Show them we haven't forgot

I hate email forwards, but I thought I'd pass this one on via my blog. It's a simple request to fly the American flag on September 11. I recently heard that in a survey of US citizens, 30% did not know what year September 11th happened!

-------------------------------------------------------------

On Monday, September 11th, 2006, an American flag should be displayed outside every home, apartment, office, and store in the United States. Every individual should make it their duty to display an American flag on this fifth anniversary of our country's worst tragedy. We do this in honor of those who lost their lives on 9/11, their families, friends and loved ones who continue to endure the pain, and those who today are fighting at home and abroad to preserve our cherished freedoms.

In the days, weeks and months following 9/11, our country was bathed in American flags as citizens mourned the incredible losses and stood shoulder-to-shoulder against terrorism. Sadly, those flags have all but disappeared. Our patriotism pulled us through some tough times and it shouldn't take another attack to galvanize us in solidarity. Our American flag is the fabric of our country and together we can prevail over terrorism of all kinds.

Action Plan: So, here's what we need you to do...

1. Spread this message to everyone you know. Take a moment to think back to how you felt on 9/11 and let those sentiments guide you.
2. Fly an American flag of any size on 9/11.
   

Honestly, Americans should fly the flag year-round, but if you don't, then at least make it a priority on this day.

Thank you for your participation. God Bless You and God Bless America.

Medical Miracles

For the last month or so I've been keeping up with the Herrin Twins of Utah's story. The girls are 4 years old and were born conjoined. They just underwent the first ever surgery to separate twins who shared a kidney. They have been doing wonderfully, and I even get excited for them (even tho I've never met them) when I read the updates their parents post online each day. They are leaving the ICU today where they have been since their surgery on August 7.

These little girls are amazing to me, how quickly they are recovering. There are pictures of them (post-surgery) on the family website and they look really good!

http://www.herrintwins.com/

show-me your nuts!

This is seriously the best billboard I've ever seen (even better than the KFC one that I wrote about a few months ago). It's located on north 55, just before you hit downtown. I haven't yet seen Everybody's Nuts! Pistachios in the grocery store, but you better believe I'm going to try them when I do! It's a clean design, little spice with the logo sticking up over the billboard, and bold, easy to read text. I love it!

I've seen 2 other Everybody's Nuts! Pistachios billboards in the St. Louis area - one says, "Everybody's Nuts, including you," (located on hwy 44 west as you're leaving the city limits) and the other proclaims, "Bigger than clydesdales!" (hwy 70 east near the Airport).

Nothing like marketing directly for your audience!

If you are going to have a website....

If you're going to have a website...and put it out for the public...here are a few things you might consider keeping in mind:

1. Don't put up a site that is "under construction." Once someone goes to your site and sees that there is nothing there except an annoying annimated gif of a construction saw horse, they aren't going to come back...no matter how big your text is, or how polite you are "please come back soon." Just finish your darned site and put it up for the world!
   
2. If your site is "under construction" (see #1) DO NOT put the date that you updated it. That way, when I go to your site there is a small chance that I will come back. (I WON'T come back if your site states "site coming soon...updated July 9, 2004).
3. Don't use animated gifs. period. They are annoying.
4. Don't use an annimated gif as your background image...even more annoying than #3.
5. Make sure your site works on both Macs and PCs...and that it works in all browsers (not just internet explorer!)
6. Sound Sucks....especially when you aren't expecting it!
   

Yeah...I'm Wild.

You scored as Rice Krispies. You're Rice Krispies. Originally, people had to add all kinds of stuff to you to make you cool (sugar, cinnamon, beer), or make weird treats out of you (Rice Krispies squares, Rice Krispies Liverwurst, Rice Krispies Roll-ups), but you're retro! Make yer comeback there, kid! You can even be Cocoa Krispies if ya wanna get wild!!! Rice Krispies 75% Lucky Charms 65% Grape Nuts 50% Cheerios 45% Corn Flakes 20% What Breakfast Cereal Are You? created with QuizFarm.com

My first grade teacher was wrong!

Astronomers have declared that Pluto is no longer a planet!

Well...save those children's space books...they'll be collectors items in a few years! We'll say to each other, "remember when they used to have Pluto in these books" when our children are learning about the planets.

You probably used some sort of an acronym to remember the order of the planets - something like "My Very Excellent Mother Just Sent Us Nine Pizzas." What will school children use now to remember the planets???

Mercury, Venus, Earth, Mars, Jupiter, Saturn, Uranus, and Neptune...

A major change....

Payless Shoe Source recently changed their logo...I saw it in person for the first time at Chesterfield Mall on Saturday. It's quite a change. They updated from a circa 1980s logo design to a web 2.0 styled logo.














I think it is interesting that they chose to go with a symbol next to their brand name. It almost seems like they were trying to go for a "Nike" look with a swoosh. The color shift is also interesting - shifting to orange and gray instead of yellow and orange. Any thoughts on this logo redesign?

Get your vote in now...

The St. Louis Zoo and KMOV Channel 4 are holding a contest for naming the new baby elephant born on Wednesday, August 2, 2006. The zoo keepers have come up with 5 names and the public gets to vote on the name they like best. You can vote once a day until the voting closes (noon on Monday, August 28). You'll also have a chance to win some awesome zoo prizes including a "Greet the baby behind the scenes and meet her keepers" opportunity. Here are the names:

• Sundari (soon-dar-ee) which means "beautiful woman"
• Nisha (NEESH-ah) which means "night"
• Maliha (MAH-lee-hah) which means "strong" and "beautiful"
• Sashi (SAH-shee) which means "moon"
• Jaya (JAY-ah) which means "victorious."

I like "Nisha" the best. I'll be voting each day for the next two weeks...you can too...just click here!

Dry Erase Board Art

My co-workers and I have spent the last few months perfecting the art of dry erase board drawing. I think we're doing pretty well, but you can judge for yourself. Pictured below is the St. Louis Arch, and a reproduction of Van Gogh's "Starry Night".

That's a problem mon

The fourth and final installment of the Tidy Cats® Crumble-free Journey, Jammin' in the Caribbean is now available for your viewing pleasure. Watch our cats as Zinger gets a little wound up, Phoebe sports a new do, and Roscoe saves the day with Tidy Cats®!