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YOU KNOW, THE WORST PART ABOUT BEING BAIT IS THAT WE'RE JUST AN AFTERTHOUGHT. EVERY TREE HUGGER IN THE WORLD COMPLAINS IF YOU USE THE WRONG TYPE OF HOOK ON THE POOR FISH. BUT NO ONE CARES ABOUT WILLY WORM.
HEY, MAYBE WE SHOULD ORGANIZE OUR OWN PROTEST. WHILE HERE CAN CLIMB TO THE TOP OF A REDWOOD AND JUST SIT THERE FOR WEEKS...IT'LL BE A BIG MEDIA EVENT.
SVEN...A BIRD WILL EAT ME.
HEY, TAKE ONE FOR THE TEAM, DUDE.

THE MEETING OF THE BAIT CLUB
You know, I think we really need to be focusing on next Sunday's pancake breakfast fund-raiser. We haven't rented the tables. We haven't put up the flyers. We still need the coffee.
Gig... the rat just told us that he's going fishing tomorrow and that we are all going to die.
HEY... I DIDN'T INTERRUPT YOU!

OKAY, MORON, WHAT ARE YOU DOING NOW?
IT'S THE BAIT CLUB. WILLIE WORM, GIGI GRUB, AND SVEN THE SALMON EGG...WE'RE PLANNING OUT OUR CLUB'S FUTURE.
WELL, DON'T PLAN TOO MUCH, BECAUSE I'M GOING TROUT FISHING TOMORROW AND YOU'RE ALL GONNA DIE.
SUDDENLY, THE ISSUE OF WHERE TO BUILD OUR RETIREMENT HOME DOES NOT LOOK SO PRESSING.

HERE'S YOUR FOOD, SIR... BUT BE VERY CAREFUL... THE PLATE IS HOT.
OKAY.
CHOMP! CHOMP! CHOMP!
...THAT YOUR PLATE, PAL?
UH, YEAH... IT IS.
WHERE'D YOU GET IT?
THE WAITER GUY JUST HANDED IT TO ME.
I SEE... SOMEONE JUST "HANDED" IT TO YOU... HOW CONVENIENT... NOW STAND UP AND PUT YOUR HANDS BEHIND YOUR BACK. YOU'RE UNDER ARREST.
BUT OFFICERS, I --
SAVE IT FOR THE JUDGE, PAL... SAVE IT FOR THE JUDGE.
YOU TOLD HIM IT WAS HOT.
THEY NEVER LISTEN.

I TRIED TO MAKE A FLIGHT RESERVATION TODAY, BUT THE AIRLINE SAID THAT THE ONLY TICKET AVAILABLE WAS ONE WHERE I'D HAVE TO CHANGE PLANES.

I TOLD THEM THAT IF THEY EXPECTED ME TO JUMP FROM ONE PLANE TO ANOTHER AT 30000 FEET, THEY HAD ANOTHER THING COMING.
SOMETIMES YOU JUST GOTTA STICK UP FOR YOURSELF.

I THINK ONE OF THE WORST THINGS IS WHEN YOU OPEN THE BREAD AND FIND THAT ONLY THE ENDS ARE LEFT.
I THINK ONE OF THE WORST THINGS IS WHEN YOU HAVE NOTHING TO EAT AT ALL.
PLEASE STOP PUTTING MY LIFE IN PERSPECTIVE... IT'S VERY ANNOYING.

I THOUGHT YOU WERE GONNA GET ME A "HAPPY MEAL."
I TRIED, BUT THE HAMBURGER PLACE SAID THEY DIDN'T SELL THEM ANYMORE.
WHY NOT?
OH, THE WAR... THE ECONOMY... EVERYONE'S JUST TOO DEPRESSED.
ON A POSITIVE NOTE, THE "BURGER O'GLOOM" IS DELICIOUS.

EVERYONE SEEMS SO DEPRESSED TODAY... IT'S LIKE THERE'S THIS HEAVY PALL HANGING OVER US.
OH, GREAT. WITH MY LUCK, HE'LL FALL RIGHT ON ME.
WHO?
PAUL... THE FAT GUY.
YOU'RE THE ONLY FAT GUY IN HERE.
I'M A PAUL?
I'M APPALLED.
YOU'VE LOST WEIGHT.

AT THE DUMB GUYS CONVENTION
UH, YEAH...I'M CHECKING OUT.
I WAS HERE FOR THE DUMB GUYS CONVENTION.
OKAY, SIR. DID YOU TAKE ANY ITEMS FROM THE MINI-BAR?
UH, YEAH. THAT LITTLE BOTTLE OF SHOE POLISH.
SIR, THE SHOE POLISH IS NOT IN THE MINI-BAR. THE MINI-BAR IS STOCKED WITH ITEMS YOU CAN DRINK.
I THEEL THOOOOOOO THUPID.

