Tuesday, July 01, 2008

july 2008 theme day: "no . . ." signs


first of all, happy canada day to my fellow canadians out there. second, a happy theme day to all those daily photo bloggers out there. 172 other blogs are working with this theme today - can't wait to see what they all have come up with!

this photo is of the parking lot at my local 99 cents only store which apparently has a problem with shopping carts going missing and people just standing around. no - loitering, trespassing, and even shopping cart theft! in fact, this seems to be an issue all over los angeles county as you see them abandoned or in use all over the area. readers of this blog from the very beginning may recognize certain elements of this picture as appearing on this blog before (see here, here, and here).

check out the other interpretations of "no . . ." signs right here:

Click here to view thumbnails for all participants

25 comments:

Benjamin Madison said...

Excellent photo. The cart appears poised to make an escape, perhaps by leaping over the yellow line to freedom.

ben wideman said...

the crazy thing is that the wheels apparently lock when they are passed over the line. I'm not sure if you could avoid this by jumping over it - but quite the interesting system!

Janet Kincaid said...

I've been waiting for a "No loitering" sign and here it is! Apparently, the cart didn't get the memo. Great photo!

Happy Theme Day!

ben wideman said...

glad to be of service!

The D in D & T said...

Great photograph, I particularly like the colors. Happy Theme Day :)

Petrea Burchard said...

Happy Canada Day!

Fun shot, Ben. It looks like someone pushed that cart right up to the sign, then obeyed!

Pasadenans can call 744-8227 to report an escaped shopping cart. I have it plugged into my cell phone.

Pasadena Adjacent said...

I know this is meant to depict Pasadena, but I think it's the quintessential Los Angeles photo. It's a peek at those dead zones that you won't see on a post card. Blasting sun on a south facing cinder block wall, slap dash graffiti cover up and a lonely shopping cart. I think this is my favorite photo of yours yet Ben. It's a keeper!

USelaine said...

The cart is certainly more festively turned out than its surroundings. Great composition.

ben wideman said...

Thanks for the heads up on the phone number Petrea - remember that as of today you can't legally make that call from your cell phone if you see a cart while driving around town!

Palm - thanks so much for the lovely words! I hope a few of my images capture a glimpse of something that wouldn't be found on a postcard.

USelaine - the composition of a shot is something I've never had a chance to study formally - when it happens perfectly I can only blame it on luck!

Keith said...

Happy theme day! I glad you explained that "no cart" symbol on the yellow line. I've heard of that kind of thing but I've never actually seen it.

Jane Hards Photography said...

It is actually the staff who take the trolleys home here, abandon them a blame the kids. I'm trying to catch one in action with the camera. No loitering apart from trolleys then!

Petrea Burchard said...

Good point, Ben. Pull over to make that call! (Unless you've trained your phone for voice command. I haven't gotten around to that yet...)

Denton said...

This would be a very tempting shopping carts to steal. Such a pretty color (smile).

Denton from Greenville and the Daily Photo Map.

ben wideman said...

Keith - if you click on the link from my past postings you can see a close up of the yellow line. Glad to give you a glimpse at this crazy system.

Babooshka - always a treat to get your comments! A photo of a cart ride would be AWESOME and make me remember this Labatt Blue commercial that used Blur's "Song 2" to show people racing down a big hill in a cart (and even as I'm saying this I realize that only a Canadian could share this memory)

Petrea - I haven't done that yet either...

Denton - as a loyal reader of uniwatchblog.com I'm going to have to admit to an aversion to the color purple, but you're right that it is flashy!

Kim said...

Ben,
Happy Canada Day! Oh, and I had a Canada Day post all lined up for today and had to scrap it for theme day. . .maybe tomorrow, or next year?

I like Palm Axis observation about your photo. It is exactly that! And Denton's comment cracked me up. Great find for our theme day!
-Kim
Seattle Daily Photo

ben wideman said...

Canada Day post scrapped for Theme Day??? What a travesty.

Thanks for the compliments!

Anonymous said...

Happy Canada Day!!!!!!!!!

Patrizzi Intergarlictica said...

Ben, you must live right near me. Too bad I missed meeting you at the Aztec on Saturday.

Maybe you should come for a 99 cent tea party at my dump, I mean home. On second thought perhaps a nosh at the local watering hole, a cheapo happy hour at McCormick and Schmuck. Bring Petrea and Palm.

ben wideman said...

AP - Happy Canada Day to you too! Honorary Hoser, eh?

Miss H - that would be awesome! My summer is crazy, but I'd love to work it in. $2 burger and fries can't be beat. Send me an e-mail and we'll add Palm and Petrea to the discussion.

Ken said...

Happy Canada Day!
People will steal anything.

Ken said...

Hey Ben, it's at the reservoir on Millard St. near the old high school.

ben wideman said...

Oh sure enough! I remember riding my bike over there when I was a kid.

Petrea Burchard said...

I'm in.

ananda.tashie said...

Coming in late - but I just wanted to mention that I enjoyed your photo too. :) I think it's funny that they actually mention you're not supposed to, uh, steal their shopping carts. (Or, trolleys as my husband will sometimes still say... or trundles as my mom-in-law would... :o)

ben wideman said...

ananda - glad you like it! I was pretty amazed to see the lengths they go to out here to protect the carts, but it is a very big deal.