[[Two individuals discuss something.]]
Pessimist: How was the sandwich?
Optimist: Terrible.
Pessimist: Oh! Sorry to hear it!
Optimist: No worries! At least it’s calories.

Pessimist: Mm?
Optimist: It’s my way of seeing the bright side of things.
Optimist: I have to eat anyway. My body needs fuel on the regular.
Optimist: So I’m not enjoying EVERY INSTANT of this OBLIGATORY activity. I’m still filling up the tank. At least it’s calories!

Pessimist: Wow, great way to suck the JOY out of life.
Optimist: Joy is OVERRATED. I’m satisfied with PURPOSE.
Optimist: Have to park super far away? At least it’s EXERCISE! See your rival succeed? At least it’s POSSIBLE! Try something and fail? At least you got PRACTICE!

Pessimist: I was trying to put you down a moment ago, but it’s starting to sound kind of sensible.
Optimist: Well, at least you got practice!

{{header: always feeding WONDERMARK.COM}}
{{alt-text: Lose your keys through a sewer grate? At least it’s practice for when you lose your keys through a hole in a bridge!}}

#1144; The Silver Foil Lining transcribed by in

[[Two individuals discuss something.]]
Pessimist: How was the sandwich?
Optimist: Terrible.
Pessimist: Oh! Sorry to hear it!
Optimist: No worries! At least it’s calories.

Pessimist: I was trying to put you down a moment ago, but it’s starting to sound kind of sensible.
Optimist: Well, at least you got practice!

{{header: always feeding WONDERMARK.COM}}
{{alt-text: Lose your keys through a sewer grate? At least it’s practice for when you lose your keys through a hole in a bridge!}}

#1144; The Silver Foil Lining transcribed by in

[[Two individuals discuss something.]]
Pessimist: How was the sandwich?
Optimist: Terrible.
Pessimist: Oh! Sorry to hear it!
Optimist: No worries! At least it's calories.

Pessimist: Mm?
Optimist: It's my way of seeing the bright side of things.
Optimist: I have to eat anyway. My body needs fuel on the regular.
Optimist: So I'm not enjoying EVERY INSTANT of this OBLIGATORY activity. I'm still filling up the tank. At least it's calories!

Pessimist: Wow, great way to suck the JOY out of life.
Optimist: Joy is OVERRATED. I'm satisfied with PURPOSE.
Optimist: Have to park super far away? At least it's EXERCISE! See your rival succeed? At least it's POSSIBLE! Try something and fail? At least you got PRACTICE!

Pessimist: I was trying to put you down a moment ago, but it's starting to sound kind of sensible.
Optimist: Well, at least you got practice!

{{header: always feeding WONDERMARK.COM}}
{{alt-text: Lose your keys through a sewer grate? At least it's practice for when you lose your keys through a hole in a bridge!}}

Lose your keys through a sewer grate? At least it's practice for when you lose your keys through a hole in a bridge!

#1144; The Silver Foil Lining

— July 21st, 2015

[ Tags: dining, thought processes ] Permalink: https://wondermark.com/c/1144/

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Applications open for Genius Northwest – an IRL gaming competition

May 8, 2026 by David Malki !

Last year, I participated in Genius Northwest, a gaming competition inspired by the Korean gameshow The Genius and its ilk.

It’s a reality show without the cameras — a 3-day, all-inclusive weekend retreat structured around a series of challenges and puzzles, in which personalities and dealmaking matter as much as playing games.

It’s truly a remarkable thing. I came in dead last in the competition, but I still had a great time participating.

The event is held annually in the Pacific Northwest (hence the name) and applications are now open to participate in the 2026 competition!

Learn more — and apply — at GeniusNW.com.

Comic Transcripts

#1144; The Silver Foil Lining

— July 21st, 2015

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