Non Sequitur by Wiley Miller for February 07, 2010
February 06, 2010
February 08, 2010
Transcript:
Bear: Aww... it appears that mister I'm-Above-The-Natural-World has just knocked himself off the top of the food chain... The Schadenfreude of Unnatural Selection.
Still, if I were those bears, I’d be getting away from there as fast as possible. They’re so close that they’re about to look like the above-mentioned vultures.
Schadenfreude …. [shahd-n-froi-duh] …. ” Satisfaction or pleasure felt at someone else’s misfortune. ”
.
OK, … a misfortune of a Mushroom cloud & no more Pizza for the bears ?
Bummer.
Didn’t he produce the original “Battlestar Galactica”? and a bunch of other TV shows, including “McCloud,” “Alias Smith and Jones,” and other shows you’ve forgotten?
You know, I never heard schadenfreude used until I heard Joel McHale on The Soup use it about 2 years ago, and now i’m hearing and seeing it frequently.
For a misanthrope like me, nuclear annihilation would be a schaudenfreude. Especially if I’m at ground zero so I’m vaporized from the get go. That smile might last less than a second, but it would be the biggest of my life.
At least those bears will find out whether or not Twinkies really can survive a nuclear holocaust.
Incredible artwork; interesting that super bowl weekend was chosen to share this with us. Bears are astute, accurate and droll; sad that this is the least of our worries…………………
Gas fired power plant went up today- we don’t need nukes, we’re doing just fine wiping things out with fossil fuels. The bears can’t even get any sleep in Yellowstone because the snowmobilers want to take it over in winter.
The natural world counts for squat with our ego-fed culture.
Wow, those bears have a real sharp wit in times of distress. Why don’t they share some of their wisdom on a daily basis? I’m all in favor of some really cool bear ideas.
The one with the polar bear on the ice floe with the pollster standing next to him. The pollster says: “The polls show that extinction is a near certainty.” Next panel. The bear is fatter, the clipboard the pollster was holding is resting on bloodstained ice and the bear is thinking: “Wow..Right again.” I like that NON better since the bears win and don’t have to face radiation burns.
Great minds think in similar ways (Wiley and Gary Larson), and that German word has been around in literature for ages (though I seldom can remember the spelling, I feel it often, because I like to see evil people suffer the results of their actions).
With unfortunate references to the Holocaust, whether in Europe or Japan, smug self-importance doesn’t further our hope for special survival…Not that we deserve it….Go Colts!!!
I think it says a lot about Wiley’s respect for his audience that he didn’t feel it necessary to explain “Schadenfreude” to us (c.f. the reference to Sisyphus in the Sunday’s “Frank and Ernest”).
They’re rioting in Africa, they’re starving in Spain.
There’s hurricanes in Florida, and Texas needs rain.
The whole world is festering with unhappy souls.
The French hate the Germans, the Germans hate the Poles.
Italians hate Yugoslavs, South Africans hate the Dutch.
And I don’t like anybody very much!
But we can be tranquil, and thankful, and proud,
For mans’ been endowed with a mushroom-shaped cloud.
And we know for certain that some lovely day
Someone will set the spark off, and we will all be blown away.
They’re rioting in Africa, there’s strife in Iran.
What nature doesn’t do to us, will be done by our fellow man.
(The Merry Minuet, performed by The Kingston Trio)
LordDogmore almost 15 years ago
“It’s the end of the world as we know it, and I feel fine” is how the song goes I believe.
Nelly55 almost 15 years ago
I’m picturing Slim Pickens right now for some reason
pouncingtiger almost 15 years ago
Good one, Nelly55.
I’m a huge fan of Dr. Strangelove.
fredbuhl almost 15 years ago
Wow, talking bears.
cdward almost 15 years ago
Still, if I were those bears, I’d be getting away from there as fast as possible. They’re so close that they’re about to look like the above-mentioned vultures.
Whatroughbeast almost 15 years ago
And the elements will melt with fervent heat!
bmwk12ltc almost 15 years ago
I’ve got marshmallows. Anybody got the rest of the ingredients for Smores.
thirdguy almost 15 years ago
This gives a whole new meaning, to nuking your food!
Allison Nunn Premium Member almost 15 years ago
Good one Thirdguy! I have the chocolate, we can skip the graham crackers!
Skeezeeks almost 15 years ago
Well put sir Wiley.
ifelden almost 15 years ago
somebody exploded an H-bomb today…but it wasnt anybody i knew
pearlandpeach almost 15 years ago
just so the OUCH is over there and leaves the Bears the berrries.
wjstuhr almost 15 years ago
So arlic is a Moody Blues fan, I see.
kfaatz925 almost 15 years ago
Great one, Wiley.
vexatron1984 almost 15 years ago
How is Yogi going to steal anymore picnic baskets now?
cleokaya almost 15 years ago
The problem is that we have the capacity to wipe out the entire food chain.
johndh123 almost 15 years ago
Please share with me this profound message.
palos almost 15 years ago
It’s rare that I need to look up the meaning of a word in a comic strip.
locoboilerguy almost 15 years ago
Just so long as we can watch the end in stunning high definition on our flat screens.
DevXIII almost 15 years ago
You do realize, Wiley, that Glen Larsen did something similar..?
Wiley creator almost 15 years ago
“You do realize, Wiley, that Glen Larsen did something similar..?”
Who is Glen Larsen?
Miller_Junkie almost 15 years ago
Schadenfreude …. [shahd-n-froi-duh] …. ” Satisfaction or pleasure felt at someone else’s misfortune. ” . OK, … a misfortune of a Mushroom cloud & no more Pizza for the bears ? Bummer.
mjd.kwanyin almost 15 years ago
thanks. love it!
ottod Premium Member almost 15 years ago
I’m pretty sure this is natural selection. Nice one Wiley!
