On November 24th of this past week, the comic strip Gasoline Alley celebrated its 90th anniversary.
Under creator Frank King, the strip began on that date in 1918 as part of a Sunday feature in the Chicago Tribune called The Rectangle, a weekly collection of one panel cartoons. In time, Gasoline Alley became popular enough to stand on its own.
This award winning comic is noted for being the first to acknowledge the passage of time and aging its characters accordingly, although not every story sequence has dealt with cars or their maintance. King continued producing the strip until his assistant Bill Perry took over the Sunday edition and Dick Moores assumed responsiblity for the dailys in the 1950s. Moores' former assistant Jim Scancarelli has produced both editions since 1986.
And in honor of Gasoline Alley's anniversary, our resident comedienne Ms. Waxy Dragon, the 3 year old baby dragon avatar that is one amongst many of a very avid Internet surfer, has provided us some appropriately themed jokes.
Any time you see a young man open a car door for his girlfriend, either the car is new or the girlfriend is.
Where do dogs leave their cars? In the barking lot!
What happened when the frog’s car broke down? It got toad away!
When is a car not a car? When it turns into a garage.
Sign at car mechanic: Bring your car to us. You'll never go anywhere else!
And finally...
What kind of car does Luke Skywalker drive? A Toy-Yoda!
See you next weekend for more Sunday Funnies.
Sunday, November 30, 2008
Saturday, November 29, 2008
THE PUZZLE CORNER: NOVEMBER 29th, 2008
This may be a holiday weekend, but did you really think you could escape The Puzzle Corner?
COMMON BONDS
What do the items in each of the following groups have in common?
1. {Teri Hatcher, Erica Durance}
2. {Rollie Bester, Patricia Marand}
REBUS!
This is a brand new feature joining our puzzle rotation!
Just study the image and see if you can figure out what it represents.
And of course, the answers will appear next weekend, just like the ones from November 22nd are now.
THE LETTER SHUFFLE
1. (Quote) + (Linen) = Ineloquent
2. (Offer) + (Heart) = Forefather
TRIVIA TIME
It sounds worse than it actually is, but Hexadectylism is just the scientific term for having extra fingers and/or toes.
COMMON BONDS
What do the items in each of the following groups have in common?
1. {Teri Hatcher, Erica Durance}
2. {Rollie Bester, Patricia Marand}
REBUS!
This is a brand new feature joining our puzzle rotation!
Just study the image and see if you can figure out what it represents.
And of course, the answers will appear next weekend, just like the ones from November 22nd are now.
THE LETTER SHUFFLE
1. (Quote) + (Linen) = Ineloquent
2. (Offer) + (Heart) = Forefather
TRIVIA TIME
It sounds worse than it actually is, but Hexadectylism is just the scientific term for having extra fingers and/or toes.
Friday, November 28, 2008
BLACK FRIDAY
The term comes not from some politically incorrect reference, but has acquired a double meaning over the years. Some believe it is derived from the fact that it is still well before dawn on the Friday after Thanksgiving when some stores open way before their normally scheduled hours in hopes of acquiring extra revenue from holiday shoppers. Others believe the designation is because this is the one day that is a guaranteed success for retailers. A chance to be "in the black", or profitable, from an accounting perspective.
Some stores are advertising that they will be open as early as 4 a.m., with potential customers already camped out on their doorsteps in hopes of getting some good bargains.
Yet those people are standing outside braving the late night/pre-dawn weather voluntarily. Imagine what time the employees scheduled to open that morning have to be there!
In any event, I wish those either brave or foolhardy enough to venture out the best of luck, but please remember to be polite to each other. There were some bad incidents reported last year concerning the abundance of customers versus the limited quantities of selected items at various retail locations.
As for myself, I will be warm and snug in my bed fast asleep.
I'll leave it up to you, the reader, to decide who is following the wiser course of action.
Some stores are advertising that they will be open as early as 4 a.m., with potential customers already camped out on their doorsteps in hopes of getting some good bargains.
Yet those people are standing outside braving the late night/pre-dawn weather voluntarily. Imagine what time the employees scheduled to open that morning have to be there!
In any event, I wish those either brave or foolhardy enough to venture out the best of luck, but please remember to be polite to each other. There were some bad incidents reported last year concerning the abundance of customers versus the limited quantities of selected items at various retail locations.
As for myself, I will be warm and snug in my bed fast asleep.
I'll leave it up to you, the reader, to decide who is following the wiser course of action.
HAPPY THANKSGIVING!
A safe and Happy Thanksgiving to all our readers!
But amongst the food, sporting events, and planning the holiday shopping, please remember to at least take a moment to think about just what you are thankful for.
