Frazz by Jef Mallett for July 31, 2011

A talented lad that can climb such a big tree with one hand. And a good aim as well.

Right on, Jeff. There are many times I wish I could have done that.

Tipping the ice cream guy. Now that’s a novel idea. But I like it. And major points to Caulfield!

I’ve never heard of tipping ice cream guys, but why stick to tradition. But then, I was a waiter and I know a lot of great people who were waitresses. Almost all of them are putting themselves through school or providing for their kids. Or both. I hope everyone here knows that waiters and bartenders make significantly less than minimum wage. The federal government sets it much less. And it’s possible for them to be taxed on money they haven’t made. They are taxed 8% of sales, no matter what they are tipped. (Reagon did that, so he could give tax breaks to the rich). Here’s a thought. A waitress who brings breakfast to you makes the same number of trips to the table and does all of the same stuff as one who brings a turf and surf expensive dinner later that night. The morning waitress, because eggs are cheap, gets tipped a buck, the one at night gets tipped ten, because the dinner is more expensive.I tip at least twenty percent, and then throw in another dollar. In almost all cases, the waitress needs that one dollar more than I do. And it’s not like they are standing on the corner begging. They are humbling themselves,being a servant, just to get by.

At the restaurant last night 3 waitresses rushed to my table. Was it my good looks, my charm, or my wit. I presume it was memories of a very generous tipper. So be it.

That’s right, Caulfield. Show the conservative the truth. I don’t believe people in unfortunate circumstances are always there because they “can’t work” or something like that. Some people just are unlucky. They’re born poor, and they can’t get a good education, and it just goes downhill from there

There’s a reason “fortune” can mean either “wealth” or “luck”…

To some degree, all of life is luck. What level of potential you’re born with (be it intelligence, athleticism, personality), how good of parents and teachers you have to help you build towards that potential, the power, wealth, and position of your family, and meeting the right people or being in the right place at the right time.

Though, of course, you also need hard work to tie it all together.

Well said. I always tip high. They work awfully hard.

Now, if we tip GoComics, will we be able to zoom in on Sunday? Or will it be the same pixelated mess I’m getting now? It’s hard to see the art.Yup, feeling grumpy.

And if you serve the public too well, you end up on a blacklist and have to leave the country to feed your family.

A certain amount of luck is controlled by what we do. As Lawreader days, he or she worked like a dog. The best way to get lucky is to work hard and smart. You know what I mean.