Unfolded
April 10, 2023 4:26 PM Subscribe
Al Jaffee, the legendary cartoonist who created MAD Magazine's famous Fold-In illustrations, has passed away at the age of 102.
From a month previously on the Blue, a lost interview with Jaffee about his long career with MAD.
From a month previously on the Blue, a lost interview with Jaffee about his long career with MAD.
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posted by jquinby at 4:33 PM on April 10, 2023 [1 favorite]
posted by jquinby at 4:33 PM on April 10, 2023 [1 favorite]
The guy was the only person doing these for 55 years. There are very few examples of that kind of dedication to a bit in all of history. Here's to Al for creating a memorable part of my childhood media experience.
posted by BlackLeotardFront at 4:33 PM on April 10, 2023 [22 favorites]
posted by BlackLeotardFront at 4:33 PM on April 10, 2023 [22 favorites]
I grew up with this guy. Looked forward to the fold in with each issue and it was the first thing I looked at. MAD maybe had the most influence on me as I grew up and for that I am really glad. Yes, this is sad, but for me, I just remember the joy of each new issue and all the power of satire they brought. Jaffee (and the rest of the gang of idiots) was my teacher. Much thanks goes out to him and MAD in general!
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posted by njohnson23 at 4:39 PM on April 10, 2023 [6 favorites]
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posted by njohnson23 at 4:39 PM on April 10, 2023 [6 favorites]
I did not realize, until just now, how much of my life... I mean how much of my childhood. How much of my life. That this man affected. And effected, seriously.
He made me want to draw, and write.
I just didn't realize. Understand.
Until now.
posted by Splunge at 4:51 PM on April 10, 2023 [12 favorites]
He made me want to draw, and write.
I just didn't realize. Understand.
Until now.
posted by Splunge at 4:51 PM on April 10, 2023 [12 favorites]
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posted by Joey Michaels at 5:01 PM on April 10, 2023
posted by Joey Michaels at 5:01 PM on April 10, 2023
That man was inordinately responsible for my outlook on the universe.
posted by nothing.especially.clever at 5:06 PM on April 10, 2023 [5 favorites]
posted by nothing.especially.clever at 5:06 PM on April 10, 2023 [5 favorites]
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posted by Ardnamurchan at 5:11 PM on April 10, 2023
posted by Ardnamurchan at 5:11 PM on April 10, 2023
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posted by gentlyepigrams at 5:18 PM on April 10, 2023
posted by gentlyepigrams at 5:18 PM on April 10, 2023
Sad news but he sure had a long run.
One of my high school friends once told me he thought I must have gotten my sense of humor from reading MAD all the time.
That interview is great. The Dave Berg part made me almost cry with laughter.
posted by freakazoid at 5:19 PM on April 10, 2023 [1 favorite]
One of my high school friends once told me he thought I must have gotten my sense of humor from reading MAD all the time.
That interview is great. The Dave Berg part made me almost cry with laughter.
posted by freakazoid at 5:19 PM on April 10, 2023 [1 favorite]
OK how many of us looked at the foldin and studied what was going to be the result? me? ok.
posted by wmo at 5:25 PM on April 10, 2023 [8 favorites]
posted by wmo at 5:25 PM on April 10, 2023 [8 favorites]
My partner and I are in our late 50s and we remember growing up with him and MAD in our teens a lifetime ago ... and he was then older than we are now. Hell of a career, hell of a life.
posted by seanmpuckett at 5:25 PM on April 10, 2023 [5 favorites]
posted by seanmpuckett at 5:25 PM on April 10, 2023 [5 favorites]
I don't give enough credit to MAD for shaping my worldview. If anything, it probably primed me for being ready for HHGTTG.
posted by mollweide at 5:40 PM on April 10, 2023 [3 favorites]
posted by mollweide at 5:40 PM on April 10, 2023 [3 favorites]
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posted by UhOhChongo! at 5:41 PM on April 10, 2023
posted by UhOhChongo! at 5:41 PM on April 10, 2023
For reasons not completely clear to me, I was just thinking about Al Jaffee this weekend. Not in depth like brooding or anything, but he crossed my mind as it was wandering (possibly I had just called something “fershlugginer” in my head) and I thought “wow, haven’t had that name pop into my head in a while.” And now here we are.
posted by nickmark at 5:59 PM on April 10, 2023
posted by nickmark at 5:59 PM on April 10, 2023
One of my favorite historic photos: Future 'Mad Magazine' artists Al Jaffee and Will Elder, in the lunchroom at the High School for Music and Arts in New York City (1936)
There's something really poignant about seeing these people who would eventually become legendary figures in American comedy just being dumb goofball kids (even in the depths of the Great Depression!) but in such a way that you can see plainly where that genius sprang from.
