sharing the life stories of immigrants, expatriates, and refugees to the United States
A drifter comes into town and asks if there are any odd jobs he could do.
What's So Funny?
The drifter misunderstands the woman's job instructions. She says to paint the porch, but he thinks she says the Porsche (which is an expensive car). Both Porsches and BMWs are expensive German-made cars.
Riddle #1
Q: Why was the number 6 afraid of 7? A: Because 7-8-9.
What's So Funny?
The numbers 7-8-9 sound like "7 ate 9" and a good reason for 6 to be afraid of his neighbor.
Riddle #2
Q: What did the number 0 say to 8? A: Nice belt!.
What's So Funny?
The number 8 looks like a 0 with a tight belt around the middle.
Riddle
Q: What did the duck say when she went to buy lipstick? A: Put it on my bill.
What's So Funny?
The expression "put something on my bill" means to charge something to one's account. The duck wanted to pay for the lipstick later. A second meaning of "bill" is the mouth of a bird, which is where a duck would wear her lipstick.
Joke #1: What's So Funny?
Ole is dying but would like to eat one of his wife's famous brownies before he dies. Lena won't permit it because the brownies are meant for the guests who'll be attending Ole's funeral. Scandinavian immigrants are often seen as very practical people. In this case, Lena is being a practical host after Ole's death instead of being a kind, loving wife while he is still alive
Joke #2: What's So Funny?
Scandinavian immigrants are stereotyped as using few words to communicate. Lena gives only the bare details to the obituary editor: Ole died. Most people would expect a short history of his life and his interests, so this is abruptly funny. When the editor asks if there is more information (because a few additional lines won't cost more money), Lena adds: Boat for sale. Again, she uses few words and is sounding more practical than loving in order to sell Ole's old fishing boat.
Riddle:
Q: What's red and invisible? A: No tomatoes.
What's So Funny?
Ripe tomatoes are red. If you can't see them, they're invisible. If you can't see them, how do you know that they're red?
Our American church sign series celebrates the humor of locally installed messages. Churches often use their signs to announce events, but this one simply posted a joke. The image below is repeated from the full television episode with Christine Lee. Do you get what's so funny?
Background
Many people accept information on the internet without thinking critically. This leaves them susceptible to misinformation and outright lies. Consumer groups warn that individuals should not not believe everything they read.
What's So Funny?
This sign contains a message to dishonest bloggers to stop making up quotations. However, it is "signed" by Mark Twain, an American writer who died long before computers were invented.
Our American church sign series celebrates the humor--intentional and unintentional--of locally installed signage. Sometimes churches use this space to announce events, but this one tries to give a message of comfort. The image is repeated below from the full television episode. Do you get what's so funny?
Background
Some people worry so much that it causes severe problems with their health. The first line in this notice acknowledges that.
What's So Funny?
This sign contains an unintentional mix-up with words. The sign-maker meant to say, "We can help with your worries." However, the way the sign reads, it sounds like it is saying,
"We can help kill you."
GTRI Show: Knee Mail
Continuing our American church sign series, we observe that American churches will use their outdoor signs to announce scheduled events, share upcoming sermon topics, or give advice. As a public benefit, church employees often post clever messages and give passersby something to think about and chuckle over. This week’s sign is repeated below from the full television episode. Do you get what's so funny?
Background
There is a Christian tradition of praying on one's knees as a way of humbling oneself to communicate with a higher power--either to express thankfulness or request help from life burdens. Over history in general, many people would lower themselves on their knees to show respect for authorities (like kings, queens, or other high-level leaders).
What's So Funny?
The expression "knee mail" sounds like email. The sign is encouraging people to talk to God in a traditional, non-electronic way. Even Americans who aren't religious will appreciate the cleverness of this word play.
As we continue our American church sign series, we note that American churches often use their outdoor signs to announce scheduled events, share upcoming sermon topics, or give advice. Happily for us, church employees often post clever messages and give passersby something to think about––or laugh at. This week’s sign is repeated below from the full television episode. Do you get what's so funny?
Background
There is a list of famous blessings in the Bible called the Beatitudes. (You can read all of them here.) The basic format goes like this: Blessed are [the merciful] for they shall [be shown mercy]. (The old-fashioned use of “for” here means “because.”) The person who made up this church sign "blessing" created a new category: flexible people.
