Caution! Danger! Stop! Keep off! Do! Don’t! Warning: this blog post may contain words and pictures.

Signs #1

It’s the little things. Travelling the US, there are of course quite a few things that sets the country apart from the one you call home. Like the fondness for melted cheese, Jesus and fireworks, for example. Or that strange belief in guns.

But when asked what’s really different in the US, I think of the little things. Like why are all shower heads wall-mounted and not fitted with a hose? And how come it’s so hard to get a small coffee? (12oz is a third of a litre and in no reasonable understanding of the word a small portion.)

And then – of course – you have that tendency of micromanaging banalities – that overwhelming abundance of useless signs.

Signs #2

Don’t get me wrong. I do appreciate a good sign. When my girlfriend and my GPS are having one of their usual arguments, I very much appreciate an easy-to-read sign telling me the directions to where we’re supposed to be going. Or a proper warning sign, warning me of dangers I’d otherwise be ignorant of. Yup, they’re good. So sure, a useful sign is useful, no surprise there.

But oh so many aren’t.

Signs #3. Forehead sticker: “Do not feed me anything”

Signs #4. Nature – closed

Signs #5. Also eagles and attitude

Signs #6. Pets – don’t let them poo in the desert

Signs #7. Vast lands, suggested parking

Signs #8. Ram. Better dodge it

Signs #9. Nature – still closed

Signs #10. Don’t spoil the neighborhood

Signs #11. No officer, I’m just walking my rod

Signs #12. Some light tap-dancing might be okay, though

Signs #13. Better petkeeping through arbitrary rules

Signs #14. Et cetera

Signs #15. You’re welcome