Pearls Before Swine by Stephan Pastis for October 14, 2020

There is so much else to watch other than the news.

Smash the TV!

That’s one way, but denying reality doesn’t make it go away

got any sane, non-violent ways in ignoring the news?

That’s not the way, Pig; the proper method is to stick your fingers in your ears and loudly sing the theme from The Flintstones.

Just one frame? That’s not going to insulate him from the bad news. Right now, it’s 24/7.

Stick with cartoons, Pig.

Change the channel to OFF.

Denial is not just a river in Egypt.

Silly Pig. You could’ve just changed the channels. For example, see the cooking channel where they show you how to make delicious pork cho… Oh. Sorry about that, Pig.

The news is bad enough, but those political commercials!

I try to remember that, whatever happens, I’m still alive, and I can have pizza whenever I want. Pizza is what’s important, and beer, and loving those you love, and hoping for a better day—change is inevitable. There are good times ahead—someday—soon—I hope.

Maybe it would help if he didn’t sit so close to the TV.

Peek-a-Boo, I can’t see you

Everything must be grand

Boo-ka-Pee, they can’t see me

As long as I’ve got me head in the sand

Peek-a-Boo, it may be true

There’s something in what you’ve said

But we’ve got enough troubles in everyday life

I just bury me head."

(Flanders and Swann, “The Ostrich”)

There is an off button on all electronic devices, use it.

He forgot to run around in circles.

Watching the news is like watching a bad soap opera that you just can’t turn away from.

I’m not even turning on the TV until after the election.

Sometimes, you have to step away. Depending on how things go, I may have to step away for many, many years.

There seems to be a widespread malaise, or maybe just a need to chat. Waiting outside the doctor’s office yesterday, a stranger felt the need to explain all the details of failures in each of his kitchen appliances – from clogged vents and stripped brass threads to Australian telephone calls (from Canada) in search of spare parts. I guess its a good thing that I was there.

That is one hell of a big bottle of Debbie Downer pills Pig has ! ….. Croc Power !

Don’t knock it til you’ve tried it.

That’s how the Vancome Lady always did it.

Pig’s take on the old Ignorance Is Bliss trope. It ain’t; I know….

My wise progeny advises that I only watch, read, consume such fare on Sunday, I guess to lessen the amount of pearls I scatter shot at him.

I just mute the news.

I’m with Pig. I just turn it off. I come to the comic pages every morning instead of news pages. If anything of note happens some sayer of doom around me will be sure to tell me.

Don’t watch it all the time

I deactivated my Facebook account about two months ago. I’m far happier even though I do miss family updates.

OR! you can get out And V O T E !!!

I made the decision to stop all news a couple years ago. Amazing how much better I feel. It just seemed pointless to continue. The important stuff finds its way through to you somehow.

I got a way, simply get the remote and hit the power button.

I can’t deal with it either, Pig. I know far too many who absolutely marinate in “news” full time; I refuse to get that politically minded. The closest I get to news is the weather channel and local weather.

I just mute the TV when the commercials come on and don’t watch otherwise

“…a note to follow SO!”

I tried shutting my eyes and singing “lalalala” during political commercials. I ended up hoarse with bruised knees (damned coffee table).

What’s the point to having tuned in to the news?

I smoke dope.

We’ve all let it get this bad. A large dose of reality is bitter medicine needed to make things open our eyes and work together to make it better. Burying your head in the sand is only saving the grave diggers some work.

And the popcorn helps, too!

Hey Steph how about some strips that are not about the pandemic. Seems like that’s all you have the last few months. Please go back to what you used to do. And by the way MORE CROCS!!!

PBS, Netflix, Disney+

I accidentally saw about three minutes of the ‘news’ last night and almost shot the television. Then, I remembered I could simply change channels.

Don’t go scrolling through social media either, Pig. It does one’s head no good. I could literally feel my brain turning to mush when I was doing it.

Which reminds me, I’ll be taking a Facebook detox soon.

xxx

I live in a purple state so I do a lot of that during all those dang ads for all the dang candidates in every blasted race from the federal to state government. Billions of dollars for ads, etc., have been pumped into my state from all over the country.

When what you hear on the news is BS slanted to suit the network, why bother?? I don’t need their opinion on what’s happening.

Or you could just stay away from the TV.

I haven’t watched the news in 20 years. My depression is bad enough without it.

That’s what you should do if watching CNN or MSNBC, anyway.