right, I'll go ahead and "check in"

Shira spotted this in Hawaii. I guess this is where you smuggle your pineapples or something.

your "bacon" eh?

I feel like this is maybe a reference to bringing home the bacon, but that doesn't make it good. Or maybe they mean to say the bank is still kosher? Or that it isn't? Thanks, Andrew.

"be patient"

I feel like this driver is messing with me, somehow. Thanks, Paige.

"loose"

I guess these tea bags are kind of easy. Thanks, Annie.

those are some songs maybe

I think you're supposed to recite these lines with your partner. I like to be the person who yells "ONLY CANS!" Thanks, Abby.

just "knock"

I assume "knocking" is a complicated signal including a little tune starting on a specific pitch, and clapping a secret rhythm. Thanks, Jeff.

"submerged hazards"

I don't know what this is a euphemism for, and I'm not sure I want to. Thanks, Charlotte.

super "fast"

You may need to click to enlarge on this one. You'll then learn that it's kinda slow. Thanks, Seung.

sure looks like one

Just throw your candy wrapper on in there, don't worry. Thanks, Julia.

not that great

If you stop at this place you won't "regret it" at all... Thanks, Zachary.

"roasted" eh?

So I guess they haven't done a lot to these veggies after all. Thanks, Chelsea.

metaphor alert

McDonalds wants you to know they do not own any celestial objects. Thanks, Jon.

mmmm "fruit"

So I guess these pies are made out of fruit snacks. Thanks, Mike!

well, not JUST you

Submitter Kiley suggests the author of this prayer is hedging his or her bets.

pun alert

These quotation marks are a rare combination of the pun warning and the slogan signifier. Good work, quotation marks. And good work Lisa, for finding it.

fun with modifiers

Alright, the real humor here is in the misplaced modifiers. I assume neat prices are those rounded to the nearest dollar. But it looks like somebody just said something about it anyway. Thanks, Lisa.

so american

I assume this means americanized version of thai food. That's cool, I'm the kind of american they tone down the spicy for. Thanks, Meghan!

mmm "fish soup"

This seems really, really gross to me. Thanks, Mercedes.

Let's see the birth certificate!

Jackie and Becca spotted this while visiting John Wayne's birthplace in Winterset Iowa. Despite being in John Wayne's home town, it seems that there is some skepticism about his citizenship.

from foreign lands

I guess these trendy peas are secretly grown out back... Thanks, Kari.

what, like sorbet pies?

This sounds "delicious." Looks like a popsicle loaf is coming your way. Thanks, Gregory.

"fish hero"

I really have no idea what this sign means with or without the quotation marks, but whatever you can buy here it barely resembles a sandwich. Thanks, Jack.

most of the time

Perhaps these quotation marks are designed to distance the writer from the misspelling. Thanks, Amy.

"time" for something

Justin explains that this is two sides of the same sign. I do not want to know what "servicing" the generators means.

oh "are" they?

I guess these bees used to be the bad kind? But you should seriously stay back. Thanks, nameless sprint-user.

how many?

So wait, I guess we put three (3) or one (1) or something. Thanks, Jane.

yeah that'll work

Ok, we have saving lives, how do we make this sign more emotionally attractive? Let's just bring up breast cancer. It worked to make a bunch of women reveal their bra colors on facebook. Thanks, Gene!

"sorry"

I guess they aren't really sorry. Thanks, Marisa.

"drinks" and "change"

David explains that this was on top of a soda machine at a fair. I am guessing at least one of these is lying.

"drinks"

I guess they are solids. Or not potable. Thanks, Eleanor.

really, "nothing"

The person who submitted these did not sign their name. However, it's clear that you may have to clean up somebody's mess, and they won't be polite about it.

tons

I guess they have a lot of white noise here. Thanks, Clint!

appearing in "red"

I guess the printing is more of a magenta. Thanks, MPR.

maybe one or two

Matt spotted this at one of my favorite restaurants here in Athens. Just like the food, these quotation marks are meticulously presented, so I'll forgive their incoherence and keep on eating there.

now with more smugness

You maybe can remove these plugs, but what you can't get away with here is making a sign without getting red penned (click to enlarge). Thanks, Caitlin.

I think you might be kidding

I like the contradiction between the quotation marks and the parenthesis here. Thanks, Rebecca.

totally legit

1) apparently there is such a thing as a fake plastic surgeon 2) I think I know how to find one.

Thanks Betsy!

talking building!

I guess the building has something to tell you, but then it needs a little explanation. Thanks, Catherine.

"ice" or something

Vanessa spotted this in a hotel when on tour with her band. I can only hope she didn't put this "ice" in a drink.

"no parts parking"

Um, so you can park some parts there or something? What's parts parking anyway and why does it need two periods? Thanks, Andrew.

National Punctuation Day Approaches

It's that time of year again, right after Talk Like a Pirate Day, when National Punctuation Day is nearing. What should people do to celebrate this year? The website offers some educational tools and a haiku contest. I think readers of this blog should leave their suggestions for how to celebrate in the comments here.

please "knock"

So I guess you can mime knocking and leave the door ajar. Thanks, Chris.

not really for families

I don't know if you get served by a stripper here, or what, but I don't think it's for families. Thanks, Mason.

like "jumbo" shrimp?

I guess these limes aren't really that big. Thanks, Becky and family!

"well maintained"

This seems like a "desirable" place to live. Thanks, Rye.

"justice"

Several people alerted me to this blog post. I'm guessing the author of these quotation marks believes they are extremely necessary.

"new"

These salmon burgers are something we just pretended to make up. Thanks, Amanda.

sounds "stylish"

Maybe they mean to say that the real style is to pay much more than that for a wedding. Thanks, Lottie.

have "a" nice day

I have no idea what this means, but I do know that it's awesome. Thanks, Sarah.