Plug It Up

Thursday April 21st

2011-04-21T08:33:00.000-05:00

The comic:

Wow.

That is one bizarre and terrifying image.

Wednesday April 20th

2011-04-20T00:50:00.000-05:00

The comic:

He looks so sad.

He has a recliner, but no TV. This is Rhinoman, after all.

Tuesday April 19th

2011-04-19T03:33:00.000-05:00

The comic:

Yeah, but is the grandma's face clean enough? My paternal grandmother smokes like a chimney. And I can't picture her wanting to pick me up when I'm all muddy and kissing me.

My maternal grandmother would kiss me, I guess. I just haven't spent a lot of time with her, considering she lives in New Mexico and all. My dad's stepmother shows her love in other ways, though she loves hugging me.

I don't like being kissed or hugged all that much.

And mud pies just sounds dirty - he made a mud pie in his pants, look at those eyes!

Monday April 18th

2011-04-18T10:23:00.000-05:00

The comic:

It's April. Wouldn't this have been better in January? Oh well, better than some old "joke" about taxes.

That will probably be in September.

Saturday April 16th

2011-04-16T00:10:00.000-05:00

The comic:

No wonder his eyes are bad, he's way too close to the TV!

Also, he looks stoned - still loopy from the surgery, I guess.

To be fair, I do understand this. When I first got glasses, I was like wow! Everything's so sharp! And then repeated myself each time I got new glasses. It's just like, no way man, you always see the world like this? Whoa.

Friday April 15th

2011-04-15T00:22:00.002-05:00

The comic:

I have a hole in my chin, okay?!

Thursday April 14th

2011-04-14T08:09:00.000-05:00

The comic:

But no Plugger have a job where they need to wear a suit and tie. I call shenanigans!

Wednesday April 13th

2011-04-13T08:26:00.000-05:00

The comic:

I don't think this is true. Not all bus drivers are Pluggers, or at least not all bus drivers that drive their buses home are Pluggers. I've only seen one house with a bus outside it, most are in a yard by a school. And the one house that did have a bus outside it was in a rural county.

Now, my uncle was a truck driver and his truck was often at his house. A trucker seems more Plugger-like. Maybe that's what Mr. Shepardson had in mind.

Tuesday April 12th

2011-04-12T08:49:00.000-05:00

The comic:

I call foul - my Dixie would be knocking my arm around while Wickett shoved the book out of the way. They would not gaze adoringly at me as I read.

I seriously doubt he's a farmer. And the almanac would not be able to tell me the important weather related things, like how far away that fucking tornado is. Or if school is closed because of snow.

Monday April 11th

2011-04-11T07:40:00.000-05:00

The comic:

Isn't dieting only a concern when you're not as poor as we know Rhino-Man is?

Maybe it's time to throw away the scale, eh?

Saturday April 9th

2011-04-09T07:50:00.000-05:00

The comic:

That is the smartest thing I've ever seen a Plugger do. Though I'd leave something sweet at the end too, so I leave with a sweet taste in my mouth.

Friday April 8th

2011-04-08T09:08:00.000-05:00

The comic:

Pluggers remember things. Not a problem. What is a problem is renaming it - Just say "In my day, we didn't have iPods, we had transistor radios!"

My mom has a touch screen phone and she uses Pandora on it, but I don't call her phone a transistor radio.

Thursday April 7th

2011-04-07T08:11:00.000-05:00

The comic:

Even though he's already wearing a belt.

Wednesday April 6th

2011-04-06T00:05:00.000-05:00

The comic:

This is as bad as Tim Pawlenty's attempt to act with it.

I make Twitter "Tweets" all the time.

Tuesday April 5th

2011-04-05T20:33:00.001-05:00

The comic:

Look, either you take great care of your car, or you don't! Show some damn consistency, Pluggers!

ETA to fix the date. Apparently I still have two more days of class this week.

Monday April 4th

2011-04-04T00:04:00.000-05:00

The comic:

But most of the sit down restaurants I've been to have pictures as well.

And they don't change the pictures daily, he's just being a jerk.

Actually my favorite BBQ place does not have pictures of the food on the menu and I'd say that place is more stereotypically Plugger than a fast food chain - southern, BBQ, everyone knows everyone, BBQ...

Saturday April 2nd

2011-04-02T00:53:00.000-05:00

The comic:

Why don't they just get a divorce? She knows he doesn't like tucking in his shirt, he knows she hates it. God what miserable people.

Friday April 1st

2011-04-01T13:31:00.000-05:00

It is 1:30pm on April 1st. In Memphis, Tennessee. And it is only 55 degrees. Talk about April Fools!

The comic:

Aw.

I like this.

I really do.

I really really do. It's sweet.

Thursday March 31st

2011-03-31T08:43:00.000-05:00

The comic:

I don't think that's one of the first things he does, unless he got dressed in the car.

Their faces are so weird, nobody's looking at anybody else, they all seem quite resigned. Depressing.

Wednesday March 30th

2011-03-30T08:43:00.000-05:00

The comic:

And if you think you're witty for saying this every time you watch a DVD.

Tuesday March 29th

2011-03-29T22:11:00.000-05:00

Do you even notice when I miss a day and don't make it up?

The comic:

Pluggers don't understand inflation. I know it's not all inflation, but come on. The dollar was worth a lot more when gas was a quarter a gallon.

Also, yes, Pluggers remember things. I am shocked. Again.

Saturday March 26th

2011-03-26T09:36:00.000-05:00

The comic:

EW EW EW EW

Friday March 25th

2011-03-26T09:35:00.000-05:00

The comic:

Yes, you remember things from the past. That is newsworthy.

Thursday March 24th

2011-03-24T08:11:00.000-05:00

The comic:

Pluggers are hipsters?

Wednesday March 23rd

2011-03-23T00:04:00.001-05:00

The comic:

But the hassle! And where do they live that they have regular pay phones but not home phones?

You know, people often say "We didn't have cell phones when we were kids" right before telling their kids to call them via cell phone. We don't have a home phone, we just have our cells now. Which means we need to update our dogs' ID tags, but we're lazy. As our are dogs.

Tuesday March 22nd

2011-03-22T08:34:00.000-05:00

The comic:

Andy doesn't look sad, he looks confused. If it's not a "good sign", he should look sad.