Can't Sleep almost 15 years ago
Glen Larsen?
Didn’t he produce the original “Battlestar Galactica”? and a bunch of other TV shows, including “McCloud,” “Alias Smith and Jones,” and other shows you’ve forgotten?
ronaldmundy almost 15 years ago
ahh….back to glow in the dark……everything.
GROG Premium Member almost 15 years ago
DevXlll I believe you are referring to Gary Larson, who did “The Far Side”
aerwalt almost 15 years ago
BC13: I agree. Saw that one.
dougdash almost 15 years ago
Personally, I believe in neighborhood nuclear superiority.
Trebor39 almost 15 years ago
I wonder what being a vaporized gas, hotter than the hottest blast furnace would be like. On the other hand, I don’t really want to know.
celeconecca almost 15 years ago
Gary Larsen, I betcha!
You know, I never heard schadenfreude used until I heard Joel McHale on The Soup use it about 2 years ago, and now i’m hearing and seeing it frequently.
DevXIII almost 15 years ago
Yeah, that’s the name BC13..sorry. Got the names mixed up.
My bad.
zev.farkas almost 15 years ago
“I’ll be back when it’s over an hour and a half from now”
Tom Lehrer
dunno ‘bout the pizza, but they got one heck of a mushroom there…
If you get the chance, read this short story: “August 2026: There Will Come Soft Rains” (1950). Ray Bradbury.
David_J Premium Member almost 15 years ago
“…just knocked himself off the top of the food chain…”
…again!
Moody Blues fan here too FWIW. On vinyl no less.
Ernest Lemmingway almost 15 years ago
For a misanthrope like me, nuclear annihilation would be a schaudenfreude. Especially if I’m at ground zero so I’m vaporized from the get go. That smile might last less than a second, but it would be the biggest of my life.
At least those bears will find out whether or not Twinkies really can survive a nuclear holocaust.
cfimeiatpap almost 15 years ago
Incredible artwork; interesting that super bowl weekend was chosen to share this with us. Bears are astute, accurate and droll; sad that this is the least of our worries…………………
eardroppings almost 15 years ago
Hey, people of Lamebrainia….
It’s not Glen Larsen. It’s not Gary Larsen.
It’s G-A-R-Y L-A-R-S-O_N.
How can you say someone else did this cartoon when you don’t even know how to say the person’s name OR spell it????
artybee almost 15 years ago
A true Wiley classic! Rather somber, but a classic. Thanks, Wiley!
(I never heard that word before Dennis Miller started using it years ago.)
AKHenderson Premium Member almost 15 years ago
“The humans are at it again! Let’s go to Tunguska - hardly any humans there.”
Dtroutma almost 15 years ago
Gas fired power plant went up today- we don’t need nukes, we’re doing just fine wiping things out with fossil fuels. The bears can’t even get any sleep in Yellowstone because the snowmobilers want to take it over in winter.
The natural world counts for squat with our ego-fed culture.
jefferis Premium Member almost 15 years ago
“The Lord sent Noah the Rainbow Sign… No more water, the Fire next time…”
Negro Spiritual, quoted by James Baldwin, in The Fire Next TimeHabaneroBuck almost 15 years ago
Wow, those bears have a real sharp wit in times of distress. Why don’t they share some of their wisdom on a daily basis? I’m all in favor of some really cool bear ideas.
reynard61 almost 15 years ago
Chez Schadenfreude: “It serves you right!”
rowena28 Premium Member almost 15 years ago
Spot-on as usual, Wiley.
freeholder1 almost 15 years ago
The one with the polar bear on the ice floe with the pollster standing next to him. The pollster says: “The polls show that extinction is a near certainty.” Next panel. The bear is fatter, the clipboard the pollster was holding is resting on bloodstained ice and the bear is thinking: “Wow..Right again.” I like that NON better since the bears win and don’t have to face radiation burns.
freeholder1 almost 15 years ago
+I still don’t trust propane tanks on grills either, Joe.
vldazzle almost 15 years ago
Great minds think in similar ways (Wiley and Gary Larson), and that German word has been around in literature for ages (though I seldom can remember the spelling, I feel it often, because I like to see evil people suffer the results of their actions).
Wallaby almost 15 years ago
This is fantastic!
Joseph Krois almost 15 years ago
With unfortunate references to the Holocaust, whether in Europe or Japan, smug self-importance doesn’t further our hope for special survival…Not that we deserve it….Go Colts!!!
Aviatrexx Premium Member almost 15 years ago
I think it says a lot about Wiley’s respect for his audience that he didn’t feel it necessary to explain “Schadenfreude” to us (c.f. the reference to Sisyphus in the Sunday’s “Frank and Ernest”).
zev.farkas almost 15 years ago
for johndh123:
You asked for my opinion regarding Michael Ramirez’s February 04, 2010 cartoon.
I finally got around to posting it now - please see the comments there.
Thanks
pbarnrob almost 15 years ago
They’re rioting in Africa, they’re starving in Spain. There’s hurricanes in Florida, and Texas needs rain. The whole world is festering with unhappy souls. The French hate the Germans, the Germans hate the Poles. Italians hate Yugoslavs, South Africans hate the Dutch. And I don’t like anybody very much!
But we can be tranquil, and thankful, and proud, For mans’ been endowed with a mushroom-shaped cloud. And we know for certain that some lovely day Someone will set the spark off, and we will all be blown away.
They’re rioting in Africa, there’s strife in Iran. What nature doesn’t do to us, will be done by our fellow man.
(The Merry Minuet, performed by The Kingston Trio)
wittyvegan about 13 years ago
Fahrenheit all over again. Nicely done. :)