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a living room

A person sits on a couch with their feet propped on an ottoman inside a living room. The living room is filled with sheep and the person is holding a shepherd's crook

It's unusual to see sheep inside a living room

The new rug arrived, but there's some assembly required.

scene: a living room description: A person sits on a couch with their feet propped on an ottoman inside a living room. The living room is filled with sheep and the person is holding a shepherd's crook uncanny: It's unusual to see sheep inside a living room entities: Shepherd, Sheep, Couch. caption: The new rug arrived, but there's some assembly required.

Rugs are often made of wool, which comes from sheep. The person sitting on the couch probably didn't expect this much assembly when she bought the rug: the assembly would involve shearing the sheep, running a loom, etc., which is comically more assembly than would be required for most pieces of furniture, let alone a rug.

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doctor's office

A doctor is in her office and she is using her stethoscope on a patient. The patient in this case is just a large metal safe that is sitting on a chair.

The doctor is using a stethoscope to check the heartbeat of an object with no heart.

It could be a combination of things.

scene: doctor's office description: A doctor is in her office and she is using her stethoscope on a patient. The patient in this case is just a large metal safe that is sitting on a chair. uncanny: The doctor is using a stethoscope to check the heartbeat of an object with no heart. entities: Physical_examination, Stethoscope, Safe-cracking. caption: It could be a combination of things.

A play on the term "combination of things" --- doctors often have difficulty finding the cause of symptoms because their causes can be caused by multiple factors, i.e., a combination of things. But here, the patient is a combination safe, which is unlocked by a literal combination.

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a grassy field

Two snakes are in the grass together having a conversation. One of them has a human butt.

It is strange that the snake has a human butt.

I don't like the way Adam looks at you.

scene: a grassy field description: Two snakes are in the grass together having a conversation. One of them has a human butt. uncanny: It is strange that the snake has a human butt. entities: Snake, Buttocks. caption: I don't like the way Adam looks at you.

These are a snake couple that live in eden, and the female snake has a human butt. This feature apparently makes the male snake jealous because the human Adam is purportedly attracted to the part-human snake.

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an airplane

Superman is on an airplane. He is talking to a man reading a book.

Superman is on an airplane. He can fly, so why does he need a plane?

I have to warn you, I don't exactly have a bladder of steel.

scene: an airplane description: Superman is on an airplane. He is talking to a man reading a book. uncanny: Superman is on an airplane. He can fly, so why does he need a plane? entities: Superman, Airline_seat. caption: I have to warn you, I don't exactly have a bladder of steel.

People on window seats in airplanes need to climb over people in aisle seats in order to access the bathroom at the end of the plane: this can be annoying because of how cramped the space is. Here, superman, also known as "the man of steel" is warning his seat-mate that he will need to get up to use the restroom because, despite his name, he doesn't have a "bladder of steel," i.e., he will need to use the bathroom to pee frequently.

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a frozen lake

Two men are ice fishing on a frozen lake. The hole in the ice is shaped like a person.

The hole has an odd shape.

I put some beer on the hook. I figure if that's what got him into this mess it should be able to get him out.

scene: a frozen lake description: Two men are ice fishing on a frozen lake. The hole in the ice is shaped like a person. uncanny: The hole has an odd shape. entities: Ice_fishing, Accident. caption: I put some beer on the hook. I figure if that's what got him into this mess it should be able to get him out.

A man fell through the ice because he was drunk (indicated by the body outline in the ice), and his friend, instead of trying to save him by diving in, humorously thinks that fishing with a beer as bait will be sufficient to save his drunken friend. Also, a partial play on the saying: "I got myself into this mess, and I can get myself out."

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a mountain

A man is pushing a bounder up a hill. A woman in a dress is sitting down watching him drinking alcohol. The man is wearing hardly anything.

The woman in the dress doesn't fit the time period.

Do you struggle endlessly through here often?

scene: a mountain description: A man is pushing a bounder up a hill. A woman in a dress is sitting down watching him drinking alcohol. The man is wearing hardly anything. uncanny: The woman in the dress doesn't fit the time period. entities: Boulder, Types_of_restaurants#Casual_dining. caption: Do you struggle endlessly through here often?

"Do you come here often" is a common conversation starter at bars (where the woman is). Sisyphus would be unlikely to encounter such a woman, yet, she is trying to start a romantic conversation with him by adjusting the conversation stater to his eternally damned situation.

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a grocery store

Two customers are shopping at a supermarket. They're pushing carts and chatting.

One of the customers is a whale, which shouldn't be out of the water, much less pushing a shopping cart. The other appears to be Amish, and his people don't shop at modern stores. He also has a peg leg.

Oh, hey, I almost didn't recognize you outside of work.

scene: a grocery store description: Two customers are shopping at a supermarket. They're pushing carts and chatting. uncanny: One of the customers is a whale, which shouldn't be out of the water, much less pushing a shopping cart. The other appears to be Amish, and his people don't shop at modern stores. He also has a peg leg. entities: Moby-Dick, Captain_Ahab. caption: Oh, hey, I almost didn't recognize you outside of work.

A joke about "Moby Dick." In the story, the one-legged protagonist is a sailor ruthlessly chasing down the whale who ate his leg. The joke is that both the whale and the sailor only did these acts as a job, and that off the clock, they casually ran into each-other at the grocery store. While work colleagues not recognizing each-other outside of the office is a common occurrence, it's surprising that the obsessive sailor has disconnected from his work enough to not even recognize his biggest rival in life.

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the kitchen

A waiter is peeking into a kitchen. Some chefs are fixing up a truck.

There is a truck in the middle of a kitchen and chefs are being mechanics.

The specials are coming out a little greasy.

scene: the kitchen description: A waiter is peeking into a kitchen. Some chefs are fixing up a truck. uncanny: There is a truck in the middle of a kitchen and chefs are being mechanics. entities: Chef, Auto_mechanic. caption: The specials are coming out a little greasy.

Kitchens in restaurants might get feedback from servers about dishes, e.g., that the specials have too much fat/grease on them, and the issue should be fixed. But here, the special dishes are covered not in edible fat, but in car grease that came from, e.g., the oil tank in the car being serviced.

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a living room

A couple are sitting in a living room together. Outside of their windows are several soldiers and a couple tanks.

It's unusual to see the military deployed utside a middle-aged couple's house

Regime change is never easy, dear.

scene: a living room description: A couple are sitting in a living room together. Outside of their windows are several soldiers and a couple tanks. uncanny: It's unusual to see the military deployed utside a middle-aged couple's house entities: Tank, Platoon, Soldier. caption: Regime change is never easy, dear.

A play on the phrase "change is never easy" --- this is a phrase that couples might say to each other to comfort them after, e.g., a family member passes, or their children move out. Here, "regime" is inserted, which forms the term "regime change", which refers to the usually violent change of governments during, e.g., revolutions. The nonchalance of the woman and the worry of the man looking at the soldiers enacting the regime change is what makes it funny.

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an island

A plumber approaches a small island with his tools. He is approaching a man who looks like he was stranded on the island.

there would be no need for someone to use plumbing while stranded on an island.

There's water everywhere

scene: an island description: A plumber approaches a small island with his tools. He is approaching a man who looks like he was stranded on the island. uncanny: there would be no need for someone to use plumbing while stranded on an island. entities: Plumber, Castaway. caption: There's water everywhere

Someone might call a plumber to fix a leak in their house --- leaks usually result in flooding and "water everywhere." But here, while the same concern is stated, the water is the ocean. it's funny because it's not clear what the plumber is supposed to do to fix it.

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a corporate office

There is a pool in an office. A man is going to dive into it. His clothes are hung up.

There is a huge pool in an office and someone is diving into it.

My wife won't let me put one in the back yard.

scene: a corporate office description: There is a pool in an office. A man is going to dive into it. His clothes are hung up. uncanny: There is a huge pool in an office and someone is diving into it. entities: Swimming_pool, Break_(work). caption: My wife won't let me put one in the back yard.

Couples sometimes argue about whether or not they should add a pool to the backyard. Here, the wife said no, so instead of giving up on the pool, the husband put one in their home office. Technically, it's not in the back yard, so the husband didn't disobey his wife's request.

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apartment

A woman is showing a couple an empty house. Outside the window we can see planets and moons.

You shouldn't be able to see celestial bodies that close.

It's the closest you'll get to Manhattan in your price range.

scene: apartment description: A woman is showing a couple an empty house. Outside the window we can see planets and moons. uncanny: You shouldn't be able to see celestial bodies that close. entities: Space, View. caption: It's the closest you'll get to Manhattan in your price range.

Manhattan is notoriously expensive to buy or rent a house in because it's quite desirable to live there or as close as possible. The joke here is that, the further one gets from manhattan, the cheaper the housing, and the couple here could only afford something so far away from manhattan that the apartment is literally in outer space.

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a living room

A walrus is sitting in a chair reading a book. A woman is talking to him.

Walruses don't read and don't live in houses.

Dr. Ogden just called to say your mercury levels are on the high side.

scene: a living room description: A walrus is sitting in a chair reading a book. A woman is talking to him. uncanny: Walruses don't read and don't live in houses. entities: Walrus, Reading. caption: Dr. Ogden just called to say your mercury levels are on the high side.

When doctors treat older humans, they measure things like cholesterol, blood pressure, etc. But, in this odd world, the walrus is being treated by a human doctor, and his medical problems are related to mercury, which is a problem for sea life like fish. The woman looks on disapprovingly, almost as if mercury levels were affected by the walrus sneaking unhealthy foods.

