That was my attitude when I was a young adult. I was convinced I would not live to be old. Turned out I didn’t die of disease or war, but kept living. Now I’m almost 76, I’ve been on Social Security and Medicare for nearly a decade. Yet I’m still working full-time. It’s a good job and interesting, but primarily what keeps me working is health insurance for my wife, who isn’t eligible for Medicare until next year, and our 32-year-old son who has never had a decent job.
christophsays
Not exactly on topic, but I remember seeing Ernie Bushmiller’s name on a list of people dolphins are definitely smarter than. This was way back in the 70’s.
christophsays
@Marcus Ranum, #2: I’m still waiting for my jet pack.
robrosays
cristoph @ #4 — “I remember seeing Ernie Bushmiller’s name on a list of people dolphins are definitely smarter than.” I wouldn’t think of judging Bushmiller’s level of intelligence versus dolphins but I can say that among a certain group of hippie-era comic writers he’s kind of viewed as a hero. One of them has a book out about Ernie. I don’t understand the fascination, but so be it.
Well, it turns out Sluggo didn’t have a future — I haven’t seen him since Nancy changed hands. (And he never grew up much before either.)
Akira MacKenziesays
@ 1
I never knew so many bad times
Could follow me so mercilessly
It’s almost surreal
All the pain that I feel
The future ain’t what it used to be
It doesn’t matter what they’re thinking
It doesn’t matter what they’re thinking of me
It’s always so cold
I’m to young to be old
The future ain’t what it used to be
Were there ever any stars in the sky
Did the sun ever shine so bright?
Do you have any dreams I could borrow
Just to get me through the lonely night?
Is there anything left to hold on to
When the rivers wash it all away?
Is there anyone left to hold on to
Is there anything left I can say?
Say a prayer for the falling angels
Stem the tide of the rising waters
Toll a bell for the broken hearted
Burn a torch for your sons and daughters
The endless night has got a hold of me
Dark days are pulling me forward
And all the tears are washing over me
I’m crying, lost forever
In a future that ain’t what it used to be
No more no more no more
Not exactly on topic, but I remember seeing Ernie Bushmiller’s name on a list of people dolphins are definitely smarter than. This was way back in the 70’s.”
On the other hand. EB’s Nancy is considered by other cartoonists to be among the most rarified refinements of the cartoon strip form – and of humor at its most elemental.
The last few years of Nancy became – I’m not kidding – almost transcendental at times. I grew up mostly ignoring it, like EVERYONE, and suddenly noticed that the strip had become very… bizarre.
I actually started collecting the best ones, which added up quickly, and pressing them on my friends, art students, artists and science majors among them.
Then I noticed the exceptional artistic power he’d bring to what looked almost bare.
You may not be an asshole, but you’re ignorant as mud about Nancy.
When you wrote ‘Ernie’ I associated that to another cartoon where ‘Uncle Sid’ and ‘Dr. Pork’ could serve as a symbol for today’s MAGA ideology.
And since these dishonest characters are also really dumb, the symbolism would be quite apt.
lauriansays
Fer fuck’s sake PZ, that’s the attitude of 17 yo ever.
woozysays
@7 Sluggo’s been in the new Nancy a bit. He hasn’t done much but for a while “Sluggo is Lit” was a thing. Peewee and Rollo seem to be missing in action (but I can’t say I’ve been looking very hard)
The last few years of Nancy became – I’m not kidding – almost transcendental at times. I grew up mostly ignoring it, like EVERYONE, and suddenly noticed that the strip had become very… bizarre.
You know… people say that, but I just don’t see it. It’s kind of become a culture wars thing that either you are left and think Jaimes as a post-modern feminist genius, or …. you are right and you think Jaimes is a post-modern feminist genius. But to me she seems… benignly dull.
But “Sluggo is Lit” was kind of funny.
StevoRsays
Remidns me of an old cartoon I once saw back in the Cold War era where an adult is askinga young child what they’d like to be when they grow up. The child’s reply – “Alive.”
