Halls of book-learnin’
Barney Google and Snuffy Smith, 2/13/07
For reasons I can’t explain I find the hillbilly library in panel one of this strip incredibly charming. It’s not just a thatched-roof, ill-built wooden shanty — it’s a thatched-roof, ill-built wooden shanty with a wooden monumental neoclassical entrance, complete with columns, which are presumably the trunks of local trees. It’s like the cargo cults of New Guinea: these poor mountain folks, having once been exposed to book-learnin’ during the heyday of the Tennessee Valley Authority but unable to produce any themselves, built this shell of a library and filled it with fake books in hope of recapturing the city slickers’ magic.
For Better Or For Worse, 2/13/07
In the interest of keeping foobish vitriol to a minimum, I am only going to discuss Weed’s dialogue in the second panel here; frankly, it arouses quite enough vitriol to go around. Mainly it strikes me as a particularly egregious example of Things Nobody Actually Says, to wit:
- “B.Y.O.B., right?” As the lead-off to his party description, this makes it sound like “B.Y.O.B.” is shorthand for something awesome rather than something tight-fisted that 22-year-olds do. It’s possible that it means something else in Canada, though. Like, since everyone drinks domestic beer all the time up there, this is going to be an all-import party, featuring Budweiser, Yeungling, Old Milwaukee, and a variety of beers from Belgium.
- “We line up a food trough…” Dear God, if these party-goers arrive at this party to discover to their horror that the only food available is a six-foot long, three-foot deep box of Chex Mix, I will be very, very happy.
- “…score some seats…” It’s true that Weed’s bizarrely spacious loft seems to remarkably free of sitting surfaces, other than some uncomfortable-looking ultramodern couches. However, the verb “score” conjures up a pleasing image of Weed and Mike driving in to the seedy side of Toronto, looking for this guy a friend of a friend of guy they work with knows … “Yo, I got Eames, I got Barcoloungers, I got Aeron, check it out … hey, you guys aren’t narcs, are you?”
- “…wind up the tunes…” Yes, we’ll gather ‘round the Victrola! We have the latest Dixieland platters! It will be delightful!
- “…an’ ta-daah!” I’m willing to accept dropped “d”s as a fundamental aspect of the Patterson patois, but somehow I expected better from you, Weeder.
Mary Worth, 2/13/07
Take a good look at Jeff’s facial expressions in these two panels. In the first, he’s actually grinning a little, as if he’s pleased that Mary, to the extent that she’s capable of expressing human need, is begging him to come home with her. Then she reaches out to touch his face, and he recoils in anger and disgust.
Pluggers, 2/13/07
Generally speaking, a plugger will barricade himself in his bedroom, shrieking about how he’s not going to turn his motherfucking back on you for one God-damned second, you cocksucker, on the sixth day of his meth binge.
February 13th, 2007 at 11:44 pm
Alone in a hotel room in a strange city. And NO COMMENTS. gaaaaaaaaaaaaaah.
February 13th, 2007 at 11:45 pm
Frist!!!
February 13th, 2007 at 11:46 pm
The town hall in my home town looks exactly like that library.
Except we use paint.
February 13th, 2007 at 11:48 pm
Ooops . Thurmond!
February 13th, 2007 at 11:51 pm
Damn, Red, I’m sorry. I was complaining and beat you to it.
February 13th, 2007 at 11:51 pm
Dang!!! Waxmanned to the max, man!
February 13th, 2007 at 11:58 pm
MW – I wonder if Mary knows that the dark patches on Dr. Jeff’s face mean that he is suffering from leprosy? From the looks of his appearance in panels one and two, Dr. Jeff is about to lose an ear. I wonder if Mary will still raise money for a leper colony?
February 14th, 2007 at 12:01 am
But, but–that’s not a thatched roof! Thatched roofs are made of straw and are charming, crowning little stone cottages in Merrie Olde England like berets on a Neddy.
That roof is made of unfinished wood and apparently cut and laid in planks on one side and in little roofing-shaped tiles on the other side. I guess to show the wide variety of roofs that the Smifs can create, kind of like a Pella window store with all the exotic windows. Only ugly.
And why does that kid keep wearing that stupid coonskin cap? They were popular for about two weeks in 1962, then disappeared from everywhere except Smif land.
February 14th, 2007 at 12:01 am
Hi Kate…are you holed-up in the Capri Motor Courts in Chula Vista , BAC?
February 14th, 2007 at 12:11 am
Is Mary Worth some sort of front for a Xenophobic, Kill-All-the-Foreigners-and-let-our-Western-Religion-God-Sort-’em -Out Think Tank?
‘Cause that’s how it reads.
I have to shower after reading this strip.
February 14th, 2007 at 12:12 am
February 14th, 2007 at 12:12 am
I thought that Pluggers was a little off, too. Eventually, it will be down to submissions like a picture of a bottle of jim beam, with the caption, ‘a plugger’s psychiatrist,’ or a two-by-four with a nail through it labeled, ‘a plugger relationship counselor.’
February 14th, 2007 at 12:17 am
Oh Josh, you are sending me to bed with a chuckle in my belly.
The sad thing about the Snuffy Smith cartoon is the thought that these two saw the word “galaxy” in this astronomy book and went, “Gollyolly, that must be a whole mess o’ gals!”
February 14th, 2007 at 12:18 am
The worst part about this forthcoming Foob party is not the food trough – although the mental imagery it invokes is pretty funny – but you just know Lynn will use it as the occasion to finally bring together Lizardbreath and Granthony. My eyes, they bleed.
February 14th, 2007 at 12:20 am
Somehow I imagined a Plugger home security system would be a Treeing Walker Coonhound camped out by the front door, not a chair stolen from behind the desk of Our Miss Brooks.
February 14th, 2007 at 12:24 am
I’d just like to point out how easily one can mistake the word “figger” for the word “finger” on the first pass. And now if you’ll excuse me, I need to go wash my eyes out with soap.
February 14th, 2007 at 12:24 am
8 – Not only is it not a thatched roof, it’s not a shanty either. Shanties are somewhat small, very roughly finished buildings at best. Either they’re buildings made out of handy materials for a temporary purpose or they’re older buildings that have fallen into complete disrepair. The Library is a fairly large building with sides made of planks that seems to be in fairly good shape, perspectice issues notwithstanding.
No, the primary complaint I see it with it is that it features the correctly spelled Library as a sobriquet; in the vernacular of Smuffy Smith, it ought to be Libary.
February 14th, 2007 at 12:24 am
# 9 — Red, I think Kate is in a little motel on the edge of Ottumwa, Iowa. Right, Kate?
MW — To me, Jeff looks, in that first panel, as if he’s a coupla sandwiches short of a picnic.
February 14th, 2007 at 12:25 am
8: Honestly, I don’t know why thatched roofs aren’t more common in hillbilly country. Hillbilly music is basically an interpretation of Irish and Scotch musical forms, and pine straw is more or less the same as real straw, right? We sure have enough of that. But no, it’s all coonskin caps and wooden slats. Maybe this global warming thing will create a Day After Tomorrow situation and finally set us straight as far as propery roofing technique.
/not really a hillbilly
//at least 50 miles away from the mountains
February 14th, 2007 at 12:29 am
“Score some seats–” On my home planet (Earth. You’ve probably seen it around.) “scoring some seats” means getting tickets to a show or game. For a Canadian pot-head like Weed, it may just mean, “Grabbing some guys’ asses.”
February 14th, 2007 at 12:29 am
mt – wha? is that turtle farting the description of the lengh of the lake?
i love mark trail. we have pictures of people and we have dialog. then it is mixed up and we get to try to sort it all out especially when even bodily orifices get to toss out their comments now and then. fabulous!
my only question is who said “jack elrod”? maybe it was one of the fish.
February 14th, 2007 at 12:32 am
Just realized that I haven’t thrown in a gratuitous link in a while, so hey guys, come check out the lack of fun at Mallard Fillmore.
February 14th, 2007 at 12:32 am
Should the fact that no hinges are visible on this side of the Plugger’s door indicate that he’s barricaded the door backwards, a la The Big Lebowski? That’s what I’m getting.
February 14th, 2007 at 12:35 am
You just know the party will provide a deus-ex-machina or two to wrap up an unlikely number of multi-year plot threads before the looming Fooberdämmerung.
It’s like some pathetic Canadian religious prophecy coming true. Fire? Check. Miracles? Cheque. Cryptic prophets? Blackbeard! Three wise men? Paul-Warren-Anthony (OK, maybe “wise” is a stretch). If there’s any justice in the world, it will end with the Ghost of Farley teleporting the Pattersons to Funky Winkerbean where they can look forward to protracted deaths from painful, emotionally wrenching diseases.
February 14th, 2007 at 12:36 am
And look at the corners of the hillbilly library – there is no “Lincoln-log” lattice, nor any dovetailed joints…I’m beginning to suspect John Rose knows nothing of actual hillbilly library construction.
The funny words are the ones in BOLD: HOT DOG LOOKIN‘ BODACIOUS !! GALS
February 14th, 2007 at 12:41 am
Uh… Pluggers? I know that you’re from “the REAL America” and all that, but… they have those things called ‘locks’ now, so that makes your little ’security system’ a bit obsolete.
And, who props up a chair in front of their front door, anyway? I’ve only ever seen anything like that happening in cartoons, and only to interior rooms. What the hell is wrong with these people!?
February 14th, 2007 at 12:46 am
This has me wondering: how did either of those little boys even learn the word “bodacious”? Is there some sort of cultural exchange program that matches up hilbilly children with the children of tired 80’s surfers so they can learn each other’s languages? And if so, can I get signed up for it?
February 14th, 2007 at 12:47 am
#26 – I did that once when I was a teenager. I stayed at a Motel 6, there was a hooker so ugly she looked like she was in Gil Thorp in the parking lot, and my lock didn’t seem to work well. That chair saved my life. PARTY!
February 14th, 2007 at 12:47 am
The plugger security system is effective for making it harder for the paramedics to break down the door and get the plugger’s stomach pumped in time to save them from their sleeping pill overdose, or as it’s commonly called, “the plugger’s vacation.”
February 14th, 2007 at 12:50 am
(Keep in mind that I am from Pennsylvania, and only have to say “lager” to the bartender to get my beer brand of choice. With that said…)
You said Yuengling! You said Yuengling! It is the true king of beers.
February 14th, 2007 at 12:53 am
Since there has always been an abundance of unnecessary bold words in Snuffy smith, and the strip itself sucks, I’ve always liked to think the author was trying to spell out the actual meaning in code.
LOOKIN’ HOTDOG, BODACIOUS GAL! is what I figure little coonskin head or whatever his name is trying to say
February 14th, 2007 at 12:59 am
Snuffy Smith- That’s peculiar, I thought the Hillbilly version of a public library was the adult bookstore right off the interstate exit.
4 Better or worse –
Weed? Party? Studio? ponytail? black turtleneck? I can almost smell the eight-ball of crack burning as I write this.
Mary Worth – God bless ya Dr. Jeff, left with the choice of dying from disease and exhaustion or the smothering embrace of that old harpy Mary Worth….Wait! there it is in the second panel his eyes are looking for the life support plug.
Pluggers –
Effective & low tech alternative to locks and alarms..Hey Plugger, I’ll be back arount 3:05 am to clear out your “Pluggers vault”(Coffee Can under your bed) with my “Plugger cure for Insomnia”(.38 revolver)..
February 14th, 2007 at 1:03 am
My sister (who shares this username with me, which is why occasionally we end with two totally different styles of comment under the same name) pointed out to-day that Weed and Mike are wearing basically the same thing, and if you switched their heads no one could tell the difference.
February 14th, 2007 at 1:04 am
11. Red Greenback:
Awesome! I thought I might be the only one in the world to remember the lyrics to the theme song for the 1960’s Bill Cosby Show.
Wasn’t he a high school gym teadher named Mr. Kincaid?
I will sleep easier tonight knowing that someone else has brain cells dedicated to such important memories.
February 14th, 2007 at 1:06 am
SS: I always detested Snuffy Smith as a kid. Not because the jokes are bad, although they are. I was profoundly disturbed by the fact that when people talk, laugh, or even just stand there they show their tongue. And that they have no teeth.
A3G: Why does Margo get to be spared the details of Tommie’s weekend? We were forced to watch every excrutiating detail.
MT: I think Mark is turning into Rainman.
“That is a nice lake.” “Yeah, the shore line is 20 miles. Yeah.”
“That is one lucky beaver.” “Five minutes to Wopner. Yeah, five minutes.”
“Mark, you got to get Molly to the hospital!” “I’m an excellent driver.”
Herb & Jamaal: Jamaal is the anti-Plugger.
February 14th, 2007 at 1:07 am
33. Soujin said out “to-day Weed and Mike are wearing basically the same thing.”
Yes, and even more interesting that they are both wearing white pants in the middle of the Canadian winter. They are likely indistinguishable from the snowpack from the waist down.
February 14th, 2007 at 1:09 am
Ditto Flagstaff creates a new super-hero:
http://www.chron.com/apps/comics/showComick.mpl?date=20070213&name=Hi_and_Lois
Or has he simply been reading Winkerbean?
http://www.chron.com/apps/comics/showComick.mpl?date=20070211&name=Funky_Winkerbean
Bad Ditto! Idea theft is a crime.
February 14th, 2007 at 1:18 am
#37- Is it just me Len? Or does Pete from Stanky Winkerbean normally look like a young Walter Matthau?! I’m thinking Nazi’s and Clones.
February 14th, 2007 at 1:21 am
#32 Sunny Mel: “Snuffy Smith- That’s peculiar, I thought the Hillbilly version of a public library was the adult bookstore right off the interstate exit.”
No, that’s the Plugger public library.
