# RE: What's up with the "Acme Company"? **URL:** \ **Category:** Cecil's Columns/Staff Reports\ **Created:** [September 30, 2005, 1:59pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/re-whats-up-with-the-acme-company/324194 "2005-09-30T13:59:16Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 15\ **Page:** 2
**Author:** ![MichaelFox](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/9d8465/32.png) [@MichaelFox](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/MichaelFox)\ **Post date:** [October 2, 2005, 8:55pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/re-whats-up-with-the-acme-company/324194/21 "2005-10-02T20:55:19Z")
It was mentioned in the answer that coyotes are not native to Michigan. Well, according to the Detroit News and the Michigan Department of Natural Resources, coyotes are native to Michigan. Please check out the following links: [http://www.detnews.com/2002/outdoors/0201/07/d07-383629.htm](http://www.detnews.com/2002/outdoors/0201/07/d07-383629.htm)[http://www.fws.gov/midwest/wolf/state-plans/mi-wolf-plan.pdf](http://www.fws.gov/midwest/wolf/state-plans/mi-wolf-plan.pdf) Thanks, MichaelFox ---
**Author:** ![Danalan](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/76d3ee/32.png) [@Danalan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Danalan)\ **Post date:** [October 2, 2005, 9:22pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/re-whats-up-with-the-acme-company/324194/22 "2005-10-02T21:22:32Z")
Can’t forget Ian Frazier’s classic ‘Coyote vs. Acme’ from the New Yorker. Here’s a [link to it](http://www.lectlaw.com/files/fun13.htm), and to [Acme’s response](http://www.lectlaw.com/files/fun19.htm). ---
**Author:** ![Scott\_Plaid](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/258eb7/32.png) [@Scott\_Plaid](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Scott_Plaid)\ **Post date:** [October 2, 2005, 11:43pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/re-whats-up-with-the-acme-company/324194/23 "2005-10-02T23:43:04Z")
Don’t want to put you down or anything, but we should give credit where credit is due. **Larry Borgia** ’s post #17 already contains Coyote v. Acme, though not the reply you posted. ---
**Author:** ![UncleBeer](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/u/977dab/32.png) [@UncleBeer](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/UncleBeer)\ **Post date:** [October 3, 2005, 2:11pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/re-whats-up-with-the-acme-company/324194/24 "2005-10-03T14:11:08Z")
> [@UncleBeer](#): > > Could be. Like I said, some weekend “research” is in order. My recollections of the 'toon may be faulty due to smoking too much MaryJane while watching the Saturday cartoons in my college years. The girlfriend has a Looney Tunes DVD I’ll look at. I think there’s a whole disc dedicated to the interminable Wile E./Roadrunner battles. And sadly I am mistaken. The DVD the girlfriend owns is [Volume One](http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/tg/detail/-/B0000AYJXS/qid=1128348387/sr=1-1/ref=sr_1_1/104-1471449-6531114?v=glance&s=dvd) which has no Wiley E. Coyote/Roadrunner 'toons. Guess we’ll hafta get [Volume Two](http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/tg/detail/-/B00020SK1Y/ref=pd_bxgy_img_2/104-1471449-6531114?v=glance&s=dvd) before the research can commence. ---
**Author:** ![Danalan](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/76d3ee/32.png) [@Danalan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Danalan)\ **Post date:** [October 3, 2005, 5:25pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/re-whats-up-with-the-acme-company/324194/25 "2005-10-03T17:25:18Z")
> [@Scott Plaid](#): > > Don’t want to put you down or anything, but we should give credit where credit is due. **Larry Borgia** ’s post #17 already contains Coyote v. Acme, though not the reply you posted. Missed it. Sorry **Larry**. ---
**Author:** ![Peter\_Morris](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/peter_morris/32/359_2.png) [@Peter\_Morris](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Peter_Morris)\ **Post date:** [October 4, 2005, 3:08am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/re-whats-up-with-the-acme-company/324194/26 "2005-10-04T03:08:30Z")
ACME got its name because its **A**** C **ompany that** M**akes \*\* E\*\*verything. That’s actually in the [dictionary.](http://dictionary.reference.com/search?q=acme) ---
**Author:** ![FatBaldGuy](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/ecd19e/32.png) [@FatBaldGuy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/FatBaldGuy)\ **Post date:** [October 4, 2005, 5:41pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/re-whats-up-with-the-acme-company/324194/27 "2005-10-04T17:41:31Z")
In regard to the “rules” set forth by Chuck Jones: > [@](#): > > 1. The coyote never catches the road runner; > 2. The road runner never actively interferes with the coyote’s plans; > 3. The road runner must stick to the road; > 4. Whenever possible, gravity is the coyote’s biggest enemy. It seems like I have seen #2 violated on several occasions. One that comes immediately to mind is when the RR paints a fake tunnel on the side of a cliff and zips through it, while the coyote smashes into the painted wall. Another time I remember the RR coming up behind the coyote and going “beep beep,” startling the coyote and causing him to spring his trap on himself. I’m sure there are more, but these two stand out. ---