And they look formal as well - jeans? a tucked in shirt? a belt? Well, Mr. Fancy Pants!

Monday March 21st

2011-03-21T00:06:00.000-05:00

The comic:

I want to try a Kindle, but I also don't want to spend so much money getting the same books I already own on it. That's one of the big limitations of an e-reader for me. That and there aren't a lot of library books available for one, not enough to justify the purchase.

I read a brick of a book in January, A Suitable Boy, and if that was available as an e-book, I'd have been very happy. But it wasn't.

I ordered a book from Amazon and the Kindle version was more expensive than the paperback copy! Forget that.

Saturday March 19th

2011-03-19T08:34:00.000-05:00

The comic:

Change is scary.

But since the TV is new, you can keep the remote with you since you don't have to get up to turn it on. It's freaky.

Friday March 18th

2011-03-18T11:05:00.000-05:00

The comic:

Pluggers marry non-Pluggers?

She seems resigned to her fate, not pissed. And it doesn't look like they're driving, it looks like they're parked at Lovers' Lane or whatever.

Thursday March 17h

2011-03-17T00:05:00.001-05:00

The comic:

You're a senior plugger if you recycle a joke from the '80s and botch it - normally people say "child proof," not "tamper-proof" because ha ha, only a child can open it.

They used it on the Simpsons recently, when they went to a pharmaceutical company and Homer couldn't figure out how to open the door.

You know, I take a lot of medication, I've seen many a prescription bottle in my day and I've never thought about the child proof thing while opening one. Though I do gripe about the tamper stuff in OTC bottles - the mouth is so tiny and there's so much cotton and I can't get it out and I can't get the pills out until I get the cotton out and why is it the aspirin? My head hurts.

Wednesday March 16th

2011-03-16T10:01:00.000-05:00

The comic:

Wow, that makes them pretty unique, being able to remember things from when they were younger.

Tuesday March 15th

2011-03-15T00:44:00.001-05:00

The comic:

And they always give you slightly imperfect parts so you'll return!

This is nothing - my mom knows the mechanics at her Toyota dealership (for the oil change maintenance stuff) so well that she can call former employees for help when the current ones are not being good.

A non-car example is the library by my dorm - I've been sending books there from other branches since August 2007, they definitely know me and go get the holds before I ask. This was most surprising this semester because I hadn't been in since last May.

I was going to be nice and assume that this happened because Pluggers are friendly people, but he looks so miserable that that can't be the case. "If I took better care of my car, they wouldn't know me so well..."

Monday March 14th

2011-03-14T08:58:00.000-05:00

The comic:

Naps are nice, I don't want to see them attached to Pluggers.

And apparently Pluggers are in college!

Saturday March 12th

2011-03-12T09:33:00.001-06:00

The comic:

Ha ha, they're cliches!

They don't care about things that matter to their partners. That's so funny.

Friday March 11th

2011-03-11T19:03:00.000-06:00

The comic:

This is really sad.

They can't afford a car they can actually ride in. It looks like it's a good height, but something's off.

If I had money, I'd live in a better drawn cartoon, I sure would.

Pity the Pluggers, stuck in Pluggerville, doomed to poor drawing forever.

Thursday March 10th

2011-03-10T10:52:00.000-06:00

The comic:

Why does he have a helmet on?

Pluggers eat pizza. Wow. That sure is unique behavior.

Wednesday March 9th

2011-03-09T09:50:00.000-06:00

The comic:

Ha! They're too poor to afford more than one suit, even though the one they have is too small!

Okay, maybe it's not supposed to be bleak and they're just lazy and hate shopping. I hate shopping too, but if I had the money, I'd go buy a new fancy/dress outfit if I needed one.

Then again, I wore the same tennis shoes for a few years until the hole in sole became a problem (hint: snow). And then when I decided I needed new ones, I had to wait until I had the money.

Or are they hard working Americans who don't need suits outside of funerals/weddings and I'm overthinking this.

Tuesday March 8th

2011-03-08T11:51:00.000-06:00

The comic:

Another way of saying Pluggers are fat. That is so worth the paycheck Brookins gets.

Monday March 7th

2011-03-07T08:58:00.000-06:00

The comic:

But don't cars already have one? It's not super expensive or rare.

Yes, he's checking the engine with a flashlight. Got that.

Not really.

Saturday March 5th

2011-03-05T12:25:00.000-06:00

The comic:

Wow. I saw the picture before the caption, so I figured it was taking place at a hardware place and he was giving directions to some tool aisle.

Is this an "old" thing? Well this is depressing. Or reassuring. Knowing where the bathrooms are when your stomach is about to explode is always a good thing.

Friday March 4th

2011-03-04T00:02:00.001-06:00

The comic:

But they use too many - what's wrong with "senior discount" - is it trademarked or something?

And someone who does not "mince words" is generally not considered polite, so the please is unnecessary as well.

Also, this isn't even... what does this mean? What the hell is this about? Besides being old and saving money, of course.

Thursday March 3rd

2011-03-03T08:05:00.000-06:00

The comic:

It's funny because our healthcare system will bankrupt you!

And only 6 bottles? Amateur.

Question - is it really investing if most of them are generics?

Wednesday March 2nd

2011-03-02T08:24:00.000-06:00

The comic:

But don't they still need to fit?

Why don't they buy clothes that fit?

Why is this here?

Tuesday March 1st

2011-03-01T05:39:00.000-06:00

The comic:

It's not unexplained - the Straight Dope - and they're right by a computer that may have the internet, so google away.

I'm guessing she's about to roll her eyes.

And yes, when people bring up "life's unexplained mysteries", I do look for the answer online if I don't already know it.

Monday February 28th

2011-02-28T14:29:00.000-06:00

The comic:

Because you all live and work in the same small town?

This describes us, that's for sure... when we actually call the repairman and not my uncle...

Though we're not creeped out or scared when he approaches us.

I thought they were supposed to be cheap and handy, so they'd try to fix their own refrigerators before calling someone to do it. So much to learn.

Saturday February 26th

2011-02-26T00:07:00.000-06:00

The comic:

I've been there. It's not fun, nor is it funny.

And you know why you don't donate it all and buy a new wardrobe? Because you can't afford it.

I think most people read this comic and don't think about it beyond "yeah, that's true" and then go on to Popeye or Rex Morgan. It's not designed for critical thought.

