In all fairness, it would be an impressive feat if he could do that, enjoy all three storylines and not get them mixed up. Too bad that’s not how the human brain operates.
Yeah, this would impress me quite a lot of he was actually able to do it. Especially assuming (as is somewhat implied) that he was thus able to process information at three times the rate (rather than processing each of the three materials at a snail’s pace).
If it does impress them, I’m not sure where the joke is.
I guess it’s something about books on tape and braille aren’t really books except… they are. Or maybe the observation humans have at least three forms of input… but why is that funny. Or… okay…. I don’t get it.
“Yes, but is this something that would impress a teenage girl about a teenage boy?”
Would it impress exclusive teenage girls, about a teenage boy? Probably not. But maybe you just aren’t seeing all the other people who are also amazed.
There are cases in history of people who could write in one language with one hand, while simultaneously writing a different language with the other hand. Seeing that might amaze me.
But I am not a teenage girl, and never quite understood how to impress them reliably and consistently.
Note that three different senses are being used to perform the same task, which is semi-interesting. Or maybe he’s just faking and these are not-too-bright girls. I think of a character on “King of the Hill” who’d introduce himself as “a self-styled genius”.
They mention the book-on-tape, and the braille book; for the joke to be complete, they really should note that he’s “regular” reading the Steinbeck book. “He reads a book, listens to a book on tape, and reads a third in braille!”
Makes me think of the legend that James Garfield could simultaneously write Greek with one hand and Latin with the other. He was fluent in both languages and ambidextrous, but certainly not all at once.
Mitch4: I think he’s not. One of his three books seems to be a normal printed version of The Grapes of Wrath (although, as beckoningchasm says, this is not explicitly stated).
I don’t think I’ve ever seen a single character in “Close to Home” that did not look hideously ugly, but the misplaced curve on the yellow dress makes me wonder whether she is a cancer patient, or whether the doctor put both implants on the same side.
And this is a case where the drawing is critical. Because of the bad drawing, it’s not possible (for me) to tell if those are supposed to be girls his age or his mother and her friend.
Comics I Don't Understand 
In all fairness, it would be an impressive feat if he could do that, enjoy all three storylines and not get them mixed up. Too bad that’s not how the human brain operates.
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Yeah, this would impress me quite a lot of he was actually able to do it. Especially assuming (as is somewhat implied) that he was thus able to process information at three times the rate (rather than processing each of the three materials at a snail’s pace).
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Yes, but is this something that would impress a teenage girl about a teenage boy?
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That would seem to enter into ARLO AWARD territory.
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If it does impress them, I’m not sure where the joke is.
I guess it’s something about books on tape and braille aren’t really books except… they are. Or maybe the observation humans have at least three forms of input… but why is that funny. Or… okay…. I don’t get it.
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“Yes, but is this something that would impress a teenage girl about a teenage boy?”
Would it impress exclusive teenage girls, about a teenage boy? Probably not. But maybe you just aren’t seeing all the other people who are also amazed.
There are cases in history of people who could write in one language with one hand, while simultaneously writing a different language with the other hand. Seeing that might amaze me.
But I am not a teenage girl, and never quite understood how to impress them reliably and consistently.
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Note that three different senses are being used to perform the same task, which is semi-interesting. Or maybe he’s just faking and these are not-too-bright girls. I think of a character on “King of the Hill” who’d introduce himself as “a self-styled genius”.
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“Yes, but is this something that would impress a teenage girl about a teenage boy?”
Therein lies the humor. The absurdity of having it do so.
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When I flipped by it this morning I saw it as his mother bragging to a friend. Still no humor, though.
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They mention the book-on-tape, and the braille book; for the joke to be complete, they really should note that he’s “regular” reading the Steinbeck book. “He reads a book, listens to a book on tape, and reads a third in braille!”
I wonder if all three are the same book.
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It would impress the girls that hung out with the boys I hung out with – who would be the sort to even try this.
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Makes me think of the legend that James Garfield could simultaneously write Greek with one hand and Latin with the other. He was fluent in both languages and ambidextrous, but certainly not all at once.
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Question: So he’s not actually blind?
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Mitch4: I think he’s not. One of his three books seems to be a normal printed version of The Grapes of Wrath (although, as beckoningchasm says, this is not explicitly stated).
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I don’t think I’ve ever seen a single character in “Close to Home” that did not look hideously ugly, but the misplaced curve on the yellow dress makes me wonder whether she is a cancer patient, or whether the doctor put both implants on the same side.
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“Yes, but is this something that would impress a teenage girl about a teenage boy?”
Depends on the girl. It sure would have impressed me.
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And this is a case where the drawing is critical. Because of the bad drawing, it’s not possible (for me) to tell if those are supposed to be girls his age or his mother and her friend.
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Maybe this is questioning the things that someone finds impressive.
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But Kilby, what is wrong with the eyes with the woman on the left? Her left eye bulges, while the right one . . . ?
John McPherson may be the worst Illustrator in the comics.
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