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Lynn's Blog Entries
Letters from the Pattersons
General Comments
About The Hybrid Strips
From the FBorFW Team
Lynn Answers Your Mail
About Shannon Lake
Friday
November 6, 2009
Dear folks! Farley has passed all his safety testing, has had his shots, deworming and is almost on his way. One last check up and they will have him produced and on the boat to Vancouver. He will take another few weeks to arrive here in the not yet frozen north the ETA is Dec. 15. I know that's late, but they are doing the best they can and as soon as he's in the warehouse, we'll let you know. Thanks for your enquiries...I'm glad you'd like to give him a good home! Lynn J.
Okay, y'all...somehow I think that jumping to the conclusion that John was reading porn is a bit of a stretch, and really gives too little credit to an artist who has managed to toe very fine lines when it comes to very sensitive subjects. Give Ms. Johnston some credit and quit jumping to the worst conclusion possible. As somone else noted, for all that we love the Patterson, they are indeed pen and ink.
Jennifer A, Georgetown, TX, USA
I'm not so upset that John was potentially looking at adult related material. That's life and if nothing else, FBOFW has always been about LIFE. Keep up the great work Lynn. I Love FBOFW!!!
Rose F, Sacramento, CA, USA
My sister's children were small like Michael and Elizabeth when their pet parakeet passed away. Seeing a chance for a life lesson, my sister asked the the children what they thought they should do with the dead parakeet. The smaller one piped right up, "Let's feed it to the cat. He'll eat it!" Not quite the lesson she was going for!
Elizabeth M, Weaverville, NC, USA
I am so in love with this comic strip. I feel like I've grown up with the characters (which is basically true seeing as it is five years older than I am!) I think it is awesome that we have now gone back to the classics and I can relive a lot of the older moments when the kids were younger. Two years ago my boyfriend got me a print of the new year comic from 2004 signed. It was a Grandpa Jim strip and I remembered it well from when it came out (Grandpa has always been one of my favorite characters). I balled like a baby (in a good way) and was very touched as I am all the time by the comic. I feel like I'm part of the family! Thanks Lynn! (oh...and others need to take a chill pill...oi vey!)
Dawn H, Carlisle, NY, USA
We are looking forward to buying our own Farley dog when you finally get them from the manufacturer. Will you be taking orders now or not until you actually have them in stock? I assume the only way we will know they are available is from your newsletter? Thanks for all of the joy you have given to my family.
Penny V, Tulsa, OK, USA
Hi Penny. Check out Lynn's update on the Farleys at the beginning of this column. As soon as they are available, the news will be posted on the website! There will also be updates in the newsletter and on the FBorFW Facebook page.
Take me back to the top!
Thursday
November 5, 2009
The only reason someone would automatically assume that John is reading porn is the association that individual makes between the word "fantasy" and the idea that John is reading a magazine. Come on people, get a grip!! Vogue, Redbook, Martha Stewart Living, Good Housekeeping, and numerous other "appropriate?" magazines are *all* about fantasy--the perfect life, the perfect clothes, the perfect meal, the perfect party, the perfect body.
Patricia, SK, Canada
Okay, note to Lynn-- You might not want to depict John looking at one of "those" magazines again. I don't think the readers liked that! Wholy Moly! LOL Personally, I thought it was completely innocent. Moving on...I'm with Sheri M. on the DVDs, I think I might order myself a set for my birthday! I'd like to give a shoutout to Penny in Milwaukee--I also grew up in Upstate New York on Lake Ontario, Rochester!! To me that's where she was describing..I love that you've gone back to the beginning, Lynn, when things were simpler, the drawings sweeter. I haven't looked back in all of my books to see, but when did John start doing the whole model railroad in the yard for Halloween-my son wants to do that!
Shannon W, Yardley,Pa, USA
John first set up his Halloween railroad in October 2000. The story is in the book "Family Business"
Have you considered putting the character biographies in a book? Just wondering.
Janet C, MA, USA
Yes, that idea is under consideration. We'll let FBorFW fans know if it comes to fruition!
Take me back to the top!
