Returning from Hawaii is like dying, getting to heaven, and then being forced to come back to earth.
pics to follow.
Wednesday, January 31, 2007
Wednesday, January 24, 2007
Friday, January 19, 2007
we're #1
OSU once again has the most numbers of undergraduates enrolled on it's main campus.
Columbus Dispatch
This is from 10/17/2006. I guess I'm out of the loop.
Columbus Dispatch
This is from 10/17/2006. I guess I'm out of the loop.
we watched the movie RV on the way back
I took at road trip to see the Grand Canyon for the first time on Jan 5 and 6. I was travelling with my cousin's family and they invited another family to come along. Total there were 5 adults and 6 kids in 1 RV.
I'll post pics later when I get them from the other road-trippers, but the most exciting part of the trip was the way home. The RV broke down twice. And we had to push it. 3 guys. Pushing an RV. Uphill.
Note to self: Before you get into any vehicle, make sure the passengers inside can push it if it breaks down.
Unabridged version:
On the way back to LA, we stopped at a Chevron gas station in Arizona. When we pulled in, JC, the driver commented to his wife that this was the exact same gas station he had problems at 15 years ago when they were on music ministry. At that time, they drove a Dodge van and something in the fuel caused the fuel filter to get clogged. JC decided to gas up this time anyway because we needed the gas. So he gassed up, and we were on our way.
The first breakdown occured a few hours later. The engine just started sputtering and finally we had to stop. Thankfully, it was about 200 ft away from a freeway exit and only on a very slight incline to the top of the hill, where it became downhill. We managed to push it (and then jump in while it was rolling) to a gas station where we gassed up and knocked loose whatever was blocking the fuel filter. After about 60 miles, the engine starts sputtering again.
For the second breakdown, JC knew what was coming and tried to exit before we our engine died. As we exited, the gas station was across the street, so we had to turn right and then turn left into the gas station. Unfortunately, there was oncoming traffic and we had to stop before turning left. On a hill. Steeper than the first time. All 3 guys got out, but this hill was too steep. The only way we ended up getting it into the gas station was the kind assistance of 4 guys who saw us and offered to help. (Yes, we were outside of LA. This is what people do.) We gassed up again, knocked loose whatever was blocking the filter and somehow made it all the way home.
I know I was hoping to experience new things when I moved to LA, but pushing an RV was definitely not one of them.
I'll post pics later when I get them from the other road-trippers, but the most exciting part of the trip was the way home. The RV broke down twice. And we had to push it. 3 guys. Pushing an RV. Uphill.
Note to self: Before you get into any vehicle, make sure the passengers inside can push it if it breaks down.
Unabridged version:
On the way back to LA, we stopped at a Chevron gas station in Arizona. When we pulled in, JC, the driver commented to his wife that this was the exact same gas station he had problems at 15 years ago when they were on music ministry. At that time, they drove a Dodge van and something in the fuel caused the fuel filter to get clogged. JC decided to gas up this time anyway because we needed the gas. So he gassed up, and we were on our way.
The first breakdown occured a few hours later. The engine just started sputtering and finally we had to stop. Thankfully, it was about 200 ft away from a freeway exit and only on a very slight incline to the top of the hill, where it became downhill. We managed to push it (and then jump in while it was rolling) to a gas station where we gassed up and knocked loose whatever was blocking the fuel filter. After about 60 miles, the engine starts sputtering again.
For the second breakdown, JC knew what was coming and tried to exit before we our engine died. As we exited, the gas station was across the street, so we had to turn right and then turn left into the gas station. Unfortunately, there was oncoming traffic and we had to stop before turning left. On a hill. Steeper than the first time. All 3 guys got out, but this hill was too steep. The only way we ended up getting it into the gas station was the kind assistance of 4 guys who saw us and offered to help. (Yes, we were outside of LA. This is what people do.) We gassed up again, knocked loose whatever was blocking the filter and somehow made it all the way home.
I know I was hoping to experience new things when I moved to LA, but pushing an RV was definitely not one of them.
Thursday, January 04, 2007
we regret to inform you
Nothing makes you want to check the mailbox more than expecting acceptance letters from schools.
