CARTOON CAPTION/ANTI-CAPTION COVERAGE CONTINUES!

The winner of Caption Contest 137 (Gahan Wilson's shrink with patient doing semaphore) is

"And when did you first come to believe that your conversations were being recorded?"
Katherine Warwick (Pasadena, CA)

That's the 25th win for first-place California, the 2nd win for Pasadena in 7 weeks, and—get this—5 wins for California in only 8 weeks!


In Caption Contest 139 (Leo Cullum's lion lying by the remains of a doctor, with a convertible in the far background), the nominees are

"If he wasn't an internist he is now."
Matt Charron (Charlotte, NC)

"Tasted kind of mediciney."
Andrew Naidech (Chicago, IL)

"I still have room for a second opinion."
Julie Schuman (New York, NY)

My loser:

"The ones in the convertibles tend to be a little burnt, but you can't beat the convenience."

In Anti-Caption Contest 140 (Gahan Wilson's covered wagons heading for spotlights), the winner is

"They're called Conestoga wagons because--uh-oh, air raid."
TGGibbon

My losers:

"Why do I have this ol' shit-eatin' grin? 'Cause for once we ain't behin' the manure wagon!"

"Why do I have this ol' shit-eatin' grin? 'Cause for once we ain't behin' the manure wagon--we're behin' the orgy wagon!"

Caption Contest 141 is here, while Anti-Caption Contest 141 is here.


THE STANDINGS

Here is the current New Yorker Cartoon Caption Contest breakdown by state. You can find it all mapped out here.

25 California

20 New York (17 from the Big Apple)

12 New Jersey

6 Massachusetts
6 Pennsylvania
6 Virginia (three from NOVA, two from Richmond, one from Charlottesville)

5 Connecticut (two from New Haven, three not)
5 Illinois (four from Chicago—two captions by Lawrence Wood, two drawings by Leo Cullum)
5 Texas (three from Houston)

4 Georgia (includes two-time winner Carl Gables)
4 Maryland (none named Mary)

3 Minnesota (Minneapolis 2, St. Paul 1)
3 North Carolina
3 Ohio

2 District of Columbia
2 Florida
2 Michigan
2 Mississippi
2 Missouri
2 New Hampshire
2 Oregon (both named Eric, both from Portland)
2 Rhode Island
2 Utah
2 Vermont

1 Alabama
1 Alaska
1 Arizona
1 Delaware
1 Iowa
1 Kentucky
1 Nevada
1 New Mexico
1 Oklahoma
1 Washington

Map Introduction

Thanks to Andriy Bidochko for Map Builder.

Image by David Marc Fischer using Samsung cameraphone

CARTOON CAPTION/ANTI-CAPTION CONTESTS CONTINUE!

Huzzah! The New Yorker has completed its 100th weekly Cartoon Caption Contest!! I'll have a lot more to say about the contest shortly, but for now, let's go to the latest winners and nominees.

The winner of Caption Contest 100 (couple on ark) is

"Don't tell Noah about the vasectomy."
David Kempler (Island Park, NY)

There's something wonderful about the geographical source of an ark joke being a place called Island Park. (It's like this winner coming from Conception.) The victory--only the second New York State win not from New York City--closes the gap between California and New York to 17-15.


You can find a map of all the winners here.


The nominations in Contest 102 (dogs watching dog throwing stick for "fetch") are

"He's his own best friend."
Jennifer Iverson (Santa Ynez, CA)

"In order to truly master the art of fetch, you must understand every element of the process."
Daniel Kennelly (Chicago, IL)

"He identifies with the oppressor."
Ross Firestone (New York, NY)

This Firestone--is he an author? Anyway, here's my loser:

"It's tempting--but I'm too old for a fling."

The winner of Anti-Caption Contest 103 (bird-watcher with book observing black-trussed bird):

"According to this guidebook that bird is so fucking gay."
TG Gibbon

my loser:

"Bird schmird--check out the Gaza strip on this Israeli soldier!"

Caption Contest 104 is here. Anti-Caption Contest 104 is here.


THE STANDINGS

Here is the current New Yorker Cartoon Caption Contest breakdown by state. You can find it all mapped out here.

17 California

15 New York (13 from the Big Apple)

9 New Jersey

6 Massachusetts
6 Pennsylvania

4 Connecticut (two from New Haven, two not)

3 Georgia (includes two-time winner Carl Gables)
3 Illinois
3 Maryland (none named Mary)
3 Minnesota (Minneapolis 2, St. Paul 1)
3 North Carolina
3 Ohio

2 District of Columbia
2 New Hampshire
2 Rhode Island
2 Texas
2 Utah
2 Virginia

1 Alabama
1 Arizona
1 Florida
1 Iowa
1 Kentucky
1 Mississippi
1 Missouri
1 Nevada
1 New Mexico
1 Oklahoma
1 Oregon
1 Vermont
1 Washington

Map Introduction

Thanks to Andriy Bidochko for Map Builder.

