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a field

Three dogs are out in the wild playing fetch. Two dogs are waiting patiently for the stick to be thrown. The third dog is standing on its hind legs and throwing the stick.

A dog is standing on its hind legs and throwing a stick like a human would.

He's his own best friend.

scene: a field description: Three dogs are out in the wild playing fetch. Two dogs are waiting patiently for the stick to be thrown. The third dog is standing on its hind legs and throwing the stick. uncanny: A dog is standing on its hind legs and throwing a stick like a human would. entities: Anthropomorphism, Dog, Baseball. caption: He's his own best friend.

A play on the phrase "man's best friend." The dog throwing the stick to himself is doing so alone, and taking the role of a human owner who might otherwise throw the stick. So, instead of being "man's best friend", he is his own best friend, and he doesn't need humans.

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a meeting room

There are a bunch of naked people in an office. They are taking notes. A naked man stares out the window.

All the people are naked and not wearing suits in an office.

I was wrong. This meeting is still boring.

scene: a meeting room description: There are a bunch of naked people in an office. They are taking notes. A naked man stares out the window. uncanny: All the people are naked and not wearing suits in an office. entities: Nudity, Conversation. caption: I was wrong. This meeting is still boring.

The boss was so bored in the meeting that he had the idea for everyone to get naked to make it more interesting. Surprisingly, everyone seems to have agreed, but even everyone being naked couldn't make a meeting interesting. It's a reference to how boring meetings are.

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a board room

There is a meeting going on. There are huge cups of coffee and tea on the table.

There are gigantic cups on the table with coffee and tea in them.

Can you please pass the cow?

scene: a board room description: There is a meeting going on. There are huge cups of coffee and tea on the table. uncanny: There are gigantic cups on the table with coffee and tea in them. entities: Meeting, Coffee_cup. 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 yard

A man is shoveling snow as a woman plays guitar. The man seems mildly annoyed but the woman looks happy.

It is unusual for someone to play guitar outside while someone is shoveling snow.

I didn't say I would help. I said I'd accompany you.

scene: the front yard description: A man is shoveling snow as a woman plays guitar. The man seems mildly annoyed but the woman looks happy. uncanny: It is unusual for someone to play guitar outside while someone is shoveling snow. entities: Snow_shovel, Guitar. caption: I didn't say I would help. I said I'd accompany you.

A play on the term "accompany" --- in this context, the man likely requested help in snow shoveling, and asked his partner to accompany him. But, instead of accompanying him by helping him, she chooses to accompany him in the musical sense, i.e., by playing music with him. It's funny because it's more fun to play the guitar than it is to shovel snow, so she tricked him.

b8b3500fd68310f85bf85240d3e9efb8

a house

A man and a woman are standing on the sidewalk staring at their destroyed home. A piano the size of a house has crashed into the home and completely destroyed it.

There is a piano that is the size of a house and it somehow has a crushed this house.

The piano's in tune, but the house is a little flat.

scene: a house description: A man and a woman are standing on the sidewalk staring at their destroyed home. A piano the size of a house has crashed into the home and completely destroyed it. uncanny: There is a piano that is the size of a house and it somehow has a crushed this house. entities: Piano, Damage. caption: The piano's in tune, but the house is a little flat.

A play on words: "flat" can mean that an instrument is out of tune, like the piano could be (but isn't). The house is literally "flat", however, i.e.: it has been flattened to the ground.

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stone age

A caveman couple are waving from below up to a large building/cave with another couple in it. The caveman building is very tall.

Cavemen did not have tall caves like this.

I guarantee he brings up the whole discovering-fire thing within the first five minutes.

scene: stone age description: A caveman couple are waving from below up to a large building/cave with another couple in it. The caveman building is very tall. uncanny: Cavemen did not have tall caves like this. entities: Caveman, Tower. caption: I guarantee he brings up the whole discovering-fire thing within the first five minutes.

A joke about how couples sometimes gossip. While the wives are friends, the men in these two couples are apparently in a bit of a feud -- one built an impressive tower, whereas, the other invented fire. The tower builder is jealous of the fire inventor, and worries he'll bring up his invention immediately. It's funny in part because spouses sometimes have to put up with their partner's friends, even though they don't like them.

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a room

A smiling woman is using a telephone and looking down at a fish bowl sitting on a table. In the fish bowl there are three fish and a small man wearing glasses who is sitting on a small island with two palm trees.

Seeing a man no larger than a fish sitting on an island in a fishbowl is unusual when there is also a woman who is much larger than he is standing right next to that same fishbowl.

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

scene: a room description: A smiling woman is using a telephone and looking down at a fish bowl sitting on a table. In the fish bowl there are three fish and a small man wearing glasses who is sitting on a small island with two palm trees. uncanny: Seeing a man no larger than a fish sitting on an island in a fishbowl is unusual when there is also a woman who is much larger than he is standing right next to that same fishbowl. 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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an office room

A man uses a telescope on a wall. another man walks in to see him.

Using a telescope on a wall is useless since you are just seeing an upclose of the wall.

Let me know when the paint is dry.

scene: an office room description: A man uses a telescope on a wall. another man walks in to see him. uncanny: Using a telescope on a wall is useless since you are just seeing an upclose of the wall. entities: Telescope, Voyeurism. caption: Let me know when the paint is dry.

A play on the phrase "watching paint dry" --- usually, that idiom means a very boring activity. But here, the activity is literally watching paint dry, here, through a telescope. It's odd because it appears this is an office, and the employee's job is to watch paint dry while his boss oversees him.

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a road

A man and woman are driving down the road. They are passing a lot of columns on the side of the road.

The columns are all shaped like Roman numerals.

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

scene: a road description: A man and woman are driving down the road. They are passing a lot of columns on the side of the road. uncanny: The columns are all shaped like Roman numerals. entities: Roman_numerals, Ancient_Roman_architecture. 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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street

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: street 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, Sports_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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a wedding

The groom is carrying his wife on his back during a wedding. The priest still continues his sermon.

During a wedding, the bride is besides the groom and not on his back.

Anyone have an objection? Please? Anyone?

scene: a wedding description: The groom is carrying his wife on his back during a wedding. The priest still continues his sermon. uncanny: During a wedding, the bride is besides the groom and not on his back. entities: Priest, Fireman%27s_carry. caption: Anyone have an objection? Please? Anyone?

The man doesn't want to get married as much as the woman does: she's clinging to him while he looks horrified. When people get married, officiants ask the crowd if there are any objections, and the man is hoping someone raises one. It's funny because the man could stop the marriage of his own accord, but is too afraid of his partner to do it.

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office

Some people are sitting around a table in an office. They are all naked.

People don't go to work naked.

I was wrong. This meeting is still boring.

scene: office description: Some people are sitting around a table in an office. They are all naked. uncanny: People don't go to work naked. entities: Nudity, Meeting. caption: I was wrong. This meeting is still boring.

The boss was so bored in the meeting that he had the idea for everyone to get naked to make it more interesting. Surprisingly, everyone seems to have agreed, but even everyone being naked couldn't make a meeting interesting. It's a reference to how boring meetings are.

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a bar

A man with a duck on his head and wearing just his underwear is walking into the bar. The men at the bar stare at him.

The man has a duck on his head and is just wearing underwear, while all the other men are wearing suits.

Thank God, Fashion Week is over.

scene: a bar description: A man with a duck on his head and wearing just his underwear is walking into the bar. The men at the bar stare at him. uncanny: The man has a duck on his head and is just wearing underwear, while all the other men are wearing suits. entities: Boxer_shorts, Duck. caption: Thank God, Fashion Week is over.

The man with the unusual outfit is going to the bar on Friday after his bad week at the office: "fashion week". "Fashion week" is an industry event where clothing designers showcase extravagant, unusual, and highly artistic outfits: the duck and no pants look depicted might be one of them. But here, instead of displaying the outfits on trained models, this office is displaying outfits on regular office employees who might not enjoy the eccentric clothing.

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a courtroom

This is the inside of a court room. The prosecution is questioning a witness, while the defendant is rising out of his chair with a raised arm and pointing finger. There is a large killer whale seated in the plaintiff's chair.

There is a killer whale seated at a desk inside a courtroom. It appears to be the plaintiff in the proceedings.

Objection, Your Honor! Alleged killer whale.

scene: a courtroom description: This is the inside of a court room. The prosecution is questioning a witness, while the defendant is rising out of his chair with a raised arm and pointing finger. There is a large killer whale seated in the plaintiff's chair. uncanny: There is a killer whale seated at a desk inside a courtroom. It appears to be the plaintiff in the proceedings. entities: Killer_whale, Objection_(United_States_law), Hearing_(law). caption: Objection, Your Honor! Alleged killer whale.

