Why is this ad stupid? Because China and the USA have around a 12 hour time difference. (Beijing is GMT +8, New York is GMT -4, give or take DST.)

So are these poor Chinese schoolchildren being forced by their Communist government to show up at school after their bedtime in order to have a real-time video chat with their conspicuously small class size American counterparts?

And why is the chick from Juno there?

Is BurritoVille back from the dead?

So, I discovered that the long-shuttered BurritoVille of Chelsea (23rd and 8th) had reopened when I passed by this evening. Talking to the new owner, it had actually been open since last Wednesday. The redesigned and streamlined interior, steps down from the street was reminiscent of a small Chipotle, with the same sort of assembly-line ordering counter. The menuboard had been slimmed down to a small list of options, with most of my favorite names (can you say Bob Marley’s Last Burrito?) missing.

A taste test confirmed my suspicions that the original recipes and employees were long gone. The delicious red salsa of old has been replaced with something more reminiscent of Tostitos brand jarred supermarket salsa. The chips were bland and thin, nothing like the awesome thick corn chips of the old establishment. The spinach and mushrooms of the Lost in Austin (one of the only names that seem to have survived the transition) were overcooked and mushy, and the brown rice had been substituted for some kind of Spanish rice.

All in all, a total disappointment, like a bad remake of your favorite classic film. Unless I hear that recipes have returned to their pre-2009 form, I shan’t return.

This is apparently what TomTom considers to be a “solved” issue.

from TomTom Support Team <do_not_reply@custhelp.com> reply-to TomTom Support Team <do_not_reply@custhelp.com> to ddmnyc@gmail.com date Tue, Aug 25, 2009 at 9:53 AM subject ONE 130- will not turn on [Incident:090822-007116] mailed-by gmail.com signed-by custhelp.com

hide details 9:53 AM (19 minutes ago)

I do not consider this issue “solved”.

Your product completely died on me for no reason under normal (very light) conditions, just over 1 year out of the box. Like normal, I plugged it into the car adapter, and turned it on. The screen flickered and went dark. All attempts to reset the device according to your web site have failed. The power light remains lit until the battery dies, and a full charge still does not allow it to be reset.

Your support representative did not offer any sort of material assistance for what I consider to be a product defect. How about a free upgrade to the iPhone app so I don’t have to rely on your faulty hardware? How about a discount towards a replacement product? You do not behave like a company that desires to keep its customers.

Based on my recent experience I will likely never use a TomTom product again nor would I recommend one to anyone. I will also be blogging about my bad experience with your product and customer support. You are still free to contact me to offer a product exchange, refund or upgrade, though I doubt you will.

From the blog Modern Mechanix:

Robot Messenger Displays Person-to-Person Notes In Public
TO AID persons who wish to make or cancel appointments or inform friends of their whereabouts, a robot message carrier has been introduced in London, England.

Known as the “notificator,” the new machine is installed in streets, stores, railroad stations or other public places where individuals may leave messages for friends.

The user walks up on a small platform in front of the machine, writes a brief message on a continuous strip of paper and drops a coin in the slot. The inscription moves up behind a glass panel where it remains in public view for at least two hours so that the person for whom it is intended may have sufficient time to observe the note at the appointed place. The machine is similar in appearance to a candy-vending device.

Thanks to my buddy Dens for the awesome link.

As a kid, I was a huge Lego addict. I invented whole planets, societies, space colonies. I never used the kits. There were always those people who could make a life size representation of the statue of liberty or a Corvette Shelby, and I was in awe of their ability.

But just as the painstaking accuracy of these giant creations were impressive, so is this minimalist set created by Christoph Neimann.

And he doesn’t even live in New York City.

I LEGO N.Y.

One of the ones that stuck out for me was the OSHA workplace ergonomics rules. You know, the ones that would have cut down on repetitive stress injuries which would have improved productivity and reduced medical costs? Well, it was deemed “too expensive” for businesses and simply thrown out, baby, bathwater and all.

