Pearls Before Swine by Stephan Pastis for March 30, 2023

Good thing I take credit for other people’s steps.

Rat has four legs and one arm. Does running in place cure him of this?

Oh, rats.

These are the harms of so-called smart watches.

What happens if you don’t get in 10,000 steps a day?

You get in 9000, or 5000, or 500. Who cares?

O am prone to that obsession Rat…

It’s part of his 10,000 step program.

It’s midnight and I’m reading Gocomics.

Society is already in chaos and life is dying due to our pollution all over the globe, so don’t bother Rat!

At least we’ll know who to blame.

Again, Pig gets suckered into feeling bad for the hyper-self-centered Rat.

The dumb Crocs would never catch Zeeba Neighba if he lived 10,000 steps away.

I count minutes for my daily walking exercise, not steps.

Back on the tennis team in high school, I had to do literal steps—-stair climbs up very long stairways over and over, partly because our tennis coach was just a Phys Ed teacher, who knew a lot about exercise but not much about tennis. And worse, he would call class “Shower Time” just when I was about to beat him in Ping Pong during PE class.

I have a walking “Nag App” on my phone. Just some rainy, windy days I stay home.

Rat’s response in the third panel reminds me of my HOA when I don’t submit a Guest Parking Form the minute I have visitors.

Pig needs a shave? Who’d a thunk it?

Maybe he should get his own hamster wheel or treadmill.

Rat should have a night cap and relax, like Pig.

I have heard that 10,000 steps isn’t scientifically accurate.

Ya know, like the Food Pyramid.

Where is Rat’s cigarette and beer?

So, same difference, huh?

Does Amazon sell a gadget that registers steps on your smartwatch?

Yeesh…I’ve actually fallen into that trap…

Too late Rat, all of those things have already happened!

Yes, people have researched this and 7000 steps is where the benefits top out.

Rat makes that much noise walking?

Yeah, it sure is easy to let exercise goals take over your life, or your sanity.

I am seeing things: does Rat have 4 legs (and 2 arms)… ? Motion is usually denoted by little whisker marks…usually..

I knew a guy who thought like Rat. He forgot his cute little step-watch one day and seemed terribly disappointed when the world did not end.

Obsessed….who cares! There’s always tomorrow! Pig, go back to sleep! It’s ok!

My watch and phone scold me every day for not getting 10,000 steps.

I can’t count calories; there is no way I could count steps

Luckily, the health gurus just said 8000 steps goal is able to keep you heart-healthy.

I guess Rat failed with all the chaos we now have

When I saw Pig with his hands under the covers and the "Thud, thud, thud, thud’ sounds, I suddenly rated that this isn’t exactly PG-13 any more… :D

There was a Twilight Zone….or maybe Outer Limits, where the main character,(I want to say Ozzie Nelson) had a bunch Rube Goldberg devices he had to constantly adjust to keep the World from falling apart…..

sounds a lot like OCD

It’s finally happened.Rat has turned into the “obsessive cyclist” character.

Of course,he’d pick the only character more annoying than HE is.

Aah, my ROTC Royal Canadian Air Force 5BX (now XBX) Exercise Plan requirement. ’Twould make the downstairs neighbors think they hear the sound of distant drums….

I hear the sound of distant drumsFar away, far awayAnd if they call for me to comeThen I must go and you must stay

So Mary marry me, let’s not waitLet’s share all the time we can before it’s too lateLove me now for now is all the time there may beIf you love me Mary, Mary marry me

I hear the sound of bugles blowFar away, far awayAnd if they call, then I must goAcross the sea, so wild and grey

So Mary marry me, let’s not waitFor the distant drums might change our wedding dateAnd love me now, for now is all the time there may beIf you love me Mary, Mary marry me

I read that the original research actually said that around 7K steps daily was good enough but marketing folks went with the round number 10K

Pig’s overnight stubble looks like he could have a fine beard in a couple days.

Rat sounds like an anorexic compulsive exerciser who needs to do the same daily workout regardless of weather, injuries, etc

ikr

Huh. And here I just thought it was for your cardiovascular health.

Chaos is inevitable.

Just go to sleep, Pig. If counting sheep doesn’t help, count footfalls from Rat….

Is it me, or does Rat have 4 legs?