Signs - No, No, No!

When a sign says NO, don't you just want to dig your heels in and do whatever it says not to do? There are already so many NO's in life, it just adds insult to injury. I was nearly overwhelmed on the airlines the other day with all those little circles with lines through them. Lots and lots of no-no-no's. I dislike having an amorphous sign maker tell me “NO!” when it sometimes seems so obvious that whatever they're telling me not to do, shouldn't be done anyway. It's pretty apparent they've been erected for stupid people who can't figure out that setting off fireworks in a dry forest, for instance, or putting hot ashes in a plastic trash bin might not be prudent. The people who are that stupid probably don't read either, so there's that to consider.

I wonder if the folks who make up signs realize how alienating their words can be. I'm okay with “Please refrain from …” I like polite. I'm pretty inclined to follow polite directives. Of course, “please refrain from loitering” or “please refrain from speeding” wouldn't really have the same impact and would necessitate much larger signs just to accommodate extra verbiage.

Do things like this bug you? Why not share?

Here's my collection of “NO” signs. Please refrain from making negative comments.

Days and Ways to Celebrate

A daily list of mostly obscure holidays and fun ways to celebrate them.

Ear Muffs Day

If you've got earmuffs, wear 'em now...hopefully winter's almost over. Thank Chester Greenwood for this invention.

Open Your Umbrella Indoors Day

So why is it bad luck to do this? Because bad luck will "rain" down on you. In order to dispel these old superstitions, today's the day to tempt fate, open your umbrella indoors and see what happens. I'd do this...but don't ask me to start a passage on Friday!

A Compendium of Collectives

I know this is a weird topic, but it's one I get a kick out of. You probably already know that a “collective” noun is a single word that denotes a group of individuals...like a herd of buffalo. Well, these collective designations fascinate me. A “mob” of kangaroos or a “gaggle” of geese. Unfortunately, some animals don't have a collective specific to them or the collective noun assigned to them is boring. This came to mind when I looked outside at my sister's snow-covered back yard this morning and saw a “flock” of turkeys. Flock is pretty much used for all birds … how boring. How about a “trot” of turkeys or “snood” or something a bit more imaginative? Anyhow, I spent time putting together a page on our website … just for collectives I've collected. When I couldn't find an appropriate collective or didn't like the “assigned” one, I just made one up … because I can. Here's a sample and check out the website for more.

 A Zeal of Zebras

A Trot of Turkeys

A Skulk of Foxes

A Lounge of Lizards

A Homeliness of Warthogs

A Fright of Iguanas

A Flange of Baboons

A Fistfull of Dollars

A Charm of Hummingbirds

What's your favorite? Got any improvements, creative suggestions or animals I haven't included?

Days and Ways to Celebrate

A daily list of mostly obscure holidays and fun ways to celebrate them.

Dance the Waltz Day

Dance like nobody's watching. Who cares if you misstep?

Signs: Billboards and Stores

Driving or walking along, there are always billboards or store signs that catch our attention. Some are meant to be funny and some are not meant to be funny, but they are anyway. Thought you'd enjoy a few of our favorites.  

Days and Ways to Celebrate

A daily list of mostly obscure holidays and fun ways to celebrate them.

Honor Your Pocket Day

Yup, on this day in 1590, pockets were invented. People were tired of losing their small change and keys and had no place to put their hands, so Geoffry Pocket came along and solved the problem. So, walk around with your hands in your pockets today... give thanks for the little things.