But amongst the food, sporting events, and planning the holiday shopping, please remember to at least take a moment to think about just what you are thankful for.
Tuesday, November 25, 2008
FOX CANCELS SATURDAY MORNINGS!
The following is a news report with editorial commentary afterwards.
Because the Fox network and 4Kids Entertainment are unable to work out a contractual dispute about revenues stemming from how many stations are or are not carrying the current Saturday morning animated programming that 4KE provides, Fox has decided to end their business relationship with the children's entertainment supplier and cancel their Saturday morning programming affected January 2009.
While no replacement programming has been officially announced, a statement from the Fox network representative leaves most to believe that Saturday mornings will become a gigantic block of infomercials both on the national and local station level.
Now I have never hidden the fact that I am a fan of the animation genre. Granted, I am watching no where near as much as I used to in my much younger years because most people consider the art form "just for kids" and create such shows accordingly, but I seriously think that this development is a huge step in a growing trend that needs to be addressed.
The major networks (ABC, CBS, and NBC) used to program their entire Saturday morning air time block towards the younger viewers. Even before the content of these shows became more educational than adventurous, the networks still provided good wholesome entertainment.
But things have changed.
Now the Big Three, as they are collectively known, all present weekend editions of their daily morning news programs (Good Morning America, CBS This Morning, and Today respectively) and allow the affiliates to present local versions of the same, before using the remaining airtime of Saturday mornings for children's programming.
And then they wonder why their ratings and ad revenues for this part of their overall schedule are not what they used to be.
Granted, there are now a lot more options (The WB/CW on Saturday mornings, Nickelodeon, the Cartoon Network, etc.) for the younger viewers and their parents than there used to be, but just because other competitors have entered the competition doesn't mean that one should just quit playing.
NBC is now presenting children's programming from the Discovery Channel, while the other two re-air shows from the affiliated networks of their respective owners (CBS/Paramount: Nickelodeon of Viacom, ABC: Disney Channel).
Not only do children need educational programming and entertaining shows, they also need variety!
While no one can or should spend all their free time watching television, if the number of options when the viewers do want to watch dwindle down to just a select few who always show the same types of series over and over again, then children and their parents will tune out even more than they are now from "the Big Three" networks; and for an industry that lives and dies by audience ratings and ad revenues, that is certainly not a good thing.
Because the Fox network and 4Kids Entertainment are unable to work out a contractual dispute about revenues stemming from how many stations are or are not carrying the current Saturday morning animated programming that 4KE provides, Fox has decided to end their business relationship with the children's entertainment supplier and cancel their Saturday morning programming affected January 2009.
While no replacement programming has been officially announced, a statement from the Fox network representative leaves most to believe that Saturday mornings will become a gigantic block of infomercials both on the national and local station level.
Now I have never hidden the fact that I am a fan of the animation genre. Granted, I am watching no where near as much as I used to in my much younger years because most people consider the art form "just for kids" and create such shows accordingly, but I seriously think that this development is a huge step in a growing trend that needs to be addressed.
The major networks (ABC, CBS, and NBC) used to program their entire Saturday morning air time block towards the younger viewers. Even before the content of these shows became more educational than adventurous, the networks still provided good wholesome entertainment.
But things have changed.
Now the Big Three, as they are collectively known, all present weekend editions of their daily morning news programs (Good Morning America, CBS This Morning, and Today respectively) and allow the affiliates to present local versions of the same, before using the remaining airtime of Saturday mornings for children's programming.
And then they wonder why their ratings and ad revenues for this part of their overall schedule are not what they used to be.
Granted, there are now a lot more options (The WB/CW on Saturday mornings, Nickelodeon, the Cartoon Network, etc.) for the younger viewers and their parents than there used to be, but just because other competitors have entered the competition doesn't mean that one should just quit playing.
NBC is now presenting children's programming from the Discovery Channel, while the other two re-air shows from the affiliated networks of their respective owners (CBS/Paramount: Nickelodeon of Viacom, ABC: Disney Channel).
Not only do children need educational programming and entertaining shows, they also need variety!
While no one can or should spend all their free time watching television, if the number of options when the viewers do want to watch dwindle down to just a select few who always show the same types of series over and over again, then children and their parents will tune out even more than they are now from "the Big Three" networks; and for an industry that lives and dies by audience ratings and ad revenues, that is certainly not a good thing.
Sunday, November 23, 2008
DOCTOR WHO AT 45
Today is momumental anniversary within the annals of the science-fiction genre. The longest running SF television program, Doctor Who, is 45 years old today.
But this historic anniversary almost never came to pass.
