Tag Archives: silly signs

City Reflections

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I will never love another city more than I love New York, but Madrid comes close. Much made me smile during a recent visit there with my older granddaughter, including some signs.

This one was posted next to the elevator in our hotel:

My granddaughter pointed out that whoever proofread “even just taking the instead of the elevator” should probably have climbed THE STAIRS to increase blood flow enough to notice that some words were missing. She also wondered if the sign implied that residents shouldn’t TAKE THE STAIRS at other times of day. I got stuck on the phrase by the time you get to work. Does that mean work begins at noon or later? We never found out, perhaps because we invariably took the elevator and our brains never got any extra blood flow.

This poster was in the window of a convenience store:

Translation: Water with Gas and Alcohol. In Spain, seltzer is “water with gas,” so I understand that part. But GAS & ALCOHOL? Is the ALCOHOL in question vodka, whiskey, rubbing, or something else? Neither of us wanted to purchase a bottle to find out.

Notice the red-and-yellow swatch on this sign, an allusion to the Spanish flag:

As I snapped the photo, I thought how lovely it is to be proud of your connection to your country. That’s not always the case, as these photos of a box containing a knee brace reveal. Here’s the front:

And the bottom:

The last photo is blurry because I had to enlarge print that was quite a bit smaller than the two flags on the front. Is there a consumer who needs to know the international nature of this product before buying it? If so, that consumer isn’t me. I just wanted my knee to feel better (and it does).

Whatever location you’re in, I wish you a pleasant day!

Command Performance

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“Don’t tell me what to do!” I’ve said that a few times — sometimes screamed it! Thus you can imagine my reaction to these signs, which give commands I have no intention of obeying.

This one comes from a supermarket, where it hovered over a display of creamed corn:

The supermarket seems to be issuing a command to shoppers: “Don’t buy these! Can your own Vegetables instead!” Side point: If I did can vegetables, I probably wouldn’t be able to hit the rather small weight range specified in the sign.

Here’s another ill-advised command:

How do you Freshly Squeeze Organic Orange Juice? Does the Juice have private parts which you can’t Squeeze without being accused of acting Freshly? And if you Squeeze Juice, Organic or otherwise, don’t you end up with a mess, moisture and pulp flying everywhere?

Another command:

The definition of HANDICAP as a verb — for commands are imperative verbs — is “to impede” or “to make a task more difficult to do.” How do you HANDICAP an ENTRANCE? By placing sand in the hinges? Laying a speed bump in the doorway? Side (but important) point: I’d substitute “ACCESSIBLE” for HANDICAP. I’d also specify ON THE OTHER SIDE of what.

The first three signs are missing a D or an ED or an ED plus other letters. This last sign, which appeared on a van belonging to a renovation company, adds ED unnecessarily:

I’m not sure why a van, clearly transporting construction materials to a job, proclaims that it’s FINISHED PAINTING & CARPENTRY. Then again, lots of people complain that their contractor extends the work period to infinity. So perhaps a statement that they’ve FINISHED a job is smart advertising.

Here’s a command to you: Have a lovely Memorial Day, but pause a moment to think about the many, many Americans who have given their lives to preserve democracy, both here and overseas.

Traveling in New York

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I haven’t owned a car since 1975, so I pay close attention to notices concerning public transportation, the subject of this post. First is a recent headline from a publication that should know better:

Every bus in New York City carries a lot of people, but until I saw this headline I didn’t know that the Trump administration was on a bus. Perhaps that’s a protective factor. If someone volleys back at you while you’re on a bus, you’re a moving target. Side point: Is it possible to volley forward instead of back?

Moving on to subways, here’s a message that popped up on my phone:

Question: If we (presumably the MTA, which oversees public transit in New York) removed a train mechanical problem from service, shouldn’t the Northbound 6 trains run faster? With fewer delays? Also, does this notice imply that if a train mechanical problem is added, instead of removed, we’ll zip along more quickly?