So far, nothing.
The more schools you apply to, the better chances you'll get into one, right? But that also increases the number of potential rejection letters. I'm in for a possible 13.
So far, nothing.
The more schools you apply to, the better chances you'll get into one, right? But that also increases the number of potential rejection letters. I'm in for a possible 13.
Thursday, December 21, 2006
T minus 4 days
With the New Year&trade approaching, I figured I would take this opportunity to upgrade my blog to the New, Improved, Blogger beta! Tada! Looks nice, huh?
During the upgrade process, I was forced to sit at a screen and wait. Blogger politely informed me that it would take a 'few minutes'. In actuality, it took longer than expected (like 7 whole minutes. Doesn't Blogger know some people are busy at work?). During that time, I started to worry. "How long is this going to take? What if it takes more than a day? What if during that time something happens to me? I won't be able to tell anyone! Oh crap! What if I think of something funny to write! No one will know!" Stuff nightmares are made of, I know.
Fortunately for all of you, it is now back up. (raise hands to the throng of people in thunderous applause)
Ok, since this year is my first ever "Christmas in LA", and my sister's in town, I'll end this post now and leave you with this thought: "This year, don't go cheap. Give the gift of Mozo." Yeah, I don't know what it means either, but it sounds good.
During the upgrade process, I was forced to sit at a screen and wait. Blogger politely informed me that it would take a 'few minutes'. In actuality, it took longer than expected (like 7 whole minutes. Doesn't Blogger know some people are busy at work?). During that time, I started to worry. "How long is this going to take? What if it takes more than a day? What if during that time something happens to me? I won't be able to tell anyone! Oh crap! What if I think of something funny to write! No one will know!" Stuff nightmares are made of, I know.
Fortunately for all of you, it is now back up. (raise hands to the throng of people in thunderous applause)
Ok, since this year is my first ever "Christmas in LA", and my sister's in town, I'll end this post now and leave you with this thought: "This year, don't go cheap. Give the gift of Mozo." Yeah, I don't know what it means either, but it sounds good.
Friday, December 15, 2006
maybe that phone call is for me
Since when do the janitors answer the phone?
I just called a local restaurant at 2:40AM expecting to hear a recording telling me what their hours of operation were. Instead, after a couple rings, someone picks up.
"J. Alexanders. This is Kyle, how can I help you?"
"Uh....I was just wondering what your hours were tomorrow."
"Oh, I'm just the janitor. You have to call back tomorrow at 10. I think they're open from 11AM to 11PM."
Boggles the mind.
I just called a local restaurant at 2:40AM expecting to hear a recording telling me what their hours of operation were. Instead, after a couple rings, someone picks up.
"J. Alexanders. This is Kyle, how can I help you?"
"Uh....I was just wondering what your hours were tomorrow."
"Oh, I'm just the janitor. You have to call back tomorrow at 10. I think they're open from 11AM to 11PM."
Boggles the mind.
if that's your real name
I went to a "pre-Christmas" party tonight. Not a Christmas party, a "pre-Christmas" party. It was held by the church my sister goes to along with a Christian organization to help international students. Here's one conversation I had with someone I never met before (an international student).
Eric: "So are you a Christian?"
Me: "Yes."
Eric: "How long have you been a Christian?"
Me: "Pretty much all my life."
Eric: "I don't believe you."
Eric then walks away.
Oh, yeah, I'm sorry, you're right. Because I routinely lie to people I meet for the first time. It's a character flaw, what can I say?
Eric: "So are you a Christian?"
Me: "Yes."
Eric: "How long have you been a Christian?"
Me: "Pretty much all my life."
Eric: "I don't believe you."
Eric then walks away.
Oh, yeah, I'm sorry, you're right. Because I routinely lie to people I meet for the first time. It's a character flaw, what can I say?
Thursday, December 14, 2006
Peek-a-boo
I came back to Ohio for a week to attend one of my friends' weddings. Congrats to KE and GC!
While I've been back, I've enjoyed sleeping in everyday, eating my mom's homecooked meals and hanging out with my sister and old friends.
