Carl's Jr. Throws An Event

One of the greatest things you can do as a company to generate buzz is throw an event. Carl's Jr. is offering a free breakfast sandwich on Wednesday July 4th to anyone who dresses up like Spiderman. Most people will only think about how ridiculous this is or how they can get a free sandwich. From a marketing perspective I see an amazing buzz generator. Think of how many people are going to post pictures on Facebook and share this with their friends. Carl's Jr. could even run a contest for the best Spiderman costume.

This is going to be an amazing win for Carl's Jr. and I'm even considering participating in the event. I love free food. I'm just not a huge fan of sporting a Halloween costume in July.

Good Heavens! Change Your Oil.

Modern vehicles are more complex now than ever before. They run more efficiently and are often able to get over 150,000 miles before needing any major maintenance. This is due to increased standards in engineering and more consistent tolerances. The oil in your engine keeps everything lubricated and clean. The oil is used to clean out the worn off metal that is created by normal engine wear.  The chemicals in your oil brake down over time and the constant heating up and cooling down will turn the oil into a thick sludge that can no longer flow through the small cooling and lubricating channels throughout your engine. An engine that was meant to last for 150,000 miles will break down without an oil change in as little as 15,000 miles. If you don't change your oil, your engine will eventually overheat and seize.

When you empty your oil and change the filter you're removing debris and bad deposits from the inside of the engine. A standard rule of thumb was that you change your conventional motor oil every 3,000 miles and synthetic every 5,000. Newer cars say you can go longer between oil changes. I say you should consider those standards as the maximum amount you should go before changing your oil. I recommend synthetic oil because it provides better lubrication and dissipates heat more effectively, which also slows engine wear. If the auto manufacturer says you can go longer between oil changes if you use synthetic, they must assume synthetic will slow engine wear.

Finally, check your oil levels regularly. A common problem is to change your oil and not think about it again for 6 months. During that time, a slow leak could mean you spend that last 3 months driving your car 1-2 quarts low. This causes excess heat and exponentially increased engine wear. It doesn't take more than 2 minutes once a month to verify your oil level and avoid a very costly problem. Please take this information to heart and apply it. Don't belong to the group of drivers that are killing their cars prematurely.

Why Does My Pump Sprayer Sputter

A pump sprayer is a very simple device. It is useful for spraying fertilizers and pesticides as well as cleaners for decks and fencing. It's frustrating when your pump sprayer doesn't work well. one very common problem is when the sprayer sputters. If your sprayer has an inconsistent stream and it doesn't shoot a uniformly shaped pattern, you need to take apart the spray nozzle and clean out anything that has lodged itself into the nozzle assembly. This information has already been posted, but there's another reason why your sprayer could be sputtering.

If your sprayer has intermittent output there's a good chance your feed tube in the bottom of the tank isn't able to take in your solution quick enough. When the tube is at the very bottom of the tank it will create a current when drawing solution that doesn't allow a constant intake of the fluid. All you have to do is increase the size of the intake at the bottom of the tube. Remove the straw and cut a high diagonal slit that allows solution to enter the tube from the side. This will allow the straw to take in fluid even when the spraying creates a current in the very bottom of your tank. This solved the spraying problems in the bottom of my pump sprayers.

Pin Hole Cameras...We're Watching You

Many shoppers are unaware of how much they are being watched when they walk into a store. There are the standard cameras and black globes but did you ever think about hidden cameras. There are usually cameras spread out throughout the entire store. They are called pinhole cameras and they can be placed easily through ceiling tiles. 

Sometimes I like to roam around stores and check out new electronics. Because electronics are some of the most stolen items from a store, the security team usually watches this department like a hawk. It's happened more than once where I'll be hanging out in a department and a member of the loss prevention team will come out and pretend to be another shopper in my area. You can always tell these people because they happen to be looking very intently at nothing. It's especially funny when they are taking extreme interest in surge protectors or coaxial cable. 

I'm not suggesting that you learn about these so you can steal. I just find it interesting to be aware of what's going on around you. I'm always interested in some of the cool things that security teams experience. If you have any cool stories or information, please comment below.

Oh How I Love Craft Stores

There are many ways to interpret little Mickey to the left. I think he's emptying every last penny from the owner of the piggy bank. I would love to see a study done on the source of most crap found in a hoarder's home. It seems to me that a craft store would be responsible. I can see it now, the customer walks in thinking,"Gosh I hope they have a glitter covered gold place mat for my Mickey Mouse alarm clock in stock." Like an idiot, the store associate would approach this navigator of all things wicker and ask," May I help you find anything?" This associate must not have noticed the popcorn necklace and tie dye scrunchy shoe laces. 

I get the feeling that it's not too hard to get one of your products into a craft store. I could shatter glass and bag it as material for making a stained glass window. They could place that next to my first product, "The glass breaker". 

