Not being American I figure I did well to recognize 16 of the state abbreviations. They just don’t seem to follow much rhyme or reason. Some are first two letters, some are first and last letters, Can’t Americans agree to do anything universally the same?
That’s actually harder then it looks…not only finding them, but actually writing a coherent scene utilizing that many state abbreviations. I remember the older Pearls Strip with all the names of the NFL football teams buried in the dialogue.
Are the they using Ne lights? And wouldn’t they have used KY jelly for the CT scan? The waitress is good – she should be in PR. I’m surprised the veteran didn’t mention his MS!
We got TWENTY-SEVEN with no duplicates: HI, NE, AL, MO, MA, PA, LA, OH, WI, AK, ME, ID, OR, CA, IN, WA, MD, CO, DE, OK, CT, SC, VA, WY, AR, IL, GA! Got an underlined cartoon for proof!
This gump is stumped, and still smiling an laughing from this and other Pearls comics…
The list of 19 that I can see… cannot find 20… then GA = 20 or 21…Help!!! :)
1. HI / Hawaii2. AL / Alabama3. MO / Missouri4. MA / Massachusetts5. PA / Pennsylvania6. LA / Louisiana7. AK / Alaska8. ME / Maine9. ID / Idaho10. OR / Oregon11. IN / Indiana12. MD / Maryland13. CO / Colorado14. DE / Deleware15. OK / Oklahoma16. CT / Connecticut17. VA / Virginia18. WY / Wyoming19. IL / Illinois20. >>> Cannot find # 20 <<<21. GA / Georgia
Every other two-letter combination, in order of appearance…
MY, GO, TO, GO, AN, ON, TO, IM, AN, IM BY, IM, TO, AT
… of which only ON looks close, and Ontario is a) a town in California not a state, and b) a province, in Canada, not a state in the US of A
BE THIS GUY about 3 years ago
Next week: Pastis will show us how Goofus and Gallant do things differently.
BasilBruce about 3 years ago
If any of them had any need for KY Jelly, they could have slipped in one more.
hariseldon59 about 3 years ago
Spelling ill as IL for the sake of the joke was a bit of a stretch.
Templo S.U.D. about 3 years ago
Hawaii, Alabama, Missouri, Massachusetts, Pennsylvania, Louisiana, Alaska, Maine, Idaho, Oregon, Maryland, Colorado, Delaware, Oklahoma, Connecticut, Vermont, Wyoming, Illinois, Georgia. Did I get them?
ImDaRealAni about 3 years ago
HI, AL, MO, MA, PA, LA, AK, ME, ID, OR, IN, OH, MD, CO, DE, OK, CT, VA, WY, IL, GA.
Hawaii, Alabama, Missouri, Massachusetts, Pennsylvania, Louisiana, Alaska, Maine, Idaho, Oregon, Indiana, Ohio, Maryland, Colorado, Delaware, Oklahoma, Connecticut, Virginia, Wyoming, Illinois, Georgia.
[Unnamed Reader - 77992e] about 3 years ago
not vermont-vt- but va, virginia. and oh yeah Ohio
Concretionist about 3 years ago
What did Delaware boys…
DennisinSeattle Premium Member about 3 years ago
At the first panel I thought we were going to work up to a glorious pun, but by panel 7 I saw it was going no WA.
Wilde Bill about 3 years ago
And I was so sure we were being set up for a pun.
Kitty Queen about 3 years ago
I was expecting another bad pun! I thought “wow I can’t wait to hear this one.”
[Unnamed Reader - 8bb645] about 3 years ago
Suddenly the old song “what did Delaware?” is running through my mind.
wheaters about 3 years ago
No. Apparently there’s 21.
Zykoic about 3 years ago
I was looking for the mother of all puns…..disappointed.
Cornelius Noodleman about 3 years ago
I live in MO!
iggyman about 3 years ago
I think it is a state of accomplishment Stephan!
Sanspareil about 3 years ago
WA the f@$%
TwilightFaze about 3 years ago
Impressive, but I know you coulda put all 50 in there somehow.
jonatha about 3 years ago
Darn. I was expecting a truly epic pun…
JoanHelen about 3 years ago
As we say here in South Africa, ja, well, no fine. I have no idea what all the state abbreviations are for the USA
A Common 'tator about 3 years ago
Do that with British Counties or French Departements and I’ll be impressed… I might even understand them…
emmapocl about 3 years ago
Hawaii, Alabama, Missouri, Massachusetts, Pennsylvania, Louisiana, Alaska, Maine, Idaho, Oregon, Indiana, Ohio, Maryland, Colorado, Delaware, Oklahoma, Connecticut, Virginia, Wyoming, Illinois, Georgia.