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posted by Rhaomi at 6:06 PM on April 10, 2023 [28 favorites]
There's something really poignant about seeing these people who would eventually become legendary figures in American comedy just being dumb goofball kids (even in the depths of the Great Depression!) but in such a way that you can see plainly where that genius sprang from.
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posted by Rhaomi at 6:06 PM on April 10, 2023 [28 favorites]
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posted by Mutant Lobsters from Riverhead at 6:11 PM on April 10, 2023
posted by Mutant Lobsters from Riverhead at 6:11 PM on April 10, 2023
Oof, that rare obit thread where literally anything I say would be eponysterical. We lost a giant today.
posted by potrzebie at 6:21 PM on April 10, 2023 [15 favorites]
posted by potrzebie at 6:21 PM on April 10, 2023 [15 favorites]
What a cartoon genius. RIP.
posted by Liquidwolf at 6:24 PM on April 10, 2023 [1 favorite]
posted by Liquidwolf at 6:24 PM on April 10, 2023 [1 favorite]
A ► ◄ B . A ► ◄ Bposted by Heywood Mogroot III at 6:29 PM on April 10, 2023 [23 favorites]
Oh I have great memories of my mom taking me to the used bookstore and letting me buy old MAD magazines. I loved the fold-ins. Makes me realize, this guy had already been doing these for twenty years by the time I was old enough to discover them, and kept on doing them for nearly four more decades!!
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posted by hurdy gurdy girl at 6:37 PM on April 10, 2023 [1 favorite]
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posted by hurdy gurdy girl at 6:37 PM on April 10, 2023 [1 favorite]
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posted by badbobbycase at 6:42 PM on April 10, 2023
posted by badbobbycase at 6:42 PM on April 10, 2023
What a giant.
The back inside cover always felt like a mental trip all its own and a little bit foreign and timeless. Most of the time, I'd be reading my teenage uncle's copy of the magazine, so had to mentally construct the image/message without creasing the paper.
Looks like Sergio Aragones is the last man standing from the early 70s (the era that melted my young brain)
posted by brachiopod at 6:42 PM on April 10, 2023 [10 favorites]
The back inside cover always felt like a mental trip all its own and a little bit foreign and timeless. Most of the time, I'd be reading my teenage uncle's copy of the magazine, so had to mentally construct the image/message without creasing the paper.
Looks like Sergio Aragones is the last man standing from the early 70s (the era that melted my young brain)
posted by brachiopod at 6:42 PM on April 10, 2023 [10 favorites]
What talent, what a career! Maybe the chief among the Usual Gang of Idiots.
I’ve been revisiting the MAD paperbacks, and while some of the content is a but problematic now, there’s way more hits than misses. That spirit of impertinence and iconoclasm shaped many, many lives, my own definitely included. Thank you, sir.
posted by Capt. Renault at 6:44 PM on April 10, 2023 [3 favorites]
I’ve been revisiting the MAD paperbacks, and while some of the content is a but problematic now, there’s way more hits than misses. That spirit of impertinence and iconoclasm shaped many, many lives, my own definitely included. Thank you, sir.
posted by Capt. Renault at 6:44 PM on April 10, 2023 [3 favorites]
꩜
posted by not_on_display at 6:59 PM on April 10, 2023 [2 favorites]
posted by not_on_display at 6:59 PM on April 10, 2023 [2 favorites]
. .
posted by doctornemo at 7:01 PM on April 10, 2023
posted by doctornemo at 7:01 PM on April 10, 2023
I can't even imagine doing what he did for how long he did.
