Ask MetaFilter questions tagged with sign

Help the pizza delivery guy find my house, please

The corpse in the library — Thu, 12 Nov 2009 14:09:19 -0800

It's hard to see our house number from the street. I want to get a sign or post to put at the end of the driveway. Suggestions? I'm finding plenty of people on-line who are willing to sell me signs, but they all seem to have rather sketchy websites or else the signs not my style. I don't want a wrought-iron rose, or a horse silhouette, or a Harley Davidson logo, but I also don't want it to look like a highway marker. (I'm not sure what I do want, unfortunately.)

It's important that the numbers be easy to see at night, and our street is dark. A solar-powered sign would be good but I live in Western Washington and the sign will be on the north side of a hedge, so I can't imagine it getting enough of a charge. Something reflective? Some super-sensitive solar cells? A big rock and a bucket of radium paint?

I'm looking for metal brackets / architectural frames / sign holders by the end of the day Monday, in NYC

Optimus Chyme — Fri, 23 Oct 2009 12:26:14 -0800

I'm looking for some metal brackets / architectural frames / sign holders by the end of the day Monday, in NYC. These are fairly simple metal pieces, either polished or chromed steel or aluminum, much like an L-bracket. They are 4 inches wide, with or without mounting holes. I need 23 sets (46 pieces total) by the end of the day Monday. I don't care if they're retail, wholesale, or custom - I need these ASAP. Do you know a store or fabricator I can get a hold of?

I have attached a drawing here.

What is ixaratte?

ninazer0 — Wed, 19 Aug 2009 20:00:37 -0800

Can anyone tell me more about "ixaratte"? It's supposed to be a complicated court sign-language of the Ottoman empire. I came across it in an article but further Googling turns up only - yup - the same article.

I must learn more about this!! Where do I start? (Other than buying the book listed in the article? I'm onto that one already...)

DFW window sign installers?

DB Cooper — Fri, 14 Aug 2009 12:20:01 -0800

Can any Mefites recommend a reliable sign company in the Dallas-Ft. Worth area? I need to have vinyl lettering (or whatever the sign-person recommends) installed on a plate-glass, storefront window. I would love for the sign to be Dallas City Code-compliant.

Sign painting help.

sharkhunt — Tue, 30 Jun 2009 14:45:12 -0800

Anyone have any tricks or tips on how to paint a large sign/mural on the exterior of a building? I need help on how to get the image on the wall, which is roughly 20ft by 100ft. The mural consists of a restaurant logo with lettering and other plant designs. It's nothing too complex, but I don't know the best technique to use. Any advice is appreciated.

PORK CHOP SANDWICHES!!

ForeverDcember — Tue, 21 Apr 2009 19:16:49 -0800

I am looking for a backlit "running man" exit sign. Help! I am really only finding these out of the country, primarily in Australia. I am in Central Florida. Does anyone know of where I can get an exit sign with the "running man" without the "exit" text, preferably lit? I saw these in Europe, they have no text, just the man running for the door. I am at a loss over here. TIA for any help.

"We Are Not Responsible For Lost Or Stolen Valuables." Really?

hamsterdam — Wed, 01 Apr 2009 11:25:22 -0800

Do signs that say "We Are Not Responsible for Lost or Stolen Valuables" actually provide any legal protection? These signs are all over the place, and sometimes they seem to be demonstrably false, e.g. if I valet park my car isn't it assumed that the valet is responsible for the security of my car and all the valuables inside of it?

Do these disclaimer signs really give restaurants/bars/parking lots etc. any amount of legal protection? My feeling is that they don't, and that they're simply more of a reminder in the vein of "Hey, watch your stuff!" but maybe I'm wrong.

I am in the United States but curious about other countries as well.

Quit signing me out, Google!

wsg — Sat, 21 Feb 2009 10:18:15 -0800

Every time I close my browser (Firefox) Google signs me out. How can I stay signed in? It's very annoying. Googling has not returned an answer to the question.

Fixed a freeway sign.

acidic — Thu, 01 Jan 2009 11:48:09 -0800

Read a story in the LA times a decade ago, can't remember the details: a man fixed a misleading freeway sign by himself. It was a Los Angeles-area freeway-- maybe the 5 or the 405? There was a sign that gave motorists the wrong instructions for getting onto another freeway, or something like that. This man painstakingly researched the style of signs, found really obscure materials, and drove a van to the sign and climbed up to fix it. Google is failing me-- anyone remember the details or have a link to the article?