I don't hate craft stores. I just think the store should be banned from anyone planning on going into debt for their, typically, worthless purchase. When our country is attacked and everybody raids the supermarkets and gas stations, I think craft stores are going to be the only places of commerce that remain fully stocked. 

The Great Equalizer

The internet is the Great Equalizer for online businesses. When a visitor or shopper comes to your website they get whatever impression you've programmed into your website. A small portion on a server can yield a clean website with simple checkouts and great customer reviews. Businesses just aren't impressive anymore because of square footage or high ceilings. Large corporations get beaten left and right because some garage-based widget seller linked up with a super nerd that comes to work in a storm trooper outfit. That storm trooper just happens to understand great web design. 



What kind of effect does this have? Is it good to give such great power to everyone that designs a great site? This is an extension of the American dream. If you're innovative enough to step outside the box and create something great, rewards should follow. This should inspire innovation and creativity, which history proves is necessary for survival. What are the downsides to stealing business from larger companies? These companies and their large corporate structures offer job security and employment for many individuals. A few at the top get rich and many below can maintain a happy middle class lifestyle. Rules are created and followed. Quality is tested and customers are more likely to receive a consistent experience. If these companies die because the storm trooper gets the best of them, we are left with less secure jobs and a less consistent customer experience. This isn't always the case, but I find it to be so.


Large corporations have a reputation for moving slower because of all the policies and procedures they have to follow. Fortunately they don't typically lose out to the storm trooper. They simply buy the storm trooper and his millennium falcon of a company. The end result is that radical innovation still happens, just through different channels. By buying their innovative competition they remain successful and they just allocate a large portion of the R&D budget to strategic company acquisition. The internet continues to change the face of business and companies will continue to adapt. On thing will always be true..."Adapt or die"

The Best Cure For A Headache

Here's another totally random post. It was brought to my attention about 2 years ago that most headaches are simply caused by dehydration.  A co-worker at the time was serving in the army and he had served a couple tours in Iraq. He told me that the military's cure for feeling sick or having a headache was to stick yourself with an IV and pump yourself full of 2 liters or so of saline solution. Essentially it's water with all the good stuff your body needs. I've tested this out over the past 2 years since hearing about this and I've found it to be completely true.

I generally get headaches after I've been exercising and sweating for too long without drinking enough. When I start to feel a headache coming on I'll start to drink a lot of water and 75% of the time I'm able to avoid the headache all-together. If I take a couple pain pills and start drinking water I'm usually completely over what could have been bad before the first couple pills wear off. 

Why does water help cut down on headaches? Water is one of the bodies ways of filtering out toxins in your blood stream. If you don't have enough water your body gets overloaded with toxins and your body starts to react negatively. Drink water regularly and your body will definitely thank you. 

Ron Swanson's Effect On Society

Ron Swanson is a character on the TV show Parks and Recreation. His character is society's ultimate man. He loves red meat, fixing things and being left alone. The irony in the show is that he's a higher up government employee that hates the government and it's involvement in peoples' lives. The best part is that the actor playing Ron Swanson, Nick Offerman, is not too far from the real thing. Nick Offerman is a "fine woodworker" that spends countless hours in his wood shop making canoes, tables and other custom pieces.

I'd say society is better off having been touched by the Swanson. Ron makes it clear that he doesn't care about most things or most people. His best friends are those that he doesn't have to speak with. Does this mean he really doesn't care? Since much of society is filled with fluff and nonsensical banter, I'd say that he simply chooses not to participate.

After in-depth research and multiple surveys, here are some ways Ron Swanson has benefited society.

• The mustache is cool again.
• Red meat consumption in women has increased. Anemia doesn't stand a chance.
• Someone finally wrote a book that containing nothing but," Be a man."
• There's an added respect for shetland ponies.
• Meetings can officially start with," Shut up and listen to me."
• Answers to some of life's simplest questions have been gathered within a simple geometric shape.

How To Re-Finish A Wood Fence

A few summers ago I decided to start a small business re-finishing wood fences. The process is fairly simple and the results are amazing. I would say that this is one of the quickest ways to significantly add to the aesthetic value of your home.

A wood fence eventually turns grey if left untreated. The grey is actually just dried oxidized and dirty "junk" covering up the fresh wood underneath. You need to remove this in order to stain the fence and make it beautiful. You start with a type of wood brightener. You can buy this at a home improvement store or you can mix up your own potion. I found that the store's concoction was based primarily off of oxalic acid. This is one of the main ingredients in Oxy Clean. You can buy this in powder form and create your own "wood bleach". Either way, you need to wet the grey wood and then start spraying the wood bleach onto the part you want to treat, most likely the whole fence. Depending on the severity of the "junk" on your fence, you should keep the wood moist with wood bleach solution for at least 10 - 15 minutes. Eventually you'll notice grey liquid dripping from your fence. The next part is my favorite.

