Shopping Vs Psychiatrist

This sign had a pretty good point:

“Shopping is cheaper than a psychiatrist.”

Plus it’s more fun and you get to take the junk home that you buy.

For many, shopping truly is a form of mental/stress relief–almost like medicine. 

Unfortunately, if you think about it, things don’t really make a person happy…rather people do and doing good does. 

But industry wants you to think a lot more superficially and materialistically than that. 

Hence the notion that if you take your daily dose of shopping, maybe you can skip the shrink! 😉

(Credit Photo: Andy Blumenthal)

Women’s War

Today was International Women’s Day. 

But this guy was protesting something else.

WAR.

“War is chaos, War is lawless
War ignores our civil rights
Land it poison and our rivers
War inspires both rape and murder
Death of children go uncounted
War betrays all Women’s Rights”

Not sure how he connects this all up with women’s rights at the end, but might as well try, right?

For women to have the rights that they should, they need to fight the good fight too.

That type of war does not betray them, but bolsters their cause. 

Everyone who has been abused, enslaved, and discriminated against needs to free themselves of the shackles of oppression.

What we do know is that “war is hell!”

And certainly war is an option of last resort. 

At the same time, war can restore the peace and right the wrongs of despots and tyranny and violence and persecution. 

War is something to be feared and avoided, until it can’t.

At which time, hell on earth is released, so hopefully peace can ultimately prevail once again. 

In war, everyone loses, but with the hope that at the end, good wins!

For woman, today is also the continuance of that war and fight for equality, respect, and proper treatment in every way they completely deserve.

That’s a war worth fighting for. 😉

(Source Photo: Andy Blumenthal)

(Re)Kashering The Kitchen

So with all the 613s that we and are our friends and family are seeing, we are taking these as a sign and important message. 

Yesterday, I posted that I would show you today how it is personally affecting us.

So one of the things that we are doing is (re)kashering our kitchen. 

New and separate dishes and cooking utensils for meat and dairy meals.  

We got these beautiful French Perle Lenox in gorgeous lilac and ice blue (of course, no one better actually use one and break it). 

Being more a part of the synagogue and community now, we are hoping to host more people for Shabbat etc.

There are other small (and large) ways that we are coming back to more of our traditions, but we are far from perfect. 

Sort of a blend of the secular world, the religious one, and just being ourselves. 

But that is our road, and we strive to do better in all aspects of our lives and pray for G-d’s mercy and blessings all along the way and at the destination. 😉

(Source Photo: Andy Blumenthal)

Monday Blues

This was a funny sign on the large computer display overhung in a prominent medical facility around Washington, D.C. 

I remember as a kid, Monday’s were notorious for being called “Blue Monday.”

Further, Blue Mondays were in stark contrast to Sunday Fundays!

Already on Sunday evenings, many people would start getting the doldrums and sort of want to just mellow after 5 or 6 pm–I think mostly to deal with the anxiety of a new week. 

My father always used to tell me never to worry, instead to have faith in G-d that he will always do what is best for you–essentially, that faith and fear do not mix. 

I don’t know about wanting to “break up” with Monday, but it would sure be nice if the week instead started with Tuesday. 😉

(Source Photo: Dannielle Blumenthal)

The Starbucks Playbook

I’m in Starbucks and this young lady is drawing one of Starbucks promo signs.

This one was for the new Starbucks Caramel Flan which is a latte (coffee with a shot of expresso and frothy steamed milk) with whipped cream and generous topping of caramel.

In making the sign, the girl was nervous that she wouldn’t do a good job because of her drawing skills, but she was actually doing pretty well.

I learned some interesting things from her that the big picture of the cup of coffee on the sign is actually a magnet–so that just snapped in place and was a big help.

Then as you can see on the left, she is a holding a playbook from Starbucks Corporate that has a miniature version of the sign that she is supposed to draw with instructions.

So this is her guide and the same used by all the other Starbucks putting up this promo this week.

From a marketing and branding perspective, this helps keep it tight in terms of the messaging, timing, and look and feel.

Starbucks leaves nothing to chance with their coffee sales and this methodology of having each store draw the promo by hand but from a playbook makes it both authentic and professional.

Nice job with the Caramel Flan sign! 😉

(Source Photo: Andy Blumenthal)

Let’s Switch Locker Rooms

This was one for the books…

They put up a sign at the pool: “Locker rooms will be switched.”

I asked the attendant, sort of rhetorically, “What do they mean switched?”

He says, “You know, the men will use the women’s locker room, and the women will use the men’s locker room!”

I looked and him, and asked innocently, “Do they have urinals in theirs?”

He goes, “No.”

Then I continue and ask, “Do they need the urinals in ours?”

He answers, “No!”

So I ask, “Why in G-d’s name are you switching the locker rooms?”

The attendant says, “You know, I don’t really know, but we do it every year.”

Uh, what’s up with that! 😉

(Source Photo: Andy Blumenthal)

Think B4 U Speak

This was a sign hung in a local high school.

And thought this was pretty good.

Think before you speak…

THINK = True + Helpful + Inspiring + Necessary + Kind

If it doesn’t meet those criteria…shush, or in plain language–keep a lid on it!

Remember, two ears and one mouth–so speak half as much as you listen. 😉

(Source Photo: Dannielle Blumenthal)

Looking At It From The Perspective Of Others

This was a funny sign hanging on a tree on one of the hiking trails.

It’s a deer and it says “Please Don’t Kill Me!”

With it was a notice about hunters sparing the deer population.

It’s interesting that often we don’t look at things from the perspective of others.

In this case, the deer just wants to be free and alive–and is begging for his life.

As people, we don’t really think of what the deer wants or for that matter often what other people want–we just care about what we want.

Good to remember that we all have our perspective on life and that we should respect diversity of thinking, feeling, and being.

Hey, and unless those deers are bothering you… 😉

(Source Photo: Andy Blumenthal)

Instructions For the Modern Age

We went apple picking today and it was a nice time, thank G-d.

The weather was beautiful and the apples were plentiful and delicious.

One funny thing that I noticed was this sign with instructions for how to pick apples.

Like we need instructions for one of the most natural things in the world.

Even in the Bible, in the Garden of Eden, the first man and woman figured this one out.

Perhaps, with all of our technology we now possess, there is a feeling or realization that we have lost touch with our more primitive instincts.

Often, I wonder if a major calamity were to actually strike, how many of us, especially in the big cities would know the basic skills to survive.

Heck, we can’t even leave the house without our smartphones–we’d feel naked–like Adam and Eve after eating from the Tree of Knowledge.

Technology has made us more capable, but it has left us lacking knowledge on how to grow things, build things, fish and hunt, and much more, leaving us in many ways more vulnerable.

How can we live in an information age, and yet be stupider for it?

As I learned in college, you can have wonderful book knowledge, but have little to no practical knowledge.

I would say we need to do a much better job balancing the teaching of theory and practice…so we won’t need signs that have to tell us how to pick an apple anymore. 😉

(Source Photos: Andy Blumenthal)

Do NOT Wash Hands

This was a funny picture that my wife took at the Department of Commerce cafeteria.

It’s a drinking fountain and says: “Please do not wash your hands. Thank you.”

So somebody wrote underneath it “here.”

And somebody else crossed that out and wrote “ever.”

I guess people are fed up with all the signs reminding them to wash.

Seems like we have a hygiene rebellion on our hands! 😉

(Source Photo: Dannielle Blumenthal)