I get these calls once in a while...This time is went like this...

Caller: Hi, may I speak with your safety inspector or head of safety.
Me: We don't have a safety inspector.
Caller: Don't you lay bricks? Aren't you a bricklayer company?
Me: We sit behind computers all day.
Caller: Oh, I am sorry.

A bricklayer according to the current Wikipedia page says:

A bricklayer or mason is a tradesman who lays bricks to construct brickwork. The term also refers to personnel who use blocks to construct blockwork walls and other forms of masonry. In British and Australian English, a bricklayer is colloquially known as a "brickie".

On a deeper, more philosophical level, we are a type of bricklayer. We lay the building blocks of your web site and web business. ;-)

Posted at 3:18 PM | Permalink | Category: Just Funny , RustyBrick | Comments (1) | TrackBacks (0)

Not going to mention who this text exchange is with, cause it is not important. I know this person wouldn't mind me mentioning it, but since I didn't clear it 100% with the individual, I won't say who it is...

In any event, don't you hate when a morbid joke goes bad? In this case, this person missed a flight and had to get on the next flight. The person missed their flight cause they had to do a good deed and it took too much time. So I try to be funny and tell them their good deed will pay off, but see for yourself...

So here it goes:

You see how a good joke (IMO) turned bad too quickly?

Kinda funny and don't worry, no one was insulted.

Posted at 12:00 PM | Permalink | Category: Just Funny | Comments (3) | TrackBacks (0)

My brother's kid had to come to the office today for an hour or so. During that time, she ended up playing with something in my office.

She then got up, walked into the corner of the room and laid down.

Seconds later, she was out cold. Sleeping away. So my brother first tried offering her a pillow but that didn't work out too well. He then grabbed my camera and snapped some pictures.

Now, how often do I have kids falling asleep in my office? This is the first time. I am sure, some of you have home offices, and this may not be uncommon for you - but very uncommon here.

Anyway, she then woke up 15 minutes later and looked around. She seemed a bit frightened, and I told her that her dad was in the office next door. She walked over there and then seconds later, I hear a big cry. I scoot over to his door and close it.

Why did I close the door. People were on the phone with clients, and it might sound weird hearing a kid crying in the background.

Posted at 4:15 PM | Permalink | Category: Family , Just Funny | Comments (7) | TrackBacks (0)

Charlie Rose Face Plants To Save His MacBook Air from TechCrunch reports that PBS's Charlie Rose is such an Apple fan that he decided to save his new Apple MacBook Air over saving his face.

Reportedly, Rose tripped over a pot hole and on the way down he made a choice. Protect his MacBook Air or protect his face. He decided to protect the MacBook Air, which is doing well.

Instead, his face landed directly into the pavement. Check out TechCrunch for pictures of Charlie Rose with a huge black eye.

Posted at 9:20 AM | Permalink | Category: Just Funny | Comments (1) | TrackBacks (0)

Lisa Barone is making a huge statement at SES by placing a black ribbon over the Ask.com logo on her Ask.com bag. My question is why isn't she using an RB bag?

In any event, I think Lisa may start a trend with that black ribbon!

Posted at 10:39 AM | Permalink | Category: Just Funny | Comments (0) | TrackBacks (0)

Now that more and more people are buying Macs, there are more and more hard core Apple fans.

Now, if you are extremely hard core, you might create an iWipe out of an old Mac.

Give an old Mac new life by turning it into an iWipe from Shawn Morton demonstrates how you can build an iWipe out of an Macintosh SE case and about $15.

The perfect bathroom accessory.

Hat tip goes to bro-in-law.

Posted at 2:00 PM | Permalink | Category: Apple Macs , Just Funny | Comments (3) | TrackBacks (0)

Watch this movie:

I see it is old, but I never saw it.

Posted at 1:53 PM | Permalink | Category: Just Funny | Comments (1) | TrackBacks (0)

This is funny to any Jewish person who has cleaned for Pesach:

Now, I wonder how much tinfoil this took. Too funny.

Posted at 1:37 PM | Permalink | Category: Just Funny , Religion | Comments (1) | TrackBacks (0)

This video demonstrates why I don't like going to the beach.