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a restaurant

A man and woman are sitting at a table and having a meal together. The man has a large bald head and it appears there is a reflection of the woman on his head.

The woman is able to see her own reflection on the mans head.

Don't move. I think I have something in my teeth.

scene: a restaurant description: A man and woman are sitting at a table and having a meal together. The man has a large bald head and it appears there is a reflection of the woman on his head. uncanny: The woman is able to see her own reflection on the mans head. entities: Forehead, Tattoo. caption: Don't move. I think I have something in my teeth.

The man's balding head serves as a mirror for the woman. Instead of noticing that he might feel a bit insecure about his balding, she takes advantage of it like any other mirror: to identify food stuck in her teeth and remove it.

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woodlands

Two pheasants are together watching a hunter. The hunter is carrying a rifle with a bird on it through the forest.

There is a bird on the rifle. Normally birds are scared of guns.

It took us years to get somebody in the inside.

scene: woodlands description: Two pheasants are together watching a hunter. The hunter is carrying a rifle with a bird on it through the forest. uncanny: There is a bird on the rifle. Normally birds are scared of guns. entities: Hunting, Bird. caption: It took us years to get somebody in the inside.

A joke about birds being undercover agents. Law enforcement agencies and governments will often undertake long-term reconnaissance operations to infiltrate organizations they want to spy on. Here, the birds have their agent, the bird on the gun, as an inside source who will report to them the activities of the bird hunter. It's funny to think that birds could plan that long, and that they have a spy agency.

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a bedroom

A couple are lying on a bed together. The man is dressed in sporting equipment. The woman is wearing a dress and has a hairband with some fuzzy-tipped antennae attached

It's unusual for a man to be lying in bed dressed in sporting equipment

Okay. Now you be the naughty mosquito, and I'll be the tormented sporting goods salesman.

scene: a bedroom description: A couple are lying on a bed together. The man is dressed in sporting equipment. The woman is wearing a dress and has a hairband with some fuzzy-tipped antennae attached uncanny: It's unusual for a man to be lying in bed dressed in sporting equipment entities: Foreplay, Sports_equipment. caption: Okay. Now you be the naughty mosquito, and I'll be the tormented sporting goods salesman.

A literal enumeration that pokes fun at the specificity of some people's sexual kinks --- here, the combination of items in the bedroom (helmet, racket, fake bug antenna) are seemingly irreconcilable, but the caption simply verbosely explains them away as a woman's very specific interest. It's funny because this is probably not an interest that anyone has (even though people do have specific interests).

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stage

A magician is putting a paper into a shredder. It is being held by his assistant.

The magician is doing a commonplace task.

It's not magic. It's a Georgia ballot box.

scene: stage description: A magician is putting a paper into a shredder. It is being held by his assistant. uncanny: The magician is doing a commonplace task. entities: Paper_shredder, Magic_(illusion). caption: It's not magic. It's a Georgia ballot box.

A jab at the US state of Georgia's election processes. Historically, Georgia has a reputation for enacting policies that cause voter suppression. Here, the magician is making a ballot disappear (similar to a common magic trick of making a rabbit disappear), but instead of it being a trick he's just shredding ballots, and alluding to the idea that, in effect, this is what might as well happen to ballots when they are cast in unfair Georgian elections.

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restaurant

A man is sitting at the table in a restaurant reading a menu. A waiter is chatting with him and getting his order.

The menu is gigantic.

It's a lot to digest.

scene: restaurant description: A man is sitting at the table in a restaurant reading a menu. A waiter is chatting with him and getting his order. uncanny: The menu is gigantic. entities: Menu, Waiting_staff. caption: It's a lot to digest.

"To digest" can mean to mentally ponder, or it can literally mean to digest food. In this case, it's both: the large menu is a lot to mentally process, but also, if all the food was ordered, it would be a lot to literally digest all of the items.

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the Wild West

A man is riding a seahorse. He is having a casual conversation with a rancher.

Cowboys ride horses not seahorses. You cannot ride a seahorse because they are small. It is more practical to ride a horse.

It's big and blue. You can't miss it.

scene: the Wild West description: A man is riding a seahorse. He is having a casual conversation with a rancher. uncanny: Cowboys ride horses not seahorses. You cannot ride a seahorse because they are small. It is more practical to ride a horse. entities: Cowboy, Seahorse. caption: It's big and blue. You can't miss it.

A lost cowboy riding a seahorse might be looking for the ocean, which is what the other cowboy is providing directions towards. The ocean is what is big and blue, and because it's so big, it's difficult to miss. It's funny that the seahorse cowboy could find himself so far from the ocean because it would be hard to get this far without trying to.

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a psychiatrist office

A chameleon is at a therapist office . It tries to peak at the therapist's notes.

Chameleons do not go to therapy. Therapy is for humans.

So, you're saying you didn't miss your last two appointments?

scene: a psychiatrist office description: A chameleon is at a therapist office . It tries to peak at the therapist's notes. uncanny: Chameleons do not go to therapy. Therapy is for humans. entities: Chameleon, Invisibility. caption: So, you're saying you didn't miss your last two appointments?

The therapist thinks that his patient, the chameleon, missed his last two appointments because chameleons blend in with their environments. The chameleon was actually at the appointment, but blended in with the couch, so the therapist didn't see him.

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a city sidewalk

On a city street corner, there is a man and a woman talking to each other while they wait for the light to change so they can cross the street. The man is pushing a crib with a baby inside it. The woman is holding on to the handle of a crib with a baby that's on four over-sized monster tires.

It's unusual to see a baby crib on top of tires, monster or otherwise.

The rear-facing camera let's him know I'm here.

scene: a city sidewalk description: On a city street corner, there is a man and a woman talking to each other while they wait for the light to change so they can cross the street. The man is pushing a crib with a baby inside it. The woman is holding on to the handle of a crib with a baby that's on four over-sized monster tires. uncanny: It's unusual to see a baby crib on top of tires, monster or otherwise. entities: Baby_transport, Monster_truck. caption: The rear-facing camera let's him know I'm here.

A joke about child-rearing technology becoming over-complicated --- here, the mom has all the latest technology for her baby, including a monster-truck-esque baby carriage. The carriage itself is quite complicated, and the baby can't even directly see the mom: the baby can only see the mom via a rear-facing camera. It's funny in part because it comments on how technology might be separating us more than connecting us.

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ship

A pirate has a bunny on his shoulder. He is talking to another pirate who has two swords.

Pirates are known to have parrots on their shoulders not bunnies.

I'm rebranding.

scene: ship description: A pirate has a bunny on his shoulder. He is talking to another pirate who has two swords. uncanny: Pirates are known to have parrots on their shoulders not bunnies. entities: Pirate, Rabbit%27s_foot. caption: I'm rebranding.

Usually, pirates will have a parrot on their shoulder. But here, the pirate has a cute bunny in place of the pirate. It's funny that the pirate is rebranding from the standard trope of a hardened, criminal seaman, perhaps to a softer image.

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doctor's office

A doctor is talking to a man. The man has been cut in three. He is on the table with his arms crossed.

There is a man cut in three. He shouldn't be alive.

This is the most advanced case of Surrealism I've seen.

scene: doctor's office description: A doctor is talking to a man. The man has been cut in three. He is on the table with his arms crossed. uncanny: There is a man cut in three. He shouldn't be alive. entities: Physical_examination, Dismemberment. caption: This is the most advanced case of Surrealism I've seen.

Surrealism is an art style which focuses on incongruent, impossible, and unnerving scenes; here, that art movement is repurposed as a disease --- and if someone was infected with surrealism, in the advanced stages, their body might separate in similarly impossible/un-nerving ways like impossibly having a separated head, torso, and legs.

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a bedroom

A man and woman are in bed together under the covers. They are looking towards the bedroom door when a car has crashed into their home. They don't seem too upset about the situation.

A car has somehow crashed through the ceiling of a house and landed in a bedroom.

Well, at least he made curfew.

scene: a bedroom description: A man and woman are in bed together under the covers. They are looking towards the bedroom door when a car has crashed into their home. They don't seem too upset about the situation. uncanny: A car has somehow crashed through the ceiling of a house and landed in a bedroom. entities: Traffic_collision, Rubble. caption: Well, at least he made curfew.

A joke about a nervous teenager trying to not get in trouble with his parents. Teenagers often have curfews, i.e., times by which they must be home by, otherwise they might lose, e.g., driving privileges. Here, the teenager was very close to being late and was rushing home so fast that they crashed into their house. The parents are nonchalant about the destruction, and look at the bright side: at least he technically made it home in time.

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a living room

A woman is looking angrily at a walrus. The walrus is in a home reading a book in a chair.

There is a walrus reading a book in someone's house.

Dr. Ogden just called to say your mercury levels are on the high side.

scene: a living room description: A woman is looking angrily at a walrus. The walrus is in a home reading a book in a chair. uncanny: There is a walrus reading a book in someone's house. entities: Walrus, Reading. caption: Dr. Ogden just called to say your mercury levels are on the high side.

When doctors treat older humans, they measure things like cholesterol, blood pressure, etc. But, in this odd world, the walrus is being treated by a human doctor, and his medical problems are related to mercury, which is a problem for sea life like fish. The woman looks on disapprovingly, almost as if mercury levels were affected by the walrus sneaking unhealthy foods.

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a corporate office

A man is in an office sitting at a desk in a lifeguard's chair. He is talking to another man on the other side.

There is a lifeguard's chair in the office.