In court, lawyers may object to particular phrases that assume guilt on part of their client, e.g., "the murderer" or "the killer". Here, a killer whale is on trial. But, in this context, the play on words implies that you couldn't use the phrase "killer whale" --- you'd need to use "alleged killer" whale

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a corporate office

A man is at his desk on the computer. Another man is entering with a giant hot dog in his arms.

There is a big hot dog inside the office.

My other two wishes were ironically misinterpreted, too.

scene: a corporate office description: A man is at his desk on the computer. Another man is entering with a giant hot dog in his arms. uncanny: There is a big hot dog inside the office. entities: Hot_dog, Businessperson. caption: My other two wishes were ironically misinterpreted, too.

A subtle joke about a man who wished for a larger "weiner", in reference to his genitalia --- his wish was comically misinterpreted to be a big hot dog instead. It’s funny not only because it plays on the trope of a "three wish" granting entity, and also, faustian bargains/the ironic downsides of arcane magic.

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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 police office

There is a woman wearing a badge, with her arms at her side, and an irritated expression, staring down at a seated scraggly-groomed man wearing a shirt and tie as well as the same badge. The man appears to be talking. On a table beside him is a microphone. In a large window behind him is a serious of decreasingly smaller dolls, in what's implied to be a criminal identification setup.

It's unusual to see a series of dolls being featured as the suspects in a crime.

They were all in it together.

scene: a police office description: There is a woman wearing a badge, with her arms at her side, and an irritated expression, staring down at a seated scraggly-groomed man wearing a shirt and tie as well as the same badge. The man appears to be talking. On a table beside him is a microphone. In a large window behind him is a serious of decreasingly smaller dolls, in what's implied to be a criminal identification setup. uncanny: It's unusual to see a series of dolls being featured as the suspects in a crime. entities: Police_lineup, Matryoshka_doll. caption: They were all in it together.

"In it together", in a police context, usually means that a group of people committed a crime together. But here, the russian stacking dolls in the line up are also literally in it together because they nest inside each-other until they are all in "it" (i.e., the biggest one that holds them all) together.

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doctor's office

A doctor has a man on an examination table. The man is in three pieces.

This man shouldn't be in a doctor's office, he should be in a mortuary.

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

scene: doctor's office description: A doctor has a man on an examination table. The man is in three pieces. uncanny: This man shouldn't be in a doctor's office, he should be in a mortuary. 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 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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a workplace

People are in a computer lab. Some of the ones on the computers are animals.

Animals don't use computers.

Do you want to go for L-U-N-C-H and maybe a W-A-L-K?

scene: a workplace description: People are in a computer lab. Some of the ones on the computers are animals. uncanny: Animals don't use computers. entities: Dog, Gossip. caption: Do you want to go for L-U-N-C-H and maybe a W-A-L-K?

Dogs often learn the word "walk" and get excited if someone says it: so humans disguise the word by spelling it out so they don't recognize it and they don't feel guilty for not taking them on a walk in the moment. Here, the humans want to go to lunch separate from their co-worker dogs, so are spelling out the word lunch to not invite them.

2410815509a67d47533ac3dc1451fccf

at 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: at 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, Bathrobe. 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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a bar

Two men are at a bar having drinks. One of them is in a hazmat suit.

You wouldn't normally wear a hazmat suit into a bar unless something was wrong.

Ever have the feeling you forgot to turn something off?

scene: a bar description: Two men are at a bar having drinks. One of them is in a hazmat suit. uncanny: You wouldn't normally wear a hazmat suit into a bar unless something was wrong. entities: Hazmat_suit, Businessperson. caption: Ever have the feeling you forgot to turn something off?

The nonchalant statement of forgetting to turn an oven or burner off would be common to hear in a bar --- but coming from the man in the nuclear hazmat suit, who presumably is some sort of safety operator at a nuclear plant, is quite alarming, because it implies a nearby nuclear plant is likely to explode in short order.

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doctor's office

There is a doctor sitting at a desk in his office who is leaning over to physically check the pulse of a giant hand and wrist coming in from the door. The hand is the same size as the doctor's desk.

It is unusual for a human hand to be this size. The doctor would have to be the size of a doll in a doll house.

Really God, you worry too much.

scene: doctor's office description: There is a doctor sitting at a desk in his office who is leaning over to physically check the pulse of a giant hand and wrist coming in from the door. The hand is the same size as the doctor's desk. uncanny: It is unusual for a human hand to be this size. The doctor would have to be the size of a doll in a doll house. 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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Rome

A man and woman are driving down the road. They are passing a lot of columns on the side of the road.

The columns are all shaped like Roman numerals.

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

scene: Rome description: A man and woman are driving down the road. They are passing a lot of columns on the side of the road. uncanny: The columns are all shaped like Roman numerals. 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 sidewalk

A man dressed in a business suit is laying on the sidewalk outside. There are a number of pedestrians walking over or around him and they all look upset while he looks peaceful.

Seeing a man in a suit laying on the ground on a busy sidewalk is unexpected and seeing his reaction of not caring how angry he is making people trying to walk is also unusual.

I should have jumped from a higher floor.

scene: a sidewalk description: A man dressed in a business suit is laying on the sidewalk outside. There are a number of pedestrians walking over or around him and they all look upset while he looks peaceful. uncanny: Seeing a man in a suit laying on the ground on a busy sidewalk is unexpected and seeing his reaction of not caring how angry he is making people trying to walk is also unusual. entities: Nap, Homelessness. caption: I should have jumped from a higher floor.

A dark joke about suicide --- this man has jumped from a building with the intent to kill himself, but ended up not because the floor wasn't high enough. Now, he's just lying on the sidewalk being walked on.

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a front yard

A man is spraying a toaster with a hose in a driveway, with a wash bucket nearby. His neighbor is getting his attention from the other side of the fence.

There is a toaster in the middle of the driveway.

It's a classic 1980 Sunbeam.

scene: a front yard description: A man is spraying a toaster with a hose in a driveway, with a wash bucket nearby. His neighbor is getting his attention from the other side of the fence. uncanny: There is a toaster in the middle of the driveway. entities: Toaster, Hose. caption: It's a classic 1980 Sunbeam.

A play on the term "sunbeam" --- a "Sunbeam" is a type of car manufactured by Chrysler in 1980. But here, there is no car in his driveway, so it's a literal sunbeam i.e., a beam of light from the sun shining on the driveway, which cannot be washed.

4bcb03eea03a517dba19b5b52c3d0a01

a circus

A lion tamer is in a circus ring, holding a lion at bay and cracking a whip in the air defensively. One of the lions looks like it's combating the man, but the other lion is talking on a phone calmly.

Lions don't usually talk on phones, and the fact that they are so calm suggests that perhaps they are calling someone to discuss the tamer and the other lion fighting.

How many times do I have to tell you, don't call me at work!

scene: a circus description: A lion tamer is in a circus ring, holding a lion at bay and cracking a whip in the air defensively. One of the lions looks like it's combating the man, but the other lion is talking on a phone calmly. uncanny: Lions don't usually talk on phones, and the fact that they are so calm suggests that perhaps they are calling someone to discuss the tamer and the other lion fighting. entities: Lion_taming, 9-1-1. caption: How many times do I have to tell you, don't call me at work!

In a circus act, a lion plays the part of a ferocious and scary animal --- but, this phone conversation humanizes the lion by pointing out that they are only acting/doing their job. As a result, they have everyday concerns about their employment, e.g., this lion is embarrassed that their spouse called them at work and seeks work-life separation.

7b60bb40f688cdc5a83128239b1a21e6

heaven

Angels are in the clouds and playing pinata. One is taking a whack at the pinata.

The pinata is Earth.

It's not the end of the world if he misses.

scene: heaven description: Angels are in the clouds and playing pinata. One is taking a whack at the pinata. uncanny: The pinata is Earth. entities: Earth%27s_rotation, Pi%C3%B1ata, Angel. caption: It's not the end of the world if he misses.

A play on the term "not the end of the world". People will sometimes say that, if an event went wrong, it isn't the "end of the world" i.e., it's not that big of a deal. But here, it literally might be the end of the world if the angel hit the earth pinata --- i.e., if this supernatural being hit the earth with a baseball bat, it would probably cause billions of deaths and the end of the world. But if he misses, it is literally not the end of the world.

