in the past month or so

Amy interprets, "We didn't do anything to them but pick them, we promise."

also ok for transpersons

Lindsey saw this one in a wal-mart. The way I see it, those boots are pretty ugly no matter what your gender identity is.

unofficial

Andrew writes, "I guess they use "Official" because there are about 8 other places in the Wachovia Center where you can get a cheesesteak or hoagie. "

nevermind the underlining

Somebody really feels the need to be emphatic to that guy, "Note." I wonder how he got that nickname. Thanks, Paul.

"government inspected meats"

1) It's not inspected? 2) What a lousy slogan. 3) Thanks, Sarah.

break things more

Yeah, I've had people "fix" things for me before. Thanks, Caroline, who saw this at a Cracker Barrel.

punctuation as gaudy decoration?

Meghan says this sign for a women's clothing store in Tyler, TX has bugged her for years. And that the clothes are, in fact, gaudy.

I'm not touching you...

This matches today's post at PAN, but with an ironic twist. Go ahead. Touch it. Thanks, Paul.

it's on the web, but not good

"website" - similar to a "blog"? Thanks, Cam.

"no sex policy"

Which slogan shall we pick for our organization? I kind of like "child molestation." Dude, these are all way too good. Let's put them all in quotation marks on our van.
Thanks to Halsted who saw this outside the USS Hornet aircraft carrier in Alameda, California.

it's not that slippery

April saw this at Taoist Temple in Cebu City, Philippines. I suspect the person who mandated the sign was really just clumsy.

there's "nothing wrong with it"

I wonder if the skydiving is always voluntary, from this "perfectly good airplane"? Thanks to Gruen, who saw this in Key West.

doesn't apply to attractive people

Emily saw this at the O'Hare airport. It's good to know that at least SOME of the luggage rules are flexible.

it is kind of a dumb name for a place

Caron spotted this in Las Vegas and writes, "If they were advertising a “gentlemen’s club” or a steakhouse, I think I would be ok attributing the quotes as emphasis of the pun, but in this case, I just don’t get it." I can't even pick a favorite graphic here, they are all fabulous.

not THAT greatly

Paul suggests that this realtor shows his appreciation in cold hard cash, or perhaps in other favors.

they are home-y

Angela writes, "To be fair, they sell trail--er, mobile homes. But I don't think they should draw attention to the fact that their 'homes' are not really homes, should they?"

doesn't actually glow

It's a metaphor, so don't take it literally. Thanks, Stephen in South Africa.

"thick"

Alex saw this at Columbus Convention Center in Ohio. Typical of conference centers - you never know what you're going to get.

danger schmanger

Mark spotted this on a school fence in Queensland. He imagines the signmaker thinking, "They told me to say this, but I don't see it."

(my home internet has been a hassle the last few days, so if my posting and correspondence is even more behind than usual, that's why).

melancholy tidings

This one from Star. I guess "Glad Tidings" is an ok slogan....

unofficial

Inside: random stuff unrelated to transcripts. Thanks, James.

"house made"

Kristin saw this at a San Fransisco coffee shop. I don't know what's in there or where they made it.

hostages requested

Mariano from Argentina sends this submission, and translates "Women over 30 needed to work 'here.'" This is sketchy in a number of ways, but where are they going to send them?

if you really have to go

David saw this outside of a deli in Austin, TX. I guess it's semi-public?

telling you about the status quo

Examples of "changes": gym now features treadmills, ten pound weights weigh ten pounds, locker rooms smell funny. Thanks, J.

dishonest

Shar saw this one. I'm pretty sure that "honest" is a lousy slogan. And not very reassuring.

or whoever

Kori sent me this. I wonder if it's a commentary on the God of civil religion being only kind of like the Christian God. Or maybe a mistake.

actually ugly

actually ugly...
Originally uploaded by mirthmobile

Found just up the street from one of my favorite breakfast places. And no, I wasn't shopping.

It does lead one to wonder just how pricey and ugly that bling is.

right, "easy"...

This from Kathy on behalf of her niece Regan. I think I know those people - always trying to "help" you "organize" your stuff...

I feel "healthier" already

Examples of "healthy" gifts: chocolates, video games, butter. Thanks, Logan.

may be occupied at any given moment

Beth saw this in Peru. I'm not sure if they mean it's available or you don't have to pay, but either way the quotation marks aren't helping anything.

safety unimportant

Matt writes, "By 'safety first' we really mean high prices and huge profits first, safety a distant second." In other news, that thumbs-up graphic is groovy.

restrained by power relations

Casey writes, "After a few hours in the thrift store, my friends and I went to the counter to check out and saw this sign above a bin of what did indeed appear to be books. Never has the saying "don't judge a book by its cover" seemed so...Philosophy 101!"

potentially touch free

You know, sometimes I end up touching the sensors on those things anyway. Thanks, Jimmy.

does not actually care for days

K says perhaps they mean to say they are also open during eclipses.

always with the hardly snowflake pulling

This sticker was on a box of wine stoppers that Meredith bought at Meijer. We agree that the wording here is better than the quotation marks, maybe the QMs are there to indicate that the sticker printers didn't think it was well-worded either.

sterile-ish

Jenny writes, "This was taken at the Thackray Medical Museum in Leeds (England). Considering how old it is, the quotation marks are probably not all that unnecessary..."

punctuation in the news

Readers of this blog might be interested in a NY Times article about a semicolon.

not really a miracle

These directions from an antique french fry cutter came from Tim. While the fry cutting may be good, it is evidently not ACTUALLY miraculous. Thanks for clarifying, miracle cutter.

"yum"?

I'm not sure how good or bad this mulled wine was. Spotted by Nikki in London.

play something else

Courtenay saw this in Oregon and writes, "Maybe it's really a fantasy baseball league."

not really premium

Julie visited this knick knack shop in Coronado, CA. They appear to be trying to make unnecessary quotation marks their house style. Along with high prices for used stuff... She notes they also had several "vintage" items. "vintage" in this case code for "kind of old and beat up"

also won't enjoy space between walls

Perhaps here they are clarifying that you won't enjoy the parts of your home that you never have liked. Thanks, Joe.

it's "simple"

(click image to enlarge)
Evidently this power company does not actually want their customers to lower their costs. They seem to imply that you don't have to change all your bulbs, wink, wink. Thanks, Dan.

refreshing-ish

Evidently here you can get warm water and gooey mimosas. Thanks, Toni.

well, maybe not YOU

They can help some people. Or maybe some of their personalities. Thanks, Lindsey.

choice of fake rules

I believe that "no crocs on the escalators" is a good secret code for something. Just find an employee and say "the crow flies at midnight." Thanks, David.