Though doubtless many talented scientists are out in the cold or breaking bad, Alex, with her tech chops and the PhD, would be gobbled up by Silicon Valley. Time for a plot twist!

I'm a big fan, but I have to say today's strip is rather improbable. MIT Phd grads have a near 100% employment rate in today's tech economy.

A friend's husband runs a research lab for Scripps in California and has been dealing with the cutback in grants for several years now, sequestration being, only one more crack at the scientists who are struggling to solve some of humanity's most critical problems. Much like the slow, slow advance of climate change, the dismantling of our excellent scientific community will not be felt in most people's day-to-day lives -- not yet, anyway. But when it is felt, it will be in more sickness, hunger, and privation, while we watch other countries race past us in ability and accomplishment. By the time it's felt in the streets (it's already felt deeply in the scientific community), it may be too late.

I applaud today's strip highlighting the lack of federal support for scientific research, which is occurring at all levels. The strip may give the mistaken impression, however, that the devastating deterioration in support for basic research is due to the sequestration and shutdown. While those misguided actions are indeed damaging, the decline in scientific funding has been going on for several years, and will not be alleviated simply by reversing the sequestration. The long-term decline in federal support has had a terrible impact on research laboratories throughout the US: laboratories are closing, highly-qualified investigators are retiring or leaving science, and new investigators are not being trained or are unable to find positions. Our scientific infrastructure is being damaged irreversibly, and the public seems largely ignorant of this. Many thanks for helping to bring attention to the problem, but it's not just about the sequestration.

A MSEE and Com Sci double threat like Alex is an elite. Gals (and guys) like her don't need grants to be well-employed. Any city of moderate size has consulting engineers happy to hire a young grad like her -- even knowing full well that she'll move on withing a couple years.

Hee-whack, you're back! While re-runs are nice, the new stuff is even better.

GBT is baaack! All will be well with the world.

I just want to say thank you. I have been reading your comic since I was 11-12 years old. As an Army Brat, I looked forward to yours and a few other comics each day in The Stars and Stripes, and now I read it everyday online. In your own way you have kept me in touch with the reality of life; sometimes it's sad, but there is always a silver lining. Thanks!

Doonesbury's back! Best half-birthday present ever. Thanks.

Can it get any better? GBT is back -- Whoot! Alpha House is hilarious, great casting and writing (only thing it needs is a "pee before viewing" admonition for those of us of a certain age). And kudos to your Duty Officer for holding down the fort in your absence --- job well done, sir!

I went through the same evolution of night time feeding with my children, but I must be a slow learner. Today's strip looked like my first, second, and third go-around, rather than first, second, and third month. We weren't requiring visitors to wear surgical masks for the first week by the third kid either.

Welcome back. I love your first strip -- precisely the experience with our twins. I'm looking forward to re-living those years through the eyes of Alex and Toggle.

Yay!!!! (Saw two episodes of Alpha House yesterday. Big thumbs up!)

Whew! Finally a Monday I looked forward to. Missed you, missed you, missed you soooooo much!

I'm so excited! It's been such a long time, and though Flashbacks are always good for the soul we've been longing to see you come back, Mr. Trudeau. You are a real joy!

Welcome back!

The deprivation...the itching...the flashbacks...asking strangers for spare change for that used copy of Guilty, Guilty, Guilty! One all-night binge on the larger retrospectives, worried that this was '83, all over again. And then...peace. Or at least the crying of twins.

So nice to be awakened by the sound of children crying....it's been a long time. Glad to see that the parenting is right on and all is well with everyone else.

Re today's strip: Welcome back...

Only 4.5 hours to go... Wonder if this is how a junkie feels?!