Tonight, I met up with some of my high school friends and we ate at a trendy sports bar/restaurant close to campus. Right before we were about to leave, I headed to the facilities to relieve myself.
(The following information is intended for female readers only as I assume it is not common knowledge. However, I happen to know there are sofas and chairs in some female restrooms, so I may just be making an incorrect assumption about how much the opposite gender knows about the other's restroom layout.) Some places will post interesting pictures or even newspaper pages on the wall to give males something to look at while we are using the urinal.
At this particular establishment, I looked up while relieving myself only to realize I was looking at people in the bar! For a split second, I thought people were also able to see me, but then I realized it was a two-way mirror.
This reminded me of something I read about on the Internet.
See through bathroom
Who puts a two-way mirror in the bathroom? It makes you wonder where else they install these things. What if they had installed it the wrong way?
To protect the innocent, I won't reveal the name of the restaurant in question, but for those of you in Columbus, it rhymes with ddie George's Grill and starts with an E.
While I've been back, I've enjoyed sleeping in everyday, eating my mom's homecooked meals and hanging out with my sister and old friends.
Tonight, I met up with some of my high school friends and we ate at a trendy sports bar/restaurant close to campus. Right before we were about to leave, I headed to the facilities to relieve myself.
(The following information is intended for female readers only as I assume it is not common knowledge. However, I happen to know there are sofas and chairs in some female restrooms, so I may just be making an incorrect assumption about how much the opposite gender knows about the other's restroom layout.) Some places will post interesting pictures or even newspaper pages on the wall to give males something to look at while we are using the urinal.
At this particular establishment, I looked up while relieving myself only to realize I was looking at people in the bar! For a split second, I thought people were also able to see me, but then I realized it was a two-way mirror.
This reminded me of something I read about on the Internet.
See through bathroom
Who puts a two-way mirror in the bathroom? It makes you wonder where else they install these things. What if they had installed it the wrong way?
To protect the innocent, I won't reveal the name of the restaurant in question, but for those of you in Columbus, it rhymes with ddie George's Grill and starts with an E.
Thursday, December 07, 2006
You are cordially invited
Don't you hate it when your office building holds a holiday dessert reception and they have a big chocolate fountain that you dip a cookie into and then the chocolate drips on your white t-shirt? I sure do. Not that I have any experience with this sort of thing, it's just something random that popped into my head.
Wednesday, November 29, 2006
20061129
Some twenty-odd people said the same the exact same thing to me today.
A quarter century year old and I realize the next 25 years will not be the same.
I will never be as young.
I will never have as much energy.
I will never be able to eat as much as I can now.
I will never have as few wrinkles as I have now on my body.
But I also realize the next 25 years will not be the same.
I will be wiser (hopefully).
I will think before I act (hopefully).
I will learn to appreciate my food as I eat it at a slower pace (hopefully).
I will increase my smile wrinkles (hopefully).
The next 25 years is full of hope.
I hope my car insurance will go down.
I hope to get married and have my own family.
I hope to get into law school and then get out.
I hope to make many more friends and not forget the ones I have now. (Actually, maybe only a few more cuz I'm an introvert.)
I hope to watch my parents retire and enjoy their life together.
I hope to watch my brothers and sisters start their own families.
I hope that when I'm 50, I don't look back on the last 25 years and regret what I've done with the time God has given me.
Dang, I hope I'm still alive in 25 years and can still see well enough to read what I wrote today.
A quarter century year old and I realize the next 25 years will not be the same.
I will never be as young.
I will never have as much energy.
I will never be able to eat as much as I can now.
I will never have as few wrinkles as I have now on my body.
But I also realize the next 25 years will not be the same.
I will be wiser (hopefully).
I will think before I act (hopefully).
I will learn to appreciate my food as I eat it at a slower pace (hopefully).
I will increase my smile wrinkles (hopefully).
The next 25 years is full of hope.
I hope my car insurance will go down.
I hope to get married and have my own family.
I hope to get into law school and then get out.
I hope to make many more friends and not forget the ones I have now. (Actually, maybe only a few more cuz I'm an introvert.)
