Sunday, December 31, 2023

What Would It Be Now? March 1396, 2020?

December 24, 1978
I don't know about you, but I love popsicles and ice cream in the winter. Popsicles and ice cream are good any time. You don't need to threaten me with a large, mean guy, here's your 50 cents. I'll take cherry or grape.

Oh my God, we are back into reruns. It's like Chip doesn't want to work anymore. Don't get me wrong, coming up with something new 365 days (366 in 2024) a year is a tall order, but there was just a break in October and back in August and back in...

Anyway, you can read my original post here. It comes with snarky commentary about the series Small Wonder. You're welcome.

And you can watch the Matt Damon Bourne movies spread out over 2-3 streaming services. Enjoy your New Year's Eve and I will see you next year. Hyuck, hyuck!!





If you would like to support this website, you can buy me a cup of coffee over on Ko-fi.

Saturday, December 30, 2023

Dinner Is Served

March 10, 1989
Hattie has had a pet skunk since the 1970s so Brutus shouldn't be that scared of it. This is the first time we've learned the skunk's name. Taboo. And Taboo II. Like Snowball and Snowball II and Jaws and Jaws II.

HOW LATE IS BRUTUS GETTING HOME?!!

You know Brutus, you don't have to eat at that diner/fast food every day. You are free to bring your own lunch. It will probably be better and less expensive.

She's wearing an apron to microwave a Stouffer's family size lasagna meal?

Friday, December 29, 2023

*looks at Wilberforce* There but for the grace of God...

March 9, 1989
"There but for the grace of God..." is a saying that when used is supposed to be an admission of humility and sympathy while also acknowledging you could be in the same boat. The problem with Veeblefester using it is that he is neither humble or sympathetic.


Brutus does this every year. Wilberforce should know what a bowl game is.

And sometimes they do air college bowling competitions.

Thursday, December 28, 2023

Christmas End

March 6, 1989
I wish someone would make me a cup of cocoa before bed. A lot of times I have a small glass of chocolate milk but a nice warm mug of hot cocoa would be nice. You don't need to put anything in it. I don't need to be dead to the world for 36 hours.

They can mention each other but neither the twain shall meet, or whatever.

Do you get the book of the year of 2023 to read in 2024 or does the subscription actually begin in December 2024?

Wednesday, December 27, 2023

Based on a True Story

March 7, 1989
"Well, we could always cut the salary of the ones in charge. They do very little around here and, let's be honest, they could go without for awhile and still have more money than all the employees who work here combined. And, I'm fired now, I see."

Why did Veeblefester think Brutus was going to be any help? If Brutus knew how to maximize cash flow, don't you think he would've done it by now? He's always looking to please the almighty, all-knowing Veeblefester.

The only thing we've had taken off our porch was some bed sheets. And we got those back, but it was weird. Thieves would find our packages very disappointing. Usually it's pills and other health-related things. Even during the gift-giving season we got a journal and a vanity plate. Not much fun there.




¿

Tuesday, December 26, 2023

Return of the Fruitcake

March 6, 1989
I originally thought that Brutus fell asleep and the toast popping up startled him, but then I noticed the bite taken out of the toast.

Why doesn't the electrical cord connect to the toaster? What a weird illustration choice.

The fruitcake gets a mention again. I looked up how long fruitcake lasts and it lasts six months to one year. Six months to one year. It's like a Twinkie. Or a carefully preserved McDonald's hamburger.

Monday, December 25, 2023

Kewpie's Santa!!

March 4, 1989
What the hell is Wilberforce reading that it would have ophidiophobia in it?

Fear of snakes, by the way.

Merry Christmas, Kewpie. Merry Christmas to all.

Sunday, December 24, 2023

There's Only One Fat Guy Who Brings Us Presents and His Name Ain't Santa

December 17, 1978
Women, amirite? Can't live with them...can't live without them because this comic is set in 1978 and features a stereotypical man who can't do anything without a woman's guidance. Ha, ha! It's funny!