The Old Wolf about 3 years ago
Where has Oregon, boys, where has Oregon? She’s gone to pay her Texas… etc.
theincrediblebulk about 3 years ago
Not being American I figure I did well to recognize 16 of the state abbreviations. They just don’t seem to follow much rhyme or reason. Some are first two letters, some are first and last letters, Can’t Americans agree to do anything universally the same?
Orcatime about 3 years ago
Well played.
KenseidenXL about 3 years ago
98% of Republicans would fail the test….
Athelind about 3 years ago
That was fun.
Masterskrain about 3 years ago
That’s actually harder then it looks…not only finding them, but actually writing a coherent scene utilizing that many state abbreviations. I remember the older Pearls Strip with all the names of the NFL football teams buried in the dialogue.
Cameron1988 Premium Member about 3 years ago
My state wasn’t included
Outcault Premium Member about 3 years ago
Unexpected fun for a Sunday morning, Mr. Pastis.
rmercer Premium Member about 3 years ago
Still working on “GO”….
uniquename about 3 years ago
He should have talked sports. He could have been an NE Patriots fan. Well, he had MI looking pretty hard, but I found them all.
Neil59 about 3 years ago
Only US states? I saw “ON” and wondered if that was for Ontario.
Major Matt Mason Premium Member about 3 years ago
AR AR AR. :)
car2ner about 3 years ago
took me 5 panels to suspect it, but I didn’t read ahead wondering what bizarre pun I’d find.
kwardecke Premium Member about 3 years ago
21 states and one Canadian province ON
iggyman about 3 years ago
Sad “State” of affairs!
Huckleberry Hiroshima about 3 years ago
You could have had fun with PR. But, alas, they’re still just a territory.
NeedaChuckle Premium Member about 3 years ago
Something in addition to my usual Jumble and Cryptoquote.
kaycstamper about 3 years ago
That was fun! Kind of like Bizarro.
Mr. Organization about 3 years ago
You got me, Pastis. I was reading the comic trying to spot the (so I thought) imminent pun.
jel354 about 3 years ago
There are so MA-NY.
GuntherGrass about 3 years ago
And one Canadian province!
Zebrastripes about 3 years ago
Ha! Clever!
carlosrivers about 3 years ago
That’s just genius
SusieB about 3 years ago
Good one!
stuball80 about 3 years ago
Ohio in the fourth panel
Joseph Shelby Premium Member about 3 years ago
eduCAtionAL
ajr58(1) about 3 years ago
Grover St. Clair about 3 years ago
Now add the capitals…https://youtu.be/bx6c_EefZAQ
rorie about 3 years ago
Strip gets more and more enjoyable all the time. Thank you.
willie_mctell about 3 years ago
Ecch
_lounger_ about 3 years ago
Oh…
LaurentVaillancourt about 3 years ago
And the rest of the world just wanders away in boredom…
diskus Premium Member about 3 years ago
I thought we were getting the longest setup in history for some goofy pun
dpatrickryan Premium Member about 3 years ago
He also slipped in one Canadian province (ON – Ontario).
Goat from PBS about 3 years ago
I figured it out part way through the strip. Clever, Pastis. Very clever.
Stocky One about 3 years ago
Are the they using Ne lights? And wouldn’t they have used KY jelly for the CT scan? The waitress is good – she should be in PR. I’m surprised the veteran didn’t mention his MS!
gmu328 about 3 years ago
the waitress was Ms O’Neal
CaveCat87 about 3 years ago
Look at the bright side, Rat, at least it wasn’t a pun.
aigdawg about 3 years ago
Not Vermont, Virginia
kd1sq Premium Member about 3 years ago
Rat would have said “It’s al about me!”
shauna_hieber about 3 years ago
I got 24! … if you look at the start of words to find others.
Otis Rufus Driftwood about 3 years ago
Didn’t see that coming as his premise. I guess you have to be more inventive with Sunday strips these days.
Flossie Mud Duck about 3 years ago
Took me three tries, but I found them all.
Rosabell about 3 years ago
Excellent!! What fun!
paullp Premium Member about 3 years ago
Stephan, today you disappointed a lot us who love your puns and were counting on a good one! You owe us one!
WCraft Premium Member about 3 years ago
After reading this strip for a few years, I could tell Pastis was setting us up for another pun/word play. So I jumped to the last 2 panels.
Moonkey Premium Member about 3 years ago
He maybe didn’t cover all the US states, but he left commenters open to offer suggestions for many. I consider that a good job well done.
JohnTheFoole about 3 years ago
Wow! An edumacashunal Comeek!
AZPhinFan about 3 years ago
that was fun Stephan, thanks!
Ellis97 about 3 years ago
So, what’s going on in today’s strip?
The One follower about 3 years ago
Chill it, Steph. NO actually that was genious!!
Eric S about 3 years ago
That’s not punny.
