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: Deserted Island: Snowbeard
Jan 2, 2006

Wally isn’t melting, he’s just experiencing numb face like we all have after sucking on an ice cube or visiting the dentist. I remember trying to drink from a drinking fountain one time after a dentist visit, it wasn’t pretty. It feels like your bottom lip is twice as big as it is, but when you check in the mirror it looks the same, other than the lack of muscle control.

Also worth noting is that Wally can’t actually grow a beard like that. Cells that grow people and animal hair are pre-programmed for length. You might notice the hairs on your arm stop growing like most animal hair, where the hair on your head or face will keep growing. After the growth phase, hair follicles enter the rest phase, at which point the shaft breaks and a new hair replaces it. With animal shedding, these hairs are all timed at the same time.

Polar bears shed in summer but do not get a darker coat like some animals. Their coat remains clear, the hairs are actually hollow, reflected light creates the illusion of white (just like with clouds and cotton). In summer sometimes the sun can cause oxidation making it look more yellow. Algae growth in the hollow tube hair can sometimes make it look greenish for bears in zoos during humid months. A polar bear named Pelusa drew crowds in an Argentinian zoo a couple years ago when her dry skin medication turned her coat bright purple (should be able to do a search for pics).

…oh and HAPPY NEW YEAR!
Here’s to 2006 bringing in a whole new year of On the Rocks fun.

19 Comments

  1. Martijn says:

    Happy new year! Happy new On The Rocks episode! XD

  2. Tyler Martin says:

    Thanks guys. Unfortunately the sickness caught up with me this weekend, I slept through New Year’s. Not the best way to start off the new year unfortunately. But I’m feeling better and really positive about this year and the comic. So off we go…!

  3. Sev says:

    In my fragile state of mind, today’s comic is kinda scary.

  4. SuperVegito says:

    nice strp tyler. btw i hope u feel better soon

  5. Matt (the real one) says:

    Wow, another Matt! (that was not me above). I have no option but to challenge you to a duel!

    Oh yeah, and Happy New Year Tyler

  6. Julie says:

    Tyler, sorry to hear you were sick this New Year’s. Hope you’re feeling better.

    I own an American Eskimo Dog and supposedly, their fur is like Polar Bear fur. He has the same double coat that polar bears have and he’s pure white.

  7. Lee says:

    Tyler, you have my sympathies. All of my overindulgence the previous day gave me a ghastly migraine on January 1, so I decided to scrub it from the calendar entirely and start my year on January 2.

  8. Rennie says:

    This is the first time I comment on your site, though I’m a regular reader. I hope you feel better–it’s horrible being sick during the holidays. At least being sick when school’s going on you can skip-but holidays, agh!
    I really enjoy your comics; my favorite character is the penguin. march of the penguins rocks. oh..btw, tyler, how do you know all these things about antarctica?

  9. GentleWolf says:

    I found the purple polar bear not what i expected but eh life goes on http://www.nbc5i.com/news/2353112/detail.html?treets%3Ddfw%26tid%3D2651945069813%26tml%3D%26tmi%3D%26ts%3DH is the website

  10. eris says:

    http://www.nwbotanicals.org/mediawatch/purplebear.htm

    Pelusa the PURPLE bear, wow, is it bright!

    http://www.hindu.com/thehindu/yw/2003/08/02/stories/2003080201370402.htm

    maybe its just the light, she looks not as bright in the second shot.

  11. bobo says:

    coo.. i mean thats sad.

  12. axis says:

    oooooooooooooooohhhhhhhhhh

  13. Wally looked like santa claus. But without the reindeer

  14. lol snowconuts LOLLOLOLOLOLOLOL 😆 :WINK:

  15. Poppy says:

    Meltiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiinnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnggggggggggggggg!

  16. Jenny says:

    It looks like he stuffed ice cubes in his mouth and put some novicane in them.

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