HoW aBoUt JuSt 'KeEp CaLm'

Yes, there is such a thing as beating a saying dead horse. This time last year life was more than a little crazy for me. One day when everything seemed to culminating into a perfect storm, a friend of mine from across the pond emailed to check in on me. After a bit of prying I kind of just dumped everything that was going on in my life. In response, he sent me a Keep Calm and Carry On image. We talked about the incident later, but apparently in response to his encouraging gesture I did the opposite of "stay calm" ... oops.

In his defense, he had every right to use that phrase; he's British after all. However, in my defense what he didn't know was that this wonderful Churchill phrase from World War II has been completely overused in the U.S. the past several years. You can buy it on a t-shirt, a wall plaque, a paper weight, a card, a poster, see it on a billboard or even follow it on tumblr. Not only that, but any number of people can use it to geek out in their own "special" way.

For example, if you like drugs there's one for you. You like tea or traveling? thongs or typing? Yup, one for you too. Obsessed with saving the earth? Your own bowel movements? Christmas? Thanksgiving? Harry Potter? Your pet (or any fictional) animal? How about electing Mitt Romney? Yup, one for each and every one of you. Don't believe me, take a look at this nice spread:

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And to the latter Keep Calm, all I have to say is: how about just keep calm and vote? And if your candidate of choice doesn't win, please don't do the freak out and throw stuff. Happy election day!