Though who wears their baseball cap indoors and while wearing their PJs? Honestly!

Friday February 25th

2011-02-25T13:10:00.000-06:00

The comic:

Why would I care?

Why would anyone care?

Thursday February 24th

2011-02-24T08:19:00.000-06:00

The comic:

Because Scooters are used by people who cannot walk or stand for long periods of time.

Isn't that funny? I'm dying here.

No wait, I'm not.

Wednesday February 23rd

2011-02-23T09:14:00.000-06:00

The comic:

Who does that? Pancakes are sticky!

He doesn't look happy about this.

This is way way too specific and a bit... I don't know, but just... no.

Tuesday February 22nd

2011-02-22T08:42:00.000-06:00

The comic:

Well, that's disturbing. And it makes no sense. Yes, the gate keeps undesirables out, like kids and pets, but it's not a community.

Going by their height, the only difference is the dog can jump over the gate.

Monday February 21st

2011-02-21T19:38:00.000-06:00

The comic:

Only Pluggers lose things! Of course I remember where I put something, I'm not a Plugger!

I know where my 2011 organizer is, I just don't want to use it.

Saturday February 19th

2011-02-19T09:31:00.000-06:00

The comic:

"You don't have to go home, but you can't stay here."

Friday February 18th

2011-02-18T00:04:00.000-06:00

The comic:

Because conservative = cautious? He wants to conserve his pants? He thinks the tradition of wearing suspenders should be kept alive?

Oh, is he dressed conservatively?

Yeah, I got nothing. But hey! Rhinoman!

Thursday February 17th

2011-02-17T08:40:00.000-06:00

The comic:

Because they're terrifying psychopaths?

Holy crap this was scary, well I'm awake now!

If anyone knows what this is supposed to be about, please tell me!

Wednesday February 16th

2011-02-16T19:59:00.000-06:00

The comic:

My dad and I went to a movie in December. He has a jeep with removable doors and such. He can't lock the doors because he had to use the key for something and now it only works in the ignition? I didn't understand it then but all I know is he can't use the key in the door locks and it's because the jeep is 10 years old.

The point? My dad is the kind of guy who knows a lot about cars and 10 years old isn't that old. Couldn't a Plugger fix the starter or replace it or get somebody to fix it. They could barter!

No, I don't know what a starter is. I assume it's something involved with starting the engine?

I guess the brakes are good, though!

Monday February 14th

2011-02-14T20:37:00.000-06:00

Hey I bet this will be about Valentine's Day!

The comic:

I was right!

There's nothing wrong with using a coupon on a date as long as neither party minds, and if one does and you don't want to piss them off and make the date a giant waste of time, don't use it in front of them.

Also, this is really awkward - don't couples sit opposite each other? But if they did that, we wouldn't see her pissed off expression, so hey.

It's not completely awful, AKA the Lockhorns, because he doesn't seem to be motivated by malice, he's just completely ignorant to his wife's feelings!

The Return of the Blog

2011-02-14T20:32:00.000-06:00

I don't feel like doing homework, but I want to do something.

I was going to return a month ago, but hey. As to why I stopped, I don't remember but I assume it was because my chronic pain was incredibly nasty this summer and fall and also, no one reads this until I stop posting.

Enjoy.

Tuesday July 27th

2010-07-27T00:17:00.001-05:00

The comic:

Ha ha, see some programs are tape delayed, but their real life game is delayed because he needs tape because his dad is too cheap to buy another wooden bat. Or to save money and get a metal one.

Also, electrical tape? Ooh la la, look who's fancy pants now! My mom recently tried to block the sun from waking her up (she couldn't pull the blinds down because Mikey would wreck them, I assume), using purple duct tape and black garbage bags, thank you very much! It didn't work so well, the tape started peeling, my sister says it's because of the heat (??) but we didn't use no fancy electrical tape...

Wait, what the front door is "electical" tape?

Is it supposed to be a cute Family Circus malapropism? Well, it's not like he replaced one word, he just mispronounced the real one. Or more likely, Brookins ran out of room in the speech bubble and misspelled the word himself. Because if you're old enough to play baseball, you're old enough to pronounce "electrical" the right way.

Also, this shows that Pluggerville is in some unrealistic America (or perhaps the America of their youth?) because I live in a neighborhood with a lot of spaces for a game of baseball. And we're next to a baseball stadium.

My sister, our friend, and I played baseball in the front yard - it was fun and stupid, because each person was on both teams at once.

And people throw balls around at the park, though the only sport I've seen played is football. Baseball can be risky if you're a good batter - smash goes the window. Oh no, it hit a car!

We don't have sandlots anymore, and our parents don't want us playing in abandoned, empty lots anyway.

And make-it-up-as-you-go-along baseball is much more fun.

Pluggers think they're Charlie Brown and the gang, playing baseball without adult supervision. Well, they're not.

ELECTICAL? Really? This got published? Hey, all of you unemployed people looking for work, don't remind yourself that even the shittiest print comic means that someone is getting paid. It's especially galling when it's a legacy strip or run on reader's contributions, like this one.

Monday July 26th

2010-07-26T00:35:00.000-05:00

The comic:

They don't know how lucky they are to be able to retire. The next generation may not be able to. Or they'll be shoved out from their old job at 65 and have to supplement their retirement with a job at Wal-Mart. In fact, one of the first ones I covered showed a "senior Plugger" working there.

So Pluggers are elitists.

Or they got into their vaunted blue collar job with a great union. Commies.

Saturday July 17th

2010-07-17T20:36:00.000-05:00

I apologize for posting these later in the day, I've been going to bed before midnight for the last few days, no matter how much I sleep during the day. (Today it was from 1:30 to 6:45, finally I slept through the worst of the heat!)

The comic:

She looks thrilled.

Why doesn't the inside door handle work? I'd also think that the outside handle would be fight back, at the very least. Or just fall off, like I saw in an Archie story.

So he's not really chivalrous, he just has a crappy car and refuses to fix it. (Probably made it worse by trying himself, but in true Hank Hill fashion, won't let a stranger touch his baby. "Another man touching her manifold.")

