Thursday, April 01, 2010

Metamorphosis

So I'm heading back to the office the other day after taking care of a few lunch-time errands.

Ever cognizant of my surroundings (as one must be when the government agents and dwarf assassins are out to get you), I observed what I thought was one of the most ingenious concepts for a pest control/exterminator business ever (and I've seen a lot of concepts for pest control/exterminator businesses).
Of course! A bug killing business that pays homage to the author of one of my favorite German surrealist man-becomes-cockroach stories, The Metamorphosis.
"When Gregor Samsa woke up one morning from unsettling dreams, he found himself changed in his bed into a monstrous vermin. He was lying on his back as hard as armor plate, and when he lifted his head a little, he saw his vaulted brown belly, sectioned by arch-shaped ribs, to whose dome the cover, about to slide off completely, could barely cling. His many legs, pitifully thin compared with the size of the rest of him, were waving helplessly before his eyes."
Now that's an exterminator with a sense of humor and a good grounding literature. Just the kind of guy I want going after my silverfish!

So I maneuver closer to get around to the side of the truck. There must be a phone number on there somewhere. Anyone with the marketing savvy to name an exterminating company after Franz Kafka surely would know enough to put the phone number on the side of the truck.

That's when I saw the critical detail that painted me as a total sucker. A line of copy under the logo on the side of the truck read "Available at the Johnson County Library."
Of course. This isn't some pest control professional with a penchant for marketing. It's a new mobile billboard for the local library.

Well, touchè librarians. You got me. Who knew a run-of-the-mill lunch hour errand trip could be so entertaining. I wonder if the library stocks any books about gullibility.

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9 comments:

  1. There are a few of those. One is Benjamin Button's Diaper Service and captain Ahab's Fine Seafood...

    http://www.jocolibrary.org/default.aspx?id=13715

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  2. JOCO librarians, you rock.

    And...you're a dwarf?

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  3. @Nick,

    I guess I should have clarified that. I keep a couple of dwarfs in the trunk of my car. They work almost as well as trunk monkeys but they cost about half as much. And in this economy you gotta save where you can.

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  4. I knew librarians are freaky, but sense of humor? that's a new one

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  5. That rocks! I really like it.

    It's not paranoia, if they are really out to get you.

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  6. This reminded me of this.

    Cheers.

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  7. Brought to you by your friends at Barkley: http://www.jocolibrary.org/default.aspx?id=13715

    Timeless and Unforgettable...like your Library

    By Kasey R.

    Friday, June 12, 2009

    Johnson County Library is the place for books. Old books. New books. Classic books. Unforgettable books. Books that make you think. With the help of Barkley Advertising Agency, the Johnson County Library's courier trucks have been redeisgned to resemble the delivery trucks of some of literature's most famous characters. Barkley's generous pro bono designs remind us of the iconic nature of these books. These books will always be relevant. Just like these classic books, Libraries are icons of American society--today and tomorrow. Captain Ahab's Fine Seafood...Available at the Johnson County Library
    Happy reading!

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  8. Ive heard amazing reviews on that book actually. Guess I must check it out! Just a great fact, if you ever need to ship a car overseas or anywhere, for that matter, look up Auto Shipping Network. They did an amazing job for me!

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