billr sends this in: “Is ARLO still a category?”
Excellent question for discussion! Societal norms have changed a bit; I note the increased presence of gratuitous @#$% and $%^& ) in casual speech (with the words, not the @##$ euphemism, in a way that would have had the nuns kick me out of school until I brought my parents and begged for reinstatement. Similarly, as comic strips have depended less on newspapers and more on other outlets, implied or implicit Arlo material seems to have become much more common.
Sometime back, we awarded 9 Chickweed Lane a permanent ARLO award, which it richly deserves. But then, is Brooke McEldowney really sneaking over anything on anybody? Or has his syndicate just decided it’s a popular strip that’s making us money, so let’s let him do soft porn?
So, the ARLO category hasn’t been abolished, but I (editor zbicyclist) haven’t been tagging things as ARLO much.
In this case, Pam and Fred could have been inebriated co-workers discussing other co-workers in disparaging terms — and including the big bosses in their disparagement. But probably not.
Here’s another example from Sally Forth, a strip with began in the simpler (for comics) times of 1982.
I’d be interested on what others think.
Comics I Don't Understand 
The Sally Forth one is definitely suggestive.
The first one sorta could be, but not nearly as strongly as Sally Forth. I don’t think it really requires inebriation, just a couple having what they think is a private conversation or interaction.
It doesn’t really make much sense since it must be at least 15 years since there was a baby monitor in the room and even if there is one still there, the kids have moved out. Who would hear it? But it is a comic so it gets a pass.
Re: Arlo . . . Pam and Fred snuck off to the nursery for some hanky panky, and everyone else at the party heard them on the baby monitor?
Having been forced to buy a white Crosstrek last summer due to a driver who had never seen a blinker in use, the “Is that our car?” issue has become critical. I got careless once, sat down, and noticed that there was an unexpected cup in the holder. Time from entering the car to leaping out & trying to look innocent, about 10 seconds.
Fortunately our plates date back to 2008, and I have them memorized to check every time before touching a door.
Arlo & Janis now live in the house Gene & Mary Lou moved out of. The baby monitor may have been for Meg, or the new baby, Cheese Ball.
…or just to have a “private” argument.
Re: Announcement cards –
We have 2 nephews and 3 nieces between us – they range in age from 15 to mid 30s.
My nephew, in early 30s/late 20s is the first to get engaged. (His older sister seems to have no interest in dating.) We were delighted to hear the news and then it hit me – “We can’t afford him getting married.” We received a “save the date” for the wedding along with a invitation to their engagement party. We are delighted he found someone and she seems nice according to my sister.
We kept waiting as long as we could to RSVP to the engagement party – but the inevitable happened (as I had explained to my sister by email we were concerned about and that is why we were waiting until towards the “reply date” – BIG snowstorm coming when the party was scheduled. So we did not go. Luckily the wedding will be held in warmer weather.
Between us – I figure I can wear my long black skirt or my short black skirt with a nice blouse for the wedding. He went into his closet and started trying on jackets from when he used to wear them for work. Maybe one will fit, maybe not. Same with pants. (He only wear jeans now not dressy pants, ditto me.) And I know when we give the wedding gift (check) we will be considered cheap, but there is nothing we can do about same due to limited income as we are are retired – well he is, I will be after this tax season. Hmm, maybe he make them a nice turned wood piece as a gift – no, that would be too tacky I guess.