**Author:** ![Farmwoman](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/8dc957/32.png) [@Farmwoman](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Farmwoman)\ **Post date:** [October 4, 2005, 7:02pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/re-whats-up-with-the-acme-company/324194/28 "2005-10-04T19:02:50Z")
> [@UncleBeer](#): > > Guess we’ll hafta get [Volume Two](http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/tg/detail/-/B00020SK1Y/ref=pd_bxgy_img_2/104-1471449-6531114?v=glance&s=dvd) before the research can commence. Or toon (heh) into Boomerang. My sons are addicted to Looney Toons and (much to my husband’s and my delight) we get to watch a 1/2 hour each night before the kids’ bedtime. I’m particularly tickled by my 5 year-old’s serious, slow and sad head shake every time the Coyote sets up another contraption. “Oh man,” he says “this isn’t gonna work.” ---
**Author:** ![UncleBeer](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/u/977dab/32.png) [@UncleBeer](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/UncleBeer)\ **Post date:** [October 4, 2005, 8:25pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/re-whats-up-with-the-acme-company/324194/29 "2005-10-04T20:25:32Z")
> [@FatBaldGuy](#): > > In regard to the “rules” set forth by Chuck Jones: > It seems like I have seen #2 violated on several occasions. #3 is violated quite regularly, too. The RoadRunner is frequently seen off-road. ---
**Author:** ![samclem](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/a9a28c/32.png) [@samclem](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/samclem)\ **Post date:** [October 4, 2005, 9:57pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/re-whats-up-with-the-acme-company/324194/30 "2005-10-04T21:57:29Z")
> [@Peter Morris](#): > > ACME got its name because its **A**** C **ompany that** M**akes \*\* E\*\*verything. > > That’s actually in the [dictionary.](http://dictionary.reference.com/search?q=acme) They say that’s one possible explanation. I don’t accept it. ---
**Author:** ![mobo85](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/b19c9b/32.png) [@mobo85](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/mobo85)\ **Post date:** [October 5, 2005, 12:07am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/re-whats-up-with-the-acme-company/324194/31 "2005-10-05T00:07:36Z")
> [@FatBaldGuy](#): > > One that comes immediately to mind is when the RR paints a fake tunnel on the side of a cliff and zips through it, while the coyote smashes into the painted wall. I thought it was always the Coyote who paints the tunnel, figuring the Road Runner will attempt to run through it and hit the rock. The Road Runner comes, and runs through the tunnel. The Coyote, startled, tries it himself. BAM! > [@FatBaldGuy](#): > > Another time I remember the RR coming up behind the coyote and going “beep beep,” startling the coyote and causing him to spring his trap on himself. Actually, this is in accordance with the rules. The rules that show up in the column are actually paraphrased. Here are the rules as they appear in Chuck Jones’ book _Chuck Amuck_ (©1989 Chuck Jones Enterprises, Inc.): 1. The Road Runner cannot harm the Coyote except by going “Beep-Beep!” 2. No outside force can harm the Coyote-only his own ineptitude or the failure of the Acme products. 3. The Coyote could stop at any time- _if_ he were not a fanatic. (“A fanatic is one who redoubles his effort when he has forgotten his aim”- George Santayana) 4. No dialogue ever, except “Beep-Beep!” 5. The Road Runner must stay on the road- otherwise, logically, he would not be called Road Runner. 6. All action must be confined to the natural environment of the characters- the American Southwest desert. 7. All materials, tools, weapons, or mechanical conveniences must be obtained from the Acme Corporation. 8. Whenever possible, make gravity the Coyote’s greatest enemy. 9. The Coyote is always more humiliated than harmed by his failures. Rule #1 in particular is key to this argument. The Road Runner often surprises the Coyote by running up behind him and going “Beep Beep!” thus causing the Coyote to knock his head into a rock or fall down or something. > [@zelie zelerton](#): > > Does anyone know if there is a real Acme Co? Is the name owned by whoever made the Wily Coyote cartoons? There are a number of real Acmes, and Warner Bros. does hold a trademark on “Acme” for the purposes of marketing Looney Tunes products. The situation **zelcat** refers to in the OP was from the 1980 cartoon _Soup or Sonic_, produced for the television special _Bugs Bunny’s Bustin’ Out All Over_. ---
