H&R Block has a simple, recognizable logo.
I would dare say it’s in need of updating, mainly to appeal to those of us who like fonts.
To those who aren’t as well-versed in fonts: let me start by saying that block is a style of font. Sans-serif. Probably all caps.
So I updated H&R Block to use other styles of fonts:
That last one is not a font update, but rather a nod to those people who don’t like sharp corners. You never know – maybe there is a market for H&R Circle.
He said to His disciples, “ It is inevitable that stumbling blocks come, but woe to him through whom they come!
Luke 17:1
A problem with society today is impatience. Cable TV (a generic term that includes satellite and internet TV also) is part of that problem.
No, not the shows on television, although I’m sure they aren’t helping any.
The main problem is the name of their services:
On Demand
You want this show? Demand it!
You want that show? Demand it!
You want anything from your TV? Demand it!
And the problem is that you get what you demand, immediately.
It’s tough enough to teach children to wait their turn and ask politely. We don’t need another influence to teach impatience and rudeness.
If I ever own a TV or video service, I’m instituting an On Request service.
And you would have to say “please”.
And Pilate pronounced sentence that their demand be granted.
Luke 23:24
As I was strolling through Costco, my eye was caught by a brightly-colored sign on the front of a palette of products. One side of the sign had a product, and the other side had a non-product.
I didn’t know you could bottle up something that’s not something else and sell it.
That got me thinking: what other non-products could I sell?
How about…
- a gallon of water and sell it as non-paint? I’d even mark it half-off and sell it for $5 or $10
- a bag of sand and sell it as non-sugar?
- an old calculator and sell it as a non-iPad?
What would you sell?
See to it that no one takes you captive through philosophy and empty deception, according to the tradition of men, according to the elementary principles of the world, rather than according to Christ.
Colossians 2:8
As is my habit during breakfast, I was perusing the cereal boxes at the table.
Various cereal companies have taken to highlighting random nutritional facts at the top of the front of the box. This particular box was no exception.
I was surprised to see that this company has decided to change the symbol for iron.
As anyone who made it through high school should know, the symbol for iron is Fe, not Ir.
This cereal is unknowingly touting its content of iridium. Since iridium is very rare, this must be some special cereal.
They also got the symbol for zinc wrong, but Z is not used for anything else. Z versus Zn is not as obvious as Ir versus Fe.
Maybe they thought people were uneducated and wouldn’t know that Fe means iron. Well then, cereal company, this is your opportunity to improve the world a little. Provide that edumacation that the people need instead of furthering their ignorance.
Looking at the nutrition information, I’m wondering why they chose to tout zinc as high-content.
It’s not like zinc has a higher percentage than most of the other items. Iron does, so I can understand that. But so does folate. Why doesn’t folate get recognized?
Maybe the marketing group or box designers thought people want zinc.
I’d rather have iridium.
Iron sharpens iron, So one man sharpens another.
Proverbs 27:17
On the way home last night, I saw a white car. That would not normally be remarkable enough to appear on this blog, but this was not a normal car.
This car claimed that it was green.
Clearly, the car is not green – it is white.
A green car would look like this:
If they had used the term “eco” then there would be no problem. “Green” is too ambiguous – don’t use it in your product name. Well-known products can be grandfathered into this rule, such as Jolly Green Giant.
He explores the mountains for his pasture
And searches after every green thing.
Job 39:8
Somewhere, in a secret location below the streets of New York, the nation’s telemarketing executives plan their next move…
“The average citizen is on to our plan to disguise our caller ID.”
“They’re not falling for the caller ID where we list just a city anymore.”
“They’re not answering when we block the caller ID so they can’t tell who it is.”
“What can we do?”
“I got it! We can use caller ID to tell them they must answer the phone.”
No, I didn’t answer.
It turned out to be a reminder from the doctor’s office about an upcoming appointment. They must use a calling service that handles a number of different clients, so they keep their caller ID generic – a little too generic I think.
If they had the caller ID display the name of the hospital or doctor’s office, more people would answer. But it’s just a recording anyway, so no one’s offended if you don’t answer.
In summary, we had a recording leaving a recording. Eventually, all the machines will talk to each other and leave the people out of it altogether. That’s fine with me if it means that I don’t have to answer any phones.
Let them bring forth and declare to us what is going to take place; As for the former events, declare what they were, That we may consider them and know their outcome. Or announce to us what is coming;
Isaiah 41:22
If the electric company ran a tool rental center:
Guy: I’d like to rent a nail gun.
E.C.: Sure, what for?
Some projects around the house.
But what projects? I need to know specifically what it will be used for.
Why does that matter?
Our rates are different depending on what you do with it.
Umm…I’m going to be installing highly-efficient thermal windows.
Okay, you qualify for our air conditioning and ventilation rate.
Great! And I just bought a hybrid car, so I’m going to build a thing in the garage for it.
You’ll need to rent a separate nail gun for that.
What? But I’ll use the same nails. I don’t need a separate nail gun.
Corporate policy – the nail gun in the ACV plan can’t be used for an activity that qualifies under another plan.
What’s the other plan?
Our electric vehicle rate.
Oh. What’s the cheapest rate plan you have?
That would be the interruptible off-peak rate.
I’ll get that one.
Sure, but you can use the nail gun only between the hours of 8 PM and 8 AM.
Okay.
And somebody else might need to use it too, so we may borrow the nail gun from you for a little while.
Could I rent that one then?
Only for heating or cooling – your window work qualifies.
Okay, I’ll take it.
That will be $30 a day.
Fine.
Would you like to pay $3 a day extra for a nail gun made from renewable resources?
I could keep going, but I’ll end it there, somewhat ungracefully.
Stay tuned next week, when the electric company runs the gas station (“What vehicle do you have and what is your destination?”), followed by what happens when an airline sells cans of paint (“You’ll be painting today? That’s about double the normal price. But if you buy today and don’t paint until next month, it’ll be cheaper.”).
And Peter responded to her, “Tell me whether you sold the land for such and such a price?” And she said, “Yes, that was the price.”
Acts 5:8
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