had 2 bags of peanuts on the planes. I am still at the plant at 7:00 so hopefully I can eat in the next half hour or so!
Here’s another link to Lara Fabian, a whole album from Russia:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VnxcXr0euE4&feature=youtu.be
Enjoy. Her voice is indescribable, if there is such a word.
I am awaiting moderation
2 links — again
GR6
Thanks for the link
Charlotte in NH
If you like that – go to:
http://www.classicalmpr.org/listen
They also have segments on “Learning to Listen”, or
On Sat morning Flicks in Five (Movie sound tracks)Last week “Much Ado About Nothing