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a cafe

There is a huge anchor in a cafe. People are staring at it. A pirate is the cashier.

There is a pirate and huge anchor inside a cafe.

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

scene: a cafe description: There is a huge anchor in a cafe. People are staring at it. A pirate is the cashier. uncanny: There is a pirate and huge anchor inside a cafe. 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.

a2810a218dcd6d76bc48e53e73491217

the living room

A man is sitting in his living room reading. There is a mermaid in the opposite seat.

A mermaid is out of water and in a house.

I feel like seafood tonight.

scene: the living room description: A man is sitting in his living room reading. There is a mermaid in the opposite seat. uncanny: A mermaid is out of water and in a house. entities: Mermaid, Breast. caption: I feel like seafood tonight.

Before going to a restaurant or getting take-out, people will say things like "I feel like Italian tonight", which is shorthand for "I feel like eating Italian food tonight". But here, "I feel like seafood tonight" takes a literal meaning: the person literally feels like seafood because they are a mermaid, i.e., a half-fish.

9fc682d84a1a9a0ed66ed2faf538841f

work office

A man is sitting at a desk. he's interviewing someone for a job.

The interviewee is a stick figure.

I'm sorry, this is Tic-Tac-Toe—applications for Hangman are down the hall.

scene: work office description: A man is sitting at a desk. he's interviewing someone for a job. uncanny: The interviewee is a stick figure. entities: Stick_figure, R%C3%A9sum%C3%A9. caption: I'm sorry, this is Tic-Tac-Toe—applications for Hangman are down the hall.

A stick figure, out of place in an otherwise normal office scenario, might be interviewing for the job of the stick figure from the word game "hangman". This building apparently offers interviews for various game roles, e.g., Tic-tac-toe.

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a row boat

A man in a suit sits on a bench with two other men with rows of other men sitting behind them. Each row of men are holding on to one long handled oar and have chains on their feet attached to the floor.

It's a well-known image in history of slaves being used to power oars on ships but seeing a man dressed in a modern day style suit in that setting is unusual.

Your last job sounds terrible.

scene: a row boat description: A man in a suit sits on a bench with two other men with rows of other men sitting behind them. Each row of men are holding on to one long handled oar and have chains on their feet attached to the floor. uncanny: It's a well-known image in history of slaves being used to power oars on ships but seeing a man dressed in a modern day style suit in that setting is unusual. 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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an ocean

In Noah's Ark, there are dozens of giraffes and no other type of animal. Noah and another woman are the only humans.

In the story of Noah's Ark, Noah gathers two of every animal but here he only gets giraffes which defeats the main purpose of the story.

I wouldn't say ‘favorite’ animal...

scene: an ocean description: In Noah's Ark, there are dozens of giraffes and no other type of animal. Noah and another woman are the only humans. uncanny: In the story of Noah's Ark, Noah gathers two of every animal but here he only gets giraffes which defeats the main purpose of the story. entities: Noah%27s_Ark, Giraffe. caption: I wouldn't say ‘favorite’ animal...

Noah only takes two of each animal on the ark. Here, the defensive Noah took many more than 2 giraffes, and is being interrogated for that decision.

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the front door

A woman is standing in front of an open door in her bathrobe. A man is being escorted in by tiny angels. His hands seem to be emitting flames.

The man is floating, and has tiny angels around him. If he's dead, he shouldn't be visible.

Don't give me that holier-than-thou attitude!

scene: the front door description: A woman is standing in front of an open door in her bathrobe. A man is being escorted in by tiny angels. His hands seem to be emitting flames. uncanny: The man is floating, and has tiny angels around him. If he's dead, he shouldn't be visible. entities: Angel, White-collar_worker. caption: Don't give me that holier-than-thou attitude!

Usually, a holier-than-thou attitude is an unjustified and pretentious attitude. But here, the man is literally holy, as evidenced by the angels, halo, supernatural floating, etc. The woman's response is unusually calm given that she's more concerned with her husband's pretentiousness in coming home late, rather than the literal supernatural occurrence happening in front of her.

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rooftop

A man is pulling rabbit out of a hat and people are watching him through the windows. Rabbit looks to be in tense state and a woman sitting next to the man is making a video of the man.

It is unusual that people are watching the act through the windows. All of them have something in their hands like a phone and looks like they are all shooting this act.

4B wants you to make her husband disappear.

scene: rooftop description: A man is pulling rabbit out of a hat and people are watching him through the windows. Rabbit looks to be in tense state and a woman sitting next to the man is making a video of the man. uncanny: It is unusual that people are watching the act through the windows. All of them have something in their hands like a phone and looks like they are all shooting this act. entities: Hat-trick_(magic_trick), Dating. caption: 4B wants you to make her husband disappear.

Magicians can often perform illusions to make objects disappear. In this case, the man is putting on a magic show for an entire apartment block -- because the magic show has intersected with people's living situations, they are making requests having to do with their home life via texting the magician's spouse (next to him on the roof). One person, the resident of apartment 4B, is experiencing marital troubles and has requested that her husband be disappeared to solve her problems.

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a living room

Two people are looking into a room. They're discussing a rat reading the newspaper in their chair.

The rat is huge and able to read.

He's been on that same story for hours. I'm beginning to think he can't read.

scene: a living room description: Two people are looking into a room. They're discussing a rat reading the newspaper in their chair. uncanny: The rat is huge and able to read. entities: Rat, Newspaper. caption: He's been on that same story for hours. I'm beginning to think he can't read.

A surprisingly nonchalant response to a giant rat reading a newspaper in these people's living room. Instead of pointing out the number of odd things about the situation, the relatively benign "he can't read" is what is worrying the woman, which is funny, because obviously, rats can't read.

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the living room

A man and a woman are sitting on the sofa. The woman is upset because the living room is full of monkeys climbing around.

The room is full of monkeys which would cause a mess in the house.

Then maybe you should just tell me what you want for your birthday instead of saying you don't care.

scene: the living room description: A man and a woman are sitting on the sofa. The woman is upset because the living room is full of monkeys climbing around. uncanny: The room is full of monkeys which would cause a mess in the house. entities: Monkey, Amazon_rainforest, Amazon_(company). caption: Then maybe you should just tell me what you want for your birthday instead of saying you don't care.

People often claim they "don't care" what others get them for their birthday, but this isn't literally true: if someone got them a dozen monkeys (as pictured), they probably would be mad because dealing with the monkeys is a lot of work.

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an office

A man is sitting at a table and looking over at a dog. On the other side of the room a woman seems to be teaching math to a cat. The cat is sitting on a stool and paying attention.

The woman is attempting to teach math to a cat.

Trust me, my lessons have way more real-world applications.

scene: an office description: A man is sitting at a table and looking over at a dog. On the other side of the room a woman seems to be teaching math to a cat. The cat is sitting on a stool and paying attention. uncanny: The woman is attempting to teach math to a cat. entities: Physicist, Teacher, Anthropomorphism. caption: Trust me, my lessons have way more real-world applications.

A sad joke about drinking/loafing being more relevant to day-to-day life than math. It's a common trope that what people learn in school is not useful, especially complicated math. Here, the cat is learning useless math from the woman, while the man explains to the dog that his lessons about drinking/loafing are more relevant to the dog's life.

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a grocery store

An Amish man and a whale are standing in line at the grocery store holding carts full of groceries. The man is looking at the whale with a happy expression on his face.

There is an extremely large whale standing on its tail fin inside of a grocery store pushing a cart with groceries inside.

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

scene: a grocery store description: An Amish man and a whale are standing in line at the grocery store holding carts full of groceries. The man is looking at the whale with a happy expression on his face. uncanny: There is an extremely large whale standing on its tail fin inside of a grocery store pushing a cart with groceries inside. 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.

fa7639f7f0c1e3ba8c39a124ae726458

the doctor's office

A doctor is talking to a dog in his office. The dog is sitting on an examination table.

The dog is sitting upright like a human.

Heal!

scene: the doctor's office description: A doctor is talking to a dog in his office. The dog is sitting on an examination table. uncanny: The dog is sitting upright like a human. entities: Dog, Medical_prescription. caption: Heal!

A play on the words "heel" and "heal". A doctor might hope their patient would heal from a disease. A dog might be taught "heel" as a command which means for your dog to come and stand next to you. Here, the doctor's command has both meanings, because the dog is the patient.

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doctor's office

A doctor is conferring with a patient. He is in his underwear and floating above a scale.

The man is floating.