February 14th, 2007 at 1:22 am
I’m surprised no one commented on today’s Curtis:
A) I just saw the original Terminator on AMC this weekend: The cops’ patronizing attitude and casual dismissal of Curtis’ fears before all hell breaks loose is a direct
rip-off fromhomage to that movie.2) The last panel is priceless: Major dog-on-butt action, sound effects, stars and movement all over the place and Curtis escaping in the corner. The look on the face of the previously smarmy fat-ass cop is worth the price of admission.
iii) How come none of the policemen in Curtis’ neighborhood are Black?
February 14th, 2007 at 1:23 am
I think Kate is filling up that auxiliary gas tank under the back seat and she is resting up for the last 900 mile run to Toranto to “crash” the foob party. Bring Your Own Bomb.
February 14th, 2007 at 1:24 am
And here I thought cargo cults were Polynesian…
February 14th, 2007 at 1:32 am
It’s 1:31am Eastern Time, and as of right now, King Features comics are not loading. Chennux, once again, we surrender! We’ll give you anything you want if you’ll just bring their website back up!
February 14th, 2007 at 1:32 am
24: “Fooberdämmerung” is genius. Or Foobnerok, if you will.
If only the end of the strip came to Michael being swallowed by the Midgard Serpent while Elly was torn apart by Fenrir the Wolf, all as Millborough is burned to ashes by marauding fire giants from Jotenheim. I would pay real money to see that.
Or, failing that, for a T-shirt that depicted it. Hint, hint.
February 14th, 2007 at 1:35 am
Mr. Negato has been purchasing excess critters from Lost Forest. Naughty Negato! These animals have been lovingly raised by Mark Trail; you can’t pervert them to your evil schemes!
http://www.gocomics.com/inkpen/2007/02/12/
(Mutant petting zoo! *giggle* It was either this, or Tommie making out with Jacuzzi McMustache…)
February 14th, 2007 at 1:36 am
MW, panel 2: how long is this woman’s left arm? (A: Rather!)
February 14th, 2007 at 1:46 am
What’s funny about the dropped d’s of the FBOFW universe is that nobody pronounces the “d” in “and” anyway. At least, I don’t. I suppose that Canadians run around overemphasizing the “d” just to distinguish themselves from the Pattersons.
February 14th, 2007 at 1:51 am
MW – I apologize if this has been said one or more times already, but Dr. Jeff appears to be tenting right beside Mary’s elbow in the first panel. Maybe that’s why he is smiling. As for panel two, Mary’s facial caress put him over the edge and he is in the midst of “turning Vietnamese” (I really think so).
February 14th, 2007 at 1:51 am
How Gil Thorp recruits the team for Milford’s basketball competition…
http://www.gocomics.com/lio/2007/02/10/
February 14th, 2007 at 2:03 am
26 Luprand: That depends on which category you belong to- the numbers have to be balanced and there’s way more of one kind than the other, I’m sure. ;)
February 14th, 2007 at 2:04 am
Judging by the cobwebs on the Plugger’s door, that particular choice of a security system is working just (or should I say jes’) fine…
Of course, what is there to protect in a Plugger’s home besides 50 year old appliances and lots of prescription drugs? Ohhhhh!
EBay, I have some retro design elements for you!
February 14th, 2007 at 2:04 am
Man Weedy’s sweater is eating his neck
I would be freaking the hell out in a similar situation but Weedy is cool as ice
February 14th, 2007 at 2:04 am
Oops, I meant 27.
“26″ is Canadian for 27. I get confused sometimes.
February 14th, 2007 at 2:24 am
Doctor Jeff realized he was allowing Mary to see he was happy. His plan, after all, is to make her pretty much marry him to make him go back to the States. Chances are he wasn’t helping any sick children: he was just off seeing the sights (and bordellos) and when he found out Mary was on her way (from Professor Chin-beard, no doubt), lied his way into a hospital. All Jeff is doing now is biding his time until Mary consents… to a lot of things.
February 14th, 2007 at 2:32 am
2/14:
Classic Peanuts 1994: This sure is FW depressing. It originally appeared in papers after FW threw the comedy away. Huh.
S-M: Don’t worry, MJ. Next strip will be after V-day. Just wait a nanosecond your time.
A3G: Oh, Jeez, we’re back with Magic Ghost Antics!
Wizard of Id: Lady, you’re in The Wizard of Id. I wouldn’t worry about anything being interesting.
Curtis: Jeez, Djinn-Djinn from “I Dream of Jeannie” wasn’t this much trouble! (Although Dr. Bellows being Lisa Nowak’s superior officer feels about right)
MG&G: Exactly! [MARGOing] parents!
GF: If this weren’t a great strip, the punchline would be: “A salty battery!” (ducks)
February 14th, 2007 at 3:03 am
“Santa Royale”? Santa Royale?! Did they hire Herve Villachaize to stand at the town limits and wave to visitors?
Someone with better Spanish skills than me must have pointed out during Mary Worth’s decades of prissy terror that Santa Royale is the lowest, lamest, whitest fake name a soulless suburban developer ever invented.
Saint Royal? It’s less gauche than naming your town Olde Moneysackton.
February 14th, 2007 at 3:15 am
dshea
quoting from _Albion’s Seed_ a book that compares american regional culture to the source of immigration. This is from the section comparing Scottish traditional building styles to that of back country appalachia:
“small and impermanent houses were common throughout North Britain, in part because the system of land tenure gae no motive for improvement…”
“The choice of materials changed in the forests of the New World, where log walls and wooden roofs replaced stone and thatch. But the cabin plans and proportaions remained very much the same…”
February 14th, 2007 at 3:28 am
Yuengling, yay!
Sorry, I honed in on that word for some reason.
Haven’t found it since we moved to the west coast.
*sigh*
February 14th, 2007 at 3:35 am
Much as it galls me to give Lynn “Mad Props”, as the kids call them, she’s nailed a part of the Canadian accent that is far less well-known than the whole “eh?” thing. Pretty much every Canadian I’ve met, myself included, drops the d from and, except during lectures, debates and other public speaking type contexts.
February 14th, 2007 at 3:36 am
Man, Dan’s life IS boring compared to Mark Trail’s. I mean, the Ursine Water Polo team is training for their next big match against Milford in Mark’s lake! And Jack Elrod signed the ball!
February 14th, 2007 at 3:41 am
44. Foobnarok?
Will this do?
If people like it enough, I could try turning it into a decent T-shirt image.
February 14th, 2007 at 3:43 am
Actually I seem to recall Jethro Bodine on The Beverly Hillbillies saying “Bodacious” a time or two. I reckon it’s the name of a manufacturer of Coonskin Caps and accessories.
February 14th, 2007 at 3:51 am
#30 Melkay, I didn’t see your post, my skimming skills are not up to par. Yes, lager=Yuengling Lager. Yuengling, America’s oldest brewery!
February 14th, 2007 at 3:55 am
“Hey, you wanna hit Weed’s place? He has food… and chairs!”
Weed is officially even more boring then me. I mean, if I was gonna throw a party I’d at least buy some beer and rent a movie or two.
15: The only Treeing Walker Coonhound in a Plugger’s house is the Plugger himself.
And while I don’t doubt that some Pluggers will stay up every night for a week, aiming a shotgun at the door, I’m pretty sure they also spend a great deal of time passed out drunk.
They need a backup, is what I’m saying.
February 14th, 2007 at 3:57 am
Funny how in Judge Parker 14/02/06, people in France speak better English than French “de cette facon” means do it this way. So unless they initiate the two in the rites of French art school orgies, which we can alway hope for. There’s not much they’re going to do. Maybe its just subtle Nike sponsorship I don’t know.
February 14th, 2007 at 4:05 am
2/14 -
JP: Holy Cow! It’s a room full of badly drawn cartoon characters! Have we walked into a TDIET strip? And why is Abbey dressed like Spiderman in panel 2?
A3G – Uh, isn’t she drawing flowers?
MT – What the hell kind of animals are those in panel 2? Giant otters? Bears? Manatees?
MW – How long is a year in MaryWorth time?
RMMD – She calls her husband “Doc”?
BB – That’s quite the paradox. So if he thinks “Stop”, he has to think “Don’t Stop”?
Blondie – Is it me, or does Blondie look seriously pissed in the last panel? And is the dog begging?
February 14th, 2007 at 5:08 am
=v= Foob — Weird happenings on the website. It usually animates the eyeballs, but last Wednesday what got animated was *#@[Star]Saturn!! Then on Thursday, it was *@[Star]!! Boxcar!! … NO!!. This Monday it was PARTY!, and today, a whole lotta nothing.
February 14th, 2007 at 5:13 am
Blondie: Geez! First she kisses him passionately, then she takes her gifts and leaves without another word. Love is fickle, eh? Speaking of which…
H&L: Aww, isn’t that sweet? She toyed with his emotions to satisfy her own desires!
FW: And it’s STILL no longer depressing! It’s about as funny as a beige room, sure, but at least it’s not depressing.
Edge City: I was expecting the person on the other end to say, “They still make Tamagotchis?!”
Safe Havens: ELEPHANTS ARE NOT AFRAID OF MICE!!!
Phantom: Old Man Mozz has obviously used his shaman powers to drain the color from this room and psych out his captors.
February 14th, 2007 at 6:07 am
The 2/14 Family Circus is probably one of the worst-drawn panels I have ever seen. Grandma’s arm has been amputated and she’s wearing a jester costume while giving Dolly (with the elephant leg) the most lecherous look possible behind those glasses. It’s like the guy from Overboard was subbing in.
It’s so ugly!!
February 14th, 2007 at 6:26 am
FborFW – The ultra-tacky party Josef ‘the Comic-strip Metrosexual’ Weeder plans to throw for Mikey suggests he’s thumbing his nose at Daddy by slumming with the shkotzim. Weed’s kvelling about buying the same crpahole building he counseled the Noble Scribe not to, now that it can be razed and replaced with a more profitable townhouse, PROVES it. GREAT MOVE, LYNN! Ya took a goofy beatnik and turned him into a money-grubbing Jew straight out of a Nazi propaganda film! I hope you’re fucking proud of yerself.
February 14th, 2007 at 6:27 am
A3G – No need to worry about Luann, she is fine with her head bobble intact. She is apparently a bit feverish, but without those ugly black patches on her cheeks.
FOOB – Who needs some bogus advance? Weed has a business plan!
MT – Now the boat is talking. Exposition outboard! I love the juggling beaver act though.
Pluggers – Holy Boxcar, is that a genuine Luann on the wall?!?
Snuffy Smith – Only a day later, and Jughaid is already putting his newly found book-larnin’ into practice.
February 14th, 2007 at 6:49 am
I’m a little more distracted by the black, soulless pits which Jeff’s eyes have become. One can only surmise that street thugs in Vietnam stole not only his wallet and a couple organs, but also his entire will to live.
Oh, I forgot: Mary already did that.
February 14th, 2007 at 6:58 am
67 Jym Dyer – Perhaps Lynn has realized that people are starting to lose interest in her strip. Fearing that they are drifting off mid strip, she is now animating the words to alert the reader that the “exciting conclusion” (sorry Margo) is about to come. Kind of like those rumble strips as your approach a toll booth.
February 14th, 2007 at 7:02 am
BTW – Has Lynn announced the date for the last strip that will run with FOOBians advancing in age? Once she does, Josh should run a countdown in the sidebar. We can have a huge PARTY! – a Curmudgeon Convention (BYOB of course).
February 14th, 2007 at 7:04 am
Thank you for addressing the thatched roof issue, FleaBailey! I got a big “?!” balloon over my head when I saw Josh’s remarks on that, too.
And Josh, dear, much as I love you, I must point out that the beer is spelled Yuengling, not Yeungling. Not only do I drink a lot of it here in Western PA, my own surname has that same pesky “ue” in it that people keep ON spelling “eu”. So I notice these things!
Meanwhile, MW: Jeff’s putting up quite the passive-aggressive fight, isn’t he? How long has this discussion been going on? It seems like weeks and weeks. Could we, ahem, reach a decision and get on with the plot? (I WISH he’d throw his bedpan at her and tell her to quit meddling, but we know that ain’t gonna happen. Maybe the doctor could polish her off with some subtle poison…)
February 14th, 2007 at 7:23 am
Lamar Alexander! Er….
FOOB: At least we didn’t get the Granthony Proposal today.
Curtis: I don’t know, but I’m giving sweet love to the Cujo Curs of Destruction.
Spidey: Missed opportunity. Just should have had Spidey declare his eternal and unfailing love of J. Jonah Jameson as a reason for his Western Migration. Way to give a mindfrack.
February 14th, 2007 at 7:24 am
Argh! Has no one else received their Daily Ink e-mailed comics today?
Maybe this is a Slylock Fox trick or puzzle…
February 14th, 2007 at 7:33 am
Phew-got ‘em!
An’ Ta’ Dah! (Thanks, Weed) Eh!
February 14th, 2007 at 7:34 am
A3G: Lu Ann appears to paint on 8 1/2 x 11 construction paper. The fact that her “paintings” are of the flowers she doesn’t recognize makes me think she just lacks any short-term memory, a common cause of people believing in ghosts. The other day, for example, she forgot that she put a burrito in the micorwave and so was mystified by its beeping.
February 14th, 2007 at 7:36 am
67: In today’s FBofW, Weed’s eyeballs are blinking, sometimes in the third panel, sometimes in the fourth.
Barney Google and Snuffy Smith: It’s Girls and Sports, with downhome gravy.
Sad but true: My local paper runs G and S once a week, on a “Ch@t Room” [sic] page for with-it teens.
February 14th, 2007 at 7:53 am
FOOB – strange, but I don’t get the blinking eyes anymore. Maybe Mary Worth took them.
