Not obsolete, just obscure outside of classic SF fans. I’ve seen it used periodically this year, surprisingly enough.

Which leads me to wonder how many people will still know what a “toaster-frakker” is twenty years from know.

Narbon 1/2? I’m not so sure the world is quite ready for that…

I’m not so sure of that… Now, the fact that Dave’s gaming group is into old-school World of Darkness games, on the other hand…

And frankly, I think that Artie sums up the rule for all of fiction, otherwise known as the MST3K Mantra.

“Just have fun, and don’t ask questions” 

Fourth-wall dire logs: 22. Two days in a row, too! And what’s interesting is that Friday’s is a case where the fourth wall bursts inward, invading the strip with external influences.

I note that Artie has replaced an apparently-ordinary vial with one that burbles and fizzles.  One can only assume that Helen considers such alterations to be beneath notice, or at least routine.  Given the later descriptions of their respective effects, it’s odd that the new one is more “active”.