And you thought it was because of the sun glaring on my computer screen. ;-)

Posted at 1:34 PM | Permalink | Category: Just Funny | Comments (6) | TrackBacks (0)

My brother-in-law sent this to me and I know it might help those who are frequent travelers.

If you are sitting next to someone who irritates you follow these instructions:

1. Quietly and calmly open up your laptop case.
2. Remove your laptop.
3. Start up
4. Make sure the guy who is annoying you, can see the screen
5. Close your eyes, tilt your head up to the sky & move your lips as if praying
6. Then hit this link

Classic.

Posted at 1:23 PM | Permalink | Category: Just Funny , Travels | Comments (8) | TrackBacks (0)

I was driving to work yesterday, yes I work Sunday mornings, and I saw this car.

(1) What first caught my attention was that the car had its top down in 30 degree weather. Brrrrrr.

(2) Then I saw the interesting license plate, as you can see in the image above.

(3) Then when I passed the car, I notice a dog was buckled into the passenger seat. The dog was sitting up like a person, wearing a snow hat. Way too funny.

Posted at 9:35 AM | Permalink | Category: Just Funny , Motor Vehicle , Travels , Weather | Comments (3) | TrackBacks (0)

SEOmoz announced a new game they are releasing at PubCon Vegas next week named "Search Spam."

Basically, they have adapted the card game Werewolf for the Search Marketing industry. I am privileged to be one of the characters, see the left card, that is me.

There are 24 cards and you have to register for the event to be invited in. I won't be there, but SEOmoz promised to send me a deck this Monday - so I am looking forward to getting it.

If you will be there, the event is at Wednesday, December 5 from 8-10pm in the South Hall. Don't forget to register. It sounds like a blast!

In short, this game is a way for Googlers, SEOs, Black Hats & industry mavens to kill each other without actually hurting anyone. Nice concept. :)

ALSO: PubCon goers... If you want free tickets to shows in Vegas, check out Joe's blog now!

Posted at 10:39 AM | Permalink | Category: Just Funny | Comments (4) | TrackBacks (0)

Orthodox Jewish men typically put on a Tallit every morning for morning services. So typically, the Tallit goes in a Tallit Bag.

The above picture is a typical tallit bag. At the top, typically, you see one's initials or Hebrew name. If you know Hebrew, this one may make you laugh. Why? Well, it reads "שמאק" which in English sounds like "schmuck."

The definition of a "schmuck":

When used as a pejorative, schmuck is a noun meaning a detestable person, or a jerk. The word also means a stupid or idiotic person. In these senses, schmuck entered English as a borrowed word from Yiddish, where it is an obscene term and an insult.

I received three different emails about this picture this morning. So I guess it is new.

Posted at 11:55 AM | Permalink | Category: Just Funny | Comments (2) | TrackBacks (0)

I play basketball a few times a week. One of the three times, I play in this small league. This year, I got a new shirt for the season. I have a new but yet unique number.

Now, I think that looks like a backwards 6. The guy who imprinted the number actually did it backwards - if that is possible. Personally, I think it is great. It confuses the referees.

Posted at 10:25 AM | Permalink | Category: Just Funny , Sports | Comments (3) | TrackBacks (0)

ESPN or ESPN2 supposedly showcased portions of the 2007 WSSA Championship, WSSA you say? Yes, World Speed Stacking Association.

Watch this video to see what they do:

That is a kid named David Wolf, an 11 year old German kid, playing the game.

So this is real.

Posted at 10:28 AM | Permalink | Category: Just Funny | Comments (3) | TrackBacks (0)

The folks at Oddcast slipped me, well, the cartoon version of me, into their Flash demo on their home page.

Here is a screen cap, about 30 seconds in the video:

This is way cool. Why? Because they created the technology for me to make Cartoon Barry speak in the Daily Search Coverage recaps, that I do daily.

Posted at 11:36 AM | Permalink | Category: Just Funny | Comments (0) | TrackBacks (0)

Here is a funny Dilbert some of you, but not all of you, will appreciate.

Posted at 10:38 AM | Permalink | Category: Just Funny | Comments (1) | TrackBacks (0)

Wanted to wish you all a happy Talk Like a Pirate Day! Say it with me! Arggghhh!

I have more details about the day at Search Engine Roundtable!