But, check out the bong that’s sticking out of Weed’s head! You go Weed!
MT – Lucky learned to juggle the JackBall! You go Lucky!
February 14th, 2007 at 8:28 am
Foob: So they finally get back to talking about the fire’s aftermath, and still no wor’ about the Kelpfroths? I know they were vile, un-Patterson-esque, and possibly gila monsters, but shouldn’t Mike’n'Wee’ at least chat about whether they live’, die’, or remain in the hospital, signing on to become Shriners?
By the way, here’s what the website says about Wee’: “Wee’ grew up in a very wealthy family where business and social stan’ing came before anything, inclu’ing kids. He’s a bit of a loner, choosing to depen’ on himself. He’s an artistic type, an eccentric!” Sounds like the perfect candidate for a loan from the bank – no wonder his father ha’ to get him one. But just wait until Mr. Wee’er comes aroun’ to extract a poun’ of flesh from the dear boy. That’ll make quite a PARTY!.
February 14th, 2007 at 8:31 am
Mary is like that big white ball in The Prisoner making sure no one leaves the island.
February 14th, 2007 at 8:32 am
MW – jeff’s actually been dead for a while now, and mary’s just rearranging his facial expressions between panels, stop-animation style, and ventriloquising jeff’s dialogue. she flew all the way to vietnam to meddle, and she will not be denied. not even by death. panel one, today, she just got a little carried away.
mary’s finding this new meddling style so effective that she’s thinking of applying it more broadly when she gets back to charterstone.
February 14th, 2007 at 8:32 am
* “B.Y.O.B., right?â€
Hey, it’s not the American BYOB – it’s the Canadian Baste Your Other Brother, the wildest party game north of Mexico!
* “We line up a food trough…â€
It’s not gonna be Chex Mix – it’ll be a trough full of the biggest drug mixer ever created. Despite Lynn’s official explanation, there’s a reason the guy is named Weed.
* “…score some seats…â€
Again, you have to understand this in the Canadianglish, wherein “seat” is approximately equivalent to our “booty,” modern sense. This will be the wildest party in the history of Canada.
* “…wind up the tunes…â€
This is Weed we’re talking about here. The newest thing that’s gonna get played at this party is Dark Side Of The Moon. I bet the D.J. was instructed to spend the first half-hour playing “Tomorrow Never Knows” and “Within You, Without You” over and over again.
* “…an’ ta-daah!â€
Um…no excuse here. Unless “Ta-daah” with three As has some sort of druggie code meaning with which I am not familiar.
Also, I think I’m going to start using “Bodacious!” as an interjection. Consider what it means, senses 2 and 3 particularily, and then consider how many people will know what it means. It’s the thrill of having words like “scheisse” at your command in an English-speaking country.
February 14th, 2007 at 8:36 am
alternatively, in that first panel, jeff’s just got his morphine hit, and nothing’s breaking through his happy. or he’s got some profound bedpan action going on, and nothing’s breaking through his happy.
February 14th, 2007 at 8:40 am
FC Gramma’s a split second away from sinking her fangs into Dolly’s little neck and damning her for eternity. Yes, she’s moving her to Toronto.
C(MD) Men cannot help it if Chubby Thighs takes four and a half hours to look lifelike. Represent, Irving.
DtM (”…it’ll be our secret.”) Dennis, you sick, twisted little bastard.
MW “A year?!” YES, a year, Dr. Jeff Cory, Prisoner of the Damned! You will be trapped in the meddler’s web for a whole year! So says your personal demon, Mary “I rule your soul” Worth! She won’t marry you, she sure won’t give you any, but she will run your life down to the millisecond! Vomit on her and FLEE!!
BB Colonel, your wife knows you stroke your oar under the desk, quit acting like you’re innocent.
FBoFW So now Weed is rolling in the money, is that it? Well good golly Miss Molly, that golden Patterson touch is radiating out to touch the chosen few and bless them with sudden luck and sheer storyline manipulation! Gordon’s already a success. Does this mean that Granthony will somehow become a partner in the garage, thus paving the way to be even more of a “success” in the Patterson eyes? Or is he simply going to be less creepy? Yeah, as if Lynn knows how that can be done.
RMMD No matter what you say and how much you stick out your chest, June, panel 3 says Doc ain’t buying what you’re trying to sell.
MT Otter is getting ready to serve the Jackelrod VolleyBall to his friends Bluto and Pinto. Living at Lost Forest certainly is special; all the gianormous flora and fauna!
A3G Stupid is as stupid does.
Phantom So, does this mean they’ve just been sitting and staring at him for hours, too?
(DT)GT Tyler’s entire statement in panel 3 should be on a shirt, complete with the spaced out sun from his home planet to go along with the words.
February 14th, 2007 at 8:49 am
Oh, and T minus more-strips-about-how-lucky-they’ve-been, until the great Clusterfoob now known as the Party.
I’ll even lay down some estimations, bets optional, on the timeline for Clusterfoob. I’ll say another 3 days of Mike, You Deserve A Party to Praise Your [Margo]ing Genius; 3 or 4 days of Liz waffling about going to any party that is not her very own Pity Party, and maybe a couple of weeks’ worth of the actual party itself where Lynn dusts off all the old characters she left in Limbo, and drags them in to genuflect before The Holy Child Michael Himself.
February 14th, 2007 at 8:51 am
Just why would Weed’s father want to buy a burned out hulk of a building. I guess the fruit doesn’t fall too far from the tree.
February 14th, 2007 at 8:52 am
76: Oh, yes. And then Sleazy Tabloid-TV Woman asks why J. Jonah Jameson hates him so much…and he answers.
February 14th, 2007 at 8:56 am
JP: I’m not exactly sure what the ‘HOLY COW!’ is for. It’s a room. With people. Most of whom seems to be Rex Morgan, each with a small child. Nothing remarkable here, unless Neddy has accidently signed up for the the Paris PREschool for the Arts. Wack! Let the merriment ensue! Oh, wait, this is Judge Parker…
RMMD: And June? “Even if May has her skinny arms laced with needle tracks and her pupils are as wide as an elephant’s birth canal, we’ll help then any way we can!” How, specifically, June? Jimmying open Rex’s samples cabinet? Selling your plasma to finance her habit? Having a yard sale with items stolen from the neighbors? How about marketing those weapons-grade breasts of yours on the street corner outside of that free clinic? May can teach you something she calls the “Bourbon Street Tonsil Twister” that’ll keep the clients coming back for more. Literally.
February 14th, 2007 at 8:56 am
It’s Valentine’s Day, and the couple that Lynn chose to celebrate?
John and Elly? No.
Iris and Jim? No.
Sheilagh and Harvey? No.
Liz and Anybody? No.
Granthony and Anybody? No.
April an’ Gerald? No.
Lawrence and his partner? No.
Deanna and Mike? No.
Weed and Mike? AHA!
I rest my case, your honor.
February 14th, 2007 at 8:57 am
Bees got mines? Is this prehistoric desert-clam code for “soon we must rise up against Johnny Hart!”?
February 14th, 2007 at 8:59 am
Uhhhh, just raising my hand here, but wasn’t today, VD, the day that quite a few of our FOOByterians predicted that Granthony and LizardBreath would start the inevitable stroll down the cellar stairs to Liz’s final resting place? Just asking…
February 14th, 2007 at 9:04 am
# 15, you’re right, a “Treeing Walker Coonhound ” but not camped out by the front door. Wouldn’t it be chained to the elm tree out front where it’s worn a hard packed circle in the dirt and is mostly so bored it eats its own wormy droppings? That’s what we got in my little corner of pluggerland/appalachia
February 14th, 2007 at 9:06 am
#87 – Awwww, man, now you have me wondering what The Menace got for Mr. Wilson for St. V’s Day, especially considering Dennis was actually in the Bathroom with Mr. W. the other day…oh God.
Sick little bastard indeed.
Zits – I just adore Zits (the comic only), but I cannot believe Borgman actually used a throwaway panel today! What gives? Is this a mild case of Elrod-itis?
February 14th, 2007 at 9:06 am
MW – A year?! – With this hag!?!
RMMD – After all Rex, it’s only meth. I’m sure June can ween her off with chicken soup and her cross-your-heart bra.
February 14th, 2007 at 9:07 am
Ooops, that #95 Anonymous was me, Ohio Teach.
February 14th, 2007 at 9:14 am
MW – “Now, be sensible, Jeff. We’re upper-middle-class white people — we’ll just throw money at the problem and it will go away.”
February 14th, 2007 at 9:18 am
MW “Why Jeff!…. is that backtalk I hear? Well, we will just see about that, mister!”
god I shudder just to think that.
February 14th, 2007 at 9:20 am
I’d just like to point out, as a former English teacher in the South, that the term is not “book-learnin’,” but “book-l’arnin.” In the rural South, anything that sounds like an e or an i quickly schwas itself into oblivion.
February 14th, 2007 at 9:23 am
Sorry, folks, but I stick to my predix from yesterday. Liz will be too depressed to go to Mike’s party, even to see Pornstache, and will be a no-show. And I still stick to the predix that Happy Howard will be acquitted, sending her into a deeper tailspin that not even Pornstache will be able to get her out of. But I do see this happening.
After the rest of the Pattersaints try to foist Pornstache onto her – and after another attempt by Howard to attack her – Liz will finally snap out of it. She’ll finally realize she’s been wasting her life trying to please everyone except herself, and she’ll blow up at her entire family for their manipulative ways. She’ll move out, once her second case against Howard is settled, and away from Milborough forever, leaving a shocked set of Pattersaints in her wake.
February 14th, 2007 at 9:24 am
Kinda understand the “Pluggers” barricade as I went through that sorta thing many years ago battling coke..
We are having a hellish Ice Storm here in No. Jersey & I’m gonna chair up every door…!!!
February 14th, 2007 at 9:26 am
Is it me, or does Dr. Jeff look like he’s trying to get our help in that second panel?
February 14th, 2007 at 9:30 am
I concurr, Cowboy Dave.
” ‘Cuz Ah’m'll carry Momma’n them over t’ th’ liberry. Yew noe Papa reads th’ latest Pop’ler Mechanics and Sissy checks out one of the multiple copies of North and South on VCR because she Luvs Patrick Swayze and anythin’ to do with stories about the Recent Unpleasantness, an’ Momma ain’t happy wifout her crotch novels.”
oh sweet lord, i think I lacerated several generations of post-graduate degrees doing that.
February 14th, 2007 at 9:32 am
MW: A year with Mary? Suddenly working 20 hour days to help the sick children looks like a less stressful option.
February 14th, 2007 at 9:36 am
Sorry if it’s been said, I’ve not got the time to read all the comments right now (got class, but I will do it later, I promise)
Is anyone else as disturbed as I am by the shades of Vader in Mary Worth there? “Come with me now, and together we will RULE the community as biddy and socially active, but totally whipped Doctor!” *Ksssh-kaah*
Or something, at any rate. It was creepy
February 14th, 2007 at 9:37 am
Thank the heavens, Weed’s studio is proof. Nothing like that exists in London Ontario.
And as to Curtis, don’t Cops have guns? or did they want to avoid accidentally shooting an innocent bystander.
Just not enough blood and body parts in that strip to be realistic.
February 14th, 2007 at 9:38 am
You could get bedsores just by watching the stasis of the current MW plot unfolding, but at least the snappy dialogue and continually morphing appendages are there to hold your interest. (DT)GT on the other hand just lies there, inert as a woolly mammoth in an iceberg, hoping against hope that some seven-year old can be enticed to liven up the artwork.
February 14th, 2007 at 9:38 am
#27 (Luprand): Back in the early 60s, there was a series of animated cartoons based on King Features comic strips — Beetle Bailey, Snuffy Smith, Krazy Kat, Popeye. The Snuffy Smith cartoons had a theme song that started with Snuffy singing “Uk-uk-uk, great balls of fire, I’m bodacious.” Snuffy was rad before rad was rad.
February 14th, 2007 at 9:40 am
Ah, 101, schwa. Schwa schwa schwa. This is a good start to a horrific Toronto morning to be reminded of both cargo cults and schwas.
February 14th, 2007 at 9:45 am
I’m surprised by how much meth there is in the comix lately…now even the Pluggers are at it!
TDIET: If these people would read a book every now and again, maybe they’d discover that they’re living a horribly stultifying life in a bad comic panel and try to improve their lot. Instead: “Hey Luggbutt! Armed & Famous or Wife Swap tonight? Ohhhhh ye-e-e-eahhhh!”
One Big Happy made me laugh this morning…”I haven’t seen you since your mama smacked the ump at that Little League game!” I know there’s a Ruthie-hating contingent out there, but I like her. I like her charmingly daft grandfather, too. And her snarky grandmother. (I like snark! Imagine!)
February 14th, 2007 at 9:46 am
FOOB
Contrarian that I am, I point out that FOOB thrives on conflict, not resolution.
So I am betting Liz meets Granthony there, but she *also* meets some entirely new contender.
And speaking of Howard, I don’t know for sure how they do it in Canada, but hasn’t this rape trial dragged on a long time? Why is that? Isn’t the jury getting bored?
February 14th, 2007 at 9:47 am
#101 Cowboy Dave – I like the use of “schwa” as a verb! Further evidence of your claim: I grew up in Virginia and still pronounce the word “terrible” as “turble.” :)
February 14th, 2007 at 9:49 am
#87 – True Fable – “MW “A year?!†YES, a year, Dr. Jeff Cory, Prisoner of the Damned! You will be trapped in the meddler’s web for a whole year!”
