Feb. 2007 Blog Posts Note: Some links may no longer work
Tuesday, February 27, 2007 Did you say send more? Baldo, Here are some Pitos neologisms! 1. exfauxliation -- delayering one of yuppie pretensions cellphone-by-cellphone. (I published this in the NYT Times, but it is still timely) 2. NGOplasty -- using non-governmental organizations or NGOs to clear a path for global policies to be pursued when the global political system is too sclerotic. 3. can'tilevered -- any rule that is leveraged on what one can't do. See also thoushaltknots. 4. sowhatology -- the discipline of constantly asking so what? about a policy or other thing you propose until you reach closure and its significance is profound and its rationales are compelling. never assume that something's significance is self-evident to others. 5. Condoleezzastrata -- a strike by woman against men to oppose a policy of unilateral preemptive military actions. 6. arugula -- use of the green stuff -- money -- as incentive, penalties, offsets, trust funds, insurance to vector socially correct behavior. Toll and poll. Assay, weigh, pay, array, inveigh and defray. No more apocalypse now, pay later. Reckon and beckon.
More soon! --------------------------------------------------------- Post by Phil F. at 11:25AM. Comments to baldomail@baldocomics.com. COMMENTS ¦You're making our head hurt. Post by HCantu.
'Baldo' screening info! Our friends at the San Diego Latino Film Festival have released the film screening schedule and our 'Baldo' shows will air on two days: TUE March 13 at 4 PM, and SAT March 17 at 11 AM Click above for more info and tickets! We'll see you guys there! Andale pues ... --------------------------------------------------------- Post by HCantu at 10:02AM. Comments to baldomail@baldocomics.com.
Monday, February 26, 2007 Where can I get protection? I was wondering if you could offer some advice to a young artist. I know you are not a lawyer but I was wondering if I should trademark my cartoon idea? I have a webcomic (it's only two months old) but I would hate for someone to take it away from me because I never had a trademark on it. I'm a huge fan of yours. I notice you don't have an R or a TM next to your art. Have you ever run into this issue? Can someone just steal your idea and characters and shut you down? Thanks in advance. --------------------------------------------------------- Post by Paige at 10:15AM. Comments to baldomail@baldocomics.com.
COMMENTS ¦We're no experts with trademark stuff! But we DO have Baldo trademarked. We did the paperwork ourselves right as Baldo was being launched. It costs several hundred dollars. We DID have to get an attorney to fix some stuff we did wrong, though. Basically, with a trademark, we are protecting comic characters under the Baldo banner. Otherwise, you really can't protect an idea. Anybody can start a comic strip about a little boy and his pet dog, and as long as the boy is not named Charlie Brown and the dog isn't named Snoopy, they can do that. We suggest you just keep working hard on your strip. Try to make it the best it can be. If you start making some money at it, you should be able to afford the several hundred dollars to hire an attorney and officially trademark your creation. Until then, focus on having fun! Post by HCantu. ¦Thank you so much for the quick response and all the great information. You definitely put my mind at ease. I was having troubles understanding the difference between rights and copyright and TM and all that stuff. I just needed to hear from an experience cartoonist. Again, I really appreciate you taking the time to give me your help. I'll send you my comic when I have a solid start. Kisses. Post by Paige.
Going to Florida Supercon Hey everyone, just an early note to let you know that I will be at the Florida Supercon June 22-24 in Ft. Lauderdale. Read about it here. Lots of cool creators and comic artists will be there! I hope to see you! --------------------------------------------------------- Post by CCastellanos at 9:52AM. Comments to baldomail@baldocomics.com.
Snap! Crackle! Pop! Re: 2/24 strip: Poor Tia Carmen!! Oh, well. I guess we all get to the point where we sound like a bowl of Rice Krispies in the morning, que no?? You carnales keep me smiling each morning. It's the first strip I read. I even got the wife looking over my shoulder once in a while. Be healthy, mi amigos. Everything else will happen as it should. Con Dios. --------------------------------------------------------- Post by Osito at 8:49AM. Comments to baldomail@baldocomics.com.