I'm only here for the summer.

scene: a corporate office description: A man is in an office sitting at a desk in a lifeguard's chair. He is talking to another man on the other side. uncanny: There is a lifeguard's chair in the office. entities: Lifeguard, Business_executive. caption: I'm only here for the summer.

Lifeguards are traditionally seasonable employees that are only hired during the summer; these jobs usually require less dedication/training. Office jobs, on the other hand, are usually not temporary. It's funny to imagine this employee's surprise to find that his boss a seasonal employee (because he's dressed as a lifeguard); this might mean that the employee's work will have less oversight or that the company rotates management so frequently, they might as well be seasonal.

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a hospital

One man that seems to be a doctor is checking on his patient. The patient is a gingerbread man. Behind the doctor are a bunch of chefs and they all seem very happy and excited while the gingerbread man seems very nervous.

A gingerbread man is alive and in the hospital. There are several chefs rather than doctors looking after him.

In our opinion, you won't make it past the holidays.

scene: a hospital description: One man that seems to be a doctor is checking on his patient. The patient is a gingerbread man. Behind the doctor are a bunch of chefs and they all seem very happy and excited while the gingerbread man seems very nervous. uncanny: A gingerbread man is alive and in the hospital. There are several chefs rather than doctors looking after him. entities: Gingerbread_man, Chef. caption: In our opinion, you won't make it past the holidays.

Gingerbread men are cookies often baked at the holidays. Doctors are often tasked with giving prognoses for difficult medical conditions that involve death. Here, their prognosis of "not making it past the holidays" refers to the probable outcome of the gingerbread man being eaten during the holiday season (and not "making it" past that time).

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on the floor

Two mice are reading something. They are trying to build a maze. The maze components are behind them.

Mice are not intelligent enough to be build mazes.

Let's just go with the open floor plan.

scene: on the floor description: Two mice are reading something. They are trying to build a maze. The maze components are behind them. uncanny: Mice are not intelligent enough to be build mazes. entities: Maze, Ready-to-assemble_furniture, Mouse. caption: Let's just go with the open floor plan.

The intelligence of mice is tested in labs using mazes with lots of walls. But if the mice could build the maze themselves (as depicted), they might choose to put up no walls ("open floor plan") and go straight for the prize. It's funny to let them build it themselves because it defeats the purpose of the experiment.

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a beach

A man walks with a surfboard in his suit and tie. He approaches a lifeguard who is at his post.

A person does not wear a suit and tie to the beach. It is too hot. They wear bathing suits.

I hate the way corporate thinking has taken over surfing, man.

scene: a beach description: A man walks with a surfboard in his suit and tie. He approaches a lifeguard who is at his post. uncanny: A person does not wear a suit and tie to the beach. It is too hot. They wear bathing suits. entities: Surfboard, Lifeguard, Businessperson. caption: I hate the way corporate thinking has taken over surfing, man.

It's a funny contrast between the way one might expect corporations to take over surfing versus the way that they are depicted to be doing so. We might imagine a disconnected corporations soullessly promoting surfing products to make profits. But instead, the takeover involves businesspeople literally surfing, which is technically a takeover, but isn't as "corporate" in the cultural sense.

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a bar

A prisoner comes up from breaking out of prison to have a drink at a bar. There is a pick ax and a hole to show that he went strait to the bar. The bartender is nonchalant about him being there.

If a prisoner were to do this he would be caught immediately and the bartender would be calling the police.

If anybody calls, I'm not here.

scene: a bar description: A prisoner comes up from breaking out of prison to have a drink at a bar. There is a pick ax and a hole to show that he went strait to the bar. The bartender is nonchalant about him being there. uncanny: If a prisoner were to do this he would be caught immediately and the bartender would be calling the police. entities: Prison_escape, Digging. caption: If anybody calls, I'm not here.

People are often bashful about being caught at their local bar drinking when they should be elsewhere, e.g., with their families. Sometimes people looking for bar regulars will call and ask if the person they are looking for is at the bar. But --- here, the person is an escaped prisoner, and the person calling would be the guard looking for him, so he has extra incentive to not be found.

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the hallway

A bathtub is walking on its own out of the bathroom. A person is inside and he looks afraid at whats happening.

Bathtubs are inanimate objects that cannot move.

Does our plumber do exorcisms?

scene: the hallway description: A bathtub is walking on its own out of the bathroom. A person is inside and he looks afraid at whats happening. uncanny: Bathtubs are inanimate objects that cannot move. entities: Paw_feet, Bathtub. caption: Does our plumber do exorcisms?

A Clawfoot Tub is a type of bath tub with legs, here, that tub has come alive with the person inside, and it's walking down the hallway. An inanimate object might come alive if a demon possessed it. In this case, the man is asking if their plumber, who is familiar with clawfoot bathtub repair, is also capable of doing an exorcism (i.e., a ritual to rid someone/something of a demonic possession): both skills would be useful in this case.

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outside

There are two giant human-sized hornets who are pulling a woman from her fallen lawn chair. She has a shocked look on her face. There is another man next to her who sits in his lawn chair looking calm and is now talking to the woman.

It is unusual to see hornets the size of a human being. It is also unusual for the man to be acting so calm.

To be fair, Martha, you did just kill one of their kids.

scene: outside description: There are two giant human-sized hornets who are pulling a woman from her fallen lawn chair. She has a shocked look on her face. There is another man next to her who sits in his lawn chair looking calm and is now talking to the woman. uncanny: It is unusual to see hornets the size of a human being. It is also unusual for the man to be acting so calm. entities: Mosquito, Kidnapping. caption: To be fair, Martha, you did just kill one of their kids.

A joke about mosquito parents being enormous --- it's common for people to kill mosquitoes by slapping them before they bite, but if mosquito parents were very large as depicted, they might try to beat up the person who killed their kid; the man nonchalantly says that this is an expected and justified outcome for a benign action.

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the front desk

A man and woman are walking into a building. There is another man in stocks.

The stocks are out of place in this time period.

It was a very hostile takeover.

scene: the front desk description: A man and woman are walking into a building. There is another man in stocks. uncanny: The stocks are out of place in this time period. entities: Physical_restraint, White-collar_worker. caption: It was a very hostile takeover.

A hostile takeover in the business world happens when a company attempts to acquire another against the boards wishes. But here, the hostility of the takeover is literal and exaggerated: the old board members are put in the pillory as a form of public humiliation, in addition to having their company taken over.

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a meeting room

A bunch of people and robots are sitting around a table in the board room. The executive is chewing them out.

Robots are in place of other executives.

You're voting with your pacemaker again, Hargrove!

scene: a meeting room description: A bunch of people and robots are sitting around a table in the board room. The executive is chewing them out. uncanny: Robots are in place of other executives. entities: AI_takeover, Robot. caption: You're voting with your pacemaker again, Hargrove!

Criticizing someone "voting with your heart" means that they are not acting logically, and instead following their emotions. The boss is instead criticizing the man for "voting with his pacemaker"; a pacemaker is an artificial, robotic heart. This is an ironic criticism, because the man is voting in-line with the robots, and instead of his heart representing voting emotionally, his pacemaker represents voting with the interests of the robots.

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a cave dwelling

There are three cavemen, two of which are standing in a hole while the third is sitting with his arms crossed inside the mouth of a cave in the distance. The caveman in the hole is talking to the cavewoman next to him while they both watch the third caveman who is sulking in the cave.

It is unusual for cavemen to be standing in a hole while another sits in a cave.

Personally, I'm not a big fan of modern architecture.

scene: a cave dwelling description: There are three cavemen, two of which are standing in a hole while the third is sitting with his arms crossed inside the mouth of a cave in the distance. The caveman in the hole is talking to the cavewoman next to him while they both watch the third caveman who is sulking in the cave. uncanny: It is unusual for cavemen to be standing in a hole while another sits in a cave. entities: Caveman, Paleolithic. caption: Personally, I'm not a big fan of modern architecture.

People sometimes complain about modern architecture being ugly. But for cavepeople, the cave is the modern architecture, and the hole is the usual one. Thinking of a cave as "modern architecture" is funny because both seem so ancient to the reader.

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a garden

A woman is looking out the window. A gardener is making shrub sculptures in the yard.

All the sculptures are of naked men.

That's it. I'm returning those narciscissors today!

scene: a garden description: A woman is looking out the window. A gardener is making shrub sculptures in the yard. uncanny: All the sculptures are of naked men. entities: Landscaping, Hedge. caption: That's it. I'm returning those narciscissors today!

"narciscissors" is a mashup of the words narcissist and scissors. If there was a product called "narciscissors": the narcissist part might cause someone to make flattering hedge trimmings of themselves. This might be annoying to the wife who has to live in a house with these ridiculous sculptures of her husband.

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a baseball field

Two players are standing in the baseball field dug out and other two are sitting on the bench. There is huge crowd in the background cheering for the baseball team.

One of the player in the dug out is wearing high heals.

I hate fashion week.

scene: a baseball field description: Two players are standing in the baseball field dug out and other two are sitting on the bench. There is huge crowd in the background cheering for the baseball team. uncanny: One of the player in the dug out is wearing high heals. entities: Baseball#Players, High-heeled_shoe. caption: I hate fashion week.

A joke about an unusual promotion for a baseball team --- "fashion week" is a fashion industry event where many designers showcase new types of clothing with models/runway shows. Here, the owner of the baseball team is forcing a similar promotion on his players, as shown by the player wearing fancy high heels. It's a weird promo in part because wearing high heels probably makes it much harder to play baseball, so the players hate it because the team will lose.

