Oh, the things we do...

Warning Labels
Manufacturers of consumer products have to be liberal with the warning labels these days, lest they get sued. But for these, it's hard to know whether the company is being outright stupid or if they're simply targeting the most brain dead dumb among us.
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Product Warnings:
"Do not use if you cannot see clearly to read the information in the information booklet." -- In the information booklet.
"Caution: The contents of this bottle should not be fed to fish." -- On a bottle of shampoo for dogs.
"For external use only!" -- On a curling iron.
"Warning: This product can burn eyes." -- On a curling iron.
"Do not use in shower." -- On a hair dryer.
"Do not use while sleeping." -- On a hair dryer.
"Do not use while sleeping or unconscious." -- On a hand-held massaging device.
"Do not place this product into any electronic equipment." -- On the case of a chocolate CD in a gift basket.
"Recycled flush water unsafe for drinking." -- On a toilet at a public sports facility in Ann Arbor, Michigan.
"Shin pads cannot protect any part of the body they do not cover." -- On a pair of shin guards made for bicyclists.
"This product not intended for use as a dental drill." -- On an electric rotary tool.
"Caution: Do not spray in eyes." -- On a container of underarm deodorant.
"Do not drive with sunshield in place." -- On a cardboard sunshield that keeps the sun off the dashboard.
"Caution: This is not a safety protective device." -- On a plastic toy helmet used as a container for popcorn.
"Do not use near fire, flame, or sparks." -- On an "Aim-n-Flame" fireplace lighter.
"Battery may explore or leak." -- On a battery. See a scanned image.
"Do not eat toner." -- On a toner cartridge for a laser printer.
"Not intended for highway use." -- On a 13-inch wheel on a wheelbarrow.
"This product is not to be used in bathrooms." -- On a Holmes bathroom heater.
"May irritate eyes." -- On a can of self-defense pepper spray.
"Eating rocks may lead to broken teeth." -- On a novelty rock garden set called "Popcorn Rock."
"Caution! Contents hot!" -- On a Domino's Pizza box.
"Caution: Hot beverages are hot!" -- On a coffee cup.
"Caution: Shoots rubber bands." -- On a product called "Rubber Band Shooter."
"Warning: May contain small parts." -- On a frisbee.
"Do not use orally." -- On a toilet bowl cleaning brush.
"Please keep out of children." -- On a butcher knife.
"Not suitable for children aged 36 months or less." -- On a birthday card for a 1 year old.
"Do not recharge, put in backwards, or use." -- On a battery.
"Warning: Do not use on eyes." -- In the manual for a heated seat cushion.
"Do not look into laser with remaining eye." -- On a laser pointer.
"Do not use for drying pets." -- In the manual for a microwave oven.
"For use on animals only." -- On an electric cattle prod.
"For use by trained personnel only." -- On a can of air freshener.
"Keep out of reach of children and teenagers." -- On a can of air freshener.
"Remember, objects in the mirror are actually behind you." -- On a motorcycle helmet-mounted rear-view mirror.
"Warning: Riders of personal watercraft may suffer injury due to the forceful injection of water into body cavities either by falling into the water or while mounting the craft." -- In the manual for a jetski.
"Warning: Do not climb inside this bag and zip it up. Doing so will cause injury and death." -- A label inside a protective bag (for fragile objects), which measures 15cm by 15cm by 12cm.
"Do not use as ear plugs." -- On a package of silly putty.
"Please store in the cold section of the refrigerator." -- On a bag of fresh grapes in Australia.
"Warning: knives are sharp!" -- On the packaging of a sharpening stone.
"Not for weight control." -- On a pack of Breath Savers.
"Twist top off with hands. Throw top away. Do not put top in mouth." -- On the label of a bottled drink.
"Theft of this container is a crime." -- On a milk crate.
"Do not use intimately." -- On a tube of deodorant.
"Warning: has been found to cause cancer in laboratory mice." -- On a box of rat poison.
"Fragile. Do not drop." -- Posted on a Boeing 757.
"Cannot be made non-poisonous." -- On the back of a can of de-icing windshield fluid.
"Caution: Remove infant before folding for storage." -- On a portable stroller.
"Excessive dust may be irritating to shin and eyes." -- On a tube of agarose powder, used to make gels.
"Look before driving." -- On the dash board of a mail truck.
"Do not iron clothes on body." -- On packaging for a Rowenta iron.
"Do not drive car or operate machinery." -- On Boot's children's cough medicine.
"For indoor or outdoor use only." -- On a string of Christmas lights.
"Wearing of this garment does not enable you to fly." -- On a child sized Superman costume.
"This door is alarmed from 7:00pm - 7:00am." -- On a hospital's outside access door.
"Beware! To touch these wires is instant death. Anyone found doing so will be prosecuted." -- On a sign at a railroad station.
"Warning: do not use if you have prostate problems." -- On a box of Midol PMS relief tablets.
"Product will be hot after heating." -- On a supermarket dessert box.
"Do not turn upside down." -- On the bottom of a supermarket dessert box.
"Do not light in face. Do not expose to flame." -- On a lighter.
"Choking hazard: This toy is a small ball." -- On the label for a cheap rubber ball toy.
