response 1 of 34:

Dec 4 20:20 UTC 2003

I was checking on the status of some stuff I bought on the internet. Now-a-days
 they give you a FedEx tracking number and you can see where your order is at.
The last known where-abouts of my package was:

departed the Rialto, Ca sorting facility at 1:48PM 3Dec2003. 

I think it'd be cool if you could track your package down to the exact degree
hour and minute. maybe even the avg. velocity and elevation.

response 3 of 34:

Dec 4 21:10 UTC 2003

  There are already quite a lot of Greek fast food joints, mostly 
  specializing in gyros.  I can't think of any that are nationally
  franchised.

response 5 of 34:

Dec 4 22:47 UTC 2003

Somebody did try to create a chain of Chinese fast food restaurants a few
years back, but it failed.  Too many dishes which were also rather complicated
compared to burgers.  Actually there is some kind of Chinese thing in the
Michigan Union food court, but I haven't wanted to try it.  

response 7 of 34:

Dec 5 00:27 UTC 2003

 re #6:  yeah, but some small town Chinese restaurants are pretty scary..
 (but then so are quite a few big city ones, I guess.)

 On a related note:  

 A couple of years ago the Thai government put money into developing a
 chain of Thai-food styled fast-food restaurants to be launched in the U.S.
 and Europe.  I'm pretty sure the name of the chain was "Elephant Jump"
 but I never came across one.  Has anyone ever seen an Elephant Jump? 
 (I know, I know..  Not with those knees..)

 ( apparently I wasn't imagining Elephant Jump, though I've still never
   seen one..)

  http://www.springwise.com/newbusinessideas/2002/11/tabletop_tourist_board
.html

response 9 of 34:

Dec 5 03:06 UTC 2003

There are chains of Chinese fast food restaurants (Manchu Wok), but they're
not good.  I thought it was pretty funny when the one in Briarwood left the
franchise.  What did they rename it?  Ming Wok.  Probably only funny if you've
watched enough Hong Kong historical martial arts movies and get the
background.

response 11 of 34:

Dec 5 04:49 UTC 2003

I'd always thought the Ming Dynasty was the Mongols.  I just learned I've been
wrong: the Mongols formed the Yuan Dynasty, which was replaced by the Ming
Dynasty.

response 13 of 34:

Dec 5 16:43 UTC 2003

I forget what it's called (maybe Manchu Wok), but there's a Chinese fast food
"restaurant" in the Ohio Turnpike rest area in Amherst (a few miles west of
the 80/90 split), a couple bays over from Popeye's. . . .

response 15 of 34:

Dec 5 17:30 UTC 2003

I think Panda House is a chain.  I've seen a few of them in Michigan and
one in Florida.  

response 17 of 34:

Dec 5 18:00 UTC 2003

There used to be a "Chinese fast food" restaurant in downtown Plymouth called
Dynersty.  I had heard that the first one had been in Ann Arbor.  I always
found it a convenient and inexpensive option when going for "take away" (as
the Brits say).  However, for some reason which I never heard, they closed
down a year ago or so.

response 21 of 34:

Dec 7 03:37 UTC 2003

It sucks to be "not young" and wanting to be in IT.  The only recourse is 
to be very lucky to find someone accepting the age condition, or start your 
own business.  I've been in "my own business."  It's not that great either.

response 23 of 34:

Dec 8 00:36 UTC 2003

Stephen, you have found age to be an explicit factor preventing or limiting
your attempts to move into IT work?