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meeting room

Some executives are sitting around a table. There are very large mugs of coffee in front of them.

The coffee mugs are huge.

Can you please pass the cow?

scene: meeting room description: Some executives are sitting around a table. There are very large mugs of coffee in front of them. uncanny: The coffee mugs are huge. entities: Coffee, Board_of_directors. caption: Can you please pass the cow?

When drinking coffee or tea, people often add cream, and may ask others to pass it if it's on the other side of a table. But here, the mugs are huge, so instead of asking for a small cup of cream, they are asking for the entire cow, which is the appropriately-sized cream dispenser for these huge drinks.

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the front door

There is a large lock by the side of the house. There are neighbors who are at the front door. The husband is looking at the lock and is worried.

People do not have large chain link locks by the side of their house.

If their dog starts humping your leg - let it finish.

scene: the front door description: There is a large lock by the side of the house. There are neighbors who are at the front door. The husband is looking at the lock and is worried. uncanny: People do not have large chain link locks by the side of their house. entities: Chain, Doorbell. caption: If their dog starts humping your leg - let it finish.

A crude joke about the enormous dog not pictured, but implied to exist. People often tie their dogs up with chains, but the chain here is enormous and powerful, suggesting the dog its attached to is very large and strong. So, if it were to start humping your leg (normally, one would push a dog doing this away), it's safer to just let it continue rather than anger it.

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the moon

There is an astronaut on the moon planting a flag. A bedraggled man is crawling toward him.

The crawling man is not suffocating.

You border patrol are good.

scene: the moon description: There is an astronaut on the moon planting a flag. A bedraggled man is crawling toward him. uncanny: The crawling man is not suffocating. entities: Hobo, Astronaut. caption: You border patrol are good.

A joke about the difficulty of crossing the US-mexico border. Often, people will try to get into the US by crossing in very remote locations --- here, the person has tried to sneak in by going all the way to the moon. However, the border patrol guard, the astronaut holding the American flag, has found the attempted border crosser even here, to which the person can only complement the border patrol.

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store

A wolf is in a clothing shop. All the clothes are skins of other animals, and an attendant holds some of them while the wolf tries on a sheep's skin.

There is a wolf in a shop, and the clothes are skins of animals rather than regular clothes.

I'll take this and the granny dress.

scene: store description: A wolf is in a clothing shop. All the clothes are skins of other animals, and an attendant holds some of them while the wolf tries on a sheep's skin. uncanny: There is a wolf in a shop, and the clothes are skins of animals rather than regular clothes. entities: Wolf_in_sheep%27s_clothing, Mannequin. caption: I'll take this and the granny dress.

A reference to the wolf from Little Red Riding Hood. A "wolf in sheeps clothing," as depicted, is an idiom meaning a nefarious actor who appears innocent: here the wolf is the same (also nefarious) wolf as in Little Red Riding Hood: who kills a grandmother and wears her clothes as a disguise.

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doctor's office

A doctor is sitting in his office and a giant arm is reaching in. The doctor is checking his pulse.

No one is that huge that they would have an arm like that.

Really God, you worry too much.

scene: doctor's office description: A doctor is sitting in his office and a giant arm is reaching in. The doctor is checking his pulse. uncanny: No one is that huge that they would have an arm like that. entities: Physical_examination, Pulse. caption: Really God, you worry too much.

The giant hand belongs to god, and the doctor (who looks rather bored) is telling god that his health is fine. This is unusual because presumably, god wouldn't be prone to mortal health problems and wouldn't need a doctor/wouldn't worry about this sort of thing.

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a restaurant

There is a restaurant patron in a suit and tie sitting at a table with a bowl of soup in front of him. From the bowl of soup a tornado stretches to the ceiling. The patron is talking to the waiter who stands by the table.

It is unusual for a tornado to come out of a bowl of soup.

Cancel the molten lava cake.

scene: a restaurant description: There is a restaurant patron in a suit and tie sitting at a table with a bowl of soup in front of him. From the bowl of soup a tornado stretches to the ceiling. The patron is talking to the waiter who stands by the table. uncanny: It is unusual for a tornado to come out of a bowl of soup. entities: Tornado, Soup. caption: Cancel the molten lava cake.

This odd restaurant serves dishes that are dangerous natural disasters, like the depicted tornado/hurricane soup. If this restaurant were to serve a lava cake (usually: a benign gooey chocolate cake), we can imagine that it would consist of actual molten lava which would be dangerous. The diner looks displeased with these natural disaster disruptions to his meal.

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mount sinai

Moses is holding the Commandments and standing on a mountaintop. The hand of God is giving him a jacket.

The jacket is very modern and out of its time.

Not a commandment. Just a suggestion.

scene: mount sinai description: Moses is holding the Commandments and standing on a mountaintop. The hand of God is giving him a jacket. uncanny: The jacket is very modern and out of its time. entities: Moses, God, Sweater. caption: Not a commandment. Just a suggestion.

A joke about overbearing parents --- moses received commandments from god. But here, in addition to the commandments, god suggests moses wear a sweater; "don't forget to bring a sweater" is a common thing an overbearing parent might suggest to a child. It's funny partly because of the contrast between the eternal truths of the ten commandments versus the gentle suggestion to wear a sweater.

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a ship

A man jumps from a plank to do a dive in the sea. Pirates look on at him in shock.

People don't happily walk the plank when pirates are behind them.

I can't believe my eye!

scene: a ship description: A man jumps from a plank to do a dive in the sea. Pirates look on at him in shock. uncanny: People don't happily walk the plank when pirates are behind them. entities: Piracy, Diving_(sport), Walking_the_plank. caption: I can't believe my eye!

A person doing a fancy dive off the end of a plank is unusual, because this is usually used as a method of execution; so pirate on the ship is surprised, but instead of saying "I can't believe my eyes," a normal expression indicating surprise, he says "my eye" because he's a pirate wearing a traditional pirate eyepatch, which causes him to only be able to see out of one eye.

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apartment

A realtor is showing a house to a couple. Outside you can see the stars and planets. The house seems to be in space.

There are planets visible outside. They are huge and that is not possible from Earth, so the house is probably in space.

It's the closest you'll get to Manhattan in your price range.

scene: apartment description: A realtor is showing a house to a couple. Outside you can see the stars and planets. The house seems to be in space. uncanny: There are planets visible outside. They are huge and that is not possible from Earth, so the house is probably in space. entities: Space, View. caption: It's the closest you'll get to Manhattan in your price range.

Manhattan is notoriously expensive to buy or rent a house in because it's quite desirable to live there or as close as possible. The joke here is that, the further one gets from manhattan, the cheaper the housing, and the couple here could only afford something so far away from manhattan that the apartment is literally in outer space.

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the sidewalk

A man and a woman are outside. They are walking a dog.

They both have a leash on the dog.

Frankly, Sheila, I find this the most awkward part of our divorce agreement.

scene: the sidewalk description: A man and a woman are outside. They are walking a dog. uncanny: They both have a leash on the dog. entities: Leash, Dog, Intimate_relationship. caption: Frankly, Sheila, I find this the most awkward part of our divorce agreement.

During a divorce, couples compromise to divide assets, but a dog they both love can't be divided. Humorously, instead of sharing the dog by having it at different times, this couple has been ordered to walk the dog with two leashes at the same time, which partly defeats the point of the divorce because they have to awkwardly see each other frequently.

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an edge of a roof

A policeman, priest, and firefighter are standing on the ledge of a building downtown in a city. A man emerges from a nearby window to speak with them.

This group of people normally doesn't hang out together, let alone on the side of a building. The fact that there are three of them alludes to "three X walk into a bar" jokes.

Fellas, your empathy for victims is outstanding.

scene: an edge of a roof description: A policeman, priest, and firefighter are standing on the ledge of a building downtown in a city. A man emerges from a nearby window to speak with them. uncanny: This group of people normally doesn't hang out together, let alone on the side of a building. The fact that there are three of them alludes to "three X walk into a bar" jokes. entities: Firefighter, Police, Businessperson. caption: Fellas, your empathy for victims is outstanding.

A dark joke: firemen, police officers, and priests might all be involved if someone was to commit suicide by jumping off a building, and in the process, they might build empathy for victims. But here, they take their empathy too far and literally step out on the edge to understand the victim.

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a car

Two men are driving a car. On the hood of the car is a gagged and restrained man, with his feet stuck in a bucket of water

It's unusual to see bund men stuck to the hood of cars

The instructions should have mentioned that you need a body of water.

scene: a car description: Two men are driving a car. On the hood of the car is a gagged and restrained man, with his feet stuck in a bucket of water uncanny: It's unusual to see bund men stuck to the hood of cars entities: Clown, Cement_shoes. caption: The instructions should have mentioned that you need a body of water.

A joke about an incompetent pair of mobsters attempting to kill the man on the roof via cement shoes; they are incompetent because they are following a step-by-step instruction manual to do this, and have overlooked the obvious: you need a body of water to throw the person with cement shoes to kill them, and now they are driving around frantically trying to find one. It's funny in part because they are not being discrete: the incompetent pair has simply put the victim on the roof for everyone to see/try to intervene.

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a bedroom

A woman is sitting suggestively on-top of her husband in bed; the man looks a bit confused. The man is wearing a football helmet, as a fly swatter sits to the side. The woman is wearing a set of bug ears.

It's unusual because the implication is that the woman has a sexual fetish for pretending to be an insect. This sort of taboo subject is rarely discussed.

