I saw this bathroom of a coffee shop in Chicago. There are a lot of things I look for in a bathroom. At the same time, I can think of plenty of instances where a room full of mirrors might be handy (trying on clothes and taunting James Bond come to mind). I’ve never imagined those two worlds colliding.

What do you think possessed the owner to fill a bathroom in a coffee shop with mirrors? A interior decor ploy to give the impression of more space? A way for customers to analyze their performance? I’m just thankful none of them were carnival fun house mirrors.

Have you ever had food that was too beautiful to eat?

Are the towers of plastic containers, stacked in descending volumetric order, that sit in kitchen cabinets across America our modern adaptation of Russian Nesting Dolls?

So today’s post is more of a game: Can you come up with the world’s worst brand name for the following items?

Just to get you started off, one idea I had for bottled water was “Dysentery”

• Shirts
• Bread
• Chocolate
• Milk
• Underwear
• Pencils
• Laptop
• Restaurant
• Department store
• Car
• Toothpaste

Obviously, we at CMD would never presume to limit your creativity so if there are other items and brand names that you think of, please do share.

The above photo was taken at a noodle bar in Chinatown in Chicago (Chi-town in Chi-town?). Each table has a drawer for napkins, utensils, sugar packets, etc.

As we sat down, I couldn’t help but think that this is an awesome idea. How many times have I sat down to eat and then realized I forgot to bring something I needed to the table?

Now as I think about it, I don’t know why this idea is so ingenious. It’s no more innovative than, say, the stationary drawer in my desk. But I still find it awesome.

Any input from people who share my fascination would be most appreciated.

*** UPDATED WITH ANSWER : SEE BELOW ****

Today we’re taking a little aptitude test to determine whether, as a group, we have any ability to estimate the correct number of persons who might simultaneously occupy* a large space (according to the fire safety inspector).

Pictured here is a very large hall. It’s in Chicago’s Union Station, if you feel the desire to go check the little frame on the wall to find the answer.

How many people do you think the fire safety inspector believes could safely be in this space at one time?**

* Not in the “Occupy Wall Street” sense of the term.

** The answer will be added to this post over the weekend, so hazard a guess today and check back!

——————–

The weekend has come to a close, so here is the answer, as promised.

It turns out that we are much more concerned about over-crowding than we needed to be!  Apparently up to 3887 persons can occupy this space before it becomes dangerous and unlawful.

I am curious if it becomes dangerous well before that, but only becomes illegal at that point?

Woe is me! I thought a pile of leaves was tempting, but I know hopscotch built into the sidewalk is inhumane.

It’s a short article. Neither the author nor anyone else had much to say on the matter. They really didn’t know that side of Steve Jobs.

What a cutie!

Did you know that a valve could be an American darling?

I recently saw this sign … and I thought ‘What else was missing from this sign?’ It was a very random restriction list. I particularly liked the ‘no trumpeting’ picture …but what about the other musical instruments, like a piano or drums?

What else is missing?