Page 89 – Good News
Yep, I went there. I am a bad person. That newspaper clipping is an actual editorial from the early 1900s, with some minor edits for continuity. It’s an older version of “If you’re not with us then you’re against us.” Planting the seeds of things to come (evil grin).
Gladstonize: To talk about and round, evade, prevaricate, speak much and mean nothing.
Bismarquer: To cheat, play foul at cards or billiards.
Additional grandiloquent vocabulary terms such as these can be found in the dictionary page.
Here’s the article from above in full:
Finally, Harriet the chickadee is back!!!
But, what is she up to? Return on Thursday to find out.
Welcome back Harriet! I was worried she was done in for good!
I love how you pepper in all these old phrases and sayings. I’m going to have quite a dapper vocabulary from reading this comic.
You’ll sound like an octogenarian in no time. By the way, Flute got a cameo in an upcoming page, but you’ll have to wait 2 weeks to see it. 😛
Yeah Thomas, turn off the projectomatron and join in the game. Those things will never replace real, honest paper.
I shouldn’t play cards with anyone flaunting a chickadee. Especially if it had a tendency to sit on other players shoulders. Where it could see their cards…
I don’t know WHAT you are insinuating, Sir! I also wanted to include a joke about the bird’s bad odor, but couldn’t fit it in this scene.
Uh-huh. And jane is deeeep in thought about her next bid.
It looks like the bird isn’t the only stinker at the table.
Very subtle, my friend. Very subtle. One might say “well played.”
And a Futurama reference to boot!
Sorry, but Thomas will now forever speak in Farnsworth’s voice for me.
Oho! It seems Harriet takes a shine to those who have been close to death.
I couldn’t resist that little Futurama reference. And Mr. Webb is an inventor, so speaking fluent Farnsworthian would be appropriate.
If Harriet takes after Jane, she’s probably up to no good. As usual.
In no particular order:
I can’t remember if I’ve mentioned how much I like your color choices. I find this page particularly harmonious.
It’s worth noting that a “Democrat” was originally very “Republican” (i.e. in favor of a republic, and against a monarchy). The way word meanings shift amuses me.
Harriet seems to have been accepted into the family.
I find Robit’s protestation of innocence unconvincing.
Keep up the good work. 🙂
Ha, I had “Republican Terrorists” in the first draft, but thought it might confuse some people. It’s hard to come up with a good labels for a “pro-democracy” group without implying that it has anything to do with either of the two main US political parties. I guess “anti-monarchy” is probably what a propaganda news outlet would use.
I’m glad you’re enjoying the story!
I read that first like in Professor Farnsworth’s voice. Clearly I’m watching entirely too much Futurama.
I notice Jane is making no protest whatsoever against being a bismarquer.
There’s no such thing as too much Futurama. And, Jane is obviously too busy planning her winning strategy to argue. 😉
Politics and slang change, but blaming the cards for your own apparent lack of gaming skill remains the same…
It’s amazing how much old slang there is related to card games. At least they’re not playing Ablewhackets.
“A game with cards, wherein the loser is beaten over the palms of the hands with a handkerchief tightly twisted like a rope. Very popular with sailors.”
8 million dollars – if there isn’t an enormous inflation, this should be up to a billion or more in today’s currency?
Ah, but those are Western Dollars (W$), the official currency of the West American Empire. I like to believe all the faces on the coins are cowboys.