What's So Funny?
This sign contains a play on the words. Flexible people are able to bend with each situation. The expression “get bent out of shape” means to become upset or angry.
In our American church sign series, we mentioned that U.S. churches often use their outdoor signs to announce scheduled events, share upcoming sermon topics, or give advice. Happily for passersby, church employees often post clever messages and give us something to think about––or laugh at. This week, our What's So Funny? segment continues the series. Do you get what's so funny?
Background
The rows of benches for sitting in church are called pews.
photo credit: Wikipedia.org
What's So Funny?
The above church sign asks us if we have terrible (stinky) lives. The church's response is an invitation to come to church and sit in the pews (and improve our lives). The sign is funny because the informal expression, "Phew!" means something smells very bad. When changing a child's messy diaper or when passing a dead skunk on the road, an American might say, "Phew, that stinks!" (Another way to say "phew" is "P.U." I have no idea what those two letters stand for.)
As we said earlier in this series, American churches often use their outdoor signs to announce scheduled events, share upcoming sermon topics, or give advice. Happily for us, church employees often post clever messages and give passersby something to think about––or laugh at. This week, our What's So Funny? segment returns to the series of clever American church signs. Do you get what's so funny?
Background
1. The expression "to bear fruit" means to give positive results (as farmers would find good harvest results after taking good care of their fruit trees). There is this quotation in the Christian Bible: “I chose you and appointed you so that you might go and bear fruit—fruit that will last” (John 15:16).
2. The expression "to be nutty" or "to be a nut" means to be crazy. Some religious people are so serious about their religion that they lose track of their social relationships, and their family and friends think they are crazy.
What's So Funny?
This sign contains two different food references: fruit and nuts are both delicious, healthy things to eat. The person who posted this sign meant to say religion can give good results in a person's life (love, kindness, good relationships). However, we shouldn't get too crazy about religion so that we make everyone around us angry or uncomfortable.
The teacher was collecting homework assignments and noticed Billy had not turned anything in. “Billy, where is your homework?”
Billy, a bad student but quick thinker, said, “Um, I lost it while fighting a kid who said you weren't the best teacher in the school.”
What's So Funny?
Billy didn't really do his homework, but he quickly thought up an excuse that involved flattering the teacher so she would be distracted from the task of checking everyone's homework.
As we said earlier in this series, American churches often use their outdoor signs to announce scheduled events, share upcoming sermon topics, or give advice. Happily for us, church employees often post clever messages and give passersby something to think about or laugh at. This week, our What's So Funny? segment continues the series of clever American church signs. Do you get what's so funny?
Background Many traditional churches talk about the negative consequences of living a bad life on earth. Chief among them is an afterlife spent in the fires of hell. Such ministers are said to preach "hellfire and brimstone" to their parishioners.
What's So Funny? This person who posted this sign meant to convey two separate announcements: the pastor's upcoming sermon topic and the fact that there is a new church musician playing the organ. However, since the first topic is a question, the second announcement looks like an answer to the question. In other words, it will be like hell to listen to the (poor quality of the) new organist.
As we said earlier in this series, American churches often use their outdoor signs to announce their schedules, share upcoming messages, and give advice. Happily for us, church employees often post clever messages and give passersby something to think about or laugh at. This week, our What's So Funny? segment continues the series of clever American church signs. Do you get what's so funny?
Background
To practice generosity, some Christians seek to donate 10% of their income to the church; one-tenth is called a tithe. A common type of U.S. bumper sticker asks fellow drivers to honk their horns in agreement with the printed messages, for example, Honk if you love the (Detroit) Tigers or Honk if you love peace and quiet. Religious drivers may have the bumper sticker that says Honk if you love Jesus.
What's So Funny?
This clever person wants people to make a larger commitment to their religious beliefs because honking the car horn is too easy.
Come back next week. We will have even more funny church signage for you to learn from!
As we mentioned earlier in this series, American churches often use their exterior signs to announce worship schedules, share upcoming sermon topics, and give general moral advice. Happily for us, church employees often post clever messages with a sense of humor, giving passersby something to think about or chuckle about. This week, our What's So Funny? segment continues a series of clever American church signs. Do you get what's so funny?
