Odd photo of funnel cakes

I was going through my photo archive and came across this sign for funnel cakes that I photographed in Austin a couple of years ago. Doesn't it whet your appetite?

Mark Frauenfelder is the founder of Boing Boing and the editor-in-chief of MAKE and Cool Tools. Twitter: @frauenfelder. Come and hear Mark speak at the ALA conference in Chicago on July 1.

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bjacques

Ur Weekly World News: Miracle Funnel Cake shows face of Humwawa!
kip w

Seven flies can’t be wrong!
Donald Petersen

Jesus, I am weeping with laughter. “Stink lines” never fail to cheer me up.

I’m trying to imagine the vendor’s reaction when the signpainter finished.

“Well, Flaco… whaddaya think?”

“We’re gonna get rich, Smitty! That sign’s making me hungry just lookin’ at it!”
Halloween Jack

The next time someone says “My kid could draw that”, remember, no, he probably can’t.
randee

The correct usage of the word “whet” gave me a little heart palpitation. Thank you, Mark.
Teller

At one time or another, we’ve all suggested someone eat Funnel Cakes.
- Anonymous
  
  lol funnel cakes or gross! if somebody paid me a thousand buck i would not eat it!
Pipenta

I’m afraid that looks more like plastic dog doo.
- Antinous / Moderator
  
  Oh, poo.
Leonard Low

A fitting anagram of “Funnel Cakes”: Sunken Fecal. :p
Anonymous

MMMMMM – Long, steaming TURD. Just the iconic image of the County Fair.
PauloButt

Aw geez, you drew the stink lines and everything.
Michael Leddy

Mark, I think you answered your own question in a comment on the Blackwing pencil post:

“Would you enjoy a tasty meal if it was colored and shaped to resemble dog shit?”
Phikus

I like how Funnel Cake is beaming transmissions off into space (or is that the Dynamic Funnel Actionâ„¢ that spawned it?)

Mark, you put the fun in funnel cake. ;D
warreno

You know, it’s really tragic that the atrocious Sphincter Cake (with mini cyclone) is so distracting, because the handlettered caption is really rather well done. I especially like the way the K overcuts the E. It’s jaunty.

Besides that, though, the lettering was clearly done by someone who had a clue – it’s nicely proportioned, legible, and has a vivacity utterly lacking in the coil of tan disgrace beneath.
Anonymous

This sign is very unique and memorable, so I was sure that I had seen it before. Turns out, I had – you posted it in 2007. :)

http://boingboing.net/2007/10/18/unfortunate-funnel-c.html
Felton / Moderator

A funnel cake for Ren and Stimpy?
Jackasimov

Looks like delicious intestine cakes, which, I’m sorry, are much better deep fried.
Stefan Jones

Has anyone ever finished a funnel cake? On their own, that is?

The last two I tried I unfortunately had with toppings (“Bavarian Creme”, “Caramel”). This was a mistake. I’m not saying I would have finished the cake if it were plain, but the toppings definitely influenced me to ditch it.
- Brainspore
  
  If you’re hanging out in a place that serves funnel cakes then you should either have at least one friend with you or be depressed enough to finish one by yourself.
- knoxblox
  
  Yes, I’ve finished an entire funnel cake along with a large Coke. Unfortunately, I lost it again after exiting a looping inverter ride at the local fairgrounds.
Shawn Wolfe

Stink lines take the cake.
HarveyBoing

I get the criticism. But really, it kind of misses the point. If you’re standing there next to the funnel cake stand and can see and smell the frying dough, the picture makes cognitive sense. The brain doesn’t see a pile of dog crap. It sees a delicious funnel cake!

It’s sort of like the attempt I read of years ago of researchers trying to replicate the “seabreeze” odor for air fresheners. They discovered that the key components are basically of salt and rotting plant and animal life. Out of context, people hated the smell. But standing on the beach, it seems just fine.
ill lich

Looks the same coming out as it did going in. . . unless you go on The Whirlwind after eating it and it comes out the other direction. Good times.
Paul Spinrad

This confirms my pet theory about the strengthening power of compartmentalization — it looks even more delicious because your brain has to avoid making the other obvious connection!

(But you have to be primed by that funnel cake smell and easy accessibility– the effect doesn’t work when you’re more detached, just looking at the photo online.)