Humor

Someone Already Has The Patent

By Mark Anderson - Nov 23, 2012 - 2 Comments

You think I'd have written this more recently considering the big tech patent wars going on, or maybe very recently with the patenting of DNA actually being discussed, but it's actually a much older cartoon. Who knew a little cartoon from the past, based mostly on wordplay, could be so … Read More

The End Of November Is Bad For Me

By Mark Anderson - Nov 16, 2012 - 2 Comments

This is one of the kinds of cartoons I love that take just an extra second for people to get. When I was doing the art fair circuit a few summers back I'd watch people read this cartoon, puzzle for just a moment, and then laugh loudly, usually followed by showing it to the person next to … Read More

Demystifying Management Phrases

By Mark Anderson - Nov 9, 2012 - 3 Comments

This cartoon was a great deal of fun to write because I got to exorcise some old phrases I loathed hearing before I quit to become a cartoonist: "Are you sue that's the best way to handle this?" Apparently not, so why don't you just tell me what you'd rather I do. "Why don't you give him a … Read More

The Higher-Ups Want To See You

By Mark Anderson - Nov 2, 2012 - 2 Comments

"Higher-ups" was always a term I disliked. If a boss wants to see you, that's one thing. Management wants to see you? Getting worse. But the higher-ups? Oh boy, you're in for it, pal. So with this cartoon, I played with the idea that higher-ups weren't necessarily something to be concerned … Read More

Very Nice, Now Do That Thing You Do

By Mark Anderson - Oct 26, 2012 - 1 Comment

A good way to come up with cartoons is to force yourself into a problem that you need to solve. For example, I was looking for another Halloween themed cartoon, but, drawing a blank (no pun intended), I drew a vampire in a meeting to see what might happen. Are they in the red? Is it blood … Read More

Focus And Timing Are Key

By Mark Anderson - Oct 19, 2012 - Leave a Comment

Being a cartoonist means worrying about every sentence, every word, every punctuation mark. Brevity is wit after all. For example, I'm still unsure as to whether this cartoon would be funnier with an exclamation point after the first sentence. Which is funnier: "Focus, people! Or Focus, … Read More

Come Hell Or High Water

By Mark Anderson - Oct 12, 2012 - Leave a Comment

"Come hell or high water!" That was one of my former manager's favorite phrases: "We're going to get sales up come hell or high water!" "You're gonna get that account come hell or high water!" "Our team is going to be #1 come hell or high water!" Oh sure, he'd pepper meetings with other … Read More

Maybe The Bar Graph Fell Over

By Mark Anderson - Oct 5, 2012 - Leave a Comment

This cartoon was sort of a happy accident. I was drawing another bar graph cartoon and my hand slipped a bit and one bar ended up much wider than the rest. For a second, I was irritated because I'd have to redraw that cartoon, but then it occurred to me that I now had a whole different take on … Read More

Translucent Accounting

By Mark Anderson - Sep 28, 2012 - 2 Comments

Making things "transparent" has become popular in recent years. Transparent accounting, transparent processes, transparent government… it's one of those words that sneaks up on you and then all of a sudden - it's everywhere - modifying all sorts of other words. Of course, it makes sense that … Read More

It’s A Dog Eat Dog World

By Mark Anderson - Sep 21, 2012 - 1 Comment

"Dog eat dog" has been used in: The title of at least three films. The name of at least two television shows. The title of at least seven television show episodes. The name of a band. The title of at least two albums. The name of around a half dozen popular songs. The title of at … Read More

Buts Are A Problem

By Mark Anderson - Sep 14, 2012 - 1 Comment

I love idioms, catchphrases, and jargon of all stripes. So when I hear something like, "no ifs, ands, or buts" it's like a little puzzle to be solved. And if you win you get a cartoon! So there are a lot of ways to go with "no ifs, ands or buts:" Empty store shelves with "Ifs," Ands," and … Read More

Heart Monitor Sales: Makes Sense

By Mark Anderson - Sep 7, 2012 - 1 Comment

You never know when inspiration is going to strike, but you'd better be ready to wrestle it to the ground when it does. My wife and I were watching some TV and there was that classic close-up on the heart monitor. The beeping, the jagged line, we've all seen it a hundred times. But this … Read More