Here is the theme there:

Posted at 9:59 AM | Permalink | Category: Just Funny | Comments (2) | TrackBacks (0)

This is Rand Fishkin hugging me at the SMX conference a few months back in Seattle.

You see, Rand was so excited there was a conference in his town that he decided to start hugging people.

In realty, Tamar took this picture, Rand wanted to be funny - so it turned out to be an awkward looking picture of one man hugging another.

Posted at 3:15 PM | Permalink | Category: Just Funny | Comments (2) | TrackBacks (0)

I have been very excited about FiOS for a while now. In fact, if I do move, I hope to get FiOS in the new house.

The question is, am I that excited about getting FiOS that that I am willing to sacrifice my house being set on fire by a Verizon FiOS tech?

NetworkWorld reports on a story:

A small electrical fire at a Pine Grove Street home Wednesday, August 8, - accidentally caused by a Verizon employee - forced the Fire Department to shut down power to several nearby homes.

Verizon denied this:

I'm in the press office for Verizon. Unfortunately, this story differs quite a bit from the version of the Verizon staffers on the scene. Here it is: One of our new techs was installing a triple play at a Needham home (they're selling like hotcakes, btw). When drilling a hole for the Optical Network Terminal, he accidentally hit an electrical wire, knocking out power to the house. Our bad, but no smoke, and no fire. Out of an overabundance of caution (always a good thing)the local fire department was called. The FD cut a hole in side of house where the drilling took place to expose the area and check for a fire. There was none. An electrician and power utility restored power shortly thereafter. And, the same tech came back and finished the install. Verizon is paying for any repairs to the house. We are calling the local paper to give them the string of events. BTW, nice of you to point readers to the EE Times article about Verizon Business' Disaster Recovery mobile unit, which is pressed into action after regionwide natural disasters, not accidental, individual instances such as this.

Anyway, still funny.

Posted at 10:59 AM | Permalink | Category: Just Funny | Comments (1) | TrackBacks (0)

Too funny.

Posted at 4:31 PM | Permalink | Category: Just Funny | Comments (1) | TrackBacks (0)

Picture this. Your wife gets made at you and tells you to sleep on the sofa tonight... That is the standard joke...

But check this out...

Man Living in Car Since '00 Upsets Town from SFGate.com reports that a man who got in a fight with his wife back in 1999, has been living out of his car since 2000.

Now the car is in his backyard, while the wife lives inside the house.

The neighbors are very upset:

But his neighbors, who say Graham plays loud music, often spouts obsenity-laced tirades and uses his yard as a toilet, aren't amused. They have asked the city to prohibit such living arrangements.

Now, my question, while reading the article, was where do he go to the bathroom. As I continued reading, I found out.

The neighbors say one of their biggest complaints is that Graham may be using his yard for a toilet.

Graham denied that, but here is what the neighbor said:

"I walked out there, and (the smell) was terrible," she said. "Then Ronnie came out the back door and said, 'It smells just like back in Baghdad.' He said he'd been on detail where they have to burn excrement and said that was exactly what it smells like."

Anyway, this brings a whole new meaning to sleeping on the sofa.

Posted at 9:50 AM | Permalink | Category: Just Funny | Comments (2) | TrackBacks (0)

Check out this mock demo on how copy and paste should work on an iPhone... The best is the ending, where he said, "I Love You." Made me really laugh...

iPhone Copy and Paste from lonelysandwich and Vimeo.

Via Via Via Engadget..

Posted at 9:06 AM | Permalink | Category: Apple Macs , Just Funny | Comments (0) | TrackBacks (0)

Too funny... iDating Goes Warp Speed with iPhone via iphonesavior.com.

Just when you think you've seen it all, singles groups across the country find new hope for romance via iPhone speed dating."iDating" parties have become so popular in some cities like San Francisco, California, adding multiple nights and still packing in standing room only crowds. "The iPhone makes speed dating more user-friendly, because you're rejecting a photo not a real person." said Niko Atuna who co-hosts her own iDating parties in the downtown San Francisco area for $25 a person.

So now we have speed dating made for iPhone lovers. :)

More coverage at MyiTablet.

Posted at 3:14 PM | Permalink | Category: Apple Macs , Just Funny | Comments (10) | TrackBacks (0)

This phone keeps getting cooler.

I actually learned how to make popcorn with it. Check out the video to see how it works.

