Flying turkeys

You may be aware that starting next spring, TSA will require that you have either a passport or a REAL ID endorsement to board a domestic flight. 

You may also be aware that domesticated turkeys, generally speaking, can’t fly. Wild turkeys are able to fly short distances. Turkish Airlines, on the other hand, flies all over the world. 

That’s a lot of work for one little cartoon!
 

May the Fourth

Yes, it's May the Fourth — Star Wars Day — so it's time once again for our safety messages from a galaxy far, far away. As an homage to Peter Mayhew, this year our messages are Chewie-themed.

Drive carefully!

The Countdown Begins: Memes and things

From time to time I share stuff I do for work or church. Here are a few of the more fun things we've done.

5. May the fourth is a big day for us and safety messages. And, yes, sometimes we have to force the jokes:

4. Springtime is our big push for safety, with the start of construction season and travel season, plus people are just out on the road a lot more in good weather. Here's another subtle reminder from the crew at the Princess Bride about travel safety.

3. You can't go too far wrong quoting — or misquoting — the Bard!

2. OK, it's not ALL about driving healthy and work zone safety. Sunday school stuff gets thrown in here from time to time as well!

1. Our local missionaries asked us to do mini videos about our favorite scripture from the Book of Mormon. Our family did a few, but this one — based on an old cartoon — was a favorite:

Stay tuned tomorrow as we take a look at the top hits from my other strips!

Sneak preview of yet another public service announcement

Avast! Monday is International Talk Like a Pirate Day, so we at the Oregon DOT thought it would be a good idea to hijack the news with a few more public service announcements. Watch for their official release on our ODOT social media accounts on Monday.

Where the shadows lie

Thank you for indulging me. The road does, indeed, go ever on and on.

Yet another day to celebrate!

It's March 2, Read Across America Day, sometimes known as Dr. Seuss's birthday. It's a day in which we celebrate reading and encourage young readers!

We thought it would be fun to capitalize on it with a public service announcement/meme to share on social media.

There was another one that I started but didn't pursue (below). Not that it was a bad idea, but it didn't go along with the reading theme. It looked more like the Cat in the Hat was part of a work zone safety campaign. And although I'm sure he's all for work zone safety, that's not what Read Across America is about, and there could be licensing/copyright issues that we didn't want to deal with.

Anyway, celebrate the day with a good book — and put a wocket in your pocket!

Look both ways!

OK, it's not a gag — it's a public service announcement. Every year at the end of summer, we discuss back to school safety messages. This one started out as a sketch in my meeting notes, and I kind of liked how it looked.

Let's be careful out there!

Honk!

Here's one last thing out of the found pile from work. This was a cover for a public service announcement we did about driving styles using animal metaphors.

A passing note...

Another in the series of PSAs, created in partnership with the Highway Patrol of the Department of Public Safety.

Didn't get me out of any tickets, however. Dang!

Arrive Alive - faster!

I can see the influence of Calvin and Hobbes in this one. I should have made the guy Spaceman Spiff.

Hang time

Crossing the globe

Tomorrow is the anniversary of the completion of the first transcontinental railroad in the United States. So to commemorate the event, I want to fulfill a promise I made long ago.

One day at the Utah Department of Transportation, a man wearing a hard hat came to the information desk. He had an idea that he wanted to share, and wanted us to share as well. I told him I would share it...but I didn't say where or when.

Proposal by Clayton Harold Walker III

"This proposal is brought UP from Kansas City and Colorado because there are definite advantages. Nevada concurs.

"Problems historically almost resurrect the Civil Ware East of the Mississippi. Furthermore, the 40th parallel is very complex, especially in Europe and Asia.

"I have gotten acceptance of the 40th parallel as far east as the 87 37 west longitude, but Michigan and the Great Lakes problems amplify problems greatly on those reconciliations.

"Within Utah, the population versus territory (IM [out of]) balance becomes readily apparent at the suggestion of four territories divided by Super Powered Train Lines and Related Organized Utilities.

"The train would run across Utah through Ouray, Thistle, Payson and Ibapah. However, the majority of the problem seems to be to the EAST.

"The linear regression model is extremely sensitive to distance squared from the line. Whereas the majority of the Utah and Arizona universities are east of the line, it appears advantageous to DOG LEG A DOUBLE DRIFT. RECENT PRIORS MAY BE OBTAINED FROM THE KITT PEAK DATA IN Southwestern Arizona during early April of 2323 A.D.

"KANSAS =/=CANADA AND THE BARRIERS ARE STILL LEAKING BADLY.

"Expectations of the magnitude of the problem heading north are considerably out of calibration. Could not find crayons in PANIC BAG. CHINESE SECURITY STAMP 2:35 P.M.

"Although there are many advantages in a trip direct to Greece by airplane, the train calibration and tuning systems that were tested on AMTRAK in Kansas in 1988, In Canada in 1987, and in Europe both years can provide some very useful information for future planning. We really need a well-developed research prject.

"One of the biggest problems is the difficulty of thinking under pressure. Navigators and certified public accountants and hard to find and train. Proof is rewarded. Proof is rewarded. Herzberg of Utah.

"The government and the public are the same, and therefore, those objecting to reorganization are those who know they have been taking more than they give. Some lawyers and lobbyists also.

"Seriously, Clayton Harold Walker"

Now I've fulfilled my promise. You're welcome!

A public service announcement

I warned you about the transportation theme! This is from a series of print ads we (UDOT) did as public service announcements, partnering with the Utah Highway Patrol and the Utah Department of Public Safety. The ads were really successful, as was the larger campaign, especially with the weekly papers in the outlying areas.

This particular one is especially appropriate for today. Frequent readers may recognize the baby in the car seat as the star of Christopher's World, a strip I tried to do when my first son was born. Thursday was his wedding. Today we are traveling from Utah to Oregon, going from the reception there to the reception here. I hope we, as we say, arrive alive!

AASHTO VI

Tiguana's taxi rides again! So as you travel this Memorial Day weekend, watch out for goods being shipped by rail. And remember to be safe in work zones, too...after all, May is still Transportation Safety Awareness Month.

• ODOT PSA Featuring the voice talents of Ben, Gary and Shelley. (MP3)