BrassOrchid asks, "Why does this not exist?"

They don't have a lame line, I guess.  Plus, I wouldn't even begin to know how to run a merch store.  I'd also feel too embarrassed to even think about hitting up my readers for anything. I know some creators --- especially the super popular ones --- love selling stuff (more, more and more stuff!) but I'm not sure I could do it. I can't explain why. I'd feel like a beggar.

 

Crow Deterrence in Japan

カラス対策に使用されている画像データを公開いたします。
(これらの画像データは宮崎県日向市より許諾を得て掲載しているものです)

宮崎県・日向市では、これらの画像データをA3判に印刷して防水加工し、ネットに取り付けたところ、ごみ集積所の88%で効果があったとのことです。

※下記のPDFデータをダウンロードしてご使用ください。なお、カラスが慣れてくる場合があります。その場合、異なるパターンを使用することを推奨されております。

※効果を保証するものではありませんので、ご理解・ご了承のうえご使用ください。

We are making available image data used for crow-deterrence measures. (These images are published with permission from Hyuga City, Miyazaki Prefecture.)In Hyuga City, Miyazaki Prefecture, these images were printed on A3-sized paper, made waterproof, and attached to waste-collection nets. This approach proved effective at 88% of the waste-collection sites.

* Please download and use the PDF file provided below. Note that crows may eventually become accustomed to these images; in such cases, it is recommended to switch to a different pattern.

https://www.city.moriguchi.osaka.jp/kakukanoannai/kankyougesuidoubu/kankyoutaisakuka/gomirecycle/karasutaisaku/19861.html#

Thanks to Randy_B, as always.

Scientific studies do not support the specific combination of red, yellow, and black as a unified deterrent strategy; rather, research highlights distinct, separate mechanisms for these colors in Japanese crow management.

• Yellow: A 2011 study by T. Sugita and reports from GAIAPRESS confirm that crows cannot see through a specific nuance of yellow plastic used for garbage bags.
  This color blocks one of the four primary colors crows perceive, effectively hiding the food inside rather than scaring the bird away.
• Black: Research published in the Journal of Ethology by T. Honda found that matte black lines increase collision risk and deterrence compared to metallic lines, as their lower visibility creates a greater hazard for the birds. 
• Red: The provided search context does not contain specific studies supporting red as a primary color for crow deterrence in Japan; most cited deterrents rely on yellow visibility blocking, black collision risk, or reflective materials (like silver or blue) to create visual chaos.

https://www.gaiapress.com/en/article/525.html

https://www.forbesindia.com/article/lifes/crows-are-being-driven-off-the-streets-of-tokyo-by-their-own-cries/92933/1

"Frog Applause" reader at White House with "First Dog" Bo Obama (2009)

Have I not said multiple times that I have an amazingly diverse group of readers? I can't share any details about this reader (above)... other than he spent a lot of time at the White House. I can share info regarding First Dog Bo, though.



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Bo (October 9, 2008 – May 8, 2021) was a black-and-white male Portuguese Water Dog who served as the First Dog from April 2009 to January 2017. 

Bo was bred by show breeders Martha and Art Stern of Amigo Portuguese Water Dogs in Boyd, Texas. His sire was Watson (US CH Valkyrie's Dr. Watson Is Here) and his dam was Penny (US CH Amigo's Phor What Its Worth). The entire litter of nine was named "Hope and Change" in honor of Obama's 2008 victory. One of Bo's littermates, Cappy (Amigo's Captain Courageous), went to Senator Ted Kennedy, who owned several Portuguese Water Dogs himself. Bo was registered with the AKC as "Amigo's New Hope" and called "Charlie" by his original owners.

During the 2008 campaign, Barack Obama promised his daughters Malia and Sasha a puppy if he won. At his first press conference as president-elect, he outlined the family's criteria: the dog had to be hypoallergenic (Malia had canine allergies) and ideally a shelter dog — though he joked that most shelter dogs were "mutts like me." The compromise was Bo, a six-month-old puppy from a reputable breeder who had been returned to the kennel.

Before the official gift, Bo reportedly visited the family in a secret compatibility meeting that staffers called "The Meeting." On April 12, 2009, it was announced that Ted Kennedy and his wife Victoria would give Bo to the Obama girls. He arrived at the White House on April 14, 2009.

Malia and Sasha chose the name Bo for several overlapping reasons:
Their first cousins had a cat named Bo. 

Michelle Obama's father, Fraser Robinson III, was nicknamed "Diddley" — a reference to R&B musician Bo Diddley.

B.O. happened to be Barack Obama's initials, a coincidence widely noted in the press.

Bo became a media sensation almost immediately. Trained by Dawn Sylvia in Hume, Virginia, he learned to sit, shake, roll over, and more. He was known for:
Loving the pool in summer (despite the breed being a water dog, he reportedly couldn't swim.)
His favorite food was tomato.
Being "unflappable with children" and living for scraps at the dinner table.
Having "a big bark but no bite."

In August 2013, the family welcomed a second Portuguese Water Dog, Sunny, as Bo's companion.

In his 2020 memoir The Promised Land, Obama wrote:
"With Bo, I got what someone once described as the only reliable friend a politician can have in Washington. He also gave me an added excuse to put off my evening paperwork and join my family on meandering after-dinner walks around the South Lawn."

Bo died of cancer on May 8, 2021, at the Obama residence in Washington, D.C., at age 12. Michelle Obama posted on Instagram: "We said goodbye to our best friend — our dog, Bo — after a battle with cancer… We are thankful that he lived such a joyful life full of snuggles, games of fetch, and evenings spent lying on the couch."