Is the funny voice really worth all this trouble?

scene: doctor's office description: A doctor is conferring with a patient. He is in his underwear and floating above a scale. uncanny: The man is floating. entities: Human_body_weight, Physician. caption: Is the funny voice really worth all this trouble?

When people inhale helium, their voice becomes high pitched and funny. Also, helium is lighter than air, and thus levitates what it fills like balloons. The man has inhaled helium because he wants a funny voice, but the doctor is worried about his weightlessness from a medical perspective.

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a meeting room

People in the office are having a meeting. All of them are naked.

It is unusual for people to be naked during a meeting.

I was wrong. This meeting is still boring.

scene: a meeting room description: People in the office are having a meeting. All of them are naked. uncanny: It is unusual for people to be naked during a meeting. entities: Nudity, Conversation. caption: I was wrong. This meeting is still boring.

The boss was so bored in the meeting that he had the idea for everyone to get naked to make it more interesting. Surprisingly, everyone seems to have agreed, but even everyone being naked couldn't make a meeting interesting. It's a reference to how boring meetings are.

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the ruins

Some architects are going over plans for Stonehenge. There are other builders working on it in the background.

The plans look like modern blueprints.

Tell me you kept the box and receipt.

scene: the ruins description: Some architects are going over plans for Stonehenge. There are other builders working on it in the background. uncanny: The plans look like modern blueprints. entities: Rock_(geology), Construction, Ancient_Greek_temple. caption: Tell me you kept the box and receipt.

Ancient people didn't set up the Parthenon from an Ikea-style kit, but here, they are failing to assemble it by following the instructions. Because the building is not working out, the implication is that they will return the kit, but need the box and receipt to get a refund.

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a restaurant

There is a man and a women sitting at a nice dinner table with a bottle of wine and two glasses as well as flowers on the table. The women is gazing adorably to the man who is tied to his chair with rope and has his wrists tied up also. His face looks expressionless.

It is not common to see someone sitting at a nice dinner table who is bound with rope to his chair and has his wrists bound also.

Relax. The DVR is set. You can catch the game tomorrow.

scene: a restaurant description: There is a man and a women sitting at a nice dinner table with a bottle of wine and two glasses as well as flowers on the table. The women is gazing adorably to the man who is tied to his chair with rope and has his wrists tied up also. His face looks expressionless. uncanny: It is not common to see someone sitting at a nice dinner table who is bound with rope to his chair and has his wrists bound also. entities: Dating, Physical_restraint. caption: Relax. The DVR is set. You can catch the game tomorrow.

The man would rather be watching the sports match than go out to dinner with his partner on a date. The woman is re-assuring him that they are recording the game so he can watch it tomorrow, but he still needs to be tied down to his chair. It's funny partly because of the stereotype that men sometimes prefer sports to romantic evenings.

e2e8cc8e11650dd6a3086fafb4ca88af

a courtroom

A lawyer is in court, and holding a pair of shorts in front of the judge and witness. The witness is in a pool.

The witness box has become a pool.

These are required, sir. Other people do have to testify after you.

scene: a courtroom description: A lawyer is in court, and holding a pair of shorts in front of the judge and witness. The witness is in a pool. uncanny: The witness box has become a pool. entities: Hot_tub, Witness. caption: These are required, sir. Other people do have to testify after you.

Being naked in a hot tub is a social faux pas because it is gross to think about others being naked in a hot tub before you. If a hot tub were a stand at a trial, other people might feel hesitant to go in after a naked person.

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bar

Humpty Dumpty is at a bar. It is all banged up. A bartender serves it some alcohol.

Humpty Dumpty is banged up and drinking at a bar.

And then I find out all the king's horses and all the king's men are out-of-network.

scene: bar description: Humpty Dumpty is at a bar. It is all banged up. A bartender serves it some alcohol. uncanny: Humpty Dumpty is banged up and drinking at a bar. entities: Humpty_Dumpty, Bartender. caption: And then I find out all the king's horses and all the king's men are out-of-network.

A reference to humpty dumpty; in the story the kings horses and the kings men attempt to help the injured humpty dumpty, but here, the character is in the real world and is lamenting that these helpers were out of his health insurance network, and as a result, he probably has significant medical debt and is at a bar drinking his troubles away. The caption is funny because (like the character drinking at a real-world bar), it ties the fictional character to real-world concerns.

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the desert

Several men with tattered clothing are crawling on all fours wandering the desert. They are all suffering and look lost, and are all ignoring each other.

It is strange for them all to just ignore each other and not assist each other to try to get out of the desert. They could be very deluded from the heat and can't function properly.

What disease are you crawling for?

scene: the desert description: Several men with tattered clothing are crawling on all fours wandering the desert. They are all suffering and look lost, and are all ignoring each other. uncanny: It is strange for them all to just ignore each other and not assist each other to try to get out of the desert. They could be very deluded from the heat and can't function properly. entities: Getting_lost, Crowd. caption: What disease are you crawling for?

A play on the idea that people run marathons for charities --- people train for running events, get their friends to sponsor them financially, and then donate the money to charity; this provides both social good and motivation for running. Here, it's not a marathon, but a desert crawling competition of some kind --- the question means: "which charity are you supporting by crawling in this event?"

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the living room

A couple sit inside a living room relaxing. Outside the window are dozens of snowmen looking inside the window. The woman appears slightly nervous about this

It's unusual to see such a large number of snowmen packed in such a tight area

Great, now they all want a scarf.

scene: the living room description: A couple sit inside a living room relaxing. Outside the window are dozens of snowmen looking inside the window. The woman appears slightly nervous about this uncanny: It's unusual to see such a large number of snowmen packed in such a tight area entities: Snowman, Zoo. caption: Great, now they all want a scarf.

The woman knitted a single scarf (which probably took a long time) for one snowman; that snowman apparently told all of their snowman friends about it and they all want one. However, it's unlikely she'll be able to make so many before they melt in spring because kitting as a hobby isn't fast enough to produce at a mass scale. The caption is her regret about the kind act of making one snowman one scarf.

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an office room

There are three man in the room of an office building. One man is carefully trying to place files inside a filing cabinet. There is a tiger on a leash sitting on top of the filing cabinet.

There is a wild tiger inside of an office building.

You know, I'm gonna miss this when we go paperless.

scene: an office room description: There are three man in the room of an office building. One man is carefully trying to place files inside a filing cabinet. There is a tiger on a leash sitting on top of the filing cabinet. uncanny: There is a wild tiger inside of an office building. entities: Tiger, Captivity. caption: You know, I'm gonna miss this when we go paperless.

An absurd joke about the purported disadvantages of modernizing paperwork to be all digital. More usual potential downsides of going paperless relate to nostalgia, e.g., dropping a letter off at the post office instead of emailing. But here, without physical paper, employees wouldn't have to deal with the tiger on the file cabinet, which is apparently a tradition at this company.

38ae7d849b2e85b1b541eccedc9bbceb

apartment complex

A woman in professional attire is speaking to a young, interracial couple as she gestures towards a series of townhouses. The middle building appears to be a set of washers, with a door present on the bottom one.

Buildings aren't typically composed of huge industrial sized washing machines. People typically don't live inside washing machines.

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

scene: apartment complex description: A woman in professional attire is speaking to a young, interracial couple as she gestures towards a series of townhouses. The middle building appears to be a set of washers, with a door present on the bottom one. uncanny: Buildings aren't typically composed of huge industrial sized washing machines. People typically don't live inside 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 front yard

A man is watering and spraying off a toaster. Another man stares at him.

Toasters shouldn't be hosed off.

It's a classic 1980 Sunbeam.

scene: the front yard description: A man is watering and spraying off a toaster. Another man stares at him. uncanny: Toasters shouldn't be hosed off. entities: Toaster, Car_wash. caption: It's a classic 1980 Sunbeam.

A play on the term "sunbeam" --- a "Sunbeam" is a type of car manufactured by Chrysler in 1980. But here, there is no car in his driveway, so it's a literal sunbeam i.e., a beam of light from the sun shining on the driveway, which cannot be washed.

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a cave

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 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, Digging. 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 road

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: a road 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, Ancient_Roman_architecture. 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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Garden of Eden

Adam and Eve are naked in a garden. A hand is coming out of the clouds pointing at them. They are running away from it and Adam is carrying a cellphone.

Adam is talking on a cellphone. Cellphones were not around in biblical times.

Listen, Satan, can I call you back?

scene: Garden of Eden description: Adam and Eve are naked in a garden. A hand is coming out of the clouds pointing at them. They are running away from it and Adam is carrying a cellphone. uncanny: Adam is talking on a cellphone. Cellphones were not around in biblical times. entities: God, Adam_and_Eve. caption: Listen, Satan, can I call you back?

