That was my brother! He loved to take things apart, then try to put them back together. He was generally successful. At 16 he became a ham radio operator and built most of his own equipment. He went on to get a degree in in Electronics Engineering and became the chief broadcast engineer at a major radio station (KGB in San Diego, CA) for 40 years. So, maybe there’s hope for Calvin yet … except Calvin’s much more obnoxious than my brother ever was. Not that that has ever stopped an engineer.
A very good thing that Calvin didn’t have this conversation with Dad before Christmas. Come to think of it, the screwdriver may have been part of a children’s toolbox that Calvin got for Christmas.
My Father was smart enough to give me the occasional non-working thing to take apart. Very occasionally, I was able to fix it. Nowadays, there’s very little to fix in electronic household items. Too bad – repairing something yourself gives a terrific feeling of accomplishment.
I, too, was the disassembler in the family. I took the furnace thermostat apart once when it was acting ‘funny’ as my mother put it but could not recall how it went back together. my dad had called a Legion buddy to repair or replace it and he took a great deal of time to show me what he did to repair it and how i should document all my disassembly steps. There we were, a grizzled old WW2 vet showing an 11 year old kid how it worked. that was 1963. I have worked on cars and any other mechanical stuff my entire life. I still repair stuff rather than throw it out and buy new.
So what’s going on here? Was he about to admit to having done something naughty and caught himself at the last second, or did he just think he had an interesting topic but then realized he had nothing to say about it?
BE THIS GUY over 1 year ago
Don’t discuss how easily teachers get upset at any little old thing.
Templo S.U.D. over 1 year ago
Get your screwdriver and other tools out of your son’s reach, sir.
codycab over 1 year ago
Lemme guess, Calvin fiddled with the chair that dad is sitting on?
sirbadger over 1 year ago
Dad uses the calm approach to break down Calvin.
JudasPeckerwood over 1 year ago
Now tell us about the awesome dismantling potential of a crowbar!
LeslieBark over 1 year ago
That was my brother! He loved to take things apart, then try to put them back together. He was generally successful. At 16 he became a ham radio operator and built most of his own equipment. He went on to get a degree in in Electronics Engineering and became the chief broadcast engineer at a major radio station (KGB in San Diego, CA) for 40 years. So, maybe there’s hope for Calvin yet … except Calvin’s much more obnoxious than my brother ever was. Not that that has ever stopped an engineer.
orinoco womble over 1 year ago
That’s why in online escape games, the first thing you want to find is a screwdriver. You’re halfway out.
The Reader Premium Member over 1 year ago
Even conversations!
in-dubio-pro-rainbow over 1 year ago
Yeah! Had a couple of “screwdrivers” last night and they took my mind and memory apart…
Imagine over 1 year ago
How many screwdrivers did Calvin drink?
rshive over 1 year ago
And Dad will learn things that he really didn’t want to know.
Purple People Eater over 1 year ago
Well… For starters, there’s your laptop, your camera, the TV…
!!ǝlɐ⅁ Premium Member over 1 year ago
Hey, Calvin!! Take a suggestion from today’s Bloom County: “I could pimp.”
Calvinist1966 over 1 year ago
A very good thing that Calvin didn’t have this conversation with Dad before Christmas. Come to think of it, the screwdriver may have been part of a children’s toolbox that Calvin got for Christmas.
jagedlo over 1 year ago
Looks like Dad will be spending his Christmas break repairing the stuff that Calvin took apart…
A Hip loving Canadian... over 1 year ago
Calvin is the reason Torx screwdrivers were invented. Hypothetically speaking.
Zebrastripes over 1 year ago
Trying to communicate isn’t as easy as it seems…
Tonto & Redd Panda over 1 year ago
A screwdriver and vicegrips, that’s all you really need, plus duct tape, of course.
bigcatbusiness over 1 year ago
Amateur mistake. If you want to make conversation, make sure you know the topic.
vaughnrl2003 Premium Member over 1 year ago
I accidentally used a “screwdriver”, or two, to disassemble a pickup truck once. In my defense, there was a little ice involved and no people.
jrankin1959 over 1 year ago
Too late, kid – Dad’s already searching the house…
SweetSinger over 1 year ago
You know it’s comin’ when Dad adjusts ye olde glasses
EnlilEnkiEa over 1 year ago
There goes the computer.
g04922 over 1 year ago
Oh, oh… Calvin has taken apart one of his Dad’s tools perhaps ??
mistercatworks over 1 year ago
My Father was smart enough to give me the occasional non-working thing to take apart. Very occasionally, I was able to fix it. Nowadays, there’s very little to fix in electronic household items. Too bad – repairing something yourself gives a terrific feeling of accomplishment.
formathe over 1 year ago
I, too, was the disassembler in the family. I took the furnace thermostat apart once when it was acting ‘funny’ as my mother put it but could not recall how it went back together. my dad had called a Legion buddy to repair or replace it and he took a great deal of time to show me what he did to repair it and how i should document all my disassembly steps. There we were, a grizzled old WW2 vet showing an 11 year old kid how it worked. that was 1963. I have worked on cars and any other mechanical stuff my entire life. I still repair stuff rather than throw it out and buy new.
KEA over 1 year ago
surprised Dad didn’t have a heart attack in the 1st panel
Calvins Brother over 1 year ago
Open mouth, insert foot.
Otis Rufus Driftwood over 1 year ago
Only 364 days till next Christmas, Calvin.
wiley207 over 1 year ago
As a computer technician, I agree with Calvin on what he says in the first panel.
BiggerNate91 over 1 year ago
People say you can’t hear pictures, but the tone of Calvin’s dad’s voice is very easily heard here.
jmworacle over 1 year ago
Piolet to Air Traffic Control: “There seems to be a bright red light glowing.” Air Traffic Control to piolet: “Naw that’s just Calvin’s backside.”
Scoutmaster77 over 1 year ago
Taking things apart is easy. It’s the “putting them back together” part that’s hard.
ArcticFox Premium Member over 1 year ago
Calvin begins to learn the meaning of CRS!!!
John Jorgensen over 1 year ago
So what’s going on here? Was he about to admit to having done something naughty and caught himself at the last second, or did he just think he had an interesting topic but then realized he had nothing to say about it?
onespiceybbw over 1 year ago
A mobile home, for starters.