8.2.09

Calvin reinterprets the news



The other day, after reading some quotes by Bill Watterson of Calvin and Hobbes fame, I started to think about what Calvin might say upon reading certain headlines. The quotes and headlines below seemed like a good pairing. Tell me what you think.

40,000 planets could be home to aliens

Up to 40,000 planets could support alien life forms, scientists at the University of Edinburgh believe.

"The surest sign that intelligent life exists elsewhere in the universe is that it has never tried to contact us." — Bill Watterson

Headline and backstory at the UK Telegraph

Bush gets job offer as hardware store greeter

Texas businessman suggests the job will be less stressful than Bush's position as US President.

"Hold it! You know what I'd like to see? I'd like to see the three bears eat the three little pigs, and then the bears join up with the big bad wolf and eat Goldilocks and Little Red Riding Hood! Tell me a story like that, OK? " — Bill Watterson (The Complete Calvin and Hobbes)

Headline and backstory at the Guardian UK

Optimism is the cure for the downturn

Pessimism is the most serious cause for the global economic tsunami.

"That's one of the remarkable things about life. It's never so bad that it can't get worse."Bill Watterson

Headline and backstory at the BBC

Modern humans are still evolving

Humans may like to think of themselves as a fully evolved species, but natural selection is continuing to shape our gene pool.

You know what's weird? Day by day, nothing seems to change, but pretty soon... everything's different." — Bill Watterson

Headline and backstory at the Los Angeles Times

Galileo puts us in our place

The astronomer proved we are not the center of the universe - now we need to start acting like it.

If people sat outside and looked at the stars each night, I'll bet they'd live a lot differently." — Bill Watterson

Headline and backstory at the Los Angeles Times

Talk is cheap but very sexy

But mastering sexy banter can lead to a delightful payoff.

Hey Susie Derkins! Is that your face, or is a 'possum stuck in your collar?" — Bill Watterson

Headline and backstory at the Chicago Tribune

5 comments:

  1. How could anybody possibly think a species as stupid as ours is fully evolved?! I mean, we've got the intelligence to figure out ways to utterly destroy ourselves, but seem to lack the intelligence not to....

    Ah, that Calvin/Susie Derkins romance...

    ReplyDelete
  2. So much to ponder...I always love visiting your blog :-)

    ReplyDelete
  3. I've got a bunch of yellowing Calvin & Hobbes books, and it does seem like no matter what's going on there's a relevant cartoon.

    The closest thing we have now to Calvin & Hobbes is Frazz. Are you a fan?

    ReplyDelete
  4. (PS - it doesn't show up well, but "Frazz" is a link.)

    ReplyDelete
  5. Jay, that first line from Calvin is priceless isn't it? I wouldn't contact us either. ;-)

    Dori! How are you doing with the snow girl? I've been reading about it everywhere. I'm glad you like it. I love visiting your blog too.

    Thomas: Calvin is more relevant now than ever. I too have a bunch of yellowing books I bring out several times a year. I always laugh as if I was reading them for the first time. Now that I've checked out Frazz I'm liking him but he lacks Calvin's charm. The kid was unbeatable.

    ReplyDelete

Leaving a Leaping Thought's worth