I'm going to be different

Where did checker shirt dude come from? Did he climb over the Ted Stevens railing to nowhere?

I need to update Mary Worth watch.

Nobody likes those kind of people except Fox News Channel. Those kind of people get their own TV show.

Speaking of ham-fisted loudmouths, why doesn't any of them articulate why socialism is bad? I've heard the hysterics regarding how this stimulus package is taking the US down the path of European style socialism but not any reasons as to why this is a bad thing. I'm not saying it is a good thing, I just want some reasons instead of hysterical rants.

I'm just annoyed with the low standards of reasoning among the US punditry. People receiving a great salary to produce nothing. Really jump start the economy - tax these people 100% and redistribute that money to those who produce something. A bit of useful information, anything.

Clamato Week

I wonder if Guy and Rodd will address this monstrosity: http://www.boozingear.com/blog/2008/01/14/budweiser-clamato-chelada-and-bud-light-clamato-chelada-arrive-nationwide/

This kind of thing brings out my elitist tendencies.

Agnes has captured the essence of every success expert/ life coach populating twitter.

Fashion Day in Comics

My eyes! Good thing Lynn is in the back because the sight of that sweater would cause her to faint again. I like the two layer outfit that Mary is sporting. I often dress like that for a morning run in cool weather except my color choices are better.

Pick the black dress. Don't think of the price, think of your retinas.

Vertical lines are supposed to make you look slimmer, while horizontal lines make you look wider. What do diagonal lines do?

A shout out in Agnes. Not really but I like to pretend.

Creamy goodness

Ruthie performs a bit of civil disobedience that I could participate in.

Beetle Bailey goes surreal.

Agnes is becoming one of my favorite comic strips.

It is not pus, it is the creamy goodness within me emerging.

This day in history

On January 13th, 1854, Anthony Faas patented the accordion.


When the Mayan Calendar ends all accordions, knowledge of accordions and accordion music will vanish from the universe ushering an era of peace and prosperity. Not at all the cataclysm predicted by many.


On an unrelated note:

Some UU bloggers have asked what Unitarian Universalism can offer. Agnes' friend has a good set of suggestions:

1. Teach me to be useful
2. Teach me how to laugh with true joy
3. Teach me how to make a really good pie

Join my army of hope starved sycophants

At age 14 I aspired to become a cult leader. Not a scary, Jim Jones sort of cult leader, but more of a Bajwan Shree Rajneesh (sp?) type. People give me money and stuff in exchange for a bit of happiness and hope. One avenue for achieving my ultimate objective - getting as much money as possible in exchange for as little work as possible.

Several factors redirected my aspirations:

1. Lack of resources on how to become a cult leader. Nothing in the library at Spring High School or in the Harris County Public Library System. Too shy to ask the librarian. Allegedly, I checked out a book from my high school library on brain washing techniques and never returned it. I convinced the librarian someone else put my name on the check out card. I never dotted my i's with little hearts. That and I did not remember checking that book out or even seeing it on the shelves. The loss of that book did not become too much of a roadblock in my life.
2. Very high scores on the introvert scale. Cults require people - lots of them.
3. A lack of charisma, public speaking skills or the ability to exert a lot of control over my own life much less the lives of others.
4. Can't fake it forever. Consequences of exposure too great.
5. Lots of potential, not so much ambition.
6. I actually care and have a conscience.
7. Realized it was kind of a weird ambition and that I can affect the world in a positive way without minions. Minions would be nice once in a while. Maybe I can rent some.

Odd is not enough

Two comics play with the word, paranormal.

I don't believe in the normal but like to dabble in the paraweird because odd does not cut it.

Watch out Ron, Mary knows the 'five-point-palm-exploding-heart' technique and if you don't stop feeling guilty she will use it.

Also, He Can Levitate

aperfectworld.org is down. Very annoying. My host is doing some kind of transition and has set up a "transition kiosk" to let their customers know about the status of their transition. Good intentions - poor execution. Going to the kiosk only sends me back to the site telling me about the kiosk. I do not get any useful information about my site's transition and attempts to log on to the old control panel are unsuccessful. I hope the site is back up soon so that I can put up my latest cartoon.

Now about other people's cartoons:
Mary's scarf has lengthened since rescuing the dog. The lady with the cat in the first panel is irritated because she has been waiting for hours, despite patronizing this animal hospital for decades, while Mary Worth and her stray get to see the vet immediately.

A fun look at the first UU principle.

For the first time in months, I took time to write some cartoon gags. Some of them are funny.

I think the time change helped because I did not experience the 9:30 - 11:00 wall of sleepiness this morning. I felt a bit more focused this morning.

Agnostic Hymns

Agnostics do sing hymns. They may have some doubt about the truth of the lyrics but they do sing anyway. Agnostic hymns would be funny, for example, "Nearer my God to Thee, Maybe" I'm sure others can come up with something funnier. Feel free to share in the comments.

First, it was Vera's idea to go riding in Clifton, second you don't own the stables, third watch where you point that finger, fourth take off that helmet and finally get a car in which the door does not close automatically between panels.

I really wonder about Giella's technique. Does he draw the panels on separate sheets of paper and then the syndicate puts them together? If he's drawing the panels side by side he really needs to get something checked - eye sight, perception, ability to move neck or eyes to the left. The steps are basic:

1. Draw panel one with car door open
2. Draw second panel but before drawing car
3. Glance slightly to the left and note the open car door in the first panel
4. Draw car in second panel with an open door

It just occurred to me, maybe Giella draws the right panel first. That would explain some of the continuity errors but then he just has to do the same steps as above except glancing to the right and carrying that information to the left panel.

Giella does draw better than me but even with my limited skills I make the effort to keep some continuity between my panels on the rare occasion that I draw multiple panel comics. I don't think Giella tries anymore.

Common Plugger premise: Pluggers are old (somewhere between 60 and 70). Okay, but this Plugger is extraordinarily old. At least 85 years old, assuming that the hairstyle that she has had since 1941 is an adult hairstyle. She is one hot geriatric mama. She looks good for over 80.

Do Pluggers age in human years or in the years of their respective species?