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Discussion Groups / English Usage / February 2010cartoon's English (2)
Recently I stick to cartoons' English. Yea, I'm aware that it's the last thing learners challenge. http://www.lightstriking.com/test/01.jpg It's quite hard to grasp the whole thing. It's all I could guess that it's talking about hat or cap. And another point seems winter. Characters seem ready for coming hard winter. I don't know what this whole story is about. Would you give me any hint? In our last episode, <f03f1696-0955-470c-9218-b734279a8b1a@k18g2000prf.googlegroups.com>, the lovely and talented Masa broadcast on alt.usage.english: > Recently I stick to cartoons' English. > Yea, I'm aware that it's the last thing learners challenge. As with the previous cartoon, the problems here would seem to be more about cultural context than about English. > http://www.lightstriking.com/test/01.jpg > It's quite hard to grasp the whole thing. > It's all I could guess that it's talking about hat or cap. > And another point seems winter. > Characters seem ready for coming hard winter. > I don't know what this whole story is about. > Would you give me any hint? These are all slight plays on folk beliefs. A thick coat (fur) on a particular caterpillar called a Wooly Bear is supposed to be a sign of hard winter. This one not one has its thick fur, but also has a cap. Thus, this would seem to be a sign of an especially hard winter. Likewise, thick hair on the nape of the neck of cattle is supposed to be sign of a hard winter. This cow also has a cap and wishes for a blanket. So this portends an even harder winter. The last panel is a play on two senses of 'nut': seed of certain trees and silly or crazy person. This is not an especially funny cartoon.  SignatureLars Eighner <http://larseighner.com/> Warbama's Afghaninam day: 68 1643.4 hours since Warbama declared Viet Nam II. Warbama: An LBJ for the Twenty-First century. No hope. No change. > In our last episode, > <f03f1696-0955-470c-9218-b734279a8b1a@k18g2000prf.googlegroups.com>, the [quoted text clipped - 28 lines] > sign of a hard winter. This cow also has a cap and wishes for a blanket. > So this portends an even harder winter. I'd never heard this one. > The last panel is a play on two senses of 'nut': seed of certain trees and > silly or crazy person. Also slang for "head", which is what seems to be growing in the tree. I may be overanalysing it though. > This is not an especially funny cartoon. No kidding. SignatureDavid >> In our last episode, >> <f03f1696-0955-470c-9218-b734279a8b1a@k18g2000prf.googlegroups.com>, the [quoted text clipped - 40 lines] > >No kidding. I wondered whether the faces were those of politicians, presumably form the US, whom I didn't recognise. SignatureKaty Jennison spamtrap: remove the first two letters after the @ > I wondered whether the faces were those of politicians, presumably > form the US, whom I didn't recognise. I thought the one at centre right was George Bush the Second. SignatureDavid >> I wondered whether the faces were those of politicians, presumably >> form the US, whom I didn't recognise. > >I thought the one at centre right was George Bush the Second. That is a typical caricature of Dubya. The one beneath him might be Condoleezza Rice. SignaturePeter Duncanson, UK (in alt.usage.english) Peter Duncanson (BrE) wrote, in <7k40n5d29j99l5996j40depsk3jat90kkb@4ax.com> on Mon, 08 Feb 2010 13:37:34 +0000: > >> I wondered whether the faces were those of politicians, presumably > >> form the US, whom I didn't recognise. [quoted text clipped - 4 lines] > > The one beneath him might be Condoleezza Rice. Top left Bill Clinton? SignatureNick Spalding BrE/IrE > Peter Duncanson (BrE) wrote, in ><7k40n5d29j99l5996j40depsk3jat90kkb@4ax.com> > on Mon, 08 Feb 2010 13:37:34 +0000: >> >> I wondered whether the faces were those of politicians, presumably >> >> form the US, whom I didn't recognise. [quoted text clipped - 4 lines] >> >> The one beneath him might be Condoleezza Rice. > Top left Bill Clinton? Or former