I hope to watch my parents retire and enjoy their life together.
I hope to watch my brothers and sisters start their own families.
I hope that when I'm 50, I don't look back on the last 25 years and regret what I've done with the time God has given me.
Dang, I hope I'm still alive in 25 years and can still see well enough to read what I wrote today.
Wednesday, November 22, 2006
The Big T
I'm thankful for only having to work a half day the day before Thanksgiving, and being able to fly home to see family on Thanksgiving.
Tuesday, November 07, 2006
the US gov't wants to know...
Go vote and fire your current Senators and/or Representatives if you're not satisfied with the job they've done. Or if you are, rehire them.
Monday, October 30, 2006
don't touch my genes
A lot of people over the years have commented on my aversion to physical touch. Some have postulated that when you poke me, I shirk away because I'm ticklish. Others think I wasn't hugged enough as a kid. Many just find it strange.
In my tireless searching to this oft asked question, I have stumbled across an answer.
Chinese fail to embrace free hugs from strangers
See? It's not just me, it's genetic. My people just don't like to be touched.
If you don't know what the article is talking about, watch this video.
In my tireless searching to this oft asked question, I have stumbled across an answer.
Chinese fail to embrace free hugs from strangers
See? It's not just me, it's genetic. My people just don't like to be touched.
If you don't know what the article is talking about, watch this video.
Friday, October 27, 2006
schwag
[14:51] me: you know where i went?
[14:52] me: we got im
[14:52] MJ: free pretzel day?
[14:52] me: "free stuff at artistdirect. shoes, dolls and other stuff"
[14:52] me: so we all went over to other side of office
[14:52] me: they had buncha stuff from warehouse in florida that doesn't sell anymore
[14:52] MJ: what'd u get?
[14:53] me: i got king arthur doll
[14:53] MJ: why??
[14:55] MJ: what are you gonna do with it
[14:56] me: hold on
[14:56] me: gotta get grim reaper doll
[14:56] MJ: oh geez
[15:03] me: i got an albatross too
[14:52] me: we got im
[14:52] MJ: free pretzel day?
[14:52] me: "free stuff at artistdirect. shoes, dolls and other stuff"
[14:52] me: so we all went over to other side of office
[14:52] me: they had buncha stuff from warehouse in florida that doesn't sell anymore
[14:52] MJ: what'd u get?
[14:53] me: i got king arthur doll
[14:53] MJ: why??
[14:55] MJ: what are you gonna do with it
[14:56] me: hold on
[14:56] me: gotta get grim reaper doll
[14:56] MJ: oh geez
[15:03] me: i got an albatross too
Thursday, October 26, 2006
Thursday, October 19, 2006
I had glasses that covered half my face
Everyone is either cool cool, nerdy cool, dorky cool, nerdy nerdy or dorky dorky. Don't blame me, I just found this out myself, recently. If you are nerdy cool, at heart you are a nerd, but you are a cool nerd. If you have no coolness, you are just nerdy nerdy. Get it? Yeah, me neither. Anyway, apparently, I'm dorky cool.
I object, your honor! (see? I'm good at this. Are you law school application people reading this?). Dorky cool?!!! I'm not cool at all.
Since this blog is all about exposing the truth (see Truth 1 and Truth 2) I'd like to take this moment to clear up this gross misunderstanding.
First of all, I'm a Comp Sci major. COMP SCI. Not only did I feel the need to be a Comp Sci major, but to kill any lingering coolness germs (sometimes it's hard to wash off) I went and got a graduate degree in Comp Sci. Still not satisfied, I went ahead and got a Software Development job. How does that make me cool? It doesn't.
I like video games. And sci-fi movies/tv shows/toys. I read books (usually sci-fi books). I watch Anime. And love it. I have no sense of style, and at the moment, no desire to go out and obtain one (to the chagrin of my cousin EL who is forced to give me awesome haircuts that I'm not able to make look good). I do Sudoku. I play logic games with my family. I play card games, and buy games like Bang! and Settlers of Catan. I like chess (even though I suck). I want to become better at chess.