Wednesday
November 4, 2009
Just wanted to say thank you for getting the animated specials on DVD out in time for the holidays. Our VHS copies are so worn out they barely play. The FBorFW shows have always been some of our favorites.
Sheri M, Aloha, OR, USA
Porn? Circus magazine? I thought the "Macho Man" magazine was a comic book! This is a family-oriented comic strip, and as such I believe it, and Lynn, deserves the benefit of the doubt in instances like these. I don't believe she would depict John looking at porn. The word "fantasize" does not have to have improper connotations; John could simply be fantasizing about saving the world or having super-powers. Perhaps the word "imagine" would have been a better choice. Still, I have a hard time understanding how people who have supposedly loved and read the strip for years can jump so quickly to assume the worst about Lynn and her strip. Perhaps those people need to take a look at their perspective.
Kristin D, Clarksville, TN, USA
People chill and spare the lecturing. The magazine that John was reading was not a porn mag. I am about 99% sure on that, with a title like Macho Man it sounds like it was more of a "Men's Health" type magazine. Or "Stuff". Or some other type of Man (not porn) mag. Those magazines usually do feature an attractive girl on the cover but basically in the same way that a "Cosmo" does. Would you people have flipped out if Elly had been reading "Cosmopolitan" ? Or would that have somehow been more okay since that would have somehow shown what a liberated woman she was? I agree with the other commenter that John was just imagining that he was something else like a big buff rich famous man or maybe he just read an article about how to "Get Ripped in 2 weeks" and was thinking about that. And I think that because it seemed like the theme of the strip that week pretending to be someone else. That was what Michael was doing so why would it be such a stretch for John.
Allison K, TN, USA
I loved the strip where John "saves" the kids from the homemade popcorn balls and candied apples! I lived in a very small town in upstate NY on Lake Ontario and Halloween was a chance to see the neighbors. How we loved the homemade popcorn balls, and of course, we also got a fair share of plain old apples! But all of the older folks loved to see us in our costumes, and trick or treating took forever, because you had to not only explain your costume in exchange for a popcorn ball wrapped in wax paper, but you also had to have a paper cup full of cider, and a handful of warm buttered popcorn before you set off for the next house. No one ever got hurt and it was the best night of the whole year.
Penny, Milwaukee, WI, USA
"Frank" the fish? Wasn't Michael's fish named "Fred" when he first got the fish?
Sock P, Ottawa, ON, Canada
Why did Elly buy a second fish? I presume Fred the Fish (featured in a whole week of strips in September 2008) must have died quickly (especially if Mike did abusive things like stir the fishbowl and haul it around in a toy wagon), but then they got Farley, so Michael finally had the dog he originally wanted. Did Elly think Lizzie needed a pet of her own? Is Frank Lizzie's fish?
Sherri, Augusta, IL, USA
Sigh. The picture of Grandpa and Iris in their punk costumes is gone, along with the Halloween drop-blocks game. So much fun while it was here on the site. Can hardly wait until the Christmas game is ready!
Diane W, Normal, IL. USA
Take me back to the top!
Tuesday
November 3, 2009
last week you had A seen of the dad reading A girly book which I found inaproiate , very inaproiate, not all dads read that stuf, however I usely enjoy the strip, thank you.
Kenny S, St. Joseph, MO, USA
I was surprised to see John reading what seems to be a porn magazine. I was shocked to see Elly is apparently okay with John’s behavior. I am concerned about the message you are giving in this strip. Are you aware:
1. In the US 40-50% of women are sexual abused in some form by the age of 18. (25-30% of men are abused by age 18). I’m not sure of the figures for Canada, but I sense they aren’t much different than the US. Porn is a part of the sexual abuse process.
2. Societal attitudes toward sex can and do support sexual abuse. Men (and women) learn to objectify people, meaning they no longer see people as human but a thing to give them pleasure, in porn. What porn users (and sexual abusers) don’t think about are the real people in those magazines…people who have feelings, dreams, hopes, and real lives. The people in porn magazines have families who are hurt by the fact their child’s naked body is on those pages. They are also very hurt by the fact that there are men (and women) out there using their child’s picture for sexual gratification. Can you honestly say you would you be okay with your child’s naked picture being lusted after by men (or women) throughout North America?