**Author:** ![Spectre\_of\_Pithecanthropus](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/spectre_of_pithecanthropus/32/12343_2.png) [@Spectre\_of\_Pithecanthropus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Spectre_of_Pithecanthropus)\ **Post date:** [October 6, 2005, 12:33am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/re-whats-up-with-the-acme-company/324194/32 "2005-10-06T00:33:54Z")
Quoth [Dictionary.com](http://Dictionary.com): > [@Dictionary.com](#): > > Acme=The highest point, as of achievement or development: reached the acme of her career. See Synonyms at summit. Greek, if I’m not mistaken. I’m sure it used to be a much more common business name 100 years ago, since back then most people who even made it all the way through high school generally had some Greek. ---
**Author:** ![TasCat](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/dec6dc/32.png) [@TasCat](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/TasCat)\ **Post date:** [October 6, 2005, 9:27am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/re-whats-up-with-the-acme-company/324194/33 "2005-10-06T09:27:10Z")
> [@](#): > > 1. The Road Runner must stay on the road- otherwise, logically, he would not be called Road Runner. I believe I’ve seen the roadrunner defy gravity and not stay on the road by running from clifftop to clifftop…although I am old and senile, while the coyote does indeed fall to his enemy gravity. And I guess, logically, while the roadrunner goes through a solid mountain or plateau in the painted issue…he does stay on the road while doing so! If I am correct and not senile…which is very very possible, the latter of course, gravity would pull the roadrunner down…I seem to believe the clifftops were of equal height, if so, he would hit the opposite cliff top due to gravity…despite his amazing speed…and aren’t there times when he hovers in the air while the coyote falls, I know he always stops short while the coyote hovers for a few seconds, then realized his predicament, that is probably what I’m thinking about… > [@](#): > > The situation **zelcat** refers to in the OP was from the 1980 cartoon _Soup or Sonic_, produced for the television special _Bugs Bunny’s Bustin’ Out All Over_. err, zelcat? I may not be a member but sheesh. 🙂 I just followed up on the post I made, I had made a favorites on the page and wanted to see what the experts had to say, and indeed they did verify to me, it WAS a special, hence the reason not as many fans have seen the episode. And the sign quote was what I remembered, but I wasn’t sure, so put the “essence” of the sign in my post. Now back behind the yellow line for me…as membership is not an option in my case…and boy are there some harsh critics around here! ---
**Author:** ![TasCat](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/dec6dc/32.png) [@TasCat](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/TasCat)\ **Post date:** [October 6, 2005, 9:34am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/re-whats-up-with-the-acme-company/324194/34 "2005-10-06T09:34:30Z")
> [@Spectre of Pithecanthropus](#): > > Quoth [Dictionary.com](http://Dictionary.com): > > Greek, if I’m not mistaken. I’m sure it used to be a much more common business name 100 years ago, since back then most people who even made it all the way through high school generally had some Greek. Although if looked further down at the same site… > [@](#): > > n. The canonical supplier of bizarre, elaborate, and > non-functional gadgetry - where Rube Goldberg and Heath Robinson > (two cartoonists who specialized in elaborate contraptions) shop. > The name has been humorously expanded as A (or American) Company > Making Everything. (In fact, Acme was a real brand sold from Sears > Roebuck catalogs in the early 1900s.) Describing some X as an “Acme > X” either means “This is insanely great”, or, more likely, “This > looks insanely great on paper, but in practice it’s really easy to > shoot yourself in the foot with it.” Compare pistol. > > This term, specially cherished by American hackers and explained > here for the benefit of our overseas brethren, comes from the Warner > Brothers’ series of “Roadrunner” cartoons. In these cartoons, the > famished Wile E. Coyote was forever attempting to catch up with, > trap, and eat the Roadrunner. His attempts usually involved one or > more high-technology Rube Goldberg devices - rocket jetpacks, > catapults, magnetic traps, high-powered slingshots, etc. These were > usually delivered in large cardboard boxes, labeled prominently with > the Acme name. These devices invariably malfunctioned in improbable > and violent ways. > > Source: Jargon File 4.2.0 ---
**Author:** ![don\_t\_ask](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/e68b1a/32.png) [@don\_t\_ask](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/don_t_ask)\ **Post date:** [October 6, 2005, 9:57am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/re-whats-up-with-the-acme-company/324194/35 "2005-10-06T09:57:07Z")
> [@Danalan](#): > > Can’t forget Ian Frazier’s classic ‘Coyote vs. Acme’ from the New Yorker. Here’s a [link to it](http://www.lectlaw.com/files/fun13.htm), and to [Acme’s response](http://www.lectlaw.com/files/fun19.htm). Wow. How much credit did Frazier give to **Cliff-Hanger Justice** by Joey Green which ran in three parts in the August, September, and October '82 issues of National Lampoon? It was about the Wile E. Coyote vs. Acme Corp. trial. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/re-whats-up-with-the-acme-company/324194.md?page=1)