Some of you right now are trying frantically to think of reasons why I'm still cool. (thanks for the effort, Mom, but it's futile). Face it, you guys are either related to or friends with a nerdy dorky guy. (Or you're stalking me, which will probably stop after this post)
"What about your motorcycle?" you may ask. "You're (marginally) good at (some) sports!" you may cry.
Look, people. I originally was going to get a scooter before I was convinced otherwise (by some cool cool people). The only reason I even ride a motorcycle is because it's fun and it saves me time. If the only way for me to get through traffic in LA was to wear motorized roller skates, I would do it (as long as it was fun). I didn't get a motorcycle for the cool factor. I got it for practicality.
And I'm not good at sports. For some reason, I just have a high metabolism, which makes me skinny and able to sprint. That's it. I don't train. I don't work out. Without my metabolism, I'd be 50 lb. heavier. And not able to move as easily.
So in reality, all this talk about me having any semblance of 'coolness' is just hogwash. I'm a nerdy dorky guy with a high metabolism.
Ask my college roommates. They'll tell you. (You can also ask my brother or my sisters, but they're biased. Against me. So it's more believable coming from neutral third parties.)
(I'm not saying people who do the things I do or like the things I like are not cool. I'm just saying I'm not cool. There are tons of people with similarities to me that can pull off being cool. I'm not one of them.)
I object, your honor! (see? I'm good at this. Are you law school application people reading this?). Dorky cool?!!! I'm not cool at all.
Since this blog is all about exposing the truth (see Truth 1 and Truth 2) I'd like to take this moment to clear up this gross misunderstanding.
First of all, I'm a Comp Sci major. COMP SCI. Not only did I feel the need to be a Comp Sci major, but to kill any lingering coolness germs (sometimes it's hard to wash off) I went and got a graduate degree in Comp Sci. Still not satisfied, I went ahead and got a Software Development job. How does that make me cool? It doesn't.
I like video games. And sci-fi movies/tv shows/toys. I read books (usually sci-fi books). I watch Anime. And love it. I have no sense of style, and at the moment, no desire to go out and obtain one (to the chagrin of my cousin EL who is forced to give me awesome haircuts that I'm not able to make look good). I do Sudoku. I play logic games with my family. I play card games, and buy games like Bang! and Settlers of Catan. I like chess (even though I suck). I want to become better at chess.
Some of you right now are trying frantically to think of reasons why I'm still cool. (thanks for the effort, Mom, but it's futile). Face it, you guys are either related to or friends with a nerdy dorky guy. (Or you're stalking me, which will probably stop after this post)
"What about your motorcycle?" you may ask. "You're (marginally) good at (some) sports!" you may cry.
Look, people. I originally was going to get a scooter before I was convinced otherwise (by some cool cool people). The only reason I even ride a motorcycle is because it's fun and it saves me time. If the only way for me to get through traffic in LA was to wear motorized roller skates, I would do it (as long as it was fun). I didn't get a motorcycle for the cool factor. I got it for practicality.
And I'm not good at sports. For some reason, I just have a high metabolism, which makes me skinny and able to sprint. That's it. I don't train. I don't work out. Without my metabolism, I'd be 50 lb. heavier. And not able to move as easily.
So in reality, all this talk about me having any semblance of 'coolness' is just hogwash. I'm a nerdy dorky guy with a high metabolism.
Ask my college roommates. They'll tell you. (You can also ask my brother or my sisters, but they're biased. Against me. So it's more believable coming from neutral third parties.)
(I'm not saying people who do the things I do or like the things I like are not cool. I'm just saying I'm not cool. There are tons of people with similarities to me that can pull off being cool. I'm not one of them.)
Saturday, October 07, 2006
i look like i'm 14
(Lady at Vodka and Monster display table at Ralphs)
lady: (hands me a coupon) "We're having a sale. (suspicious look on her face) Are you over 21?"
me: "Yes."
lady: "I thought so."
Yeah right. If you thought so, why did you ask me?
lady: (hands me a coupon) "We're having a sale. (suspicious look on her face) Are you over 21?"
me: "Yes."
lady: "I thought so."
Yeah right. If you thought so, why did you ask me?