Nightcrawlers For Sale

Tube — Sat, 27 Dec 2008 13:27:20 -0800

Do kids still collect and sell earthworms for fish bait? When I was a child in the late 1960's and early 1970's, I would commonly see homemade signs that proclaimed "Nightcrawlers for sale", usually coupled with a price.

Recently I realized that I hadn't seen such a homemade sign like that in many years. This has led me to wonder:

1. Is this because I live in a major city, Seattle, and that such a thing is more of a rural, or small town kid's business?

2. Nightcrawlers or earthworms are sold so cheaply at conventional stores that it's not profitable to collect by hand.

3. The process was too labor intensive, and kids figured out better ways of making money, like mowing lawns.

4. More effective fish bait has been discovered, including devilishly clever simulated insects, with fanciful names like "Royal Coachman".

Yes, you can see my level of ignorance, as I've fished only about 3 times in my life. But there must be a reason I don't see these handmade signs anymore. What could it be?

What is the best Credit Card gimmick offer right now?

brenton — Mon, 24 Nov 2008 14:44:19 -0800

In the past I have been paid the following things to sign up for a Credit Card: a slice of pizza, a shirt, a $15 discount, and now at Amazon, a $30 discount. Are there any with a higher value than that? The reason I ask is because I'm getting a credit card anyway and I want something free. (By the way I pay the full balance every month and I have a credit score of 790.

Two Master's Degrees... What are my options?

msposner — Tue, 11 Nov 2008 10:57:38 -0800

This spring I will be finished with my second Master's degree. I've been at my current job for almost three years and while I enjoy it immensely, I am wondering about other opportunities that having two graduate degrees might open up for me. Am hoping to obtain answers especially from individuals who have multiple degrees and have gone into somewhat different career paths. My first graduate degree is a M.S. in Secondary School Education. I am qualified to teach in public school (context area: Social Studies). I also am certified to teach at schools for the deaf but that is not something I want to focus on because of how such institutions are being shut down at an alarming rate.

My second graduate degree is going to be a M.S. in Professional/Rehabilitation Counseling, which I'll be obtaining in May of 2009. I'm not going to be pursuing my Certified Rehabilitation Counselor (CRC) certificate because I was recently on their advisory panel and signed a waiver stating that I promise not to take the CRC test for at least five years due to first-hand exposure to potential test questions. This is perfectly fine with me because I'm not planning on having my own independent counseling practice and I have no desire to work for any of the major insurance companies around here.

I currently work at a state agency as a vocational rehabilitation counselor and while I do enjoy this job very, very much, lately it seems as if I'm often hearing from people (respected professionals) that I should be doing something "better" and so forth.

For me, "better", would be to obtain employment as a researcher (researcher scientist?) or a professor at a college/university, which is actually my ultimate goal but I'm also open to acquiring other, relevant experience that might enhance myself as an educator. I'm a voracious reader and I'm always conducting research- I'd really like to go into education/rehabilitation policy if the opportunity ever presents itself.

For now, my intention is clearly to "stay put" because as I mentioned, I love my job and I enjoy working with my colleagues, however, I have my goals outside of this field and have oftentimes thought about returning to the classroom as a high school teacher.

In a nutshell, my inquiries are defined as follows:

(I) I've been told that having Master degrees in both education and counseling will make me very attractive to school systems. True?

(II) Will the fact that I do not have terminal degrees in either fields (education and counseling) hurt my chances in obtaining research-based positions and/or work as a college instructor?

(III) For someone with two Master's degrees, what are the other fields I could go into when I have specialization in both education and counseling?

(IV) Has anyone experienced negative pitfalls of having multiple graduate degrees such as frequent rejections on the basis of being overqualified?

--------

Caveat #1: I am profoundly deaf. This, unfortunately, creates a lot of barriers for me in the workplace. Many schools have refused to hire me because in order for me to instruct in public schools, they would have to also pay for a full-time sign language interpreter since I communicate primarily in American Sign Language. In their eyes, I'm not cost effective- I'm a budget burden. As I mentioned earlier, I do not want to work at schools for the deaf because of the lack of job security and their notoriously low salaries.

