K-Squared Ramblings

Crystal Hot Sauce

Now, I realize this is simply a brand name, probably inspired by the “pure” part of the slogan…but I can’t help but be reminded of the brief fad for clear products in the early 1990s. Remember Crystal Pepsi? Of course you don’t.

Saturday Night Live summed up just how unappetizing this fad really was in two words: Crystal Gravy.

Thankfully, Crystal Hot Sauce is not clear (as you can see!), and actually tasted pretty good.

Perm Required

Perm Required, originally uploaded by Kelson.

Spotted in a parking garage this weekend.

Not A Door?

This Is Not A Door, originally uploaded by Kelson.

Let me guess: Magritte designed this building.

Züm Züm

I saw a car this morning with the license plate “ZU SHNL.” It took me a minute to realize it was “zu schnell” – German for “Too fast!” # (It was a Mazda.)

What’s That Smell?

Somewhere in Richmond, California. It was, of course, on Cutting Blvd. This photo has been kicking around in a box since 2000, and I finally got around to scanning it.

Wheel of Time Plot Point…On a Truck?

Sadly, I don’t seem to have ever taken a picture of the logo for the “One Source” company I used to see with a variation on the Yin-Yang symbol without the dots. (There are so many companies with the name that I’m not having any luck looking online.)

Açai…Beer?

The trend has gone too far!

Note that it’s certified organic, too…

Spinal Treat!

Macy’s Domestic Water

We made our first Christmas-season foray into South Coast Plaza over the weekend. Well, really, we just walked over there to grab something at the Coffee Bean after a late lunch at Finbar’s at Metro Pointe, then walked back…but it was a taste of the holiday insanity of the mall. Especially that mall. (Usually I try to avoid it during the holiday season, but I always seem to end up making at least one trip.)

Anyway, the phrasing on this sign just struck us both as odd. Okay, obviously, these valves control the water for Macy’s, which was right on the other side of the shrubberies. But why Macy’s domestic water? Is there another pipe for foreign water?

Hogwarts Groceries

I keep misreading the Snapea Crisps as Snape Crisps…and then Katie noticed that you could pick out a related name from the Maragogype Coffee at Trader Joe’s.

Egg Nog: Do Not Use As Infant Formula

I know this is just a blanket disclaimer/warning label left over from the standard rice milk carton…but who would use (even imitation) egg nog as infant formula in the first place?

I half expected to find another warning label saying, “Not to be used for the other use.”

All it Needs is an iPod

Seriously: this Starbucks VIA stand-up looks like it could use an iPod.

Squee!

Apparently, someone’s managed to bottle and sell it. You can now buy Squee! in a tube.

Eye See You

Eye See You, originally uploaded by Kelson.

I think the picture says it all.

I took one other picture that’s framed better, but doesn’t have quite the same creepiness factor.

Venti Schmenti

So what do you think…

Would it be a bad idea to bring this travel mug to Starbucks? #

(Completely unrelated: The sound of gardening tools outside the office is blending with the computer fans for really weird harmonics. #)