And it is damn creepy to be next to a door you can't open, or at least weird. I've been in a cop car a few times, when Tiger Patrol wasn't up (they use golf carts and drive wildly, so much fun), despite the fact that it was during the hours they were supposed to be up. So I got a ride in a cop car, in the backseat. No interior door handle.

Also, my mom has a Toyota Tundra (2002) and it has a handle on the back door which is useless unless the front door is open. So when my sister's upfront and I need to get out (when they drop me off), I have to remind her to open her door. That's part of the design.

And I must say that my mom only gets her truck taken care of at Toyota. There's no shame in asking for help.

Her car is 8-9 years old (we bought it in late 2001) and it's still in good shape.

She looks quite resigned as well, the wife. ("I bet his mistress has a flashy sports car with working doors," she thinks.)

I understand keeping things until they fall apart - I had a holey shirt that I got at a yard sale and towards the end, I had to wear a white camisole underneath, the holes were getting higher. It eventually became more hole than shirt, so I threw it out. But while I had it, I made sure to do my own laundry! My mom wants many of my shirts (mostly pajama tanks that are see-through through age and washings - but being threadbare makes them cooler temperature-wise) in the trash, but if I do my own laundry, she can't grab them. Bwahaha!

But clothes are not tons of metal and they can't kill people like a bad car can. So the fact that he takes pride in the fact that his car doesn't work will only end in tears.

It's also a sign that the basic description is a joke - you'd think blue-collar workers would spend the weekend tinkering with their cars and improving them. But hey, let's just trap the wife in the car. Though she could get out by climbing over the center console or just sliding out if it doesn't have one. I have climbed from the backseat to the front and the reverse... while the truck was moving. But I'm an idiot teenager, so what do I know?

Friday July 16th

2010-07-16T00:07:00.000-05:00

The comic:

Pluggers care about fashion? No.

They care about being smug. Look at his face.

So this makes the intended audience quite happy.

Thursday July 15th

2010-07-15T00:53:00.000-05:00

The comic:

Ew.

Front... tickle?

Back to Psych.

Wednesday July 14th

2010-07-14T19:53:00.000-05:00

The comic:

W.

T.

F.

Tuesday July 13th

2010-07-13T02:52:00.000-05:00

The comic:

Well no shit sherlock, you got the ones with just one slot per day, instead one with 2 or 4 per day. And you didn't label them when you set them up. And you don't have a list of your medications, so you can take a look and see which ones are for evening and which are for the morning. I take more at 8am than I do at 8pm, so that's obvious.

I have a great pill dispenser - it's got the 4 compartments per day, and I can remove a day and take it with me if I'm going to be out at a time when I need to take medication (2pm or 8pm usually... 8am on surgery days).

That really rocks.

So yeah, no sympathy. And why didn't anyone help you? You could have said to the pharmacist, I have to take pills twice a day, but I only have this as a pill dispenser. But asking for help is against the Plugger creed.

I mean, mixing up your meds like that could cause serious problems - some drugs should only be taken before bed.

Research FAIL.

Heartwarming? No.

Something I can relate to? No, and I hope others can't. They're not that expensive, people!

Funny? Hahahahaha, no, except that he bought the stress upon himself.

But it's about taking medication, and only old people take medication daily (notice they didn't say "senior Plugger" this time and he's not drawn especially old) so run that shit.

Blech.

Saturday July 10th

2010-07-10T00:29:00.000-05:00

The comic:

Bully for them.

But why not junk/antique shops? They have some great things as well - I found so many old comics and MAD magazines after my graduation (dressy sandals, pretty dress, and flipping through dusty old things).

The only issue I have is if I get a Goosebumps book I already have.

I guess this is supposed to be funny because we go to yard sales without planning most of the time? (love looking through the classifieds to see who paid for an ad... and then has no books and just baby crap)

And I do go to Goodwill on a whim when I'm near the big one. But I do want to go to the new one in my town because my purse I bought in December 2007 may not last forever, and I once looked at purses in a regular store - similar styles, high prices (I paid like 5 bucks for the one I have). So I want a back-up.

I wonder if the owner at yard sale likes someone with a list. I usually look around and then ask if they have any books and then go on my way. Thrift stores? They'd probably be really pissed if you asked if they had a specific item.

And I've never seen 8 tracks, just records.

Friday July 9th

2010-07-09T04:28:00.000-05:00

The comic:

Ha ha, he has trouble walking!

Heartwarming? No.

Funny? Hell no, especially to those in that situation.

Familiar? For some people.

From Reed Hoover? Yes. Publish it!

Thursday July 8th

2010-07-08T16:42:00.000-05:00

The comic:

But you can drive through the country even if you don't live there.

Also, I was in a ritzy subdivision in a rich suburb for more than a week, and I had no reception in the kitchen/family room. I could text, but not get calls. And when I went outside, if I was under the porch roof, the reception was still bad.

Plus, many many many iPhone owners have griped about how AT&T is shit in New York City, the opposite of Pluggerville and not "country."

This would work better if it said "so far out in the country, that you have to drive a mile to use your cell phone."

Because breakdowns happen everywhere and dead zones are everywhere - we have Sprint but on our old carrier, again with the kitchen and no service.

Wednesday July 7th

2010-07-07T00:06:00.000-05:00

The comic:

Safety razors?

I don't know and I don't really want to know.

The idea of these creatures shaving is disturbing enough without the visuals, thank you very much.

Why haven't we seen anything about female Pluggers shaving their legs? Or not, because they wear pantyhose. Or they draw it on, like they did during the war. I'd just love to see a reference to shaving legs starring the Chicken lady. My one request. I don't ask for much.

Tuesday July 6th

2010-07-06T01:43:00.000-05:00

This blog is very important in the summer, because it lets me know what day it is. Only problem is, I update it before going to bed, so even though it's technically Tuesday, it's not Tuesday til I wake up at 8. (And then go back to bed until Jeopardy at 3:30.)

The comic:

Those legs are quite scary - why aren't his arms equally thin?

I always say the best part about being fat is the boobies. Because of medications, I've gained some weight over the last couple months (like fast enough to get tons of stretch marks) and yes, my boobs have grown.

Poor men, they don't have an acceptable place for fat. Except men get less guilt over being fat, so...

Also, it's cute that they call it a "diet" - we know it means that RhinoMan is starving because he's so poor.