Caveat #2: I've mentioned that I love my current job. However, I am also trying to plan ahead (1-3 years) and have always been open to other opportunities.

Caveat #3: Not really looking to relocate anytime in the near/distant future. Wife loves her job and is pregnant with our first child. We also put a lot of work in our present home.

Caveat #4: I'm 27 years old.

Caveat #5: My current job is paying fully for my second graduate degree, which is really the only reason why I went back to school after I completed my first Master's.

Thanks in advance for all of your suggestions/insights.

Change we can wave around on a piece of cardboard. For MEMORIES.

Rhaomi — Sat, 08 Nov 2008 11:32:13 -0800

Where can I find an Obama "CHANGE WE CAN BELIEVE IN" rally sign? I'd like to get my hands on one of those "CHANGE WE CAN BELIEVE IN" hand signs that are (or were) ubiquitous at Obama events. But after doing a little searching, the signs seem to be pretty scarce.

Craigslist has nothing, and the store at barackobama.com phased them out in favor of "Obama-Biden" signs long ago. There are a few of the signs available to buy on eBay... unfortunately they all carry Obama's autograph and a hefty price tag.

I also called my local campaign office, but they don't have any more of the signs, either.

So, does anybody know of a good place to acquire this particular sign? Or perhaps have an extra one they'd be willing to part with?

identify this street symbol

deep_sea_diving_suit — Fri, 17 Oct 2008 10:57:42 -0800

Can you identify this symbol (http://h4xr.org/9rb2)? It's a diamond centered between two vertical lines with a dot in the middle. I've seen it on sidewalks and streets and presume it's used by electricians or other street/maintenance workers. What does it mean?

Help Me Get Hope

Secret Life of Gravy — Thu, 16 Oct 2008 10:07:29 -0800

Election 08: Best way to mount my campaign signs? I just got back to NC and this state is in the game! I bought 5 different Obama rally signs this morning (love the variety) and I want to mount them in the yard. Anybody done this? Suggestions? Bear in mind we get a lot of rain here.

Protect My Yard Sign

mshellenberger — Sun, 12 Oct 2008 18:58:15 -0800

I am having trouble with some kids stealing my political yard signs. Four are gone so far, although they are only targeting the presidential signs not the down ticket races. The signs are on my property near the street (~6-10ft from the road). Is there a particular substance that would maintain the cleanliness of the signs, cause immediate distress to anyone touching the signs, and not permanently harm them? I've already recorded one of the thefts on video and I am in the process of deciding what to do with that video. But that isn't the point of this question.

What I'd like to do is protect my signs. I would like to smear some substance on them that would be either disgusting or mildly annoying to any person touching them. Some thoughts were dog shit, poison ivy, or mace. I'm planning on providing a warning sign on each sign but, based on the behavior I've seen, they won't be noticed until after the theft anyway.

Help me thief-proof my Obama sign!

chaplinesque — Wed, 08 Oct 2008 13:02:16 -0800

ObamaFilter/AustinFilter: Obama yard signs keep getting stolen in Austin--including mine! Please help me set up humiliating and/or just-less-than-fatal deterrents for would-be thieves! Here's what I have: (1) the yard sign, which consists of a metal wire and the plastic sign part, (2) a free-standing mailbox, and (3) a big oak tree. I thought about chaining the sign to the mailbox, but because there is no wire going across the bottom of the sign, a thief could just slip the sign off the chain. I considered making a hole at the top of the plastic and putting the chain through that, but a thief would just have to tear the plastic. (My friend tells me you can't attach things to a mailbox, though. I could attach it to an in-ground stake.) I considered stapling the sign to the tree, but again, all you have to do is tear. (Nota bene: I refuse to put Quikrete in my yard.) My friends (who are meaner than I am) suggest coating the sign with Vaseline and chili powder. Please use your devious minds to thief-proof my sign!

How is sign disappeared?

ignignokt — Sat, 04 Oct 2008 12:29:06 -0800

How are advertising postings on public property viewed in the eyes of the law? There are always ads plastered all over telephone poles and traffic signal posts, and near them, lawn signs promoting "earning $$$ working at home," dating singles in your area, or politicians. So, I take it that it's legal to put these on public property.

