hkwonger's Xanga

Closing up shop.

Wed, 04 Jun 2008 21:23:49 GMT

I'm retiring my xanga.

New (but not necessarily better) blog at hkwonger.blogspot.com.

Friday, May 23, 2008

Fri, 23 May 2008 06:09:03 GMT

Crooked businesses

Wed, 09 Apr 2008 01:15:58 GMT

College textbook publishers. Outrageous prices, constant "updating" (change a picture, change page number, change order of questions on problem set) that renders your textbook worthless after one quarter.
Income tax preparation services. Refund anticipation loans targeting low income taxpayers at interest rates that makes loan sharks blush (up to 500% APY. No, I am not kidding). Charging hundreds of dollars to prepare forms for Earned Income Credit - taking money intended to assist low-income taxpayers who needs it the most.

Feel free to add to the list.

Friday, March 28, 2008

Fri, 28 Mar 2008 06:34:55 GMT

Ohio State announced today a scheduled home and home series with Tennessee. The Volunteers become the latest team to join a murderer’s row of non-conference opponents for Ohio State. Starting this fall, the Buckeyes play Southern Cal (2008-2009), the University of Miami, FL (2010-2011), California (2012-2013), Virginia Tech (2014-2015), Oklahoma (2016-2017), and now Tennessee (2018-2019).

Very interesting. At least Buckeyes football will not have a boring season for the next 10 years.

Friday, March 21, 2008

Fri, 21 Mar 2008 20:11:33 GMT

Golf technology has come a long way since... the Golfer's Crotch Hook, circa 1963.

yikes.

Monday, March 17, 2008

Mon, 17 Mar 2008 05:32:27 GMT

What am I getting myself into? From a weekly e-mails sent to graduate students:

Police warn of increase in auto vandalism

University Police are reporting an increase in thefts from autos of catalytic converters in the area surrounding the Ohio State campus. A catalytic converter is used to reduce toxic emissions from automobiles. Police ask that any suspicious individual or activities be reported immediately, such as a person walking around carrying a saw or pieces of an exhaust pipe. Contact OSU Police at 292-2121 or Columbus Police at 645-4545

Nope, you can't make this stuff up.

Notes from the Road, Part I

Mon, 18 Feb 2008 20:02:55 GMT

FREE WIRELESS!

Chicago Midway has free wireless! And benches and stools for laptop users. How awesome is that? Yes, it's a little slow, but it works and it's free, so I can't complain.

SOUTHWEST

I like the new boarding system with letter AND number. No more mad rush to the gate when a letter is called. Much more orderly than before. Has this been in place for a while? I haven't flown Southwest in quite a while.

ARSENAL

Four hours on the plane gave me the chance to catch up on some footie highlights from this weekend's FA Cup fixture. 13 minute of MOTD highlights and not a single Arsenal chance on goal. Pathetic. W. Rooney is an absolute menance and wrecked havor all over the place. He is having an amazing season even though it doesn't show on the scoresheet.

Losing 4-0 is disappointing, but in the bigger picture, Arsenal has more important things to worry about with the PL and CL. Hopefully, they can forget about this match and focus on Milan on Wednesday. Speaking of Milan, looks like they'll be starting a 3rd string goalie that hasn't played in a competitive match since 2003 with their starter and Dida out injured. I was acutally secretly hoping Dida would play. In the David James / Fabian Barthez mold, Dida is quite entertaining to play against - you'll never know what kind of silliness this guy has in store for us.

E. EBOUE

Eboue's flying karate kick on Nani is an absolute disgrace. Yeah, you're losing 3-0 to your rival, but there's still no place for that kind of behavior. This is not his first cheapshot, either. I hope Arsene cuts this guy loose and maybe make a few bucks off him at the end of the season. We don't need your kind on the team, sir.

CHICAGO MIDWAY

Chicago is cold. Yes, I'm indoors, but the brief moments of "exposure" to the elements deplaning is more than enough for me. 15 degrees. Yikes. At least it's not snowing.

Midway's one of the nicer domestic airports I've been to. The first thing I noticed were the work benches at every gate. People on their laptop got me all excited. Could it be?! FREE WIRELESS INTERNET?! Yup. Can't go wrong with free wireless in my book.

Midway is also full of moving walkways. Great for lazy people carrying two bags like me. "Caution. The moving walkway is ending" PA broadcast in non-stop 5 second loops: bad.

Airport McDs is cheaper than regular McD's in California!? Are you serious!? I'm liking this Midwest dealio already.

Looking for a cheap, easy to use T-Mobile phone

Sat, 09 Feb 2008 02:39:14 GMT

I'm looking for a basic, inexpensive used T-Mobile phone. Something like the Motorola V195s, Nokia 6103, Samsung t439, etc will do. Flip phone preferred. Preferably < $40.

I also have a near mint, black Blackberry Pearl 8100 (also for T-Mobile) for sale. Have original box, manual and accessories but no UPC code. Asking $200.

Beast of the Day: Alex Ovechkin

Fri, 01 Feb 2008 04:13:27 GMT

Gets whacked in the face. Comes back, hits someone, scores a hat trick. Then scores the game winner in OT. Game over. Four goals total. Thanks for coming.

In Honor of Super Bowl Week

Thu, 31 Jan 2008 03:33:03 GMT

Glory days...