I purchased a Dewalt pressure washer with the Honda GX 390 engine. It puts out 3750 PSI at 4 gallons per minute. If you use the jet stream nozzle on this beast you'll cut through tree branches. For the purpose of cleaning your fence, you'll want to use a fan nozzle of 30 degrees or greater. In smooth sweeping strokes, go up and down along the boards, paying close attention not to pause too long in one spot. this will give you a more even finish. If you stay in one spot you'll most likely create a bright spot which will be noticeable even after you stain the fence. After cleaning the entire fence and washing off all the wood bleach you need to make sure the wood has adequate time to dry. On a hot day this can happen over the coarse of a few hours. To be safe, you may want to wait till the next weekend. If you're using a water based stain, you don't have to be as careful to work with completely dry wood.

I use an HVLP (high volume low pressure) paint sprayer to apply the stain. After trial and error, not too much error, I learned that you must spray the paint along the length of the boards. Pay special attention to cover all corners, crevices between boards, and the tops. One coat should be enough. Most importantly, you don't want to apply too much or the sealant layer won't breath and you'll actually get a shorter life out of your stain. Sit back and enjoy your newly finished fence. Make sure to thoroughly clean all you're paint equipment. It'll be much easier immediately after being used.

Cranking Out The Miles

I own a 1993 R900 Cannondale road bike. I purchased this bike for $200 from a lady that won it at an auction. It is my first road bike and I've had a blast hitting the streets and cruising through the canyons around the Utah valley.

The main thing that I like about this bike is that it was build with quality components. The frame is fairly light and I feel like it has good energy transfer. When I first got the bike I went through and took it apart as far as I knew how, which wasn't very far. I cleaned it and adjusted the cables so that I could ride it without wanting to throw it off a cliff. Since the components are Shimano Ultegra series, I can tell that they were meant to be adjusted and last longer than what I've typically been used to. There is less plastic and fewer rivets. The metal is a higher quality stainless that doesn't show a spot of rust. Since purchasing this bike 2 years ago, I've now taken just about everything apart and degreased, re-greased, adjusted and polished everything at one time or another.

When I hit the road I enjoy hearing the sound of trued wheels and 120 psi tires humming across fresh asphalt. Coming down the canyon I'm able to hit about 40 miles per hour and the rush is pretty exhilarating. I've been gradually increasing the distances that I'm able to ride and I look forward to completing my first century ride at the end of the summer. This will be a good accomplishment for me and I'm hoping I can pull out a decent time. I'd love to get to the point that I can ride 100 miles at 18-20 mph. As I get better I want to be more competitive. Regardless of how fast I'm able to get on my bike, I still enjoy getting out for an early morning or evening ride. It gets me outside and it gives me one more piece of simple mechanical equipment that I can dink with.

The Simple Website Layout

Websites are complicated. Everything can be manipulated and it's easy to get carried away. After searching through thousands of various websites I feel qualified to offer my two cents on what layouts are most effective. If I've learned anything from Google or from countless analytics accounts, it is the fact that simple is better. Not long ago Gmail was changed to a simpler layout with larger buttons for common tasks.

Start by determining what kind of site you have and what value you want to add to your visitors. If you are a local business you are going to focus on simple things that make it easy for customers to find you and trust in your services. Owners should incorporate reviews into their website and create incentives for their customers to leave quality reviews. More than ever, customers are flocking to businesses that have reviews on their site. Reviews are the best way to show potential customers that you're really good at what you do. 

If you're an e-commerce business you need a clean layout for all of your products. Customers need to be able to quickly find what they're looking for. Categories should be strategically organized so that visitors aren't overwhelmed with options. Online Shoe stores are a great example. As a visitor you first choose to shop men's or women's shoes. After that you're faced with options that only apply to either gender. Once you choose the type of shoe you want you can then search through colors, sizes and brands. Presenting too many of these options up front is confusing for the user and it provides a poor user experience. Take advantage of the static landing pages for each main category. You should present  your top ranked or reviewed items for each category. This provides a great starting point for your site visitors. 

Lastly, if you're a nationwide company that is advertising for multiple locations you should focus on presenting as much of your company-wide information on the main portion of your website as possible. The more unique information that is location specific should be listed under each location's page. The URL structure is key for navigation and SEO purposed. If you have offices all over the country and multiple locations per state, you will have the best layout if your URL structure is similar to the following: www.website.com/texasoffices/austintireshop. Under this structure I would presume that the majority of the information about your tire shops would be under the main portion of your website. This would include things like warranty, company information, history and reasons why your tire shop is the best. The location specific pages would clearly layout the necessary information to call or visit the shop. You could tell visitors why the managers or employees at a certain shop are the best.

I could go into much more detail about each type of site and what works best. This totally random post is meant to offer advice in the starting phases. I'm surprised at how many large companies get this part wrong. Please comment below if you have questions or suggestions on what I should post next.