As in: Flotsam

Two amusing things from a local restaurant in Oak Park:
1. They had a handblower with written instructions instead of pictures. The instructions were marred in all three expected ways:

1. Press Butt
2. Rub hands under arm hair
3. Stop atomically
4. Wipe hands on pants

It was sort of a thrill to see these scratchings (including the fourth step, which is added to the machine), since the newer icon-based instructions don't allow for this kind of play (wrong-o, Brendan!). Apparently, I'm not the only person to notice this phenomenon.

2. This particular restaurant offers trivia cards for its patrons to read. At the table behind us, two teenage daughters and their father were eating dinner. The older (probably a sophomore or junior in high school) asked, "In the 1950s, Senator Joseph McCarthy led congressional hearings looking for what?"
There was a pause and then the father said, "Communists."
After another short pause, the younger sister (perhaps eighth grade) said "Red Scare, baby."
I couldn't stop laughing.

Posted by briley at January 24, 2005 5:07 AM