The postings appear and disappear, which means that someone must be taking the old ones away to make space for the new ones. So, is it also legal for anyone to take down a sign that's on public property? Are the postings no one's property once they are posted?

On one hand, ripping down a sign seems vandalous. On the other, it would be ridiculous for someone to be able to claim some public space just by putting a piece of paper there first.

Where could I find an electromechanical sign?

jackofsaxons — Tue, 09 Sep 2008 11:44:46 -0800

So if I wanted to find an old school electro-mechanical signboard, where would I find such an animal? I seem to remember the stock exchange or train stations used to have something similar but I've google my brains out and can't seem find anything. I have the feeling that they're handbuilt, so has anyone seen any plans or schematics for one?

Help me figure this out, eh?

damnjezebel — Sun, 31 Aug 2008 18:50:21 -0800

Tell me, how the hell do a paint a sign in a font? Examples inside. I'm trying to make a sign for a friend for her birthday next week. She wants one in an italian theme and, being all crafty and everything, I have decided to make her one as a surprise. I've seen these signs EVERYWHERE but I can't find a place that tells me how they painted it. The people that painted these signs both have "handpainted!" listed on the sites, but obviously, the letters are too precise to be handpainted. It appears a stencil was made, but how does that work? You make a stencil for every single sign? I would think that there's an easier way, but I can't figure it out.

Link 1

Link 2

Any thoughts? Please enlighten me - I can't afford to buy anything for her birthday, but I AM crafty enough to do this with the materials I have.

Thank you, AskMeFi. =)

Medieval Sign Generator link?

nikko — Wed, 06 Aug 2008 17:01:38 -0800

medieval sign generator link? Some things should be easy to find on the web, but for some reason my search-fu is weak in finding the medieval sign generator that was all the rage a year or so ago. Maybe I have my time periods messed up, but I'm looking for the sign generator that makes the WAAAY olde school signs. I think it's a flash based jobbie that lets you drag pictures on it and such.

I'm looking for web based Sign Design software.

Chuck Cheeze — Fri, 01 Aug 2008 16:04:57 -0800

I'm looking for web based Sign Design software. I have a potential client who wants something just like this, but I haven't been able to find anything. This appears to possibly be proprietary. I thought it was Flash, but it is not. I'd say Flash or non-flash would be fine.

Any ideas?

Scrolling LED message sign

msacheson — Tue, 22 Jul 2008 14:13:33 -0800

Where to buy electronic scrolling LED message sign ... in person? I can find what I *think* I want to buy online, but this is something I really want to see in person before ordering, so I know what I'm getting. I don't want to be like a bride on her wedding night who opens the big package and says, "Is that what I ordered?" you get the idea.

More info: I want a scrolling message sign to use in my 6th-grade math classroom. Put students' names on there for good achievements, birthdays, whatever. You know, for the kids.

Sign Vinyl Cutter Info Needed!

Ponderance — Sat, 14 Jun 2008 19:49:47 -0800

I want to buy a moderately/low priced sign vinyl cutter for a project. What is a decent brand? I want to buy a moderately/low priced sign vinyl cutter for a project. What is a decent brand? I see lots of cheap ones on ebay and they scare me.

I want the low end of a decent brand that will have some longevity, and I can buy supplies for (God save us from gear that has picky proprietary needs).

Any advice is appreciated!

Florid Victorian "Curb your dog" sign in Lynton, Devon?

schampeo — Thu, 08 May 2008 10:37:55 -0800

Back in 1996, Heather and I visited our friend Jason in Bourne End, northwest of London, and spent a few days in Lynton, in Devon. There was a funicular from Lynton to Lynmouth, and we used to take the train from Lynton down into town and wander around in search of scrumpy. As we got off the railway, at the mouth of the Lyn, we found ourselves on the west bank of the Lyn, and IIRC there was a building right about there with the best ever Victorian-latinate-lingo "please curb your dog" sign I've ever seen. Back then, we were in our "experience life, don't take pictures of it" phase, and so I don't have pictures. But I'd love a pic, if there's any way possible - but I don't know anyone in Devon at all, and various flickr and google searches have failed me. Any hope that you know, or know someone who knows, someone from Lynton or Lynmouth or thereabouts, or who knows what I'm talking about? IIRC, we were about here. thanks, hive mind! (nod to jessamyn)