More fun than Yahtzee

Daryl Cagle, he of the political cartoon aggregation site, uses the term "Yahtzee" for the times when multiple cartoonists simultaneously come up with the same idea. 

Or, if it is a weeping Statue of Liberty in the wake of tragedy, the same non-idea.

And it is indeed rare that a true Yahtzee -- five of a kind, as defined by the actual game -- is terribly creative. I use the weeping Statue of Liberty because, in the wake of 9/11, I stopped counting somewhere in the low 30s. 

So here's a game that is more creative, which I have come to in the 2 years and 360 days of doing this blog: I find myself stringing comics together in my mind and then either deciding which one best illustrates the point, or sometimes creating a blog entry in which I use them progressively.

But I only try that when they truly do fit into a coherent narrative.

Here's an example of when they only sort of do. Constructing such logically tenuous bridges is self-indulgent but also kind of fun.

This one is based on a good friend-and-colleague putting in her last day at a newspaper yesterday, and on the fact that, these days, when you run into a newspaper friend on-line, you have to find a polite way of asking, "So, you still working?"

And then figure out what the appropriate response is when they say "yes," since it is so often followed by a litany of the abuse they are accepting in order to continue paying their mortgage and for their child's braces.

Which brings us to today's Agnes:

Everyone in the business wears that look these days. 

And let me assure you, dear friends, that, in terms of wear-and-tear on the spirit, and the aforementioned braces notwithstanding, getting fired is not the worst of fates.

I've been fired twice, once because they were in the process of shutting down the paper, another time because the TV station was under new ownership and new management. The new station manager and I agreed on some things and disagreed on others.

For instance, we agreed that one of us was an idiot. We disagreed ... oh, you got that.

In both cases, things had so degenerated that the final conversation was not only no surprise at all, but came as more of a relief than a blow. In fact, in one of those cases, the effort to get me to quit so they could avoid paying unemployment had degenerated to personal abuse from them and smiling agreement from me.

We are talking about a case of rictus that would make the Joker look like Buster Keaton.

Which brings us to today's "Real Life Adventures:"

When the first cuts came, a half dozen or so years ago, there was shock and incomprehension, especially when the heartless, gutless bastards from Human Resources would set up "safe and appropriate" scenarios.

A colleague who had, over a couple of decades, won national awards for her work at one of the country's largest metro dailies was called into the office for what she thought was a quick, routine meeting, until she saw who was there.

While the meeting was under way, they disabled her email and cut off her phone. She was escorted from the building by security -- "frogmarched," she put it -- without even being handed the traditional cardboard box and afforded the opportunity to collect personal items from her desk, which her shocked friends in the office had to round up for her later.

And, by the way, these days, any content creator -- artist or writer -- who is not taking home his originals regularly is twice as foolish as the person who never backs up his hard drive. They won't let you put those in the box, even if you get a box.

Before I announced my departure anywhere, I took home everything and then scrubbed my computer, but don't wait until you've decided to quit: You genuinely never know when the Turk will knock on your door.

Still, as Darrin Bell notes in today's Candorville, it's not like, when it does happen, you are heading out into unchartered waters:

 

Now, wasn't that more fun than playing Yahtzee?

Well, okay, it was kind of a depressing topic. But, hey, I work with what I've got, and, these days, that's what we've got.

Here's a more pleasant chain to follow:

This is a 1987 picture of my first ridgeback:

His name was JJ O'Malley.

And here's my Facebook avatar:

And here's a book you can pre-order now for March or April delivery:

There. Now you can go about your day with a genuine,
sincere smile on your face!

Comments

[Sherwood Harrington]

Thank you for ending this with the Misters O'Malley and the news of the impending compilation. If you hadn't, this was probably going to be a very bad day for some of my colleagues (but only the ones who actually encounter me in person) such was the mood I was getting into -- especially after reading the link you posted over on FB to the North Carolina teacher's resignation letter.

Also thanks for the link here that gave me a new word: pleonastic. (Aha! It's a new one for my spell-checker, too, evidently.)

And why did you choose to link Fantagraphics' pre-order for Barnaby instead of Amazon's? Wouldn't the latter have benefited you more?

I wish I had three relevant cartoons to stick between these paragraphs.

[Brian Fies]

Been there, once: sacked out of the blue and escorted from the building, although I was allowed to clear my desk. I actually felt bad--the HR person was a pal and she cried as she guarded me, which made it easier to slip some stuff I shouldn't have into my box. Then out the door and as instantly disappeared as a disfavored apparatchik in Stalinist Russia. "Brian who? Never heard of him."

Learned the same very important lesson you cite--keep your prides and joys offsite--and its corollary: your bosses may be very friendly but they are not your friends. I knew a young woman who was devastated to discover first-hand that all the "big happy family" talk meant nothing at budget time. Couldn't comprehend how her friends weren't as loyal to her as she'd been to them. Sad.

The working world can be just fine as long as your eyes are clear, you know your place, and understand that the bullet you'll never hear coming could strike anytime.

[Maddy]

120 a day! I don't think I could even find 120 a day let alone read them all. Love the Ridgeback.

[Mike Peterson]

Yeah, I could have directed people to the Amazon pre-order, but felt I should acknowledge those who posted the link. And felt a little sleazy over Amazon's policy of forcing discounts on people. I deeply appreciate the people who help pay for this blog by going to Amazon for stuff, but ... well, I also appreciate the people who make amazing books. (It's a lot cheaper at Amazon. I get a percentage. You deal with the guilt.)

Brian, I once had the great pleasure of having my boss direct me to do something absolutely asinine, whereupon I stood up, closed the door, and told him I had another job lined up. He was delighted, since he had hated having to suggest the stupid thing he had just suggested. Almost as delighted as he was a few months later when the cardboard box came for him. Trapped as he was -- two kids in high school, a wife with a good job and parents who had moved there to be nearby -- he was thrilled to be out from under the corporate heel. And quickly landed a better gig from a competitor, which allowed kids, wife and parents to remain in place.

There is a god.

As for ridgebacks, I'm on number five and will never have anything else. Some landlords say they accept dogs, but then add "under 20 pounds." Dammit, if you mean hamster, SAY hamster.

[gezprkin]

The use of pleonastic was a free gift.

[Sherwood Harrington]

Okay, YOU tell them they're hamsters: http://www.flickr.com/photos/sherwoodh/5317596773/

[Mike Peterson]

Would have put Jax and Emma in the low range of the 20-30 weight class. And will not ask for verification individually, since the AKC puts the upper limit for the breed at 18. And they have both delicate souls and sharp teeth. Under 20 it is.

After I graduated, my parents threw a large party for me and invited all their friends. In the course of the celebration, one of their friends drew me aside and suggested that I use as many unnecessary, repetitive and superfluous words in my writing as possible. Oddly enough, he managed to do it in one word.

[Sherwood Harrington]

You do not have scales on your eyes, sir, but you clearly have scales in them. Well-calibrated ones, at that.