Thank You!

I will get around to personally thanking each and every one of you, but for now I want to express my extreme gratitude to everyone who donated to my “Save the Snark” fund drive!

I hope that calling it “Save the Snark” didn’t make things sound too dire…naturally, I was riffing on the “Save the Sports” arc from last fall. The snark wasn’t exactly in danger of going away. But with my current career status (unemployed), things were getting a little tight, and now that monthly web hosting fee is one less thing I’ve gotta worry about.

Even more than the generous cash donations, just the fact that so many of you responded at all was very gratifying. As I said when I made my appeal, SoSF really is an outstanding online community. My challenge is to serve up each day’s strip with my own spin…the post titles are probably the most challenging part (and between you and me, when someone gives me props for the title I do a little dance at my computer). Some days are more challenging than others; sometimes the snark writes itself.

I gather that the majority of regular SoSF snarkers are just like me: longtime readers of this comic (some of us since it began syndication) who, deep down, remember the affection we once had for Funky and his friends. The average snarker has wide ranging tastes, and is conversant in popular culture (particularly newspaper comics!) and sports.

The commenters on this blog are the ones who really provide the rich content; my daily posts are just a hook on which you guys hang the comedy gold.

From the bottom of my heart, thanks again for your generosity.

The Picture of Dori-Ann Gray

WHAAAAAAAAAAAAT???

Folks…The Cartoonist has completely outdone himself this time. Since she resurfaced last December at Darin’s birthday party, Ann’s looks have varied wildly, from 70-ish to late 30’s -ish and back and forth again. In today’s strip, she looks to be the same age as the crones from Crankshaft. Even her glasses and hair color are different.

It’s hard to get beyond Ann’s complete makeover, but also worth noting is Cayla’s condescending attitude regarding Ann’s (now blatantly advanced) age. Are the girls not supposed to “take to” a coach based on the fact that she’s about five times their age? And “Eight Track” for a nickname? That might fit a baby boomer (such as yours truly, whose 8-track collection was pretty impressive). The way TB has rendered Ann here, I’d dub her “Grammy-fone”!

Many, many thanks to those of you who have given generously in support of the snarkin’ good times here at SoSF! Your contributions have already been applied to hosting costs, and have given your humble, unemployed scribe one less thing to worry about. Today’s the last day of the fund drive…if you’re a fan and have a buck or two to spare, and haven’t done so already, please consider clicking the PayPal “Donate” button in the right hand column. Thanks again!

–TFH 

Large and in Charge

“TWEEEEET!” Keisha makes the ultimate defensive sacrifice, selling it so effectively that the ref blows the whistle (and uses the wrong hand to signal) before she even hits the floor. You would think that a self-professed “jock” like Cayla would admire her daughter’s intense play, but instead she chastises hubby-to-be for showing some enthusiasm.

Dese Nuts

Oh, you just know that somewhere in Batiuk’s studio is a napkin, from Luigi’s of Akron, on which TB has jotted “idea for strip punchline: academia nuts!”

Tell me if reversing the order of panels doesn’t make it funnier:

Cayla, who’s been disparaging the team since the start of the season, decides she’s gonna lighten things up with her little nut gag. The “joke” goes over like a turd in a punchbowl, and she sheepishly puts away her bag o’ nuts, mumbling to herself while Les and Linda offer pitying glances.