No disrespect intended, but did Slug Signorino do some personal research into Polynesian drinks before sketching his latest? I could be wrong, but that woman looks like she’s into piercings with that Tiki umbrella.
Hey, Nep, welcome aboard.
Firstly, Here’s the column. It’s always appriciated when the column is linked to when being commented on.
Second, yeah, she does, that’s probably intentional.
I assume it’s slugs reference to this line from the column:
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I think the umbrellas were actually Japanese, part of the cheap toy deluge after the war.
I’m guessing the umbrellas were simply tiny playtings, like the little paper folding fans, which could be produced as peicework at homes by unskilled workers with little investment.
Whoa! I think you skimmed this subject a little too fast. Those little umbrellas WORK. If they were simply drink decorations my WAG is that they wouldn’t. I’m sure they had a prior reason for being. Cecil, get off you butt and call the factory. I want the advertised “Straight Dope”. Yeah, I know, I could…but you get paid for it!
Loyal fan anyway,
Steve
Um, casaba melons? Pardon me, but dang if it don’t look exactly like one a them yellow summer squashes peeking out–no, not “peeking”, “PROJECTING” out into the atmosphere. Geez, Slug, what you been smokin’, boy? Or do the girls just look like that, where you’re from?
Or am I just looking at it wrong? 
I agree with Warmgun that the umbrellas work–Barbie just adores them, although Ken says he can take 'em or leave 'em.
(SO glad to be back–Juno made us an offer of $4.95 a month we just couldn’t refuse. Their legbreakers that they sent around were so pitiful that I just felt sorry for them–they said they had to make a monthly quota or else Charles would make them work for AOL. So I signed up.)