Friday, February 23, 2007 A lil' something for 'Jeff' Hola muchachos! I just read the Feb. 13 comment by Jeff: "I find it obnoxious that more Hispanics aren't trying to learn ENGLISH. You may think it humorous to use the slaughtered 'pitos' or 'spanglish,' but this is what is keeping people out of white collered jobs and on government assistance ..." First, as an introduction to my stance today, I will point out that "Jeff" spelled "collared" incorrectly. Also, he did not use proper punctuation (a question mark) after he asked: "Why not use your strip ... instead of condoning their ignorance!" So, he has lost me there. Also, I would like readers to refer to my previous posting "Ignorance is not bliss." I believe Jeff is very mistaken about Hispanics, or any other nationality, not trying to learn English. Most immigrants do try to learn English, but being surrounded by racist "English Only!" Americans makes for a very intimidating classroom. It is difficult to learn a new language, as an adult, in a new country. I cannot fathom why Americans would expect someone to come here and learn to speak, read and write English overnight when the average American has difficulty speaking, reading and writing correct, or "proper," English! The saying is "Why can't Johnny read?" not "Why can't Juan read?"! Between slang, colloquialisms, the wide variety of American accents, not to mention the phenomenon of the language-slaughtering "text messaging," it is extremely difficult for someone to catch on quickly to the idiosyncrasies and complexities of the English language. It doesn't help matters when someone attempting to learn English is mocked or insulted at every mispronunciation or mistake. Insults are counterproductive to "practice makes perfect"- if one cannot practice, how can one become more proficient? I firmly believe that if you want people to speak your language, you must first understand your own language. Try to teach English to someone who doesn't speak it. Explain to him why "read" is both past tense and future, but is pronounced differently. "Have you read the book?," "Did you read the book?," and "Will you read the book?" My favorite: "Did you read the red book about reeds? Come here, I didn't hear your answer. Turn to page two and read that, too." My favorite book title, by Dr. Suess, is: "The Tough Coughs as he Ploughs the Dough." Hmmm ... We don't think about language as we speak it. It is learned at our mother's knee, and we go on to repeat all we hear, good and bad, for the rest of our lives without giving it a second thought. That is, until we hear someone say something different than from the way we learned it. It is why those from Boston make fun of a Georgian accent. It is why people from Minnesota have difficulty understanding someone from "Down East" Maine. Because of our built-in ego system, everyone thinks his/her way is the correct and only way. That is why the world of humans is so pock-marked by the slings of our bitter arrows. ¡Paz! --------------------------------------------------------- Post by C.Espinosa at 9:45AM. Comments to baldomail@baldocomics.com.
Can we use your strip? I am a professor at Texas A&M University. We were wondering if we could get your permision to use your comic strip which appeared on 2/20. Baldo sums up everything we are trying to convey in our course. --------------------------------------------------------- Post by Aggie at 8:09AM. Comments to baldomail@baldocomics.com. COMMENTS ¦Your e-mail says your name is Agnes, but you go by Aggie? Awesome. It'd be cool if we knew someone from the University of Texas whose name was Utie, or maybe L'Horn. Alas, we dont. Too bad. Click here for the syndicate guidelines on using Baldo strips in your classroom. It's usually not a problem. Gig 'em! Post by HCantu.
Thursday, February 22, 2007 Ballot-stuffing uncovered! We have several dozen Pito submissions from readers suggesting the word "yesly" -- a word that's used like "definitely" (we only posted the first submission; see Feb. 8 entry below). It struck us as weird because almost all the word usage examples were the same -- "This band yesly rocks!" Well, we uncovered what's really going on! Our call for Pitos was posted on the web site of a band called Third Day. Check it out here. We like the word, but we can't say for sure we'll use it in the strip. But thanks for reading Baldo, guys! Yes, you dudes yesly rock! --------------------------------------------------------- Post by CCastellanos at 11:07AM. Comments to baldomail@baldocomics.com.