Adam and eve, when they were kicked out of the garden of eden, sided with satan's temptation; in this case, adam is literally talking on a cell phone to satan, which unusual/humorous for the literal beginning of time.

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a counseling office

A woman speaks to a man in his office. There is another man who is sitting in a chair at the side of the wall.

Sitting on the side of the wall defies all laws of gravity.

I take it you don’t share the same bed.

scene: a counseling office description: A woman speaks to a man in his office. There is another man who is sitting in a chair at the side of the wall. uncanny: Sitting on the side of the wall defies all laws of gravity. entities: Divorce, Legal_separation. caption: I take it you don’t share the same bed.

The husband and wife who are in therapy are in such different places in life that they literally experience different gravitational pulls. Instead of the usual reason for not sharing a bed (emotional distance), they probably don't share the same bed because one bed would be on the wall, the other on the floor. It's a visual metaphor.

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a bedroom

A woman and a giant fly are sitting in bed reading and talking to each other, as if they are about to go to bed for the night. The giant bug is disguised behind a newspaper, and the woman might not notice the bug.

it's weird that there is a giant bug in the woman's bed instead of, presumably, her human spouse. Also, the fact that she doesn't seem to notice yet is suggested by the newspaper disguise

Two thousand eyes, but it still takes you all day to read the morning paper.

scene: a bedroom description: A woman and a giant fly are sitting in bed reading and talking to each other, as if they are about to go to bed for the night. The giant bug is disguised behind a newspaper, and the woman might not notice the bug. uncanny: it's weird that there is a giant bug in the woman's bed instead of, presumably, her human spouse. Also, the fact that she doesn't seem to notice yet is suggested by the newspaper disguise entities: Fly, Disguise. caption: Two thousand eyes, but it still takes you all day to read the morning paper.

A fly with many eyes presumably should be able to read a newspaper quickly, but it still can't. The woman is slightly annoyed that her bug spouse is spending all day reading the paper instead of doing something else.

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a restaurant

Two people are sitting in a restaurant setting. Instead of sitting at a table, they seem to be sitting at an oven top.

It's unusual to see the tops of ovens replace tables at a restaurant

The sign said home style cooking.

scene: a restaurant description: Two people are sitting in a restaurant setting. Instead of sitting at a table, they seem to be sitting at an oven top. uncanny: It's unusual to see the tops of ovens replace tables at a restaurant entities: Cooktop, Table_(furniture). caption: The sign said home style cooking.

"Home style cooking" is a category of comfort food that's simple and unpretentious; restaurants often advertise this type food. But here, instead of being this category of food, this is a restaurant where, as indicated by the tables, people must cook their own food (like at home) and use a consumer stovetop (like at home). So it's literally homestyle.

42fe37a0211517ce5a59aa80948d8c81

Piano Recital

A man is playing the piano in front of several others. There is a pool inside the piano with fish swimming.

A piano wouldn't work if filled with water like that.

This song goes out to the one that got away.

scene: Piano Recital description: A man is playing the piano in front of several others. There is a pool inside the piano with fish swimming. uncanny: A piano wouldn't work if filled with water like that. entities: Fish_pond, Martini_(cocktail). caption: This song goes out to the one that got away.

People often sing/play music about lost loves, the "ones that got away", but this expression also applied to fishing, where the "ones that got away" are large fish which people failed to catch --- the dead fish are connected to the musician via this double meaning.

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a rooftop

An adult man is in a kid's sandbox. He looks drunk. Two boys stare at him.

There is an adult man in a sandbox for kids. Sandboxes are for kids.

Isn't this the same guy who got shipwrecked in our wading pool?

scene: a rooftop description: An adult man is in a kid's sandbox. He looks drunk. Two boys stare at him. uncanny: There is an adult man in a sandbox for kids. Sandboxes are for kids. entities: Sandpit, Desert. caption: Isn't this the same guy who got shipwrecked in our wading pool?

A man who gets lost in a sandbox as if he were stranded in the desert, as depicted, is not so bright because it's difficult to put oneself in a dire situation within a benign children's play area. The kids refer to another analogous situation when the same man put himself in a dire situation (shipwreck) within a benign children's play area (wading pool).

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a house

A man is carrying a huge bomb into a room. People look at it scared.

The man is carrying a huge bomb, which is larger than him. It's too heavy to be real.

You said B.Y.O.B., right?

scene: a house description: A man is carrying a huge bomb into a room. People look at it scared. uncanny: The man is carrying a huge bomb, which is larger than him. It's too heavy to be real. entities: Bomb, Marriage. caption: You said B.Y.O.B., right?

BYOB usually stands for "bring your own booze", and it refers to the idea that people should bring their own drinks to a party. But, this couple has misinterpreted the final "B" to be bomb --- so they have surprisingly shown up to the party with a literal bomb.

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a street

There is a rocket on the ground, still smoking. A policeman is there and is writing the driver a ticket.

Somehow the police car has caught the rocket.

Sir, I just need you to take one small step out of the vehicle.

scene: a street description: There is a rocket on the ground, still smoking. A policeman is there and is writing the driver a ticket. uncanny: Somehow the police car has caught the rocket. entities: Fighter_aircraft, Police_car. caption: Sir, I just need you to take one small step out of the vehicle.

A reference to Armstrong's famous: "one small step for man" line, which was what he said before stepping out of his space ship on the moon. In this case, the "one small step" is done in response to the common police request "step out of the vehicle".

73911a36721dc9fdbca1899ed3e03918

a baseball pit

Some baseball players are watching the game from the dugout. One of them has high heels on.

A baseball player is wearing lady shoes.

I hate fashion week.

scene: a baseball pit description: Some baseball players are watching the game from the dugout. One of them has high heels on. uncanny: A baseball player is wearing lady shoes. 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.

cbe292f283700b5fdb0a338ef422a342

restaurant

A man is sitting down at a restaurant table and he has bowl of food in front of him. He is talking to a waiter about his food. His bowl of soup has someone turned into a large tornado of soup.

The soup isn't sitting in the bowl but instead it has taken the shape of a tornado.

Cancel the molten lava cake.

scene: restaurant description: A man is sitting down at a restaurant table and he has bowl of food in front of him. He is talking to a waiter about his food. His bowl of soup has someone turned into a large tornado of soup. uncanny: The soup isn't sitting in the bowl but instead it has taken the shape of a tornado. entities: Smoke, Pungency. 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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the streets

A car is flipped over on it's top as two people discuss about it. The place looks like a rundown area.

Cars are not parked by being turned over.

It’s an invertible.

scene: the streets description: A car is flipped over on it's top as two people discuss about it. The place looks like a rundown area. uncanny: Cars are not parked by being turned over. entities: Traffic_collision, Bystander_effect. caption: It’s an invertible.

A play on words between "invertible" and "convertible" -- people often brag about their convertible cars, but here, the person's car is upside-down so he's weirdly bragging about his "invertible" instead (though such a car would probably be useless)

124110ad769bed0c9d90e6c0719d35c3

a music studio

Two people are sitting at a sound board. In the booth, there are many animals. Each are playing a musical instrument.

Animals don't congregate like that, and are not musicians.

We should be able to finish the album today, as long as no one rings the doorbell.

scene: a music studio description: Two people are sitting at a sound board. In the booth, there are many animals. Each are playing a musical instrument. uncanny: Animals don't congregate like that, and are not musicians. entities: Cat, Dog. caption: We should be able to finish the album today, as long as no one rings the doorbell.

When a doorbell rings, its common for dogs to become startled, stop everything they are doing, and bark loudly: in this case, that would set a chain reaction of havoc off -- the cats would become scared of the barking and run away, etc. The recording people are confident that this is the only thing that could foil their odd plan to record this pet-band playing music.

bc8481665493f9ff888edbcb0f47eeec

a hotel room

Two men in suits are standing in an open doorway looking on as a third person is drowning in a room filled entirely in quickstand. The two men in suits don't look like they are going to help the third person out of the quicksand.

It's unusual that the entire room in this building is quicksand, and it's weird that the two men in suits looking on aren't helping save the other person because normally, the situation would call for it.

Of course, the current tenant will be gone before the first of the month.

scene: a hotel room description: Two men in suits are standing in an open doorway looking on as a third person is drowning in a room filled entirely in quickstand. The two men in suits don't look like they are going to help the third person out of the quicksand. uncanny: It's unusual that the entire room in this building is quicksand, and it's weird that the two men in suits looking on aren't helping save the other person because normally, the situation would call for it. entities: Quicksand, White-collar_worker. caption: Of course, the current tenant will be gone before the first of the month.