And the gender change is... interesting. I guess they couldn't show a sad chicken or dog lady looking sadly at her deflated chest. Too risqué, I'd imagine.

You know, in this country, I think it costs more to lose weight on purpose than it does to gain it. Fat camps are expensive, diet food is expensive, and no one ever factors in the time - sometimes you don't have the time for the exercise or the counting of calories or of points. Or the money for weight watchers, because people who have lost weight say a support group helps a lot.

I read something interesting at the Fat Nutritionist (that I can't find right now) about why those ignorant poor, fat people buy fast food instead of healthy fruit. Fruit doesn't have a lot of calories. We need calories (aka food) to live. 10 bucks gets you more calories at McDonalds than it does at a fruit stand. That made a lot of sense to me when I read it, something just clicked.

Me? My doctors haven't told me to lose weight, so I'm doing my hardest not to care. I've got some comfy shorts, maybe I'll have to buy new pants in October or something (maybe my weight will have dropped 50 pounds by then - who knows with me), my pajamas fit (it's summer), and I walk when I can (heat, pain). Food? When I feel like shit, I eat what I want. Eating something grody (or dangerous - like broccoli) when I'm in excruciating pain... that's just inhumane, man.

Monday July 5th

2010-07-05T09:07:00.000-05:00

American readers (ha, like anyone reads this but me) - have a good fourth? I slept til almost noon, watched Blast from the Past, baseball, and the Simpsons. Then we played with the dogs - Mikey gnawed on me, my mom, and my dog. (My dog is 50 pound chow mix, Mikey is a 10 pound poodle/terrier mix.)

Then the fireworks. That my mom and sister set off in our driveway. Dixie hates fireworks. This is well known. She was not happy and neither was I. Bloody holiday!

On to the comic!

As I established earlier, Hank Hill is a Plugger. He has a stud finder.

But I'm learning that Pluggers are contradictory creatures - if I were to look at a month's worth of comics, I'm sure I'd find at least one that contradicted a previous one.

Or they don't mind any excuse to hate on technology - though a stud finder? Really? Oh well, it's a stud finder, er, "joke" in the comics that doesn't refer to dating or sex, so that's something.

Also, to avoid holes in your walls, you're supposed to put tape on... something. I want to say the wall...

I'm still at the thumbtack and tape stage.

Wait - WTF is their stud finder? Him? His hammer? Plain old luck? I think putting multiple holes in your wall is more costly than a stud finder, which doesn't even cost 20 US dollars! At Wal-Mart's website, the stud finder is so cheap, it comes with a drill... that costs 15 US dollars. Oh the humanity!

On one more note - I think stud finders are cool and they're the one tool I can play with without breaking it or me or the house. I hope. It would be so fun to find all the studs in the walls! Okay, I'm weird. But taking on Pluggers makes you weird, we all know that.

Saturday July 3rd

2010-07-03T00:28:00.000-05:00

The comic:

On all that fur!

Two things marking her as a different Plugger - "senior" and "ladies". Senior bothers me because I know women start using that expensive snake oil in their 30s or 20s.

"Ladies" bothers me because all women are so gullible and vain, amirite? It has nothing to do with our youth-obsessed couple or the fact that older men with wrinkles and gray hair look "distinguished" and want a younger woman, or a younger-looking one, at least. Plastic surgery is out of a Pluggers' price range, but all she's spent on gunk for her face over the years is probably more than what a face lift would cost - it just seems like more for the surgery because it's all at once (or on installments).

I use moisturizer. I was a senior in high school, and I "should" be a senior in August, but I don't think I will be. 4th year, yes, but I'm probably not graduating next May.

Anyways, I have dry skin. The right moisturizer is a godsend for everyone, male or female, old or young. I guess moisturizer makes your skin look young as well? I wouldn't know, I already look young all the time.

This makes me sad - I wish this was homey and sweet (gag-inducing) - a Plugger grandmother doesn't need anti-wrinkle cream, because she knows they're part of her life. And it would show her pointing at some with her granddaughter on her lap - "These are laugh lines - I've had a happy life." or "Your mother gave me these!" Off camera - "Mom!"

Or even better - she's complaining about her wrinkles and her partner says, "I love them, they're a map of our life together." (Or - "The laugh lines, frown lines, lines from thinking - they prove you're not a robot!") *cut to snuggle time*

Oh yeah, they're called "apps" because you apply them to your face.

"Trying to look young and wasting money - there's an app for that."

But I thought the iPod and such were designed to be easy to use, especially by people who aren't that comfortable with technology, like, oh "seniors."

Besides, what do they say? Getting old is better than the alternative!

Friday July 2nd

2010-07-02T21:16:00.000-05:00

The comic:

That squirrel is effing creepy.

And it's so nice that they care about the birds. They watch the birds eating because someone stole their TV because they don't live in a bird feeder and are like my sister, who thinks locking the door at night is "overdoing it."

Thursday July 1st

2010-07-01T00:25:00.001-05:00

The comic:

Only Pluggers bought T-shirts at events before 2000.

I'd say we're all Pluggers, but we also wear things from after 2000, so we're safe. I think.

However, if I found an interesting design on a shirt from an event at Goodwill or something, I may get it. And don't doubt hipsters. Also, there are undoubtedly new shirts made up with the poster for Woodstock on it, or for any concert from the '60s or '70s.

And of course it's bluegrass.

Wednesday June 30th

2010-06-30T00:30:00.000-05:00

The comic:

He's rocking out to Pat Boone.

And I don't even want to get into what "less volume" means - he can't twist and do the mashed potato like he used to?

Also, I can't dance, and I used to listen exclusively to oldies and songs that had guitar in them. But I never played air guitar. I just danced badly and ran around scaring the dogs.

Tuesday June 29th

2010-06-29T00:07:00.000-05:00

The comic:

Sent in by a man.

Did he do this in secret, so the woman he hates so much wouldn't see it?

I'm going to say yes.

It's one thing to show respect for your partner, it's quite another to meekly do what they say, secretly hating them the entire time. And for the dominating partner, it's important to ask their opinions on doing things, though since it's always the man being meek around his wife in Pluggerville, and men in Pluggerville don't talk about their feelings...

Hey wait, if they live stereotyped gender roles, shouldn't he have already mowed the yard? It's not like women do that!