That was the most hilarious thing I saw in the comics all day. Of course, a year in MW time would take until Star Trek becomes real in our time. I also got such a kick from the cowering in panel 1, and then the realization that yes, Jeff, you can run, but you can’t hide from this maestro of meddle. She’s like a cockroach that has infiltrated every aspect of your life without you seeing it happen, as cockroaches crawl inside your walls, get into your kitchen, your living room, your closets then your very soul. Well, metaphorically they get into your soul. Call the exterminator, Greta Weber. Confess to Mary that you’re having an affair with her. Short of that, grab a Vietnamese nurse and confess to having an affair with her – if she can’t speak English, she can’t contradict your story. Oh, what am I thinking, of course they all speak English. Everyone speaks English all over the world, and they make up other languages just to fool us silly Americans then laugh behind our backs. If you can’t find a nurse to claim an affair with, say that you’re rump riding with your Dr. Dong Hung Lo, and explain that his adamant refusal to admit it is only proof of the love that dare not speak its name.
Mary: What love is that?
Jeff: Sigh. IT DARE NOT SPEAK ITS NAME! What, are you deaf AND dumb?
February 14th, 2007 at 9:49 am
94 williethompson – FOOB, yes, predicted on Valentine’s D-Day and in fact, I guess this being Lynn, there are two theories at work: 1) She’s reading C.C. and is just messing with us because she knows the expectatios or 2) it is happening, just off-stage, and will occur in its all its glory center stage, as soon as we quite hearing about Michael michael michael and now, god, the stupid WEED subplot.
Anyway, what can you expect from Michael’s coma, he can’t follow the plot even there…
February 14th, 2007 at 9:50 am
Poor, poor Mark Trail. He gets a line of dialogue like “it’s all greased up and ready to go!” and yet we all know that such a statement in the Lost Forest would never refer a) his genitals, b) a woman, or c) a beaver of any kind. On the plus side, maybe we’re about to see some greased-up boat wrestling!
February 14th, 2007 at 9:51 am
#107 G-man, are you implying that only people without class read all the comments.
February 14th, 2007 at 9:51 am
?
February 14th, 2007 at 9:56 am
Whoah, Josh used the fuck-word! Someone call the FCC!
February 14th, 2007 at 9:57 am
Here in shadow of the Blue Ridge, Piedmont and Mountain accents collide Charlotteans on I-485. Y’all gives way to Y’awl until it hits Y’uns. And everyone looks funny at the transplant here who still goes You Guys. Or Margo Boxcar Saturn.
February 14th, 2007 at 9:57 am
“What I lack in class, I more than make up in questionable style and shallow living.”
February 14th, 2007 at 9:58 am
Foob: Was Weed the guy that was beaten by his dad? I’m getting the message that you should return to your abuser for financial assistance. Nice, Lynn. Why don’t you have underage April and her non-affectionate boyfriend go for a roadside gig and specifically mention that they’re not using birth control of any kind? Why don’t you have Liz start dating Howard the rapist, while you’re at it, too?
February 14th, 2007 at 10:01 am
Criminetly. I didn’t get a paper this morning (we’re snowed in! Yaaaaay!), so I had to go read my usual paper-based comix online…
Poor Jeff Cory! If Mary leaves him alone for one solitary second (”Dear, I’m going to go harass Dr. Tran again – he’s not making you better fast enough!”) Jeff’s going to leap out of that bed, hospital johnny flapping in the wind, scrawny white butt mooning the world, and disappear into the jungle.
February 14th, 2007 at 10:06 am
Hopefully tomorrow Jeff will rise from his deathbed with that tent he was sporting yesterday and say,
“Fine, Mary, but only on the condition that I get to slam into Tobey for the whole year. You can lean on my arm in the daytime, but after hours I’m getting some younger stuff. You can have Ian.”
February 14th, 2007 at 10:08 am
TDIET: J’ever notice? Yesterday, Barfo mentioned this strange, unexplained thing called “email” that apparently comes over wires to your computer. Today, Barfo and Migraina have no concept of the VCR/TiVo, or any other programmable recording device for television. Ohhh Yeaah…
Funky: Is there a real punch line in there, or is some wiseass kid the flimsy substitute?
February 14th, 2007 at 10:10 am
What bothers me almost as much as a “food trough” at a party is Weed’s gross, slicked-back, 80s artsy-poseur hairdo. You just KNOW it’s greasy!
February 14th, 2007 at 10:12 am
Mary Worth is setting a new standard for tedium with this protracted bedside scene. C’mon Mary, spit out your ultimatum! Let Dr. Jeff know that he’s not the only one with an appetite for your tuna casserole. Inform him that there’s a certain Dr. Ling (whose Bill Fristian powers of remote diagnosis saved Jeff’s bacon) who’s been dying to sample your organic fish sauce, not to mention Aldo, who, while dead, still serves as a reminder of the enduring potency of your feminine wiles. Tell him you’re leaving now and if he doesn’t come with you, by the time he drags his sorry ass back to Santa Royale, there’s gonna be another mule kickin’ in his stall.
Or just keep doing whatever it is you’re doing for another two weeks.
February 14th, 2007 at 10:12 am
TDIET alert: our local paper (The Connecticut Post) did a “feature” on Al Scaduto, the “comic” “artist” who “writes” They’ll Do It Every Time. You can read the “article” at http://www.connpost.com/localnews/ci_5205859 ; or, if that breaks, I saved a PDF of it. Josh, feel free to email me for a copy.
The print version of the article even contained his home address, in case anyone wanted to stop by Milford, CT and “suggest” any “ideas” to him.
February 14th, 2007 at 10:13 am
FOOB again – what I think is interesting, or not, is that good ol’ Lovey is selling the firetrap – but not to a Gentile.
Is this more of the “stick with your own kind” pathos? “They share the same culture.” Oy vey!
February 14th, 2007 at 10:17 am
Looks like Curtis has attracted the canine version of Schwartzenegger’s Terminator, which destroyed a police precinct in its unceasing drive towards its target. Curt should run by a butcher’s shop. 632,000 comics about dogs and butcher shops can’t be wrong, can they?
February 14th, 2007 at 10:28 am
Foob: “It’s been a tense time… ”
“We’re talking past tense… ”
I just got that. I’d originally just scribed it to stilted dialogue. You know, the kind you get in crappy comic strips that have to set up a bad pun.
February 14th, 2007 at 10:29 am
When I was nine and in the fourth grade, Snuffy Smith was one of my favorite comics.
I was learning to play the viola at school and I toppled my music stand. I said, “Dadblast it!” with all my imagined Snuffy hillbilly twang gusto having read the word in the strip the day before. I expected a laugh but the other kids looked at me with shocked surprise and the teacher rounded on me with huge eyes I can remember to this day.
She immediately reprimanded me for cursing. I told her, “I’m not cussin’. I read it in the funny papers in Snuffy Smith. That’s not bad, it’s funny.” At that time I was still under the illusion, as most children are, that the funny papers were for kids.
The teacher was appalled they they would print such a word where children would read it and told me not to repeat everything I read.
I’ve always wondered to this day whether, “Dadblast it!” is such a bad thing to say. After 24 years, I’m still not sure.
February 14th, 2007 at 10:38 am
Last panel: How gay is that pose? Not that there’s anything wrong with that, Weed.
By Friday, I expect the punch line to be Dee walking in on Mike & Weed naked on the floor together. Saturday’s strip would be Mike begging forgiveness from his wife. “I didn’t want to, but he was hounding me for it!”
Deanna: Hounding? Is that why you were doing it doggy style!?
February 14th, 2007 at 10:41 am
#`133 – Deborah – “I’ve always wondered to this day whether, “Dadblast it!†is such a bad thing to say.”
Just don’t say “Boxcar” or mention the planet Saturn. It’s ok here to say “dadblast it”. You’re in goddamn good fucking company.
February 14th, 2007 at 10:44 am
9, 18, 41 — Red, Poteet, Ribinin — dudes, I spent three years in Florence, South Carolina. Your visions of trailer courts and adult diapers do not scare me. Or, if you’re in the Curtis strip, land of useless words emphasized, your visions of trailer courts do not scare me.
I’m in Irvine, California, which appears to have been laminated. I keep looking around for the Charterstone complex.
February 14th, 2007 at 11:00 am
Foob food trough: At the party, two hands reach for the last non-broken or moldy pretzel and simultaneously grab it. The owners of the hands, Liz and Granthony, look up into each other’s eyes.
“Give it up, Pornstache Man.”
“Whore.”
“Is that a real moustache, or did a beaver die on your face?”
“You’re 0 for 2 with the cheatin’ boyfriends, Liz. You aint got nothin’! You don’t know how to please your man. But I know how to please my man!”
The room falls into silent incredulity.
“Did I just say that out loud? …. Damn, she got the pretzel, too.”
February 14th, 2007 at 11:01 am
So it turns out that Weed is a trust fund baby who owns a building? Why then was he living in a firetrap fleabag with a bunch of rugrats and cigar-smoking cranks?
As for the Liz/Howard coupling, it has pop culture precedent. Way back in the 80s, a man-permed Luke married the girl he raped, Laura, on General Hospital. Millions of girls in feathered hair and Segio Valente jeans wept in joy.
February 14th, 2007 at 11:02 am
If dropping the “d” is part of the Patterson patios then it would be “Wee-er”.
February 14th, 2007 at 11:03 am
No cool party, in the history of time, has had its planning summed up with the word “ta-daah!”.
“Yeah we’ll get some kegs, get those girls from next door over here, a band… and sh%#, man… ta-daah!”
February 14th, 2007 at 11:11 am
$137 hogenmogen
My goodness, what you said!
February 14th, 2007 at 11:13 am
MT: Ooooo! LoFo got otters! Lots and lots of otters. Lake otters? I wonder what that internet has to say about lake otters . . .
February 14th, 2007 at 11:15 am
#133 Deborah – I think your music teacher was a “Dadblast it!” Bitch
February 14th, 2007 at 11:18 am
Please note that one of the many charming features of the library in Snuffy Smith is the distance between those fine, local “ionic” columns. If the artist had not cleverly misplaced the right hand column, we would not have been able to overhear the yunguns because the column would have been in front of the window (just like the other one) and those conversation balloons would have been trapped forever. We are grateful fans.
February 14th, 2007 at 11:18 am
133 Deborah
For the record, “Dadblast” is a polite(er) way of saying “Goddamn” so I suppose your teacher had a point.
As near as I can tell the derivation runs more or less “one third of god is the father, and father is dad and the elder gods like Thor blasted, didn’t cause damnation.”
That doesn’t explain the onsolete form of the oat, “dadblame it.”
February 14th, 2007 at 11:21 am
In FBoFB they have two options: Either crank up that old victrola and break out their rockin shoes or listen to Buck Owens. With any hope there will be controlled substances.
Has anyone noticed how Weed and Mike are dressed exactly the same so if you switch their heads mid comic, no one would notice?
February 14th, 2007 at 11:22 am
123, Hogen: I believe it was Gordon whose father beat him. Weed’s father is just another generic foobian parent-from-hell. (Weed…Laurence…Deanna…I wonder why these other families even bothered… they should have known they could never live up to the high parenting standards of the Patterson clan.)
February 14th, 2007 at 11:23 am
AwfulArt – Where in No. Jersey? I’m iced in up here as well.
February 14th, 2007 at 11:23 am
Whoa and then my comment was rendered meaningless! In my paper Weed and Mike are dressede exactly the same with black turtlenecks and neon blue jeans! I should have looked at the origional comic before posting. Please excuse!
February 14th, 2007 at 11:23 am
Good Morning Kate! Is the Charterstone complex a psychiatric term? Makes sense because here in south Orange County, I encounter a lot of folks with that affliction.
February 14th, 2007 at 11:27 am
I was checking back yesterday and found that I first tuned in here on July 31 of last year which makes today not only Valentines Day but also our 6 month anniversary DON’T LOOK AT THE CALENDAR! together, so I want to dedicate this serenade to each and every one of you:
I logged on to say I ♥ you
I logged on because I ♥ that bear
(you know who I‘m talkin’ ‘bout)
Every time I read a great snark
I laugh so hard my bottom has to f♥
Has to f♥, HAS TO F♥!
a-cha-cha
February 14th, 2007 at 11:38 am
Morning back atcha, Red! You and I are probably only miles apart … isn’t the Charterstone complex where Mary Worth lives? Or has the glossy perfection of the day here turned me into an ament?
February 14th, 2007 at 11:39 am
Wee’s “B.Y.O.B.” makes a lot more sense in context of today’s strip, where we see Wee’s reconciliation with his money-makin’ father, e.g., when it comes to squeezin’ friends for a party, Wee’ is totally in focus.
Also, hands up who expects The Party to provide a suitable environment for Granthony an’ Liz to finally get it on? Maybe in the food trough.
February 14th, 2007 at 11:45 am
#151 gh – aaaaawwww! My dadblasted keyboard doesn’t have a heart, or I’d announce that we heart you too.
I first tuned in here on August 11 of last year, when I got back from vacation and had to find out what Aldo had been up to. I googled Mary Worth and, lo and behold, I found a Curmudgeon!
February 14th, 2007 at 11:46 am
#134 – but will they keep their boots on, a la Mark Trail?
February 14th, 2007 at 12:01 pm
Yo, Josh, let’s use LGBT-neutral expletives to dramatize the social pathologies of the manimal proletariat from now on…
Oh, and not to mix up posting boards, but did anyone notice the new “Lost” character named “Aldo”? He bears no apparent resemblance to Captain Kangaroo, so I’m not sure if it’s a shout-out, but the presence of any Mary Worth character on the Island lends credence to the idea of their being trapped in Hell.
February 14th, 2007 at 12:02 pm
#154 jules
I found a lot of now familiar names first popped up in July/August. As for the heart, I copied it a couple months ago from someone’s comment and saved it on a Word document. I figured it would come in handy someday.
Feel the ♥!
