Why is this curb running across the sidewalk?

Posted 17 Mar 2009

Daily Life, Places | 2 Comments 

At Stanford University, I was walking across the campus having a look around and I came upon this cement curb, which ran perpendicular across the sidewalk.

Naturally, I wondered to myself … why would anyone put a curb across the sidewalk?  Luckily for me, some smart civil engineer anticipated my curiosity and printed the reason right there on the curb.

Aromas of anticipation

Posted 16 Mar 2009

Drinks | 2 Comments 

Quality wines, whiskies and even beers are said to have a distinct and enticing aroma about them. A lovely wafting smell to catch our attention and heighten our anticipation just before our mouth indulges itself in the delicacies of our beverage of choice.

Yet, what aroma would you expect from the following beverage?

Abraham and Isaac in the modern age

Posted 13 Mar 2009

Daily Life, People, Weird | 9 Comments 

I recently had occasion to ponder the biblical story of Abraham and Isaac. For those who don’t know the story, Abraham was told by God to offer his only son (and only child) Isaac as a sacrifice to God, by killing him. As Abraham was about to slaughter his bound son with a knife, God sent an angel to stop the sacrifice. God was satisfied with Abraham’s faith and did not require the sacrifice.

Then I got to thinking about what would have happened should that biblical story unfolded in the modern world – in the time of 24-hour news coverage. I can just see the headlines in the Daily Mail: Father claims ‘God made me do it’. I wonder what the people at Health and Family Services would have to say about a father who tried to kill his son with a knife on God’s orders?

And then, I got to thinking (I know, lots of thinking for me): How did Isaac and Abraham’s wife, Sarah, take the whole episode? I wonder if almost being sacrificed alive was enough to put Isaac off religion for a while. Certainly, if this were a modern story, Sarah would never leave Abraham alone with her son ever again.

Anyway, these are just some of the things I pondered this week.

Ignoring the local language

Posted 12 Mar 2009

Language, Signs | 2 Comments 

When restaurateurs and shopkeepers open their respective places of business, I think they should consider the name that they choose in light of the local language. Not an elitist approach, my suggestion is grounded on good marketing practices. It’s key to marketing to ensure that one’s message sets the right tone and image for the brand.

Consider the following restaurant:

Maybe the owners of the pictured restaurant in Oxford neglected to run the name of their restaurant past a few of the locals before producing the signage?

People Working Above + Falling Ice

Posted 11 Mar 2009

Commuting, Daily Life, Signs | Leave a Comment 

So I’ve got to wonder what the people above are working on that’s causing ice to fall? Are they breaking the icicles off the building and hurling them like Zeus hurled lightning bolts down to earth? Is there an ice-sculpting contest taking place on the roof?

Side note: A sign that says “people working above” which is placed at the base of a sky-scraper seems pretty obvious to me. After all, since it is a sky-scraper, the people are “above”, and they’re at the office, so probably working.