Plus, Hank Hill is a Plugger, and he has a tiny yard and a riding mower and he loves his lawn.

She's treating him like a moody teenager, and he's acting like one.

Monday June 28th

2010-06-28T05:03:00.000-05:00

The comic:

Say what? They don't use it for Farmville like everyone else their age?

She doesn't look pleased - maybe she went to a different school or wasn't there that year.

Or perhaps she's skeptical and they're going to call up Wally Bikechane (WTF) and ask him to do that again. Was he eating it and then laughed and it went out, like when liquids go out your nose at the wrong moment? I've heard soda burns like hell.

Saturday June 26th

2010-06-26T00:07:00.001-05:00

The comic:

I know dogs can get sunburns - hairless breeds, dogs who got their summer shaves, but I have never heard of putting sunblock on them. The normal thing is to keep their outside time to a minimum when the sun is out.

And, forgetting the animal aspect for a second, why do older Pluggers need more sunblock? Because they lose the hair on their heads and a head sunburn is mighty uncomfortable? (Only thing stopping me from shaving my head. That, and I like it when it's braided.)

My first thought was that it was a fat "joke" - they have more body to cover because they got fat, see?

But balding is probably it.

However, this is just wrong, wronger than anything else involving these creatures and I am going to pet a real dog and pretend this never happened.

I suggest you all do the same if you want to survive the weekend.

And wear your sunblock! Despite what my ignorant sister thinks, people with all shades of skin color can get burned and damaged, so get the strongest SPF you can find if you want to go out in the sunniest part of the day! I lost my uncle to skin cancer, I need to take my own advice next time I go out after 10am.

Friday June 25th

2010-06-25T09:37:00.000-05:00

The comic:

That's a very labored set-up and a very exact, unique situation.

When I'm going to stay in a hotel for a long period of time, I bring enough clothes so I don't have to do laundry. And if I'm going to be somewhere long enough to do laundry, I'm usually at a place that has a washer and dryer that does not require coins, like a relative's place.

And really, the casinos are the only place people go for vacation?

Thursday June 24th

2010-06-24T21:02:00.001-05:00

The comic:

Wow.

Oh wait, I just remembered last summer (or was it the summer before?) when the government offered coupons for the converter box so you could continue to get your network channels in peace.

Before that, I was in awe that they bothered with the converter box.

Plugger question - why does his TV still work but his car is falling apart? TVs are harder to fix and harder to understand. Though maybe they were simpler back then, what do I know about Philcos?

And despite being a disrespectful teenager (I'm 21) I do appreciate a B&W movie or TV show. Andy Griffith in black and white means Barney is still there - in color, he's gone. And I saw a colored version of Mughal-e-Azam that was hideously colored. The director died and he wanted it colored and you can see the scenes he colored (the colors look natural) vs the ones attacked with highlighters.

Futurama's on! And it's new!!!

ETA: I know how to hook up the DVD player, the Wii, and my computer (provided the TV has a VGA port) and a bit about the cable (in the dorm, the cord goes on the wall, and then on my TV! Magic! That does not mean I am a TV expert, just like the fact that I can type without looking and use the internet easily does not mean I am a computer expert. (Though with our old one, I was able to add extra RAM so I could update the Sims (the original, spluh!) - I could take apart the computer casing and do that. But that's about it.)

Hank Hill is a Plugger

2010-06-23T21:26:00.000-05:00

And I cannot stand him.

Dale, however, is awesome.

And I would love to live with Bill (as a platonic roommate) and introduce him to the world of Bollywood and cheer him up.

Bobby is also awesome.

Peggy is at times.

But Hank is a major Plugger - he doesn't like new technology, especially computers, and the old way is always best. He also believes in rigid gender roles, hurting his son again and again.

He's also right repeatedly. The episode I just saw involved MySpace (a couple years too late) and he thought it would lead to disaster... and it did.

Wednesday June 23rd

2010-06-23T16:41:00.000-05:00

The comic:

And you vote for somebody who wants to slash social security, which means you have to get a job when you thought you'd be done. But if you vote for the other guy, gays could get married!

Tuesday June 22nd

2010-06-22T21:49:00.000-05:00

The comic:

Yeah.

Right.

Why her age? Creepy.

Also, the price of a box of Girl Scout Cookies has gone up, and Pluggers can afford $300 worth of cookies? I'd only get like 10 a year, my freezer isn't that big.

Though I prefer Tagalongs to Thin Mints.

And cookies to Pluggers.

But that's a given.

Monday June 21st

2010-06-21T04:46:00.000-05:00

The comic:

Um.

Is this a good thing or a bad thing?

We have one plate hanging up, and it's not collectible by any measure, especially since it's split in two.

I'm lost. Boggled in the brain.

Saturday June 19th

2010-06-19T00:31:00.000-05:00

The comic:

Ha ha, people age! Isn't it funny!

And why is he confused? He had to know what movie/sitcom he was watching, right?

And why doesn't he just watch the classics and ignore the fact that actors choose different roles as they age?

Because then he'd have nothing to whine about.

I'm more shocked by my relatives aging, especially my cousins who are kids who I don't see that often. "What do you mean she's graduating from high school?!"

Pluggers don't like change. I get it. So why seek it out? I don't see anyone forcing him to watch it! And what actor is he talking about? Six shooters? An actor who did that is probably dead now! And if he's Clint Eastwood, I doubt he's done a movie with a minivan.

This would work better if he was reading about the new movie online or in the paper - or his grandchild was telling him about it - "Hey, your favorite star from when you were a kid is in this movie... as the grandfather."

Or I could be charitable and say he's watching a commercial for some "wacky" summer movie, but no, I've seen Pluggers put themselves in situations just so they can whine, so no charity!

Friday June 18th

2010-06-18T00:05:00.000-05:00

The comic:

This reminds me of The Sound of Music.

Does anyone really whistle for their kids? I thought they just shouted. This is bizarre, and just an excuse to bash the internet. Again.

They could have shown a Plugger whistling for their pet to come. Or walking along, whistling a tune.

But no, that would make sense.

I'm on Twitter as MemphisKaitlyn if you're curious!

Thursday June 17th

2010-06-17T15:05:00.000-05:00

The comic:

But this caption is too long - "Reading only the single-panel comics is Plugger speed reading."

Also - ha ha, this is a single-panel comic too!

