Armadillos are naturally optimistic because they can avoid most predators by simply rolling up. Kinda like porcupines and skunks, but with defense rather than offense. But they all splatter pretty much the same when a ton of plastic rubber and steel hits them at 60+ mph.
Their other survival skill is to jump straight up to startle predator’s, this doesn’t usually work out when the predator is a semi truck. Armadillos are one of Florida’s favorite road kills.
Optimists are often disappointed, pessimists are occasionally pleasantly surprised when something good happens. The rest of the time we know things won’t work and are not surprised by it.
At least the armadillo’s not staring at a cellphone while walking into traffic. Few weeks ago I was standing in line, waiting for the next available check-out, when the women in front of me had to physically prod her husband to look up from his phone as he was holding up the line. There were three check-outs available…
In a career where eating each year meant coming up with new services and products that customers would buy, I’d say I was led more by “Keep throwing [stuff] against the wall until something sticks” rather than optimism.
This cartoon makes it seem as though armadillos die on roads because they are slow afoot. Not true! Like squirrels, they are fairly fast. Unfortunately, also like squirrels, their eyesight and/or brains do not work well when crossing high speed traffic.
Kveldulf almost 5 years ago
I thought I could
I thought ……………
RAGs almost 5 years ago
Not enough armor on the dillo.
AllishaDawn almost 5 years ago
Bad choice of coloring. I thought it was the truck thinking it could. Didn’t make sense.
HidariMak almost 5 years ago
That’s why there are more than a few people. whose last words were “hey y’all, watch this”.
mr_sherman Premium Member almost 5 years ago
Especially in Texas.
Enter.Name.Here almost 5 years ago
“I think I can!
I think I can!
I think I can!
I … (SPLAT!!)
I think that hurt!
I think that hurt!
I think that hurt!
I think….."
gopher gofer almost 5 years ago
his last words were, here, hold my beer a sec…
Nachikethass almost 5 years ago
I couldn’t!
Concretionist almost 5 years ago
Armadillos are naturally optimistic because they can avoid most predators by simply rolling up. Kinda like porcupines and skunks, but with defense rather than offense. But they all splatter pretty much the same when a ton of plastic rubber and steel hits them at 60+ mph.
Russell Hauser almost 5 years ago
Their other survival skill is to jump straight up to startle predator’s, this doesn’t usually work out when the predator is a semi truck. Armadillos are one of Florida’s favorite road kills.
dadoctah almost 5 years ago
Armadillos represent an evolutionary glitch. A creature that developed to resemble a speed bump.
NeedaChuckle Premium Member almost 5 years ago
Optimists are often disappointed, pessimists are occasionally pleasantly surprised when something good happens. The rest of the time we know things won’t work and are not surprised by it.
Kaputnik almost 5 years ago
I wish the deer around here were less optimistic. Although so far I’ve avoided disillusioning them personally.
Aaberon almost 5 years ago
I never wondered about armadillos until now. https://www.livescience.com/52390-armadillos.html
sbg1220 almost 5 years ago
Once on a road trip we counted dead armadillos vs. small town WalMarts. I think the armadillos won!
Yardley701 almost 5 years ago
Poor animal.
dot-the-I almost 5 years ago
Upon reading New Year edition op-eds, the pessimists do seem to predominate.
Egrayjames almost 5 years ago
dflak almost 5 years ago
In most cases of skunk road kill, the skunks are facing in the direction of traffic.
JamieLee Premium Member almost 5 years ago
LOL
MS72 almost 5 years ago
Kinda resembles Bernie Sanders.
bbenoit almost 5 years ago
At least the armadillo’s not staring at a cellphone while walking into traffic. Few weeks ago I was standing in line, waiting for the next available check-out, when the women in front of me had to physically prod her husband to look up from his phone as he was holding up the line. There were three check-outs available…
Will_Scarlet almost 5 years ago
Not like pessimism ever improved quality of life either.
garcoa almost 5 years ago
The human parallel to this is the oncoming traffic passing cars despite the solid line at the crest of a hill (or a blind curve).
marilynnbyerly almost 5 years ago
Why did the chicken cross the road? To prove to the armadillo it can be done.
Colorado Expat almost 5 years ago
Why did the chicken cross the road?
To show the armadillo it could be done!
Al Nala almost 5 years ago
I’ve read somewhere that armadillos have a jump reflex that gets them two feet off the ground…high enough to get hit and punted off by the vehicle.
sandpiper almost 5 years ago
The optimist anticipates the sunrise. The pessimist becomes George Carlin
the lost wizard almost 5 years ago
Optimist-Maybe next time.
DCBakerEsq almost 5 years ago
If you’re a pessimist, you’ll never be disappointed. :)
thelordthygod666 almost 5 years ago
In a career where eating each year meant coming up with new services and products that customers would buy, I’d say I was led more by “Keep throwing [stuff] against the wall until something sticks” rather than optimism.
Lablubber almost 5 years ago
Disarmadillo.
COL Crash almost 5 years ago
But Realism is!
phoenixnyc almost 5 years ago
IthinkIcanIthinkIcanIthinkIcanIthinkIcanIknowIcanIknowIcanIknowIcanIknowIcanHEARTATTACKHEARTATTACK
tad1 almost 5 years ago
Optimism is a good trait to have, but it should be balanced with a good dose of common sense.
tad1 almost 5 years ago
Just once, I’d like to see a cartoon that portrays pessimism in a negative light.
arthropod7 almost 5 years ago
Non-political today? Then I must be the only one who sees an image in the exhaust above the stack?
CoffeeLvr almost 5 years ago
I always hated that story about the damn train. As a kid and as a parent.
dsjwriter almost 5 years ago
After having a life defined by timidity, the armadillo wanted to come out ohf his shell in the worst possible way. Mission accomplished.
Debra Gilbert Premium Member almost 5 years ago
Texas Speedbump
willie_mctell almost 5 years ago
You can be anything you want to be if you just try hard enough. :-)
Jml58 almost 5 years ago
The chicken is waiting on the other side.
fgerbil46 almost 5 years ago
Not really funny. Kind of Dark and Depressing.
donwalter almost 5 years ago
Nothing quite as subtle as an armadillo crossing the highway, down south…
Frank Ragsdale almost 5 years ago
This cartoon makes it seem as though armadillos die on roads because they are slow afoot. Not true! Like squirrels, they are fairly fast. Unfortunately, also like squirrels, their eyesight and/or brains do not work well when crossing high speed traffic.
tgerci almost 5 years ago
It was obvious that the animal was betting its life against a truck slogging against a hill.
tinstar almost 5 years ago
There is a lot of truth in this particular strip, today. For 18 months, I was stationed in Louisiana, and I never saw a live one!