The New York Observer got this internal staff memo today from NYT deputy managing editor Bill Schmidt to the newsroom, telling them: 1. Do NOT make international calls on your company-issued cell phones and Blackberries; 2. Do not call 411; 3. Please try not to send text messages.

Although we recognize that texting has become an indispensable means of communication for many people, our basic company plans with Verizon and AT&T do not provide for unlimited texting. A lot of texting costs us a lot of money, whether as a per-message fee or as an unlimited-message add-on.

So please use discretion when deciding to send a text, especially if a voice call or e-mail would get your message to the recipient equally well. Do not use Twitter via text messages; install a client like Twitterberry on your phone instead. Do not send picture or video messages ("MMS") from company phones except for work purposes. And do not text from overseas.

Good lord, you are a newspaper company in the communications business, NYT. Jesus Christ you guys are broke. I think I pay about $5 a month for unlimited text messages, and I don't even have a massive corporate account.
Next staff memo: Did you know you can walk right into TD Bank and pick up as many free pens as you want? Please do so!
[NYO. Pic via]

Seems that while critical darlings Samsung and Sony were hawking 40-inch sets average selling prices of $1,000 and $1090, respectively, Vizio was busy selling 42 inchers for an average of $850, and doing it through Walmart. They even offered a 120Hz premium set for an average selling price of $1000, where Sammy and Sony were at around $1400 for the same on-paper specs, at the smaller 40" size.

People who read both TV reviews and The Economist don't appear to have been in the mood to buy flatpanel TVs as the fate of our global economy was being hashed out, but people who just absolutely needed an LCD bought Vizio mostly. Its North American market share was 21.6%, but to be fair, LCD sales were down nearly a quarter from the holiday season.

As iSuppli's release puts it so bluntly: "Rather than stopping their purchases of LCD-TVs, consumers are focusing on lower-priced sets." [iSuppli]

Joel has a great writeup on Boing Boing Gadgets about the non-new gadgetry he uses on a regular basis that's a pretty entertaining read. [Last Year's Model via BBG]

Sales of the often sub-$10 dial-up subscriptions have increased after the stock market crash and many report that they've switched from broadband, though NetZero CEO Mark Goldston was quick to note that "this is not the iPod crowd we're talking about." Chances are if you're reading this, you're more likely to try to pawn your oven than give up broadband, but where exactly does it fall on your list of priorities? Would you give up a cable TV or Xbox Live subscription first? Let us know exactly how poor you'd have to be to go back to dial-up in the comments. [Orlando Sentinel via Crunchgear]

When I logged into Facebook today, I received a friend request from our recently departed intern, Seung, who I knew I was already friends with.

"Did you delete me on Facebook?!" I asked him. He responded with a cackle and told me that our friendship was definitely worth the cost of a Whopper. A few moments later, I realized that more Gizmodo staffers were doing the same. Goddammit, guys! I'm a human being, not a piece of meat! [Whopper Sacrifice via Geekologie]

Whether these hobomodos ever show up are highly questionable-so imagine my surprise when my free TiVo cookie cutters showed up just in time for the holiday baking season! The TiVo cookie cutter arrived in a plastic bag, accompanied by a recipe courtesy of TiVo.

Prep Time: 1-3 minutes
Cook Time: Bake Time may vary
Level: Beginner
Serves: The entire family, plus as many friends as you can fit into the living room.

1 TiVo (HD or standard)
HD recommeded for sweeter taste buds, SD for those counting calories
2 tsp. of the Emmy award-winning TiVo service
2 cups movies from Netflix or Amazon Video on Demand
Pinch of universal Swivel search
Dash of YouTube videos
1 cup music from Rhapsody
1/2 cup personal photo slideshow
1/4 tsp. BaDoop BaDoop Show
Handful of play, pause, rewind and fast-forward

The next step was the hardest task: what type of cookies would my stepmother enjoy with her milk? Chocolate with walnuts? Sugar? Arsenic? Fortunately, a very helpful Miss Betty Crocker helped me limit my choices and I eventually settled on sugar. Employing several slaves toddler hands in my quest for the perfect TiVo cookie, I then embarked on my journey.

I'm not quite sure whether it was the dough mix or because I've never made shaped cookies before but I had a frustrating time using the cookie cutter initially. I eventually resorted to letting the dough cook for a little bit before I pulled them back out and used the cookie cutter. I'd then stick them back in the oven to let them finish. Two batches later, including a few ones that deliciously tasted like carbon, I managed to make a few cookies actually resembled the TiVo.. uh, "fish." I can't cook, but bake things full of lard? Oh yes, I can.

TV? Check. Cookies? Check. Marketing spam to replace the credit card offers I used to receive? Done. [TiVo at Gizmodo, special thanks to Kayla, Cassidy, Jenna and Maddy!]