sarcasm

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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Happy Valentine’s Day

Just wanted to wish everyone a very Happy Valentine’s Day. Since I’m single, I don’t really have much to say, other than that.

However, for a bit of lost in translation / Valentine’s Day humor, you may want to notice the name of the Candy pictured below….

Happy Hornies

They’re foam based candy in the shape of ice creams. Hard to tell here, but when you flip them over, they don’t look like ice cream cones – put it that way.

Thanks to Micha at work who gave them to me as a Valentine’s gift – knowing I’d have a laugh.

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A Penny For My Thoughts

Magdeburg was great yesterday – I’ll blog once I have the 400 pictures I took processed. No, not all of them came out, but I have some good thoughts to share about my little day trip.

Meanwhile, I thought I’d share this nice little blerb – which (knock me over with a feather) aired originally on Fox News. Truly, this says so much about the state of the American government – and what our politicians and leaders in office are doing. It counts as a Penny for his thoughts – and a Penny for mine… because it truly reflects what I think too. I guess that makes it worth a full 2 cents.


I guess my question is – WHY as AMERICANS are WE NOT OUTRAGED? I know I am – and I’m living abroad because I can’t stand the way things are being done in my own country. I deal with very subtile Racism, genderism, a glass celing and a very real dislike of “auslanders” (foreigners) here in Germany – but honestly, I feel safer, more protected, and less like the German government is out to get me – than I currently do in the USA. What does that say – overall? Somewhere along the line, Germans seem to have more COMMON SENSE than those in the USA – despite the bureaucracy, despite the subtle racism, despite everything.

Things that make you go humm….Time for a Change – Attitude adjustment – via VOTES. If that doesn’t work? well… I’m sure as a population we’ll force an attitude adjustment and make that change.
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