Thursday, October 05, 2006
accidental purchases
An objective look at one person's difficulty in using ebay.
MJ claims ebay is hard to use. MJ claims she buys stuff on ebay "by accident". Is it really "by accident"? Is ebay really difficult to navigate? Or is it simple human error? This post aims to conclusively answer that.
We have three seperate instances of MJ having difficulty using ebay and thus making "accidental" purchases. We will present each case and make an analysis. Remember, we will do this as objectively as possible.
Accidental purchase #1:
This occurs when MJ was in law school. She hadn't used her ebay account in a couple of years, so she wanted to see if it still worked. Normal users would just log into their account, see that it was still active, and be done with it. But MJ is not a normal user. Her (then) apartment needed a big mirror (think one big enough to hang over a mantle), so she decided to bid on two mirrors randomly for $1 each, thinking she would be outbid. To her horror, she won them BOTH. Each one is about the size of a dinner plate. She says they were both described as "big" so she thought they would be big.
Analysis: Why would MJ bid on something to make sure her account worked? By logging in and seeing her account was still active, she should have concluded that her account did not get disabled. Even if she did bid on something, why would she bid on something hoping she would lose? And why would she bid on 2?
Conclusion: Human error 1, accidental purchase 0.
Accidental purchase #2:
This occured about a year ago when MJ wanted to buy The Village. She insists it is a good movie (although everyone else knows the truth) and wanted to force people to watch it. So she decided to buy the DVD off ebay. With 8 minutes remaining in the auction, she discovered that she had bid on the movie Signs instead. Because of this "accidental" purchase, she went back to ebay and bought The Village, the actual movie she wanted.
Analysis: An accident is when you knock over a cup of water that you didn't know was there. An accident is not when you walk into a car dealership and buy a car when what you really wanted was a bike.
Conclusion: Human error 2, accidental purchase 0.
Accidental purchase #3:
This final instance happened a few days ago. MJ loves trivia and wanted to purchase genus 1-6 of Trivial Pursuit. Somehow, she "accidentally" bid on two different auctions of genus 2. Not wanting to buy two copies of the same game, she was distraught. But fortunately, she got outbid on one of them. A few days later, she was checking the status of her auctions and MyEbay said some of her auctions were ending. When she checked the auctions, she found out that she was outbid on an auction for genus 2. Thinking it was the auction that she wanted to win, she rebid. Then she discovered that auction was the original one she was outbid on. So she was now winning two auctions of genus 2 again.
mj: ebay is very tricky
mj: i think it merits a class action lawsuit
mj: when i went to it, it said 2 items i bid on were ending soon
mj: so naturally i think it's the 2 items i was winning yest
mj: but nooo! one of them is the one i was outbid on!
mj: so i rebid on it tho i didn't want to!
Analysis: When you do something of your own free will, something that you don't want to do, something that nobody is forcing you to do, it is definitely ebay's fault. Riiiiight.
Conclusion: Human error 3, accidental purchase 0.
In summary, when you bid on something expecting to be outbid, and then you aren't, it's not an accidental purchase. That's like saying you go to the supermarket, put a box of cereal in your cart and goto the checkout expecting it to fall out before you get there. And then when you get there you are surprised you are buying a box of cereal.
Also, if you goto the cereal aisle wanting to buy Frosted Flakes, but instead grab Special K, you should not be surprised that you bought the wrong cereal. Read the description of what you are buying.
And lastly, if you put two boxes of cereal in your cart when you only want one, are pleasantly surprised when one of them does indeed fall out, do NOT pick it up off the floor and put it back in your cart. If you do, you will be buying two boxes, which is what you were trying to avoid in the first place.
I hope this post is helpful to all of you in your future bids on ebay. Or in the supermarket.
MJ claims ebay is hard to use. MJ claims she buys stuff on ebay "by accident". Is it really "by accident"? Is ebay really difficult to navigate? Or is it simple human error? This post aims to conclusively answer that.
We have three seperate instances of MJ having difficulty using ebay and thus making "accidental" purchases. We will present each case and make an analysis. Remember, we will do this as objectively as possible.