I'm also not a fan of "angry feminist" Gladys, but, again, that was the time. To be fair, I feel Gladys does a lot of stuff, even today, militantly.

This is probably why Santa Claus was always more real to me. My mom can't afford all this crap. My family put together could barely afford all this crap. Santa is clearly real.

Butch Kapinski has been a thorn in Wilberforce's side for years. Has Wilberforce paid Hurricane Hattie to beat him up yet?





My friend's father passed away just before the holidays, they have started a fundraiser to help pay for funeral costs. If you are in the giving spirit, please consider donating to these complete strangers. Don't forget about Peter and Polly's Adventures in Toyland. And if you would like to support me or this website (which I'm hoping to move sometime in 2024) then you can buy me a coffee over on Ko-fi. Merry Christmas.

Saturday, December 23, 2023

I'm Not Going To the Mall On December 23rd

While collecting Born Loser strips yesterday, I came across the results of a comic survey held in June 1977. It caught my eye because The Born Loser got ranked higher than Peanuts. Peanuts. Born Loser was ranked as "always read" by more readers of this Pittsburgh paper than Peanuts, which came in third.

Overall, in the rankings, The Born Loser came in third. Peanuts and Family Circus came in first and second. I just find it interesting how Born Loser fared here. I haven't searched for any recent comic surveys--I know they still get done--but I wonder how Born Loser typically fares these days.

March 1, 1989
Oh, cool. Great. A calendar that every employee should've received for free and two months after the year begins. I'll cherish it always. Well, at least for the next ten months.

It is December 23rd. All orders and requests are closed for the year. Luckily, you have literally all of next year to make your requests for Christmas 2024.

Friday, December 22, 2023

Spirited

February 27, 1989
"I originally was apprehensive about sitting here, but then I was like 'there's going to be a story here' so I took a chance."

Of course he hasn't caught the Christmas spirit this year. Not only does he have to pay his employees for Christmas Eve and Day like usual, he has to pay them even though Christmas Eve is on a non-work day and they won't return to work until Wednesday.

And he has to do it all over again for New Year's!!

Peter & Polly Adventures in Toyland

Peter & Polly Adventures in Toyland premiered around November 27, 1939 and ran for 24 installments. Howard Boughner, the writer and artist on this Christmas comic strip series, was born in 1908 and died in 1990. He worked as an assistant on Dumb Dora from 1931 to 1936 and Wash Tubbs. He created some of his own comics such as Mac (1938-1941) and Hold Everything (1941-1945). He also apparently did the writing on Penny (1943-1970) and Dotty Dripple (1944-1974) probably in the 1940s.

Peter & Polly showcases the Christmas-time adventures of a brother and sister as they wind up in the North Pole after trying to get their letters delivered. What adventures will they have? Let's find out.

























Hope you enjoyed Peter and Polly's adventures in...why Toyland? Why not the North Pole? Because of the operetta Babes In Toyland? I don't know. And what's with the mother sweeping a teddy bear that's the size of a small child into the trash?

Don't forget to leave something out for Santa and his penguin helpers.

Merry Christmas

&

Happy Holidays

Thursday, December 21, 2023

At Least She's Getting Him Something

February 4, 1978
I believe aliens exist, but I don't necessarily believe they have the capability to travel across space and visit Earth. Just like we can't do that. Now, if they could do that then they absolutely would be as smart or even smarter as some of us.

Feel free to scroll back through all 4,000 posts to see all of Brutus' red sweaters. Although, occasionally in the warmer months, he does wear different colored short-sleeve polo shirts.

Wednesday, December 20, 2023

I Really Hope Brutus Is the Only One Wearing a Sweater

February 3, 1978
The average salary in 1977 was $13,500, broken down that's about $6.50 an hour. Maybe Veeblefester is talking about a five dollar an hour raise which would be $11.50 an hour making Brutus' new salary nearly $24,000. I mean, Veeblefester is clearly not talking about that, but that'd be a good raise.

I hate to break it to Brutus and anybody who wears Christmas/holiday sweaters but all of those sweaters are ugly. Even the nice ones. Sorry, I don't make the rules.