3. 85-95% of women who are used in porn, whatever the media, have been sexually abused as children. Women who are sexually abused usually conclude that they aren’t worth anything but sex and as a result of this wrong, but understandable conclusion, they end up living lives which support this belief…they end up being used and abused. For every person who buys a porn magazine or jumps on a website, they are supporting the ongoing abuse of these traumatized women.
4. Million of marriages and long-term relationships are negatively affected by porn usage every year. Some marriages end in divorce. Porn contributes to the breakdown of trust in a relationship. It also gives the message to the non-using partner that you are not enough. It’s hard to be in a relationship knowing you aren’t enough for your partner.
5. Parents who use porn in the home teach their children about how to view their own sexuality as well as how to treat the opposite sex. Girls learn they are only wanted for sex and that they can’t trust men to love them for who they are. Boys learn they don’t have to remain loyal to one woman and that real sex must look like the porn movies. Again, they also learn how to objectify women. Both boys and girls learn nothing of the love, care and honesty that is a must in healthy sexual relations.
6. Sexual addiction is a real problem in this world and one that is affecting our kids at younger ages. Thanks to the internet we now have 12 year olds who spend 4-5 hours a day surfing the web for their next sexual fix. Daily we read in the news about the latest sexual scandal of a celebrity or politician. These are not just random affairs, Lynn…most of these stories are about sexual addiction.
7. I understand the twist of your comic, but Lynn, the other thing I think you need to be aware of is that fantasy is the foundation to sexual addiction and sexual abuse. Yes, there is such a thing as healthy fantasy. However, John sitting in the living room in broad daylight where his kids and wife can see him getting turned on is not health fantasy. It’s actually defined as incest. In the state of Iowa, you can be prosecuted by the Department of Human Services for not protecting your kids from porn.
I personally believe the US puritan beliefs about sex are not helping our current dysfunctional situation. I do applaud your willingness to speak the truth about what is happening in homes throughout the world. However, I do not think your comic accurately portrays the real response to porn in the home. I know young and old wives who are deeply hurt by their husband’s porn usage. I don’t know of one parent who is okay with their kids having access to porn. As well intentioned as you may have been, I think this strip needs to be permanently pulled from your collection.
Stacie L, Mason City, IA, USA
I don't think John was reading porn; I think he was daydreaming that he was a big, tough muscle-bound dude! :D
Rachel, IL, USA
I must agree that Sunday's strip was ridiculous. Usually I can see Elly's side of things, but throwing out the Halloween candy the next day is wasteful and mean, and giving Michael five minutes to eat as much as he can is asking for a very sick little boy.
Angela, PA, USA
The thing about Elly making Mike throw away his candy bothers me so much. It's the kind of thing my grandmother would have done to my mom & my uncle. My grandmother was a paranoid schizophrenic who was very cruel to her kids. She often got rid of their treasured possessions & things they were enjoying, simply because she couldn't stand to see them happy. She perpetuated lies just to be cruel & broke up happy homes in the process. She caused me a lot of damage, that I'm still dealing with 30 years later. I don't understand why Elly would be so cruel to her son & daughter.
Jen W, Erie, PA, USA
I have been a very long time fan/reader of this comic strip and I have never looked at any of what takes place in this strip to be mean, nasty, negative I look at it as entertainment and I can't say I like all of the stories all of the time but oh! well! I don't think we have to take this too serious. For goodness sakes they're made of paper and ink!
Queen R, Lynchburg, VA, USA
Sundays strip...throw away the candy. My sister in law is brilliant. She told her kids, aged 7 and 9, to pick 12 pieces each from the big bowl, then the remainder would be put outside for the "Great Pumpkin" to come and get and leave a toy for each in place of the candy. They both loved the idea. The 7 year old said when he grows up, he'll be the Great Pumpkin. Pass it on everyone!!! New role for the Great Pumpkin!!!
