Little did ye know, bowling was actually an ancient Chinese pastime, called bao ling qiu. It was a great point of emperor contention, and for its infamy was whisked by Marco Polo back to the West, whereupon the qiu was dropped, words were Romanized, and the West was infatuated.

And if you didn’t know much about Tanzania, know that it’s the birthplace of pikapu, known in the US as “pick-up trucks”.

CMD fans, tell us more about your favorite words that are English in appearance yet foreign in parentage? Or admittedly, the other way around?

Take a look at these two photos (one is a close-up) of a sign at one particular intersection.

And here are a couple more pictures of the sign posted at a different intersection.

So, at the risk of sounding terribly egotistic, does do these particular road-side advertisements stir in you a desire to ring the number about your upcoming web project?

Observation #2: I was walking the other day through Ann Arbor, MI, when I seemed to get greeted by every walk signal in town. In the morning, it’s heavenly to walk, not because of the few people on the sidewalks, but because of always seeming to be greeted with a walk signal.

Conclusion: Ann Arbor, MI, in its undeniable quirkiness, has timed its traffic lights to the speed of pedestrian traffic rather than automobile traffic.

Fascinating.  A new way to encourage people to walk?

Is this the culture of transparency taken too far?

Is this a street where only CIA operatives and witness protection inductees are allowed to reside?

Is this the result of the same trend which produced the mysterious Hidden Entrances we found about a year ago?

Covert Rd

Note: This picture was taken under the cover of darkness.

What do you suspect is going on here?

I saw some exercise equipment today that, as far as I can tell from the instructional infographics on the machine, is intended for use by Oompa Loompas.

Could I have spotted the Greenman of the Crosswalk?

Hello Good Readers,

We might have also entitled today’s post: Vor bekendte i Greenland.

We’re so pleased to report that our collective efforts to reach the verdant shores of fair Greenland have proven successful. Through the power our our posts, our Facebook wall messages, our Tweets and even our little postcards, we were able to raise the chickenmonkeydog flag to catch the attention of the good people of that noble land.

To celebrate our new friendship with Greenland, we’ve decided the post the national anthem of Greenland on our website.

Nunarput Utoqqarsuanngoravit
(in Danish)

Nangmineq erinllik

Nunarput, utoqqarsuanngoravit niaqqut ulissimavoqq qiinik.
Qitornatit kissumiaannarpatit tunillugit sineriavit piinik.

Akullequtaastut merletutut ilinni perotugut tamaani
kalaallinik imminik taajumavugut niaqquit ataqqinartup saani.

Atortillugillu tamaasa pisit ingerlaniarusuleqaagut,
nutarterlugillu noqitsigisatit siumut, siumut piumaqaagut.

Inersimalersut ingerlanerat tungaalitsiterusuleqaarput,
oqaatsit “aviisit” qanoq kingunerat atussasoq erinigileqaarput.

Taqilluni naami atunngiveqaaq, kalaallit siumut makigitsi.
Inuttut inuuneq pigiuminaqaaq, saperasi isumaqaleritsi.

Our Country Who’s Become So Old
(in English)

Our country, who’s become so old your head all covered with white hair.
Always held us, your children, in your bosom providing the riches of your coasts.

As middle children in the family we blossomed here Greenland,
we want to call ourselves before your proud and honourable head.

With a burning desire to develop what you have to give, renewing,
Removing your obstacles our desire to move is forward, forward.

The way of matured societies is our zealous goal to attain;
the effect of speech and letters we long to behold.

Humbleness is not the course Greenland wake up and be proud!
A dignified life is our goal; courageously take a stand.

(NOTE: The map at the top of this post is a screen shot from Google Analtyics. That Greenland is coloured in green means that chickenmonkeydog.com has had visits from that location.)

At a small restaurant in Bangalore I noticed this little blurb, and one line in particular struck me as odd.

Located at Rayal Comforts on 5th floor, Attic is a cool place to eat, drink and to freak out.

Really? To freak out? Is that what you want people to associate with your restaurant? Is that what you want people to DO at your restaurant? Really!?

Now imagine if you had a parking spot reserved for you 700 years after you died, in a city you had never visited, just in case you ever show up?