Image by David Marc Fischer using Samsung cameraphone

CARTOON CAPTION/ANTI-CAPTION/CROSSWORD CONTESTS CONTINUE!

Yeah, I know: Over the weekend, Tyler Hinman won the American Crossword Puzzle Tournament for the third straight time: T-U-R-K-E-Y! But, looking over the full results, let's also note that the third place finisher, Francis Heaney, has also won Anti-Caption Contest #43, Anti-Caption Contest #74, and Anti-Caption Contest #85. Congrats to Francis, whose post-tournament blog entry is a must-read for anyone who digs Wordplay.


As for Anti-Caption Contest #91 (motorcycle cop writing out ticket to caveman with big wheel), the winner is

"So you never got a patent, huh? I had to learn that the hard way myself. Fucking pasta-straining pot. It cooks and drains pasta. Get it? Here, let me draw you a picture."
lil miss poland spring

My losers:

"This is for being on the road with an open rolling rock."

"Call me 'sugar tits' again and I'll kick your caveman ass."

And here's one that made me chuckle:

Guaranteed real-life winner: "All right, where's the fire?"
TG Gibbon

We'll see....


In Caption Contest #88 (line of salemen leading up to growling dog), the winner is

"You don't scare me. I come from a long line of salesmen."
Mike Ford (Brick, NJ)

Now the Garden State is just one win away from double digit territory.


In Caption Contest #90 ("old lady in shoe" living in red shoe district), the nominees are

"Don't ask me. I don't know what to do."
Robin Brecker (Philadelphia, PA)

"Remember back when the worst thing you could catch around here was athlete's foot?"
Charles Beckman (Towson, MD)

"Oh, the rhymes I could tell you."
Jerry Hubert (New Providence, NJ)

My loser? I'll have to check my records at some other date. [Oh yes: "I hear she had a visit from Dr. Scholl."]


Caption Contest #92 is here. Anti-Caption Contest #92 is here.


THE STANDINGS

Here is the current New Yorker Cartoon Caption Contest breakdown by state. You can find it all mapped out here.

16 California

12 New York (11 from the Big Apple)

9 New Jersey

6 Massachusetts
6 Pennsylvania

3 Connecticut (all women, two from New Haven)
3 Georgia (includes two-time winner Carl Gables)
3 Minnesota (Minneapolis 2, St. Paul 1)
3 North Carolina
3 Ohio

2 District of Columbia
2 Illinois
2 Maryland (both women, neither named Mary)
2 New Hampshire
2 Texas
2 Utah
2 Virginia

1 Arizona
1 Iowa
1 Mississippi
1 Missouri
1 New Mexico
1 Oklahoma
1 Oregon
1 Rhode Island
1 Vermont
1 Washington

Map Introduction

Thanks to Andriy Bidochko for Map Builder.

Image by David Marc Fischer using Samsung cameraphone

CARTOON CAPTION/ANTI-CAPTION CONTESTS CONTINUE!

The winner of Caption Contest #86 (golfers confronting tanks) is

"I support our troops as much as the next guy, but do we have to let them play through?"
Charlie Freund (Glendale, CA)

So it's yet another victory for first-place state California.


In Caption Contest #88 (Acme salesman lined up in front of teeth-baring dog), the nominees are

"Are you sure Mr. Coyote left no forwarding address? This is going to be quite a blow to our sales team."
John Bunyan (Cincinnati, OH)

"I'd like to talk to you about a unique opportunity."
Kim Pelkey (Philadelphia, PA)

"You don't scare me. I come from a long line of salesmen."
Mike Ford (Brick, NJ)

My loser:

"Welcome to doggie heaven."

In Anti-Caption Contest #89 (lion on phone while liontamer whips other lion), the winner is

"Warrior TOC this is BlackJack 77. OP grid 74702819. One unfriendly with whip and chair marked with VS-17 panel. Make it hot, Warrior TOC, say again, make it hot."
TG Gibbon

My loser:

"Yes, that's right. Elsa was my grandmother. And let me tell you: Everything went to hell after Born Free."

Caption Contest #90 is here. Anti-Caption Contest #90 is here.


THE STANDINGS

Here is the current New Yorker Cartoon Caption Contest breakdown by state. You can find it all mapped out here.

16 California

12 New York (11 from the Big Apple)

8 New Jersey

6 Massachusetts
6 Pennsylvania

3 Georgia (includes two-time winner Carl Gables)
3 Minnesota (Minneapolis 2, St. Paul 1)
3 North Carolina
3 Ohio

2 Connecticut (both women, both from New Haven)
2 District of Columbia
2 Illinois
2 Maryland (both women, neither named Mary)
2 New Hampshire
2 Texas
2 Utah
2 Virginia

1 Arizona
1 Iowa
1 Mississippi
1 Missouri
1 New Mexico
1 Oklahoma
1 Oregon
1 Rhode Island
1 Vermont
1 Washington

Map Introduction

Thanks to Andriy Bidochko for Map Builder.

Image by David Marc Fischer using Samsung cameraphone