The bar code turns 57 today – which isn’t the big 6-0 or anything, but it did give Google a groovy way to cause a big to-do about this now-momentous occasion.

So happy birthday, bar code.  And well done, Doodler.

We’ve known about the bar code’s popularity for some time now; a search for “barcode” reveals 150,000 products, which is three times the amount of bacon products.  It would seem that the bar code has a uniquely universal appeal, inspiring everyone from plumbers to porn stars to gay folks and conspiracy theorists.  Heck, even the dog is a fan of the bar code.

So yes, you heard it here first: the bar code is more popular than bacon.  (The dog would like to remind you, though, that the canine population has a differing opinion.)

To that end, we’ve chosen a few interesting bar code designs to share with y’all…