Now, in his final days as The Decider, Bush is making sure to cement his legacy as the most evil president in American history by enacting new rules to deny everyone possible badly-needed protection from the health effects of toxic substances, some of which are known causes of cancer (or worse) such as: asbestos, benzene, cotton dust, formaldehyde, lead, silica, beryllium, diacetylvinyl chloride and blood-borne pathogens, including the virus that causes AIDS.

No crony left behind.

2001:
Bush signs repeal of ergonomic rules into law

WASHINGTON — President Bush signed into law Tuesday a repeal of Clinton administration regulations that set new workplace ergonomic rules to combat repetitive stress injuries.

2008:
Bush Aides Rush to Enact a Rule Obama Opposes

WASHINGTON — The Labor Department is racing to complete a new rule, strenuously opposed by President-elect Barack Obama, that would make it much harder for the government to regulate toxic substances and hazardous chemicals to which workers are exposed on the job.

On election day, I compiled a list of some of the most common reasons I’ve been emailed by people in the past few weeks as to why I shouldn’t vote for Barack Obama. I could sit here and refute the charges line by line, but I’d rather not dignify some of them with a response. So I’ve come up with a answer that I will apply to all of them.

Barack Obama doesn’t have any international experience.
I’m willing to take that risk.

Barack Obama doesn’t understand economics.
I’m willing to take that risk.

Barack Obama favors the Geneva Convention for suspected terrorists.
I’m willing to take that risk.

Barack Obama has a name that sounds like Osama bin Laden.
I’m willing to take that risk.

Barack Obama has a relationship with Acorn, a group accused of encouraging “voter fraud.”
I’m willing to take that risk.

Barack Obama has gotten a free pass by the “liberal” media.
I’m willing to take that risk.

Barack Obama has the middle name Hussein, so he must be allied with terrorists.
I’m willing to take that risk.

Barack Obama is a “pro-abortion” extremist.
I’m willing to take that risk.

Barack Obama is a cult of personality.
I’m willing to take that risk.

Barack Obama is a target for assassination.
I’m willing to take that risk.

Barack Obama is against a border fence with Mexico.
I’m willing to take that risk.

Barack Obama is against all offshore drilling.
I’m willing to take that risk.

Barack Obama is an intellectual elitist who doesn’t understand “middle America.”
I’m willing to take that risk.

Barack Obama is more popular in Europe than he is in the United States.
I’m willing to take that risk.

Barack Obama is the most liberal senator in congress.
I’m willing to take that risk.

Barack Obama is weak on support for Israel.
I’m willing to take that risk.

Barack Obama is willing to meet with foreign dictators without preconditions.
I’m willing to take that risk.

Barack Obama lacks the experience to be president.
I’m willing to take that risk.

Barack Obama looks down on people who “cling to guns and religion.”
I’m willing to take that risk.

Barack Obama served on a community board with William Ayers.
I’m willing to take that risk.

Barack Obama supports “socialized” medicine.
I’m willing to take that risk.

Barack Obama supports gay marriage and adoption.
I’m willing to take that risk.

Barack Obama wants to “spread the wealth around.”
I’m willing to take that risk.

Barack Obama wants to downsize the military.
I’m willing to take that risk.

Barack Obama wants to end the Iraq war and admit “defeat.”
I’m willing to take that risk.

Barack Obama wants to take guns away from Americans.
I’m willing to take that risk.

Barack Obama will increase the Federal deficit.
I’m willing to take that risk.

Barack Obama will spend taxpayer money on social programs.
I’m willing to take that risk.

Barack Obama’s former pastor is an anti-American racist.
I’m willing to take that risk.

Barack Obama’s wife is unpatriotic.
I’m willing to take that risk.

I’m sure there are plenty of other reasons not listed here to not vote for Barack Obama, but if choosing change is risky, keeping the status quo would be a disaster.

It’s been said the greater the risk, the greater the reward. So I’m willing to take that risk.

Just imagine what it would be like if we ever had 100% voter turnout in the United States. Can you picture it?

Now get out and vote!

This design idea didn’t come to me in time to make a t-shirt before the election, but I think it’s still worth posting here.