The future isn’t what it used to be, that’s for sure.
What? And give up on my flying car?
That was my attitude when I was a young adult. I was convinced I would not live to be old. Turned out I didn’t die of disease or war, but kept living. Now I’m almost 76, I’ve been on Social Security and Medicare for nearly a decade. Yet I’m still working full-time. It’s a good job and interesting, but primarily what keeps me working is health insurance for my wife, who isn’t eligible for Medicare until next year, and our 32-year-old son who has never had a decent job.
Not exactly on topic, but I remember seeing Ernie Bushmiller’s name on a list of people dolphins are definitely smarter than. This was way back in the 70’s.
@Marcus Ranum, #2: I’m still waiting for my jet pack.
cristoph @ #4 — “I remember seeing Ernie Bushmiller’s name on a list of people dolphins are definitely smarter than.” I wouldn’t think of judging Bushmiller’s level of intelligence versus dolphins but I can say that among a certain group of hippie-era comic writers he’s kind of viewed as a hero. One of them has a book out about Ernie. I don’t understand the fascination, but so be it.
Well, it turns out Sluggo didn’t have a future — I haven’t seen him since Nancy changed hands. (And he never grew up much before either.)
@ 1
I never knew so many bad times
Could follow me so mercilessly
It’s almost surreal
All the pain that I feel
The future ain’t what it used to be
It doesn’t matter what they’re thinking
It doesn’t matter what they’re thinking of me
It’s always so cold
I’m to young to be old
The future ain’t what it used to be
Were there ever any stars in the sky
Did the sun ever shine so bright?
Do you have any dreams I could borrow
Just to get me through the lonely night?
Is there anything left to hold on to
When the rivers wash it all away?
Is there anyone left to hold on to
Is there anything left I can say?
Say a prayer for the falling angels
Stem the tide of the rising waters
Toll a bell for the broken hearted
Burn a torch for your sons and daughters
The endless night has got a hold of me
Dark days are pulling me forward
And all the tears are washing over me
I’m crying, lost forever
In a future that ain’t what it used to be
No more no more no more
—Jim Steinman
The future’s so bright, I gotta wear shades
“christoph
21 March 2024 at 1:01 pm
Not exactly on topic, but I remember seeing Ernie Bushmiller’s name on a list of people dolphins are definitely smarter than. This was way back in the 70’s.”
On the other hand. EB’s Nancy is considered by other cartoonists to be among the most rarified refinements of the cartoon strip form – and of humor at its most elemental.
The last few years of Nancy became – I’m not kidding – almost transcendental at times. I grew up mostly ignoring it, like EVERYONE, and suddenly noticed that the strip had become very… bizarre.
I actually started collecting the best ones, which added up quickly, and pressing them on my friends, art students, artists and science majors among them.
Then I noticed the exceptional artistic power he’d bring to what looked almost bare.
You may not be an asshole, but you’re ignorant as mud about Nancy.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ernie_Bushmiller
When you wrote ‘Ernie’ I associated that to another cartoon where ‘Uncle Sid’ and ‘Dr. Pork’ could serve as a symbol for today’s MAGA ideology.
And since these dishonest characters are also really dumb, the symbolism would be quite apt.
Fer fuck’s sake PZ, that’s the attitude of 17 yo ever.
@7 Sluggo’s been in the new Nancy a bit. He hasn’t done much but for a while “Sluggo is Lit” was a thing. Peewee and Rollo seem to be missing in action (but I can’t say I’ve been looking very hard)
You know… people say that, but I just don’t see it. It’s kind of become a culture wars thing that either you are left and think Jaimes as a post-modern feminist genius, or …. you are right and you think Jaimes is a post-modern feminist genius. But to me she seems… benignly dull.
But “Sluggo is Lit” was kind of funny.
Remidns me of an old cartoon I once saw back in the Cold War era where an adult is askinga young child what they’d like to be when they grow up. The child’s reply – “Alive.”