Where’s your Aspen?

Recently, I did a blog post about slogans and mottos. Closely tied to this (same say it is the same) is the tagline. In that post, I mentioned the tagline that Hooters restaurants use.

(Go to the post if you don’t know what it is) Other well-known taglines are McDonald’s “Have it your way” and Star Wars “In a galaxy far, far away.”

As I was driving down I-25 to Denver last weekend, I saw an interesting tagline. It was from the Aspen Bakery (which appears to be in Denver, not Aspen, CO) The side of the truck had the normal company name and contact information. On the tailgate in huge letters was the phrase, “Where’s Your Aspen?” What an attention-getter.

Got any interesting examples you have seen?

Musings about speedometers

Words, the use of words and humor in words are what this blog is about. Today, I have the urge to post about numbers.

I guess I can put this item in the context of words.  Maybe it is about form and function, limits, reasonability or common sense.

Anyway, I will try it. I own a Honda van.  Actually, we own two Hondas since my wife drives an Accord.

For some strange reason, I was looking at the speedometer recently.  No, it wasn’t because I saw a cop with a radar gun.  Have you ever notices the numbers shown on a speedometer?

Isn’t it strange that the posted speed limits are mainly 25, 35, 55, etc. but these number do not show on my dashboard.  I almost have to estimate where the right spot is between 20 mph and 30 mph to say within the limit.

The main curiosity on my speed dial is that it goes to 160 mph.  160! Give me a break.  No one would or could do that in an Odyssey van even on the Salt Flat racing grounds. (My wife’s car only goes to 150 so I guess I could beat her in a race.)

The only explanation I can figure is that since the display is round, they needed all those number to fill space. Why not just leave it blank?

So, I guess this is just one of the mysteries of life.

While I sit and contemplate it, I will put something on the microwave oven and “nuke” it for 45 minutes. (But maybe that is another post for another day.

Change, alter or amend? You decide

Change, alter or amend?

Which word is best? Well it depends on what you are trying to convey.

At first blush (and why do we say first blush) the terms are the same or at least very similar.

• Change
  

  This means to make something different from what is. Also different from what if would be left alone.
  

• Alter
  

  To modify or adjust something. To change its size style or shape.
  

Amend Most people think amend means the same as the two phrases above. HOWEVER, it means to change for the better, remove, or correct faults. Ok, here is your reward for reading this far. There is another word in this grouping. That is revise. It seems it only applies to something written or printed.  Now you know when to use the right word at the right time.

You do the math…or not

flickr by ptwo

“You do the math.”  I can’t say when I first heard this term but it seems to be fairly new.  That said, it is being used incorrectly a lot in my opinion.

 I would imagine that originally it mean to compare numbers.  An example might be that if you buy one or two of an item compared to a dozen. Ears of corn or doughnuts, maybe?  If you do the math, it is better to buy the larger number if you do the calculations.

 Now people throw the phrase in even if the situation is not one of numbers.  I was reminded of this when I heard an advertisement as I was driving around today.  The pitch was for some kind of substitute cigarette.  They were trying to convince potential buyers that their product was healthier than smoking.

I almost drove off the road when the voice-over said something about the fact that the company could not claim the product was health, but we as listeners could “do the math.” 

Hello—there were not figures involved!

Funny sign on a business

I really saw this sign, and had to go back with my camera.  It is a double FAIL.  The apostrophe police should be after them to start.  Then the grammar police.

Didn’t most of us learn early on that words ending in F should be changed when made plural?  Dwarf–dwarves, scarf–scarves, wife–wives.  Oh, well.

I wonder if they paid someone to apply the letters on the sign.

And, by the way, what is a meat bundle? 

You can’t make this stuff up!

Innocent or naive?

flickr jglsong

I was reading in the local newspaper last weekend about an upcoming musical event. The director of the music called the characters “not so much naive as they are innocent.”

This statement got me thinking.  I guess I always considered innocent and naïve as being synonymous. (For my Iowa readers, this means they are essentially the same.)

 On further investigation, I found there are some differences.

 Innocent means pure or without sin and not involved with evil intent. It also means guiltless (like O.J.?)  Actually, I think he was found not guilty which is a subtle different.  But, I digress. 

Naïve on the other hand means unaffected simplicity or absence of artificiality. A naïve person is usually considered unsophisticated.   They also probably lack life experiences.

 

What other pairs of words have a close but not exactly the same meaning?

Are you a farrier?

flickr tony austin

The last post referenced keglers.  (Some of you were waaay off on that one–shame on you)  

Farrier is another word that has been around for a while. 

A farrier is a specialist in equine (horse) hoof cares including the trimming and balancing of a horse’s hoof and the placing of horseshoes.   In past time, farriers and blacksmiths were usually the same person.  

Some data says the term is derived from the Latin word for iron, which is ferrum.  The symbol on the periodic table is FE.

Don’t confuse the word with harrier, which is an old word for a cross-country runner.

Note: Word spellchecker does not know the word farrier.

Are you a kegler?

flickr pal berge

I have been a kegler in the past.  No, this has nothing to do with any college activities, although college students do kegle.  Some get academic credit for it too.

A kegler is a bowler as in bowling alley, bowling pins, funny shirts and beer frames.

The origin of the word comes from the German language meaning a bowling pin or peg.

 Back in the day when I bowled, the term was still use.  A clever team might call themselves the Krazy Keglers, etc.  (Naming bowling teams was an art, as you can see)

 I must admit a couple of bowling shirts adorned my closet over the years.  They all had a business name on the back and my name on the front.  One really classy bowling shirt (an oxymoron?) had my last name stitched on the back.

 So, I bet some of you were keglers.   As they used to say, “Get out of the streets and into the alleys.”

Under new management – SOOOoooo

Under new management. I bet you have seen a sign on a business stating that they have new leadership.  As you know from my past posts about quirky and funny signs, I am always on the lookout for these items.

Recently, I have seen a couple of businesses that proclaimed that they were “Under New Management.” As I remember, one was a fast food location and the other was a liquor store.

 My question is… Why do I care?  They spent money to tell the world they have a “changing of the guard” but what’s in it for me? 

 Why not put up a sign that tells about new products in stock, new menu items, cleaner restrooms or a big discount.  This might make me stop more that the fact that the faces at the top have changed.

Wouldn’t it be more effective to sell me on what you are doing differently?  Make me want to come in and shop.  I darn sure don’t just want to stop by to shake hands with the “new management.”

What do you think?

Motto or slogan Which is it?

 Motto or slogan? These two terms have confused me for quite some time. I have trouble telling the difference. Doing some research may have helped. A motto (with origins in the Italian language for pledge) is meant to describe the general motivation or intention of a group. It shows the spirit or purpose of the person or group. It also can be an expression of the guiding principle of a person, group, city, or other organization. Did you know the motto of Colorado is “Nil Sine Numine” which means “Nothing without the Deity.” (So much for separation of church and state)

The state’s slogan seems to be “Colorful Colorado”, or at least this used to appear on the license plates. It’s hard to do better than the city of Austin,TX with its motto of “Keep Austin Weird.” Others I found under business mottos are ones you have heard a lot: Nike Just do it McDonald’s I’m lovin’ it

SLOGAN

A slogan on the other hand is a memorable phrase used in a political, commercial or religious context. Its origin is from the Scottish and Irish words for army and cry. It is a catchword or catch phrase. I am thinking it is very similar to a tagline.

There are tons of examples, but I will pick one at random (yeah, right) to leave you with. The fine dining establishment called Hooters has one that is difficult to top. Delightfully tacky, yet unrefined.

Kinda sounds like some people I know, but that is for another day.