A play on words. A landlord might say this to a perspective new tenant (the two men in suits), while the current one is moving out. But here, the joke takes a dark turn: "gone" here means that the currant tenant (currently drowning in quicksand) will be dead.

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a science lab

A mouse is wearing a jetpack and cheating at a maze. Two scientists stare at him.

The mouse is wearing a jetpack to cheat at the maze. Mice are not that intelligent.

Let's just give him the damn cheese.

scene: a science lab description: A mouse is wearing a jetpack and cheating at a maze. Two scientists stare at him. uncanny: The mouse is wearing a jetpack to cheat at the maze. Mice are not that intelligent. entities: Tryon%27s_Rat_Experiment, Laboratory_mouse. caption: Let's just give him the damn cheese.

Scientists often run mice through mazes as part of science experiments, but here, the mouse in the experiment has not only solved the maze, but has solved the maze by transcending the experiment and building a jet pack --- the scientists decide that this subject has done more than enough, and should just be given the cheese which acts as a reward in the maze because this mouse has gone above and beyond.

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a tree

A woman is looking at a tree with a beehive attached to it. There is a man's face peering out from the beehive.

It is impossible for a man to fit inside a small beehive.

It's small, but it has a sense of community.

scene: a tree description: A woman is looking at a tree with a beehive attached to it. There is a man's face peering out from the beehive. uncanny: It is impossible for a man to fit inside a small beehive. entities: Beehive, Human_head. caption: It's small, but it has a sense of community.

People weigh different factors in their housing, e.g., size, community, but this man's priorities are odd. The man has invited the woman over to his house and is explaining why he lives in a beehive: he explains that while his place is small (much smaller than a more usual studio apartment), he likes the sense of community (i.e., the bee community: bees live in close, hierarchical communities).

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street

Two men are having a duel in the middle of a western town. One of the men is ready to pull out his gun while the other is holding just a balloon.

In a duel, two men try quickly to kill one another but here one of the men only has a balloon for protection which is absurd.

That's why they call him The Kid.

scene: street description: Two men are having a duel in the middle of a western town. One of the men is ready to pull out his gun while the other is holding just a balloon. uncanny: In a duel, two men try quickly to kill one another but here one of the men only has a balloon for protection which is absurd. entities: Shootout, Noon#Solar_noon. caption: That's why they call him The Kid.

A reference to the outlaw "Billy the Kid", who got his name because his face/appearance looked useful, but this person is called "The Kid" because they are acting like a child by bringing a balloon to a shootout in the wild west town. It's humorous partly because we expect him to lose the duel with the person with a gun, but he has somehow survived long enough to get a nickname.

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an apartment complex

A robed man opens the front door of his apartment to see a lot of the world going past him. Someone brought their desk out in front of his steps to work, and a lot of people are walking past his apartment.

Someone bringing out their work desk to work outside, let alone in front of someone's apartment, isn't right.

Honey, can you close the door? I'm in a meeting.

scene: an apartment complex description: A robed man opens the front door of his apartment to see a lot of the world going past him. Someone brought their desk out in front of his steps to work, and a lot of people are walking past his apartment. uncanny: Someone bringing out their work desk to work outside, let alone in front of someone's apartment, isn't right. entities: Mask, Telecommuting. caption: Honey, can you close the door? I'm in a meeting.

A joke about being distracted while working from home. Since the COVID-19 pandemic, people have had to negotiate with their partners for working space at home --- this person is working on the sidewalk (which is presumably noisy/distracting), but humorously, is still most distracted by his partner opening the door to their house.

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airplane

A man is on an airplane with another man. He is wearing some baggage and a bunch of layers of clothes. The man next to him is getting crushed.

The man is wearing his baggage, which makes no sense.

And the worst part is this isn't my luggage.

scene: airplane description: A man is on an airplane with another man. He is wearing some baggage and a bunch of layers of clothes. The man next to him is getting crushed. uncanny: The man is wearing his baggage, which makes no sense. entities: Hand_luggage, Human. caption: And the worst part is this isn't my luggage.

Airplanes are often cramped spaces, and this joke takes that idea to an extreme: somehow, this passenger has been trapped in luggage (that has perhaps fallen from an overhead compartment) that isn't even his.

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a doctor's office

A man is sitting on an examination table in a doctor's office talking to a doctor. The man has a large snake wrapped around his entire body. The man seems somewhat worried. The doctor is dressed in sweatpants and tennis shoes.

It's odd to see a man sitting in a doctor's office with a large snake wrapped around him and still be living. It's not a condition that needs diagnosing by a doctor. The doctor is dressed very informally.

What we have here is a reptile dysfuntion.

scene: a doctor's office description: A man is sitting on an examination table in a doctor's office talking to a doctor. The man has a large snake wrapped around his entire body. The man seems somewhat worried. The doctor is dressed in sweatpants and tennis shoes. uncanny: It's odd to see a man sitting in a doctor's office with a large snake wrapped around him and still be living. It's not a condition that needs diagnosing by a doctor. The doctor is dressed very informally. entities: Snake, Physician. caption: What we have here is a reptile dysfuntion.

A play on the term "erectile dysfunction," which is a medical diagnosis that people sometimes receive. In addition to being a simple pun that addresses the snake around the man, there's a slight crudeness to the joke because snakes look somewhat phallic.

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a playground

Some people are at a playground. The adults are going down the slides, and one of them is talking to a child.

It would normally be the kids playing on the slides.

The judge ordered a short recess.

scene: a playground description: Some people are at a playground. The adults are going down the slides, and one of them is talking to a child. uncanny: It would normally be the kids playing on the slides. entities: Playground_slide, Recess_(break). caption: The judge ordered a short recess.

A play on the term "recess" --- for school-aged children, recess is a break that usually involves playing outside on a playground. In the legal world, a "recess" simply refers to a break in a trial. Surprisingly the adult lawyers depicted have decided to use the recess from their trial to play on a playground, as if their recess was the same as child recess.

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road

A number of cars are piled up. The drivers look confused.

Cars don't stack up neatly like that in an accident.

I hope this guy Knievel knows what he's doing.

scene: road description: A number of cars are piled up. The drivers look confused. uncanny: Cars don't stack up neatly like that in an accident. entities: Car, Traffic. caption: I hope this guy Knievel knows what he's doing.

A reference to Evil Knievel, a stuntman who jumps motorcycles over cars. This pile of cars is going to be an obstacle in an Evil Knievel stunt, and the man in the top car is hoping that the stuntman coordinating this both knows how to jump over and also how to get the drivers out of this precarious situation.

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heaven

Some angels are sitting on a cloud. There is a politician angel campaigning on a pulpit.

There is a pulpit in heaven.

I just don't care that much about Medicare anymore.

scene: heaven description: Some angels are sitting on a cloud. There is a politician angel campaigning on a pulpit. uncanny: There is a pulpit in heaven. entities: Sermon, Politics, Angel. caption: I just don't care that much about Medicare anymore.

US politicians constantly argue about whether or not the government should provide healthcare (medicare) or not --- the debate has been going on for decades, so long, that the utility of the debate for this politician is no longer. He has literally died and gone to heaven, and while he's still doing political campaigns, the issue isn't as pressing post-death because healthcare isn't needed for those who have already died.

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a reception desk

There is a man sitting at a receptionist desk. He is talking to the devil while God waits behind the door in an office.

Supernatural beings are in an office with one another.

Oh, yeah, we go way back.

scene: a reception desk description: There is a man sitting at a receptionist desk. He is talking to the devil while God waits behind the door in an office. uncanny: Supernatural beings are in an office with one another. entities: Receptionist, God, Devil. caption: Oh, yeah, we go way back.

When people go to meetings with important people, they may need to deal with a secretary that doesn't understand that the two have prior history. Here, satan and god have a famous and long history that goes way back --- in christian theology, the devil vs. god represents the fundamental struggle of evil versus good, and it's funny to see them personified and meeting in an everyday office meeting.

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a presentation

A man is giving a TED talk to the audience. He has a picture on the wall of himself in lingerie.

The picture seems inappropriate for this kind of setting.

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

scene: a presentation description: A man is giving a TED talk to the audience. He has a picture on the wall of himself in lingerie. uncanny: The picture seems inappropriate for this kind of setting. entities: TED_(conference), Femininity, Man. 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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a beach

A woman in a bikini is sunning herself on a beach towel under a striped umbrella on the sand near the ocean. A man is inside a large cardboard box at the corner of her towel.