Speaker of the House Newt Gingrich or way-form Speaker of the House Tip O'Neil, or the late Ted Kennedy. They all seem to be that way. If they were tagged, I'd be willing to accept any of three or four possible tags. One of them looks like Bob Dobbs sans pipe. Or he could be Robert McNamara, although it would seem pointless to lampoon him now. SignatureLars Eighner <http://larseighner.com/> Warbama's Afghaninam day: 68 1644.8 hours since Warbama declared Viet Nam II. Warbama: An LBJ for the Twenty-First century. No hope. No change. >Peter Duncanson (BrE) wrote, in ><7k40n5d29j99l5996j40depsk3jat90kkb@4ax.com> [quoted text clipped - 10 lines] > >Top left Bill Clinton? Dick Cheney is center, bottom row. Hilary, top right. SignatureTony Cooper - Orlando, Florida > >Peter Duncanson (BrE) wrote, in > ><7k40n5d29j99l5996j40depsk3jat90kkb@4ax.com> [quoted text clipped - 12 lines] > > Dick Cheney is center, bottom row. Hilary, top right. I thought Billary, W, and Cheney were immediately recognizable. Bottom right could be Condy, since she's glaring at Cheney. That leaves three people in the middle, a woman and two men, that I don't recognize. Could two of them be Pelosi and Reid? SignatureJohn Varela Trade NEWlamps for OLDlamps for email >>> Peter Duncanson (BrE) wrote, in >>> <7k40n5d29j99l5996j40depsk3jat90kkb@4ax.com> [quoted text clipped - 13 lines] > leaves three people in the middle, a woman and two men, that I don't > recognize. Could two of them be Pelosi and Reid? Pelosi is top center, I think that's Mitt Romney below her and Rudy Giuliani lower left. But I'm not certain of the last two. --Jeff SignatureLove consists of overestimating the differences between one woman and another. --George Bernard Shaw >> I wondered whether the faces were those of politicians, presumably >> form the US, whom I didn't recognise. > > I thought the one at centre right was George Bush the Second. Lowest right is Condi Rice. Most people will recognize Bill Clinton and, by inference Laura Bush and Hillary Clinton. Bottom of the tree is Dick Cheney. But I can't say who is the big-eared little cuss to the left of Cheney. Might be Ross Perot . And above him, a good-looking long-faced guy who might be Bush the Elder, but that assumption and Perot's ID are just a bit dated. >>> I wondered whether the faces were those of politicians, presumably >>> form the US, whom I didn't recognise. [quoted text clipped - 6 lines] > good-looking long-faced guy who might be Bush the Elder, but that > assumption and Perot's ID are just a bit dated. Nancy Pelosi (not Laura Bush, I think) is the woman in the middle at the top. SignatureJames >But I can't say who is the big-eared little cuss to >the left of Cheney. Obama? SignaturePeter Duncanson, UK (in alt.usage.english) >>> I wondered whether the faces were those of politicians, presumably >>> form the US, whom I didn't recognise. [quoted text clipped - 5 lines] > is Dick Cheney. But I can't say who is the big-eared little cuss to > the left of Cheney. Might be Ross Perot . I think it's supposed to be Obama. > And above him, a good-looking long-faced guy who might be Bush the > Elder, but that assumption and Perot's ID are just a bit dated. SignatureEvan Kirshenbaum +------------------------------------ HP Laboratories |The Society for the Preservation of 1501 Page Mill Road, 1U, MS 1141 |Tithesis commends your ebriated and Palo Alto, CA 94304 |scrutable use of delible and |defatigable, which are gainly, sipid kirshenbaum@hpl.hp.com |and couth. We are gruntled and (650)857-7572 |consolate that you have the ertia and |eptitude to choose such putably http://www.kirshenbaum.net/ |pensible tithesis, which we parage. >>>> I wondered whether the faces were those of politicians, presumably >>>> form the US, whom I didn't recognise. [quoted text clipped - 8 lines] >> And above him, a good-looking long-faced guy who might be Bush the >> Elder, but that assumption and Perot's ID are just a bit dated. I suspect the cartoon is pre-Obama. Here's my list of candidates: Top: Bill Clinton, Nancy Pelosi, Hillary