I was never really allowed MAD magazine. Wasn't "serious" enough in our household - I mean I could probably have pushed it but we were poor and I spottily caught it second hand from friends. Even still, everything about that magazine shaped my sense of humor.
posted by drewbage1847 at 7:10 PM on April 10, 2023 [2 favorites]
I was never really allowed MAD magazine. Wasn't "serious" enough in our household - I mean I could probably have pushed it but we were poor and I spottily caught it second hand from friends. Even still, everything about that magazine shaped my sense of humor.
posted by drewbage1847 at 7:10 PM on April 10, 2023 [2 favorites]
102. z''l
(I used to credit my worldview/sensayuma to early & prolonged exposure to MAD, Muppets, Mel Brooks & Marx Brothers. M is for the many laughs they gave me.)
posted by cheshyre at 7:20 PM on April 10, 2023 [4 favorites]
(I used to credit my worldview/sensayuma to early & prolonged exposure to MAD, Muppets, Mel Brooks & Marx Brothers. M is for the many laughs they gave me.)
posted by cheshyre at 7:20 PM on April 10, 2023 [4 favorites]
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posted by mandolin conspiracy at 7:24 PM on April 10, 2023
posted by mandolin conspiracy at 7:24 PM on April 10, 2023
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posted by dannyboybell at 8:06 PM on April 10, 2023
posted by dannyboybell at 8:06 PM on April 10, 2023
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posted by JustSayNoDawg at 8:20 PM on April 10, 2023
posted by JustSayNoDawg at 8:20 PM on April 10, 2023
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METAFILTER: like a mad magazine accordion back page folded together
posted by philip-random at 8:29 PM on April 10, 2023 [1 favorite]
METAFILTER: like a mad magazine accordion back page folded together
posted by philip-random at 8:29 PM on April 10, 2023 [1 favorite]
(careful -- that's not the most easygoing of Metas)
posted by philip-random at 8:29 PM on April 10, 2023
posted by philip-random at 8:29 PM on April 10, 2023
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posted by JoeXIII007 at 8:33 PM on April 10, 2023
posted by JoeXIII007 at 8:33 PM on April 10, 2023
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posted by skyscraper at 9:10 PM on April 10, 2023
posted by skyscraper at 9:10 PM on April 10, 2023
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posted by the_dreamwriter at 9:29 PM on April 10, 2023
posted by the_dreamwriter at 9:29 PM on April 10, 2023
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He died of 'multiple organ failure', so it sounds like his body (takes off sunglasses) finally folded.
i'll see myself out
posted by zaixfeep at 9:58 PM on April 10, 2023 [15 favorites]
He died of 'multiple organ failure', so it sounds like his body (takes off sunglasses) finally folded.
i'll see myself out
posted by zaixfeep at 9:58 PM on April 10, 2023 [15 favorites]
And we were just talking in the Reverse Obituary thread that it was awesome that he was still around. I hope I didn't jinx him, but then, at 102, it was only his amazing mojo that kept him going anyway.
Sergio Aragones is 85. If he lasts as long as Jaffee did, he'll still have 17 years ahead of him.
posted by JHarris at 10:24 PM on April 10, 2023 [6 favorites]
Sergio Aragones is 85. If he lasts as long as Jaffee did, he'll still have 17 years ahead of him.
posted by JHarris at 10:24 PM on April 10, 2023 [6 favorites]
• He’s going to be missed.
posted by Katjusa Roquette at 10:35 PM on April 10, 2023
posted by Katjusa Roquette at 10:35 PM on April 10, 2023
Sergio Aragones is 85. If he lasts as long as Jaffee did, he'll still have 17 years ahead of him.
posted by JHarris
I'm sure he'll be here and there, puttering around in the margins for a long time to come.
-.. .. . / ...- ... / -.. .. . / -... -.-- / .--. .-. --- .... .. .- ...
posted by zaixfeep at 10:55 PM on April 10, 2023 [6 favorites]
posted by JHarris
I'm sure he'll be here and there, puttering around in the margins for a long time to come.
-.. .. . / ...- ... / -.. .. . / -... -.-- / .--. .-. --- .... .. .- ...
posted by zaixfeep at 10:55 PM on April 10, 2023 [6 favorites]
• He’s going to be missed.
posted by Katjusa Roquette
No, I'm sure they know exactly where he is.
posted by zaixfeep at 10:57 PM on April 10, 2023 [8 favorites]
posted by Katjusa Roquette
No, I'm sure they know exactly where he is.
posted by zaixfeep at 10:57 PM on April 10, 2023 [8 favorites]
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posted by little onion at 11:29 PM on April 10, 2023
posted by little onion at 11:29 PM on April 10, 2023
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posted by limeonaire at 11:41 PM on April 10, 2023
posted by limeonaire at 11:41 PM on April 10, 2023
What a huge impact Mad magazine had on me as a kid.
DO
NOT
TRUST
ANYONE
IN
AUTHORITY!
That would be what I took from it.
Thank you Mr Jaffee, and my gosh you and Elder in that photo linked above; that was really it, wasn't it.