It's very unusual to see a man in a box on the beach on top of someone's towel.

How's my pallor coming along?

scene: a beach description: A woman in a bikini is sunning herself on a beach towel under a striped umbrella on the sand near the ocean. A man is inside a large cardboard box at the corner of her towel. uncanny: It's very unusual to see a man in a box on the beach on top of someone's towel. entities: Sun_tanning, Cardboard_box. caption: How's my pallor coming along?

When people sit on the beach in the sun, they are often doing so to tan their skin, and will ask people "how their tan is coming along." This man humorously flips things around: he's on the beach next to the tanning person, but he's inside of a box working on his "pallor", which isn't something people usually work on, they usually work towards the opposite (tan). This funny inversion makes us wonder: is this man too tan?

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a bar

A man in a hazmat suit is at a bar. A man in a tie is taring at him.

There is a man wearing a hazmat suit in a bar.

Ever have the feeling you forgot to turn something off?

scene: a bar description: A man in a hazmat suit is at a bar. A man in a tie is taring at him. uncanny: There is a man wearing a hazmat suit in a bar. entities: Hazmat_suit, Businessperson. caption: Ever have the feeling you forgot to turn something off?

The nonchalant statement of forgetting to turn an oven or burner off would be common to hear in a bar --- but coming from the man in the nuclear hazmat suit, who presumably is some sort of safety operator at a nuclear plant, is quite alarming, because it implies a nearby nuclear plant is likely to explode in short order.

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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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a living room

A couple is having a drink together but a large pen is going towards them. The woman looks uncomfortable.

Pens do not levitate at that size.

My life’s a joke.

scene: a living room description: A couple is having a drink together but a large pen is going towards them. The woman looks uncomfortable. uncanny: Pens do not levitate at that size. entities: Pen, Dating. caption: My life’s a joke.

A meta joke about cartoons: the two people in the cartoon have become aware that they are in a cartoon because they spotted the pen that was drawing them. Sometimes, people claim their life is a joke when something so terrible or unlikely has happened that it must be the universe playing a joke on them; but here, their lives are literal jokes, because they are cartoons, and cartoons are often jokes.

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a bar

There are outlines of people all over the floor at the bar. A bartender yells at the man coming inside.

There are outlines of people on the floor in the bar. There are too many of them to be real and the bar should be closed if this many people died here.

So what makes you think we need a health inspector?

scene: a bar description: There are outlines of people all over the floor at the bar. A bartender yells at the man coming inside. uncanny: There are outlines of people on the floor in the bar. There are too many of them to be real and the bar should be closed if this many people died here. entities: Chalk_outline, Crime_scene. caption: So what makes you think we need a health inspector?

The outlines of the bodies on the ground imply that many people die in this bar; the cause of death is perhaps poison or unsanitary conditions because the health inspector has been called, though the owner is in denial.

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boardroom

There are four parrots talking together at a table. There are pictures of parrots on the wall.

Parrots do not gather in groups and talk to each other in offices.

We have to stop eating the seed money.

scene: boardroom description: There are four parrots talking together at a table. There are pictures of parrots on the wall. uncanny: Parrots do not gather in groups and talk to each other in offices. entities: Parrot, Speech_repetition. caption: We have to stop eating the seed money.

Seed money is cash provided to a startup company (like the ones the birds are running); but, the play on words implies that the birds spent the seed money literally on seeds to eat, because birds eat seeds.

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office

A man is waiting for the elevator in a building. Two men with big tubas are getting off.

Nothing really seems out of place.

No, you come in on four.

scene: office description: A man is waiting for the elevator in a building. Two men with big tubas are getting off. uncanny: Nothing really seems out of place. entities: Background_music#Elevator_music, Elevator, Tuba. caption: No, you come in on four.

A play on the phrases "come in" and "four" --- if a marching band were practicing their routine, they would probably discuss particular beats on which instruments "come in," or join the piece (e.g., "on [beat] four"). But in an elevator talking to the person trying to literally "come in" to the elevator, on "four" refers to floor four: the phrase would mean that the person shouldn't enter the elevator on the current floor because it's not the fourth floor.

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a work office

A bunch of men are carrying money in carts or in briefcases. They look very happy.

There are men with lots of money in wagons and other things.

Who would have thought they'd actually give money to a bank!

scene: a work office description: A bunch of men are carrying money in carts or in briefcases. They look very happy. uncanny: There are men with lots of money in wagons and other things. entities: Greed, Sudden_wealth_syndrome. caption: Who would have thought they'd actually give money to a bank!

A joke about the bank bail-outs during the 2008 recession. Banks made a bunch of risky loans, and then were bailed out by the federal government despite their bad behavior. This joke pokes fun at the idea that the bankers feel they tricked the government as they walk out of congress with piles of cash. The irony is that banks have a lot of money, which is the contrast the caption points to.

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the ocean

A fish and a pigeon are looking eye to eye and appear to be having a conversation.

It's unusual to see these two animals together looking at one another eye to eye because one lives in the sea (fish) and the other on land and can fly (pigeon). It's also strange to have animals talking.

One of us is about to die.

scene: the ocean description: A fish and a pigeon are looking eye to eye and appear to be having a conversation. uncanny: It's unusual to see these two animals together looking at one another eye to eye because one lives in the sea (fish) and the other on land and can fly (pigeon). It's also strange to have animals talking. entities: Columbidae, Fish. caption: One of us is about to die.

The fish can't breathe in the air and the birds can't breathe underwater. The joke plays on the ambiguity of the situation because it's not clear whether this scene is taking place under water (the bird will die) or in the air (the fish will die).

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beach

A man and woman in swimsuits are under an umbrella. There is water all around them up to their arms.

The man and woman are surrounded by water up to their arms at the beach. It is flooded, which is not supposed to be that way.

I clearly recall choosing hell over high water.

scene: beach description: A man and woman in swimsuits are under an umbrella. There is water all around them up to their arms. uncanny: The man and woman are surrounded by water up to their arms at the beach. It is flooded, which is not supposed to be that way. entities: Flood, Umbrella. caption: I clearly recall choosing hell over high water.

A reference to the idiom: "hell or high water": in this case, they were literally given the choice, and despite apparently choosing "hell", they were given "high water", as depicted.

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Greece

A half man half horse is having a conversation with a half-snail half-man. This seems to take place in Greece.

The myth of half man half horse are normal but no one has heard of a half man half snail.

I see you are unfamiliar with French Mythology.

scene: Greece description: A half man half horse is having a conversation with a half-snail half-man. This seems to take place in Greece. uncanny: The myth of half man half horse are normal but no one has heard of a half man half snail. entities: Centaur, Snail. caption: I see you are unfamiliar with French Mythology.

A reference to escargot. While the centaur is a glorious mythological creature from greek mythology, the joke is that if France had a comparable mythological creature it would be a half-man, half-snail, like in escargot. The snail main is slower and less impressive physically than the centaur.

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a bedroom

A half-cloud, half woman with antennas is floating over a man in bed while holding a plunger. The man in bed is staring up at the woman in shock

It's unusual to see a half-cloud, half woman with antennas floating

In this economy, it's good to have an extra trade.

scene: a bedroom description: A half-cloud, half woman with antennas is floating over a man in bed while holding a plunger. The man in bed is staring up at the woman in shock uncanny: It's unusual to see a half-cloud, half woman with antennas floating entities: Fairy, Dream. caption: In this economy, it's good to have an extra trade.

The idea that even the tooth fairy (a fictional fairy who is said to collect baby teeth from children) needs an extra job to make ends meet is a funny contrast: one would assume that supernatural beings wouldn't be constrained by worldly concerns like finances, yet, she is a plumber.

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car

Two people are sitting inside the car. They are grasping oars, which are sticking out the windows.

They look to be trying to row the car.

This would work out a lot better if we had kids.

scene: car description: Two people are sitting inside the car. They are grasping oars, which are sticking out the windows. uncanny: They look to be trying to row the car. entities: Paddle, Rowing. caption: This would work out a lot better if we had kids.

This couple’s car probably broke down, and, unusually, now they are rowing from the car’s windows to move it which would be quite difficult. Not only is it absurd to think using oars will help move a car at all, but, it's funny that the proposed solution to their prediciment is to get more people to row, i.e., their hypothetical children, instead of, e.g., calling a mechanic.