Friday, February 16, 2007 Totally offended reader, furserious You get lots of weird mail complaining about things, so I thought I’d give you one that covers all the bases. I used to love Baldo, but you offend me. First, the Pitos. That sounds like Fritos and that is both a trademark and a food product that I am not allowed to eat on my diet. To top that off, they are not real words! I have looked them up in my dictionary and have not found ANY of them. Next the characters. Don’t you know that they offend Hispanics, whites, blacks, girls, boys, adults, babies, gays, straights, and Martians? How can you stereotype people like that? For example having Gracie playing with makeup! For heavens sake. Just because she is a girl? And Tia Carmen… Why do old people all have to be old? And wear glasses? Can’t you make her look like Tiger Woods? Now he is attractive. (not to me of course, I am straight. Don’t look at me like that). Now subject matter. Don’t you know that there are too many / too few Hispanics in this country? And here you are showing them like they are real people! How offensive. For heaven’s sake why do you have to be so political by showing how they feel? Why don’t you make your column more relevant by pushing for La Raza? And Papi. A capitalist pig if there ever was one. How dare you. Finally Baldo. Obsessed with girls, cars, and friends and working a part time job. Why can’t you make him more realistic, manning the barricades, marching to save the whales, and driving a solar powered mo-ped. I am sorry, I just have to stop reading your comic until you make these changes. But be careful, because I am going to keep an eye on you to find out if you are offending me more. --------------------------------------------------------- Post by Jeffrey P. at 12:44PM. Comments to baldomail@baldocomics.com.
Look what I found! A lot of you will appreciate this! I'm totally stoked today because I found a piece of art I thought I had lost. Back in 1999, I had the honor of meeting legendary Mad magazine artist Jack Davis. Baldo was "in development" back then. Being the fan that I was (I grew up reading Mad), I asked Jack for his autograph. As I talked, I noticed Mr. Davis was giving me way more than an autograph. I'll never forget that moment. Jack captured my excitement perfectly (tho I'm not sure those things around my head are hearts or flies). As I mentioned, I thought I had lost this sketch, but today I found it in a box in my closet! Yee-uh! --------------------------------------------------------- Post by HCantu at 8:29AM. Comments to baldomail@baldocomcis.com.
Thursday, February 15, 2007
Comic useful in scaring people Hello Baldo people: I am a physician in Texas and routinely use comics and cartoons to get "uncomfortable" points across to patients in humorous ways so they can receive the information without getting defensive. Recently I came across an ancient Baldo cartoon stuck inside a reference book on food toxins. In frame 1, Teacher says: "Baldo ... name the four basic food groups." frame 2 Baldo confers with Cruz and says, "Let's see..." frame 3 Baldo says, "Dine-in, takeout, drive-through and delivery!" I'd love to have a larger version of this cartoon to hang by the check-out desk in my office. Is it possible to obtain such? --------------------------------------------------------- Post by Barbara at 12:03PM. Comments to baldomail@baldocomics.com. COMMENTS ¦All our strips are available in nice frames from the good people at Universal Press Syndicate. Make sure you have the date of the comic and call those nice folks at 1-800-255-6734 ext. 6688. They'll be happy to help you. If you don't have the date, go to the Universal Press Syndicate search engine, select "Baldo," enter some key words and that might help you track down the publication date. Post by HCantu.
You made a mistake! "Furserious" is a combo of FOR REAL?!? and ARE YOU SERIOUS?!? Not ARE YOU SERIOUS and ARE YOU FOR SURE? Don't know if it matters to you or if you care, but I hope all is well with you and I enjoy your comic strip. --------------------------------------------------------- Post by Bobby at 11:24AM. Comments to baldomail@baldocomics.com. COMMENTS ¦Are you furserious? Post by HCantu.
Wednesday, February 14, 2007 Happy Valentine's Day everyone!
Para Baldo fans everywhere, we wish you a most awesome day with the person you love! --------------------------------------------------------- Post by HCantu & CCastellanos at 10:27AM. Comments to baldomail@baldocomics.com.
What's Spanish for 'pushy'? I really enjoy your comic everyday in the Washington Post. Keep up the good work. My only comment/suggestion is instead of making up words, why not use and define "real" Spanish words. In that way, you'll not only entertain your readers, but also educate them. A new word a week would be awesome! Thanks for your time. --------------------------------------------------------- Post by Ron at 10:12AM. Comments to baldomail@baldocomics.com. COMMENTS ¦We're not sure a Baldo comic is the best place to print a Spanish-English dictionary. A lot of our "core" readers already know Spanish, and we don't want to waste their time telling them what "fiesta" means. Having said that, we get lots of e-mail asking us to compile the Spanish version of Baldo into a book (with English translations) so people can get that if they choose to help them learn Spanish. Lots of teachers like this idea, and your e-mail is another stone in building that book. We'll continue working trying to make that happen. Post by HCantu.
