The more you stare at some of them, the more befuddled you become
Some signs are certain to crack you up, some are likely to infuriate you, some send such mixed signals hardly a human being will come out of the experience unaffected. Perhaps, some would even pledge to enter the sign design business, just to keep the streets unpolluted by the atrocities you are about to see (or, on the contrary, become urban art junkies to seek out more examples of signage insanity)
Read other parts of our "Weird Signs Series", all 12 of them! We'll start with a truly wonderful vintage sign (for those who hadn't hear about electricity yet - back when men were men and most had matches.)
The sign on the right is all about hydrogen sulphide, a naturally occurring gas often found in manure pits and sewers. All who brave these noxious areas are exposed to the deadly danger. Hydrogen sulphide is heavier than air and collects in depressions or tunnels. It induces a sudden coma after which, as they say, "Death can be immediate"! One more reason to never enter such places… ever.
A few Asian ones, including some epic Temple Admission Rules (the dead and insane aren’t welcome... maybe they should find some other place to congregate):
http://lh6.ggpht.com/_hVOW2U7K4-M/SqchnPxaPUI/AAAAAAABHos/F7wtmSynLUQ/s640/76ie7utrshdtfd.jpg That's sign by an hungarian street artist, Magyar Kétfarkú Kutya Párt (Hungarian Two-tailed Dog Faction :). Some of his related works: http://mkkp.hu/parkolasirend.html http://mkkp.hu/leesik.html http://mkkp.hu/godzilla.html There are many of stuffs on his page, but most of them are hungarian-language related :)
The "mystery sign" at Prospect Mira Metro station is an icon for Greco-Roman Wrestling. This station is next to an olimpic complex built for Moscow '80 olympics, so they decorated the station with blasons for different olimpic sports.
The Anti-Monkey Butt powder is a real product, aimed at motorcyclists to counter the unfortunate effects of sitting in the same position for long periods wearing tight leathers. The same company sell a range of products with risque names, such as visor-cleaner called "Foxitorff".
AND, the Harley Parking sign is commerically available from lots of suppliers. There are "retaliatiory" signs (Suzuki parking, Triumph parking etc...) too.
The "Enter Only/Do Not Enter" one is from a Target store. I noticed it on a door of the Target in my town and always meant to take a picture of it. I never use that door because I'm never quite sure what's expected of me!
The loop road sign is in Great Smoky Mountains National Park (Tennessee), on the road up to Clingman's Dome -- there's a short tunnel at one end of the loop.
The TV Commercial Blind and the Armpit Dryer ads are not from from an old mail-in catalog, as the caption suggests, but a NatLamp parody. Drawings by Bruce McCall.
There are new building materials being introduced nowadays made with super dense formed fungus. Its apparently tons stronger than drywall, and far lighter as well.
This is wonderful! The "chair that grew" reminds me of Odysseus' marriage bed (made of a living tree, so when Penelope tells him she's moved it, he gets angry and thus proves he's really her husband).
Down here in Australia, the Boab tree of the semi-arid west has a short, squat and voluminious trunk that had been used variously as a house, jail and particularly sturdy restroom.
I actually grew up with a shaped tree in the backyard— my dad spent a couple of decades shaping a cave out of the lower branches of a mulberry, while the upper area has a fort-like feel, big enough for several adults (we've gotten at least eight up there at one time.) It was a great place to read.
When I was going to college, my dad asked if he should remove the cave. "Dad, you are going to have grandchildren at some point!"
Not to the level of these things, but it goes to show that even an amateur can come up with something lovely and appreciated.
I'll find it an real interesting experience. But isn't this really the "survival thing" out in the wilderness? Why does he have to twitter? I mean why do you really need access to the Internet out in the Yukon? Maybe that's the deal for TV and National Geographic, but it seems a little odd to me.
"hi-pitched audio alarm built in that Ed can switch on as necessary. At night, the pressure pads can give early warning if predators (larger than a rabbit) roam through the camp."
Water-Resistant, High-Resolution Bullet Cameras 'FollowMe' Remote CamerasAutomatic Capture CamerasSony PalmcorderLightweight underwater Xacti camera - whre does the energy for all those from? Does he carry all the batteries along?
That guy is an over-dramatizing idiot. It is warm, he has plenty of clothes and plenty of equipment. This isn't "survival", this is hiking. Join the nearest scout troop. They do the same thing every other weekend.
He's not 'just hiking': he needs to get his food from the wilderness. Although he has some rice and oatmeal, I expect the NGC producers to have pushed this so he will at least go for a few weeks. (halfway through he said he'd eat most of it in the next days because he was so hungry)
I checked his latest vids and he really has this malnourished desperate face, talking somewhat incoherent and generally look weak.