Kathy H, Ithaca, NY, USA
Around here, it's customary to donate surplus Halloween candy to Winnipeg Harvest, whose volunteers put it out for "clients'" kids ---especially at Christmas. Even Michael, I'm sure, would be happy to share his good fortune with a boy or girl who's never seen such a great "haul" of treats!
Anna M, Winnipeg, MB, Canada
Making Michael throw out his candy- while there are still Halloween decorations on the windows for heaven's sake! Part of the fun of hauling in a huge bag o' loot on Halloween was dumping it into a huge bowl and eating it until it went stale in the summer!
AMR, NJ, USA
why is everyone so upset about a dentist's wife limiting the amt of candy her children are allowed to eat?? may be a little anal and probably will ease up with the ensuing years..
Brenda H, CA, USA
I started reading your strips some thirty years ago, it seems. I have laughed, cried, and have been so touched by your work.God Bless you for being so talented and wonderful.
Renee E, Colorado Springs, CO, USA
Take me back to the top!
Monday
November 2, 2009
In response to Dolores in Friday's blog, yes I still miss the daily dose of the contemporary Pattersons. However, I'm enjoying the "new-run" strips as well. It's a kick to look back and see the kids when they were small. It makes me nostalgic about my own son who is the same age as Michael in the original time-frame.The most fun I have with these strips is reading the comments, both here in Ellie's Coffee Talk and on other forums. The thought that goes into most comments is refreshing and a lot of fun to read - whether they like a given strip or not.
Jan C, Victorville, CA, USA
I wanted to correct the misinformation given in Coffee Talk about college life. As a college professor who has taught at the college level for 11 year, I can state the following:
1. Students can enroll in a single course. Non traditional students often do, especially if they are working students taking night classes.
2. Most North American Universities do require students to take a 1 or 2 semesters of compositional English in order to teach them how to write properly, but I know of no student who says they are taking creative writing (often sophomore or junior level course) when they are taking freshman compositional English, literature or some other type of English course.
Kelly, TX, USA
I'm very distressed by the icky husband in the new strip. He is patronizing, sexist and now is looking at porn. Where is this going? I feel transported back to the 50's.
Merrily L, Seattle, WA, USA
I normally enjoy the comic strip but was highly offended at the strip released in our local newspaper today depicting the main character's husband apparently looking at pornography while the wife is looking at her son playing ouside. She makes a comment about how she has forgotten how to fantasize. I feel this is so inappropriate in light of the problems and heartache caused by married people getting involved in pornography or fantasizing about others outside of their marriage. I was shocked to see such a topic made light of in the comic strip and hope that in the future the focus will return to healthy topics.
Codi J, AZ, USA
I have a question about the Macho Man magazine which John Patterson is shown to be reading in the 10/30/2009 strip. Is it:
a. A magazine about the song “Macho Man” performed by the group “TheVillage People” in 1978, or
b. A freak show circus magazine, judging by the Lion Tamer cologne advertisement on the back and the bearded lady on the front, or
c. A gay men’s entertainment magazine, or
d. A straight man’s entertainment magazine, or
e. A magazine John Patterson just reads for the articles on teeth?
Paul S, Oro Valley, AZ, USA
I think it's very mean of Elly to throw away Halloween candy, whether it was Mike's or Liz's. Why did she even let her kids get candy in the first place if she was just going to throw it out?
Emily G, Montreal, QC, Canada
Wow. Is this the same Elly Patterson who patted herself on the back about what a great mother she was in the "real-time" strips? She is downright MEAN.
Barbara R, LA, USA
Enough is enough. Look, I'm really a long time reader - I own all the books, visit your website every day. But the strip reached a level of desperation that I can not endure anymore. What do we see on Nov 1st? A boy gets taken away his candy by a mean person. Why? As an educational method? It is so idiotic in so many ways... Why not put the rest of the candy in a box and it a little bit every other day? Look, there were some friendly neighbors spending money to make some children happy. If you don't like the costum - well, don't let your kid outside on this evening. If you don't like your child's eating manners, be a better role model. If you don't want your child to gulp down everything, tell him (and see above about handling a big pile of sweets by rationing). Throwing away unspoiled food owned by your kid is neither fair nor in any way necessary. It's just mean and dumb.
