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182 Signs Seen Along the Way 4

7/29/2020

Having a lot of time on my hands, I've spent some of it just poking around among the stuff I've collected for possible use in these ramblings. Among other things, I've run across some more signs, or pictures of signs, which I've collected because they intrigue and/or amuse me. So, I thought I'd share a few of them as I have done occasionally in the past. I think this is the fourth time I've done this, but I keep finding these great signs.... Anyway, here are some more which struck me as entertaining or thought-provoking.

I don't know where this was from, but I found it on the Internet a while ago. It's, obviously, a couple of years old, but, given the reality of Uber and Lyft, it does seem to suggest that time, and perspective, can change attitudes and ideas, at least for some. I do have to confess, however, that I'm not overly fond of the whole "Uber/Lyft/gig" economy. It just doesn't strike me as particularly safe, or wise, for either party, even when we don't have a pandemic to worry about.

This is, perhaps a bit more a sign of the times, but I found it amusing:

"Big Box stores," as we all know, desire to sell one everything that he/she might need for any occasion. They seem to want to an entire mall under one roof. Apparently, this sometimes leads to difficulties and/or awkwardnesses, however, which show up in the signage ....

Perhaps it's also a sign of the times that this one makes a lot of sense:

While driving down the street a few weeks ago, I saw this decal on the back window of a car...

So, when I got home, I looked it up and discovered that it is, apparently, a "thing." Who knew?

Then, just the other day, I saw this on the back of a car at a stoplight.

So, I looked it up when I got home and discovered there are a number of variations of this out there. Unfortunately, I don't think Obi-Wan is eligible as he is not "native born," coming as he does from "A long time ago in a galaxy far, far away...." That seems too bad.

As we live in Omaha, we are used to having some sort of wind blowing at, virtually, all times. (There are occasions when I am reminded of Oklahoma! "... where the wind comes sweeping down the plain.") That's probably why I was much pleased by the idea that some unknown weather person at some Channel 12 located somewhere had developed a wind gauge system which seemed to make sense for those of us who live on the Great Plains. Check it out...

Hey, it works for me.

Sometimes, I "discover" a sign which was clearly totally unplanned, and which occurred through some sort of freak of nature. I'm reasonably sure that this is the case with this next one, but it struck me as one which was just too wonderful not to include. I think it qualifies for a second look, even in Hollywood. I didn't take this picture, but I wish I had. I LOVE it!

My most recent example from the "Did that sign REALLY say that?" folder is ...

One wonders what the sign makers were thinking (or IF they were). Oh, well...

Our older daughter, Kate, sent me this not long ago and I could NOT resist including it as a "sign of the times." I don't know that it was really a sign, in the technical sense, but it DOES make you think, doesn't it?

This isn't a sign, but a Pearls Before Swine cartoon. Still, it struck me as a sort of "sign of the times...." Or, perhaps I just like old Abbott and Costello routines.

Oh, well, even this will, eventually, pass, I suppose (hope).

LLAP

Dr. B

P.S. See you in August

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181 Thoughts on Coffee Cups (Mugs) for all occasions...

7/15/2020

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I don't know how many people, outside of my immediate family, know that I collect coffee mugs. I also have collected A&W Root Beer mugs, but that's basically been contained at five which include (I think) the standard sizes and the logos which I remember from my youth. I still would like to have one of the "sample," or baby size (3 1/2" high) mugs with the bullseye logo which is the one I remember from my youth. That would be a complete enough set to be totally satisfactory to me. This is the one I mean:

Coffee mugs, on the other hand, are another story entirely. I have mugs from many of the places (cities, states, theatres, etc.) I have been; from some touring shows I've attended; from every college/university I have any connection to; from museums; from zoos; all kinds of mugs. I even have 14 different official Apple Computer mugs, more than half of which predate the change to the solid color logo. Needless to say, a lot of these mugs I simply display on a set of shelving in my office, but even "everyday" mugs (those I actually use, as opposed to just display) are, for the most part, ones which have been collected from somewhere. I use those mugs because they are duplicates or they are among those I would be less upset about if they did happen to get broken. (Actually, Bonnie collects mugs, too, but not to the extent I do.)

Anyway, the other day I did a web search for "Coffee Mugs, images" just for the heck of it. I was astounded at the results. There were hundreds of hits providing images of coffee mugs of all sizes and shapes with a huge number of sayings and/or pictures on them. I was intrigued. So, I copied some of them and thought that I'd write a post about some of what I had found. I presume that all, or at least most, are copyrighted, but I don't anticipate being sued because all I'm doing is providing free publicity. Anyway, here goes.

I liked this one because it seemed like it applied to me.

There are a LOT of Harry Potter oriented mugs, not all of which I suspect are strictly legal, but I liked several of them. This one seemed a "morning" type.

Whereas, this one was more general purpose.

I wish that I had had this one while I was still teaching.

On the other hand, there are LOTS of topics. I liked this one because of Maggi's recent wedding.

Star Wars provided material for a number of mugs.

On the other hand, a few show several popular culture influences. I really like this one.

Some provide reassurance.

Others just speak to some profession.

