May 27th – Family Circus: Penny For Your Thoughts

Hi everyone,

Today’s comic is Family Circus.

Comic Breakdown

“A penny for your thoughts Billy.” – Grandma to her grandson Billy

“Sorry, Grandma.  In this ‘conomy the price for that has gone up.” – Billy to his Grandma

Note: conomy = economy

What’s going on?

The expression, “A penny for your thoughts” means someone would like to know what you are thinking about.  They do not actually give you money (a penny is equal to one cent) for your thoughts.

Why is this funny?

Many children take this expression literally and believe that someone is offering them money for their thoughts. 

In this case, because of inflation (the value of things go up), Billy believes that his thoughts are worth more than just one cent.

To read about another comic that features the expression, “A penny for your thoughts?” click here.

Today’s images are from here, here, here, and here.

May 20th – Family Circus: God & Colour

Hi everyone,

Today’s comic is Family Circus.

Comic Breakdown

“Is God white, black, brown, yellow, or red? – Dolly asking her mom

“Yes.” – Mom’s response

What is going on?

God is portrayed differently in different religions and cultures.  Dolly wants to know God’s race(ethnicity) .

Is God Caucasian (white)?  Is God African (black)?  Is God East Asian (yellow)?  Is God Aboriginal (red)?

The Answer

The Bible says that God made man (humans) in his image.  This means that God is not one race; God is all of them. 

In conclusion, our ethnicity does not matter.  We are all one race, the human race. 

                             

Today’s images are from here, here, here, here, and here.

May 17th – Family Circus: Prayer

Hi everyone,

Today’s comic is Family Circus.

Comic Breakdown

“There’ll always be prayer in schools as long as there are tests” – Grandma

What is going on?

A big political issue in the United States in recent years is whether or not to allow religious prayer in public schools. 

Though the majority of Americans are Christian, the United States is officially a secular country.  American law states that the church (religion) and the state (anything related to the government) must be separate.

Why is this comic funny?

Billy’s mom is thinking about how prayer will always remain in school in some way or another even if outward prayer is not allowed. 

Students will always continue to pray, whether or not they are religious, as long as tests continue to be given.  

Even people that are not religious will always pray (or hope) to pass and to do their very best when they face a difficult task.

Today’s images are from here, here, here, here, and here.

May 13th – Dilbert: Ugly Rumour

Hi everyone,

Today’s comic is Dilbert.

Comic Breakdown

“I’m the victim of an ugly rumor at work.” – Dilbert to Dogbert

“Are you saying that the rumor is ugly or that the rumor is that you’re ugly?” – Dogbert asking Dilbert

“I’m saying the rumor itself is ugly.” – Dilbert

“Well, then I have more bad news for you.” – Dogbert

Rumor

A rumor is when someone hears something or makes up something and passes the information around like it is true.  Rumors are usually only partially true or completely false.

Ugly

The word ugly means someone or something is physically very bad looking.  It is the opposite of beautiful.

An ugly rumour means a bad rumour.  Spreading an ugly rumour means that someone is telling people bad things about something or someone that are not true.  An ugly rumour is like a lie. 

What is going on?

Someone is spreading terrible (and probably mean) lies about Dilbert around.   Dogbert was not sure if Dilbert meant false information was being spread about him or if the rumors were about people saying that Dilbert was ugly.

Dogbert’s bad news is probably that he thinks that Dilbert looks ugly.  Dogbert and Dilbert have a love and hate relationship.

Today’s images are from here, here, here, here, and here.

Note: Is it “rumour” or “rumor”?  There are two ways to spell the word rumour.  Rumour with a “u” is British and rumor without the “u” is American.   Both forms of the word are acceptable. 

May 10th – Family Circus: Mother’s Day

Happy Mother’s Day everyone!

Today’s comic is Family Circus.

Comic Breakdown

“We’re makin’ Mother’s Day cards at school!  But we’re not to tell a soul, ’cause it’s a secret!”
 – Dolly telling her mother the secret

What is going on?

Children are making Mother’s Day cards at school.  It is a secret which means the kids are not supposed to tell anyone, including their parents and especially not their mothers, because they want it to be a nice surprise.

This comic is funny because it shows how many children do not know how to keep a secret.  This means children tend to tell everyone everything.  In this case, Dolly told the secret to the one person (her mother) that she is not supposed to tell.

Mother’s Day

Today is Mother’s Day, the day to honour mothers and motherhood. 

Mothers often get flowers, cards, and gifts from their children and loved ones.

Mother’s Day always takes place on the second Sunday of May in Canada and the United States. 

Mother’s Day takes place at different times of the year around the world.  In the United Kingdom, Mother’s Day takes place on the fourth Sunday of Lent (usually in March).

Mother’s Day in North America originated in the US in the late 1860s.  It was created with the intent to reunite families that had been affected by the American Civil War.  The holiday began as a local event in West Virginia.  The holiday gained more and more popularity over the years.  By 1910, individual US states began adopting the holiday.  In 1914, the United States Congress passed the law that officially made the second Sunday of May, Mother’s Day, a federal holiday.

Today’s images are from here, here, here, here, here, here, here, and here.

May 6th – Garfield: Spring & Springer

Hi everyone,

Today’s comic is Garfield featuring the word “spring”.

Comic Breakdown

Garfield’s thoughts on getting up in the morning.

“Time to spring into action!” – This means time to get up and get going!

“Huuuuut!”  –  This means “ready and go!”

“The spirit is willing but the springer is weak.” –  This means one may want to do something but actually acting on what you want to do is harder.  Your mind is strong but your body is weak when you must act on your thoughts. 

Spring & Springer

The word “springer” is a noun.  Springer is a noun that refers to someone who springs.  The word spring has several meanings. 

Spring can mean the season.

Spring also means to bounce or jump.

A spring is an instrument (usually made out of metal) that bounces.

A springer is someone who figuratively (and sometimes literally) bounces.  To spring into action means to get up and move in a very energetic way.

Today’s images are from here, here, here, here, and here.

May 2nd – Family Circus: Dribble

Hi everyone,

Today’s comic is Family Circus featuring the basketball term “dribble”.

Comic Breakdown

“Mommy, I think my basketball has taken its last dribble.” – Jeffy

What is going on?

Jeffy’s basketball cannot be used anymore.   The ball has lost its shape and is deflating.  Either the basketball has to be pumped up with new air or if it has a hole it cannot be fixed.  A new basketball may be needed.

Dribble

The word “dribble” means to bounce a ball.  In basketball, people say “dribble” to mean that someone is bouncing the ball around.

The phrase, “taken its last dribble,” can be translated as “taken its last bounce.”  Jeffy’s basketball is broken and he cannot play with it anymore.

Today’s images are from here, here, and here.