From: utzoo!decvax!harpo!eagle!allegra!psuvax!dww
Newsgroups: net.jokes
Title: terrible riddles
Article-I.D.: psuvax.1190
Posted: Wed Feb 23 15:48:16 1983
Received: Thu Feb 24 21:03:58 1983

New York Magazine has a regular competition in the vein of what
might be called "wordsmithry" of the humorous sort.  These are
collected in (currently) three books, entitled \Thank You for
the Giant Sea Tortoise/, \Son of Giant Sea Tortoise/, and \Maybe
He's Dead/.  I highly recommend these, although the last is the
only one in print.

The reason for bringing this up is that one of the competitions
was to submit original terrible riddles, many of which turned
out to have a meta-ness to them that computer types seem to
enjoy.  Some examples:

Q. Why did the chicken cross the road?
A. He was giving it last rites.

Q. Why does the fireman wear red suspenders?
A. To conform with departmental regulations concerning uniform dress.

Q. What has four eyes but cannot see?
A. A blind monster.

Q. What looks like a cat, flies like a bat, brays like a donkey,
   and plays like a monkey?
A. Nothing.

Q. Why did the moron call his mother long distance?
A. Because that was her name.

Q. What can't you teach new tricks?
A. A dead magician.

Q. Why did the moron throw the clock out of the window?
A. Who else but a moron would throw a clock out of the window?