Monday
Feb082010
European!
February 8, 2010 Here's a bizarre message to find in a London display case:
Now, according to Mary there actually was an ATM behind her when she snapped this photo, so I guess it's a kind of edible FAQ page. Still, my question is: Where's the ATM when it's NOT behind me? And why even advertise where the broken toilets are?
Maybe it's some kind of European thing, Mary. You know: European? As in, you're...a...pee'in? Eh? Eh? Bazinga!
- Related Wreckage: Cake Writing 101: The Art of Spacing
Reader Comments (127)
Having worked in a library for a bazillion years (where one presumes a certain amount of reading ability) I learned early on that for every one person who read a sign, there were three others who would stand directly in front of it and ask for the information the sign conveyed.
I especially enjoyed the people who would walk up to the door when we were closed, read (while moving their lips) "Library opens at 9 a.m.", look at their watches "oops, 8:30", and then try the door handle, presumably thinking "oh, 9:00 for everyone but me."
Maybe we should have tried signs on cake.
Actually, writing the faq on a cookie is brilliant--because people come into the shop for the cake and cookies, so they head right to the case and start looking at the merchandise. when they see this "note" front and center, they can think to themselves, "oh, ok, good to know." Whereas if there were an actual SIGN on the wall they probably won't see it.
I wouldn't be surprised if there WAS a sign on the wall, and an exasperated baker finally wrote it on the cookie since everyone has their nose in the display case anyway. love how they also add the disclaimer that the ATM (or is it toilets?) is often broken, to counter yet another one (or two) faq. Maybe the intentional lack of punctuation is genius, too--they can point to the cookie whether the ATM OR the toilet is broken, keeping it vague and all-purpose.
and p.s. to Rachel--what a fun idea for using CAKEWRECKS as a means of teaching the importance of proper punctuation, spelling, and capitalization. Even if someone has a job as a baker, these are important skillz, and see what havoc they can wreak (and wasted merchandise) when someone screws up their grammar.
The story goes like this: someone from MI5 had to relay a code message about a secret drop-off point to an agent, without alerting foreign services. So...they phoned through to the local cake shop (where they normally bought the sticky buns for afternoon tea) and asked them to put this seemingly innocent, if inscrutable, message out somewhere on display. The cake shop is just valiantly trying to support such good customers and hasn't a clue what is going on.
A Brit :)
Days like this remind me that most people really, really just want to be helpful. It warms my heart to see it.
I also makes me say to myself, "Bwahahaha! She gotcha again!" :D
You people don't give Jen and John enough credit. Do you *really* think they didn't know what the cookie cake was trying to say??
*sigh*
John's right. It's funnier the way they described it.
I wish I'd thought of putting this on a cake. But here I am, my birthday's just passed, and now I'll have to wait another year! *grumble* If only I'd known...
Actually, the Mrs. Fields I used to work across from in the mall did this once. The employees were bored and slap happy, and sick of answering questions from passers-by. Of course their punctuation was slightly better than this, lol.
Ahahaha @ LaurenH and bel--
Last time, I think the warning said something like, "Our Epcot advisory is at Orange." And I thought to myself, "Is that a place in Florida? Because the advisory had better get back to the office soon; these comments are all out of control!"
Trust a government alert to get misinterpreted by the public yet again...
Oh, good lord, people. The point is that the cake COULD be read that way based on the line break. That the line break suggests that erroneous interpretation. This is the basis of the joke.
Please, commenters, stop yourselves the next time you have the helpful impulse to clarify things for Jen et al. You are making me, worstlobst, crazy.
I loved the comments, but, as squirrel said, the episode with Sheldon in the ball pit is even better! Bazinga indeed!!
Amanda--that is genius. I wish someone would write that into movie plot now!
When the cash machine isn't behind me, it's probably using the toilets downstairs.
I think putting the sign on a cake is a great idea, but it's too bad that now they have to explain what it means to everybody. Seems like one task just leads to another...
;)
It's a haiku!
Dunno if that was on purpose, I'll just assume it was.
I think someone should put "Jen is smarter than you. That's why she's so funny," on a cookie.
Yes, when the cash isn't behind you, it must be downstairs flushing money down the toilet. Perhaps that's why the toilets are broken.
Bwa-ha-ha - Sheldon reference FTW!
I visit your site occasionally and always stay to catch up on all the cakes since the last time I checked. It NEVER ceases to amaze me how many amazingly, awesomely, hilariously bad cakes you have to show us. Priceless!
I don't know if John and Jen laugh their heads off at everyone when they post this stuff, or instead sit all day with their heads in their hands, lamenting the slow pace of the human race.
