The Wisdom of Linus Van Pelt

As a child I used to love watching the cartoon 'The Snoopy and Charlie Brown Show', my favourite character by far was the constantly existential, Linus Van Pelt. Linus is just a really cute and loveable character and I really adore some of the things he comes out with which both help and frustrate his friends equally.

Linus is a wonderful boy who helps his friends with benevolent advice which no-one can ever fault, he is the voice of reason for his pals and always has a kind word to say to everyone, even Snoopy who constantly tries to steal his beloved blanket and his older sister Lucy Van Pelt who bullies him.

Linus Van Pelt first appeared in the Peanut's comic strip on 19th of September 1952, in 1954 he spoke his first words and also during this time he was also found with his infamous safety blanket, the blanket never fails to leave his side.

Although he is portrayed as a young child, he is highly intelligent and is often found philosophising about all of life's concerns... his only real worry, 'The Great Pumpkin'

Below are some of my favourite wisdom's from Linus, from a tiny little book if 'Linus-isms' which I found in a charity shop.

Beneath is probably Linus' most well known piece of wisdom.

Enjoy

Pumpkin Paul

'Full Of Love & Full Of Wonder' by Nick Savvas

As a child, I used to have a morbid fascination with Bouncy Balls, I would often be like some feral animal bouncing them with all my strength into the ground and watching them fly at break-neck speed high into the sky above me, the strange myriad of colourful images reflecting in the sky. I also used to try and bounce said balls from my back garden over my child-hood home to the front of the house, where it likely hit on-coming traffic, old people or windows.

I was browsing the internet and found this set of delightful and mind-boggling images of a fab art installation from a few years back by an Australian artist by the name of Nick Savvas, his piece entitled 'Full of Love and Full of Wonder' fuses together in art what can only be described as my current psychedelic mindset and vivid memories of my childhood all into one visual pleasure. Nick Savvas also uses metaphysics as his theme. The bouncy balls are supposed to represent the atoms in which the universe, planet, me, you and your pet cat are all made from.

Enjoy the pictures of the installation and also let your mind, like mine, drift off back into your childhood and beyond!!!

Below the pics I have included a Youtube video featuring the opening section of Juan García Esquivel's classic and amazing Latin-Esque LP.

Enjoy CATS

Paul Messis

Mad Comic Covers

Anyone who is stuck on the fringes of society should recognise the smiling face of the boy above, why yes it's only Alfred E Neuman, the boy mascot of cult American satirical comic book magazine 'MAD'.

'MAD' was launched in 1952 by editor Harvery Kurtzman and publisher William Gaines, heavily rooted in leftist ideals, 'Mad' magazine is lovingly accepted by the few who hold a disdain towards the mass culture which through the ages included and continues to include such tripe as politics, celebrity culture and vain entertainment culture. The magazine humorously attacks this majority using the art of humour, parody and satire.

I personally feel that 'MAD' magazine is the best form of ironic humour still left in society and for me is a brilliant form of anarchy waving earnestly right in front of the faces with whom it attacks and condemns, it is amusing purely because the said "victims" (to use a phrase lightly) don't even 'get' that the magazine is taking the piss and busting their balls.

'MAD' magazine will always be there as the annoying brat who continuously annoys the hell out of the Big Brother.... that will ALWAYS be a good thing to have in a crazy society like the one we live in.

Please see below some of my favourite 'MAD' covers, the cover art usually is the best form of attack and these ones are certainly to the point in more ways than one, my personal favourites are the Michael Jackson and George DUBYA Bush covers.

above are three copies of Mad that I own.

Enjoy Folks

Paul Messis