Decorum

2008-01-26 21:25:41

I drew a preliminary version of this comic in during AP Bio a couple of days ago and passed it around the classroom. Three people started laughing, and the rest of them just gave the comic a blank look. A few of the latter group stared at it for awhile trying to figure out what they were missing. This was really surprising to me. I can't imagine a life without Zero Wing references.

On a completely other topic....

I'm sure all of you have noticed the phenomenon that lost items elude discovery until you stop looking for them. Being particularly absent-minded, objects of mine get lost a lot. If they stay lost for over two months or so, I try to buy new ones. Invariably, as soon as I get home with the new item, the old one reappears.

Well, a couple months ago I lost my favourite pliers. They're a particularly beautiful, extremely long pair of Craftsman needlenose pliers. Because they meant so much to me and because they came from a set that was otherwise complete, I never quite got around to buying new ones. Occasionally I would spend an hour or so looking for them, digging through the house and leaving a mess, pestering my dad and brother, who have been known to borrow them and not return them, about their location. Well, last night was one of those nights. It went a bit like this:

Darcey: *looks on brother's desk* No pliers. Dad, have you seen my pliers?
Dad: I answer this question all the time. No, I have not seen your pliers.
Darcey: If you had borrowed my pliers, where you have put them?
Dad: I have no idea.
[five minutes later]
Darcey: Well, they're not on your workbench. Are you sure you haven't seen my pliers?
Dad: /Positive./ Stop asking me.
Darcey: Well, could you suggest some locations?
Dad: Look, if I had any idea I would tell you. Tomorrow I'll pick up a new pair for you at the store.
Darcey: But it's just not the same!
Dad: Do you want me to get them or not?
Darcey: Yeah, I guess.

This afternoon my dad walks into my room with a new pair of pliers. They look pretty similar to my pliers, except that the handles don't match the rest of the set. However, they're by Craftsman and I really do need a pair of pliers, and they only cost my dad ten dollars. Reluctantly I accept that this might be the best I can hope for.

Suddenly, my dad says "Wait a second! I know where they might be!" We rush upstairs to the guest bedroom where my dad has placed a bag containing some equipment from a soldering project he had been working on. He gets out the bag and starts looking through it, but to no avail.

At that point I say, "Wait! I think they'll reappear if we can trick them into thinking we're not looking for them anymore!" Then, loudly, I say, "Well, it looks like I'll never find my pliers. I guess I'll just have to keep these ones." I look in the bag. I pull out my pliers.