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A sarcastic joke

Posted by SSmokey Stover on February 01, 2004

In Reply to: A sarcastic joke posted by ESC on February 01, 2004

: : : The UN planned to hold a worldwide composition competition for youth. The topic was set as
: : : 'Please write an essay on the food shortage problem in Africa in your own view.'
: : : But the topic turned out to so difficult to understand for the children competitors that the competition had be to canceled at last. Why? - because European children didn't know the word 'shortage' in the topic, African children didn't know what is 'food', Chinese children didn know what is one's "own view", and American children thought America is the world and didn't know where Africa is. ...
: : : What about your country?

: : : And would you explain the following cartoon?

: : What about lard button? Lard-bucket?
: : And walked smacked?

Lard is rendered animal fat, usually from cattle or pigs. Pork lard in particular was frequently used in pastry, such as pie crusts. Then the evil effects of too much cholesterol started getting a big press and lard started getting a very bad press. It retained its usefulness in the language as a synonym for fat in its most egregious form. Lard-bottom retains much of its strength and popularity as an insult to someone with a fat can. "Smack" is used here as an adverb. In my opinion, the joke is better described as pointed political humor than as sarcasm. The joke isn't really aimed at UN phraseology. Let's call it extended irony. SS
: Lard = fat. Lard used to come in large buckets. Thus someone with a big butt could be called lard bucket.

: Walked smack into that joke like someone walks into a wall. He allowed himself to be "set up" as the target of the joke.

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