Okay. Now you be the naughty mosquito, and I'll be the tormented sporting goods salesman.

scene: a bedroom description: A woman is sitting suggestively on-top of her husband in bed; the man looks a bit confused. The man is wearing a football helmet, as a fly swatter sits to the side. The woman is wearing a set of bug ears. uncanny: It's unusual because the implication is that the woman has a sexual fetish for pretending to be an insect. This sort of taboo subject is rarely discussed. entities: Foreplay, Sports_equipment. caption: Okay. Now you be the naughty mosquito, and I'll be the tormented sporting goods salesman.

A literal enumeration that pokes fun at the specificity of some people's sexual kinks --- here, the combination of items in the bedroom (helmet, racket, fake bug antenna) are seemingly irreconcilable, but the caption simply verbosely explains them away as a woman's very specific interest. It's funny because this is probably not an interest that anyone has (even though people do have specific interests).

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Living Room

There is a car coming up the stairs. Three men are staring at it. This is in someone's house.

The car is in the house.

When you don't want one, they're everywhere.

scene: Living Room description: There is a car coming up the stairs. Three men are staring at it. This is in someone's house. uncanny: The car is in the house. entities: Convertible, Meeting. caption: When you don't want one, they're everywhere.

A joke about the difficulty of finding a cab when you need one, and the ease of finding one when you're not looking for one. This joke takes the idea to an extreme: here, the men are not seeking a cab, and are even inside of a building, and cabs are so comically abundant that one is coming up the stairs.

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bedroom

A man is looking out the window. There is a big statue right outside.

The Easter Island statue is in this guy's yard.

Yes he's still out there...and he looks serious.

scene: bedroom description: A man is looking out the window. There is a big statue right outside. uncanny: The Easter Island statue is in this guy's yard. entities: Moai, Lawn_ornament. caption: Yes he's still out there...and he looks serious.

Suburbanites are notorious for watching for crime in their neighborhoods, and this man is doing that from his window onto his lawn. But, he sees a Moai statue and is treating it as if it were a suspicious person, e.g., expecting it to be able to move or expecting it to be dangerous. While it looks serious, unlike a person standing on the lawn who looks serious, the statue is probably not a real threat.

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the front hard

A man is walking down a sidewalk. He is looking at another person hiding in the snow.

Nothing is out of place.

It’s time you learned about managing people’s expectations.

scene: the front hard description: A man is walking down a sidewalk. He is looking at another person hiding in the snow. uncanny: Nothing is out of place. entities: Snow_shovel, Snowball_fight. caption: It’s time you learned about managing people’s expectations.

A common lesson in the adult workplace is not to set expectations for your work too high: the dad using a small shovel has set low snow-clearing expectations, whereas the child has set expectations too high by taking the larger snow shovel. The dad is teaching the child this lesson.

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a field

A bunch of angry sheep are angry at two wolves in suits. These animals are standing up right like humans.

Animals do not stand up or wear suits.

It seems you promised them herd immunity, sir.

scene: a field description: A bunch of angry sheep are angry at two wolves in suits. These animals are standing up right like humans. uncanny: Animals do not stand up or wear suits. entities: Wolf_in_sheep%27s_clothing, Sheep. caption: It seems you promised them herd immunity, sir.

A play on words: "Herd immunity" refers to a group immunity to a virus, but here -- the herd refers to a herd of sheep, and the immunity isn't viral: it's legal immunity, as evidenced by the two wolves dressed as lawyers. The sheep are mad because they are in unexpected legal trouble.

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a living room apartment

A delivery man is dropping off a barrel labeled monkeys. Another man is looking inside the barrel.

The barrel appears to be empty.

Personally, I think Prozac is a lot easier.

scene: a living room apartment description: A delivery man is dropping off a barrel labeled monkeys. Another man is looking inside the barrel. uncanny: The barrel appears to be empty. entities: Barrel_of_Monkeys, Moving_company. caption: Personally, I think Prozac is a lot easier.

"As funny as a barrel of monkeys" is an idiom that refers to the plastic barrel of monkeys that's a children's toy. The delivery man is assuming that the other person ordered a barrel of monkeys to make himself happier, and quips that he feels that prozac, and antidepressant, might have the same effect, but be easier to use.

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apartment complex

A woman is showing a couple some houses. This house looks like two washing machines stacked on top of each other.

There are apartments or houses that look like washing machines.

Between you and me, the owner can't unload this fast enough.

scene: apartment complex description: A woman is showing a couple some houses. This house looks like two washing machines stacked on top of each other. uncanny: There are apartments or houses that look like washing machines. entities: Laundry_room, Guide. caption: Between you and me, the owner can't unload this fast enough.

To "unload" a property would mean to sell it quickly, but the double meaning of "unload" also applies to unloading a washer or drier: it's not clear if the owner wants to sell quickly, or just move the clothes out of the appliances.

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the living room

Two men are sitting in a living room talking. The living room also contains a large circus ring, and the men are sitting in it.

It's unusual that the living room has a giant circus ring: this wouldn't physically fit, nor does anyone actually have this in their living room.

Welcome to the greatest living room on Earth!

scene: the living room description: Two men are sitting in a living room talking. The living room also contains a large circus ring, and the men are sitting in it. uncanny: It's unusual that the living room has a giant circus ring: this wouldn't physically fit, nor does anyone actually have this in their living room. entities: Circus, Meeting. caption: Welcome to the greatest living room on Earth!

The slogan for the popular Ringling circus is "The Greatest Show On Earth", and while there is a circus ring here, instead of being a show, this ring doesn't contain any of the interesting parts of a circus like the animals or performers, and instead just exists in a living room.

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castle

A giant table with food on it is approaching a city gate. Two guards are discussing this.

The table is bigger than the city gate.

Beware the hidden service charge.

scene: castle description: A giant table with food on it is approaching a city gate. Two guards are discussing this. uncanny: The table is bigger than the city gate. entities: Trojan_War, Dinner. caption: Beware the hidden service charge.

A reference to the trojan horse, which enabled soldiers to sneak into a fort undetected. Much like sneaking soldiers into a fort, hotels might sneak hidden charges into room service: the soldiers have seen this trick before, and are referring to how room service can similarly be a trap.

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Rome

There is a car driving up a hill and a bunch of Roman numerals on the hill. They are staring at it.

There are Roman numerals on the hill.

If you think this is annoying, just wait. In a few miles, they switch to binary.

scene: Rome description: There is a car driving up a hill and a bunch of Roman numerals on the hill. They are staring at it. uncanny: There are Roman numerals on the hill. entities: Roman_numerals, Travel. caption: If you think this is annoying, just wait. In a few miles, they switch to binary.

The road signs here are in roman numerals, which are notoriously difficult to read. However, on this unusual road, the signs get even more difficult to read, because, according to the female passenger, the numbers will soon be binary, i.e., sequences of ones and zeros that are difficult to immediately translate into values for the driver.

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Rome

Columns are shaped in numeral numbers. Two people drive near it on the road.

There isn't a known statue of numeral numbers.

If you think this is annoying, just wait. In a few miles, they switch to binary.

scene: Rome description: Columns are shaped in numeral numbers. Two people drive near it on the road. uncanny: There isn't a known statue of numeral numbers. entities: Roman_numerals, Travel. caption: If you think this is annoying, just wait. In a few miles, they switch to binary.

The road signs here are in roman numerals, which are notoriously difficult to read. However, on this unusual road, the signs get even more difficult to read, because, according to the female passenger, the numbers will soon be binary, i.e., sequences of ones and zeros that are difficult to immediately translate into values for the driver.

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a row boat

A bunch of slaves are on a boat steering it. A man in a business suit is next to them helping out.

There is a man in a business suit on a ship with slaves steering a boat paddle.

Your last job sounds terrible.

scene: a row boat description: A bunch of slaves are on a boat steering it. A man in a business suit is next to them helping out. uncanny: There is a man in a business suit on a ship with slaves steering a boat paddle. entities: Caveman, Businessperson. caption: Your last job sounds terrible.

The people rowing the boat are slaves --- their conditions seem dire and their job terrible. But, even the rowers take pity on the businessman, who they judge to have an even more terrible job previously. This surprising conclusion is joke is about how modern jobs are cushy, but might still feel like slavery in some ways (even though they aren't really comparable).

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a city skyline

A board meeting is going on among various buildings or blocks. They are just floating in the air.

You cannot float in the air.

Who has the floor?

scene: a city skyline description: A board meeting is going on among various buildings or blocks. They are just floating in the air. uncanny: You cannot float in the air. entities: Meeting, Corporation. caption: Who has the floor?

A play on the term "has the floor" --- a phrase that figuratively means "who has the right to speak right now in this meeting". But here, the question is literal: the meeting has no floor, and so the person is asking literally who took it.

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a hospital

There is a gingerbread man in bed at a hospital. He is huge. He is surrounded by a doctor along with bakers.

There is a human-sized gingerbread man in a bed at a hospital.

In our opinion, you won't make it past the holidays.

scene: a hospital description: There is a gingerbread man in bed at a hospital. He is huge. He is surrounded by a doctor along with bakers. uncanny: There is a human-sized gingerbread man in a bed at a hospital. entities: Gingerbread_man, Chef. caption: In our opinion, you won't make it past the holidays.

Gingerbread men are cookies often baked at the holidays. Doctors are often tasked with giving prognoses for difficult medical conditions that involve death. Here, their prognosis of "not making it past the holidays" refers to the probable outcome of the gingerbread man being eaten during the holiday season (and not "making it" past that time).

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factory

Two men are talking in a factory. One looks to be the boss, and the other is apparently Groucho Marx. They are manufacturing Groucho Marx gag disguises, which are on the conveyor belt.