Pretty cool, eh?

Posted at 10:35 AM | Permalink | Category: Apple Macs , Computers , Just Funny | Comments (6) | TrackBacks (0)

You guys know I am having second thoughts on the iPhone...

Appleinsider is reporting that there are two guys already on line at the Apple Manhattan store, since Monday - four days before the iPhones go on sale, to get themselves an iPhone first.

Gizmodo has posted a video of an interview with the first two people who camped out for the iPhone.

Supposedly, this guy is a "veteran camper" who was one of the first to get the PS3 and so on.

Vicarious Music has a picture of the guy with a sign.

Now that is dedication - or simply crazy.

Posted at 10:22 AM | Permalink | Category: Apple Macs , Computers , Just Funny , Just Weird | Comments (2) | TrackBacks (0)

I wanted some of you to look back at an old post I named The Leaning Tower of Snapple.

It is one of my favorites, believe it or not.

Posted at 11:02 AM | Permalink | Category: Just Funny | Comments (6) | TrackBacks (0)

About a month ago, I set up Akisment on my blogs to reduce comment spam. It has been working wonders. But for some people, it continuously marks them as spam and I have to dig them out and mark them as not spam over and over again.

Akismet is suppose to learn over time if a comment is not spam. But I guess it takes a lot of time...

I laughed at Matt Cutts when his comments started to be labeled as spam. Well, now the joke is on me!

Not only does Akismet find all my comments to be spam, so does bsb.spamlookup.net.

What a pain. :(

Posted at 10:52 AM | Permalink | Category: Just Funny | Comments (2) | TrackBacks (0)

I saw this car with this license plate parked at a school last night.

I suspect this person is a math teacher.

Posted at 9:39 AM | Permalink | Category: Just Funny | Comments (2) | TrackBacks (0)

Google's czar of spam (aka "Search Quality), Matt Cutts, has his blogged labeled as a spam by SpamLookup.

I was checking a recent comment Matt left at the Search Engine Roundtable. The reason I checked it, was because he used words like Viagra, and I was curious how it passed through the filters... In any event, I also noticed that Matt's blog was considerd on a spam list by the SpamLookup.

The SpamLookup domain lookup service at bsb.spamlookup.net marked mattcutts.com as spam.

Because of other criteria, Matt's comment was published, because it received a positive score overall.

I thought the SEO community would enjoy knowing that Matt's blog is on a spam domain list.

Posted at 11:22 AM | Permalink | Category: Just Funny | Comments (2) | TrackBacks (0)

My brother-in-law ripped out a Dilbert for me the other day and I thought it would be funny to share with data and analytics people. It is from May 17th.

Some may enjoy it, other's won't. Sorry, if you don't.

Posted at 10:29 AM | Permalink | Category: Just Funny | Comments (1) | TrackBacks (0)

Nothing.

Spotted on Digg this house is on the World's Steepest Street. Yea, which is named Baldwin Street in Dunedin, New Zealand.

At its maximum, the slope of Baldwin Street is approximately 1:2.86 (19° or 35%) - that is, for every 2.86 metres travelled horizontally, the altitude rises by 1 metre.

This is no joke!

Here is a 19° angle via Photoshop.

Crazy.

Posted at 3:49 PM | Permalink | Category: Just Funny | Comments (2) | TrackBacks (0)

Advertising Age interviewed Bill Gates (chief Microsoft). At the end of the interview, they asked Mr. Gates about the Mac Ads. This is too funny.

GARFIELD: I want to ask you one more thing: Those Mac ads -- how do you feel about the John Hodgman character?

GATES: I can't comment on someone else's ad.

GARFIELD: OK ... but he's you.

GATES: Yeah, I'm not gonna comment on someone else's ad.

GARFIELD: OK, well, Bill Gates, thank you so much for joining us.

(Silence)

GARFIELD: Can I just have a clean goodbye?

(Silence)

GARFIELD: OK, can you just say goodbye? Thank you or goodbye or something like that?

GATES: Goodbye.

LOL - thanks for sending this to me Judah...

Posted at 10:52 AM | Permalink | Category: Apple Macs , Just Funny | Comments (1) | TrackBacks (0)

Blogged about this at Search Engine Land under Marge Simpson "Googles Herself" & Uses Google Maps. Watch this video, the whole thing, I find it funny.

