Friday Five: The week’s top safety and sign news updates

Friday, January 27, 2012 –

This week is No Name-Calling Week. Inspired by the novel The Misfits, this initiative seeks to focus national attention on the problem of bullying and name-calling in schools. We’d like to extend this to the sign industry, especially given a recent series of possibly offensive signs that restaurant owner Cameron Billy posted outside of his store. These “Hillbilly Heaven signs,” as they’ve been termed, declare that Cameron does not sell Asian or Middle Eastern cuisine and only serves customers in English.

On this Friday, we present a range of anti-bullying signs. Click on the picture below to see a series of signs that are quite different from Cameron’s, and read more after the jump.

Thefts Rose 26 percent on T in 2011 Reaching a new record in number of riders, Boston’s public transportation reports increased theft from iPhones to bikes despite signs reminding people to mind their valuables. Take caution with your valuables on the T, especially on the Orange Line.

Bill provides Amish an alternative to reflective signs If a new proposal becomes law, the Kentucky Amish may use highly reflective gray or silver tape on the back of their vehicles as an alternative to the reflective safety triangles currently required. Some members of the conservative sect of the Amish object to the bright orange signs for religious reasons.

Cambodia playground made possible by fifth-grader 10-year-old Peter Swanson raised $1,704 in quarters to help build a playground in his native Cambodia. Now all they need are some nice playground signs.

– Z. Miller and A. Li