Morty Comix # 2332

Morty Comix # 2332 was left on an outdoor dining table, under an abandoned soft drink, at a popular westside Olympia coffee place.

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The Board of Chevy Trucks is ready to hear your case

Favorite Movie Quotes: The King of Comedy

"Better to be King for a night than schmuck for a lifetime."

[Reviewed in Cheaper by the Dozen 62]

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I found this thing in my driveway. What is it? And how, pray tell, did it get there?

Morty Comix # 2307 Revisited

Last weekend I went to see if Morty Comix # 2307 was still in the spot it was left in February, and by gum it was! A little worse for wear but still in place. The phone booth had a fudgestick stick left there as a hobo sign meaning: "This phone booth contains a hidden Morty Comix."

Also, today, I was amazed to see Morty Comix # 2316 was still where I left it a week and a half ago. They must not vacuum very often.

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Favorite Movie Quotes: Kind Hearts and Coronets

"While I never admired Edith as much as when I was with Sibella, I never longed for Sibella as much as when I was with Edith."

One of the all-time great films worth repeated viewings.

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This sight is clearly visible from one of the edge roads in McCleary. At first I thought it was a hunting blind, but then I realized it was actually a discarded couch on end with a hole in it. Or, maybe it really is a hunting blind cleverly disguised as a discarded couch on end with a hole in it.

Morty Comix # 2331

Morty Comix #2331 joined the other town announcements at a McCleary, Washington grocery store. Somehow this one escaped scanning.

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Favorite Movie Quotes: Kill Bill. Vol. 2

"Now, a staple of the superhero mythology is, there's the superhero and there's the alter ego. Batman is actually Bruce Wayne, Spider-Man is actually Peter Parker. When that character wakes up in the morning, he's Peter Parker. He has to put on a costume to become Spider-Man. And it is in that characteristic Superman stands alone. Superman didn't become Superman. Superman was born Superman. When Superman wakes up in the morning, he's Superman. His alter ego is Clark Kent. His outfit with the big red 'S,' that's the blanket he was wrapped in as a baby when the Kents found him. Those are his clothes. What Kent wears-- the glasses, the business suit-- that's the costume. That's the costume Superman wears to blend in with us. Clark Kent is how Superman views us. And what are the characteristics of Clark Kent? He's weak. He's unsure of himself. He's a coward. Clark Kent is Superman's critique on the whole human race."

[Reviewed in Cheaper by the Dozen 67, where the above quote is compared to a point made by Jules Feiffer in The Great Comic Book Heroes]

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Morty Comix #2330

Morty Comix # 2330 was last seen in a shopping cart at an Elma, Washington grocery store

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Elma, Washington

Favorite Movie Quotes: Kill Bill. Vol. 1

"Good gravy Marie!"

[Reviewed in Cheaper by the Dozen 70]

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This is "Chef Pizza Monster." Apparently the mascot of Noble Roman's Take-n-Bake Pizza, based somewhere not in the Pacific Northwest. I have never seen this promo out here on the NW Edge of America before today. Since this company has been around awhile, those of you in the Midwest might be more familiar with this image.

Some time, somewhere, some one thought this was a good advertising image.

Uh, OK.

I'm sure the pizza is good and the company has enjoyed success in other parts of the country, but, I'm sorry, this creature does not inspire me to purchase this product. It looks like a Muppet on an acid trip. Or perhaps they are using magic mushrooms as a topping.

In fact, this thing looks very much like the mythological creatures the native people of the Northwest Coast of North America used to carve into totems. And frankly, those images scare the Hell out of me. If you live out here where we have volcanic eruptions, earthquakes, tsunamis and "extratropical cyclones" (Columbus Day 1962), surrounded by thick jungle-like rainforests where creatures like wild Russian boars (who have tusks like this guy) and Sasquatch roam in a dramatic landscape, the thought of a cryptozoological animal with a chef hat serving food is sort of unsettling.

And of course us old guys recall the Purple People Eater. This mascot reminds of us of that song.

I love pizza, and maybe next time I visit that store I'll try this offering. But it will be in spite of the creepy creature. 

Morty Comix # 2329

Morty Comix # 2329 was left under a plastic lid thingie which appeared to be little used in the outdoor storage/service area of an Elma, Washington grocery store. Not far from the James Abbott mural, actually.

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An almost hidden James Abbott mural. It is on the side of grocery store in Elma, Washington where the public seldom goes. One of his more impressionistic and visually interesting pieces. It is over two decades old now and the elements are doing a number on it.

Favorite Movie Quotes: Key Largo

"After living in the USA for more than thirty-five years they called me an undesirable alien. Me. Johnny Rocco. Like I was a dirty Red or something!"

[Reviewed in Cheaper by the Dozen 3]

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While watching the 1977 movie The Late Show with Art Carney and Lily Tomlin, I happened to spot yet another movie typo.

Favorite Movie Quotes: The Kennel Murder Case

"Well, it's slightly complicated since the man was shot, slugged and stabbed himself-- particularly in the back."

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R.I.P.

After 5 years my old cell phone finally bit the Big One, but I sure had fun using it to take all those photos for this blog. They wanted to give me a fancy new phone, but I specifically desired a cheapo cell with cheapo photo technology so that my one-cylinder brain could handle it.

Favorite Movie Quotes: Kentucky Fried Movie

"It's 19 minutes after the hour and now it's time for our daily feature, 'The Astrological Report.' A quick reminder, these reports are not intended to foster a belief in astrology but merely to support people who cannot take responsibility for their own lives."

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Charlie and Dreamer prepare for the wrestling match of the century in the patch of sun!

Favorite Movie Quotes: Kelly's Heroes

"To a New Yorker like you, a hero is some type of weird sandwich, not some nut who takes on three tigers."

This is a really bad movie. Next time I weed the shelves, it's gone.

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Favorite Movie Quotes: Julius Caesar (1970)

I don't really have to deliver a quote from this movie, do I? Just read the play and it'll be better than seeing this production with Chuck Heston as Marc Antony.

Buster, as the alpha cat in this house, has expressed a desire to acquire the kind of helmet pictured on the VHS container.

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Favorite Movie Quotes: JFK

"Well that's the real question, isn't it? Why? The how and the who is just scenery for the public. Oswald, Ruby, Cuba, the Mafia. Keeps them guessing like some kind of parlor game. Prevents them from asking the most important question: Why? Why was Kennedy killed? Who benefited? Who has the power to cover it up? Who?"

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McCleary, Washington