Automated Packaging →

There is something about this machine that I find fascinating. Is it the effiecency, the savings on packaging and mailing I am not sure.

The machine can do up to 500 packages an hour, and Sparck says customers save on shipping and reduce their cardboard consumption by 20% by using the smallest possible box. (They also claim their taped-on-two-sides boxes are easier for the recipient to open and more likely to be flattened and recycled, though they offer no evidence to back that up.)

Via Core77

10/20/2022 Business

Consumer Ad Platforms

I used to love Instagram to show off my photos and see my friends’ work online. Flickr still exists and was terrific but has largely been in sunset mode as the community of people has all moved away.

For the past couple of weeks, scrolling through my Instagram feed, I noticed just how many ads there were.

The Reels portion feels like every third reel is an advertisement. The feed section has always had ads, but initially, they did not seem intrusive. Now they are constant. It has gotten to the point that some days I feel I see more ads than the images of the people I follow.

In both cases, the ads are now more aggressive¹ and repetitive and irrelevant.

Since they are not going away, I figured I could fine-tune them to reduce interest and limit the off-the-wall ones. I went through every interest listed and selected Show Less. I have no idea where they connect my interest in this service or thing. More than 85% of them I had zero interest in or actively hated.

Select an Ad: Hit Hide Ad –> Irrelevant, or I see it too often or Report Ad: –> select Spam or Scam.

Wait for the algorithm to catch up. Wait for it. Bingo, more ads that I will never click on but will destroy the app’s experience.

Is the increase in poor ads the result of ATT from Apple? Is every advertiser desperate for “engagement”? Probably some of both.

Starting to wonder if Instagram should pivot and remove all user photos and display ads to people; it feels like we are close now.

10/11/2022 Business

Typefaces Abroad

While traveling around Peru this summer, I noticed lots of painted “murals” on the walls and roadways of Cusco. I asked the guide about them (they were in Spanish), and he said they are political posters for candidates running for different parties in Peru. The one thing I really noticed is there are apparently three typefaces to select from.

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1. The bold blue letters with the red Outline
2. The bold red and blue combined letters
3. The bold red letters with white outline

8/14/2022 Travel

Peru Thoughts

My wife and I returned from a recent trip to Peru. It was amazing. When we travel I can’t help but keeping a log of random observations throughout the trip, these are just a few.

• I brought a lot of digital reading material with me as it’s my preferred reading method. But when I fly I like to get a magazine or two. Funny thing - Magazine stores like Hudson really don’t sell them anymore. There were like 8 to pick from and nothing I wanted.

• I am here for the touch-free everything bathrooms.

• The Atlanta Airport Plane-Train is a life saver between terminals.

• From the time I left my house to the time we arrive at our destination in Peru I am estimating about 24 hours - 11 of them actually flying.

• 13 days driving around the country from location to location - I saw 1 stop light.

• The people are incredibly nice even to those who do not speak the language.

• I saw more dogs while I was there then I thought possible. Some were maybe a little dirty or scruffy but all healthy. I tried to pet them all.¹

• I have no idea why, but I heard more Aerosmith there than I have in two years

• The country as a whole does not observer speed limits - so to combat this there are speed bumps in the road seems like every .5k - and they are not small.

• Drivers must be part Mario Andretti and part Super Mario.

• Machu Picchu is amazing and I think the blue print for the first IKEA store maze.

• Shaving at altitude and nicking yourself produces a lot of blood.

• I heard more Aerosmith in little stores than I have in 2 years.

• The stop signs in Peru are merely for street decoration.

• Due to the mountains they have carved more hair pin turns than I could count.

• A half can of Pringles were $7²

7/28/2022 travel

Delta Boarding Order

• Wheelchairs and families with small children
• First Class / Diamond Status
• Gold Staus
• Comfort + / Silver Status
• Main cabin 1
• Main cabin 2
• Main cabin 3

And then anybody who has not already boarded the plane.

7/4/2022 Travel