Personally, I still fall into the former category, so thanks for the belly laughs!
WV: ligglist: I'll put this post on my "list of lil giggles." :P
I need a cake at my job that says, "no... you will NOT glow in the dark."
I just have to say, that banzinga made my day!
Ty for the laugh today Jen and John I really needed it so far my day had been blah even though its my bday so I came here to catch up and it made my day all better Keep up the great work guys you will one day make the whole world smile.
Maybe it is just a really bad haiku?
Bazinga! (I LOVE IT!)
Is this the first crossover between Cake Wrecks and http://www.passiveaggressivenotes.com" rel="nofollow">Passive Aggressive Notes?
Perhaps they're saying that since the ATM behind you is broken, you can use the one by the toilets downstairs.
Either that or the ATM is often broken BECAUSE of the toilets downstairs! (What are the toilets doing, using it?)
Either THAT or they're saying to put your money and debit cards in the toilets downstairs: it'll eat it just like the ATM, but you won't have to press so many buttons!
Judy said...
"Just a little note out to Gary:
Washington's looking might balmy today doncha' think?
Tee! hee! hee! ;-)
I think I'll cancel that winter vacation flight to the states :D"
Well, where I am (south Texas), it's 80 degrees F and sunny right now. So come here for you winter vacation, not to Washington.
... And Mozart's Girl said:
"... Oh, & while we Brits do have a fairly - ahem - earthy sense of humour, I think that you'll find Gary that it's the Germans who are renowned for laughing at anything remotely bottom or lavatory related!"
Two different things. Toilets are alughing gas for the British; bare bottoms get the Germans laughing their lederhosen off.
Oh Bazinga!!! I <3 The Big Bang Theory!!! OH and this cookie cake is great too!
I just watched 6 bazingas thanks to this post. Thank you for the enlightenment.
I think it is a hidden message.
"CM" are someone's initials. B.Y.O.B - well, we all know what THAT means!
T stands for to
and down stairs is written as two words because again, they are someones initials. I hope whoever CM is showed up to the party!
Maybe the staff is tired of complaining to the management about the often broken toilets. Maybe they think if they make a giant cookie about it, it will shame the management into fixing them properly. "Look, don't complain to ME about the often broken toilets! I've pointed that out to the boss MANY times, and he STILL won't do anything about it! Hey, I've even made it into a cookie!"
have you been taking John's cold medicine? U-Re-peeing??
omfg lol soo funny (as always! =]) luv the big bang theory reference- one of my fave shows. the best bazingas ever:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=skQGve3XksU
<3 Mandy (cakewreck's abd TBBT's biggest fan)
Gary - I am British and have never witnessed this bizarre phenomena you speak of. I'm almost as confused as I was a little while back reading that giant information cookie.
LAWL
this was so punny it hurt..O.O
I love the Big Bang theory reference there :) <3
Oh man, as someone who works in retail and gets asked where our ATM is about 10 times each day (even though we don't actually have one and there are signs to that effect) I would kill to have it written down in cookie form. People read cookies.
Why did two different people say this is a haiku?
It's not a haiku!
A haiku has three lines, with a 5-7-5 syllable pattern, or alternating three-line stanzas with 5-7-5 and 7-5-7 syllable patterns. It is about nature and refers to a season of the year.
This cookie, brilliant as it may be, has none of the characteristics of a haiku.
I've got a feeling this is in the Trocadero store in London! They've always got weird (and sometimes quite rude!) things written on their example cookies.
An almost effective message.
wv: siarplis: They had a siarplis of questions about toilets and money machines, so they made a cookie cake about it.
Maybe they hired Karl Hyde as their cake decorator?
If you're going to link to a Bzainga clip, it should be the one from the ball pit last week :) Hilarious!
Love the site - keep them coming!
Maybe they thought it was the cheapest way to post information? Because they can sell it when the ATM is fixed. Right... That's it. Why are we trying to make sense of something made by an obviously special wreckerator?
As somone said earlier, proper puncuation would help. Is the ATM broken, or are the toilets broken. Without it, it could be either way.
What is also puzzling is why that is even on the cookie in the first place.
You're even cooler, Jen, now that you're quoting Big Bang Theory. Best.Sitcom.Ever. And geekiest
I think it's funny that the info changes depending on where the missing punctuation is placed, is it the cash machine that's often broken? or the toilets downstairs?!?!?
This is just too much!!!
there's nothing less appetizing than seeing the word "toilet" on a dessert
Punctuation really is key.
Nice to see fellow fans of The Big Bang Theory, heheh.
your blog design looks so nice!
Looks like Japanese engrish to me xD