OKAY PEOPLE, I'D LIKE TO TURN THINGS OVER TO YOU TO TALK ABOUT MENTAL CHALLENGES YOU MAY HAVE OVERCOME THIS YEAR. I SEE BOB WOULD LIKE TO GO FIRST.
UH, YEAH, TED... IN JUNE, MY GARAGE DOOR OPENER STARTED OPENING MY NEIGHBOR'S GARAGE DOOR, AND HIS OPENER WAS OPENING MY GARAGE DOOR. BUT WITH THE CONFIDENCE I GAINED FROM LAST YEAR'S CONVENTION, I WAS ABLE TO MENTALLY FIGURE OUT A SOLUTION.
YOU TRADED GARAGE DOOR OPENERS?
GARAGES. AND WHOO, DO THEY WEIGH A LOT.

GEEZ, WILL YOU LOOK AT THIS? ACCORDING TO THESE SURVEYS BY THE NATIONAL CONSTITUTION CENTER, ONLY 41% OF AMERICAN TEENS CAN IDENTIFY THE THREE BRANCHES OF GOVERNMENT....
MORE THAN HALF OF ALL AMERICAN ADULTS DO NOT KNOW THE SENATE HAS 100 MEMBERS. AND ALMOST A QUARTER OF THIS COUNTRY CANNOT NAME A SINGLE RIGHT GUARANTEED BY THE FIRST AMENDMENT.
HEEEY, TAKE IT EASY, EINSTEIN...WHY DOES IT MATTER?
WHY? I'LL TELL YOU WHY. BECAUSE WE LIVE IN A DEMOCRACY, AND THESE SAME PEOPLE KNOW NOTHING ABOUT OUR GOVERNMENT ELECT THAT GOVERNMENT, WHICH MEANS THAT THEY DECIDE WHETHER OR NOT WE GO TO WAR, WHERE TAXES ARE DISTRIBUTED, WHETHER TREES GET SAVED...
DUDE, YOU MADE ME MISS WRESTLING.

AT THE DUMB GUYS CONVENTION
...FINALLY, FOLKS, A QUICK WORD ABOUT TONIGHT'S BUFFET DINNER...
AS YOU KNOW, WE DID NOT PASS OUT INSTRUCTIONS THIS YEAR...WE ARE HOPING THAT THE CONCEPT OF PUTTING FOOD ON YOUR PLATE AND TAKING IT BACK TO YOUR TABLE IS SELF-EXPLANATORY.
I SAID, WHEN I'M FINISHED, PAL.
CHOMP
CHOMP
CHEW
CHOMP

AT THE DUMB GUYS CONVENTION
OKAY, PEOPLE, UH... JUST A COUPLE MORE ANNOUNCEMENTS... CONTRARY TO THE RUMOR THAT I KNOW IS GOING AROUND, IT IS NOT A GOOD IDEA TO SET YOURSELF ON FIRE.
IS THERE A QUESTION IN THE BACK?
UH, YEAH... NEXT YEAR COULD WE JUST GET A LIST OF THESE ANNOUNCEMENTS, MAYBE IN THE MAIL, LIKE BEFORE THE CONVENTION STARTS?
WAY TO SPEAK UP, PHIL.
THANKS, GEORGE.

AT THE DUMB GUYS CONVENTION
OKAY, FOLKS, A COUPLE OF QUICK ANNOUNCEMENTS... FIRST, THERE HAVE BEEN A NUMBER OF QUESTIONS ABOUT THE ELEVATOR BUTTONS AND WHAT THEY ALL MEAN.....
THE HOTEL HAS INFORMED ME THAT THE "L" BUTTON STANDS FOR "LOBBY." CONTRARY TO WHAT WE TOLD YOU IN THE REGISTRATION PACKET, IT DOES NOT--I REPEAT--NOT--STAND FOR "LIFT-OFF."
LET'S GO HOME, DUDE.

AT THE DUMB GUYS CONVENTION
HI...I'M CHECKING IN...I'M HERE FOR THE DUMB GUYS CONVENTION.
OKAY, WHAT'S YOUR NAME?
I
GIVE
UP.

AT THE DUMB GUYS CONVENTION
ALRIGHT, GUYS, TIME TO GET CRAZY AND PLAY "JUMP OFF THE FIFTH FLOOR BALCONY INTO THE SWIMMING POOL". ANY VOLUNTEERS?
I'LL GO! I'LL GO!
GERONIMOOOOO!
...THIS WOULD WORK SOOOOOO MUCH BETTER WITH A SWIMMING POOL.

WELL, I'M OFF TO THE DUMB GUYS CONVENTION.
WHAT'S THAT?
DUMB GUYS FROM ALL OVER THE WORLD GET TOGETHER TO MEET AND TALK AND PLAY GAMES.
WHAT KIND OF GAMES?
...ALRIGHT, EVERYONE, IT'S TIME TO PLAY "GUESS PHIL'S NAME."
ERIC, MIKE, LOLA.

