The economics of enlightenment

Written at the height of the Barclays Bank LIBOR exchange rate scandal this Autumn. I have some sympathy with Smith's analysis of human economics affairs - how can something so abstract bring so much real hardship to so many?

And say hello to our next door neighbour on Comics Sherpa, Snow of T. Shepherd's excellent 'Snow Sez...' I've always been struck by Snow's acumen when it comes to the economics of enlightenment. It's always seemed to me that every guru's advice has boiled down to these two sentences:

1: To achieve contentment let go of all material things.
2: £1,000 quid, please.

Holy Fuzz Balls.

Ever since T used this phrase in her sublime 'Snow Sez' strip here I've been searching for an excuse to use it myself. And here it is.

Stan

A bonus strip, outside the usual schedule. It's an in-joke for those in the know.

Stan is a supporting character in my neighbouring strip on GoComics, Snow Sez.., by T. Shepherd. If you haven't seen Snow, take a look - it's excellent. You'll find it at http://www.gocomics.com/snowsez And while you're at it, vote for Snow in the Cartoonist Studio's Strip Search competition and help Snow get a syndication deal. http://www.thecartooniststudio.com/CartoonStripSearch.aspx?name=snow

So who is Stan? Here he is, the first time we see him.

And here he is again

 

...and that's all you really need to know about Stan. Everyone knows a Stan, which probably explains why he's had an impact way out of proportion to the number of appearances he's made.

He's now started visiting other comic strips. He went to Canada visit Buzz, the catnip freak in Sooky Rottweiler last week and now he's crossed the Atlantic to bother Smith. Where will he turn up next?