Puzzlement from the comics

Today two strips puzzled me. First, I kind of understand this - especially in light of all the people who get pissed at those talking on their cell phones:

But why doesn't Jeremy have his mom's number in his contacts? Because if he does, and she figures it out, she'll realize he has to be ignoring her, not just "calls"... Still, this is more puzzling:

In what universe is Dick Tracy a serious strip instead a an admittedly entertaining but surreal journey through crime, bloodshed, and incoherence?