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In 1860 in California (and elsewhere) there was a huge locust storm and someone created this to remember it. Quite effective I think. If they’d made a chart out of the locusts, even Mr. Tufte would like it.

This kind of thing sticks in your mind more than a book about locusts, or about their destructive force, especially for kids.

I try to keep my air pressure perfect in my car. Tires are expensive and gas is, too.

Shell Gas Stations offer free air to paying customers… “Free to Our Customers” it says. So I assumed they must hit some kind of magic button to dispense with the $0.50 vagrants have to pay.

But alas, no special process. You just have to know where to look for the secret button. I’m guessing they got tired of turning it on for people.

I’ve found this now on at least three machines. Is it on yours?

Saw this in the checkout line at Kroger grocery store. They say never go grocery shopping hungry. You probably shouldn’t go shopping broke, either. Too much temptation.

Actually what you see here is evidence of a slow, but important change in the retail and banking industry.  Kroger already owns a mortgage company, so that’s no stretch, and the other services are easy if you have the capital. Costco and Wal-mart are getting into the banking business, so America is surely getting used to seeing it in non-traditional places. Banks must be scared to death of this - especially those with a branch RIGHT IN THE STORE. But many will simply be confused, probably, into thinking the branch in the store is related to the services.

In reality it’s just an ad for services distributed via a website and via forms at the service desk.  It’s just a bit odd to see it here. What’s next, delis and soda coolers in banks?

I’ll be the first to admit that I admire great business cards, though I rarely use a card myself! (people don’t usually forget my domain name : websiteadvice.com, or my phone number: 888-OnTheWeb) - but these, found on Digg, are pretty cool.  My favorite, pictured here, is only legible if you stretch it…. yes, from a personal trainer.

For a bunch more, see the original post.

I saw this for the first time in Lexington this week. They want you to snap a photo of a billboard (on a very busy road) bring it into a restaurant, and save on your next meal. Okay folks, how’s your Dukes of Hazard driving skills… squeeeeeeaaaal!!!!

SIDE NOTE: I would have sent Ramsey’s Restaurant some link juice, but they have no website - not even a really simple one. As I’ve said before, when you have no web site you’re leaving it up to others to dominate the search results pages for your name when searched. If I wanted to, I could post a page on my site today that would rank in the top 1-3 on Google for their name - and say whatever I wanted. For the record, I would rave about their Buffalo Chicken Salad to die for - but what if someone else had something less flattering to say?

My sharp-eyed accountant pointed out that Google seems to have filed 1099 MISC files without payee tax id numbers (at least on mine) which would essentially make the entire claim invalid. Since I claimed Adsense income as taxable income, this could flag tax trouble for Google…. does anyone else have blank tax IDs on 1099 MISCs from Google?  Is there something about the big “G” that means they don’t have to fully fill in tax forms?

I was working on a client project when suddenly I noticed that all of the results were from New Zealand. I checked my settings - yes, I’m signed in and my home country is set to the US. So I wiped my cookies and even tried another computer. Google is pretty confused who I am. Not only that, it’s showing me Adwords Ads from Arkansas and Frankfort (German) in the same session! I did not log out for these screen shots.

I had to go through a proxy to get work done today. I hope this gets cleared up soon!

The Cruel Shoes Site

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 Search for “Internet Marketing Consultant” in Google USA - Personalized Search Off.  I also saw it for another search or two (as I reproduce it, I’ll post the queries) These are in the sponsored links on the right side. Probably a temporary glitch, but very odd.

 

 

 

 

“Hey there big guy!”.. it says as you approach. Â

From Healthquest Technologies Inc., the makers of “Hope in a Jar” and the “Plantomatic” comes Wizmark, the Interactive Urinal Communicator. “Everyone knows that when it comes to business, location is important” says their website. You’ll get the “ever elusive targeted male audience you are constantly aiming for.”

Surely, soon to come as well…

• Washing your hands will help you stay healthy!
• One to help you increase the tips “Leaving a small tip is like pissing on your waiter.”Â
• Woah… there’s a sale on underwear at Macys!
• Thought about losing some weight? Call 1-888….
• Do you miss the great outdoors? How about a camping trip….

LOL