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at home

A woman is standing in front of an open door in her bathrobe. A man is being escorted in by tiny angels. His hands seem to be emitting flames.

The man is floating, and has tiny angels around him. If he's dead, he shouldn't be visible.

Don't give me that holier-than-thou attitude!

scene: at home description: A woman is standing in front of an open door in her bathrobe. A man is being escorted in by tiny angels. His hands seem to be emitting flames. uncanny: The man is floating, and has tiny angels around him. If he's dead, he shouldn't be visible. entities: Angel, Wife_(disambiguation). caption: Don't give me that holier-than-thou attitude!

Usually, a holier-than-thou attitude is an unjustified and pretentious attitude. But here, the man is literally holy, as evidenced by the angels, halo, supernatural floating, etc. The woman's response is unusually calm given that she's more concerned with her husband's pretentiousness in coming home late, rather than the literal supernatural occurrence happening in front of her.

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a reception desk

God is sitting at a desk in a room with an open door, while Satan is in a lobby featuring a couch and a bored looking man in a suit at a desk, implied to be a secretary. There is an abstract art picture above his head, hammering home that this is a typical waiting room, even in, presumably, Heaven.

It's odd for the devil to go up to see God. Additionally, you'd expect that God (at least, the Abrahamic one) to have angels helping out around the office.

Oh, yeah, we go way back.

scene: a reception desk description: God is sitting at a desk in a room with an open door, while Satan is in a lobby featuring a couch and a bored looking man in a suit at a desk, implied to be a secretary. There is an abstract art picture above his head, hammering home that this is a typical waiting room, even in, presumably, Heaven. uncanny: It's odd for the devil to go up to see God. Additionally, you'd expect that God (at least, the Abrahamic one) to have angels helping out around the office. entities: Receptionist, God, Devil. caption: Oh, yeah, we go way back.

When people go to meetings with important people, they may need to deal with a secretary that doesn't understand that the two have prior history. Here, satan and god have a famous and long history that goes way back --- in christian theology, the devil vs. god represents the fundamental struggle of evil versus good, and it's funny to see them personified and meeting in an everyday office meeting.

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work office

There are two men in suits standing at the door of an office both looking at a desk with a medieval sword stuck into the middle of the desk. One man is talking.

It is unusual for a sword to be sticking out of an office desk.

The pen is mightier, but that looks awesome.

scene: work office description: There are two men in suits standing at the door of an office both looking at a desk with a medieval sword stuck into the middle of the desk. One man is talking. uncanny: It is unusual for a sword to be sticking out of an office desk. entities: Sword, Desk. caption: The pen is mightier, but that looks awesome.

A reference to the saying "the pen is mightier than the sword" which says that laws/written words are more powerful than physical force in the modern world. These people are questioning that saying: upon seeing the sword out-of-place in the desk, they are in awe of its physical appearance/strength. This is a funny push-back on the common adage.

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a living room

A man is sitting in a chair in a living room and there are many goats stationed around him and the room. The furniture looks to be half eaten away by the goats. A woman with bags is walking out the door and she looks angry.

It's not normal for a house to have one goat allowed in the house, let alone seven of them.

Come sweater season, you'll be back!

scene: a living room description: A man is sitting in a chair in a living room and there are many goats stationed around him and the room. The furniture looks to be half eaten away by the goats. A woman with bags is walking out the door and she looks angry. uncanny: It's not normal for a house to have one goat allowed in the house, let alone seven of them. entities: Goat, Farmer. caption: Come sweater season, you'll be back!

The woman is breaking up with the man probably because of all of the goats he keeps in the house. His response is that when the weather gets cold, she will come back to their relationship because on of the benefits the goats provide is fur for sweaters.

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the bedroom

There is a couple in bed naked. A bunch of business people are surrounding the bed working.

The two people sleeping together naked in bed are not supposed to be in a business setting.

Can't you just ignore the polls on this one and go with your instinct?

scene: the bedroom description: There is a couple in bed naked. A bunch of business people are surrounding the bed working. uncanny: The two people sleeping together naked in bed are not supposed to be in a business setting. entities: White-collar_worker, Business. caption: Can't you just ignore the polls on this one and go with your instinct?

A joke about an overly-analytical person who makes all their decisions based on data/polls, so much so, that she has hired an entire team of people to crunch the numbers on all their decisions. Her partner is begging her not to over-analyze their feelings for each-other, and go with her instinct instead. It's funny because some people over-analyze relationship situations, and this person takes it to an extreme.

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classroom

Two people dressed in lab coats are standing in front of a large stadium seating amphitheater classroom. In each of the seats there is a bird sitting in front of a laptop computer.

It's unusual for birds to be all seated peacefully and in front of laptop computers. You also expect to see human students in this type of setting, not birds.

Take away the computers and they’re just sitting ducks.

scene: classroom description: Two people dressed in lab coats are standing in front of a large stadium seating amphitheater classroom. In each of the seats there is a bird sitting in front of a laptop computer. uncanny: It's unusual for birds to be all seated peacefully and in front of laptop computers. You also expect to see human students in this type of setting, not birds. entities: Duck, Laptop, Infinite_monkey_theorem. caption: Take away the computers and they’re just sitting ducks.

A play on the phrase "sitting ducks" --- figuratively, sitting ducks are vulnerable people. The joke from the professor is that, if computers were taken away from their students, they would be incapable and vulnerable, a reference to dependence on technology. But, because the students are literally ducks, if you took the computers away, you would literally be left with a room full of ducks sitting down.

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office meeting

Some men are sitting around a table. At the head of the table, there is an electric chair.

An electric chair does not belong in a board room.

And this is our new incentive plan.

scene: office meeting description: Some men are sitting around a table. At the head of the table, there is an electric chair. uncanny: An electric chair does not belong in a board room. entities: Electric_chair, Jury. caption: And this is our new incentive plan.

An "incentive plan" is usually a type of employee compensation that rewards people financially for meeting specific performance targets. But here, the company can't afford to pay extra, so their incentive plan is the electric chair: the implication is that employees must meet targets or they will simply be killed. A dark but humorous joke about how some companies view their employees as disposable.

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Europe

Two men, wearing medieval peasant grab, are looking at a canvas depicting a completed Colosseum. In front of them is a jumble of stones, half-assembled, that look nothing like the finished project, instead appearing to be an almost done Stonehenge.

It's unusual to imply that an English sundial was in fact an accidental construction by Italians trying to build another type of building.

Tell me you kept the box and receipt.

scene: Europe description: Two men, wearing medieval peasant grab, are looking at a canvas depicting a completed Colosseum. In front of them is a jumble of stones, half-assembled, that look nothing like the finished project, instead appearing to be an almost done Stonehenge. uncanny: It's unusual to imply that an English sundial was in fact an accidental construction by Italians trying to build another type of building. entities: Stonehenge, Colosseum. caption: Tell me you kept the box and receipt.

Ancient people didn't set up the Parthenon from an Ikea-style kit, but here, they are failing to assemble it by following the instructions. Because the building is not working out, the implication is that they will return the kit, but need the box and receipt to get a refund.

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a fishbowl

Two men are sitting at their desks and working. The man on the right is working on his computer while the man on the left is turned around to speak to him. The two desks are located inside of a large round fishbowl.

The men are working inside of a giant fishbowl rather than being in an office.

My last office had a castle.

scene: a fishbowl description: Two men are sitting at their desks and working. The man on the right is working on his computer while the man on the left is turned around to speak to him. The two desks are located inside of a large round fishbowl. uncanny: The men are working inside of a giant fishbowl rather than being in an office. entities: Proxemics, White-collar_worker. caption: My last office had a castle.

A silly joke about employees who work in fish bowls --- sometimes, fish bowls have decorations like fake seaweed or castle sculptures. While in the real world it would be impressive to work a desk job in a castle, here, the castle of the previous job is just a small, fake castle decoration in a fish tank.

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party

A woman is at a party. She is observing a general, who has a paper being printed out of his chest.

Generals can't print documents with their bodies.

I was stationed at CVS during the war on drugs.

scene: party description: A woman is at a party. She is observing a general, who has a paper being printed out of his chest. uncanny: Generals can't print documents with their bodies. entities: Medal, Receipt. caption: I was stationed at CVS during the war on drugs.

It's funny because the general has a drugstore (CVS) receipt instead of a ribbon/medal on his chest. While generals usually serve in overseas wars and earn the more usual recognitions, this general served in the "war on drugs," a non-combat campaign to stop illegal drug trade in the US, and as a result, was given a drugstore receipt instead.

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