It's Easy to Sell Your Used Car

A Dummy's Puppet's Ramblings - from Chip Martin, Mannequin American

Now it's Easier to Sell Your Used Car

Here's a great web tool. The folks at Kelley Blue Book (KBB) have come up with a way to make it easier for regular people to sell their used cars. Their new Seller's Toolkit provides a set of easy-to-use tools that make it simple for anyone to advertise their vehicle across the social web ... from Craig's List to Facebook to Twitter to their own blogs ... and enable interested parties to get real-time value info with a click or a call.

KBB lets you create a printable window sticker that includes instructions to let interested buyers get the current KBB value with their mobile phones via text, voice or QR code. 

The kit also lets you build out a "digital window sticker" for your blog, website or social network profiles.

The KBB Seller's Toolkit even takes care of the tiny details like automatically generating Twitter and status updates and linking buyers directly to Kelley Blue Book pricing reports for the appropriate make, model and year. You can learn more or try it out for yourself at Kelley Blue Book.

Where People Are Coming From and Going To

Are people moving in or out of the county you live in? And where are they going or coming from? Here's how to find out.

Forbes has created a fun interactive graphic that shows where people are moving. Click on any county in the U.S., and the map illustrates where people are coming from or going to.

Red lines denote people moving out, and black lines show people moving in. What a fun way to show the places that people are escaping to or from. They even lined up a smart sponsor for the graphic: FlexJet.

Buy Solar ... Get a Gun

"Buy solar. Get a gun." Perfect for off-the-grid living survivalists, Bland Solar & Air, Inc. has a new deal offering every customer who buys a 3kW+ solar system a free firearm. Best cross-promotion. Ever.

The gun comes in the form of a gift certificate, which, "Depending on eligibility and legal status of customer he or she may use $400 certificate for credit toward gun, rifle, or ammunition or choose $400 rebate."

News You Won't Believe ... But It's True

Man With No Hands Required to Give Thumbprint

A Florida man was unable to cash a Bank of America check because the bank required a thumbprint, and he had no arms.

Steve Valdez says he was shocked when he was told he had to put his thumbprint on a check written on his wife's Bank of America check. Valdez says the check was written to him with the same address he has on his driver's license. Although he had two forms of identification, both with pictures, the bank still required Valdez to give a thumbprint before it would cash the check.  But that was impossible, because Valdez was born without arms and wears prosthetic devices.

When Valdez told the manager giving a thumbprint would be impossible, she suggested he either bring in his wife or open an account.

A bank spokesperson later said that the manager should have made an exception for Valdez. No duh!

Coffee is not an Aphrodisiac ... Can Cause Loss of Blood to the Brain

The Food and Drug Administration is urging consumers to stop using an instant coffee product that is being marketed as a sexual aphrodisiac, saying it could dangerously lower blood pressure.

The FDA said Magic Power Coffee contains a chemical that could interact with some prescription drugs to significantly lower blood pressure. When blood pressure drops suddenly, the brain is deprived of an adequate blood supply, which can lead to dizziness or lightheadedness. (Chip's Note: This is especially true for men because a lot of their blood is probably heading in the other direction anyway.)

"Because this product is an instant coffee labeled as an 'all natural dietary supplement,' consumers may assume it is harmless and poses no health risk," said Deborah M. Autor, director of FDA's Center for Drug Evaluation and Research, Office of Compliance. "In fact, Magic Power Coffee can cause serious harm."

The FDA said it was not aware of any adverse incidents so far associated with the product.

Is That a Gun in Your Pocket or do You Just Want a Pizza?

Arizona passed a law that will allow people to carry concealed weapons without permits, which has nudged the state's restaurants to draft up policies about whether or not they'll let customers pack their pistols as they grab grub.

Pizza Huts in the southern part of the state decided to let customers tote their firearms inside, but won't let employees do the same. The Arizona Daily Star reports the decision is especially touchy because of a 1999 disaster in which thugs shot three Tucson Pizza Hut employees to death as they robbed the store.

Health Police Strike Again ... No More Bake Sales

New York's health police have found a new target: bake sales that schools use as fund raising events. The sales have already been limited to once a month, and barred during school hours. Now, the city's Health Department has warned parents that they need to look for other ways to raise dough.

The city agency has issued a booklet called "Yes, You Can! A Fresh Look at Healthy Fundraisers for Schools." Some of the suggested alternatives to cookies and cake include flowers, jewelry and student photos. (Give me a break.)

New Tax Will be a Boone for Black-market

New York City, which charges its own cigarette tax on top of the state and federal taxes, just passed another tax hike and is now the most expensive place to light up, with smokers paying $6.85/pack in taxes alone. In addition to the cigarette tax, the bill also raised taxes on cigars and chewing tobacco by 29%.

The government expects the tax hike to bring in around $290 million a year. The American Heart Association hopes it results in fewer smokers. Both will probably be disappointed. The real beneficiary will be the black-market, which is sure to provide cheaper smokes ... while providing no taxes to the city. Not to mention near-by New Jersey and Connecticut, which will benefit from New Yorkers who run across state lines for cheaper cigs.

Related Item

New rules regarding tobacco marketing recently went into effect as part of the Family Smoking Prevention and Control Act. Among the rules: No Candy or fruit-flavored cigarettes.

I understand the logic behind banning candy cigarettes. But having had them many years ago while still just a sapling, I think the real scam was candy companies being able to pass off chalk as candy.

Bicycle Film Festival

Parades are sometimes a good way to generate some publicity. The Bicycle Film Festival at the Anthology Film Archives includes a parade with bikes incorporated into everything from bars to portable hot tubs. If you made it out the Joy Ride Art Show at Dash Gallery you would've even seen bike-towed pole dancers (pictured above). I think the bicyclist needs to keep his eyes on the road.