And you can't save the newspaper for later in the day to enjoy because...

And the love of Family Circus is okay - they look at the little children as we look at them - some weird species.

But the Marmaduke love gives me a headache - it features humans and animals - and animals that don't talk to wear clothes or read the paper.

And I am quite disappointed that Brookins didn't plug himself - instead of Marmaduke (another animal - competition!), he should have said Pluggers.

And then your head would explode.

Wednesday June 16th

2010-06-16T00:19:00.000-05:00

The comic:

I think I've seen this.

Anyway, I remember my dad settling down to polish his shoes... on dress days... when he was in the military.

The average white-collar worker does not polish their shoes. Especially tennis shoes. And flip-flops - which, if made of the right material, can be washed with a hose.

Anyways, this is his job. He's probably been doing it since 18, since his dad and grandfather worked there. He's most likely part of a union.

But he looks so dejected - does he think she's going to change her mind one day and say, sure make the house muddy - it's not like I've been working all day and just cleaned up after our kids!

Of course, the cynic would say a little mud wouldn't be noticed in a Plugger household. Except, Pluggers love stereotypes, especially sexist ones. And we all know wives henpeck their husbands and are so picky they don't want a bit of dirt in the house!

Also, washing his shoes won't help - maybe hose off the bottom, but unless they're waterproofed on the outside, they'll take some time to dry and he needs them for work tomorrow. So why not just kick them off outside and put on indoor shoes?

When my shoes are too nasty or I got caught in the rain, they sit on the porch. And they take a bit to dry out.

Also, that lunch box is too ridiculous and old fashioned - Plugger men love them!

Tuesday June 15th

2010-06-15T23:23:00.000-05:00

The comic:

Ha ha, his vehicle is worthless, but he depends on it because he lives in Pluggerville, which is rural and thus has no public transportation and very little sidewalks away from the shopping areas, so he needs his poor car to survive. He doesn't make enough to repair or restore his car, the only money he can put towards his car is just for cas.

This is hilarious.

And does he carry the boots between the cab and the truck bed? Because every time I see that, I assume a poor guy is being held there by his boots and being dragged around, head near the road.

That poor cop. The Plugger doesn't care, so why should he? But it's better than his other calls about teenagers playing their "heavy metal" Christian music too loud.

Also, most of the Pluggers episodes devoted to cars are about they're in terrible shape - so how can he find it? Oh yeah, license plate - if it's not covered in mud.

And like my mom says about our crappy things - if someone wants our stuff, they must be worse off than us.

So... how does someone who likes this comic take this? Ha ha, I identify, my car is POS too!

One last thing - when we lived in Italy about 20 years ago (OMG), my parents put a sign on the car saying the door was unlocked, take the radio, but please don't break the glass. I don't understand why glass for car windows was so hard to get in 1990 in mainland Europe, but go figure. Also, the pollution was terrible and the rats there could give NYC rats a run for their money. But the Adriatic Sea was gorgeous, and our off-base apartment had marble floors... perfect for a baby and a toddler!

Wednesday June 2nd

2010-06-02T14:17:00.000-05:00

The comic:

I... what?

Three lines to say "Pluggers have no friends."

That is a new one.

And they did write... e-mails. Go to the library, pay off the fine, and take a computer course.

THIS is a classic? It's depressing, and I've been suicidal, I know depressing!

Tuesday June 1st

2010-06-01T00:07:00.000-05:00

The comic:

Dixie is 13.

She still has a full coat.

Er, she would if we didn't just get it shaved for the summer.

Drawing FAIL.

And did he have Shawn Cassidy hair?

Monday May 31st

2010-05-31T01:02:00.001-05:00

The comic:

There is no "classic" by Brad Wesner that is patriotic and sappy?

Why doesn't he have glasses on? The way his eyes are drawn, it doesn't look like he can see much.

Also, why does she care?

Unless she recommended the book based on its ending. (Shutter Island for example - though its last lines give nothing away.)

Sometimes I like knowing spoilers/endings ahead of time because it's fun to see how it all adds up - and I will watch or read something again going nah, it's not gonna happen and bam, it does. Also, while watching Bunty aur Babli, I get nervous each time they're on the train towards the end - will they go to jail or not?! My friend thought I was so batty because I told her I'd scene it 50 times and was still like oh no what will happen!

...I really get into movies.

Saturday May 29th

2010-05-29T16:35:00.000-05:00

The comic:

This looks familiar.

Of course, the premise is so old and insulting.

Ha ha, men can't cook! Ha ha, they're eating pizza!

And take-out? I guess you save on a tip.

Meh. Stereotype, not funny, rerun not marked as such - grade F.

Another Hi and Lois Plugger Sighting

2010-05-28T22:39:00.001-05:00

The comic:

I last sent a hand-written letter in 2006. It was sent with a check in gratitude to a friend who sent me a big box full of MAD magazines from the '70s and '80s along with the books.

And there is a thrill in getting mail in the mailbox... though you learn quickly that most will be bills and junkmail.

Comics where the characters don't age are so... weird when they talk about technology. I can't pinpoint why.

Though they don't age in Foxtrot and it works. I think it's because Bill Amend actually knows things about technology and pop culture.

This is just another way of saying "the old ways are best." I do want to send more mail to save the post office and mail on Saturday - I mean, Netflix may jack up their prices if there's no USPS anymore.

But a letter is touching - and so is a card. It's a sign you spent some money in addition to the thought. Though the best is a short note in a big box from Grandma that has candy and old family pictures and peppers that mom and her brother will fight over...

Anyway, this is non-soap opera comic without a joke or punchline. Or is it that we think progress is good, but it really isn't? I think most women, non-white Americans, GLBTQ people, people with disabilities, poor people, and on and on might disagree. Some old things are nice, but for the most part, we're always moving forward and it usually has good results. (I can't imagine my life a generation ago - no internet, shoddy psychiatric care, and college without the internet?! I saw the registration scene in "Back to School" and was quite shocked.)

Oh, I do have a point. Letters have their place. So does e-mail. So does texting. It's not a zero sum game, you can use all - nothing is stopping you.

The attitude I get from this comic and most Pluggers related to technology is that one (the older) is better - period. And the new ways are bad - period.