Here’s a sign about the most common form of traveling in New York City — WALKING:

Lots of problems with this sign, but I’m interested in just one aspect, the reference to WALKING PASSPORT. I don’t know what your PASSPORT does, but mine is definitely sedentary.

This last sign doesn’t reflect my sentiments about my home city — except for occasional moments on a crowded bus or train when I yearn for a brief trip fitting this description:

Sadly, peace of mind is a rare commodity these days — in New York and, well, anywhere. If you locate a spot that qualifies, do let me know.

Grammarian Abroad

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Travel is enlightening — but also befuddling. Having just returned from vacation, I’m reliving my adventures by examining signs I spotted during this trip and others. I find myself more confused than ever. Here’s a sign posted on the window of a school in Venice:

Three lines are simple to decode: They teach English, French, and German. But what’s Inglese Postcoloniale? My translation app says “Postcolonial English.” Okay, which colony are we talking about? America after the Revolutionary War? Britain after the Empire morphed into the Commonwealth? A variety of English spoken in former Italian colonies?

Next is a sign my family spotted in Tokyo:

Does the collision occur only when the pedestrian is oncoming, or is an outgoing collision also possible?

Judging from this sign, pedestrians in London should certainly proceed with caution:

I’m all for Road Safety in London (and everywhere else), but killing pedestrians For your own Safety seems counterproductive.

Amid the confusion, I did find one perfectly clear sign:

Bravo, Madrid! Bravo, hotel owner! Even the most jet-lagged travelers, assuming they speak English, can understand this message. Would that all our communications were so easily decoded!

No decoding needed for this message: I wish you happy travels, on the road and in your dreams.

Why I Love New York

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I love my city for many reasons, prominent among them its mix of cultures, with interactions that are not always easy but inevitably interesting. A few pictures to prove my point:

This was taped to the window of a small grocery store. For the non-Spanish-speaking, Buscamos means “we are searching for.”

This was on sale at an iconic NYC market:

Europe (French) plus South America (PERU) equals New York.

If you’re too busy to cook, you might consider eating this:

I have to wonder what they put in an Irish Bento Box.

Not so welcoming to Japanese food is this restaurant:

I’m not sure whether they sell NO SUSHI or refuse to sell it IF U DON’T HAVE I.D. (The subtitle for this photo should be “The Problem with Bulleted Lists.”)

In keeping with the pace of life in my hometown, I’ll keep this post short and reserve the signs for Russian mathematics, Brazilian Wax, Japanese dry cleaning, and German Kitchens for another international, New York day.

So close, but . . .

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Perfection is never a possibility when human beings are involved, as these signs illustrate. They came so close but — well, take a look.

This notice was posted on a public bus. (For non-NYers, I should explain that most east-west streets in Manhattan are numbered in ascending order from south to north.)

If this sign were accurate, the bus would go uptown from 1st Street to 14th, 23rd, 34th, and then loop back to 29th before proceeding northward to 42nd. Quite a route!

Here’s one from a going-out-of-business sale:

The 1/2 OFF is clear, but UP OT?

You may not be familiar with the retail chain associated with this truck, but let me assure you it does not sell ballet equipment:

Last one:

I’m not skilled enough to swivel the photo, so I’ll reproduce the product name and ingredient list here. Count the ingredients. PRODUCT: Three Cheese Mac & Cheese. Ingredients: American Cheese & Swiss Cheese. Maybe it’s UP OT Three Cheese?

Wishing you a prefect — er, I mean perfect — day!

Perfectly (Un)clear

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Because I’m a baseball fan, the Superbowl serves primarily to remind me that pitchers and catchers will soon report to spring training. That’s why I’m posting this puzzling clip from an article about a baseball game played last season:

I’ve read Lorenzen’s statement several times, and I still can’t figure out what he meant when he said that his miss needs to be in off.