February 14th, 2007 at 12:12 pm
#8 – The coonskin cap maintained a tenuous hold on the American consciousness until about 1970, when Fess Parker’s Daniel Boone role ended. Parker previously popularized the look in the 1950s Davy Crockett show. I dimly recall that Jethro may have on occasion donned this grotesque headgear in The Beverly Hillbillies. It only seemed appropriate on Parker because the ringtail look complemented his bushy eyebrows.
February 14th, 2007 at 12:18 pm
gh – how clever! I’m feelin the ♥!
February 14th, 2007 at 12:21 pm
I totally don’t get Weed’s studio. I thought he was a working artist, not a trendy socialite. Where’s all his work? What’s with the nice couches and the whizzy lamp? Did he get rich all of a sudden? (And still throwing BYOB parties, the cheap bastard!)
And SURELY this isn’t still the top floor of Lovey’s apartment building? Where’s the smoke damage??? WTF?
Also, as long as I’m on the burned-out apartment building thread… did you catch the other day when Mike was whining about all the things he still had to do, “while dealing with living in a cramped space with my parents” or words to that effect? He just got a $25K advance! Surely that’s a security deposit and some replacement furniture? If not a down payment on a house? I can’t imagine how that guy’s mind works — that $25K would have “exit ticket” written ALL over it, for me! What’s he gonna spend it on, hang-gliding lessons?
February 14th, 2007 at 12:23 pm
#154 jules – The ♥ appears in my Word version under the symbol subset “Miscellaneous Dingbats.”
Any resemblance to MW is purely coincidental.
February 14th, 2007 at 12:38 pm
MT: I love that Theodore is juggling the little Jack Elrod ball while Mark and his evil friend discuss “fishing.” Such a talented beaver! I wonder if the turtle could teach him to measure things?
RMMD: Is it just me, or does this story line make no sense at all? And also, why does June have the stove turned up so high that the flames are licking the outside of the pot of whatever evil brew she is stirring?
February 14th, 2007 at 12:42 pm
Actually, this Pluggers is pretty funny if the door happens to be one that opens OUT.
February 14th, 2007 at 12:42 pm
FBOFW – Weed has this spacious studio, and yet he was living in Lovey’s ATTIC? How long has he had that studio?
And even in that cool industrial space, they’re sitting around in their socks! Like they’re in some clausterphobic Empire-carpeted suburban tract home. Will the PARTY!! be a sock-hop?
February 14th, 2007 at 12:43 pm
156: First thing I thought when I heard his name on Lost was “ALDO LIVES”
February 14th, 2007 at 12:43 pm
Also, we need a “ALDO LIVES” tshirt.
February 14th, 2007 at 12:45 pm
# 162 -must be meth for dinner!
Next – May steals all of Rexie’s scrip pads.
February 14th, 2007 at 12:46 pm
#163 – Does that mean The Dude from The Big Lebowski is a Plugger?
February 14th, 2007 at 12:50 pm
June’s pointy, Mama Zits-like breast in panel 3 looks like it could do some damage or is it just her push up miracle bra?
Poor, poor Weed – he was abused as a child much like the saintly Lynn Johnston and he has to live with that oosik nose of his…
Come back to the empty, meaningless life of quiet, banal love starved desperation, Jeff. It’s only a year and your kids have missed you terribly. (Actually, they never would have noticed he was gone had Mary not aksed them why he didn’t return and then gave her a cavalier, “He’s fine, don’t worry” response).
February 14th, 2007 at 12:50 pm
#110 speaks the truth.
Also, #137 is my COTW nominee.
February 14th, 2007 at 12:52 pm
Mary Worth is getting really creepy. She’s so insistent on Jeff taking time to recover, and he just lays there, helpless, while she goes on and on about what’s best for him.
I’m starting to imagine her tying a board between his legs and taking a sledgehammer to them to keep him from going back to work…Misery Worth, anyone?
February 14th, 2007 at 12:59 pm
Hahaha, SteveRoper — that Pluggers door DOES open out! Doors open towards their hinges, yes? Do you see any hinges on the side with the chair? QED!!!
Oh, Pluggers are SO STUPID! It’s a laff rioit!!!
February 14th, 2007 at 12:59 pm
#117 Chupper, um, that’s “gassed up and ready to go.” Not greased. Not that your choices a, b or c couldn’t apply to the actual line of dialogue, either.
February 14th, 2007 at 1:00 pm
riot
February 14th, 2007 at 1:00 pm
Red #11–when I was young I actually heard the Cosby song on the radio. The local station also played a Cosby tribute titled ‘Funky North Philly.’ Thanks to you and #34 Moon Mullins, I know I was not totally delusional as a child. Strange, yes…..
February 14th, 2007 at 1:01 pm
FBOFW -
Thanks Lynn – Now I hate Weed.
February 14th, 2007 at 1:09 pm
#153 –
“Also, hands up who expects The Party to provide a suitable environment for Granthony an’ Liz to finally get it on? Maybe in the food trough.”
Oh, man, I’d forgive Lynn for everything she’d done if Liz and the Pornstache really did make the beast with two backs in the food trough.
Speaking of which — today’s Arlo & Janis contains a strong suggestion of such behavior (minus the food trough) recently occurring:
http://www.comics.com/comics/arlonjanis/archive/arlonjanis-20070214.html
Finally, I can’t help thinking that “Margo Boxcar Saturn” would make a killer T-shirt.
February 14th, 2007 at 1:09 pm
#162 Old Fogeyette
You sure they ain’t otters? It looks like there’s three of them, but one could be a rock. They’re definitely busy little beavers if their pond has turned into a twenty mile lake!
Dan: I see you have two boats.
Mark: Yes, one is for wrestling.
Dan: My life is so dull compared to yours.
Mark: Well, all that’s about to change. We’re going fishing!
February 14th, 2007 at 1:15 pm
Now that Joss Whedon is off the Wonder Woman movie, I think it’s great he has the time to take over the writing and art of APT 3G. Pairing Cordelia and Willow as roomates was sheer genius:
http://www.chron.com/apps/comics/showComick.mpl?date=20070213&name=Apartment_3-G
And now Buffy is getting flowers from mysterious ghosts!:
http://www.chron.com/apps/comics/showComick.mpl?date=20070214&name=Apartment_3-G
I just can’t wait to see what twists he comes up with next!
February 14th, 2007 at 1:16 pm
My endurance of FOOB has been vastly improved recently… The black turtleneck, slicked back hair and minimalist loft have prompted me to read everything Weed says in the scathingly ironic tones of Dieter from SNL’s “Sprockets.” It instantly creates an entirely new strip, and one that’s far more interesting.
February 14th, 2007 at 1:18 pm
#161 Coffeeclash – “Miscellaneous Dingbats†can also describe the dramatis personae in MW, FW. FOOB, JP and RMMD, although I don’t think they’d be in MicroSoft Word, except as the w32 virus.
February 14th, 2007 at 1:19 pm
#180 tomorrow Weed asks Mike to touch his monkey.
February 14th, 2007 at 1:24 pm
I love it when (DT)GT ends with a question! I’ll take a shot at continuing Tyler’s dramatic monologue. “My hairstyle is ridiculous and my girlfriend is an emasculating ball-buster. And I’m too, too pretty.”
February 14th, 2007 at 1:32 pm
180 monica, it also helps if you pronounce Josef Weeder like Yosef Veeder.
February 14th, 2007 at 1:33 pm
further information on hearts can be found in today’s Lio.
February 14th, 2007 at 1:35 pm
Isn’t Jughaid too young to give a shit about girls?
February 14th, 2007 at 1:36 pm
#180 and #182: Speaking of SNL, I was intrigued to observe in Saturday’s Lockhorns and again in today’s that Loretta is friends with Maya Rudolph.
February 14th, 2007 at 1:42 pm
#63 Caged Tygre and #75 Sheilagh – I am so excited you share my love of lager. And that you know how to spell Yuengling.
Unfortunately, there is no way the FOOBs, even Weed, are cool enough to drink Yuengling, even if they can find it in TO.
And what “buddies” and “guys” are coming to the trough feeding frenzy? The only male friends Michael has (that I can think of) beyond Weed are Lawrence and Gordon.
February 14th, 2007 at 1:44 pm
I just have to point this out:
My currently long distance boyfriend, who was born on a military base in Germany but has lived in North Carolina since he was three, had an uncle (or possibly a great-uncle) named Snuffy Smith.
Really. I’m not kidding. When he used to read the comic strip as a kid, he thought he was reading about the adventures of his uncle.
February 14th, 2007 at 1:50 pm
Hammy the squirrel calls Hillary a Tramp in “OtH”… Love it…!!! The little guard duck hugs his beer can in “PBS”… My kinda duck. Probably got the beer from Tinsley’s duck…
On the down side Mycomicspage has lost the rights to James Bond.. See ya….
February 14th, 2007 at 2:01 pm
This is the first time today I’ve been able to access the site. As far as I can say, no one has commented on Dennis the Oedipus. Kid, you’re mom’ pretty, but NO!
OBH: Yeah, I’m sure you’re sorry about Angela’s dad and his Okie slut. But it is a nice juicy morsel for cafeteria gossip.
February 14th, 2007 at 2:02 pm
Let me try. In case my girl friend is monitoring – I ♥ blow jobs.
I always get gushy on Valentine’s Day.
February 14th, 2007 at 2:05 pm
re: FOOB — I have never heard anybody actually say “BYOB”, but have heard them say “BYO” — which sounds like some sort of youth religious organization.
February 14th, 2007 at 2:07 pm
MW -Shouldn’t it be about time to change Dr. Jeff’s bedpan? Or is he wearing 900-mile Depends?
Also, aren’t the Vietnamese people getting ready to celebrate Tet? If Moy & Giella make no mention of this, I will find it highly offensive.
February 14th, 2007 at 2:10 pm
#44-fillmoreeast
Thanks for all the Norse mythology references!
I feel like such a nerd.
February 14th, 2007 at 2:11 pm
RMMD–This whole “save May and Niki” storyline has been bugging me. Didn’t Niki tell June that his mother had been a waitress in the French Quarter? Why was she sitting around unemployed in Morganville and relying on Elvis to find her a job “in a lab”? What town lacks waitressing jobs? Sure, I can’t picture her working in a 5-star restaurant, but there must be a truck stop diner or downtown dive that could use her “talents” and be filled with such colorful characters that her appearance would not be an issue.
February 14th, 2007 at 2:13 pm
I just wanted to say that I ♥ Hogenmogen for #137.
February 14th, 2007 at 2:14 pm
#181 – Aha! That’s what Jeff has – the Worth32 virus! Dr. Corey, I feel for ya.
February 14th, 2007 at 2:21 pm
164. Apple Girl:
I’m confused by people on this site thinking it is strange that people wear socks inside the house. Isn’t that what everyone does? Don’t you take your shoes off at the door, or do you trudge the dirt, soil, dog poop and stuck gum from the outside world all over your home? If so, are there footprints everywhere?
The only alternatives I can fathom is going barefoot, which would also leave footprints and be kinda cold this time of year in Toronto, or everyone keeps multiple pairs of house slippers around.
I am hoping for explanations from the CC panel.
February 14th, 2007 at 2:23 pm
Liz is now faced with Granthony, Warren, or Howard Erk. I think that there isn’t enough Canadian beer available to her to make a rational decision.
I think she is going to go lesbo on us.
Just you wait and see.
February 14th, 2007 at 2:29 pm
The true Pluggers home security system is a shotgun. Though the syndicate probably would have rejected a sketch of the dog Plugger blowing the scalp off a rabbit-headed intruder, so I guess they went with the chair instead.
February 14th, 2007 at 2:29 pm
“…it’s a thatched-roof, ill-built wooden shanty with a wooden monumental neoclassical entrance, complete with columns…”
But those columns are the only way to tell the difference between the library and the outhouses.
February 14th, 2007 at 2:31 pm
Curtis – Too predictable. Gunk will turn the dogs-from-hell into tail-wagging, big-eyed Precious Moments figurines through his Flyspeck Island way with animals. At some point, he will insist they are “good doggies.” Not only that, but they will revert to visciousness upon the arrival of “Derrick” and “Onion,” and tear into their former “masters,” thereby ending this “episode.”
February 14th, 2007 at 2:33 pm
Dinette Set – Joy and Burl out for a nice V-Day dinner at a posh quarter-French bistro. The two doors in the background are marked W.C., which means what exactly? Water Closet? Than the one on the right would be the mens room as suggested by the mustache design. The one on the left must be the women’s room because of the mustache and the bush. Joy must have shaved…. her mustache off.
February 14th, 2007 at 2:34 pm
FBOFW: “The future looks wonderful!”
Whenever a character says something so blatantly taunting to the fates as that, isn’t it usually just a matter of time before Billy Clyde Tuttle comes back to town and tries to blow up the Martins’ house?
February 14th, 2007 at 2:36 pm
#199 – This issue was discussed at length not long ago. I have a sheepdog who is 80 pounds of living Velcro so tracking things in the house on the soles of my shoes is fairly inocuous in comparison to the crap she sheds the minute she walks in the door. My son, on the other hand, acts as if I’ve just shit on the floor if I don’t take my shoes off before entering his house (which ironically is usually a freakin’ mess). Leaving your shoes at the door seems more sanitary but then most of us have been raised to use dry toilet paper so what do we know about clean?
Say hello to Lord Plushbottom, will you?
February 14th, 2007 at 2:36 pm
#199 Moon Mullins
Agreed. Socks only. Around here it’s strictly “no shoes, no shirt, no pants.”
February 14th, 2007 at 2:38 pm
182 stinky pete – and he will touch him, love him…
184 Caged Tygre – you’re right, it certainly does. I’ve never had so much fun reading this strip.
I expect Veeder will be playing a lot of Kraftwerk at the party.
