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 over 3 years ago
Next week: Pastis will show us how Goofus and Gallant do things differently.
BasilBruce over 3 years ago
If any of them had any need for KY Jelly, they could have slipped in one more.
hariseldon59 over 3 years ago
Spelling ill as IL for the sake of the joke was a bit of a stretch.
Templo S.U.D. over 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 over 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] over 3 years ago
not vermont-vt- but va, virginia. and oh yeah Ohio
Concretionist over 3 years ago
What did Delaware boys…
DennisinSeattle over 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 over 3 years ago
And I was so sure we were being set up for a pun.
Kitty Queen over 3 years ago
I was expecting another bad pun! I thought “wow I can’t wait to hear this one.”
[Unnamed Reader - 8bb645] over 3 years ago
Suddenly the old song “what did Delaware?” is running through my mind.
wheaters over 3 years ago
No. Apparently there’s 21.
Zykoic over 3 years ago
I was looking for the mother of all puns…..disappointed.
Cornelius Noodleman over 3 years ago
I live in MO!
iggyman over 3 years ago
I think it is a state of accomplishment Stephan!
Sanspareil over 3 years ago
WA the f@$%
TwilightFaze over 3 years ago
Impressive, but I know you coulda put all 50 in there somehow.
jonatha over 3 years ago
Darn. I was expecting a truly epic pun…
JoanHelen over 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
emmapocl over 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 over 3 years ago
Where has Oregon, boys, where has Oregon? She’s gone to pay her Texas… etc.
theincrediblebulk over 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 over 3 years ago
Well played.
KenseidenXL over 3 years ago
98% of Republicans would fail the test….
Athelind over 3 years ago
That was fun.
Masterskrain over 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 over 3 years ago
My state wasn’t included
Outcault Premium Member over 3 years ago
Unexpected fun for a Sunday morning, Mr. Pastis.
rmercer Premium Member over 3 years ago
Still working on “GO”….
uniquename over 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 over 3 years ago
Only US states? I saw “ON” and wondered if that was for Ontario.
Major Matt Mason Premium Member over 3 years ago
AR AR AR. :)
car2ner over 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 over 3 years ago
21 states and one Canadian province ON
iggyman over 3 years ago
Sad “State” of affairs!
Huckleberry Hiroshima over 3 years ago
You could have had fun with PR. But, alas, they’re still just a territory.
NeedaChuckle Premium Member over 3 years ago
Something in addition to my usual Jumble and Cryptoquote.
kaycstamper over 3 years ago
That was fun! Kind of like Bizarro.
Mr. Organization over 3 years ago
You got me, Pastis. I was reading the comic trying to spot the (so I thought) imminent pun.
jel354 over 3 years ago
There are so MA-NY.
GuntherGrass over 3 years ago
And one Canadian province!
Zebrastripes over 3 years ago
Ha! Clever!
carlosrivers over 3 years ago
That’s just genius
SusieB over 3 years ago
Good one!
stuball80 over 3 years ago
Ohio in the fourth panel
Joseph Shelby Premium Member over 3 years ago
eduCAtionAL
ajr58(1) over 3 years ago
Grover St. Clair over 3 years ago
Now add the capitals…https://youtu.be/bx6c_EefZAQ
rorie over 3 years ago
Strip gets more and more enjoyable all the time. Thank you.
willie_mctell over 3 years ago
Ecch
_lounger_ over 3 years ago
Oh…
LaurentVaillancourt over 3 years ago
And the rest of the world just wanders away in boredom…
diskus Premium Member over 3 years ago
I thought we were getting the longest setup in history for some goofy pun
dpatrickryan Premium Member over 3 years ago
He also slipped in one Canadian province (ON – Ontario).
Goat from PBS over 3 years ago
I figured it out part way through the strip. Clever, Pastis. Very clever.
Stocky One over 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 over 3 years ago
the waitress was Ms O’Neal
CaveCat87 over 3 years ago
Look at the bright side, Rat, at least it wasn’t a pun.
aigdawg over 3 years ago
Not Vermont, Virginia
kd1sq Premium Member over 3 years ago
Rat would have said “It’s al about me!”
shauna_hieber over 3 years ago
I got 24! … if you look at the start of words to find others.
Otis Rufus Driftwood over 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 over 3 years ago
Took me three tries, but I found them all.
Rosabell over 3 years ago
Excellent!! What fun!
paullp Premium Member over 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 over 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 over 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 over 3 years ago
Wow! An edumacashunal Comeek!
AZPhinFan over 3 years ago
that was fun Stephan, thanks!
Ellis97 over 3 years ago
So, what’s going on in today’s strip?
The One follower over 3 years ago
Chill it, Steph. NO actually that was genious!!
Eric S over 3 years ago
That’s not punny.
InuYugiHakusho over 3 years ago
A nice change of pace from the usual puns.
rpmurray over 3 years ago
I thought for sure this was going to end with AL LA MO DE.
GabryelFrost over 3 years ago
This is another level of trolling.
OBBWG over 3 years ago
No WI-fi?
The Orange Mailman over 3 years ago
Do it with varieties of apples next time. Please.
Rumball over 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 over 3 years ago
That compulsion wasted my morning.
mail2jbl over 3 years ago
This is the most creative PBS strip ever. Well done, Cartoon Boy, well done!
Slatsmagee I over 3 years ago
Way to go Pastis, great strip…
BobTaylor1 over 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 over 3 years ago
Wy,Pastis,Wy?
pamela welch Premium Member over 3 years ago
Good job Stephan! LOLOL
Ammo hates the comment policy Premium Member over 3 years ago
Figures I liked Alaska best, would have worked with Arkansas too…AR-15
dwkiser28603 over 3 years ago
well, at least it wasn’t yet another lame attempt at a pun
bookworm0812 over 3 years ago
Got ‘em all. And withouth looking at Templo’s post.
PuppyPapa over 3 years ago
Have you no shame, sir? Have you no SHAME?
soaringblocks over 3 years ago
Hahahaha! this is a really GOOD ONE! Thanks!
soaringblocks over 3 years ago
Gold Medal Award!
childrenspoems Premium Member over 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 over 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 over 3 years ago
I saw “ON” for Ontario.
21 + 1?
Timothy Young Premium Member over 3 years ago
Ah, missed Maine and Ohio. Tricky.
russef over 3 years ago
Gotta give you a AAA+ for this one Stephan. Bloggles the mind!
dgibson5959 over 3 years ago
I was hoping this was going to turn into a pun.
Jutta Tolbert Premium Member over 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 over 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 over 3 years ago
Genius. Will Shortz should hire you.
CynthiaLeveque Premium Member over 3 years ago
Here I was waiting for the mother of all puns!!! I like a good quiz, however. :)
Ceeg22 Premium Member over 3 years ago
MIssing the best one
mikevanv Premium Member over 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)