Site Header
News Button Absurd Links Button Writings Button Etcetera Button
 

Signs Of Intelligent Life?



Episode #6: No Exit
First aired: 02/13/06

Welcome back to Signs Of Intelligent Life?, where we display pictures of great and hilarious signs seen around the world. Support since our premier has been great, and it's clear that seeing a stick figure getting hurt is a visceral thrill for all. First up, we have two more submissions from valued contributor Emma B. We'll kick things right off with a stick figure.

As with our last human rendering (you remember Jack, right? I can't really call him a stick figure), this is another beautiful vista, visible by clicking the image. It's a great shot made even better by this poor, clumsy stick figure. What exactly is he tripping on? Is that a Lincoln Log? Or possibly a large brick of cheese? Maybe a stray I-beam, left during the construction of...nothing? Whatever it is, it isn't natural, or even close, so I'm not sure what it's doing out here.

Adam, that's what we'll call this particular stick gentleman. We've seen Adam before, at Alcatraz, where he was unable to keep his balance coming off the boat. In fact, he seems to be tripping over the same Lincoln Log-cheese brick-I-beam hazard in both locations. Perhaps these signs are much less a warning on maintaining balance and more on the dangers of various square-shaped obstacles that may be stalking you even now! Caution indeed!

Here Adam's been caught again in mid-fall, but closer to the ground, and it looks like he never learned to skateboard or snowboard, or he'd know to fall on his shoulder. No, it looks like broken wrists for Adam, and I have to imagine that when a stick figure breaks his wrists, they just amputate and round out the stump, leaving him with freakishly short arms. You'd think Adam wouldn't be modeling for any more signs after an accident like that.

Here we've got something that may be a first for you. It certainly was for us here at Signs Of Intelligent Life?, so we're foisting it on you. Yes friends, to the right you'll see a warning about a tree. Come on - It's a tree. But sure enough, a bit of research turns up a (currently) poorly-written article on the Manchineel tree. It states that:

"In many places the tree carries a warning sign alerting people to the dangers. In other places, a red 'X' painted on the trunk serves as a warning. Despite this, many people are treated every year after some sort of contact with this tree. Children, especially, need to be warned. After all, they can easily be fooled by the sweet-smelling, plum-sized fruit."

Alright, so a warning isn't out of line here. But still, "Warning! Tree!"? "Death Apples"? It's just too much. We've got to get our of here, and so we'll hop around the Caribbean over to Aruba. Yes, Aruba, that land of perfect weather, sideways trees (they're called Divi-divis or Watapana), and the disappearance of a one single white woman that captivated a nation, because we're all idiots. In fact, the image seen to the left is actually an advertisment for Carlos 'N Charlies, recently legendary not for their lousy food or congregation of young tourists, but for being the location where one Natalee Holloway was last seen.

But have a click on the sign, and you'll see what's great about this sign. Yes, they serve "Mexican Food Stuffed With Fiesta". If you don't know any Spanish, allow me to translate. That means "Mexican Food Stuffed With Party". It doesn't sound nearly so enticing now, does it? I'm not sure how you stuff fiesta into food, nor do I want to know. Feel free to make any "It's like a party/fiesta in my mouth..." jokes you like though.

That's all for now, please click the Exit below to leave.


Ah, whups, that's not the exit at all, but a submission from Drew Shelton (who first helped us out with input way back in episode two) taken at the Museum Of Science. While handmade signs may not look as pretty, they often lead to some of the funniest images. In Drew's own words:

Here's a picture of the exit from the Museum of Science from our trip to the Star Wars exhibit. I think it's fairly self-explanatory. I understand that they're trying to direct people to the shuttle bus, but the fact is that this IS an exit. You can see the street and sky outside through the glass. You can never be too sure, though, so I opened it. Yep. Outside (or a very convincing imitation).

And that's it for this episode of SOIL. If you find any hilarious signs of your own, snap a picture and send them in. Otherwise, join us next time when we go on another search for Signs Of Intelligent Life?. Now please click the Close button on your browser window to exit the show.