Tuesday, February 13, 2007 Your wordplay is obnoxious I find it obnoxious that more Hispanics aren't trying to learn ENGLISH. You may think it humorous to use the slaughtered "pitos" or "spanglish", but this is what is keeping people out of white collered jobs and on government assistance. Why not use your strip to better the Hispanic community, instead of condoning their ignorance! --------------------------------------------------------- Post by Jeff at 10:26AM. Comments to baldomail@baldocomics.com. COMMENTS ¦That's a new one! Our comic creates welfare recipients. Chispas! Who knew?! Post by HCantu.
Pitos, Pitos and more Pitos People take so much time out to send us their Pitos that we try to post as many as possible. Here are more!
fantabulous - cross between fantastic and fabulous, best used with woman. -- submitted by Gary, Austin TX
dudder - the other. -- Dany, Selah, WA
imfinnago - expression mean that said person will be departing shortly. -- Carla, Pasadena, CA
glitterable -- it means that your are really shiny and glitzy and glittery. It was a cool sounding word and it fit in my glitter stage at one time. -- Autumn
champegzical - the expression a teenager has when some words accidentally slip out of his mouth. -- Steve
naybe - combination of nay and maybe. Means something "maybe" happening, but not very likely. -- Tim
tott - This is a word that means hot, cool, tight. All that cool stuff. haha. I want it in the dictionary, but this is coolyy-too!! PLEeeeEEEEeeeeeEEEEEEeeeeeEEEEase put it in the comics or something... because i just think that would be sooooo cool. THANKS!! soooo soooo much!! -- Annie, WISC
There you have it! We'll pick our favorites to use in a future Baldo comic. --------------------------------------------------------- Post by HCantu at 10:14AM. Comments to baldomail@baldocomics.com.
Do you think people get it? Hi, The strip is good. I wonder how many of your readers get the joke behind “Auto Y Rod, Inc.” Thanks for the daily humor. --------------------------------------------------------- Post by David at 9:14AM. Comments to baldomail@baldocomics.com. COMMENTS ¦Sorry, we have absolutely no idea what you are talking about. Post by HCantu at 10:15AM.
Friday, February 9, 2007 Let's share more Pitos, shall we? I enjoy your comic strip. Aqui hay nuestros pitos. for-reals - means "really." quiet-te - my son Danny came up with this for "be quiet." - Alexandra
******
taciando - the act of eating tacos talkiando - the act of talking Easy to confuse the two. Ex. Where's Carla? Esta taciando. - Amanda
*****
furizzle - the combination of 'for real' with a gangster/hip twist to it same difference - when kids want to sound original, even though everyone says it. Say it insted of saying same thing. shizznit - when kids know they're not allowed to say the s word ... but it rolls off the tongue nicely 'rents - when people try to sound cool and don't say parents. lol - laugh out loud: used online when you're chatting with your friends and you either think something is funny or you think its dumb or stupid and you don't want to let your friends think that. - Lorelei, Austin, TX --------------------------------------------------------- Post by HCantu at 11:36AM. Comments to baldomail@baldocomics.com.