February 14th, 2007 at 2:42 pm
206: Trotzenbonnie:
Lord and Lady P. say hi right back at you.
Kayo still lives in a drawer.
Say hi to Shary Flenniken and Pepsi for me, willya? Ever find any pants that didn’t fit so high up?
February 14th, 2007 at 2:45 pm
It never occurred to me that we could use symbols here. Let’s experiment.
I ï‚© Comics Curmudgeon
I ஓ Comics Curmudgeon
I Ë Comics Curmudgeon
I b Comics Curmudgeon
I tComics Curmudgeon
I L Comics Curmudgeon
I HComics Curmudgeon
I ? Comics Curmudgeon
February 14th, 2007 at 2:46 pm
Saturn Boxcar Margo. Never mind.
February 14th, 2007 at 3:05 pm
178 gh–Well, okay, maybe they are otters, but they are still very talented, like all the LoFo fauna. It’s a good thing I’m not an outdoors writer.
179 Cinephile–hahaha! I wish it were true! The comics would truly be worth reading if JW was penning them.
February 14th, 2007 at 3:08 pm
MT–Apparently Andy took off with the second boat, because they are both missing from the second panel. Since he left the motor boat, I’m assuming he’s rowing. Talented dog!
February 14th, 2007 at 3:17 pm
A3G.: Something’s come over Tommie. She’s flouncing around the apartment with the top button of her blouse undone. I’m worried about her.
February 14th, 2007 at 3:17 pm
180: Dieter/Veeder — I love it!
199: Thank you. Not to defend the Foobs, but shoes in the house?!? I kick them off the second I get home. Not to protect my floors, but because wearing shoes is just not comfortable! It’s socks or bare feet in the summer; socks or socks ‘n’ slippers in the winter.
February 14th, 2007 at 3:18 pm
# 148 Klipper..
In Ridgewood. Yaa the plow just came by…!!!
February 14th, 2007 at 3:19 pm
MT- After hearing that the motorboat was all gassed up and ready to go, Andy took it, leaving Mark and Dan to fend for themselves against the jackelrod ball throwing giant otters. Yes, living in LoFo is special, Mark said shyly. (wink, wink, nudge, nudge,say no more, say no more)
February 14th, 2007 at 3:23 pm
Forgot to mention.. The Record which has a mediocre comics in now in Color…BFD….!!!
February 14th, 2007 at 3:26 pm
Why could I paste in one particularly obscure astrological symbol, but not a saturn symbol, a boxcar symbol, or even (I blush to disclose) a heart symbol.
February 14th, 2007 at 3:28 pm
I ♥ the socks vs. shoes debate!
February 14th, 2007 at 3:28 pm
No snark on Luann today? You may recall our fearless leader commenting on some disturbing aspects of this strip last week. Today’s installment gets even creepier. Check Berniece’s Oedipal observation on brother Ben, who it seems came home on leave to find a Mom, not a girlfriend. She gives Luann a nice shot, too – “I’m not saying you’re high maintenance, girl, but you make an ‘86 Yugo look like reliable transportation.”
February 14th, 2007 at 3:33 pm
#199, 207, 215: I wear shoes around the house as a matter of course. When my wife goes to bed and i’m still padding about, i’ll sometimes put on slippers to keep the noise down.
#206, 209: And please give a tip o’ the trilby to the bummy — and probably rummy — Uncle Willie and his long-suffering wife, Mamie.
February 14th, 2007 at 3:40 pm
Fortunately, it was only a momentary bout of class, so I’m back to normal. Having read all of the comments, I can safely say the only class I’ve got left is the kind that requires homework. And yes, class = not read the comments. Clearly, y’all are tacky losers.
I feel another bout coming on, and I expect it won’t wear off until I get home from work, so I’ll leave you with this note:
Mary Worth being a Sith Lord makes so much sense. All the meddlesome tactics are purely to destroy the wills of those around her, making them thralls to her power. It’s an epic allegory of the fight against nonthink, with Dr. Corey os the protagonist, fighting to maintain the last vestiges of his will. Fight, Dr. Corey! We belive in you, Jeff!
February 14th, 2007 at 3:44 pm
Weed is filled with anticipation for the party……..and it is delicious.
I’m actually hoping that Weed does become like Dieter for the party. The dancing scenes could be comic gold.
Also Dieter has a number of phrases that fit Liz’s personality perfectly.
February 14th, 2007 at 3:56 pm
224: Personally, I’d like to see Anthony do the “Now I am as happy as a little girl!” gesture. (Hmm … has anyone actually seen this supposed child of his? Maybe Anthony is Francoise! Surprise, Liz!)
More info on adult babies can certainly be found…
February 14th, 2007 at 3:57 pm
Doesn’t look like anyone’s mentioned it yet, but Josh is guest-blogging Wonkette this week, in addition to his regular Cartoon Violence gig. Go the Wonkette, then scroll down to the image of the gal we all love for details.
February 14th, 2007 at 3:58 pm
Uh, that’s supposed to be ” go TO Wonkette” — didn’t mean to sound like Mr. President.
February 14th, 2007 at 4:02 pm
Weed is hoping that Michael will go all “Lawrence” on his knob. It would fulfill a dream of his and bring a little bit of closure to the strip.
Slurp Slurp Slurp.
February 14th, 2007 at 4:02 pm
Curtis – This storyline ends with everyone in the city becoming a victim of the dog attacks and “Onion” and Derrick getting the death penalty.
February 14th, 2007 at 4:33 pm
#136 Kate
How long ago did you live in Florence? I have to make a work-related run out there about once a month. I bet it’s really changed. There’s a Red Lobster and everything. Their motto: “We’re not Sumter!”
February 14th, 2007 at 4:35 pm
FOOB: Weed’s dad is totally in focus at the same time that MikeFoob isn’t.
JP: Good God, girl, you’re at a Paris artiste place! Stop blowing bubbles out your nostril!
Mutts: Awwww, look at the pretty valentine heart. And good ol’ Earl is lovin’ his doting owner. That’s so lovely. Aw. And they’re leaning back… uh…OH, NO! THEY’RE FALLING BACKWARD! WATCH OUT!!! *CRACK*…………….. “Ooowwwwwww, my spiiiiine…..!”
February 14th, 2007 at 4:38 pm
What in Doc Jeff’s medical education, training and experience qualifies him in any way, shape or form to fundraise? He helps at the clinic with his medical skills, which would not help him one iota in raising money. It sounds more like a devious ruse to get him back to Santa Royale against his will.
“Damn it Mary, I’m a doctor not a fundraiser”.
February 14th, 2007 at 4:43 pm
Ha-HA! Miscellaneous dingbats! Let’s see, that would include Mary and Toby, probably Ella (remember Ella? anyone? Giella? Giella?), Tommie, Luann (both Luanns, now that I think on it), Blondie, Cookie, Lizardbreath, Deanna, Elly…I don’t read Judge Parker, would it include Neddy? I bet it would, because her name is “Neddy.”
This is too much fun. I better quit. But first, I should add that I also want a t-shirt that says “Margo Boxcar Saturn.” Sounds like the military alphabet, but really is a bunch of obscure swear words!
February 14th, 2007 at 5:01 pm
Dang, stinky pete, you’re right. Guess my eyes ain’t what they used to be, or maybe I just read what I want to read. Although if it’s the latter, that would mean I want hot greased up Mark Trail action, and then I’d just have to kill myself.
February 14th, 2007 at 5:07 pm
Ruminations, in no particular order:
1) Having a portion of my family tree in parts of these United States where the term “Bodacious” is actually used (and, alas, not in an ironic way), I am qualified to comment that the term is almost never uttered unless it is followed by the term “ta”. Twice.
2) If your browser cursor is the standard arrow-thingy, you can go to the last panel in FOOB and put a little devil tail on Michael. Coincidence? I think not.
3) Dr. Jeff doesn’t look happy in panel one, he looks dead. I think he was faking it in hopes that Mary would STFU (shutup ShutUp SHUTUP!). Come to think of it, he looks dead in panel two as well. I think he just gave up.
4) It would be swell if someone photoshopped that Pluggers to replace the chair with a shotgun rigged to the door with a length of dental floss. Extra points for positioning it at groin level. That’s how my family would do it (see #1).
#233 (jules) I second the Margo Boxcar Saturn shirt idea. I think that item might just might be the ticket to get me to shuffle off my mortal cheapness (eh, I’ll sell some more
spermblood).February 14th, 2007 at 5:07 pm
#233 jules
I’d pay to see it on a coffee mug (but I want exclamation points: Margo! Boxcar! Saturn!) so every time dipsticks whining about wanting more hours walked into my office I could turn it so it faced them and when they asked about it I could smile knowingly and say I was in the Marines. Special Ops. It’s a code we used to call in airstrikes on lame under-performers.
February 14th, 2007 at 5:15 pm
# 136 — Kate, I have never visited Irvine, but your fabulous capsule description deserves to be COTW in some blog about cities. I once visited an expensive town in the L.A. area where even the vacant-lot weeds looked fake, and as I looked around nervously, “laminated” was definitely the word I needed.
And I did not mean to imply that Ottumwa is full of adult diapers or trailer courts (though it might be). I just meant that based on driving through, it’s the kind of town that might inspire a visitor such as yourself to say, as you put it, “gaaaaaaaaaaaaaah.”
February 14th, 2007 at 5:17 pm
You have to be careful about having Margo! Boxcar! Saturn! on a t-shirt. I was in the Marines. Special Ops. It’s a code we used to call in airstrikes on lame under-performers. Never mention a friend or relative’s address while wearing it.
February 14th, 2007 at 5:18 pm
#235 SmartPeopleOnIce
re 2) I’m speechless. And squeegeeing off my monitor.
And, Josh — I’m serious about the mug.
February 14th, 2007 at 5:18 pm
#199 Moon — I always wear shoes, of a sort. I usually wear sandals, Bierkenstocks, or something like that inside, with socks in winter, without socks in summer. I can’t stand not having shoes on. Just another one of my adorable neurotic tendencies.
February 14th, 2007 at 5:19 pm
232- Um, hate to state the obvious MM, but Jeff’s a doctor. So he hangs around with other doctors, as well as lawyers, stockbrokers and other rich folks he can hit up for dough. Which is pretty much the only requirement there is for being a fundraiser. That’s why band cookie sales in Bloomfield Hills generate a lot more cash than Oh-my-god-my-daughter-needs-a-lung-transplant does in Detroit.
But band is important for rich kids. At least they’re using their lungs for something productive, unlike those crack ho’s in Detroit.
So it goes.
February 14th, 2007 at 5:22 pm
I have been reading and reading and reading and here I am! I was sick as the proverbial dog last week.
Anyway, to sum up:
I apologize for the extra “e” in Thorp and have been roundly chastised. I maintain, however, that it was a silent homage to the great athlete Jim Thorpe.
As my handle implies, I am a West Virginian, though now unfortunately stuck far away in the desert. My sisters and I went barefoot as much as possible then switched to socks when it got cold. Mother would always tell us to get our shoes off before we came in, especially if we were doing farm chores. And God forbid if you wore your “school shoes” to do your work! Those were allowed in the house, but we never kept them on.
(Are “school shoes” like “the good scissors”?)
And finally, is the expression “food trough” really in use somewhere? I honestly want to know.
I missed you people. *sniff.
February 14th, 2007 at 5:30 pm
#238 Ribinin
Oh [Margo]! I’m a dead man!
February 14th, 2007 at 5:43 pm
Rich, I’m with you — those shoes come off the second I’m through my front door! Which leads to there being, oh, eight to ten pairs of shoes & boots & so on (between me and my POSSLQ) scattered all over the foyer most of the time. I pick them up once in a while, and stow them away, but they always come back.
I’m barefoot in the house ALL the time, except in this nasty cold winter weather, when I grudgingly wear slippers. In the summer, I keep a pair of slip-on sandals under the seat of my car, so I don’t have to bother about getting shod before going someplace.
But that’s just me.
February 14th, 2007 at 5:53 pm
To the detriment of Josh’s theory, Snuffy Smith takes place in the Ozarks, where the Tennesse Valley Authority never dared to tread.
February 14th, 2007 at 5:59 pm
241. CW, This is not obvious to me. Doc Jeff is an old school, down to earth humble doctor, not the elitist money grubber with rich friends you might think he is. He takes his hypocratic oath seriously. His boat and car are his only worldly posessions and meals at the Bum Boat the only extravegance he allows himself. A humble person such as Doc Jeff would feel guilty hitting rich people up for money, especially since he doesn’t usually associate with them. His place is working hands on with his beloved agent orange children, not back in Santa Royale grubbing for money just so he can be with a meddlesome, selfish biddy hag.
February 14th, 2007 at 6:00 pm
Actually, my stationary brother (#245), I scientifically determined long ago where Snuffy Smif resides:
http://joshreads.com/?p=99
He’s somewhere in northern Appalachia: West Virginia, western Virginia, eastern Kentucky, or western Pennsylvania.
Josh
February 14th, 2007 at 6:03 pm
245. SJ, great name. I have a plant called “wandering jew”. Snuffy Smith is supposed to be based in Appalachia, as proven by this post:
http://joshreads.com/?p=99
…and Lost Forest is in Wyoming, not Arkansas.
February 14th, 2007 at 6:06 pm
Josh, you beat me by 3 minutes. You truly are NOT stationary!
February 14th, 2007 at 6:11 pm
I’ve found the lost dialog that explains Jeff’s smiling tent in P1 and his scowl in P2.
http://www.naughtynaturelovers.com/dirty_mary.jpg
February 14th, 2007 at 6:15 pm
#200: Going lesbo is Liz’s best option. I just pray that it’s not with Shan . . . non. That would be sick.