InuYugiHakusho about 3 years ago
A nice change of pace from the usual puns.
rpmurray about 3 years ago
I thought for sure this was going to end with AL LA MO DE.
GabryelFrost about 3 years ago
This is another level of trolling.
OBBWG about 3 years ago
No WI-fi?
The Orange Mailman about 3 years ago
Do it with varieties of apples next time. Please.
Rumball about 3 years ago
Finally solved it! Meantime, the garage burned down, a meteor destroyed my car, my wife filed for divorce, and I missed church.
Ka`ōnōhi`ula`okahōkūmiomio`ehiku Premium Member about 3 years ago
That compulsion wasted my morning.
mail2jbl about 3 years ago
This is the most creative PBS strip ever. Well done, Cartoon Boy, well done!
Slatsmagee I about 3 years ago
Way to go Pastis, great strip…
BobTaylor1 about 3 years ago
We got TWENTY-SEVEN with no duplicates: HI, NE, AL, MO, MA, PA, LA, OH, WI, AK, ME, ID, OR, CA, IN, WA, MD, CO, DE, OK, CT, SC, VA, WY, AR, IL, GA! Got an underlined cartoon for proof!
Willywise52 Premium Member about 3 years ago
Wy,Pastis,Wy?
pamela welch Premium Member about 3 years ago
Good job Stephan! LOLOL
Ammo hates the comment policy Premium Member about 3 years ago
Figures I liked Alaska best, would have worked with Arkansas too…AR-15
dwkiser28603 about 3 years ago
well, at least it wasn’t yet another lame attempt at a pun
bookworm0812 about 3 years ago
Got ‘em all. And withouth looking at Templo’s post.
PuppyPapa about 3 years ago
Have you no shame, sir? Have you no SHAME?
soaringblocks about 3 years ago
Hahahaha! this is a really GOOD ONE! Thanks!
soaringblocks about 3 years ago
Gold Medal Award!
childrenspoems Premium Member about 3 years ago
I only got 15 so must try it again. And again! It’s a cute idea and a lot of fun!
Sisyphos about 3 years ago
Once on the lookout for them, they are not too hard to find. Has Cartoon-Boy run out of puns?
(Fat chance!)
vics_machine Premium Member about 3 years ago
I saw “ON” for Ontario.
21 + 1?
Timothy Young Premium Member about 3 years ago
Ah, missed Maine and Ohio. Tricky.
russef about 3 years ago
Gotta give you a AAA+ for this one Stephan. Bloggles the mind!
dgibson5959 about 3 years ago
I was hoping this was going to turn into a pun.
Jutta Tolbert Premium Member about 3 years ago
HI, AL, MO, MA, PA, LA, AK, ME, ID, OR, IN, OH, MD, CO, DE, OK, CT, VA, WY, IL, GA
murphydh about 3 years ago
Just once I’d like to see one of these build-ups to a pun that doesn’t lead anywhere, and everyone sitting quietly in the last panel.
cymusiker about 3 years ago
Genius. Will Shortz should hire you.
CynthiaLeveque Premium Member about 3 years ago
Here I was waiting for the mother of all puns!!! I like a good quiz, however. :)
Ceeg22 Premium Member about 3 years ago
MIssing the best one
mikevanv Premium Member about 3 years ago
Spoiler; list below seeking validation on #20…
Spoiler; list below seeking validation on #20…
Spoiler; list below seeking validation on #20…
Spoiler; list below seeking validation on #20…
This gump is stumped, and still smiling an laughing from this and other Pearls comics…
The list of 19 that I can see… cannot find 20… then GA = 20 or 21…Help!!! :)
1. HI / Hawaii2. AL / Alabama3. MO / Missouri4. MA / Massachusetts5. PA / Pennsylvania6. LA / Louisiana7. AK / Alaska8. ME / Maine9. ID / Idaho10. OR / Oregon11. IN / Indiana12. MD / Maryland13. CO / Colorado14. DE / Deleware15. OK / Oklahoma16. CT / Connecticut17. VA / Virginia18. WY / Wyoming19. IL / Illinois20. >>> Cannot find # 20 <<<21. GA / Georgia
Every other two-letter combination, in order of appearance…
MY, GO, TO, GO, AN, ON, TO, IM, AN, IM BY, IM, TO, AT
… of which only ON looks close, and Ontario is a) a town in California not a state, and b) a province, in Canada, not a state in the US of A
Who can help and share?
Thanks!
mikevanv Premium Member about 3 years ago
Thanks to emmapocl , #12 is OH / Ohio… and all the others increase by 1. Thank you, also, Mr. Pastis!
Totally Not a Killer Dolphin about 3 years ago
I love how Rat realizes nothing until Pig uses only one L. Two flippers—I mean, thumbs, of course, obviously I don’t have flippers, haha—up!
milokraegel Premium Member over 1 year ago
I only found 16 (first comment)