I saw this sign at a little logo design shop near our home here in Shanghai. Wouldn’t you expect a logo design company to have at least one good logo on its billboard?
My wife took this picture at a convenience store on the street outside our house.
We didn’t buy “slices the cake” so we’re not sure whether the package actually contains cake or just contains the verb “slices the cake.”
…..
Today I took both my sons to an NFL promotional event here in Shanghai. We’re all big football fans and the boys were especially excited to meet NFL Hall-of-Famer, Tony Dorsett, although they had no idea who he was. My seven-year-old son, The Fonz, decided he wanted to be a football player when he grew up. When I asked why he had decided on football over his previous desire to be a baseball player, he answered, “Baseball players have to play every day. Football players only have to play once a week.”
A lot of little kids have unrealistic dreams of playing professional sports when they grow up, but something tells me The Fonz has even less of a chance if he’s choosing his dream based on which one requires the least amount of work.
…..
Why not cruise on over to the caption contest page and vote for one of the outstanding finalists? And if you had a good time voting, why not come back once a day for the rest of the week?
The Good Greatsby 
Girly
November 27, 2011
Ah, the American dream lives on in the young ‘uns. Maximum amount of payoff for the minimum amount of effort… it’s actually quite touching (sniff).
The Good Greatsby
November 27, 2011
Isn’t that exactly what the founding fathers envisioned?
Kathryn McCullough
November 27, 2011
Clearly the logo company employs the same logic as the Fonz–the least in logos for the biggest bucks.
The Good Greatsby
November 27, 2011
I’m convinced they did the least amount of work although I’m not sure they made the biggest bucks.
rumpydog
November 27, 2011
Ahhhh… if only you could find a package that says, “cuts the cheese!”
The Good Greatsby
November 28, 2011
That will be my new mission in China.
educlaytion
November 27, 2011
I’d like the umbrella picture logo please. And Tony Dorsett matriculated at Pitt where I teach. Wait, does matriculate mean play football?
The Good Greatsby
November 27, 2011
I’m pretty sure I matriculated in college but I didn’t play any sports or win a Heisman.
The Understander
November 27, 2011
Haha. Smart kid.
The Good Greatsby
November 27, 2011
I’ll be especially proud of him once he actually finds that high-paying, easy job.
ichoosehappynow
November 27, 2011
I love Chinglish. I am from the Philippines originally and we have a term called “Taglish” (Tagalog English).
So what are you guys doing in Shaghai?
Cheers,
Louise
The Good Greatsby
November 28, 2011
We came for my work. Also for the Chinese food.
ichoosehappynow
November 30, 2011
Awesome! I hear from friends that Shanghai is a great place to be.
Cheers,
Louise
Brown Road Chronicles
November 27, 2011
I’m guessing they don’t actually design logos, but instead print an already designed logo on promotional items like golf balls and umbrellas. I wish your son the best of luck finding that career that pays a lot with little work. I’ve been trying to figure that out for years.
The Good Greatsby
November 27, 2011
I’m hoping someone will read this post and set up my son with some kind of easy, high-paying career since I’ve been unable to find anything for him thus far.
She's a Maineiac
November 28, 2011
My son wants to play the Wii for a living.
The Good Greatsby
November 28, 2011
If he sees any Wii-related job postings, tell him to share with my son.
susielindau
November 27, 2011
You have a good point about the amount of required games. You could point out that baseball players stand and sit around most of the game.
Must be an awesome trip!
The Good Greatsby
November 28, 2011
I agree. Baseball players may put in a lot of hours but they spend a lot of those hours sitting.
Actually we’re not on a trip but live in Shanghai. I guess we could think of it as a seven year trip.
susielindau
November 28, 2011
Wow! I didn’t know that. Thanks for sharing a glimpse into your life there.
Snoring Dog Studio
November 27, 2011
They design all kinds of logos for umbrellas, trophies and golf balls. One-stop shopping! Maybe the “slices cake” package contains a knife or a cake server? That small Chinese text below the product title says, “Cake not Included.”
Congrats on getting FP’d the other day!
gerknoop
November 27, 2011
Greatsby, Many times I see “congratulations” for getting “Fresh Pressed” ….is there a way to see on your blog when you get fb’d? Which one this time? If that is a stupid question…I apologize ahead of time! LOL
The Good Greatsby
November 28, 2011
Readers are still referring to the ‘Turning Thanksgiving into Thanksreceiving’ post. It may seem like people are mentioning more than one occurrence but I think that’s because the post has been featured for an unusually long time. Being Freshly Pressed may only last a day but I’m on day 4 right now–probably because of the long holiday weekend.
Annie
November 27, 2011
My son once asked me which took less years of schooling, becoming a physician or a postman. When I told him the postman did he decided that might be the career for him.
I wonder if the company that makes “slices the cake” also makes “cuts the cheese”.
modestypress
November 28, 2011
Pretty soon becoming a postman will be an especially easy career as postal mail will no longer exist. For that matter, being an email postman will no longer exist. Perhaps he can become a tweet mail postman or a Facebook postman. Or should it be postwoman or post transgender or posthuman post artificial intelligence creature? I shall have to go see your blog and see where you live. Perhaps things are different there.
The Good Greatsby
November 28, 2011
My kids have been training to be email postmen. They’ll be disappointed to learn this career will no longer exist in the future, although I’m not sure it even exists now.
Laura
November 28, 2011
I love the logo sign — the placement of the Chinese characters makes it look like the company’s name is “[A-very-rude-English-word] Logo”.
thelifeofjamie
November 28, 2011
I don’t think you need to worry about the Fonz. He clearly knows how to work the system and will probably end up making millions!
Byron MacLymont
November 28, 2011
“Slices The Cake” sounds like a puppet or cartoon cake character on a terrible TV show. “Hey, Kids! Slices the Cake here, reminding you that frosting can harden into sharp points that can cut your gums! See you next time!”
The Good Greatsby
November 28, 2011
I’d let my kids watch that show. There aren’t enough cake-education shows out there.
Amy
November 28, 2011
Maybe “logo” means something different in China? Like “random, not-to-scale objects on a grassy field”.
And, see, I thought that the cake’s name was Slices. You know, like Bobo the Clown. Slices the Cake.
Ape No. 1
November 28, 2011
Based on the motion blurred image it is clear at that the Fonz is damn fast and could be a contender for this once a week sport if speed is considered an important attribute. Does this Millenium Falcon hyper-drive capability come from your side or your wife’s side of the family?
The Good Greatsby
November 28, 2011
We’re not sure where he gets it. We’ve wanted to have a doctor take a look at his hyper-drive but he’s never been able to hold still for long enough.
Bearman
November 28, 2011
someone has to design the shit logos.
kathrinjapan
November 28, 2011
Assuming you are a stranger in a strange land like myself I enjoy your observations. It’s always ironic to me how in a land of people who are stereotyped as geniuses, no one thinks to consult an English speaker. I also enjoy the frequent misunderstandings of Janglish I hear daily. The other day in Pilates, our teacher had us holding our feet balancing on out sit bones. Then she said we should start clapping from our hips, but it sounded like “crapping from our hips”. I nearly did.
PCC Advantage
November 29, 2011
Underneath the words “Slices the cake” and beside the Chinese bits, does it say “i-cake”??
pegoleg
November 29, 2011
Is tire running a big sport in China? If so, looks like your kids’ futures are golden!