The U.S. Navy would like to think that it dates back to the double-breasted uniform jacket worn by steamboat pilots (the “pilot jacket” or later “P-jacket”), as historically substantiated in the writings of authors such as Herman Melville and Joseph Conrad. (In your defense, the two twills – Dutch original and Navy-specific – are quite similar even if they’re not the same.)
But seriously, I’ve heard the word “snowjacket” being used to describe puffy parkas like the kid’s. (Still prefer waterproofing my leather flight jackets, though. Synthetic fabrics and my skin don’t get along.)
Now I’m starting to wonder why we started calling aviators “pilots”. In maritime terminology, a pilot was a local sailor whose understanding of a harbor’s local conditions (winds, currents and underwater hazards) was good enough that a ship’s captain would hire him to guide the ship to shore. An airplane pilot would be more analogous to a combination of a captain and a helmsman.
I have spent close to none of my adult life in ownership of a television set, but apparently for a while I found one on which to watch some of a series called “Spenser: For Hire.” I’m probably not the best judge of television shows, or really of anything I liked 30 years ago, but I remember liking Spenser a lot.
Maybe I’m a better judge than I think. I’m still married to someone I liked 30 years ago, so there’s that. And Spenser has stuck with me, too, and today’s Frazz is here to testify. The Spenser character, played by Robert Urich, was cooler than cool and given to wearing a peacoat in the Boston winters, and that’s when I decided I like peacoats, too. It was a while before I was encouraged to actually wear one, as I was advised that any substantial double-breasted garment atop my stocky bike-racer legs would make me look like a wool beer can, but my legs are skinnier now and my peacoat is my go-to winter coat when I want to look nice and not like a refugee from Moosejaw Mountaineering. Also influential was Spenser’s equally cool sidekick Hawk, played by Avery Brooks. I modeled my own Mr. Burke character after Hawk, but made him a bit heftier to look (I’m sorry) a little more typically American and less like I was modeling him after an actor from a TV show. And then slimmed him back down anyway, and no one called me on the resemblance. Anyway, both of those elements show up today in Frazz.
Curiously, Frazz showed up in the last Spenser book Robert B. Parker wrote before he died. I was very honored by that, but intend for the symmetry to end there. I’m not going anywhere.
Frazz by Jef Mallett for Jan 20, 2018 | GoComics.com
mddshubby2005 almost 7 years ago
“If tin whistles are made out of tin, what are fog horns made out of?” The Irish Rovers
Michael Thorton almost 7 years ago
@Nabuquduriuzhur
The U.S. Navy would like to think that it dates back to the double-breasted uniform jacket worn by steamboat pilots (the “pilot jacket” or later “P-jacket”), as historically substantiated in the writings of authors such as Herman Melville and Joseph Conrad. (In your defense, the two twills – Dutch original and Navy-specific – are quite similar even if they’re not the same.)
But seriously, I’ve heard the word “snowjacket” being used to describe puffy parkas like the kid’s. (Still prefer waterproofing my leather flight jackets, though. Synthetic fabrics and my skin don’t get along.)
sandpiper almost 7 years ago
She’s right. But so is Mr. Burke. Imagine trying to market a pea jacket and pants ensemble
Ceeg22 Premium Member almost 7 years ago
Because
Perkycat almost 7 years ago
I don’t think you need the pants until you get older.
hablano almost 7 years ago
Ok then, where /does/ baby oil come from?
Darwinskeeper almost 7 years ago
Now I’m starting to wonder why we started calling aviators “pilots”. In maritime terminology, a pilot was a local sailor whose understanding of a harbor’s local conditions (winds, currents and underwater hazards) was good enough that a ship’s captain would hire him to guide the ship to shore. An airplane pilot would be more analogous to a combination of a captain and a helmsman.
Night-Gaunt49[Bozo is Boffo] almost 7 years ago
Frazz11 hrs ·
I have spent close to none of my adult life in ownership of a television set, but apparently for a while I found one on which to watch some of a series called “Spenser: For Hire.” I’m probably not the best judge of television shows, or really of anything I liked 30 years ago, but I remember liking Spenser a lot.
Maybe I’m a better judge than I think. I’m still married to someone I liked 30 years ago, so there’s that. And Spenser has stuck with me, too, and today’s Frazz is here to testify. The Spenser character, played by Robert Urich, was cooler than cool and given to wearing a peacoat in the Boston winters, and that’s when I decided I like peacoats, too. It was a while before I was encouraged to actually wear one, as I was advised that any substantial double-breasted garment atop my stocky bike-racer legs would make me look like a wool beer can, but my legs are skinnier now and my peacoat is my go-to winter coat when I want to look nice and not like a refugee from Moosejaw Mountaineering. Also influential was Spenser’s equally cool sidekick Hawk, played by Avery Brooks. I modeled my own Mr. Burke character after Hawk, but made him a bit heftier to look (I’m sorry) a little more typically American and less like I was modeling him after an actor from a TV show. And then slimmed him back down anyway, and no one called me on the resemblance. Anyway, both of those elements show up today in Frazz.
Curiously, Frazz showed up in the last Spenser book Robert B. Parker wrote before he died. I was very honored by that, but intend for the symmetry to end there. I’m not going anywhere.
Frazz by Jef Mallett for Jan 20, 2018 | GoComics.com
VanLaser over 3 years ago
A Fremen stillsuit? :D