185vfx » odd but true

Termites

Rob — Thu, 27 Mar 2008 03:44:19 +0000

This was a 2×4. A 2×4 in a fence on our property. Bummer.

Crashed Mac

Rob — Tue, 08 Jan 2008 06:52:07 +0000

A friend recently crashed his Mac. We were chatting when he cracked me up with this gem:

Hope I don’t have to meet a mac genius.
I’d look so un-cool standing next to him

Feature Creep…

Rob — Sat, 01 Dec 2007 22:29:48 +0000

We recently got an HP all-in-one printer. It has a feature for red-eye removal. It’s a printer?

Boring

Rob — Wed, 26 Sep 2007 04:27:48 +0000

Over the past few years, I’ve done many interviews (sometimes, literally throughout world). After the travel and jet lag, sitting in a room interviewing one person every 25 minutes for 10 to 12 hours it’s hard to really remember anything but a blur of names and faces.

One unique portfolio stands out in my mind: boring3d

Funny, creative, and inspiring (at least to me).

May I Have Your Attention Please

Rob — Thu, 05 Jul 2007 21:13:24 +0000

“Alarm, Alarm, Alarm! An Emergency has been reported in the building. Please stand by for further instructions while we verify this emergency. Alarm, Alarm, Alarm!”

I’m sitting in the EliteBusiness Class Lounge (emphasis and spacing theirs) in Atlanta listening to the above alarm repeat ad-nausium over the loudspeaker. The emergency lights are flashing. It seems like everyone should be running somewhere with their loved ones, leaving their bags behind. It seems like a real emergency.

But, no one is. We’re just covering our ears and waiting for it to end. In fact, this is probably the stupidest alarm I have ever heard. “Hey Everyone, in a minute, there might be a real emergency. In the meantime, you’ll have to subtle for a headache inducing ring while we see.”

Yes, that’s a photo of the flashing light on the ceiling that would have sent an epileptic person into seizures by now.

Rare Ansel Adams Outtakes

Rob — Thu, 28 Jun 2007 23:36:25 +0000

This rare set of images was found in the Los Angeles Public Library and features “the Greatest Generation”, men and women, as they went to war and went to work. It’s unusual to find Ansel Adams photographs of people and urban life, but this collection of photos was apparently commissioned by Fortune Magazine in the 1940’s.

read more | digg story

Great optical illusion

Rob — Fri, 15 Jun 2007 05:19:59 +0000

This is a great simple optical illusion. If you look at the two leaning towers, it appears the tower on the right is leaning more than the one on the right but in fact the two images are identical. I prove that the two images are actually the same by dragging the right image over the left one.

Quote of the Day

Rob — Thu, 30 Mar 2006 03:17:34 +0000

“You know what’s not pleasant? Drinking at the water fountain and feeling the stream of water dip when someone flushes the toilet in the bathroom next door.”, Maggie Mason.

Taco Bell Express

Rob — Thu, 16 Feb 2006 07:02:05 +0000

I was at a museum recently and noticed that they had some fast food offerings. I didn’t think much of it until I noticed the Taco Bell Express. I simply don’t understand the marketing genius behind that one.

Who is the target audience for Taco Bell Express? Are they really looking for the fast food customer who is unhappy with the 30-60 second delays commonly experienced at your regular Taco Bell? Are there really people out there saying, “Mmmm…Taco Bell…If only I had the time…” For you: Taco Bell Express!

Perhaps it’s about reputation. Maybe the food at the Taco Bell Express is so bad doesn’t meet the standards of the more upscale “Taco Bell”. They can’t afford to confuse their loyal customers. “Don’t worry”, they can say, “if the taco prepared in 8 seconds doesn’t taste quite right to you, you can always go around the corner and wait for it at non-express Taco Bell”.

Apparently Taco Bell is not the only one branching out with their Express branding. I stumbled across this Wiki for the city of Davis, California which discusses their local Pizza Hut Express. I can understand wanting to get your pizza in faster than 30 minutes, but apparently Express pizza comes with it’s own set of problems:

If you like greasy Pizza-esque substances, but hate human-interaction, this is the place for you. Pizzas come out of the wall and you purchase them. Wow technology. Unfortunately, their pizzas are mediocre and horribly over priced.

I think I’ll stick with the non-express Fast Food whenever possible.