On cams, twitter and internet access: they're heavy and you can't eat them so they're probably more a burden then a boon.
The sunday scouts probably don't have to eat porcupine, berries and leafs to stay alive, also they don't have to sat-phoneair-rescue to get pulled.
according to the twitter account, they pulled him out, because he wasn't in a good health. So maybe Bart was right in his comment, that he had some problems with finding food or getting anything good to eat.
I've lived outside for as much as a few weeks at a time. When things go wrong you really know it. You feel it deep inside because there isn't a hospital down the street or a friend to pick you up if your car breaks down. Most folks would've given up long before this guy. He's tough to have made it so far. He probably would have fared better if he's stayed where he was where there was more food. But that's the way it is outdoors. If you make a mistake that's it, there's no going back and you have to deal with the consequences which are immediate and unforgiving. I'll wager that anyone down on this guy hasn't camped more than 10 yards from a parking lot.
he didnt make it - he was short by 5 weeks i believe. it was a BBC production originally, so if you are looking for more information search BBC - too bad i would have loved to see him make it - apparently he was starving and going a little crazy
I guess he tried but it seemed a little too amateurish. for example I don't know how he capsized his canoe in calm water, may be for drama. He should have made getting food his priority and not on twittering. They even gave him guns! As a good old Canadian boy I spent three and half months in the high Arctic (twice!) and I didn't get a cent for it. Too bad Discovery wasn't around 18 years ago, I could have been a super star! P from Montreal
He didn't have adequate training and eventually used his emergency sat-phone to call for evac. He was suffering from delusions brought on by advancing starvation.
I made it through 15 minutes of this show just a bit ago. I understand that apparently he didn't make it to the end, which doesn't surprise me. He's a moron and obviously has no common sense. I understand the whole "no survival experience" pitch, but seriously. You have a gun, you have bedding, you have a myriad of supplies... stop whining.
Started off as something that may have had some substance. There was only 4 episodes and the man started crying in episode 2. 3 and 4 were the same. Man looks for food. Man can't find food. Man cries. I probably would have cried myself out there but wathching it on tv was just painful. I beat myself for watching it through. Glad he came to his senses and went home. I loved the last scene when he was back in his hotel room. looked at the mirror at himself and of course...cried one more time...ha!
He is a very sensitive guy, not wanting to kill, missing his family and girlfriend, and perhaps he isn't cut out for what he set out to do. His undoing was his need for human companionship combined with his total lack of food. He was on the verge of having an emotional breakdown. I'm glad he left. At least he had the option to do so. To show the world his vulnerabilities/weaknesses was very brave. I know lots of men who wouldn't even consider it. I just know he's a "keeper" and his girlfriend is lucky to have him.
This show devolved into bad television. Ed has provisions, albeit spare, all the way to day 50. Plus, his producers brought him food! He didn't look like he was "starving" or anything near it. Editors could have done a much better job of showing his adventure instead of one crying scene after another. Ed is weak and it turned out...so is this show.
Started watching this, and I must say, I'm less than impressed. Expecting a show about wilderness survival, and getting a grown man weeping will do that. Better to watch Survivorman, or My dvd of Lars Monsen going across Canada. Granted he used almost three years and had dogs and a sled, but at least it was watchable
Wow, as if sailing in the 16th century wasn't frightening enough, imagine looking over your maps and seeing monsters or whirlpools drawn in right where you are positioned.
Old maps of Africa are my favorites. My dad has a print with the continent covered in exotic tribesmen and strange, uninformed versions of the wildlife.
I find it very interesting that on the map produced from Amsterdam in 1689 shows that California (which seemed to also include parts of Mexico at the time) is not even connected to the North America. It seems to be separated by water called M Vermezo... I searched for what that might have meant but came up with nothing but a park in Budapest named Vermezo (meadow of blood or bloodfield) due to an execution that took place. I wonder if maybe the original California is now under water and the state that we know it as now was later named... Hmm... very intriguing indeed! Thanks for all the great map examples!
>>That Absolut ad is actually brilliant. It's too bad that people don't know enough about history or geography to realize it.>>
In what way is that brilliant? I can't figure out what the message is supposed to be. Should we interpret "In an Absolute World" as "In a perfect world" or "In a better world?" Would it be better if they showed a map of Germany at the height of Nazi power with the words "In an Absolute World"? This has nothing to do with history at all. We know that the Southwest was owned by Mexico. But, how does that change anything, and how is the ad brilliant?
Wow, it only took 9 comments to break Godwin's Law! The ad is brilliant because it was marketed in Mexico, where there remains a bit of resentment over the takeover of the Mexican Northwest by the United States. Thus, in an Absolut world, they would still have their land.