Posted at 10:48 AM | Permalink | Category: Just Funny | Comments (1) | TrackBacks (0)

There is no question that drug use amongst teens is a problem, big problem in America. One father took an usual approach.

Dad Makes Son Wear Sign for Using Drugs from SFGate.com reports that a father made his son wear a sign that read, "I abused and sold drugs."

Why, because his son abused and sold drugs and his Dad wanted to send him a message.

"I'm not out here doing this to humiliate my son," the father told WATE-TV as the teenager walked up and down the sidewalk Wednesday in front of Cedar Bluff Middle School.

"I'm doing this because I love him," he said. "We do have an extreme drug problem in America, and maybe it's time for extreme measures that parents need to take to monitor this problem that we have."

What is also pretty crazy is that the father learned of his son's drug use through reading his son's MySpace page!

I guess it could have been worse. His dad could have made him ride this bicycle to school every day.

;-) Thanks Judah for the YouTube video.

Posted at 11:16 AM | Permalink | Category: Just Funny | Comments (2) | TrackBacks (0)

Todd Mintz informed me that I am a hurricane this year! I was flattered, seriously flattered. I thought he was talking about my writing. But it turns out he was being very literal.

The Hurricane Names for 2007 includes "Barry." So yes, technically, my name, "Barry" is a name up for grabs on the 2007 list of hurricane names.

Wish me luck. I am hoping to be a big one!

Other hurricane names up for grabs this year include; Andrea, Chantal, Dean, Erin, Felix, Gabrielle, Humberto, Ingrid, Jerry, Karen, Lorenzo, Melissa, Noel, Olga, Pablo, Rebekah, Sebastien, Tanya, Van, and Wendy.

The picture above is from the SES Miami show back in July of last year. One day there was a pretty big storm. It took down that poor tree. :-(

Posted at 10:00 AM | Permalink | Category: Just Funny | Comments (0) | TrackBacks (0)

Judah pointed me to a blog referencing the Gotta Go Briefcase.

Yes, you open the briefcase, pull out the paper, sit down and do your business.

When you are done, make sure to wipe and off you go.

This is a real invention...

The water proof briefcase retains an elegant yet durable appearance with high quality Mahogany leather, a strong lightweight aluminum internal structure, and stainless steel bowl with generously equipped sealing lid. Quietly and discreetly go about your personal "business" anywhere you please with a fold out leather privacy panel which tucks away neatly to the side when you have completed your multi-tasking. A toilet paper dispenser easily swings out and can be conveniently stored in an inconspicuous storage compartment under the padding [for added discretion] when not in use.

Included with the Gotta Go Briefcase are a small tray with cup holder (clips onto the privacy panel), attachable vanity mirror, and refillable hand sanitizing dispenser. The newspaper and air freshener are not included but recommended.

Hmmm....

Posted at 2:35 PM | Permalink | Category: Just Funny | Comments (5) | TrackBacks (0)

A much needed laugh for today:::

Posted at 3:25 PM | Permalink | Category: Just Funny | Comments (1) | TrackBacks (0)

Like skiing?
No snow?
Big city?

Solution.

Thanks Judah again!

Posted at 3:54 PM | Permalink | Category: Just Funny | Comments (0) | TrackBacks (0)

Judah sent me a link to the Geek-a-Cycle. It is an exercise bike attached to a computer desk. How creative... Here is one of their videos of it in action.

Wonder how productive such a working environment would make for my employees?

If they can peddle to save me money on my electric bill, well then, maybe it is the answer for that.

How much is it? $400... You can order it if you like or just laugh at the idea.

Posted at 11:20 AM | Permalink | Category: Just Funny | Comments (1) | TrackBacks (0)

Years ago, I got an email from a long time client that read something like this.

There is a bug with portion X of the system.

F/U!

I scratched my head and thought, what they heck! It is a small bug, why is he so upset!

Plus it is not in his nature to use such language, even when upset.

So I read it like fifteen times and finally figured out F/U stood for "follow up."

So in a sense he wrote, please follow up with me when you look into it.

Just remembered this story, figured I share it with you.

Posted at 10:25 AM | Permalink | Category: Just Funny , RustyBrick | Comments (2) | TrackBacks (0)