Category Archives: Meaning of Life

Meaning of Life

Radio Vitriol

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Dear readers of this comedic rag,

I sit at home, sick like a dog, with pills taking the edge off my cold. So in between napping and a state of semi-awakedness (isn’t that a word?), I decided to post the latest comic that I completed while still semi-healthy, which was about 2 days ago. The germs in my body were fomenting some kind of rebellion, but I didn’t know it at the time. It looks like they are winning.

This particular episode will begin a short series called “Radio Vitriol” that I hope will amuse you and possibly offend some of you. But isn’t that the point of this comic? I had lots of fun coming up with the dialog for this series of stories as I get to make fun of everyone and everything AND use my gift for humor and illustration to serve humankind a steaming bowl of laughter and insight.

So enjoy this series, more is sure to come once I am healthy again. I am sweating again, so that is a sign I should lie down.

Oh, and one more thing:

A happy Passover and Easter to those of you celebrating. A note to the Jewish contingent out there – you know that saying that a piece of buttered toast always hits the floor butter-side down, well the same thing applies with matzah. Not sure if that applies to Easter chocolates or any grilled lamb dishes.

Take care all and be healthy. I am going to lie down and sleep.

-Jon

Meaning of Life

Irish Luck

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There is not much to say about this one except it’s horribly late. I had it sketched almost a week ago but then life got in the way. And when that happens, my desire wanes and my attention drifts and I don’t feel like sitting down in front of the PC to cartoon.

I had to make reference to the recently passed health care bill in the US, and I am sure that will be fodder for many more comics, but I have other storylines to tend to.

Enjoy this one and keep reading.

Meaning of Life

Bear Hair

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Hi all,

Well, seeing as I went skiing with Sparky the Bear last week, and had one of the greatest ski days of my achy, mildly damaged, middle-aged life, I felt he deserved some recompense – in the form of a comic with Sparky. What a day and man can I ski!

But more about the motivation for this episode. As we all know, bears are hairy, and drains are prone to clogging. So why not combine the two. And in this case, this drain did clog. And our intrepid hero, who dislikes karma and body hair, makes us readers aware of this fact. Such a picky fellow he is. But for the fashion conscious, you’ll notice his shower cap and bath towel are matching made-in-China specials from Walmart. Such fashion sense!

Frankly, I am a little hairy myself, but I blame that on all the mysterious hormones and chemicals in the hot dogs and junk food I eat that cause me to grow hair all over — except my bald spot. I am SURE that the chemical companies are in cahoots with the food companies who work arm in arm with the Gillette razor blade company so I’ll be forced to shave my scary face more often, and enrich the fat-cat executives in the C-suite. Hey, I think I have a story line for the next cartoon.

See what a lack of sleep, a misspent youth and stream of consciousness writing can produce? But there will be more surprises, I promise.

Keep reading and enjoying the comic. Also, please read and comment on my car articles.

And remember, you can always donate to a charity and I’ll make you a t-shirt as a thank you.

Take care,

Meaning of Life

The Olympic Dream

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So, this one came to me as I stepped out of the shower, as may of my cartoon ideas do. And it was inspired by the Olympic athletes and all the weirdness that was the closing ceremonies. I couldn’t resist the Jacques Rogge pot shot as he must be the most heartless man on the planet. I don’t think he is allowed to show any emotion or his processor will overheat.

But I digress.

Although this episode is a bit past due, I still think it’s relevant. And Kirsten said I shouldn’t put myself under a schedule to put out the comic. But how can I disappoint all my faithful readers, (the ones who aren’t either incarcerated or forced to read this as punishment for a crime they committed)? I still have dozens of cockeyed ideas written down so more of these are to come. Tough luck.

Truth is, I suffered technical difficulties this past week on the PC. Delayed the whole cartooning process and there was much profanity, for which I thank my father. Skilled in the art of verbal filth, he is.

Well, one day, when I publish this rag for real money, like more than 10$, I’ll buy a new machine, one that will let me rule the cartooning world.

Oh, for those of you who don’t know, I have published a number of car reviews online, and I’ll include a link on the blog called “My Articles” so you can read them from there.

Enjoy and be well. I am going skiing on Sunday with Sparky the Bear.

-Jon

Frustration & Complaint, Meaning of Life

Olympic Fun and Games

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Olympic Fun and GamesMy dear readers and fans (all 2 of you),

I am nothing short of exhausted as I write this. I should have come home and done more work for my task master, but after dinner, I didn’t have it in me. And what’s worse, it’ all my fault cuz I wouldn’t turn off the bedside lamp before midnight most nights. Why? Not sure, probably all the heady excitement of working at a all-conquering computer software monolith. You can read into that what you will. My eyes are crossing due to tiredness, so I can’t read into anything.

