Just for Fun

F-Minus, by Tony Carrillo, is another comic strip I read in the Boston Globe. Some days I think it’s brilliant. Other days I find it offensive.

I cracked up laughing when I read this and wanted to share.



'nuf said. No point. Just enjoy.

A Tribute to Bob

I grew up watching Channel 4 WBZ News with my parents. A duo that really stands out in my mind was Bob (Lobel) and Liz (Walker).

Bob was the sportscaster.

Liz was a news anchor.
They sat side by side and literally shoulder to shoulder. He is a tall man. And she.. well, I saw her in the Fabric Store in Framingham not too long ago. She is one tall lady! Liz left broadcasting in 2005 to pursue a career as a youth minister.

Liz and Bob had a most wonderful on-air repartée. They would banter and tease one another. I nearly forgot I was watching a newscast. In fact, I probably didn’t remember what they were saying. For some reason, I just enjoyed watching them. Bob used props and catchphrases. He also did a lot of local charity work.

I learned the other day that after 30 years in Boston, Bob was let go from WBZ-TV (now it’s CBS). TV is a-changing. ESPN and other cable sports channels are taking over. There are channels devoted to football, golf and tennis. Ratings… salaries…the way the news is presented…who’s cool… ESPN…I am not sure of the reason. It’s a business decision they’ll say. Let’s forget that part now and think about Bob. Globe Columnist Jackie MacMullen wrote a biographic, yet heartfelt, piece about Bob and his talents as a sportscaster. He didn’t report sports, he lived it. He didn’t report on people, he knew them personally.

That is what made Bob Lobel so good at his job. It wasn’t just a job.

My point? Passion. Passion will take you to where you need to go. Liz found a wonderful new passion. Bob Lobel is still passionate about sports,- about the people in sports and about reporting sports to his viewers. What are you passionate about?

My secret vice -- the comics!

I admit it. I love to read the daily comics in the Boston Globe. Some are one-shot deals, like Rhymes with Orange, F-Minus and Rose is Rose. Others, like For Better Or For Worse, offer a serial style. The current theme in For Better Or For Worse (http://www.fborfw.com/) is that the Elly and John Patterson’s middle daughter, Elizabeth, has finally reunited with the love of her life Anthony, who is divorced with one daughter. The author, Lynn Johnston, gently took her readers hither and thon with Elizabeth to get to this point. And to my great joy, Elizabeth, or Lizard-breath, as her older brother Michael always called her, will be marrying Anthony. Another theme of this strip is that the mother’s father, Jim, had another stroke. He is home and being tended to by his wonderful 2nd wife, Iris. The grandfather, Jim, recently gave Elizabeth his blessing to wear his first wife, Marian’s, wedding dress for her wedding. I was practically in tears. I pray that Jim will live to see Elizabeth walk down the aisle. Oh Lynn, please have a heart!

My point: Do I need a life? Well, some watch American Idol. Others watch soap operas. I happen to think the comics have more truth and lessons packed into 3 – 5 frames than many articles. Stay tuned….