THE SAD, LONELY JOURNEY OF A "PEARLS" COMIC STRIP
THE CARTOONIST
HAHHAHA... THIS ONE IS REALLY EDGY AND FUNNY... PEOPLE WILL LOVE IT... HAHAHA...
THE WIFE
IT'S FUNNY, BABE, BUT YOU'VE GOT TO CHANGE THAT ONE WORD. YOU KNOW WILET'S WON'T ALLOW IT.
YEAH... YOU'RE PROBABLY RIGHT. OKAY, I'LL CHANGE IT.
THE SYNDICATE
IT'S NICE, STEPHAN, BUT WE JUST CAN'T SHOW THAT ONE IMAGE IN THE THIRD PANEL.
FINE, JEFF. I'LL DELETE IT.
THE LAWYER
DUE TO YOUR HUGELY INDEFENSIBLE USE OF "EVERY KIND OF WAY," YOU SHOULD PROBABLY CHANGE THAT.
THE NEWSPAPER EDITOR
... LISTEN, WE SIMPLY CANNOT RUN THIS JOKE, BECAUSE IT IS INDECENT IN THAT TOPIC, BRINGS UP FORK, YOUR GRANDMOTHER'S AGE, THE NATION CAMP, THE NEIGHBORS RELATIONSHIP TO MARY WORTH.
- SIGH -
THE FAN
IT'S SAD.
I DON'T GET IT.
THE FAN
THAT'S A PITY.
THE FAN
THAT'S COOL.
YAY!
AM I ALREADY IN THE COMIC?
THEM
MAM, ARE THESE COMICS ANY GOOD

THE LIONS ATE MY BROTHER.
IS YOUR BROTHER MAD?
IS MY BROTHER MAD ABOUT BEING DEAD?
IS YOUR BROTHER MAD ABOUT BEING EATEN?
MY BROTHER’S DEAD.
YOU SHOULD HAVE SAID SOMETHING.

SOMETIMES EVERYONE AROUND ME ACTS SO DIFFERENT TOWARD ME THAT I THINK THEY ALL MUST HAVE GOTTEN A SECRET MEMO REVEALING WHAT A JERK I REALLY AM.
YOU KNOW WHAT I MEAN?
FI FINK FO.

I'M GOING SWIMMING AT THE CITY POOL. WANT TO COME?
I CAN'T... I'VE GOT A BUNCH OF STUFF TO DO.
WELL, MAYBE YOU CAN MEET ME THERE LATER.
OKAY... BUT DON'T HOLD YOUR BREATH.
GLUG GLUG GLUG

ALPHONSE, THE NEEDY PORCUPINE, IS ON THE PHONE. HE'S EXTREMELY UPSET THAT YOU PUNCHED HIM IN THE FACE JUST FOR HUGGING YOU. HE SAYS THAT IF YOU DON'T APOLOGIZE, HE'LL JUMP OUT HIS WINDOW.
TELL YOUR FRIEND I THINK HE'S A BIG, FAT DRAMA QUEEN AND THAT HE MANUFACTURES CRISES JUST TO GET ATTENTION.
... HE SAID WHAT?

RAT, THIS IS MY FRIEND, ALPHONSE, THE NEEDY PORCUPINE.
YOU'RE THAT DEGENERATE WHO HUGGED PIG YESTERDAY.
WHEN YOU CALL ME A "DEGENERATE," IT HURTS ME. AND WHEN I HURT I HUG.
ALPHONSE, THIS IS MY FRIEND, FISTY, THE KICK-YOU-#%@ HAND.
WE SHOULD GO...I'VE MET THAT GUY.
NOT BEFORE MY GOODBYE HUG.

THERE'S A PORCUPINE AT THE DOOR... HE SAYS HE'S NEEDY AND WOULD REALLY LIKE A HUG.
SLAM THE DOOR ON HIM.
HE WAS VERY PERSUASIVE.

I CAN'T SLEEP.
PING
PING
PING
PING
OH, SUPER... THE INSOMNIATEERS ARE BACK.
WHAT'S IT TONIGHT, FELLAS?
IT'S YOUR GIRLFRIEND. SHE'S CHEATING ON YOU.
CHEATING ON ME??
WITH WHO?
KEN. THE GUY IN THE GRAPHICS DEPARTMENT.
KEN?!
YEP. THE GUY SHE ALWAYS SAYS IS SO NICE.
YOU GUY SURE MAKES HER LAUGH.
OH, SUPER... THE GUY SHE ALWAYS "LUNCH WITH."
THE GUY YOU MENTIONED YOU WERE SUSPICIOUS ABOUT, WHICH FOR THE RECORD, WE ALL TOLD YOU CALL YOU "PARANOID" AND "OVEROBSESIVE."
NO NO NO NO NO NO NO!!!! I CAN'T BELIEVE IT.
HOW COULD SHE?!? I ...
I DON'T HAVE A GIRLFRIEND.
WHAT?? ISN'T THIS 505 SANSOME STREET??
NO??
NO, IT'S 385 HEARST.
YOU IDIOT.
YOU FED US ALL THOSE POOR INFIDELITY WORDS AND THEN MESSED UP THE ADDRESS!
OH, COME ON. I'M UNDER A LOT OF PRESSURE.
I BLEW IT.
EVERYBODY, SHUT UP!! JUST SHUT UP!!! WE GOTTA GET TO 505 SANSOME FAST!!
SORRY I'M LATE, HONEY... KEN AND I HAD A MEETING