February 14th, 2007 at 6:20 pm
246 – Perhaps. But I think you mistake humilty for low self-esteem. Why else would a late-fiftyish, successful doctor like Jeff date an old bag like Mary Worth? Unless she’s got tons of bucks he’s trying to get his hemostates on. Which could be, given that she’s had about six decades for the “sensible investments” left by her late husband to compond.
Unless they’re heavily weighted toward GM, Ford, U.S. Steel, Sears Roebuck and Pan Am. Then she’s pretty much fuckagated.
February 14th, 2007 at 6:22 pm
In a strip called “Youll Have That” found in Humorous Maximus, in panel three a guy says “ninety-nine percent of men would cheat on their wives given the right circumstances”…!!!
To that I say bull shit… 100% would…!!!
February 14th, 2007 at 6:30 pm
11/34/175: Somebody is going to have to translate Cosby’s singing for me – I figure raggits are something you put on rolls, but what the Margo is REEZamiallen? A side dish?
Hoo law!
February 14th, 2007 at 6:37 pm
Holy crap! Inspired by other Curmudgeons, I sent a “gag” for TDIET to Al Scaduto today. He replied within hours! I feel so special. I (heart) myself!
February 14th, 2007 at 6:40 pm
I never realized that there was a debate as to where Snuffy Smith resided. Growing up in rural Cambria County (the farthest left bright blue PA county on the pop/soda map), I knew a lot of people that reminded my of the characters in the strip. Like #189 Susie Derkins, I thought Snuffy Smith was about a family member. Except, in my case it was my (great) Uncle Ed and (great) Aunt Joyce, since they are the spitting images of Snuffy and Loweezy.
Maybe we can start an “I thought my family members were comic strip characters” support group.
February 14th, 2007 at 6:48 pm
Holy cow. Holy freakin’ cow.
I just read the past 12 days of MW. I’m behind on everything.
I cannot believe what a mindfuck Mary pulled on Dr. Jeff.
He is feeling well and hearty around the 2/5 strip, full of life and ready to get back to work but by today (2/14), Mary has twisted and manipulated him to saying, “You’re right. I’m not 100% and won’t be for awhile.” (paraphrasing) And he looks ill again!
Maybe Mary is a Dark Sith Lord. Maybe Mary is the anti-Christ. Maybe Mary is……Dick Cheney in drag!!
Why do I read this????
February 14th, 2007 at 7:00 pm
#250 Chaz:
Awesome. I like how Mary sound like she no speaka the English so good.
February 14th, 2007 at 7:03 pm
#256 – Melkay – I always thought Dondi was my dad when he was a boy.
February 14th, 2007 at 7:08 pm
Luann: Maybe I’m missing the obvious here, but she’s, what, 16? And Bernice’s newfound brother is a Sergeant in the US Army, right? Even assuming he’s a buck E-5, that would generally indicate at least two years in service, correct? So he’s at least 20, quite possibly 22, and she’s 16 at most (does she have a driver’s license?)
Ick.
February 14th, 2007 at 7:09 pm
My first boyfriend’s parents were exactly like Calvin’s parents. I didn’t really think they were Calvin’s parents, though. Correction, second boyfriend–the first one was David Dyson in 1st grade, who looked like a first grade version of Paul Simon. Ah, the memories.
February 14th, 2007 at 7:19 pm
My first boyfriend was DEFINITELY a “starter” boyfriend. Thank god for all the free upgrades ;-)
February 14th, 2007 at 7:41 pm
Isn’t Bernice’s brother only on some kind of break? I was under the impression he would be heading back to Iraq soon, so why is Luann so gung-ho about him?
I’ll bet Evans goes for poignancy by killing him off.
February 14th, 2007 at 7:47 pm
#255 – yeah, I sent one too, and got a personal response. Out of touch though the guy may be, he seems pretty friendly.
February 14th, 2007 at 8:03 pm
Curtiss – It can only be a dream. All of this week’s strips are just too absurd. Dogs that can eat through wooden and iron fences, attack police in their station (and live), and then attack a taxi and blow out the tires, must be Curtis’ nightmare. He feels guilty for letting “Onion” and Derrick eat that cat food and hockey puck lunch. You heard it hear first.
February 14th, 2007 at 8:04 pm
Sorry – the strip is CURTIS
February 14th, 2007 at 8:19 pm
# 235 — SPOI, thank you. That devil-tail trick will be a standard experiment for me from now on. It’s a thrill to have a little graphic trick that works for even a computer idiot.
Re the shoe/sock debate, visiting my sister in Japan sent me totally over to the sock side. Given what gets on my shoes here in the sticks, it’s a good thing.
Said sister was occasionally compared by our family to Lucy Van Pelt when we were young. At the time, it was not necessarily a compliment. Now that I admire Lucy, it is. If Lucy had grown up, would she have behaved like boo-hoo can’t-decide Liz and settled for Granthony? No (Margo)ing way.
February 14th, 2007 at 8:29 pm
Someone above (too lazy to look who) linked to a definition of “bodacious” at urbandictionary.com. I dunno – I kinda hate the place. It’s full of drooling cretins who do nothing but babble endlessly about names for bizarre, unlikely sex involving aliens and breakfast products like…uh, never mind.
Still, I decided if we’re going to go there, I should make it worthwhile. (This might get rejected – but I’m counting on you mudges to vote it “thumbs up” if it’s accepted in the first place – you know, sort of a Dan Savage/”santorum” thing.)
February 14th, 2007 at 8:40 pm
Right, is it just me or do Jeff’s eyes in the first panel look like soulless, dead black pits, as if he were a zombie hungry for brains?
If so, the shit-eating grin on his face seems to indicate that he’s found an acceptable meal prospect in Mary.
Also, Jeff really must do something about his hair. No living organism has gray hair the color of snow around his ears in a perfect band, and then otherwise a full head of brown.
February 14th, 2007 at 8:50 pm
#268-GC,MP: Five thumbs up! I say we all flood the urbandictionary.com site with wacky suggestions!
Mine will be “The Arleen Yakimoto”—Def. “When your husband is a policeman, and insists on wearing your clothes during the act of sex, resulting in their soiled condition”
February 14th, 2007 at 8:52 pm
Shoes/sock debate: I would sincerely like to remember to take off my shoes when I enter my home, but most of the time I just forget. I think it would save wear and tear on the carpet and not track in a lot of grit and road gunk, but I get so caught up in protecting my feet from falling objects, or my toes from running into chair legs, I neglect to untie my laces and slip them off.
I’ll bet people who have hardwood floors use their socked feet as little buffers. :)
Swearing debate: So was Hoss Cartwright getting away with flagrant swearing every time he got flustered and said, “Well Dagnab it, Pa…” ?
February 14th, 2007 at 8:59 pm
271 – Yep – and when someone said ” hornswoggled ” – well, you really don’t want to know, unless Dingo is still with us, then he can ’splain it to you.
February 14th, 2007 at 9:04 pm
“Worthing”—Def. “A mental image helpful in the prolonging of the passage of time before the male partner ejaculates”
February 14th, 2007 at 9:08 pm
#216 Art – I’m in Wayne. Just moved back to the area from Josh’s home town.
February 14th, 2007 at 9:18 pm
gh Of course Florence’s motto is “We are not Sumter”
You know Sumter has a Red Lobster now too!
Sumter’s motto is “At least we have an Air Force Base!” You would not recognize Sumter now. It is almost a town now.
February 14th, 2007 at 9:29 pm
MARY WORTH: Jeff’s recoiling in the last panel because he keeps expecting Mary to put a pillow over his face for defying her. Pity he doesn’t know she’s already put a slow acting poison in his IV line, and the only antidote is in a Tuna Bake she’s cooked back home, Stateside…
February 14th, 2007 at 9:31 pm
I will create a Margo! Boxcar! Saturn! design. If there is enough groundswell. Josh, is there enough groundswell?
February 14th, 2007 at 9:33 pm
“Prime-Ribbin”—Def. …I’ma get back to y’all on that one…It’s “Peggy” again, ya gotta love (can’t do the “heart” thang) her!
February 14th, 2007 at 9:41 pm
#277 willethompson – Groundswell! Groundswell!
Whatever you come up with is bound to be a winner.
February 14th, 2007 at 9:44 pm
MW: “Come back home with me now and YOU can gather help from friends to raise funds for Peace Village! What do you say?” I say God Damnit, Mary would it kill you to say “WE can gather help from friends for Peace Village?” I wish so badly that Dr Jeff would dump her selfish ass.
February 14th, 2007 at 9:49 pm
Shoes v. socks– my doctor has actually forbidden me to walk around without shoes, because I have diabetes. My feet are OK, but why take chances? Plus I’m a klutz, so I’m always whacking my toes against furniture. I wear hard-soled slippers and flip-flops around the house. Having said all that, I totally get why people kick off their shoes indoors, because I would, too.
What bothers me about FOOBers is that the ONLY reason they go shoeless is because Lynn can not draw shoes. Someone posted a link a couple of weeks ago to a lengthy article (the one where she talks about her childhood abuse) and waaaay down at the bottom she says she has trouble drawing shoes, so she doesn’t. She has trouble making interesting storylines, too, but does that stop her?? NOOOO…..
February 14th, 2007 at 9:50 pm
#267 — Poteet, Bucky Katt has always reminded me of my older sister (whereas I’m more like Satchel). She tried to steal a bulldozer when she was about 7 or 8. She didn’t get very far, but you’ve got to love spirit like that.
February 14th, 2007 at 10:04 pm
Dingo, I can see your wheels turning, Bro!
February 14th, 2007 at 10:12 pm
wille, I will(e) buy one of those tees! Offer that bad boy on Beetle Bailey O.D. with the yellow-gold lettering, all official looking – and shit.
February 14th, 2007 at 10:32 pm
In today’s Snuffy, the boy’s a regular cornpone Sam Malone (which is kinda fun to say).
Definately socks in the apartment. First and foremost, because it’s more comfortable.
February 14th, 2007 at 10:43 pm
Oh yeah wille, Don’t mean to sound like a design director here, but could you use a font called “gunplay”? IMHO, it really sends the MARGO BOXCAR SATURN home in a big way
February 14th, 2007 at 10:54 pm
News flash: Archie comics artist Joe Edwards has died at age 85.
http://deathbeeper.com/1508821.html
February 14th, 2007 at 11:00 pm
287: That’s nothin’: the artists that draw (DT)GT have been dead for years!
February 14th, 2007 at 11:05 pm
I would have thought a plugger would need security mostly to lock out a world filled with negroes and Hispanics.
February 14th, 2007 at 11:09 pm
#277 wille, I have been tracing the evolution of “Margo Boxcar Saturn” back through the posts, and although the 3 words were floating around in various combinations (much as the notes to Beethoven’s 9th were floating around before he arranged them just so), I think I was the first to use them in that order.
I do not want anything for this contribution, not anything much, but I would like to point out that I have retained the firm of Smurglap/Kr’lpak/Epstein, Attorneys in Interstellar Law, to represent my interests in this T-shirt matter.
Of course, if someone can identify an earlier usage of the phrase I will humbly withdraw my claim.
February 14th, 2007 at 11:15 pm
God damn it, which of you bastards stole my diary and printed excerpts?
February 14th, 2007 at 11:29 pm
Oh, wille: groundeswelle!
February 15th, 2007 at 12:41 am
stinky pete, re: Margo Boxcar Saturn. I will testify you coined that gem first. You boys work it out. Just get the furschlugginer(SP?) t shirt into our syruppy hands!
Also, on the classic CC terminology tip, Poteet, count me in as a Foobloatharian! …Even tho the food trough sounds intriguing, I just know the party’s gonna gargle major donkey choad!
February 15th, 2007 at 12:57 am
#65: I get the feeling that all the French in Judge Parker comes straight out of Babel Fish. Yesterday they even went to visit the “matricule”…whatever that means…I think they were looking for the “Scolarité”.
Hmm…I suppose Neddy’s Beret was just a warning.
February 15th, 2007 at 12:58 am
While “Peggy” is still asleep (she luuuvs the Earther beverage known as Kahlua)! …, a Plugger Mullet is a fish!
February 15th, 2007 at 1:09 am
#295 Father Ned -
I believe “matricule” is Latin for “small wife.”
Dominus vobiscum
February 15th, 2007 at 1:12 am
And what the Margo Boxcar Saturn is going on at the Chron? C’mon, folks – you’re the good guys!
February 15th, 2007 at 1:22 am
Uncle Lumpy- I always thought that was “Dominus Nabiscoâ„¢”.
February 15th, 2007 at 1:43 am
Josef is going to gut the apartment building and put new units in. Assumably the Kelpforths are dead or in SchiavoWorld, which is just as well because they’d probably insist on keeping the terms of their lease.
Congratulations, Josef! You’re now a Patterson! As a reward, why don’t you go Margo yourself!
February 15th, 2007 at 2:49 am
Mooselet @ 14:
from your lips to g*d’s ears. i said the very same thing a few threads back. OMG we could write comic strips!!!!
February 15th, 2007 at 3:02 am
For some reason, the Chron.com strips aren’t showing up for the first two hours. They show up at 2:00 AM CST now. Better late then never…
February 15th, 2007 at 3:15 am
If I were invited to a party to celebrate a person’s book deal and $25,000 advance and then learned it was BYOB I might come, only to bring a lit cigar and the urge to take a nap in the back room.
Actually scratch that– if I were invited into foobville and expected to BYOB (which, fair enough, is the only way to make it through) I’d still feel that the lazy-man’s arson would be the way to go.
February 15th, 2007 at 3:26 am
Curtis: Holy mother of pearl! Cheech was right! But personally, I think they’re just freaked out by Gunk’s flounder eyes.