"Not for human consumption." -- On a package of dice.
"May be harmful if swallowed." -- On a shipment of hammers.
"Using Ingenio cookware to destroy your old pots may void your warranty." -- A printed message that appears in a television advertisement when the presenter demonstrates how strong the cookware is by using it to beat up and destroy a regular frying pan.
"Do not attempt to stop the blade with your hand." -- In the manual for a Swedish chainsaw.
"Do not dangle the mouse by its cable or throw the mouse at co-workers." -- From a manual for an SGI computer.
"Warning: May contain nuts." -- On a package of peanuts.
"Do not eat." -- On a slip of paper in a stereo box, referring to the styrofoam packing.
"Do not eat if seal is missing." -- On said seal.
"Remove occupants from the stroller before folding it."
"Access hole only -- not intended for use in lifting box." -- On the sides of a shipping carton, just above cut-out openings which one would assume were handholds.
"Warning: May cause drowsiness." -- On a bottle of Nytol, a brand of sleeping pills.
"Warning: Misuse may cause injury or death." -- Stamped on the metal barrel of a .22 calibre rifle.
"Do not use orally after using rectally." -- In the instructions for an electric thermometer.
"Turn off motor before using this product." -- On the packaging for a chain saw file, used to sharpen the cutting teeth on the chain.
"Not to be used as a personal flotation device." -- On a 6x10 inch inflatable picture frame.
"Do not put in mouth." -- On a box of bottle rockets.
"Remove plastic before eating." -- On the wrapper of a Fruit Roll-Up snack.
"Not dishwasher safe." -- On a remote control for a TV.
"For lifting purposes only." -- On the box for a car jack.
"Do not put lit candles on phone." -- On the instructions for a cordless phone.
"Warning! This is not underwear! Do not attempt to put in pants." -- On the packaging for a wristwatch.
Assurances:
"Safe for use around pets." -- On a box of Arm & Hammer Cat Litter.
Small Print From Commercials:
"Do not use house paint on face." -- In a Visa commercial that depicts an expecting couple looking for paint at a hardware store.
"Do not drive cars in ocean." -- In a car commercial which shows a car in the ocean.
"Always drive on roads. Not on people." -- From a car commercial which shows a vehicle "body-surfing" at a concert.
"For a limited time only." -- From a Rally's commercial that described how their burgers were fresh.
Signs and Notices:
"No stopping or standing." -- A sign at bus stops everywhere.
"Do not sit under coconut trees." -- A sign on a coconut palm in a West Palm Beach park circa 1950.
"These rows reserved for parents with children." -- A sign in a church.
"All cups leaving this store, rather full or empty, must be paid for." -- A sign in a Cumberland Farms in Hillsboro, New Hampshire.
"Malfunction: Too less water." -- A notice left on a coffee machine.
"Prescriptions cannot be filled by phone." -- On a form in a clinic.
"You could be a winner! No purchase necessary. Details inside." -- On a bag of Fritos.
"Fits one head." -- On a hotel-provided shower cap box.
"Payment is due by the due date." -- On a credit card statement.
"No small children." -- On a laundromat triple washer.
"Warning: Ramp Ends In Stairs." -- A sign, correctly describing the end of a concrete ramp intended for handicap access to a bridge.
Safety Procedures:
"Take care: new non-slip surface." -- On a sign in front of a newly renovated ramp that led to the entrance of a building.
"In case of flood, proceed uphill. In case of flash flood, proceed uphill quickly." -- One of the emergency safety procedures at a summer camp.
Ingredients:
"Ingredients: Artificially bleached flour, sugar, vegetable fat, yeast, salt, gluten, soya flour, emulsifier 472 (E) & 481, flour treatment agents, enzymes, water. May contain: fruit." -- The ingredients list on a package of fruit buns.
"100% pure yarn." -- On a sweater.
"Some materials may irritate sensitive skin. Please look at the materials if you believe this may be the case.Materials:Covering: 100% Unknown.Stuffing: 100% Unknown."-- On a pillow.
"Cleans and refreshes without soap or water. Contains: Water, fragrance & soap." -- On the packet for a moist towelette. See a scanned image.
Instructions:
"Remove the plastic wrapper." -- The first instruction on a bag of microwave popcorn; to see the instructions, one first has to remove the plastic wrapper and unfold the pouch.
"Take one capsule by mouth three times daily until gone." -- On a box of pills.
"Open packet. Eat contents." -- Instructions on a packet of airline peanuts.
"Remove wrapper, open mouth, insert muffin, eat." -- Instructions on the packaging for a muffin at a 7-11.
"Use like regular soap." -- On a bar of Dial soap.
"Instructions: usage known." -- Instructions on a can of black pepper.
"Serving suggestion: Defrost." -- On a Swann frozen dinner.
"Simply pour the biscuits into a bowl and allow the cat to eat when it wants." -- On a bag of cat biscuits.
"In order to get out of car, open door, get out, lock doors, and then close doors." -- In a car manual.
"Please include the proper portion of your bill." -- On the envelope for an auto insurance bill.
"The appliance is switched on by setting the on/off switch to the 'on' position." -- Instructions for an espresso kettle.
Requirements:
"Optional modem required." -- On a computer software package.

