Sketchbook: Optimal use of our technological resources

I ran across that "optimal use of our technological resources" phrase in a document I was editing. It made me think that wasting time looking at silly memes and videos (and cartoons, maybe?) isn't really that new of a thing.

Somewhere over the rainbow

Here's something a little different. Our Primary is making activity packs for all the kids in the stake. One component is a set of character cards with the member's of Dorothy's posse on the front — following the Yellow Brick Road to the temple. On the back of the card is a list of ten activities to do at home. Dorothy's activities are about home and family; the Cowardly Lion's activities are about acts of courage; the Scarecrow's are about education and learning; and the Tin Man's are about showing love. It's kind of a fun idea!

The packets also include a small bag of lemon drops: candy is dandy!

Are you fast enough?

OK, nobody panic! This next Sunday is not Fast Sunday!*


*Although that is a great gag to pull on your kids on Saturday night: "Remember tomorrow is Fast Sunday!"

It's that icon in the lower left

For me it's kind of the opposite. I have to stop myself from telling people to be reverent during staff meetings!

Kitty love

Cats always seem to be attracted to the person who likes cats the least. 

Fra gil é — it must be Italian!

We just got a brand-new missionary in our area. He did his MTC at home. His biggest adjustment, he said, was being around other missionaries all the time!

Sketchbook: Clean mouth, pure heart

Maybe that’s why you’re supposed to wash your mask often. Hmm.

This is only a test

Like every day since the middle of March 2020?

We all scream

So it's 103 in Provo, 110 in St. George, 93 in Tokyo, 88 in Knob Noster, MO. I think it's a GREAT idea to street contact the ice cream vendors, don't you?

Everybody's a critic

I suppose this would be something like reading your sibling's diary, wouldn't it?

It comes with free snacks!

I wish I would have done this one about a month ago!

Career guidance

Sketchbook: The write stuff

They did mention more than once how difficult it was to engrave the plates.

To the tips of their toes

I can't find anything in the handbook that says they can't get pedicures!

A minister by any other name

I still ask myself each month whether I've done my home teaching yet.

It just keeps on giving

I'm so glad none of our kids never tried this!

Search, ponder and ponder some more...

This may have come up during my personal study recently...

There’s no place like someone else’s home

We had the missionaries over last night for the first time in a long time. They were very happy to be in an environment that wasn't their apartment!

Sketchbook: The spirit of discernment

I'm often reminded these days of what Joseph Smith said describing the conditions in his day: so many different parties saying, "Lo here!" "Lo there!" that it can be difficult to figure our which of the groups is right, or are they all wrong together?

Looking for feedback — er, feedbag

Maybe I'll test this out...

C'mon down!

Never go down part way.

When I asked my family what color Amalickiah's phone would be, nobody batted an eye. They answered and kept on eating. Do other families have that kind of scripture conversation around the dinner table?

Masked benefits

When wearing masks first became a thing, a friend sent me an article that said masks were going to pose a challenge to cartoonists. It would be very difficult to indicate who was talking.

I thought about that as I drew this cartoon. The intent is for the wife to be saying that to the husband. But it could work equally as well — if not better — if the conversation went the other way!

All that baggage

Protection comes in many forms

It actually wasn’t all that unusual to see a monk wearing a mask back when I was in Korea. Maybe they’re on to something!

Sketchbook: By their fruits

Remember the days of Walter Cronkite, when he'd sign off with his tagline: "And that's the way it is"?

When I was in j-school, we were required to have multiple sources for each article, plus we needed to include opposing viewpoints if it was a controversial subject.

Nowadays, those lines are blurred. Anyone can claim to be a journalist. Opinion is represented as fact, and facts — like the points on Whose Line Is It Anyway? — really don't matter.

I'm feeling a little jaded at the moment. Maybe I'll put away my electronics, grab some Calvin and Hobbes and go sit in the garden for a while. See you tomorrow!

Play it again, Sam

I have to give at least partial credit to fellow cartoonist Summer Bird for this one. It was inspired by one of her old cartoons, yet it's completely different.

It's also very much like band class back in high school. I was always using someone else's notes rather than my own!