Calvin and Hobbes by Bill Watterson for August 18, 2009

Obviously more important are the comic books and Hobbes. Telling his parents is an afterthought.

Testing, one, two, three..

Rap rap, is this thing on?

Shouldn’t we also call Homeland Security, NORAD, and scramble jets from the nearest base?

It’s said we should know our priorities in a life-or-death situation. We certainly know Calvin’s now.

I want to get the brand name of that string and what kind of gas is in the balloon. THINK of the possibilities!!!

Curious, where the ballon will bring Calvin!

Comics book is the priority…Way to go Calvin!

Does NORAD still exist?

Another fine mess you’ve gotten yourself into, Calvin.

Nobody to call the rescue squad ???? Ben_David: most likely, the gas in Cal’s balloon is hydrogen. Helium is too expensive for Calvin.

artybee–Yup! NORAD still exists and for precisely this kind of phenomena–UFK (Unidentified Flying Kids). Last week they held an exercise called Falcon Virgo in preparation for the 2010 Olympics in Vancouver. Better watch out Calvin, you’ll have an F-16 buzzing you soon!

Wishful thinking, Like being on cloud nine.

This reminds me of a great little movie called Danny Deckchair, starring Rhys Ifans.

Carmy said: Another fine mess you’ve gotten yourself into, Calvin.

Shades of Laurel and Hardy- “Well, that’s another nice mess you’ve gotten me into.”

…the town triangle.

Well, Calvin doesn’t live in Moscow. It’s Krasnaya Ploschad, there.

Look Ma, one hand!

Calvin’s life is hanging by a thread.

“Tell Hobbes he can’t read my comic books… HOLD THAT TIGER! HOLD THAT TIGER! (song)

Calvin is blown away by this experience.

HEY DOWN THERE! My name is Calvin. Apparently, Calvin’s on a first name basis with the townspeople.

Calvin must be like George Whitefield, the FIRST GREAT AWAKENING preacher, who could be heard 1/4 to 1/2 mile away.

What do you mean “Tell my parents what happened!” Who do you think arranged this scenario in the first place?

Another Calvin dream, but without Spaceman Spiff and/or horrible monsters. This is more like a real kid dream.

Marg: That was my favorite line from “Wicked.”

Goes to show the saying ‘Hanging on to life on a single thread’ .. you really didnt have to show it though ..

At least we have our priorities straight.

Just think Calvin, you’ll be in all the papers IF you survive this. If not, you’ll still be in all the papers.

He’s not smiling now.

If I had that big of an imagination, I’d have much bigger pants.

“Can you hear me now?!?”

-Town Triangle? What happened to the Town Square?

Not Red Square, Puddleglum2 :-D

from the way i am reading this comic, calvin is heading towards NY City, calvin say hi to my friends in Oswego as you pass by

And Ithaca too, Calvin!

Does NORAD still exist?

Yep. They track Santa, too.

Calvin’s off to see the Wizard.

With arms & hands strong enough to hold that string and baloon that long, we need to re-evaluate Calvin’s possiblities!!!

with all that hot air Calvin should be in Congress, at least he always seems to be moving to the right in the sequences. But, all the people who could help him are mobbing up and attending Town Hall Meetings.

NORAD is still around, but back when this comic was first published, “Homeland Security” wasn’t even a twinkle in the eyes of the folks in charge of the Border Patrol. Back then, they were still just “emigre!”

Calvin: My town is so small…

Narrator: How small is it?

Calvin: We only have room for a town triangle.

Calvin’s priorities are the same as mine….as your life flashes before you, it’s all your favorite comic book stories that you see first!

Tracking Calvin on Google maps……

@TOOLfan

How true…how true…

Now you know how it feels to be on the fringe. Hang on, Calvin!

not to change the subject, @cleokaya, but i had to enlarge your avatar six times before i could see what was going on (snicker)…

are you then the one the farthest at the left?

Save your breath, Calvin – you’re gonna need it at 20,000 feet.

@grazer: he may not reach 20,000 feet. at some point the buoyancy of the balloon will match his weight and his altitude will level off. hopefully before he gets too high.

@saucy1121: good one! made me laugh, anyway.

To Coffee-Turtle: Krasnaya Ploschad (translated to English) is Red Square which you astutely recognized. My point was that it is a square, not a triangle. Therefore, Moscow could not be Calvin’s hometown (unless he lives in Idaho) and they have a town triangle. I studied Intensive Russian at Indiana University, but it was many years ago. Have you studied Russian, or have you just heard the name “Krasnaya Ploschad”?

I realized imagination can be great but Calvin you hang on there sort this out later buddy

I’m with you Calvin! Comics are #1 priority with me too!

Calvin still floats up the sky and continually fly around the world.

rhutch436 said, 1 day ago

Come sail away! Come sail away!

Your comment was from C&H strip yesterday. Calvin didn’t sail on the sea. Should SAY, “Come fly away! Come fly away!” :-)

I think it’s more like:

Up, up and awaaaaay, in my beautifuuuul, my beautifuuuul ballooooooon

@wildmustang: in the song (by Styx) they “sailed away” in a starship (and headed for the skies).

Calvin’s heaven flight!

Nice day to be flying Calvin. Next time try using a hot air balloon instead.

I agree with BC13, that was my first thought and the song has been running through my head ever since

I’ll try not to be spoilerish with this post:

Keep ‘hanging on” and watching this arc. An old object from a prior arc will be making another appearance.

Don’t worry, Calvin. Hobbes will tell your parents. In between comic books, that is.

Gene,

I can’t get it out of my head either even though as songs I prefer Fly Like An Eagle and Come Sail Away. They just don’t fit this scene.

Hey, FAR OUT!!!

HHHM! he might land on my roof, I can test my claws on his baloon, do you think he will make it to Australia?

Calvin, Just don’t let go of the balloon. hold the thread tight. Once you lose the grip.. boom …dream shattered… you are back in bed :P

A worse song is Neun und Neunzig Luftballoons (99 Red Balloons) by Nena – at least Calvin only has one balloon…

bmonk

I never thought of that one. Now that it’s been said, let’s forget it’s been said.

Where are all these people coming from? I’m counting at least 10 new people every day on here.

YOIKS!

11 and most people that read this do not ever comment either

12 you are correct dadallen85

If I were Calvin, I’d tie the balloon around my waist or something rather than trust to my hand’s grip. What if he gets sweaty hands? If he’s up there for a long time, he’s gonna need to urinate at some point - hard to do while holding on for dear life to a string. …and I’d hate to be below when the yellow ‘rain’ falls…

If he climbs above 8k ~ 10k in altitude, he’s going to start getting oxygen starved, his muscles will cramp up and/or he’ll pass out and let go. Wouldn’t want to have to clean up THAT mess. But, if he can be hoisted aloft by just a single balloon, he probably only weighs < 1/2 pound. Given that he is the size of a small boy, his density would then be really low - in which case he could just let go and, using his shirt, glide down to the ground. See http://vimeo.com/moogaloop.swf?clip_id=1778399&se

Better than flying into a flock of seagulls!