Where is the hero now?

There's a story I had started and I will be posting bits of it at a time on here and I was wondering if... well if you had any comments or suggestions to post them on here so I can read them. You can be the one who steers Abigail into all kinds of little adventures.

"As a child, I had a wild imagination. When playing in the playground, I thought I was Zelda. I used to run around and pick things up which I called my "items" and placed them carefully in my bag. Then, there had been days where I played Mission Impossible/Spies and as I carefully spidered my way around the walls, I would hum a ridiculous tune quite loudly. All of which I would do alone. I was never much for friends. I would sit alone quietly and read, and when I was bored enough, I would play solo games -" Abigail said, looking out the window, then looking back "But times change, and then you wake up this totally different person. Sometimes I wonder how I came to be," Bailey made a face and she looked up and laughed. "Not like that." It had been a quiet fall afternoon, the leaves flowing rudely in the wind. She had been trying to amuse herself and her friend Bailey Summers while her teacher was busy making photocopies for the next assignment. She turned slowly towards the window once more and looked disappointed. "Winter is coming."

Bailey looked pleased. "Can't wait."

---

The alarm rang and Abigail Robinson woke up and stretched out. She yawned a couple times and then sighed. Today was moving day. The day she would leave everything behind and move on. She had many thoughts about this day and somehow every one of them didn’t matter but one. Bailey.

It had been two years now since her sudden death. She rose from her bed and walked towards her desk where a note was pinned above it, on her pastel blue side wall. It was a picture of her best friend on Picture Day, two months before the tragedy. A newspaper clipping above it, reading: “Teenage girl struck in unexpected car crash.”

“Bailey. I don’t know what to say anymore. I’m lifeless. Pathetic, really. There are so many things I still wanted to say to you. Miss Patterson in History had her baby. She’s doing well. I think she’s coming back in a couple weeks or so. My brother continues to fight with my mom. Something tells me that’s never going to change. Found my dad yet? I suppose you guys would run into each other sometime or another. I wouldn’t know how that works – maybe you wouldn’t. I’m still sorry about that time. I wish I could have helped you. Maybe then I could have been the one sandwiched between those two cars and then you and those drivers could have been the ones who survived; you could have been the one to replace me. I’m miserable without my best friend. You should see the way the kids now look at me, I look – oh never mind. I suppose I should be getting ready for a brand new Saturday.”

She got dressed trying to look somewhat normal and walked down the stairs and into the kitchen and made herself some cereal. Walking into the living room with her bowl, she tried to cheer herself up by reminding herself that she had all morning to watch old cartoons peacefully. She knew that what she probably needed more was many distractions instead.

Could this be?

I may have completely completed my final exam early.

Which, to be honest, feels great. I don't feel so stressed.
What's amazing is that I took my time. I worked hard, yet took my time. I had over a month to do it - plus my co-op project and some other English project and I got them all done.
I feel absolutely amazing right now.

Well, I got my note for my one-act play: 84%.
Not bad really.

Anyways, I am off to send pointless emails to anyone I know, toodles ;)

Happy New Year

So it's the brand new year.
Any special plans you have in 2009?

To be honest, I don't have any. I wish I could say different, but it's the same old, same old goals that I have. Go to school, get good grades, don't get in trouble, make it in today's world all by myself.
But I do want something more. I figured it's about time to figure out who I was. And I think I have found out some things about me. I like who I am, who I have become and I like how hard I can work to be able to accomplish each little thing that I need done.
If I am pressured to do something, I can get it done. If I have too much time to do something, I don't feel motivated, I don't feel like there is much point to doing it.
But if I am on a tight schedule and things need to get done on certain days, then I have no problem in getting them done.

This semester I had roughly 2 classes. Writer's Craft and Cooperative Education. Writer's Craft is already a really easy class, and COOP is being in a working environment. In both classes, it didn't measure up to being a lot of work, I mean, in school, I only had projects that I simply had to use my creativity. Which, comes fairly easy. In COOP, I talk to people and once and a while serve things. There is no challenge, there is no difficulty, there isn't really anything that could serve as motivation, other than the smiles of the ones I visit from time to time.

Next semester, I am looking forward to because there will be challenges, there will be motivation and there will be a chance for me to have some kind of constant deadline.
People believe that I won't be able to work under the pressure. Sure, sometimes it's a little inconvienient, but I believe that it will be a positive change. It will give me an idea of how I feel working for a purpose, after all, I do graduate this year.

If no one believes that I can do this, I think that the only person that is going to have to prove them wrong is me. :)