Margarethe M, Hamburg, Germany
Throwing away Halloween candy on November 1st?!? Exactly what lesson is Elly teaching Michael here? Like a animal on the savanna, he has to gorge himself before someone bigger and stronger takes his food away from him? Or he has to figure out how to cheat and lie and use his sister to get what he wants? If Elly is so concerned about how much candy he's consuming, why not allow him several pieces Halloween night, then ration it out a piece or two at a time for the next few weeks, like most parents do, instead of being so wasteful and mean-spirited as to take it *all* away? Elly's behavior here is a far cry from the environmentally conscious, waste-not-want-not recycler of the past few years, and does not at all reflect the humanity of the strip as it was thirty years ago, when I was reading it the first time. It used to be fun - now it's nothing but heavy-handed moral lessons delivered in painfully unrealistic ways.
Melody F, Pittsburgh, PA, USA
Today, Michael was told he had five minutes to finish his candy. I used to have a friend with that rule: Every Halloween, they had to throw away all their candy at midnight. The result was three kids eating as fast as they could and sneaking to the bathroom to put their fingers down their throats so they could eat more before midnight. It was sickening.
Cynthia K, Columbus, OH, USA
Very clever, Elly. We all know you're not throwing out that Halloween loot. You're just saving it to binge on yourself. And it was as easy as taking candy from a baby!
Ed T, St. Paul, MN, USA
Oh, no! You took away Michael's candy?? When I was a kid, we kept our Halloween candy for as long as it lasted--I was very frugal about eating it. I knew it was a long time until the next year's take! But I suppose if one's father is a dentist, things are different, yes?!
Lucia, MT, USA
Normally I'd let little things go, but I really, really don't like the belching and smacking in food-related strips. It really turns my stomach.
Les G, AL, USA
Take me back to the top!
Friday
October 30, 2009
Would be nice to see people calm down about the course Elly is taking. Yes, she is probably in a creative writing course, but my college experience has proven that a person can not just enroll in one course, there is usually two or three courses that are required to take before you can even take that one course that you truly want, or you have to take the other course in conjunction in order to be able to finish that one course and be allowed to have the credit for taking it.
Ryan, Seattle, WA, USA
I loved today's strip, Michael looked so pleased he had cleaned that pumpkin by himself! Never mind the cleaning for once El!! Michael's sweater if very Charlie Brownesque!!! Is that a nod to the beloved Peanuts and the Great Pumpkin!!! Love it!!
Sheila B, East Hartford, CT, USA
I don't visit here often because I find it too hard. I still terribly miss the "old" strip and the oh so real feeling it gave me.I would love for it to have gone on forever rather than start over. Although my mind knows it wasn't real, my heart did not. When April was about to fall in the river I was beside myself. When Farley died after saving her I cried all day. When Elizabeth and Anthony finally married I felt as if they were own kids. I could go on but I think I am not the only one who feels this way. Please let me know.
Dolores A, Indianapolis, IN, USA
Take me back to the top!
Thursday
October 29, 2009
Contemporary English? Isn't Elly supposed to be taking creative writing?
Barbara R, LA, USA
Wait, Elly's enrolled in contemporary English now? Did the prof's statement that some people write for pleasure freak her out so badly that she dropped creative writing and switched courses?
Chris P, Boston, MA, USA
If Elly's taking a creative writing class with the goal of having others read her works, chances are the books on her book list would be "A Dictionary of Modern English Usage", a dictionary, a thesaurus, and maybe the current edition of "Writers of the Future".
One can't build a decent house without the right tools, and very few are going to want to read or be able to understand the final copy of something that is composed of grammar, punctuation and/or spelling errors, or reeks of pedantry. (However, there are those who will find the dictionary smutty.)
If she is taking a Contemporary English class, then that would have a different set of books.
Perhaps John needs to rethink what smutty is, or maybe Elly is hiding those particular books under innocuous dust jackets.
Barb B, OR, USA
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