Photo credit: www.says-it.com
Background
Many expressions in Christianity involve the theme of struggling or fighting against evil. Many hymns (church songs) involve a war-time metaphor, for example, “Onward, Christian Soldiers.” Some of the evils that Christians may be fighting against are lies (or untruthful stories).
What's So Funny?
When people tell lies, they consider that truth is becoming rotten. The expression “truth decay” sounds like the dental warning about “tooth decay” (teeth becoming rotten).
Come back next week. We will have more funny church signage for you to learn from!
As we mentioned earlier in this series, American churches often use their exterior signs to announce worship schedules, share upcoming sermon topics, and give general moral advice. Happily for us, church employees often post clever messages with a sense of humor, giving passersby something to think about or chuckle about. This week, our What's So Funny? segment continues a series of clever American church signs. Do you get what's so funny?
Background
The expression "to throw mud" means to say bad things about someone. The expression to "lose ground" means to go backwards, regress, or lose position.
What's So Funny?
A second meaning of "ground" is soil or earth. Mud is a kind of very wet earth.
Stay tuned. We have more funny church signs coming!
Two Americans were out drinking and found themselves at the bus stop after a night on the town. While they were standing there, a convertible drove up.
The driver shouted out, "Parlez vous français?"
The drinking buddies looked at each other, shrugged, and looked blankly back at the driver.
"Sprechen Sie deutsch?" the driver tried.
Again, the two shrugged and said nothing.
"¿Habla usted español?" shouted the driver.
The two looked at each other and shrugged as the motorist sped angrily away.
"Do you think," said the one, "maybe we should try to learn a foreign language?"
"Nah," said his friend. "That guy there spoke three, and it didn't help him a bit."
Helpful Vocabulary
a night on the town = staying out in the evening to celebrate (with alcohol)
convertible = car with no roof
shrug = to raise the shoulders to show you don't know the answer
What's So Funny?
The two Americans spoke only English, so they couldn't understand the visitor's questions in his three languages. From their view, it's not useful to know those other languages because Americans--at least these two guys--don't speak them.
As we mentioned last week, American churches often use their exterior signs to announce worship schedules, share upcoming sermon topics, and give general moral advice. Happily for us, church employees often post clever messages with a sense of humor, giving passersby something to think about or chuckle about. This week, our What's So Funny? segment continues a series of clever American church signs. Do you get what's so funny?
Background
In the Christian Bible, it says Jesus will come back to Earth again.
What's So Funny?
If you are chatting or checking personal email at work, you are not doing your job. A coworker may suddenly shout, "The boss is coming!" Then all the workers will have to pretend they are busy doing their work. This funny sign combines the Biblical idea of Jesus's return to Earth and the boss's return to your work area. Of course, you might be able to fool your boss, but if Jesus has divine knowledge, then you can't fool him by pretending to work.
Stay tuned. We have more funny church signs coming!
American churches often have exterior signs to announce worship schedules, upcoming sermon topics, and general moral advice. Happily, the employees who change the signs often post clever messages with a sense of humor, giving passersby something to think about or chuckle about. This week, our What's So Funny? segment starts a series of clever American church signs. Do you get what's so funny?
This image is courtesy of Youth 360 Ministries, Alabama.
A common U.S. bumper sticker is HONK IF YOU LOVE ____. The blank might include JESUS, the DETROIT LIONS, or SCUBA DIVING, for example. The idea is to get other motorists to show their agreement with your message by honking their horn.
What's So Funny?
If you text while you are driving, you may be killed in a car crash. In this case, most Christians believe you will meet Jesus (or God) in heaven after you die. The sign is a clever way of saying not to text and drive.
Stay tuned. We have more funny church signs coming!
I have a riddle for you.
How do you make an octopus laugh?
Give up?
With ten tickles.
What's So Funny?
The name for an octopus's legs is "tentacles," which sounds like "ten tickles." If someone tickles us, it makes us laugh.
Feel Like You Belong is a sometimes serious, sometimes funny, always “touch-your-heart” real conversation about fitting into the American culture. It introduces guests who have made the immigrant journey to the United States. The stories–of both struggle and success–will help newcomers feel more confident in sharing their opinions and expertise, more likely to want to stay in the U.S., be more productive in their jobs, and fully invest in their communities.
