I'm posting too little so...

[gomichild]

can anyone explain to me why smileys are yellow?

[Steve Bildermann]

I thought that had been clearly explained in Forrest Gump (http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0109830/) however...

The smiley face, a yellow button with a smile and two dots representing eyes was invented by Harvey Ball in 1963 for Worcester, Massachusetts based insurance firm State Mutual Life Assurance. Though there was an attempt to trademark the image, it fell into the public domain before that could be accomplished.

The graphic was popularized in the early 1970s by a pair of brothers, Murray and Bernard Spain, who seized upon it in a campaign to sell novelty items. The two produced buttons as well as coffee mugs, t-shirts, bumper stickers and many other items emblazoned with the symbol and the phrase "Have a happy day" (devised by Murray). By 1972 there were an estimated 50 million happy face buttons throughout the U.S., at which point the fad began to subside.

The symbol has been satirized with a smile and three dots (a mutant), and has been reborn as the image of the Microsoft Bob software and Walmart's price cutting ads.

:arrow: Smiley Reference Library (http://www.campusprogram.com/reference/en/wikipedia/s/sm/smiley.html)

have a nice day..

http://www.tattoo.net.nz/smiley.jpg

[gomichild]

cheers matey! another one of life's little mysteries solved

[GargoyleTS]

A really entertaining hgistory of the smiley can be found here (http://www.straightdope.com/classics/a4_031.html).

Along with such other interesting things like:

If Teflon is nonsticky, how do they get it to stick to the pan? (http://www.straightdope.com/classics/a4_173.html)

How many calories are in the average male ejaculation? (http://www.straightdope.com/classics/a1_054)

What are the REAL lyrics to "Louie Louie"? (http://www.straightdope.com/classics/a1_316)

Why is there a "33" on Rolling Rock beer labels? (http://www.straightdope.com/classics/a2_044)

Which will keep you drier, running through the rain or walking? (http://www.straightdope.com/classics/a3_395.html) (really important for the rainy season!)

And many other questions that burn in the minds of us all...

[gomichild]

well ta hon - that's my afternoon entertainment sorted out

[GargoyleTS]

np. Hope you enjoy!