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posted by Phlegmco(tm) at 12:52 AM on April 11, 2023 [9 favorites]
DO
NOT
TRUST
ANYONE
IN
AUTHORITY!
That would be what I took from it.
Thank you Mr Jaffee, and my gosh you and Elder in that photo linked above; that was really it, wasn't it.
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posted by Phlegmco(tm) at 12:52 AM on April 11, 2023 [9 favorites]
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posted by Ten Cold Hot Dogs at 2:07 AM on April 11, 2023
posted by Ten Cold Hot Dogs at 2:07 AM on April 11, 2023
What a run!
I have such a visceral, evocative response to just the mention of those fold-in pages. Mad magazine is so special.
posted by obfuscation at 5:35 AM on April 11, 2023 [2 favorites]
I have such a visceral, evocative response to just the mention of those fold-in pages. Mad magazine is so special.
posted by obfuscation at 5:35 AM on April 11, 2023 [2 favorites]
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posted by The Vice Admiral of the Narrow Seas at 6:17 AM on April 11, 2023
posted by The Vice Admiral of the Narrow Seas at 6:17 AM on April 11, 2023
What a huge impact Mad magazine had on me as a kid.
DO
NOT
TRUST
ANYONE
IN
AUTHORITY!
That would be what I took from it.
to which I'd add. When in doubt, laugh at the world and never leave home without a few snappy answers to stupid questions in yrrr back pocket.
posted by philip-random at 8:44 AM on April 11, 2023 [2 favorites]
DO
NOT
TRUST
ANYONE
IN
AUTHORITY!
That would be what I took from it.
to which I'd add. When in doubt, laugh at the world and never leave home without a few snappy answers to stupid questions in yrrr back pocket.
posted by philip-random at 8:44 AM on April 11, 2023 [2 favorites]
I'm sure he'll be here and there, puttering around in the margins for a long time to come.
And looking at things, no doubt.
posted by RonButNotStupid at 9:34 AM on April 11, 2023
And looking at things, no doubt.
posted by RonButNotStupid at 9:34 AM on April 11, 2023
When I was a child, giants walked the earth.
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posted by Sphinx at 9:42 AM on April 11, 2023 [2 favorites]
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posted by Sphinx at 9:42 AM on April 11, 2023 [2 favorites]
relevant:
Hal Jaffee Meets His End
posted by philip-random at 10:35 AM on April 11, 2023 [3 favorites]
Hal Jaffee Meets His End
posted by philip-random at 10:35 AM on April 11, 2023 [3 favorites]
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posted by lock robster at 12:55 PM on April 11, 2023
posted by lock robster at 12:55 PM on April 11, 2023
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posted by inpHilltr8r at 1:38 PM on April 11, 2023
posted by inpHilltr8r at 1:38 PM on April 11, 2023
did Al Jaffee grow up with chain-smoking parents? because his enthusiasm for calling out smokers really spoke to my soul as a child who grew up with chain-smoking parents
posted by elkevelvet at 1:43 PM on April 11, 2023 [5 favorites]
posted by elkevelvet at 1:43 PM on April 11, 2023 [5 favorites]
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we JUST talked about him being alive still, goddammit
posted by infini at 2:15 PM on April 11, 2023 [4 favorites]
we JUST talked about him being alive still, goddammit
posted by infini at 2:15 PM on April 11, 2023 [4 favorites]
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After I learned to read English, at about 10, my dad would often pick up a copy of Mad Magazine for me if I was home sick from school, and their sense of humor had a profound effect on my general outlook on life. I always saved the fold-in for last, and tried to figure it out before folding, which was fun, but not as fun as messing around with the paper itself and seeing the final picture and caption.
posted by Kattullus at 2:26 PM on April 11, 2023 [4 favorites]
After I learned to read English, at about 10, my dad would often pick up a copy of Mad Magazine for me if I was home sick from school, and their sense of humor had a profound effect on my general outlook on life. I always saved the fold-in for last, and tried to figure it out before folding, which was fun, but not as fun as messing around with the paper itself and seeing the final picture and caption.
posted by Kattullus at 2:26 PM on April 11, 2023 [4 favorites]
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posted by cupcakeninja at 3:35 PM on April 11, 2023
posted by cupcakeninja at 3:35 PM on April 11, 2023
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So long, farewell, and thank you. I usually couldn't wait to walk all the way home before trying to fold up the back page, so nearly all my MAD magazines were pretty badly crumpled the day I got them. I wonder, also, if this is why I always see faces and images in random abstract patterns. My shower tile has an image of Audrey Hepburn as a duck in an evening dress.