>>This has nothing to do with history at all>>
Of course it does, that's why it was in the section labelled "Alternate history in hypothetical maps"
Eric: here is what we could find - "It shows the whale, Jasconius, in an account of the voyage of Saint Brendan. Some of the monks were preoccupied with mass when the nature of the island became obvious."
Claudio: some of the images are linked to very large-format scans on Wikipedia - you can use those.
Some of these are true works of art. One needs to remind that most of these are unique and handmade. Some maps were also created with errors as a way of counterintelligence.
"there remains a bit of resentment over the takeover of the Mexican Northwest by the United States."
Well, given that you acknowledge that pandering to that nationalist resentment was the point of the ad, I too wonder just what you find so "brilliant" about stoking such passions just to sell vodka. It may be skillfully done, but I don't think it's a terribly bright move on Absolut's part.
If this were a map of the Old Confederacy, under the same headline, would you also sneer at people troubled by such an ad, insinuating that they simply "don't know enough about history or geography" to appreciate its "brilliance"?
I'm glad to see you gave http://vladstudio.com/ the proper credit for the image of the "reversed map" but you should use the image with the proper name on it, not the one of someone that cropped it and added their own name to it.
Great art. But why the dismissive and shallow description of artists Jasmine Beckett Griffith and Brigid Ashwood as "cute and light-hearted"? Jasmines work is fantastical pop surrealism and while some of it is airy fairy she also has a broad range of work that shows real depth and skill. Brigids steampunk art is beloved by her fans for its original take on the genre and uniquely feminine perspective. Many of us find her work mysterious and compelling rather then "cute and light-hearted". Some food for thought.
"But why the dismissive and shallow description of artists Jasmine Beckett Griffith and Brigid Ashwood as "cute and light-hearted"?"
@Sophie - Mostly for lack of space. I had a lot of trouble keeping the word count down as it was, and the last thing I intended was to sound "dismissive" - as that would nullify the point of making recommendations.
Jasmine is a wonderfully talented artist, with a lot of great work, and she employs the use of color like no other. She has also been kind to me over the years, such as having given me a spot in last year's "Gothic Art Now" book.
Brigid is equally incredible, and I especially love that she is not only multi-talented, but has a myriad of skills to pull from - and an ability to work most any media with ability that is beyond "expert".
She also has a wealth of knowledge when it comes to the best spots to purchase the best materials, and is an invaluable friend for this and many other reasons. She, too, has done some rather wonderful things for me along the way.
Both of which lean more towards figurative art, and those figures are figures that I find to be "cute" and looking at them not only makes me feel inspired. Given that they are often colorful and vivid, the mood of their works, to me, is generally uplifting.
I stand by "Cute and Light-hearted", just not in the way that you might like to interpret it.
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9 Comments:
http://lh6.ggpht.com/_hVOW2U7K4-M/SqchnPxaPUI/AAAAAAABHos/F7wtmSynLUQ/s640/76ie7utrshdtfd.jpg
That's sign by an hungarian street artist, Magyar Kétfarkú Kutya Párt (Hungarian Two-tailed Dog Faction :).
Some of his related works:
http://mkkp.hu/parkolasirend.html
http://mkkp.hu/leesik.html
http://mkkp.hu/godzilla.html
There are many of stuffs on his page, but most of them are hungarian-language related :)
The "mystery sign" at Prospect Mira Metro station is an icon for Greco-Roman Wrestling. This station is next to an olimpic complex built for Moscow '80 olympics, so they decorated the station with blasons for different olimpic sports.
the zebra crossing made my day. Why the design in the first place. Haha
From what I can see:
"sorry" on the bus happens in Victoria, Australia for buses not in use.
The first signage for bathroom comedy comes from Busaba, a Thai restaurant in London.
The Anti-Monkey Butt powder is a real product, aimed at motorcyclists to counter the unfortunate effects of sitting in the same position for long periods wearing tight leathers. The same company sell a range of products with risque names, such as visor-cleaner called "Foxitorff".
AND, the Harley Parking sign is commerically available from lots of suppliers. There are "retaliatiory" signs (Suzuki parking, Triumph parking etc...) too.
The "Enter Only/Do Not Enter" one is from a Target store. I noticed it on a door of the Target in my town and always meant to take a picture of it. I never use that door because I'm never quite sure what's expected of me!
Nice pics....what a collection..i really appreciate your work..
looking forward for some new...
The loop road sign is in Great Smoky Mountains National Park (Tennessee), on the road up to Clingman's Dome -- there's a short tunnel at one end of the loop.
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