xkcd and Peanuts: $10 ain't what it used to be

[Timothy Chow]

The current xkcd comic concerns the line, "It's one banana, Michael.
What could it cost? $10?"

https://xkcd.com/2892/

As the explainxkcd website says, the line "is a line from an Arrested
Development episode (Season 1, Episode 6, "Charity Drive", 2003) that
became well known as a meme used to mock out-of-touch elites."

The comic reminds me of the July 4, 1959 Peanuts strip, whose punch
line depends on the absurdity that a haircut could cost as much as
ten dollars.

https://www.gocomics.com/peanuts/1959/07/04

Back in 1959, I'd guess that a haircut would cost only $1 or $2. Does
anybody here remember how much they actually paid for a haircut back
then?

---
Tim Chow

[Your Name]

According to this article, a haircut cost US$1.25 in 1958 when the
baraber first started cutting hair (and petrol cost US25c per gallon).
<https://archive.knoxnews.com/entertainment/life/barber-sees-lots-of-changes-since-1958---like-125-haircut-ep-410736942-359700091.html>


I use a no-appointement chain of stores for my haircuts. When I started
going there about 30 years ago it cost NZ$18 (US$11) ... now it costs
about NZ$36 (US$22), Nothing has changed, it's still the same
basic-style haircut. :-(

But, it's the same with pretty much everything else. Prices just keep
going up and up. A chocolate bar that used to cost 50c now costs $3.50,
and often it's now smaller in size. etc., etc., etc. :-(

[Your Name]

On 2024-02-10 22:27:46 +0000, Timothy Chow said:

It reminds me of this joke ... :-)


"$10 is $10"
------------
Every year, John and his wife Mary would go to the State Fair.
And every year, John would say, "Mary, I'd like to ride in
that there airplane."

And every year, Mary would reply, "I know, John, but that
airplane ride costs $10, and $10 is $10."

This year John and Mary went to the State Fair and he said,
"Mary, I'm 71 years old. If I don't ride that airplane this
year I may never get another chance."

As usual, Mary replied, "John, that there airplane ride costs
$10, and $10 is $10."

The pilot overheard them and said, "Folks, I'll make you a
deal. I'll take you both up for a ride. If you can stay quiet
for the entire ride and not say one word, I won't charge you
anything, but if either of you says one word, then it's $10."

After a bit of a discussion, John and Mary agreed, and up they
went. The pilot performed all kinds of twists and turns, rolls
and dives, but not a word is heard. He even does a nose dive,
pulling up 15 feet above the ground, but still not a word.

They land and the pilot turns to John, "By golly, I did
everything I could think of to get you to yell out, but you
didn't."

John replied, "Well, I was gonna say something when Mary fell
out ... but $10 *is* $10!"

[Timothy Chow]

On 2/10/2024 6:30 PM, Your Name wrote:
> On 2024-02-10 22:27:46 +0000, Timothy Chow said:
>>
>> The current xkcd comic concerns the line, "It's one banana, Michael.
>> What could it cost? $10?"
>>
>> https://xkcd.com/2892/
>>
>> As the explainxkcd website says, the line "is a line from an Arrested
>> Development episode (Season 1, Episode 6, "Charity Drive", 2003) that
>> became well known as a meme used to mock out-of-touch elites."
>>
>> The comic reminds me of the July 4, 1959 Peanuts strip, whose punch
>> line depends on the absurdity that a haircut could cost as much as
>> ten dollars.
>>
>> https://www.gocomics.com/peanuts/1959/07/04
>>
>> Back in 1959, I'd guess that a haircut would cost only $1 or $2. Does
>> anybody here remember how much they actually paid for a haircut back
>> then?
>
> According to this article, a haircut cost US$1.25 in 1958 when the
> baraber first started cutting hair (and petrol cost US25c per gallon).
> <https://archive.knoxnews.com/entertainment/life/barber-sees-lots-of-changes-since-1958---like-125-haircut-ep-410736942-359700091.html>

That's a great article, especially since it involves a $10 haircut!
Thanks for sharing.

---
Tim Chow