Clinton Middle: Mitt Romney, W Bottom: Rudy Giuliani, Bill Cheney, Condi SignatureJames James Hogg filted: >I suspect the cartoon is pre-Obama. Here's my list of candidates: > >Top: Bill Clinton, Nancy Pelosi, Hillary Clinton >Middle: Mitt Romney, W >Bottom: Rudy Giuliani, Bill Cheney, Condi Except for the fact that Cheney's a Dick rather than a Bill, I agree with your suggestions....r SignatureA pessimist sees the glass as half empty. An optometrist asks whether you see the glass more full like this?...or like this? > James Hogg filted: >> I suspect the cartoon is pre-Obama. Here's my list of candidates: [quoted text clipped - 5 lines] > Except for the fact that Cheney's a Dick rather than a Bill, I agree with your > suggestions....r Oops. I agree that Cheney's a Dick (head). SignatureJames James Hogg filted: >> James Hogg filted: >>> I suspect the cartoon is pre-Obama. Here's my list of candidates: [quoted text clipped - 7 lines] > >Oops. I agree that Cheney's a Dick (head). http://members.cox.net/dadoctah/images/cheneychaney.jpg Chaney, Cheney...separated at birth?...r SignatureA pessimist sees the glass as half empty. An optometrist asks whether you see the glass more full like this?...or like this? >>>> I wondered whether the faces were those of politicians, >>>> presumably form the US, whom I didn't recognise. [quoted text clipped - 10 lines] >> And above him, a good-looking long-faced guy who might be Bush the >> Elder, but that assumption and Perot's ID are just a bit dated. The one that's roughly left of centre? I figure he's a Democrat*, or ar least a liberal. The other smilers are Democrats (Clinton, Obama, Clinton; and I agree with James that the short haircut is Nancy Pelosi), and the three identifiable Republicans are frowning from the Lower Right. *Harry Reid, Senate Majority Leader? It would fit with Pelosi. >>> In our last episode, >>> <f03f1696-0955-470c-9218-b734279a8b1a@k18g2000prf.googlegroups.com>, the [quoted text clipped - 46 lines] > I wondered whether the faces were those of politicians, presumably > form the US, whom I didn't recognise. G.W. Bush, both Clintons, Cheney, Condi Rice, Rudy 9/11 Giulani, and two others >Recently I stick to cartoons' English. > [quoted text clipped - 10 lines] >I don't know what this whole story is about. >Would you give me any hint? There are "folklore sayings" that predict what the weather will be like in the future: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Weather_lore One idea is that it is possible to know what the weather will be like by observing the behaviour of animals. The animals are assumed to know what the weather will be. The cartoon has three separate, invented, pictures based on this idea. They are not three stages in a story. The pictures in the cartoon are set in a time before winter. The first picture shows a caterpillar wearing a golf cap to keep its head warm. The second picture shows a cow wearing a warm hat and a scarf. The cow is saying that "A Hudson Bay blanket would be nice too". It needs a blanket to keeps its body warm. The third picture shows a squirrel gathering nuts to store away as food to eat during the winter. Instead of actual tree nuts there are faces of people. That is a joke about "nut" meaning "A mad or crazy person; an eccentric, a crank". SignaturePeter Duncanson, UK (in alt.usage.english) "Masa" asked about: >> http://www.lightstriking.com/test/01.jpg > The second picture shows a cow wearing a warm hat and a scarf. The cow > is saying that "A Hudson Bay blanket would be nice too". It needs a > blanket to keeps its body warm. Now I'm curious how many readers here recognize specifically the reference to a Hudson Bay blanket. Peter Duncanson: > The third picture shows a squirrel gathering nuts to store away as food > to eat during the winter. Instead of actual tree nuts there are faces of > people. That is a joke about "nut" meaning "A mad or crazy person; an > eccentric, a crank". Faces of *politicians*. So it's a joke about politicians. SignatureMark Brader, Toronto | Polly-ticks: Bloodsucking parasites that squawk msb@vex.net | mindless slogans in place of thought. --Chris Vernell >"Masa" asked about: >>> http://www.lightstriking.com/test/01.jpg [quoted text clipped - 5 lines] >Now I'm curious how many readers here recognize specifically the >reference to a Hudson Bay blanket. I don't. >Peter Duncanson: >> The third picture shows a squirrel gathering nuts to store away as food [quoted text clipped - 3 lines] > >Faces of *politicians*. So it's a joke about politicians. So a subset of "A mad or crazy person; an eccentric, a crank". SignaturePeter Duncanson, UK (in alt.usage.english) >>"Masa" asked about: >>>> http://www.lightstriking.com/test/01.jpg [quoted text clipped - 7 lines] >> > I don't. Indian Trade Blankets. >"Masa" asked about: >>> http://www.lightstriking.com/test/01.jpg [quoted text clipped - 5 lines] >Now I'm curious how many readers here recognize specifically the >reference to a Hudson Bay blanket. Anyone who reads what was "The Beaver". SignatureTony Cooper - Orlando, Florida >>"Masa" asked about: >>>> http://www.lightstriking.com/test/01.jpg [quoted text clipped - 7 lines] > > Anyone who reads what was "The Beaver". Formally 'The Beaver', now 'Canadian History'. They had to change it to pass through internet anti-bad words filters. >>>"Masa" asked about: >>>>> http://www.lightstriking.com/test/01.jpg [quoted text clipped - 10 lines] >Formally 'The Beaver', now 'Canadian History'. >They had to change it to pass through internet anti-bad words filters. I rather think it's formally "Canadian History". It was formerly "The Beaver". SignatureTony Cooper - Orlando, Florida Mark Brader: > Now I'm curious how many readers here recognize specifically the > reference to a Hudson Bay blanket. The Hudson Bay Company, or The Bay for short, is one of the major chains of department stores in Canada -- and also the oldest company in Canada, having been founded in 1607 as an organization of fur traders. When they were fur traders, one of the things they traded for the furs was blankets. Today they still sell a line of blankets and other goods marked with the store's distinctive pattern of colored stripes on white -- and if you saw the Olympic opening ceremonies, the Canadian flagbearer had on one of their scarves. SignatureMark Brader, Toronto | "I don't _want_ people using Linux for ideological msb@vex.net | reasons. I think ideology sucks." -- Torvalds My text in this article is in the public domain. >Mark Brader: >> Now I'm curious how many readers here recognize specifically the [quoted text clipped - 8 lines] >colored stripes on white -- and if you saw the Olympic opening >ceremonies, the Canadian flagbearer had on one of their scarves. It seems that the English town of Witney was a supplier of blankets to the Hudson's Bay Company ...as early as 1681 but the town did not become a major provider to it until the 1730s, when James Empson started receiving regular HBC orders . One of the earliest definite records we have for the supply of point blankets comes in December 1779, when five hundred pairs of 'pointed' blankets were ordered by the HBC from the firm of Thomas Empson (James' son). The demand for points then seems to have increased rapidly until the fur trade reached its height in the early 19th century. http://witneyblanketstory.org.uk/WBP.asp?navigationPage=North%20America Point blankets are perhaps the Witney industry's most famous product. They were traded mainly with North America, where they came to have a cultural significance far beyond that of mere bed coverings. Point blankets were so called because they had several short lines known as 'points' sewn or woven into one edge near a corner; the number of points on a blanket was intended to indicate its size and therefore its value. The blankets were always made from wool and had one or more 'headings', or bands of colour, at either end but were produced in a great variety of colours and patterns over the years. SignaturePeter Duncanson, UK (in alt.usage.english) |
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