The man looks like the product he is making.

This part of the job is easy—it's the whoopee-cushion testing that annoys me.

scene: factory description: Two men are talking in a factory. One looks to be the boss, and the other is apparently Groucho Marx. They are manufacturing Groucho Marx gag disguises, which are on the conveyor belt. uncanny: The man looks like the product he is making. entities: Disguise, Assembly_line. caption: This part of the job is easy—it's the whoopee-cushion testing that annoys me.

The joke is about people who have the weird job of quality assurance testing of novelty items like nose/glass disguises and whoopee-cushions. This caption surprisingly implies that all of these items are made in the same factory.

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the backyard

A bunch of giant birds are eating out of a bird feeder. A couple is looking at them.

There are huge birds in their yard at the bird feeder.

Move the car.

scene: the backyard description: A bunch of giant birds are eating out of a bird feeder. A couple is looking at them. uncanny: There are huge birds in their yard at the bird feeder. entities: Bird, Gigantism. caption: Move the car.

A crude joke about bird poop. Pigeons are notorious for pooping on cars, and so people try not to park under birds. Here, the birds are large and so the people assume that their car is in extra deification danger, and thus are trying to move it.

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the outside of a building

There is an old man on a building. A mountain climber is scaling the building. He is talking to the old man.

There is an old man or monk on the building and someone is climbing it.

The window cleaner brings a pastry.

scene: the outside of a building description: There is an old man on a building. A mountain climber is scaling the building. He is talking to the old man. uncanny: There is an old man or monk on the building and someone is climbing it. entities: God, Parkour. caption: The window cleaner brings a pastry.

A surreal joke about a wise old man who lives on the side of a building --- the rock climber didn't expect to encounter him, but, without missing a beat, the old man says that the window cleaners (who also spend time on the side of the building) treat him well by bringing him pastries (implying that the rock climber should also have brought him a pastry).

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a swimming pool

A dragon is in the pool while everyone ignores it. The dragon looks angry as everyone looks calm.

People would not be calm if a terrifying monster was in their pool.

Your tattoo escaped.

scene: a swimming pool description: A dragon is in the pool while everyone ignores it. The dragon looks angry as everyone looks calm. uncanny: People would not be calm if a terrifying monster was in their pool. entities: Dragon, Leisure. caption: Your tattoo escaped.

A surreal joke about a tattoo coming to life. People sometimes get dragon tattoos --- if such tattoos could come to life, that would offer a reasonable explanation for how this enormous dragon could be in this pool. The nonchalance of the statement makes it funnier --- as if tattoos escaping like this happens often.

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airplane

There are a bunch of passengers seated on a plane. There is a giant germ in one of the seats, and the man next to him is acknowledging him.

Germs are not that big. They're microscopic.

I hate connecting through Roswell.

scene: airplane description: There are a bunch of passengers seated on a plane. There is a giant germ in one of the seats, and the man next to him is acknowledging him. uncanny: Germs are not that big. They're microscopic. entities: Bacteria, Aisle. caption: I hate connecting through Roswell.

The US army used to do nuclear bomb testing in Roswell, New Mexico; nuclear radiation can cause defects. In this case, the passenger from Roswell is so irradiated he's comically turned into this gross blob, which the man doesn't like sitting next to.

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a sailing ship

Two sailors are talking on the deck of a ship. Another man is sitting in a chair stroking a cat.

Nothing is out of place that I can see.

There goes my novel.

scene: a sailing ship description: Two sailors are talking on the deck of a ship. Another man is sitting in a chair stroking a cat. uncanny: Nothing is out of place that I can see. entities: Cat, Deck_(ship). caption: There goes my novel.

A joke about Moby Dick; in the famous novel, the main character Ahab (represented by the seated man) is on an obsessive quest to kill a whale named Moby Dick who bit his leg off. The novel is written from the perspective of the sailor Ishmael, who is in the background talking. But here, Ahab gets a cat, and plays with it instead of obsessing over the whale. Ishmael's laments about how his plan to write the novel Moby Dick has been derailed by the cat, Ahab's new hobby.

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room

A man is climbing a mountain in midair. A man below is staring at him. There is no mountain.

The man is scaling an invisible mountain.

There's really nothing to it.

scene: room description: A man is climbing a mountain in midair. A man below is staring at him. There is no mountain. uncanny: The man is scaling an invisible mountain. entities: Climbing_wall, Mountaineering. caption: There's really nothing to it.

A play on the phrase "nothing to it" --- in the context of rock climbing, this phrase would usually mean that "there's no particular special skill required, it's easy to rock climb!" But, because there's literally no surface the person is rock climbing on, the climber is referring to the fact that he's literally climbing nothing.

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a bedroom

Two men are sharing what looks like a bunk bed but the bottom bunk is a bathtub. The man on the top bunk is reading a book while the man on the bottom is relaxing in a bubble bath.

The bottom bunk of the bed is a bathtub instead of a mattress.

So you're the infamous Sudsy Malone.

scene: a bedroom description: Two men are sharing what looks like a bunk bed but the bottom bunk is a bathtub. The man on the top bunk is reading a book while the man on the bottom is relaxing in a bubble bath. uncanny: The bottom bunk of the bed is a bathtub instead of a mattress. entities: Bunk_bed, Hot_tub. caption: So you're the infamous Sudsy Malone.

A play on "Bugsy Malone", which is the name of a fictional gangster. "Sudsy" sounds like "Bugsy", but refers to the suds associated with taking a soapy bath. So: the person in the bottom bunk/bath is "Sudsy Malone".

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a laboratory

There is a man, I assume a scientist, checking over the writing of several papers that have been typed by a monkey who is sitting at a typewriter. There are a number of other monkeys in cages around the room. They appear to be very sad.

It is unusual to see a monkey is sitting at a typewriter typing. It seems odd that the other monkeys seem to be listening to the story and they all seem to be sad and that one of the monkeys appears to be reading a page.

Have you considered writing this story in the third monkey rather than the first monkey?

scene: a laboratory description: There is a man, I assume a scientist, checking over the writing of several papers that have been typed by a monkey who is sitting at a typewriter. There are a number of other monkeys in cages around the room. They appear to be very sad. uncanny: It is unusual to see a monkey is sitting at a typewriter typing. It seems odd that the other monkeys seem to be listening to the story and they all seem to be sad and that one of the monkeys appears to be reading a page. entities: Infinite_monkey_theorem, Mad_scientist. caption: Have you considered writing this story in the third monkey rather than the first monkey?

Stories can be told in first person (e.g., "I did X") or third person ("The character did X"), and editors will sometimes critique this choice or offer suggestions about the writing style. But here, the monkey is writing, so instead of first/third person, the suggestion about perspective is first/third "monkey".

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a living room

Two men are standing in a living room and talking to each other. There is a fireplace and above the fireplace is either a painting of a fish or a real fish mounted on the wall. This fish seems to be alive and has a mouthful of the man on the rights suit .

A fish that is on the wall and should be dead is still able to take a bite out of a mans shirt.

There may be some lingering resentment.

scene: a living room description: Two men are standing in a living room and talking to each other. There is a fireplace and above the fireplace is either a painting of a fish or a real fish mounted on the wall. This fish seems to be alive and has a mouthful of the man on the rights suit . uncanny: A fish that is on the wall and should be dead is still able to take a bite out of a mans shirt. entities: White-collar_worker, Piranha. caption: There may be some lingering resentment.

People sometimes hang hunting or finishing taxidermy trophies of their kills/catches on their walls. The taxidermy has come to life and bit the man who was the one who killed him. It's thus understandable that the fish (if it could come alive) would resent its killer; the man nonchalantly quips about their tenuous relationship.

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restaurant

A man is sitting at a table in a restaurant. He is reading a menu while a bear stands in front of him, dripping wet.

There is a bear inside a restaurant when he should be in the woods.

Well, don't put it on the menu if you can't catch one.

scene: restaurant description: A man is sitting at a table in a restaurant. He is reading a menu while a bear stands in front of him, dripping wet. uncanny: There is a bear inside a restaurant when he should be in the woods. entities: Bear, Waiting_staff. caption: Well, don't put it on the menu if you can't catch one.

A snooty diner at a restaurant might complain that an item shouldn't be on the menu if the supply has ran out. Here, the employee of the restaurant is a bear, so instead of the complaint being about running out of inventory bought from a supplier, the complaint is about running of out fish because the bear couldn't catch one in the river. It's funny partly because, if a bear were to work at a restaurant, catching fresh fish might be a reasonable job because they do that in the wild regularly.

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a therapist office

There is a piece of bacon in human form sitting on a chair and taking notes. Next to him an egg in human form is lying down on a chaise longue chair and appears to be talking while looking up towards the ceiling.

It is unusual to see food in human form and acting out the part of a psychologist and patient.

Easy for you to say, you're cured!

scene: a therapist office description: There is a piece of bacon in human form sitting on a chair and taking notes. Next to him an egg in human form is lying down on a chaise longue chair and appears to be talking while looking up towards the ceiling. uncanny: It is unusual to see food in human form and acting out the part of a psychologist and patient. entities: Bacon, Egg, Anthropomorphism. caption: Easy for you to say, you're cured!

A play on the word "cured". People go to therapy to have their mental problems remedied or cured. But "cured" can also refer to a meat preparation technique --- here the therapist is cured bacon, and the patient is an egg (which is not cured). The egg is saying that the therapist doesn't understand his problems because he's "cured" in both senses.

