Reasonable minds may disagree on whether “to not launch” sounds awkward here. I happen to think either sounds fine. But it’s the height of pedantry and linguistically unjustified, too, to automatically consider splitting infinitives some kind of violation, whether of style or grammar. It’s just how things are communicated in the English language sometimes, and there’s nothing wrong with it.
I even split one in this comment, and didn’t realize it till I’d written it, it was so natural.
Relax, guys, a good comeuppance would take at least 6 more days, so there’s no reason to think this Saturday ends the arc. I think next Saturday or even the one after.
Given her reaction in the last panel, I’d say that she’s dreading the thought of tracing another complicated family tree as much as any of you are. My guess is this is the humorous punchline on the whole arc.
On another note, it never ceases to amaze me how many people complain on here about the slow pace of the stories. This is Gasoline Alley. I’ve been reading it on here for about two years now, and there has not been a single story that moved quickly. There never will be! If you don’t like that, then just admit you don’t like Gasoline Alley and stop wasting your time reading it.
I was surprised by the lack of attribution, too, jerumulligan1. Kab, last Sunday, the strip included the (somewhat altered) words of “The Fat Man’s Prayer”, which was written by Victor Buono, not Jim Scancarelli. Given that he writes cute poems on occasion for his strips, it sure seemed like he was passing that one off as his own.
Exactly right, MrGromit. I read this comic a day late and my first thought was – they must have been watching the Marshawn Lynch run. At least, that’s how I reacted…
Reasonable minds may disagree on whether “to not launch” sounds awkward here. I happen to think either sounds fine. But it’s the height of pedantry and linguistically unjustified, too, to automatically consider splitting infinitives some kind of violation, whether of style or grammar. It’s just how things are communicated in the English language sometimes, and there’s nothing wrong with it.
I even split one in this comment, and didn’t realize it till I’d written it, it was so natural.