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2007-06-24 -Signs, Portents, and the Weather-
Science Imitates (Comic Book) Art
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Posted by Anonymoose 2007-06-24 11:14|| || Front Page|| [3 views ]  Top

#1 Larson is a genius.
Posted by Frank G">Frank G  2007-06-24 15:12||   2007-06-24 15:12|| Front Page Top

#2 These days, the word appears in reference books and museum exhibits. It’s no surprise that scientists adopted Larson’s terminology, says Carpenter. "He has a completely warped mind, which we absolutely love."

Thank God for the completely warped minds of the Gary Larsons', Shipmans' and the Franks' of this here world!

;-)
Posted by RD">RD  2007-06-24 15:12||   2007-06-24 15:12|| Front Page Top

#3 ;-) thanks for the ....er...compliment
Posted by Frank G">Frank G  2007-06-24 15:36||   2007-06-24 15:36|| Front Page Top

#4 Larson's ability to combine scientifically valid nomenclature with utterly bent-axle humor has endeared him to uncountable technologists. The Far Side was, and remains, the finest single-panel cartoon strip in newspaper history. Bizzaro ocassionally rivals it for overall weirdness, but nobody can match Larson for such consistent lunacy.

Legend has it that a pair of enterpreneurs had designed a computer desktop calendar using Far Side themes such as a meteor bursting through opened windows, dinosaurs and cows marching across the screen and other favorite icons of the strip. They approached Larson's agent in Seattle who promptly turned them down citing how Larson refuses to commercialize his work.

This pair of stubborn fans immediately set to work and found out where Larson played pick-up basketball at a local park. They followed him home and got his residential address.

Then these two trotted off to a scientific specimen supply house and an exotic floral importer. They assembled a bouquet that included carnivorous flowers, parasitic tropical plants and blossoms that reeked of rotting flesh. Upon this macabre tableau they pinned collector grade stick insects and other grotesque entomological specimens. This entire assemblage was left on Larson's doorstep with their calling card.

They got a call the next morning and the contract was inked swiftly thereafter.
Posted by Zenster">Zenster  2007-06-24 15:38||   2007-06-24 15:38|| Front Page Top

#5 No relation.

I'm only partly warped, myself.
Posted by eLarson 2007-06-24 16:47|| http://larsonian.blogspot.com]">[http://larsonian.blogspot.com]  2007-06-24 16:47|| Front Page Top

#6 One of my favorite "Larson Lores" - from Wikipedia

One of Larson's more famous cartoons shows two chimpanzees grooming. One finds a blonde human hair on the other and inquires, "Conducting a little more 'research' with that Jane Goodall tramp?" The Jane Goodall Institute thought this was in bad taste, and had their lawyers draft a letter to Larson and his distribution syndicate, in which they described the cartoon as an "atrocity". They were stymied, however, by Goodall herself, who revealed that she found the cartoon amusing. Since then, all profits from sales of a shirt featuring this cartoon go to the Goodall Institute.

Goodall wrote a preface to The Far Side Gallery 5, detailing her version of the "Jane Goodall Tramp" controversy. She also praised Larson's creative ideas, which often compare and contrast the behavior of humans and animals. In 1988 Larson visited Gombe Streams National Park and was attacked by Frodo, a chimp described by Goodall as a "bully". Larson escaped with cuts and bruises.
Posted by Mullah Richard 2007-06-24 17:27||   2007-06-24 17:27|| Front Page Top

#7 Overheard somewhere I shouldn't have been: "I'm not warped, I'm PERVERTED - there's a difference!"
Posted by Old Patriot">Old Patriot  2007-06-24 17:28|| http://oldpatriot.blogspot.com/]">[http://oldpatriot.blogspot.com/]  2007-06-24 17:28|| Front Page Top

#8 1988 Larson visited Gombe Streams National Park and was attacked by Frodo

What'd he do, try to take his ring?
Posted by Zenster">Zenster  2007-06-24 17:44||   2007-06-24 17:44|| Front Page Top

#9 At Cal State, Sacramento both sides of the lobby in the science building feature a perpetual exhibit of Larson's cartoons (or it did the last time I was there).

You can spend hours just in the lobby there alone.

Posted by FOTSGreg">FOTSGreg  2007-06-24 19:00|| www.fire-on-the-suns.com]">[www.fire-on-the-suns.com]  2007-06-24 19:00|| Front Page Top

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