posted by winesong at 4:14 PM on April 11, 2023 [5 favorites]
So long, farewell, and thank you. I usually couldn't wait to walk all the way home before trying to fold up the back page, so nearly all my MAD magazines were pretty badly crumpled the day I got them. I wonder, also, if this is why I always see faces and images in random abstract patterns. My shower tile has an image of Audrey Hepburn as a duck in an evening dress.
posted by winesong at 4:14 PM on April 11, 2023 [5 favorites]
From FB:
"Is Al Jaffee dead?"
"No, he's just practicing for the World Breath-Holding Championship."
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posted by Melismata at 7:27 PM on April 11, 2023 [10 favorites]
"Is Al Jaffee dead?"
"No, he's just practicing for the World Breath-Holding Championship."
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posted by Melismata at 7:27 PM on April 11, 2023 [10 favorites]
Surely there would have been no R. Crumb without A. Neuman.
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posted by snuffleupagus at 9:31 PM on April 11, 2023
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posted by snuffleupagus at 9:31 PM on April 11, 2023
Kattullus:" I always saved the fold-in for last"
I was that asshole kid who always did a fold-in at the grocery store news-stand, when my mom left me alone in the supermarket. Only after I did the fold-in, I'd see if i could read the entire magazine before mom was done shoppin'.
35¢ was not cheap to an eight-year-old in the late 70s! Still, an asshole move on my part, and I apologize to everyone here.
ANYWAY
Also I love spotting an invention in the wild, so to speak: I think he wrote a segment about "razor blades of the future" which came out when electrics and two-blade disposables were coming out. I think at least one of his absurd inventions made it in the real world (like the 7-blade razor, toned down a little)... and maybe one of the cigarette smoke reducers—like the first time I saw a smoke-sucking ashtray, I thought immediately of Al's article, except the ashtray itself still stunk of nicotine and tar.
posted by not_on_display at 11:06 PM on April 11, 2023 [6 favorites]
I was that asshole kid who always did a fold-in at the grocery store news-stand, when my mom left me alone in the supermarket. Only after I did the fold-in, I'd see if i could read the entire magazine before mom was done shoppin'.
35¢ was not cheap to an eight-year-old in the late 70s! Still, an asshole move on my part, and I apologize to everyone here.
ANYWAY
Also I love spotting an invention in the wild, so to speak: I think he wrote a segment about "razor blades of the future" which came out when electrics and two-blade disposables were coming out. I think at least one of his absurd inventions made it in the real world (like the 7-blade razor, toned down a little)... and maybe one of the cigarette smoke reducers—like the first time I saw a smoke-sucking ashtray, I thought immediately of Al's article, except the ashtray itself still stunk of nicotine and tar.
posted by not_on_display at 11:06 PM on April 11, 2023 [6 favorites]
there are worse ways to spend time than taking a stroll through Doug Gilford's Mad Cover Site
featured previously
posted by elkevelvet at 6:45 AM on April 12, 2023 [4 favorites]
featured previously
posted by elkevelvet at 6:45 AM on April 12, 2023 [4 favorites]
–z_ .
posted by Wild_Eep at 9:43 PM on April 12, 2023 [1 favorite]
posted by Wild_Eep at 9:43 PM on April 12, 2023 [1 favorite]
Dearly miss my MAD magazines. Used to scour them for every little hidden (visible but well incorporated into the art) bit. Al Jaffee inc.
posted by filtergik at 11:20 AM on April 13, 2023
posted by filtergik at 11:20 AM on April 13, 2023
Here's the Comics Journal's obituary and a 2020 interview from the magazine celebrating Jaffe's 99th birthday.
posted by Paul Slade at 11:41 AM on April 14, 2023 [1 favorite]
posted by Paul Slade at 11:41 AM on April 14, 2023 [1 favorite]
« Older Floor 796 | Showing that you’re on the battlefield of... Newer »
This thread has been archived and is closed to new comments
ANSWER || me this, dearly departed Al.
TO || those who grieve your loss, I ask, through || MY
STU || mbling, barely coherent thoughts: What final intre || PID
QUES || t shall you embark on now? I await your reply with much anticipa || TION.
posted by New Frontier at 4:29 PM on April 10, 2023 [117 favorites]