Still, as a true coffee addict, I have to say that:

While there are a good many more which I have already collected, I think that that's enough of this silliness for now. I'll be back in a couple of weeks with some other crazy (?) thoughts. In the meantime --

LLAP,

Dr. B

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180 General Ramblings, Mutterings, and/or Complaints about a variety of odds and ends

7/1/2020

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I see that Independence Day is approaching and, once again, our wonderful political "leaders" feel it necessary to make sure that it is celebrated as a three-day weekend, since it happens to fall on a Saturday this year.  Now when the actual day (July 4, for those who aren't sure what I'm talking about) was on a THURSDAY, ONE day was enough for appropriate bank, postal, and other federal holidays.  But, since the actual day is a SATURDAY this year, we have to give all those people a day off on Friday, July 3 because we have to have a three-day weekend because...?  I mean it isn't as though Congress (either House) is actually doing anything anyway, but a day off they can blame on an "official" holiday, rather than just being lazy, is a "good thing."

The holiday, of course, also means that Omaha will be blessed with that ancient tradition of blowing one's fingers off with fireworks all over the place.  I will confess that it IS sort of fun to sit on the front porch and watch the rockets fly up and go "boom" all around you.  Having spent too much time dealing with only partially safe pyrotechnics for the stage, I do NOT choose to indulge.  I like my fingers just as they are and, considering some of the stupid stuff that I have done for productions, I have little interest in taking those sorts of chances at my current age.  So, I'll enjoy watching other people spend THEIR money to take a chance on removing their fingers while terrorizing local dogs, veterans, small children and their wives.

The other day, I saw an article in our local paper about how some history museums (including the local Durham Museum) were collecting stuff to commemorate the reaction to the COVID pandemic.  It included a reference to a piece by Savannah Savick, who imagined how Bill Nye the Science Guy is probably reacting to the current ignorance of and downright ignoring of science during the pandemic.  I was taken by this, so I copied it to include in this post.

I confess that that painting reminds me of a sign I copied from somewhere which touches on the same sort of idea, even though it suggests that the "magic" which science sometimes appears to be, although, of course, it isn't.

Anyway, I liked that sign, so I thought I'd include it, even though it implies that "Magic" isn't real, an idea which I disagree with. After all, the arts produce a sort of magic every day.

On the other hand, perhaps my favorite quote from Robert A. Heinlein is captured in the following and seems applicable, especially to pandemic deniers:

Speaking of signs (I've collected a lot of pictures of signs and sign-like objects), I have found a few more which I think I will include in this post. Having found this one --

somewhere, I was reminded of my long held belief that the folks who created that TV series, which ran from 1978 -- 1982, really wanted to make it KRAP in Omaha, or something like that, but knew that no network or sponsor would buy into a series with a title like that. So, they moved the station to east of the Mississippi to make it WKRP, because they could sell that. It's all complete speculation of my part, of course, but it makes a deal of sense to me, even though I certainly can't prove it; and I have no interest in trying to do so. I just enjoy the idea.

As I think I've said before, I've been doing a lot of reading while staying home for the past few months. That reminded me of this sign.

This idea has brought me a good deal of comfort during my "self-isolation" to try to remain safe during this time.  And, I expect it will continue to do so, as I have little faith that we are as close to an end to this as some would have you believe.  Anyway, it has made me think a good deal about the apparent inability of a great many people to find ways to keep themselves occupied, and perhaps even stimulated, without being able to go to restaurants, bars, etc.  I find it sad that, apparently, so many require "activity" to keep themselves satisfied during this trying time.  Yes, I like "going out" too, but I can find less dangerous ways to occupy my mind, books being one of the most satisfying.

Of course, I have enjoyed "getting together" with the others in the Omaha Sherlockian Society via Zoom, which I will admit isn't quite as much fun as our "face to face" meetings, but the Zoom "meetings" have been (and I expect will continue to be) interesting and enjoyable.

Speaking of the O.S.S., we have generally used name badges when we meet face to face, as there are, sometimes, new members and we don't all really know each other all that well.  Zoom fills that in for us, so they aren't needed when we "meet" that way.  In any case, when I ran across this picture of a name badge, I was quite amused.

I suppose that one has to be a Princess Bride fan to really appreciate it, but, as I am a fan (of both the movie and the book), I like it a lot.

Well, I suppose that I've pursued this line of thinking about as far as it's worth going at the moment, so I'll wrap this up. Still, I can't resist including one more which I found worthy of considerable thought. Maybe some will think it worthy of a moment, or more, of reflection.

Don't blow any fingers off; but enjoy the Independence Day holiday. Whatever you may think of some our Founding Fathers' personal behavior, they were a product of their times and they still did come up with some ideas which we should be able to agree are worthwhile principles, even if we have modified them according to a more modern appreciation of the varieties of human life. While the idea that their references to "all men" may have been, essentially, limited to white, male property owners, I'd like to think that most of us have progressed in our thinking to include a much broader definition of those who should be included as being "... endowed by their Creator with certain unalienable rights, that among these are life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness."

People are fallible, but sometimes their ideas are pretty good, even if those idea require some reinterpretation over time. I think that's worth celebrating.

Have a great Fourth!

I'll be back in a couple of weeks...

LLAP

Dr. B

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182 Signs Seen Along the Way 4

​181 Thoughts on Coffee Cups (Mugs) for all occasions...

180 General Ramblings, Mutterings, and/or Complaints about a variety of odds and ends

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181 Thoughts on Coffee Cups (Mugs) for all occasions...