Scott Adams gets Dilbert fired

I just listened to part of an interview with Scott Adams, creator of the comic strip icon Dilbert on PRI/BBC/WBGH's The World. I am not a regular comic strip reader but I met Scott Adams once, in Bloomington. It was during the winter of 1996-1997, long enough ago that there was a "Media Play" superstore at the Southtown Mall. He was promoting his new book, I think it was The Dilbert Principle, and I was going to get his autograph for my friend Jess.

The event was so popular that line wrapped all the way around the perimeter of the enormous store (as big as a Best Buy or Barnes & Noble)! Fortunately for me the folks in line were hilarious and polite, kind of like I imagined the celebrity author would be. My new friends and I were chit chatting and laughing when a rumor came "down the line" that Media Play had run out of the book! They had sent employees to run out and buy out the surrounding book stores' stock. Which they did, and at least an hour later I had made my way around the mega-size media store and approached Scott Adams. He looked completely overwhelmed and rather than saying "Hello," he kind of grunted in exhaustion. I said something like, "Great turnout, ha ha!"

At that moment I thought he needed a stretch break—you know, to work out any cramps he was certain to have/had/be getting. Which is why I extended my right hand. There was a pen embedded in his right hand that required a kind of shake to get out. When his hand firmly grasped mine it seemed to be saying, I'm so tired and I have to draw later! Within the same moment I realized how cool it was to meet him, secured the autograph and got the heck out of there. Today—over ten years later—his popularity is so solid that my prime time public radio show interviewed him and... I learned that Dilbert got fired a few weeks ago! If this is news to you too, follow this link to the Jan 19 strip and catch up.

I know too many people who are unemployed right now and I am not making light of the current economic situation. Earlier today I told myself that I need to stop reading news on the internet because it's increasingly depressing. And hearing the words "current economic situation" make my stomach twinge. I am torn between ceasing all spending and hiding cash under the mattress—and taking all of my savings and giving it to the food shelves. While I try to find a happy medium, I'll be taking on some Dilbert therapy.

http://www.dilbert.com/strips/comic/2009-01-19/