So the Olympics have generated controversy at all levels, and of course I could not just cheer on my country, even though they are finally doing well.

But I had to comment on at all the chaos of the first week, given how much the organizers messed up, and everything else that happened.

Now given that this posting is a week past due, it seems slightly outdated. But there is no rest for the weak or the weary and I have to press on.

And I have had  a dozen other non-Olympic ideas for more cartoons. Just hope I have the strength to scratch these things out in a regular fashion.

Keep reading, keep commenting and forward the link to the site when you have a new friend. Or enemy.

Meaning of Life

Sparky The Bear

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Hi all,

I know it’s the Winter Olympics in Vancouver, and I have to admit with much shame, I didn’t have a comic ready for this. I did for the Chinese Summer games, but that was way easier to lampoon.

So, I humbly submit to you the continuation of the story with character development. My sister and brother-in-law gave me the name of the bear character, so kudos to them. I merely ad the absurdity. and the picture of my brother-in-law to the comic. I am sure the story will wander on a path influenced by my lack of sleep, strong predilection for sugary foods that have some kind of DNA- and brain-altering strand of chemicals invented by BASF as a “flavor enhancer.”

I am also sick with a sore throat and ear ache, so I am off to the doctor tomorrow morning for a strep test. Last night wasn’t a good night’s sleep, so I am off to bed now.

So know that my dedication to this comic and to you, my dear readers, persists — despite illness, a lack of sleep and the fact that I cooked a really mediocre beef stew in our slow cooker. I can only hope the Olympic games will lift my spirits. Or a glass of spirits will lift my mood. Whichever comes first.

Go Canada! Win medals so I can have something to cartoon about!

-Jon

Meaning of Life

The Animals Are In The House

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Before I explain the background behind this episode of the finest cartoon extant, I’ll have you know I re-pinched my nerve in my neck and shoulder for about the 20th time. So, despite massive, shooting pain and an uncharacteristic abstinence from the codeine-centric pills that litter our medicine cabinet, I cartooned away valiantly over the past 2 days. To my beloved wife’s chagrin. Now to the story.

The Animals Are In the House. Ok, so when I wrote the script for this one, many ideas went through my head, and then when exhaustion and desperation set in in equal measures, we got the cool, laid back bear, who will pay his share of cable and the phone bill.  Sharing space with our woodland friends brings us closer to nature. Perhaps too close. Especially if this bear sheds and clogs the drain after he showers. A real possibility.

Now, the inspiration for the bear came from my brother-in-law Sparky (his suggestion, not mine), who if you know him personally, is only slightly less hairy than the character in the comic. My sister can attest to this, especially when she applies sun tan lotion to his barrel-chested upper tree-trunk sized chest. But I digress.

So now we have a new character and for how many episodes no one knows. Least of all me. I am sleep deprived and feeling a cold coming on, so it’s entirely likely, nay, dare I say probable that I will dream about how the story goes further. But I will still work in the iPad or iPhone joke I have had rattling around my memory for a while now.

Meaning of Life

Grilling Adventures

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OK, so here is the continuation of the story. We see our main character really getting into getting off the grid, being free from the oppression of the evil utility companies, and gaining energy independence. By decimating a forest.

Have your cake and eat it too? Sure, let’s all clear cut and see what soil erosion looks like.

Well, all I can say is that there will be more woodland creatures in future episodes of this story line. And possibly a reference to the iPhone. But that is 2 posts away at the earliest.

So enjoy the forest clearing and the grilling. And the steaks. I know I will.

Ok, time to go to sleep so I can be semi-functional at work tomorrow (actually today – it’s after midnight).

Meaning of Life

Living Off the Grill

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OK, so this is where the story is going, and it’s going some place off the gird. Or in this case, it’s “off the grill.” The pun here has to do with the term “living off the grid.” For my parents’ generation, skeptics and general hermits without an Internet or TV hookup, this refers to:

Part of Speech: adj
Definition: not requiring utilities such as electricity, water, etc.; also written off-the-grid, also called off grid, off-grid
Etymology: referring to grid, electrical interlocking system of transmission lines and power stations
Dictionary.com’s 21st Century Lexicon
Copyright © 2003-2010 Dictionary.com, LLC
Cite This Source

In the last while, I have heard people from all sides talk about global warming, being green, using ethical energy, and other such terms. I have also heard lots of opponents to living off the grid, saying it’s a load of garbage. Just ask my dad, my cousin and others in the minority.

From my point of view, I can use it as a source for comic material, so I will reserve my opinion. As long as I make someone laugh or insult someone, then and only then will I feel as if I have done a good job.

Oh, and I feel I should add, my electrical bill is roughly that of a small, impoverished African nation when the winter rolls around — yes, I am complaining about my awful house again. It’s cold and although it may look like a house, it’s actually just bricks and cheesecloth.