Thursday, February 8, 2007 No time to waste ... The Pito suggestions keep rolling in. Here's another batch from readers:
not even - The teenagers here in New Mexico use "not even," meaning "hardly" or "of course not." Ex. Did your mother pay you for babysitting last night? Not even! -- Submitted by Jesus
manchurro - that sticky feeling your hands get after eating a churro! -- Lionel, Miami Beach, FL
oblingation - combination of "bling" (as in jewelry) and "obligation," meaning to give jewelry as an "I'm sorry" gift, or to feel obligated to accept behavior (or advances) from the jewelry giver. -- Alice, Berlin MD
fattitude - A couple of weeks ago, during one early morning adventure of her getting ready for school, I told my daughter that she had a FAT-itude. She asked me what that was. I told her it was a big, bad attitude. Even in her early morning school stupor, I think she actually laughed. -- Mark
perversitives - all the perverse things they add to food you really wish were not there. -- Chris, Pacific Grove, CA
blindbling - when somene has so much bling that it blinds you. -- Jackson, Indianapolis, IN
lamprica - The frat boy who wears the lampshade on his head at a college party. For an illustration, I thought you could do a picture of the lamprica standing on a table and Baldo and Cruz are at a party and Baldo says to Cruz "Hey! Jake is a Lamprica!" -- John, age 9, Orange, CA
yesly - A word we made up and use frequently on the message boards at www.ThirdDay.com, and in our Gomer (Third Day fan) culture. It started when about half of the people posting were spelling “definitely” incorrectly. Not only were they misspelling it, they were refusing to spell it correctly. So, in jest, we banned the use of “the D word.” We needed a substitute, and a member came up with “yesly.”. “Yesly” means definitely, certainly, surely. It is used emphatically as in, “That band yesly rocks!” -- Corrine (also submitted by Teresa in Tahlequah, OK)
sup - a word every middle-school student knows. the words "what is up" all rolled into one. -- Gwen, Lafayette, IN
lebrimoney - the money used to bribe your friend into taking you to a concert. -- Nathen
silupid - the words "silly" and "stupid" conbined while in a state of unseriousness. The word comes about because you don't want to sound like a little kid by saying "silly" and you don't want to be mean about the topic by saying "stupid." So what do you get? Silupid! -- Katie, Plainview, TX
dispressing - a combination of "impressing" and "disgusting"; used for when both seem appropriate. Example: Colin stuck a whole pizza in his mouth! That was dispressing! -- Nate, Austin, TX
superiffic - something that is really cool or awesome; a combination of Super and Terrific! -- Lauren, San Francisco, CA
benadrylidle - the feeling that a pill is stuck in your throat after swallowing it. -- Robert, VA
chillax - combination of "chill out" and "relax." -- Scott, Worcester, MASS
locococoa - someone who is LITERALLY crazy for chocolate. -- Ari
Chispas! While posting this message, the in-box filled up with more reader Pitos! We'll print more tomorrow! --------------------------------------------------------- Post by HCantu at 11:20AM. Comments to baldomail@baldocomics.com.
Wednesday, February 7, 2007 Here are some Pito suggestions My mom and I have checked a few of your recent comics and they are very funny. I have a few Pitos to add of our own.
muev it -- From the word muevete. Could be used in a crowded freeway type-spoof comic or someone trying to get a special purchase for Christmas or other holiday or latest fad.
hueggs -- Combination of Huevos and Eggs. Could be good for Tex-Mex situation or at a restaurant.
"Pero wait a minute" -- Probably best for a talk-show type comic where the audience interrupts the host of the show.
These are just a few situations I am sure you can adapt them to your pleasure. Being that my parents were born in Cuba and I was born here in the U.S., we sometimes come across these sayings by accident. Hope you like these and can use them in future comics. Do you have any books for your comics? --------------------------------------------------------- Post by Lon at 10:10AM. Comments to baldomail@baldocomics.com. COMMENTS ¦Lon, we sure do have some books! Check out the right side of this page near the top for a link to Amazon.com, where you can get "The Lower You Ride, the Cooler You Are" and "Night of the Bilingual Telemarketers." Or just ask your friendly local bookstore. Post by HCantu. ¦Thanks for posting our Pitos. We hope to create more for you soon. We also plan on buying your books as well. Thanks and keep up the great work. Post by Lon.
Are you ready for more Pitos? The reader suggestions for Pitos are pouring in! Thanks to everyone who took the time to drop us a line about their favorite unofficial word or phrase. Here's the first batch.
tripito - a short trip. In PR, they also use troquito instead of camion for truck and safacon which comes from safety can (for garbage can). -- submitted by Pablo, Coral Gables, FL
matamoscar - the act of using a matamosca (flyswatter). My son was excited when he thought it up in his Spanish class. -- Albert & Aaron, Aventura, FL
trojal - the feeling a teenager gets when forced to eat something from his grandmother. -- Nick, Colchester, CT
bleepos - when you listen to a rap song and you can't hear the words, only bleeps because of all the curses. -- Mandy
fimico - when a someone watches to much television and looses their mind. -- Alamystone
goojyboo - the cutest widdle baby. -- Steve K.
