3/18/26 - Ranch Milkshake, Google Maps, and Favorites

Wednesday 3/18/26

Celebrate:

Awkward Moments Day

Forgive Mom and Dad Day

Goddess of Fertility Day

National Biodiesel Day

National Lacy Oatmeal Cookie Day

National Sloppy Joe Day

Supreme Sacrifice Day

Take Down Tobacco National Day of Action

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A loud sonic boom heard across Northeast Ohio that rattled homes and startled residents across the area yesterday may have been caused by a meteor, according to the National Weather Service. Imagery suggests a meteor landed.

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Great Wolf Lodge has released a ranch milkshake. You read that right..RANCH milkshake.

Plus, it's topped with carrots, celery, and chicken nuggets, and garnished with a sweet, salty lime rim, oh, and whipped cream.

It's not all off the rails. It starts with a vanilla ice cream base.

They say, "Whether you want to sip it or even use it as a dip, it’s definitely a memorable menu item, and provides kids with a fun new way to eat their veggies!”

A self-proclaimed ranch lover tried it and says, you really can't drink the whole thing, or even split it with another.

You have through May 20th to enjoy? this.

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A new YouGov survey explores which times of day, days of the week, and months Americans view most favorably.

The most favorably viewed month is October with 78% 

May (76%), April (74%), June (73%), and September (73%) round out the top five.

March, February, and January are the least favorite.

No surprise that Saturday is the number one most favorable day with 83% picking it. Friday is second, then Sunday.

Monday is the least favorite.

7pm is the most favored time of the day. 4am is the least.

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A man decided to visit a Google Maps pin labeled "Friendly Black Cat" to see if it was real, reported March 13. When he arrived at the location, he found exactly what was promised: a very friendly black cat eager for attention and pets. The viral video of their meetup has people around the world checking their own Google Maps for similar hidden gems.

I love that there are so many weird stories from Google Maps.

Like a Flying Rabbit in Poland, a Google Maps Driver who forgot to stop the recording and let's say visited a tree, a three legged man, a house on fire, A disembodied hand grabbing the back of a guy, and various submerged vehicles.

Google Maps just got a huge upgrade, and it might be one of the biggest ever.  

In a recent post, Google detailed two features -- Ask Gemini and Immersive Navigation. The first lets you find answers to questions with AI, while the second provides a totally new driving experience. 

The Ask Gemini feature works as you'd expect if you've encountered any of the other times Google has injected its AI into products. Instead of searching through Google for specific information, you can ask Maps conversational questions such:

Not only are visuals totally revamped, but voice guidance is much more intuitive. 

On the visual front, instead of the traditional flat overhead view, Immersive Navigation gives you a 3D view that shows buildings, overpasses, and terrain. When it's helpful, Google adds, Maps will highlight road details like lanes, traffic lights, and stop signs. The new spatial view is generated from a combination of Street View imagery and aerial photos, which Gemini analyzes to create a full picture. 

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Today's Useless Fact of the Day - The $2 bill accounts for less than 1% of all U.S. paper currency currently in circulation. Because people think they are rare or "lucky," they tend to hoard them, which ironically keeps them out of circulation and makes them seem even rarer.

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