Text messages are awesome - one morning, I got a text from my mom (because I wake up after she's at school - and the reception for texts is better than that for calls in a lot of places) saying I was smart. It really made me happy. Of course, most days her texts "just" said that she loved me.

Friday May 28th

2010-05-28T21:18:00.000-05:00

The comic:

How would the cashier know if he tried them on or now?

And why would she care?

Men are so lucky - 44 inches is 44 inches no matter what the brand. A 12 isn't a 12 everywhere and neither is a Large.

I hate trying on clothes (I get overheated, and it's so fun to see this perfect dress that you thought was near your size show off your tits if it can get up there), so I try to get comfy clothes that are labeled with letters and assume I need a L or XL. For something new or fancy (not a t-shirt or basic tank), I'll try it on.

I got new shorts last week and tried them on over my shorts... and tennis shoes. They fit fine.

Also, I am envious of people - no matter what their size - who don't have fluctuating weight and know their sizes won't change from year to year... or week to week. That's why I stick with sweats/yoga pants/whatever.

Though last time I bought jeans, I only tried on the first pair in the size that worked, then bought others from the same brand, so the sizes would mean the same thing. And they fit wonderfully! However, jeans hurt whether they fit or not, so... elastic.

Bah. Men's clothes seem so easy, but they do have a minefield in what's "acceptable" at work - just what is business casual? But men don't have big boobs, a big waist, and a small butt. Or the reverse. Curves are a bitch to cover without looking like a hooker or wearing something way too big - and then there are height issues...

And I haven't even wandered into the world of suits and work clothes.

Oh, where were we? Male Pluggers are smug lucky jerks. (Pluggers are smug by default. Except RhinoMan.)

I'm surprised they didn't go for the stereotype of having the wife do the shopping - some men honestly don't know their sizes, because the women in their lives have always shopped for them.

Oh! I just remembered a funny (and humiliating) sequence from The Agony of Alice by Phyllis Reynolds Naylor.

Alice needs new jeans, and her older brother takes her shopping. He gets her many sizes and they don't fit, not even the smallest pair! She thinks she's a freak of nature, until a female sales associate tells them that she needs girls jeans.

So maybe we should do the shopping.

Does a long post make up for a... huh... only four days? It felt like a longer absence.

Monday May 24th

2010-05-24T14:41:00.001-05:00

The comic:

Because he handles iron, geddit?

This isn't objectionable, it's not funny by any means, but look, he's got a job! They're talking about a movie that came out recently!

But you'd think Pluggers would enjoy comic books and movies made from them - don't Pluggers deserve 2 hours or so of escapism in some AC?

Monday May 10th

2010-05-10T09:59:00.000-05:00

The comic:

Ha ha, Pluggers wear their pants up high!

This is what you kick off "classics week" with? Reed Hoover is a hack, but Brookins is worse.

Saturday May 8th

2010-05-08T20:50:00.000-05:00

The comic:

His ears scare me. Also, going on the RhinoMan's story - he is at a friend or relative's house and they lent him decent pajamas. Or he broke in and put on the pjs and is raiding the fridge because his biggest fantasy in life is having a midnight snack. Ha, imagined poverty is funny!

Also, he's not thinking outside the box. If he was, we'd see an open cupboard (though the angles that would require showing more than RhinoMan and an open fridge in a blank void would probably break our heads) or at least the freezer would be open. That would be literal.

Is this supposed to be literal - he'll take food out of the box. Or is it, ha, Pluggers only think of food and that's funny because um, it just is.

No idea.

I'm not doing better health wise, but school is over (except for a 12 page paper, I just want to take an F, I'm so lazy) and I'm on the couch and the dogs need to be in. So mentally, I'm in a better place. So Monday, maybe?

Friday May 7th

2010-05-07T00:49:00.001-05:00

The comic:

Pluggers have butts?

Pluggers have curves?

Pluggers don't have a Hank Hill butt? (And he is such a Plugger - so smug. He and Andy Griffith are total Pluggers - "real" folks and so damn smug.)

I think the point is "Pluggers are fat" and the drawing says "Pluggers are fat and it depresses them."

Or maybe this has something to do with guy jeans I don't get?

Anyways, Pluggers are fat! Hoo doggie, what a knee-slapper! Fat people are funny! I tell jokes and make people laugh, and I'm fat. Now I know they only laughed because I'm fat. (Or when I was sick and skinny, because they could tell the future and knew I'd be fat one day.)

Thanks Pluggers for clearing up my misconceptions! Now I know I'm nothing more than my hilariously fat body.

If "Pluggers are fat" wasn't funny, why would it be repeated on a regular basis?

That still doesn't mean this comic makes a lick of sense. Oh well, Texans. What can you expect.

ETA: Ha! "Fat jokes" are funny - Hagar the Horrible writer Chris Browne agrees with me! Or he wouldn't make one every week as well. It's so much fun breaking things and possibly hurting yourself, oh man, I'm going to laugh so much I might cry. Or punch the monitor.

Saturday May 1st

2010-05-02T12:03:00.000-05:00

The comic:

Ahahahahahahahahahahaha - finally, the comic does its job. I can't stop laughing.

Wish they'd gone with the original name, because the Plugger could oh-so-innocently bring some tea bags to the tea party. (Someone must have finally told the teadiots about urban dictionary, le sigh.)

Hahahahahhahahahahahaha, shit I'm going to tumble off the bed soon.

Thanks, Marion!

Blogging Against Disablism Day 2010

2010-05-01T14:55:00.000-05:00

Because of various issues related to my disability, I cannot sit down and write a post about Blogging Against Disablism Day or something in general, abstract. I cannot think properly due to pain and the side effects of medication.

So I'm throwing up a link to the site, which includes a round-up of various posts dealing with disabilities/chronic illnesses and how much society just SUCKS when dealing with them.

Blogging Against Disablism Day 2010

From my personal blog, I have three posts dealing with disability and disablism.

I've talked about my health since the beginning (it's why I started - to record my horrific experiences in a psych ward in 2006), but the first addressing disability and activism and such was in November of last year with "Spoon Theory and Me (It's all about me)".

Since then, I have had many posts mentioning my health and whatnot, but recently, I did two separate posts dealing with disabilist attitudes and health.

"Medication for Bipolar Disorder and TV Shows"

"Pajama Jeans and ableism"

Off to watch Dexter.