If you want an indication of the sad lives geeks live, look no further than the flurry of chatter every time Google fucks with its logo. Yesterday it was a barcode, honoring the 57th anniversary of the original patent — and the 30th anniversary of its appearance in the UK, to pick a round number.

We’d sooner honor George H.W. Bush’s infamous 1992 encounter with a supermarket scanner, but that’s not until February. So instead we’ll take the opportunity to post one of our favorite Mad covers, from April 1978. In retrospect, 60 cents was cheap — today’s cover price is $5.99.

The rise of the barcode [BBC]

Make your own barcode, just like Google [Christian Science Monitor]

Ordinarily I wouldn’t post again so soon, but I’ve made a discovery – the most annoying couple in the world.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oWRlbHOoDw8

[via]

Timothy Lim and Jean Luc Pham present Schulz City, mashing our childhood and adulthood in a few deft strokes.

Frank Miller’s Charlie Brown [Cinematical, via Sully]

That wasn’t so difficult, was it? Heck, you were probably sleeping the whole time, and didn’t even realize we were switching wires on your Matrix headgear.

Not to worry — nothing, y’know, drastic this time. But tonight around 2 a.m. Eastern we’ll be taking the website offline while we move it to a new server.

The good news is that other than a test pattern for a few hours, you shouldn’t notice anything different. Unlike our previous travels, the database is moving with us, including all the posts and comments. Same address, too — no need to change bookmarks or anything.

At worst, you may have to log in again once the site’s back online. But as always, there’s an automated means to reset your password if you’ve forgotten it. And, as always, Geeks Are Standing By if you need help.

Well, one Geek. And he sleeps in. But he’ll get around to you.

NPR has a fun little electoral map that lets you play along! Simply click on each state until it becomes the color you want, and then check your totals at the bottom (hover over each state for polling and electoral vote numbers). It looks innocent enough, but if you’re anything like me you’re going to push it, plug in your nightmare scenario and start hyperventilating.

What wacky combination will send you over the edge?  Mine made Colorado this year’s Ohio/Florida! Luckily for me, it’s almost cocktail hour!  Enjoy!

Don’t you just love those automatically generated WordPress passwords? No? If trying to log in is driving you to drink, email me at nojo@www.stinque.com with your preferred password and I’ll plug it in for you. When I wake up.