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.

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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.

The Elusive Frank Lloyd Wright Style Captured on Signboard

Many consider Frank Lloyd Wright to be the greatest architect of all time. And who can blame them? Wright’s name is as synonymous with greatness as Jimmy Hendrix and Michael Jordan. He is widely recognized as the father of modernism, a true visionary and the leading figure in all things architecture. Atlas Signs and Plaques is based in Wisconsin–Frank Lloyd Wright’s birthplace. As such we support a healthy number of signs and plaques created in the style of his architecture. All of these signs feature crisp, hard lines that accentuate the subtle brilliance of simple, effective design. If you are a fan of Frank Lloyd Wright (and why wouldn’t you be) then perhaps a Frank Lloyd Wright Address Sign is wright for you. Follow this link to view our selection of Frank Lloyd Wright style signs and plaques.

Just for fun I’m going to show you the best 5 Frank Lloyd Wright creations including what I consider the finest building ever constructed on American soil. Continue reading →

Our Lumos (Harry Potter) Address Plaque is a Favorite for Halloween

Halloween is right around the corner. Time to rustle up the kids, candy, and beer (depending on age) and go enjoy the crisp fall air. There are a lot of Halloween traditions: black cats, candy corn, pumpkins, trick or treating, etc. Perhaps the most enduring icon of these is the pumpkin, more specifically, the jack-o-lantern.

The jack-o-lantern originates in Irish folklore. According to legend there was once a greedy, evil man named Jack. Jack did not have many friends and loved to drink. One day when he was at the pub, Jack saw the devil enter and pull up a seat right next to him.

The two began to talk and before long Jack had convinced the devil to buy his soul in exchange for one last drink. But neither Jack nor the devil had any money left, so the devil turned himself into a coin for Jack to spend on a measure of rum. But the devil was deceived. Continue reading →