Barack Obama's tribute: "He tolerated all the fuss that came with being in the White House, had a big bark but no bite, loved to jump in the pool in the summer, was unflappable with children, lived for scraps around the dinner table, and had great hair."

His successors as First Dog were Champ and Major, the Biden family's English Springer Spaniels, who took over in January 2017.

Bo and later Sunny were so in demand that they effectively had official White House schedules. Michelle Obama described the process: "Everybody wants to see them and take pictures. I get a memo at the beginning of the month with a request for their schedules, and I have to approve their appearances."

They were regulars at the Easter Egg Roll, Christmas hospital visits, and even accompanied foreign dignitaries. The White House website featured photos and a biography of Bo, and his likeness appeared on Christmas, Halloween, and Easter decorations.

Bo's fame brought a surge of interest in Portuguese Water Dogs. The Portuguese Water Dog Club of America issued a public statement urging potential owners to ensure the breed fit their lifestyle, noting the dogs need significant interaction and should not be left alone for long periods or boarded in kennels.

The Obama Presidential Library maintains a dedicated Bo & Sunny collection, including artwork, dog-related gifts, and the family's annual holiday cards featuring the pair.

The Monster Study

The Monster Study was a non-consensual experiment performed on 22 orphan children in Davenport, Iowa in 1939 about stuttering. It was conducted by Wendell Johnson through the University of Iowa with the physical experiment being performed by his graduate student Mary Tudor. Wendell Johnson, a former student at the University of Iowa, dedicated his life’s work to identifying the causes of stuttering and discovering a cure. Johnson, who had a severe stutter himself, wanted to understand where it originated and how it could be stopped, largely because he had been teased throughout his life. When he began studying speech pathology, he tested his own speech patterns, and the leading theory at the time suggested that stuttering had genetic origins. Johnson, who understood the impact that early stuttering could have on a child’s mental state, once stated, “The stuttering child is a crippled child.”  Read more here.

Flesh-eating parasitic screwworms

https://arstechnica.com/health/2026/10/flesh-eating-screwworms-are-feasting-on-pets-4-dogs-and-cat-attacked-this-week/?utm_source=bsky&utm_medium=social
Flesh-eating screwworms spread to third state and are attacking pets.

USDA has identified 74 animal cases in US since parasitic flies invaded in June.

Frog Applause -- October 30, 2026

 

The problem traveled to the Chicago Tribune, too. 

https://www.chicagotribune.com/comics/?amu=/frogapplause/2026/10/30

Despite the concern/speculation by some of my readers that GoComics has censored today's "Frog Applause"... that is NOT the case. In fact, GC was initially as perplexed as I am. I think we both agree now that it is most likely a corrupted or incompatible monitor color profile issue in Photoshop. It happened previously on this comic, too. 

https://www.gocomics.com/frogapplause/2026/10/08

(It was actually sort of funny that the corruption took place during his attempt to kiss his Sugarpie.)

So, please lower your pointy pitchforks and glitter torches. It is not the fault of GoComics.

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Just to add to the "fun" my vile little troll has also made another appearance. He gets banned then returns. He has multiple aliases that he uses... and they are all hateful. 

I've already reported him to viafoura. Here is an example of the disgusting crap he likes to post: (CONTENT WARNING!)

https://lamefrogapplause.blogspot.com/2026/10/reported.html

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Long-time FA reader, BrassOrchid makes this observation:

It's also odd that it appears fine in "Trending Conversations"

       One can view the strip without the black part on various devices but not others. So strange!

One reader tried to use software to peek behind the black screen covering this comic. The result, according to him, looks like a tampon and the words "bible bookmarks." I supposed a tampon could be used as a bookmark. 

Modern-day Sumptuary Laws

While traditional sumptuary laws that strictly enforce class-based dress codes have largely been repealed in Western democracies, modern equivalents still exist in various forms globally.

In some jurisdictions, dress codes are codified into law for religious or moral reasons. Afghanistan under Taliban rule enforces strict clothing mandates, including bans on certain hairstyles and the requirement for women to cover themselves, alongside prohibitions on mixed-gender activities. Bhutan mandates traditional dress (driglam namzha) in specific government and public spaces, with the color of the kabney scarf strictly regulated by social rank and office.

Islamic countries often enforce laws based on Quranic teachings, such as prohibiting men from wearing silk or gold jewelry, and restricting women’s attire in accordance with local interpretations of modesty. 

Many nations maintain laws restricting clothing that violates public decency or poses security risks. Germany and other European countries ban the display of Nazi imagery and, in some cases, face coverings that obscure identity in public spaces. The United States has historically prohibited the wearing of Ku Klux Klan hoods and masks in many states, though exemptions for masquerade balls were occasionally used by drag performers in the mid-20th century. 

The spirit of sumptuary law has transitioned into luxury taxes and consumer regulations. Governments impose high taxes on yachts, private jets, and designer goods to curb conspicuous consumption or generate revenue. Additionally, workplace dress codes and school uniforms function as privatized or institutional sumptuary regulations, enforcing social norms and professional standards without state-level criminal penalties for non-compliance in most democratic societies. 

Sumptuary laws in North Korea are strict regulations enforced by the Kim Jong-un regime to control citizens' appearance and suppress foreign influence, often categorized as modern examples of laws restricting luxury or excess.

These regulations mandate government-approved hairstyles (28 specific styles for men and women, excluding the leader's unique cut) and ban Western fashion items like jeans, leather coats, and sunglasses, which are viewed as symbols of capitalism or individualism. Violations of these dress and grooming codes, alongside bans on foreign media and slang, can result in severe punishments including imprisonment, forced labor, or execution, with the state utilizing a system of mutual monitoring to ensure compliance.