FoxTrot by Bill Amend for November 22, 2009

They might like to talk to you over at Calvin and Hobbes, however.

The balloon w/kid thing has already been done…

The news networks should pay balloon dad’s fines and lawyer fees, it’s one thing to lie to a cop, it’s something else to lie to the country.

Trust me, Jason, if the first one is a sample of the rest …

Thanksgiving is the 4th Thursday in November here in the US.

It’s this coming Thursday, in other words. But if you’re going to do a Sunday comic with a Thanksgiving theme, this is the day for it. Next Sunday would be too late.

It’s the last Thursday of November, not the 4th Thursday. If the 1st of November is on a Thursday then Thanksgiving will fall on the 29th, the 5th Thursday of the month. Don’t ask me why we did it that way, we just did. Just like Labor Day is the 1st Monday of September. Probably some other reason out there other than ‘just because’.

Probably so that it’s convenient for holidays. This way many people get Thursday (and usually Friday) off. The 4fh of July, on the other hand, can make the week a little weird when it’s on a Tues or Thurs - 1 day off in the middle of the week isn’t as convenient as a 3 day weekend.

I feel Foxtrot was just poking fun at the hoax of boy in the balloon. I agree about the news helping out, but the parents brought this on themselves. I remember when they where on Wife Swap, which in itself was dumb. So what if a drill mother takes all the fun out of a child’s life and all the child knows is take orders from mom and dad doesn’t get involve. The kids could end up resenting either parent. Children need a little fun in there lives but who said someone should tell them.

Sorry, Dypak - Agios11 is correct. (The following info is from history.com) Each year in America Thanksgiving falls on the fourth Thursday of November. Most years this is the last Thursday in November, but in some years there are five Thursdays in November, and then Thanksgiving falls on the second to last Thursday.

If my memory of history is correct, it used to be on the last Thursday of November, but somewhere along the way, it got changed to the 4th Thursday to lengthen the Christmas shopping season.

I’m confused. Didn’t Bill Amend retire FoxTrot long ago? I thought we’ve been reading reruns for a couple years now…

My understanding is that Sunday Foxtrots are new – daily Foxtrots are reruns.

Rmom said, about 3 hours ago

Sorry, Dypak - Agios11 is correct. (The following info is from history.com) Each year in America Thanksgiving falls on the fourth Thursday of November. Most years this is the last Thursday in November, but in some years there are five Thursdays in November, and then Thanksgiving falls on the second to last Thursday.

If my memory of history is correct, it used to be on the last Thursday of November, but somewhere along the way, it got changed to the 4th Thursday to lengthen the Christmas shopping season.

FDR had Congress implement the change in 1940, for the purpose of lengthening the Christmas shopping season, as you correctly noted. Before then, it was always on the last Thursday of November (which was not necessarily always the fourth Thursday), and therefore could have fallen as late as November 30. The earliest possible date on which it can fall now, thanks to the fourth-Thursday rule, is November 22, and the latest date is November 28. This year, it falls on November 26, which is almost smack in the middle of that range.

And bugaboo, only the weekday and Saturday strips are reruns. Bill still does first-run Sunday strips.

Thanksgiving Schmancksgiiving. As long as there’s football. Go Fins! Go Giants!

If there was an actual kid in there, how could they get it out?

Besides, wouldn’t the kid weigh it down? or wouldn’t the helium in the balloon kill the kid in a matter of hours?

No offense to anyone who’s had a friend or family member have that happen.

Dypak, Thanksgiving is the 4th Thursday in November because there aren’t always the same number of Thursdays in November. For example, this year there are four, and yes, Thanksgiving happens to fall on the last Thursday, but in 2012 November starts on a Thursday and has 5 Thursdays, Thanksgiving is on November 22nd, and there’s one more Thursday, the 29th after it which means T-day is NOT on the last Thursday of the month. If, by your logic, it was always the last Thursday, it would constantly bounce around year to year.

http://www.holidaysmart.com/2009/2009_11.htm http://www.holidaysmart.com/2012/2012_11.htm

Your calendar comparison is flawed. We start at the beginning and count from there, ie the first Monday, the forth Thursday.

http://www.holidaysmart.com/2009/year2009.htm Click on any holiday and it will list the rule you use to figure out when it is.

kab2rb: You remember them being on Wife Swap? People actually watch that? Oh that’s right, reality (ha!) shows are big. Did you know that reality carp (sic) started as a cheap fill in during the writers’ strike? And people liked them for some reason. I’m thankful I don’t watch any. So you think you can dance? So you think you can stay on the island? So you think you can actually swap your wife? How did you get married in the first place. Anyone ever watch a movie called Idiocracy? Great commentary on the dumbing down of the population. For best results, watch an uncut version and check out the name change of the Fuddruckers restaurant.

I have to agree with Peter on this one, Jason. Your stuff is way too tame and sensible for the ratings boost gimmicks they do nowadays.

waayyyy too tame

So how did Calvin get in there!