Sign Up and Receive Exclusive Offers!

New things are coming at Atlas Signs and Plaques!

Beginning in November we will begin publishing a monthly newsletter containing information about new Signs and Plaques, exclusive discount codes (pretty juicy ones, too) , and exclusive previews of future signs. You will not want to miss any of the content that we’re offering.

You can subscribe to the e-mailing list  list by filling out the form on this link.

While you’re at it, go ahead and subscribe to this blog by clicking on that little orange box to the right underneath “Follow Us”. Also be sure to follow us on twitter and on Facebook.

Click here to sign up, it will take less than 30 seconds of your time.

If sea-world ever chose to hang a custom address plaque on their property this would be the one. This week’s features sign of the week is sure to be a favorite of whale researchers and lovers everywhere—it’s our Whale Address Plaque. Pop quiz: what is the largest creature to ever roam the earth? If you paid attention in first grade then this should be an easy answer for you—it’s the whale. Although this sign is nowhere near the largest that we produce, it does offer some of the most appeal. It’s been spotted multiple times on this blog, appeared on other blogs, and even generated a request for a 5-foot version (now that’s a lunker). The whale address sign is sure to give your house the pizzazz that you want and is a great conversational piece.

3 Whale Ornaments

Plus, if you order yours now, for a limited time only, you will receive your choice of ornaments including the brand new whale ornament. Unfortunately, we only made about 25 of these ornaments in a 1-time press—so order yours soon before time runs out!

Now for some fun information about whales

It is believed that whales evolved from wolf-like mammals 55 million years ago.

It is possible that ancient whales gave birth on land. Pregnant females have been found in the mountains of Pakistan (which would have been ocean-shore 45 million years ago).

The whale’s closest present-day relative is (unsurprisingly) the hippo.

The Whale's Close Relative--Hippopotamus

Blue Whales were hunted from a population of almost 400,000 to 2,000 during the mid 1900’s. That’s 99.5% of their population.

The Blue Whale is the biggest creature to ever exist.

The Killer (Orca) Whale is actually a dolphin. Dolphins are in the Cetacean family, which they share with whales.

The largest animal on earth, the blue whale, feeds on a creature 1/100,000,000^th its size—krill, which it eats up to 8,000 lbs. of a day.

Whales vocalize at up to 188 decibels and can be heard from 1,000 miles away. We assure you our Whale Address sign is a mute.

Baby whales grow at a rate of 8 lbs. an hour.

Sure It Looks Cute Now...

Remember, all purchases of $125 or more will receive a complimentary ornament of your choosing, including the mini-whale.

Go Ahead, Add Up Those Numbers--You May Find the Results Startling

Today is Halloween–supposedly the scariest night of the year. Ghouls, goblins, specters, and wisps rise from their graves to haunt the living. Very chilling stuff. Have you ever stepped back and wondered why October 31 is considered the hub of all things scary? Why not August 11^th, or September 27^th? What is it about October 31^st that makes it so special? Well, perhaps that the number 31 backwards is…gasp…13. The number thirteen is widely considered to be a cursed number; it is so feared that there is even a name for the fear of it: Paraskevideka. What about the number 13 is so scary though? Why do some people refuse to get out of bed on Friday the 13^th? Is it mere superstition or somehow based in fact? Well, as it turns out—both.

The 13th Ecliptic Constellation

People’s fear of 13 begins with the uncontrollable cosmos. In a solar year there are exactly 12.41 cycles of the moon. That makes for 12 complete, perfect months, with a .41 excess—the hidden 13^th month. There are also 13 constellations that cross the ecliptic path; the 13^th is Ophiuchus—the serpent holder. I’m confident you don’t need to be told why a superstitious person would fear that. So perhaps the fear of 13 originates in space.

Continue reading →

William Morris at 36

Buddha, Plato, Marx, Darwin—all names you have heard before. Rightfully so, they are a handful of the most influential people in history. Their legacies are so widespread that their ideals have become synonymous with their names (Darwinism, Marxism). Some people, however, are influential in a more behind-the-scenes sort of way. Some people inspire a whole generation armed only with an idea. One of those persons is William Morris. Continue reading →

Humor is one of the greatest functions of the human brain. The ability to laugh at ourselves is something that is oft taken for granted. Do you remember the funniest thing you’ve ever seen? The funniest joke you’ve ever heard? Odds are you can recall your favorites in an instant. Some things have always been and always will be funny. Like Steve Martin and Dave Chappelle. Atlas Signs and Plaques makes signs of all kinds, including humorous ones. Here are some of our funniest.

1#  Not a Friend Privacy Plaque. (pictured above) You don’t have to be an English major to appreciate the word jangling that this sign provides. This sign also incorporates the ever-effective “Gecko mating call”. Look out, ladies.

Babysitters, You Have Been Warned

2# Beware of Boy. “Bang, Pow, Crash! You’re dead!” If you are the parent of a male child then this is the transcript that you probably hear day in and day out. Mothers, when not facilitating the still-unresolved Cowboy-Indian war, have to protect friends from their monsoon of wild energy and destruction (aka, son). Our “Beware of Boy” sign helps with that task.

3# Whale House Numbers. Ok. I understand. Only 2% of you will think this sign is as funny as I do. To the other 98% all I can say is: just look at the dang thing.

I Am Man, Hear Me Roar

4# The Man Room. Apparently manliness is in. From old spice ads to beer commercials, we see a lot of attention being paid to manliness by marketers. And for good reason; gender differences are one of the most perpetually amusing sources of humor there is. Just about every dude needs his own space to drink beer and watch football. Our “man room” sign helps carve that space out in a very self-aware, humorous way.