lost in translation

Lost in Translation – Blogisode 11

** This is an occasional thread through my blog series – dedicated to things that can be mis understood, mis-interpreted, and just plain odd because they lose something (or gain someting unintended) in translation. And since seeing is believing, I’m here to provide you with VISUAL proof of what’s been… LOST IN TRANSLATION. **

Well it’s been a while since I went down this road – nearly a month in fact – since I last mentioned anything. However, this past week has really come up with some doozies (must be the end of the quarter) that I have decided to post this week’s examples in one thread. First up are a couple gems from Tiny Teltow, Germany – where they think they’re cosmopolitan, but really… well…they are a never ending source for a few giggles.

Here’s the Wolff Optical.

Wolff Optic

Ok so I loved the name of the optician (the only thing that would be better would be if they were “hawk” optic).

I am, however, still confused by the repetitive use of the clock faces in all of their store windows. What does a clock (a symbol for time?) have to do with buying eyeglasses and contact lenses?

Right next store to it is a shop that has closed up. Probabally because it had such a bad name – that I always thought would be more suited to a Strip Club, Gangster Hang-out, or something devious. It’s the Station 4 Players:

Station 4 players

Yes, really. But instead of being what one might expect it to have been – when it was open, it was a shop that geared toward sports players – selling jerseys, equipment, etc. Bummer.. maybe now though – someone will rent it and just not bother to rename.

Last but not least (yeah, it’s the best) it’s yet another ad from Burger King’s mis-guided executive promotions department. Yes, I’m sure the burgers taste great but really…..

Mountain Burger

The Mountain Burger.

“Gigantish grosser grillgenuss”

Basically giant sized large grilled goodness… in a burger.

You have the options of a smoky barbeque mountain ( a favorite from those plagued by wildfires); the blue cheese mountain (just in case you’re tired of a few purple mountains magesty); and the rocky cheese mountain (wait.. rocks and cheese?!? I guess you really can eat anything with the right topping….)

My favorite is still the “angry whopper” but…. this is pretty good too.

Once again, Burger King gets the award for the best Lost in Translation – and the best burger. What do ya know.. maybe despite the weird campaign… they really do know what they’re doing?!?

*ps – I’m off to prague tomorrow, so I’ll be back on Tuesday with all new sources of inspiration.

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Lost in Translation (take 6) – Halloween Edition

Happy Halloween Everybody!

It’s my favorite holiday because well, you can dress up as anything you want to be – good, bad, or ugly. Plus, you get to go banging on your neighbor (and complete stranger’s) doors and beg for Candy (beer, food – whatever). Oh.. and then there’s the whole scary part. I like that factor too.

Anyhow, in honor of the holiday, I thought I’d do the Halloween Horrorfest version of Lost in Translation. Signs seen along the way….

First up.. there’s a production here called “Tanz Der Vampire” (dance of the vampire) that’s apparently a huge hit here in Berlin. I keep seeing signs for it everywhere and they have a great setup in Alexanderplatz where as you’re going through a tunnel, haunting singing is triggered (at night only). One of their advertisments contains a warning for all of us:

The Vampires love Berlin
Literally, it says “The Vampires LOVE Berlin” then it has a vampire warning sign with the words “Sundown to Sunrise”. Personally, I love the concept of the flying vampire about to get me. *evil grin*

Adding to the horrorfest is the “heine bakery and pastery shop” that’s near where I live. Beware when going in – you might not make it back out again…. (Not to mention what exactly ARE in those baked goods/pasteries anyhow?)
Heine Bakery and Pastry shop

Next would be the Kaos Tattoo & Piercing Parlor. Another location in the town I live in that makes me wonder… would I entrust my body to a place named KAOS? Yikes…

Kaos Tattoos & Piercings

Speaking of strange places…. Apparently there’s an erotic museum in the city. Over the weekend I did find it. Not so bad – except for the signs that say “erotic Museum” sponsored by “beate uhse” (beat us – pronounced in english) clothing. Don’t blame me for the puns below – this is really a street which goes to Wedding, has parking, and well… an erotic museum where everyone wants to be “beaten”.

Erotic Museum (pun-ny)
Last but not least… (and perhaps the most frightening of all) ..

You can’t have Halloween without an ELVIS. Yes, yes, ladies and gentlemen, this was seen in a store window on the Ku’Damm over the weekend. No kidding…
Glamour
Happy Halloween, this has been the Halloween Horrorfest version of “LOST IN TRANSLATION”. Now back to your regularly scheduled Scream….
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Lost in Translation (take 5)

Today’s lost in Translation is brought to you by the Japanese.
Check out the article at:
The jist of the article is really amusing. Basically, they have less that 7% of the crime of the USA , but the Japanese sensationalist media has made it so that the Japanese are afraid of everything. (Gee.. sounds like what our government is trying to do to us…but another day…) As a result, there are new “edgy” fashion designers creating purses that look like manhole covers (afraid of getting stolen? put it on the street – the crook will NEVER notice..) , sheets that if a woman is being followed she can “throw over her head” to look like a vending machine (now there’s a hideout for ya ), a backpack that expands in to the fire hydrant look (for children being followed) and other really amusing creations.
Even if you don’t want to read the article, it’s worth looking just for the pictures of people “wearing” their hiding place. (Say, why does that coke machine have feet, anyhow?!?)
As an American who has been trained to fight back (where as the Japanese simply would rather not create a scene) this is one of those things that qualifies as….
Lost in Translation.
** All Photos used here are property of the AP and NOT taken by me. I have no claim on them whatsoever, and fully reccomend you read the article and view the slide show. **
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