FW: Nothing but a cheesy pun today. I think it’s time for Funky to give up the “Most Depressing Comic” crown.
RM: And once it all rubbed off on June, there obviously wasn’t any left on Rex.
SH: ASIDE FROM NOT BEING AFRAID OF MICE, ELEPHANTS DO NOT SUBSIST ON PEANUTS! If you’re going to make a comic about biology experiments, learn your biology from a better source than tired cartoon cliches!
Bizarro: I’m just glad that fish doesn’t say “JESUS IS LIFE” on it.
Kudzu: Only one man’s opinion…
DtM: Dennis may be about as menacing as lukewarm gelatin these days, but no way will be stoop to being a good student, even for his smokin’ hot teacher.
February 15th, 2007 at 4:59 am
Look, I know there have already been 305 comments to this particular entry, so I realize that nobody but nobody is going to be reading this.
But I simply must vent about “Non Sequitor.” It wants to expose the foibles of modern corporations and politics, and it fails so very very badly, because it is rarely funny. It depends on hackneyed cliches about corporate executives being unable to resist martinis and golf. Dude, these fuckers don’t drink, at least not at work. And they don’t golf on business hours. Nor do they make business decisions on the golf course. They do this all sober, in their offices, with all propriety. YES, that is scarier.
Wiley. You will get a lot farther if you can avoid the obvious jokes. There is much, so very much here. Don’t go for the lame and obvious. Please.
Also. I just cannot stand the way Wiley renders whatever New England dialect he thinks he’s rendering. It makes me want to cry every time I have to read Joe Comic-Is-Nominally-About-Me’s mother speaks.
February 15th, 2007 at 5:21 am
I just found this relatively-cool website, and I’m far too lazy to check through all the zillions of comments over the last few years to see if anyone else has brought it up. It is a build-your-own-comics page:
http://darkgate.net/comic/
Simply select the comics you want, and is scours the interwebs to bring you your comic fix. The only comic that is regularly featured here that I didn’t see there is A3G… but if enough people suggest it in the handy suggestion box, who knows?
February 15th, 2007 at 5:54 am
Cool…but it doesn’t have TDIET either.
February 15th, 2007 at 5:57 am
#291 Stinky Pete – If you will note, ALL of the CC merchandise derives from text/copy said by someone else, usually a comic strip character. Your claim puts you on the same level as the A3G writer who coined “More zippers, mule!”
February 15th, 2007 at 6:27 am
RMMD – Watch that left hand, Dr. Morgan. You already have June so distracted that she doesn’t notice she’s gripping a boiling hot pan with her bare hand.
MT – Where did Mark get that cute little Cherry doll for his shoulder?
A3G – That’s not quite true, Luann. The flowers in your painting aren’t squirting water into the air. Don’t you read Slylock Fox?
February 15th, 2007 at 6:32 am
#306 Eric – Dude, you’re wrong on three counts:
1) ‘Somebody’ is reading your comments
2) Business people don’t make decisions on the golf course??? Do you golf? Or do you read? The Abramoff scandal had trips to St. Andrews as one of the prime perks and they weren’t going for the haggis, And you’d better believe that several barrels of Scotland’s most euphonious export were consumed while over there. More ‘business’ is done over dinner, drinks and the occasional 18 than just about any other location. I’ve got a client that considers our yearly junket to Punehurst quid pro quo for staying a client. I’m not saying it’s right, but that’s the way it works.
3) You don’t like the representation of a Mainer Down East accent? Son of a howah!
February 15th, 2007 at 7:00 am
But Wille, Eric has a valid point: that is the LAMEST representation of a Mainer downeast accent imaginable. It grates on me, too!
February 15th, 2007 at 7:00 am
(DT)GT – Margo-Saturn-Boxcar! A clue, right there in panel three! But where’s the blue pawprint?
February 15th, 2007 at 7:01 am
199 – I didn’t mean to start a big socks vs shoes debate. Whatever folks wear in their homes is fine with me. My main gripe is that these people are in a COMIC STRIP, so why not raise the bar and make them look a bit more interesting? Showing them always in their socks and baggy sweatpants just adds to the mopey, trapped-in-an-endless-winter feeling of the strip.
Moon Mullins, I guess I am kind of a girly-girl: I like to see cute clothes and nice accessories, and these sloppy, frumpy FBOFW characters make me feel sad. Heck, even the bad outfits of Tommie on A3G are at least entertaining!
281 – andreavis, thank you for explaining the reason why we see the characters in their socks all the time: Lynn can’t draw shoes! And here I thought she was just lazy. But then I wonder: what girl CAN’T draw shoes? And cute outfits, for that matter? Is there no one on her staff who could make the effort?
February 15th, 2007 at 7:08 am
309 wille, rats. off to buy some more lottery tickets, then.
February 15th, 2007 at 7:09 am
RMMD-It sure looks like the Moggies are engaged in a little fore-foreplay here. Nah!, knowing Rexie’s M.O., it’ll probably go something like this: http://youtube.com/watch?v=iQMQ7Usqisg&feature=PlayList&p=384387016E12FB1D&index=0
February 15th, 2007 at 7:21 am
I know this post is like two days old, but the more I look on the first strip, the more I wish I could be the kind of person who thinks the mysteries of the opposite gender are solved through a book on planets. Because honestly, my life would seem so wonderous and eventful if I were that dumb.
Luann, Bernice’s brother is in his 20’s and while you look better than when you were first drawn, I don’t think he’ll be interested unless you give head.
FOOB-as I said in the binky betsy group on LiveJournal, this strip has killed my snark. It’s slowly coming back, but I don’t know if it’s worth it yet. So far, no. Two strips of Mike and his OMG TEH AWESOME B00K WHOOZ would kill Jeff Cory on his hospital bed.
February 15th, 2007 at 7:22 am
#312 sheilagh – Well, i can cut Wiley some slack for the accent because of the way he draws that fishahman’s cat.
#315 stinky pete – while you’re there, can you grab a couple of 40s of Colt? I missed breakfast this morning…
February 15th, 2007 at 7:50 am
Curtis: Whoever called “Gunk saves the day” yesterday has disturbingly accurate insight into the Billingsley psyche.
RMMD: Department of inappropriate emphasis: “How did you get to be like this? “I’ll tell you how I got like this.”
Wouldn’t it be:”I’ll tell you how I got like this”?
February 15th, 2007 at 7:54 am
Red G – Here’s our deal: you don’t tell me what fonts to use, and I don’t tell you which one of “Peggy’s” syrup-stained buttons to push.
February 15th, 2007 at 8:25 am
#312 Sheilagh , #318 willethompson , etc.
I generally find Non Seq. amusing, but when that accent pops up, I skip it completely. Too much like work. Or golf. Whichever. I like the cat, but Danae’s horsie is a hoot.
February 15th, 2007 at 8:28 am
JP – No stereotype left behind.
MW – Fife with fodder for a what they say, and what they mean bit.
RMMD – June – rubbing off on me – excuse me – I’m going to the bathroom for a while.
February 15th, 2007 at 8:31 am
JP – I think the last time my mommy spoke for me in a school setting was in Kindergarten. Not some fancy-schmantzy Paris art school.
February 15th, 2007 at 8:33 am
MW: “Thanks, Mary, what would I do without you…
“If it’s up to me, you’ll never know”*
*Have sex again in the Meddler language
February 15th, 2007 at 8:35 am
#275 NEW-ME
I drive right past the Sumter Red Lobster every time I make a trip to — of all places — Kingstree. Next time, I’ll wave. Sumter’s motto: “We’re not Kingstree!” Kingstree is where 70s sedans go to die.
February 15th, 2007 at 8:39 am
321 gh: EXACTLY what you said (about NonSequitur). Yes. What I would have said if I were faster at posting.
Now that I’m awake the rest of you can about your business and the thread can end.
February 15th, 2007 at 8:42 am
stinky pete – I hereby apologize for my Margo Boxcar Saturn dyslexia. I must have been carried away by the moment. Gil Thorp will do that to you, despite all of the miracles of modern medicine.
February 15th, 2007 at 9:17 am
#247 – Josh, you can narrow it down a bit more than “West Virginia, Kentucky or some parts of Pennsylvania”. The legend of Snuffy’s origin is that it came from Barney Google’s adventures in Kentucky, which, coincidentally is my current residence. If being depicted in Snuffy Smith isn’t a cause celebre for civic pride, I don’t know what else is.
February 15th, 2007 at 9:23 am
MW Dammit, Jeff, you big pushover. You let Mary win. “You’ll never know” because if she even thinks you’ll leave Santa Royale again, she will smother you with a pillow. Not that you’ll ever share a bed with her. That’s what you get for caving, dude – eternal celibacy, but since you’d have Mary that it understandable.
But it’s so UNNECESSARY. Asshat.
RMMD June is talking about rubbing off and Rex is smiling. Bow-chicka-bow-wow, folks, but they should have run this strip yesterday.
FBoFW Gawd, you foobs are so damn boring when all you can talk about is how to be a successful slumlord.
Curtis Gunk is truly powerful. See how with just one glance, he can make two vicious dogs hump the ground.
February 15th, 2007 at 9:24 am
#306 – Eric – … about the corporate executives: “Dude, these fuckers don’t drink, at least not at work.”
So my efforts to climb the company ladder by downing a bottle of gin every morning are futile? Oh, I guesh that exshplainsh a coupla thingsh. And I jusht thout it wash my shlurry shpeech. Hic.
February 15th, 2007 at 9:26 am
305/319- Tabby/Kilgore – Actually, I’m pretty sure Billingsley has pulled this stunt before – probably more than once. That’s why it’s so predictable.
February 15th, 2007 at 9:40 am
My impression is that few business deals actually are made on the golf course — it’s more about building and cementing relationships. After you get the client feeling all warm and fuzzy about you over the free golf at an exclusive club, they’re going to be much more inclined to do business with you.
Daytime drinking has declined a lot since the day of the three-martini lunch, but I suspect that it still has a place in business, esp. in sales. Most of the salespeople I’ve known have been pretty hard-core party animals.
February 15th, 2007 at 10:32 am
Foobish Vitriol would be a great name for a Bond villain:
“You expect me to talk?”
“Noooooo, Ms. Johnston, I expect you to die!”
mwahahahaaa…
February 15th, 2007 at 12:22 pm
A3G — Ghosts. Orchids. Two subjects that ordinarily I find mildly interesting, but this strip is killing them for me. Please, A3G, don’t take up sex.
February 15th, 2007 at 2:41 pm
“Larnin’” man! When you refer to hillbilly knowledge acquired from books, it’s “book larnin.’”
February 15th, 2007 at 5:36 pm
Concerning FBOFW, I began to wonder. Was Weed’s apartment also damaged by fire? If so, that’s a very quick recovery. And I thought he just lived in a dinky loft upstairs, if he lived there at all. So I concluded that I just do not know very much about FBOFW, and if I wanted to comment in an informed way I should really do some research because I know so littel. So very littel.
But who gives a shit?
February 15th, 2007 at 10:46 pm
Why does “Weed” keep calling that chick ‘Mike’?
February 15th, 2007 at 11:55 pm
The linguistic survey of Snuffy Smith was well before my time here. My conclusions were based on topography; those cliffs that you used to see all the time are very much a northwestern Arkansas feature, while so far as I’ve ever seen, the suggested bit of Appalachia is much more a rolling hill kind of place. In the relevant soft drink map, we see two isolated counties in north Arkansas where “pop” is the prevailing term:Boone in the northwest (50-80%), and Stone in the north center (80%+). That these are linguistic islands surrounded by areas where flatlander retirees have moved in and brought some linguistic modernization seems fully in keeping with the nature of the Holler. I’m more certain of the geography of Boone county being a match, but I wouldn’t rule out Stone without further research.
February 17th, 2007 at 12:02 pm
Being serious for a second (or at least for a post), I wonder how many of you are actually going to miss For Better or For Worse. I have to caveat this: I like the strip; I don’t always like the directions it’s gone or it’s going, I think some storylines are lame, but I like the strip and have liked it for years. Everyone that complains about ad nauseum seems to be reading it, or else they wouldn’t know enough about it to comment on it (continuously, and to reference old strips and situations, or people that haven’t been in the strip in months, if not years).
I’m going to miss it when it finally ends.
I agree with Saxman who said “Contrarian that I am, I point out that FOOB thrives on conflict, not resolution.” Good observation. I agree with his comment “And speaking of Howard, I don’t know for sure how they do it in Canada, but hasn’t this rape trial dragged on a long time? Why is that? Isn’t the jury getting bored?” but I also understand that it’s a strip based around “continuing real life” i.e., time is actual and people are living lives and age, etc., thus you can’t just devote the strip to rape trial to the exclusion of that one storyline. But I do think it would be good if the storyline was interrupted on a day-by-day exception to bring in some other on-going storyline updates.
Sorry folks, but if you don’t like it, don’t read it. But I have sneaking suspicion that the majority of people who complain about the strip wouldn’t miss it for anything, and will miss it when if finally wraps up. Jack_in_the_world@yahoo.com
February 17th, 2007 at 5:54 pm
# 337 — JJ, sorry to repeat if you know this, but Foob is going to continue on indefinitely in a frozen-in-time format, according to Johnston. That may partly account for the lack of concern about possible future jonesing for it here:-)
December 13th, 2008 at 4:21 pm
Not so long ago, or should we say an lifetime that is ever present, I found myself dinning from the floors of restaurants and scavenging the left overs of the loaded and well to do.I then made my mind up to engage with those feelings which at the time felt uncomfortable but now feel the norm .The feelings to which I refer are simple such as warmth , being fed and of course being loved.Above all my sheer belief to succeed was the greatest and most important commitment I could dare dream to to aspire to and now as the story goes ,the rest is history.