Recent Comments

1. 3 days ago on Non Sequitur

   I was never really unhappy… it’s not like I could do much about it, nor did I really care to try. I did quickly learn that wearing a hat outdoors was a real scalp saver!

   Growing up in the 60’s I was given crew cuts and by the time I had the option of letting it grow longer I had become involved with the Civil Air Patrol and had to meet, more or less, the same grooming standards I eventually faced while on active duty. I was actually a bit surprised the pony tail lasted as long as it did since I didn’t have all that much to work with by the time I started it.

   And, on the plus side, for some years now I only need a hair cut every six months or more. That’s a bunch cheaper than the every month or so I used to have to pay for 8^)

2. 4 days ago on Non Sequitur

   I first noticed the receding hairline while going thru basic training in ‘74. Less than a year later, after it had mostly grown back, someone commented that I had a bald spot forming at the back of my head. On the plus side, that meant the cowlick was the first thing to go and I didn’t really have to think about it because it was out of (my) sight. By the time I retired from the Air Force in ’95 the receding hairline in front had pretty much met up with the balding spot in back.

   I did start growing a beard the same day as my military retirement ceremony. It didn’t have anything to do with the balding… I just liked how I looked with the beard. A few years later I also grew the bald guy pony tail, but only because it seemed like I wouldn’t have much of a chance for it if I waited any longer. The pony tail hung on for a bit more than 20 years then it got too thin to keep so it’s gone now and I just have the ring of hair that continues to get smaller with the passing years.

   Would I like to have a full head of hair… sure, but that isn’t the hand that nature dealt me so why fret over it. I don’t ever plan to shave my head… that just doesn’t work for me. I did shave the beard once (it had gotten more grey than not) thinking I would look a bit younger while job hunting. It didn’t work… I actually looked older without the grey beard so I grew it back 8^)

3. about 2 months ago on Arlo and Janis

   Daylight saving time has always been a horrible idea.

   If you want an extra hour of daylight in the evening then you can get up an hour earlier if you want but don’t force an entire nation to share in the delusion that you somehow saved time by doing so.

   Now that we’re back on STANDARD time we should stay put.

4. about 2 months ago on Rubes

   Daylight saving time has always been a horrible idea.

   If you want an extra hour of daylight in the evening then you can get up an hour earlier if you want but don’t force an entire nation to share in the delusion that you somehow saved time by doing so.

   Now that we’re back on STANDARD time we should stay put.

5. about 2 months ago on Doonesbury

   I already dropped off my ballot and voted blue across the board. But then I’m a white guy with a functioning brain, unlike the typical MAGAt.

   I just wish judges would actually declare the party they support so I would know who to vote against retaining a seat on the bench. They all claim non-partisan in the little books we get prior to the ballots (and online) but the, so called, supreme court is proof the red menace is trying to destroy real justice. I would very much trust a progressive justice over a regressive one any day but it’s hard to tell the players without an honest playing card.

6. about 2 months ago on Non Sequitur

   This “seniors” you’re talking about must be ancient… I’m pushing 70 and have worked with computers of one type or another my entire adult life. I’ve even taught high tech courses on the job and at university a time or two. So just how old do you need to be to be a tech illiterate senior?

7. about 2 months ago on Ginger Meggs

   The major problem — one of the major problems, for there are several — one of the many major problems with governing people is that of whom you get to do it; or rather of who manages to get people to let them do it to them.

   To summarize: it is a well-known fact that those people who must want to rule people are, ipso facto, those least suited to do it.

   To summarize the summary: anyone who is capable of getting themselves made President should on no account be allowed to do the job.

   To summarize the summary of the summary: people are a problem.

   — Douglas Adams, The Restaurant at the End of the Universe

8. 2 months ago on Real Life Adventures

   Another option is joining the military (while recognizing it isn’t for everyone). It does give a great deal of “real life” experience and, at least during my time, had many options for further education. By the time I retired from the Air Force I had four college degrees (and no debt) as well as a solid background and skills I would take to my civilian jobs.

   And, financially, that service has served me well. Between military retirement and social security I haven’t had to touch my investments yet. Granted, neither military retirement nor social security by themselves is adequate to live on… the combination works great so long as you budget realistically. And my early years in the service taught me all about needing to budget realistically… junior enlisted pay ain’t a whole lot of money 8^)

9. 2 months ago on The Norm Classics

   I spent a bit over 11 years on my last job and over that time I brought in a lot of my books (a tall bookcase full) from home, along with a few other items. When the writing on the wall became to obvious to ignore I started taking a couple of books home every day or so until I got them all out of there. The last items were a couple of large, framed, posters and those went away one at a time. Curiously, no one ever commented on the departure of my personal belongings from the office.

   When the day came that I was told I was “no longer needed” all I had was a very small box of personal stuff left to carry out to the motorcycle that final day… just as I planned it. But then I also picked the day by deliberately saying something I knew would be annoying and precipitate my push out the door, it worked 8^)

10. 3 months ago on JumpStart

    My first experience with chopsticks didn’t happen until I was stationed on Okinawa in the late 70’s. When I was able to pick up candied beans with round lacquered chopsticks I felt I finally had it figured out…. 8^)