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a jail cell

A man and woman are side by side in bed and under the blankets. The woman is smoking a cigarette. The bed they're using is in a jail cell and there are bars on the windows.

The man and woman are together in the jail cell. You're not usually allowed to have men and women in the same cell.

How about we just stay in tonight?

scene: a jail cell description: A man and woman are side by side in bed and under the blankets. The woman is smoking a cigarette. The bed they're using is in a jail cell and there are bars on the windows. uncanny: The man and woman are together in the jail cell. You're not usually allowed to have men and women in the same cell. entities: Intimate_relationship, Bed. caption: How about we just stay in tonight?

To "stay in tonight" usually means for a couple to relax/get take-out food/stay in bed instead of going out to restaurants and bars. But here, the people don't have a choice of going out: they are in prison. The funny part is that the statement implies that they had a choice and are simply selecting this of their own free will when they're not.

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a living room

A man is reading a huge book. The book is the size of the room. A woman looks on.

There is a book the size of a room in front of the man.

You promised me you would stop after you lost your arm from that paper cut!

scene: a living room description: A man is reading a huge book. The book is the size of the room. A woman looks on. uncanny: There is a book the size of a room in front of the man. entities: Large-print, Myopia. caption: You promised me you would stop after you lost your arm from that paper cut!

The person writing in the giant book only has one arm pictured, so it's plausible that the other one is lost: specifically, the joke is that this person really likes to write in a big book despite the fact that the giant pages caused a giant paper cut which caused the person's arm to entirely get cut off. This is much more damange than would be caused by a smaller paper cut from a smaller book. It's not clear why they are so intent on writing in this book, and their partner wishes they would stop before they lose their second arm.

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a kitchen

A couple is looking at various traps set out in the kitchen. There are bear traps on the floor, spikes, and the fridge is chained up.

Everything in the kitchen is booby-trapped or locked.

He could have just written his name on his yogurt.

scene: a kitchen description: A couple is looking at various traps set out in the kitchen. There are bear traps on the floor, spikes, and the fridge is chained up. uncanny: Everything in the kitchen is booby-trapped or locked. entities: Trapping, Booby_trap, Dieting. caption: He could have just written his name on his yogurt.

Roommates sometimes eat each-others food in a shared fridge, which causes tensions if people wanted to keep food for themselves. Writing one's name on food items is a common system roommates use with a shared fridge to make sure people don't eat what they shouldn't. But here, one of the roommates has gone over the top with a new system to prevent people from eating his yogurt: locking up the fridge/kitchen and putting traps everywhere it so it's inaccessible.

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a restaurant

A couple is sitting at a restaurant table waiting to receive their order. The chef stretches out a longer than average arm from the kitchen to bring them their food.

People do not have arms that stretch that long.

Apparently, even the Fantastic Four can feel the pinch of the recession.

scene: a restaurant description: A couple is sitting at a restaurant table waiting to receive their order. The chef stretches out a longer than average arm from the kitchen to bring them their food. uncanny: People do not have arms that stretch that long. entities: Waiting_staff, Social_distancing. caption: Apparently, even the Fantastic Four can feel the pinch of the recession.

The diners are implying that the Fantastic Four had to get a job running a restaurant to make money during an economic downturn: the long arm is that of Reed Richards, a superhero with the ability to stretch his body. The contrast between superheros saving people vs. working in a kitchen during hard times is what makes this funny.

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restaurant

A man and woman is sitting at a dining table with food on the table. Man's head is essentially a blender spinning at high speed and woman is watching that with a confused look.

Most out of place element is the blender on the man's head.

Remember when your rubber seal broke? I'm pregnant.

scene: restaurant description: A man and woman is sitting at a dining table with food on the table. Man's head is essentially a blender spinning at high speed and woman is watching that with a confused look. uncanny: Most out of place element is the blender on the man's head. entities: Blender, Dating. caption: Remember when your rubber seal broke? I'm pregnant.

Condoms are a common form of birth control referred to as "rubbers". In this case, the woman is dating a blender, which also has a rubber seal and is notorious for leaking, e.g., smoothies. The joke connects these two disjoint rubber things in a way that makes sense in a world where women date blenders.

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alleyway

A woman is walking down the street. A baker is in the alley. He has some pancakes.

There is a baker selling pancakes in an alley. Bakers are in bakeries, not alleys.

It's alley mode.

scene: alleyway description: A woman is walking down the street. A baker is in the alley. He has some pancakes. uncanny: There is a baker selling pancakes in an alley. Bakers are in bakeries, not alleys. entities: Chef, Pancake. caption: It's alley mode.

A play on the words "a la mode", which means "served with ice cream." Instead of this cake being served with ice cream (a la mode), it's served "alley mode", which sounds similar, but literally means in the modality of a street alley, as depicted.

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a room

There is a woman talking on a phone. She is staring at a fish bowl that has a small man and some fish in it.

There is a small man in a fish bowl on an island. A huge woman is above him.

You wouldn't believe it! I met a man at the pet store.

scene: a room description: There is a woman talking on a phone. She is staring at a fish bowl that has a small man and some fish in it. uncanny: There is a small man in a fish bowl on an island. A huge woman is above him. entities: Aquarium, Island. caption: You wouldn't believe it! I met a man at the pet store.

"Meeting someone" in everyday situations like a pet store is how many romantic relationships start. However, here, the woman on the phone actually bought a small pet man at the store.

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a cafe

A number of people are inside a restaurant. A pirate is manning the register. A giant anchor is sitting against the wall.

The pirate and anchor are out of place.

There's mutiny in the air. Also Viennese dark roast, but mainly mutiny.

scene: a cafe description: A number of people are inside a restaurant. A pirate is manning the register. A giant anchor is sitting against the wall. uncanny: The pirate and anchor are out of place. entities: Anchor, Piracy. caption: There's mutiny in the air. Also Viennese dark roast, but mainly mutiny.

Pirates, like the one working at the cash register, often would mutiny if they felt they were being mistreated by their captain; you can say that there's a broad consensus a a mutiny is coming by saying it's figuratively "in the air". But, in this coffee shop, the smell of Viennese dark roast is literally in the air: this contrast of figurative serious mutiny threat and literally coffee both being in the air is funny.

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conference

A man is having a TED talk. He is literally pointing to a picture of Ted, which is him dressed up in women's clothes. People are staring at him.

The man is dressed in women's clothes.

As an icebreaker, let's all share one interesting thing about ourselves. I'll start.

scene: conference description: A man is having a TED talk. He is literally pointing to a picture of Ted, which is him dressed up in women's clothes. People are staring at him. uncanny: The man is dressed in women's clothes. entities: Ted_talk, Public_speaking. caption: As an icebreaker, let's all share one interesting thing about ourselves. I'll start.

An absurd joke about icebreakers --- sometimes, to get to know people in a group setting, everyone will go around and say a fun fact about themselves. Usually, because folks are strangers, the fact shared is benign, like a favorite food or vacation spot. But here, the man is keen to share his hobby of cross-dressing like a woman, which, while not socially unacceptable, is a more taboo personal fact to share versus the usual benign facts.

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desert

Two people are being followed by a cactus in the middle of the desert. The woman looks back with a worried face.

Cactus cannot follow people. They are stationary on the ground.

I thought you said it wouldn't need much attention.

scene: desert description: Two people are being followed by a cactus in the middle of the desert. The woman looks back with a worried face. uncanny: Cactus cannot follow people. They are stationary on the ground. entities: Cactus, Dehydration. caption: I thought you said it wouldn't need much attention.

People sometimes say plants won't need much attention, i.e., it will live if you forget to water them for a while, and it will grow in low or high light conditions. While cacti are often said to "not need much attention," here, the plant care routine has gone so wrong that the plant has come to life and is chasing the owners.

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a living room

A man walks into his home naked besides his briefcase and shoes. His wife is on the sofa looking back as he walks in.

People do not go out without wearing close. Being naked is unlawful.

On second thought, it's more of a sandals day.

scene: a living room description: A man walks into his home naked besides his briefcase and shoes. His wife is on the sofa looking back as he walks in. uncanny: People do not go out without wearing close. Being naked is unlawful. entities: Nudity, Businessperson. caption: On second thought, it's more of a sandals day.

The man is clearly not dressed for work properly (because he's naked), but while he recognizes that he's dressed inappropriately, he's focused on the innocuous choice of shoes rather than the glaringly obvious fact that he can't go to work naked.

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a psychiatrist office

An octopus is on the sofa. A man is holding a paper near him.

An octopus is on a sofa near a man.

I keep forming inappropriate attachments.

scene: a psychiatrist office description: An octopus is on the sofa. A man is holding a paper near him. uncanny: An octopus is on a sofa near a man. entities: Octopus, Camouflage. caption: I keep forming inappropriate attachments.

A play on the term "attachments" --- usually, if a patient were speaking to their therapist about their inappropriate attachments, they would be emotional attachments that aren't healthy, e.g., with an abusive partner. But here, the patient is an octopus, so the attachments are literally physically attached to its suction cups on its tentacles --- they are inappropriate perhaps because the octopus liberally touches/attaches to other people/objects.

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room

A man in climbing gear is climbing nothing but air as another man watches on. There is nothing in the back ground or on the ground.

It is impossible to climb onto nothing.

There's really nothing to it.

scene: room description: A man in climbing gear is climbing nothing but air as another man watches on. There is nothing in the back ground or on the ground. uncanny: It is impossible to climb onto nothing. entities: Climbing_wall, Mountaineering. caption: There's really nothing to it.