When originally scheduled to air on Saturday November 23rd, 1963; England's BBC Television seriously delayed broadcasting the first episode (part one to the first adventure: "An Unearthly Child", starring the late William Hartnell as the Doctor) because of all the news coverage surrounding the assassination of then President John F. Kennedy the day before.
But supporters of the program within the network's administration reshowed the first episode the following Saturday at its regular time, and the rest as they say, is history.
Yet because of this, some have linked the two events together even to the point of creating a non-canonical fan fiction whereupon the Doctor investigates the assassination. More information upon this subject can be found at: http://www.drwhoguide.com/kennedy.htm
But the story of what at first was apparently an eccentric grandfather who just happened to have invented a working, if not completely functional, time machine has grown to include vast cultures, numerous adventures, and a plausible explaination for other actors to assume the role, starting when William Hartnell took ill and had to step down.
For more information on the program itself, you can visit http://www.bbc.co.uk/doctorwho/ and while there, visit http://www.bbc.co.uk/archive/doctorwho/ to take a closer look at the genesis of this great program.
But this historic anniversary almost never came to pass.
When originally scheduled to air on Saturday November 23rd, 1963; England's BBC Television seriously delayed broadcasting the first episode (part one to the first adventure: "An Unearthly Child", starring the late William Hartnell as the Doctor) because of all the news coverage surrounding the assassination of then President John F. Kennedy the day before.
But supporters of the program within the network's administration reshowed the first episode the following Saturday at its regular time, and the rest as they say, is history.
Yet because of this, some have linked the two events together even to the point of creating a non-canonical fan fiction whereupon the Doctor investigates the assassination. More information upon this subject can be found at: http://www.drwhoguide.com/kennedy.htm
But the story of what at first was apparently an eccentric grandfather who just happened to have invented a working, if not completely functional, time machine has grown to include vast cultures, numerous adventures, and a plausible explaination for other actors to assume the role, starting when William Hartnell took ill and had to step down.
For more information on the program itself, you can visit http://www.bbc.co.uk/doctorwho/ and while there, visit http://www.bbc.co.uk/archive/doctorwho/ to take a closer look at the genesis of this great program.
THE SUNDAY FUNNIES: NOVEMBER 23rd, 2008
This past week, the Disney Studios celebrated the 80th anniversary of Mickey Mouse starring within Steamboat Willie, the first cartoon complete with voices, sound effects, and music.
While a monumental event when it first debuted on November 18th, 1928; somehow over the years this cartoon has become designated as Mickey and Minne Mouse's "birth" day/anniversary premiere.
But it should be noted that two previous Mickey Mouse cartoons were produced and shown as silent features PRIOR to Steamboat Willie 's release.
Plane Crazy, with Mickey dreaming of being an aviator like Charles Lindbergh, was released on May 15th of that year and is the true first animated feature starring what has become the Disney Studios' spokes-character, while The Gallopin' Gaucho was released on August 7th, 1928. Both were later re-released after Steamboat Willie with soundtrack of their own.
Yet while how, let alone why, this mistake was made and persists over the decades since can be debated, there is no denying that Mickey and Company have certainly done their best to entertain numerous generations in the years since.
Meanwhile, here is our resident comedienne Ms. Waxy Dragon with this week's jokes...
Is Good Mousekeeping a cat's favorite magazine?
My uncle the genetics scientist tried crossing a mouse with an elephant, but all he got was something that left great big holes in the wall.
What is small, furry, and brilliant at sword fights? A mouseketeer!
And on that note... "M-I-C, see you real soon." Next weekend for more Sunday Funnies!
While a monumental event when it first debuted on November 18th, 1928; somehow over the years this cartoon has become designated as Mickey and Minne Mouse's "birth" day/anniversary premiere.
But it should be noted that two previous Mickey Mouse cartoons were produced and shown as silent features PRIOR to Steamboat Willie 's release.
Plane Crazy, with Mickey dreaming of being an aviator like Charles Lindbergh, was released on May 15th of that year and is the true first animated feature starring what has become the Disney Studios' spokes-character, while The Gallopin' Gaucho was released on August 7th, 1928. Both were later re-released after Steamboat Willie with soundtrack of their own.
Yet while how, let alone why, this mistake was made and persists over the decades since can be debated, there is no denying that Mickey and Company have certainly done their best to entertain numerous generations in the years since.
Meanwhile, here is our resident comedienne Ms. Waxy Dragon with this week's jokes...
Is Good Mousekeeping a cat's favorite magazine?
My uncle the genetics scientist tried crossing a mouse with an elephant, but all he got was something that left great big holes in the wall.
What is small, furry, and brilliant at sword fights? A mouseketeer!
And on that note... "M-I-C, see you real soon." Next weekend for more Sunday Funnies!
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