Nor can I decode this pair of signs:

It’s clear that they sell CIGARETTES. In fact, they sell All brands of CIGARETTES. But I can’t figure out why NOW is underlined in the top sign and ALL in the second, or why there’s one line under the first CIGARETTES and two under the second. Increasing exasperation? Or does the store slap up a new sign every time someone asks whether they carry a particular brand?

Then there’s this ad. No problem decoding the first two lines, but the third is another story:

How, exactly, are feet relived? If they’re selling a return trip to an earlier era, sign me up. I’d like my feet to trek back in time to relive the early 70s. Maybe the 90s, too. Definitely not the 80s or most of this millennium. That much is clear, at least to me. How about you?

Report Card

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I haven’t posted lately, unsure how to respond to the sorry state of the world. Yes, I know the world is always in a sorry state, but to me the current moment seems worse than usual. How can a blog about silly signs respond? The answer I arrived at comes from the fact that I’m a teacher. Reader, can you determine what grade I’m giving the World by reading these signs?

This was on the window of an empty shop:

Got it? If not, here’s another clue:

By now you know, but I can’t resist showing you these, the first from a 24-hour restaurant and the second from a bagel shop:

Yes, World, your grade is D-. It’s that high only because I’m being lenient. I hope you, dear reader, are moved to show your fellow humans and your planet that they’re loved, that the fix-it department is never closed, and that you’ll make things better not by returning to the past but by employing the best, old-fashioned tools: hard work, commitment, and — this time rightly without a D, love.

Help Wanted

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I’m not hiring. I’m reacting to the fact that pretty much everyone I encounter these days is tense about extreme weather, extreme politics, and, of course, the holiday season. Like The Beatles, “I get by with a little help from my friends.” But if you prefer a different method, perhaps one of these signs will suggest a path forward. Here’s one I saw in Madrid, Spain:

Poetry and psychoanalysis! A dynamite combination for personal growth and tension relief.

If poetry and psychoanalysis aren’t for you, consider the advice offered by the Irish Times in 1916, when martial law was declared in Dublin. With violence in the streets and a strict curfew, the newspaper opined:

Trouble outside, poetry inside! Wonderful thought, and a strategy that more than a few people, myself included, followed during the Covid lockdown era. Okay, maybe not the Bard, but trashy novels for sure.

Still looking for help? Here’s a sign in Seatac Airport:

I’m not sure why the sign maker felt the need to mention both Rescue and Assistance. Perhaps it’s because when things are really bad, one is not enough?

What if nothing is enough, and you’re still tense from doom-scrolling? Don’t give in! Or, as a zoo in Seattle put it:

My interpretation: It’s not the wolves’ fault! Pick your targets wisely. And maybe read a little poetry to the pack.

Checking It Twice?

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We’re closing in on the season when Santa is, as the song goes, “making a list and checking it twice.” Good idea! Too bad these signmakers didn’t make these signs and check them even once. If they had, surely they would have noticed these unfortunate typos.

The first comes courtesy of my friend Barry:

Ouch. The operations themselves must sting, but surely a little warning would help?

This photo was snapped by Nathan, the son of one of my former students. It’s on a food cart parked in front of the Metropolitan Museum of Art:

I sincerely hope no one obeys the command in the first two lines.

Here’s a screen shot I took when I was rug-shopping:

Quick question: Are the Stunning Patters made by little feet or a comedy-club emcee?

Another screenshot, from the website of a major hotel chain that should know better:

Take a close look at the third sentence, which I’ll reproduce here because the print is rather small: “Pop in, have a nap, (needs a comma) do a little laundry, take a shower, and relax in the stylish lounge before continuing on your journey.” Just what guests need in an airport hotel: a comma!

What I need, and what I suspect we all need as the holidays approach, is a bit of what these special days promise: the love of family and friends, the peace to enjoy their company, and the chance to express my gratitude for their presence in my life. Happy Thanksgiving!