Sunday, August 30, 2009

Sawdust in Meat

And thus endeth the first new-run year.

When I saw today’s reprint of For Better or For Worse and the mention of the word “sawdust”, my initial reaction was that either Elly Patterson (or Lynn Johnston) must have gotten confused about the great “sawdust in the pet food” controversies of years gone by, or I have missed a great “sawdust in human food” controversy. So, I did my usual internet search for “sawdust in meat”. I found this website article from 12 years ago, decrying sawdust in pet food.

However, what I found the most of was websites like this, advertising sawdust for use in curing or smoking meat.

Given this website, it changes my perspective on today’s reprint. Perhaps Elly is saying that when she buys sawdust to cure or smoke her meat for burgers, she doesn’t get any with quite the same blend as the restaurant where they are eating. Maybe, Elly Patterson is complimenting the restaurant on their fine cuisine instead of insulting the restaurant. After all, it seems clear from the big smile on Michael’s face, that he likes the burger and prefers it to Elly’s hamburgers. Would Michael have the same opinion if the burger he was eating was filled with sawdust instead of cooked with sawdust? The only thing which works against that is Elly Patterson’s 30-year history of whining and complaining.

Aside from the indeterminate opinion of Elly Patterson, the most fun part of Lynn Johnston’s early strips is her background. Look at the prices on the food. Everything is less than $2. I miss those kinds of prices. Then there are the names of the food. We have the Banger Burger, which I sincerely hope is an English food reference to bangers and not a sexual reference. Little Lizzie appears to be showing her family that she can, in fact, pat her head and suck on her finger at the same time. She certainly does not appear to be eating.

We also have 2 curly-headed boys, who appear to be brothers; one girl with bangs completely covering the front of her face; and the terrifying, bug-eyed kid wearing black who is staring directly at Michael Patterson. Yes, folks, I think this is probably the first appearance of Josef Weeder trying to make eye contact with his future university roommate.

5 Comments:

Blogger DreadedCandiru2 said...

howard,

Perhaps Elly is saying that when she buys sawdust to cure or smoke her meat for burgers, she doesn’t get any with quite the same blend as the restaurant where they are eating. Maybe, Elly Patterson is complimenting the restaurant on their fine cuisine instead of insulting the restaurant. After all, it seems clear from the big smile on Michael’s face, that he likes the burger and prefers it to Elly’s hamburgers. Would Michael have the same opinion if the burger he was eating was filled with sawdust instead of cooked with sawdust? The only thing which works against that is Elly Patterson’s 30-year history of whining and complaining.

There's another thing that works against it; after all, I doubt that Lynn actually knows that sawdust can be used to cure meat to make it taste better. In her mind, fast food restaurants serve food adulterated with sawdust because they don't cook their food the way she would like them to: in portions that a human being would eat and find attractive. As for the rapid change-over, I think we're in for a year that has a three-month hole that might never be filled adequately.

10:30 PM  
Blogger howard said...

Not really three months. Lynn has to replace the spot where Farley got adopted and the story where Phil visited at Christmas. That's 2-3 weeks each story at the most. Lynn can still use the story where Connie chases after Phil to Montreal.

10:40 PM  
Blogger DreadedCandiru2 said...

Ah. That's nothing, then; all she needs to do is create three more weeks of John being an idiot and another of Connie slobbering over Phil; after that, she can tapdance her way around shipping Deanna off to Burlington prematurely and say she's all done. When she does, we can get on with our lives without having to worry about what she'll do next.

2:39 AM  
Blogger howard said...

I think the real question when it comes to straight reprints is whether or not Lynn is ready for them. Although she told Strombo she is tired of doing the strip, when you consider her history of attempted retirements, it does not favour a Lynn who can go to straight reprints.

4:23 AM  
Blogger DreadedCandiru2 said...

NO, it doesn't; Lynn doesn't impress me as the type to be satisfied enough with her work to leave well enough alone. Heck, she even made a boast of it once.

5:30 AM  

Post a Comment

<< Home