A play on the phrase "nothing to it" --- in the context of rock climbing, this phrase would usually mean that "there's no particular special skill required, it's easy to rock climb!" But, because there's literally no surface the person is rock climbing on, the climber is referring to the fact that he's literally climbing nothing.

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a living room

A woman is sitting on a couch reading. A man is entering the room naked, with only a briefcase covering him.

There is a naked man who was walking around in public.

On second thought, it's more of a sandals day.

scene: a living room description: A woman is sitting on a couch reading. A man is entering the room naked, with only a briefcase covering him. uncanny: There is a naked man who was walking around in public. entities: Nudity, Businessperson. caption: On second thought, it's more of a sandals day.

The man is clearly not dressed for work properly (because he's naked), but while he recognizes that he's dressed inappropriately, he's focused on the innocuous choice of shoes rather than the glaringly obvious fact that he can't go to work naked.

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the sheriff's office

A baby is on the floor with feral animals. A sheriff looks at them while they are all inside of his office.

It is dangerous for a baby to be around wild animals.

So, which one of you varmints is mine?

scene: the sheriff's office description: A baby is on the floor with feral animals. A sheriff looks at them while they are all inside of his office. uncanny: It is dangerous for a baby to be around wild animals. entities: Raccoon, Porcupine, Infant. caption: So, which one of you varmints is mine?

A play on the word "varmint" (commonly used in the wild west by cowboys like this man) --- which can refer to a pest in the literal sense (e.g., a raccoon or a squirrel), but also, can refer endearingly to a troublesome child. Here, the man can't distinguish between literal and figurative varmints, which is surprising, because the baby is his own child.

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a back alley

Two people are on a street. a Centurion is directing a woman toward a chariot, away from a car.

There is a Roman Centurian and chariot in the modern day.

You can tell the judge why you were doing CX in a XXV.

scene: a back alley description: Two people are on a street. a Centurion is directing a woman toward a chariot, away from a car. uncanny: There is a Roman Centurian and chariot in the modern day. entities: Horse_and_buggy, Car. caption: You can tell the judge why you were doing CX in a XXV.

The police officer is from roman times (horses, outfit) --- such a police officer would use roman numerals for numbers, so instead of arresting the speeding person for doing "110mph in a 25mph zone", they scold them for "doing CX in a XXV".

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the living room

A man is hanging an animal head on the wall in his living room. His wife is standing by with a wine glass.

The lion's head is trying to eat the man.

Still not level.

scene: the living room description: A man is hanging an animal head on the wall in his living room. His wife is standing by with a wine glass. uncanny: The lion's head is trying to eat the man. entities: Trophy_hunting, Lion. caption: Still not level.

Hunting trophies (e.g., the head of a lion) can be hung on walls, but typically the animals are dead and taxidermied. Here, the lion surprisingly comes alive to eat the man trying to straighten it on the wall. Even more surprising: the nonchalant woman seems to only care about the levelness and not the well-being of her partner.

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a courtroom

A judge is presiding over a courtroom. There is a lawyer questioning a teddy bear in a witness box.

There is a teddy bear in the witness box. Inanimate objects can't give testimony.

Where were you between the hours of beddy-bye and nighty-night?

scene: a courtroom description: A judge is presiding over a courtroom. There is a lawyer questioning a teddy bear in a witness box. uncanny: There is a teddy bear in the witness box. Inanimate objects can't give testimony. entities: Teddy_bear, Judge, Lawyer. caption: Where were you between the hours of beddy-bye and nighty-night?

If a teddy bear were to be accused of a crime, as depicted with the bear on the stand, they might get questioned about their whereabouts at particular times. But instead of normal times like noon or 11PM, because teddy bears are used as children's toys, it might be questioned about "beddy-bye" and "nighty-night" as time markers. It's funny because of the contrast between the seriousness of the trial context and the silliness of the time specifications.

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a psychologist's office

There is a man on a couch and a therapist with some paper writing. They are looking at all the fish surrounding them.

There are a ton of fish in the therapist office surrounding the people. Fish belong in the ocean.

I'm haunted by the faces of my victims.

scene: a psychologist's office description: There is a man on a couch and a therapist with some paper writing. They are looking at all the fish surrounding them. uncanny: There are a ton of fish in the therapist office surrounding the people. Fish belong in the ocean. entities: Fisherman, Shoaling_and_schooling. caption: I'm haunted by the faces of my victims.

In therapy, people will sometimes emotionally work through their guilt if they feel they have wronged people before, i.e., if they have victimized them; in extreme cases, they might be haunted by the memory of their victim's (human) faces. Here, the fisherman's victims are the many, many fish he killed during the course of his job that he can't stop thinking about. It's funny because people normally don't feel guilty for killing fish, let alone feeling guilty for each individual one (e.g., fish meat is usually measured in pounds, not lives).

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the front door

An angry man in Greek myth clothing is carrying a globe of Earth on his back. A woman in a bathrobe watches as he leaves the room.

No one carries a globe of Earth on their back.

Next week, I'll move Heaven for you.

scene: the front door description: An angry man in Greek myth clothing is carrying a globe of Earth on his back. A woman in a bathrobe watches as he leaves the room. uncanny: No one carries a globe of Earth on their back. entities: Manual_handling_of_loads, Earth. caption: Next week, I'll move Heaven for you.

"I'd move heaven and earth for you" means: "I'd do anything for you". Here, the man is moving earth; in reference to this saying, this implies he will next move heaven for her.

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a jail cell

There are two people in bed in a jail. The woman is smoking a cigarette.

There is a huge bed in a small jail cell and the people are having sex.

How about we just stay in tonight?

scene: a jail cell description: There are two people in bed in a jail. The woman is smoking a cigarette. uncanny: There is a huge bed in a small jail cell and the people are having sex. entities: Intimate_relationship, Bed. caption: How about we just stay in tonight?

To "stay in tonight" usually means for a couple to relax/get take-out food/stay in bed instead of going out to restaurants and bars. But here, the people don't have a choice of going out: they are in prison. The funny part is that the statement implies that they had a choice and are simply selecting this of their own free will when they're not.

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a park

There are two people sitting on a park bench. The man on the left is reading a newspaper while talking to the other person on the right. The person on the right is covered in pigeons from head to toe.

It is unusual for a person to be completely covered with birds.

Shall I keep reading?

scene: a park description: There are two people sitting on a park bench. The man on the left is reading a newspaper while talking to the other person on the right. The person on the right is covered in pigeons from head to toe. uncanny: It is unusual for a person to be completely covered with birds. entities: Columbidae, Bird_feeding. caption: Shall I keep reading?

A joke about a man who has spent too long reading to someone --- he's read to them so much that they've literally died, perhaps of boredom, and their body is being eaten by birds. An over-exaggeration of the feeling of boredom one might experience if someone was reading something to them that they don't care about. It's funny because the man reading doesn't seem to realize that he's literally killed the other person of boredom, and offers to keep reading even after their death.

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a stream

Salmon swim upstream but they see a grizzly bear and are in shock. The bear has a smug look on his face when he sees the salmon.

Salmon are not aware that they are being hunted by bear when they swim upstream but these salmon had on humanistic expressions of fear.

Please! I have a wife and two thousand kids!

scene: a stream description: Salmon swim upstream but they see a grizzly bear and are in shock. The bear has a smug look on his face when he sees the salmon. uncanny: Salmon are not aware that they are being hunted by bear when they swim upstream but these salmon had on humanistic expressions of fear. entities: Salmon, Grizzly_bear. caption: Please! I have a wife and two thousand kids!

A play on the common plea people use in dire situations: "I have a wife and two kids;" this is stated to try to have people take mercy and not kill someone. But here, the victim of the bear is a fish about to be eaten, and fish tend to have many more than two kids, so the phrase is updated with the fish-version of it: two thousand kids.

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an island

A woman and a shark are sitting together on a small island in the water. There is a single palm tree on the island. A man's head is above the water several feet offshore

It's unusual to see a shark sitting on an island

An optimist would see sushi.

scene: an island description: A woman and a shark are sitting together on a small island in the water. There is a single palm tree on the island. A man's head is above the water several feet offshore uncanny: It's unusual to see a shark sitting on an island entities: Shark, Cetacean_stranding. caption: An optimist would see sushi.

A joke about making the best of a bad situation. The man and the woman are struggling to survive on the island, when a massive shark beaches itself: the sharks looks scary and the man jumps in the water. The woman quips that the man is being unhelpful, and he should instead see opportunity in the shark's presence: they could kill and eat it (sushi). The shark looks pretty intimidating though, so this could be a difficult task.

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a department store

Three employees in a clothing store are sorting through the inventory. Two of these employees are women and one of them is a snowman. The woman on the left is looking at the woman on the right with an angry expression.

A snow man is working in a retail store. Snowmen can't move and it would melt under these conditions.

He's not as bad as the last manager. That one was abominable.

scene: a department store description: Three employees in a clothing store are sorting through the inventory. Two of these employees are women and one of them is a snowman. The woman on the left is looking at the woman on the right with an angry expression. uncanny: A snow man is working in a retail store. Snowmen can't move and it would melt under these conditions. entities: Snowman, Work_(human_activity). caption: He's not as bad as the last manager. That one was abominable.

A play on the term "abominable snowman", which refers to the Yeti, a popular fictional snow monster from the Himalayan mountain range. The current boss is a normal snowman, whereas, the previous boss was apparently not only abominable (i.e., very bad), but was also possibly literally the Yeti. The employees of this clothing store have a hard job, but it humorously used to be worse when the Yeti was their boss previously.

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