anctry - the twitching and turning a teenager makes when given a pop quiz that they know nothing about. -- Jake
Tonday -- when Monday is a holiday, I have a ton of work to do on Tuesday ... a ton of mail ... etc. -- David, Ringwood, NJ
dipped -- looking good. Fly. Said about someone in the latest styles, or with a nice hairstyle. -- Camille
ta-later - My 5 year old son would say "ta-later" meaning today but later. He always wanted to know exactlywhen we were going someplace. -- Josie, San Antonio, TX
snopoly - when someone is acting somewhere in between snotty (grouchy), annoyed and impatient. "Boy, are you ever snopoly today! Did you get out of the wrong side of bed?" -- Kristine
We'll have more reader Pitos tomorrow. --------------------------------------------------------- Post by HCantu at 9:29AM. Comments to baldomail@baldocomics.com
Monday, February 5, 2007 Thanks for the shout out Hey there, I just read your posting and was floored by the shout out. Muchas pero que muchas gracias. We are ready to come out with the new collection, so if you want to get a preview go to: www.collectiblesondisplay.com. It is parked there till at least the end of this week because I got a new template and a new shopping cart which is getting integrated but it should be up and running by next week on: www.delacallepr.com. Anyways thanks a lot, muy amables. And keep up the good work. Andy Irizarry, President, De La Calle Ltd. Inc. --------------------------------------------------------- Post by Andy Irizarry at 12:01PM. Comments to baldomail@baldomail.com. COMMENTS ¦Andy, you must have found an old "Post of the Day" from way back, maybe sometime last year (you wanted us to show Baldo or Cruz wearing your shirts). We can't promise that will happen, but we dig your shirts. Good luck with your biz, bro! Post by HCantu at 12:05PM.
Expert agrees! We wuz right! I had to laugh at your strip on Jan. 29 in our local paper, the Press-Enterprise in Riverside, Ca. Having just purchased a Pontiac Solstice, I am collecting anything in print relating to the car. Baldo is right, the 2007 is better than the 2006. Thanks for a wonderful strip. --------------------------------------------------------- Post by Fred P. at 10:28AM. Comments to baldomail@baldocomics.com. COMMENTS ¦It is better?! No way!! That does it! We're trading in our 06 Solstice for the 07 Solstice! You can never have something that's too new, as our crazy old uncle used to say! Post by HCantu at 10:49AM.
Friday, February 2, 2007 Welcome Wilson, N.C., readers! It's awesome to be appearing in the Wilson Daily Times in Wilson, N.C.! Baldo is part of a comic strip "tryout" (read about it here). We hope you Wilson readers enjoy the strip! Please go to wilsondaily.com, click on the "comics" tab on the home page and vote for Baldo (it looks like you have to register on the site; click here to do that). You might also call Lifestyle Editor Lisa Boykin Batts at 252-265-7810 or e-mail her at lisa@wilsondaily.com. If you want to do some catching up on the characters, read the Baldo entry on Wikipedia. It will get you up-to-date on all the characters -- Baldo, Gracie, Tia Carmen and dad. And you'll find lots of info here too. Here's hoping Wilson will soon be joining our Baldo familia! --------------------------------------------- Post by HCantu at 8:45AM. Comments to baldomail@baldocomics.com.
Thursday, February 1, 2007 Where's Baldo's helmet, yo? I am a longtime reader of your comic, Baldo, and I have noticed your relaxed safety standards. Baldo never wears a helmet when he rides his bike. I was especially apalled today when Baldo's father stopped him from riding in a dangerous drainage ditch, but did not comment on the fact that Baldo wasn't wearing a helmet. How many youngsters have been--or will be--injured as they try to emulate Baldo's apathetic, "cool" style? Would it really be that much extra effort to draw in a helmet every day when Baldo and his friends ride bikes? I hope you take this matter under your consideration. Thank you for your time. --------------------------------------------- Post by M.Price at 2:20PM. Comments to baldomail@baldocomics.com.
COMMENTS ¦Man, we hate when that happens! Your newspaper must have received a draft of that strip. The final drawing had Baldo wearing a helmet (see above). Sorry about that. The assistant in charge of drawing helmets on Baldo after people complain has been fired. Post by HCantu at 8:40PM.