Accidental purchase #1:
This occurs when MJ was in law school. She hadn't used her ebay account in a couple of years, so she wanted to see if it still worked. Normal users would just log into their account, see that it was still active, and be done with it. But MJ is not a normal user. Her (then) apartment needed a big mirror (think one big enough to hang over a mantle), so she decided to bid on two mirrors randomly for $1 each, thinking she would be outbid. To her horror, she won them BOTH. Each one is about the size of a dinner plate. She says they were both described as "big" so she thought they would be big.
Analysis: Why would MJ bid on something to make sure her account worked? By logging in and seeing her account was still active, she should have concluded that her account did not get disabled. Even if she did bid on something, why would she bid on something hoping she would lose? And why would she bid on 2?
Conclusion: Human error 1, accidental purchase 0.
Accidental purchase #2:
This occured about a year ago when MJ wanted to buy The Village. She insists it is a good movie (although everyone else knows the truth) and wanted to force people to watch it. So she decided to buy the DVD off ebay. With 8 minutes remaining in the auction, she discovered that she had bid on the movie Signs instead. Because of this "accidental" purchase, she went back to ebay and bought The Village, the actual movie she wanted.
Analysis: An accident is when you knock over a cup of water that you didn't know was there. An accident is not when you walk into a car dealership and buy a car when what you really wanted was a bike.
Conclusion: Human error 2, accidental purchase 0.
Accidental purchase #3:
This final instance happened a few days ago. MJ loves trivia and wanted to purchase genus 1-6 of Trivial Pursuit. Somehow, she "accidentally" bid on two different auctions of genus 2. Not wanting to buy two copies of the same game, she was distraught. But fortunately, she got outbid on one of them. A few days later, she was checking the status of her auctions and MyEbay said some of her auctions were ending. When she checked the auctions, she found out that she was outbid on an auction for genus 2. Thinking it was the auction that she wanted to win, she rebid. Then she discovered that auction was the original one she was outbid on. So she was now winning two auctions of genus 2 again.
mj: ebay is very tricky
mj: i think it merits a class action lawsuit
mj: when i went to it, it said 2 items i bid on were ending soon
mj: so naturally i think it's the 2 items i was winning yest
mj: but nooo! one of them is the one i was outbid on!
mj: so i rebid on it tho i didn't want to!
Analysis: When you do something of your own free will, something that you don't want to do, something that nobody is forcing you to do, it is definitely ebay's fault. Riiiiight.
Conclusion: Human error 3, accidental purchase 0.
In summary, when you bid on something expecting to be outbid, and then you aren't, it's not an accidental purchase. That's like saying you go to the supermarket, put a box of cereal in your cart and goto the checkout expecting it to fall out before you get there. And then when you get there you are surprised you are buying a box of cereal.
Also, if you goto the cereal aisle wanting to buy Frosted Flakes, but instead grab Special K, you should not be surprised that you bought the wrong cereal. Read the description of what you are buying.
And lastly, if you put two boxes of cereal in your cart when you only want one, are pleasantly surprised when one of them does indeed fall out, do NOT pick it up off the floor and put it back in your cart. If you do, you will be buying two boxes, which is what you were trying to avoid in the first place.
I hope this post is helpful to all of you in your future bids on ebay. Or in the supermarket.
Wednesday, October 04, 2006
you know your family is awesome when . . .
The best part about being Taiwanese (the astute readers among you will note that there really isn't only one best part to being Taiwanese as every part is equal; they are all awesome) is when you go visit relatives and they feel the need to give you food.
Tonight, I dropped off some CDs for my Aunt and Uncle. I thought it would be a quick drop-off-and-leave ordeal, but I should have known better. As soon as they opened the door, they presented me with a brown bag which contained moon cake and guava inside. The only problem was I rode my motorcycle and didn't bring any sort of backpack with me. And my spacious trunk was already full. What to do? What to do? (This was what my Aunt asked my Uncle)
Fortunately, I come from a very intelligent family and my uncle came up with a solution. After first suggesting I hang a plastic bag around my neck, he thought up the ingenious idea of looping my belt through the handles of the plastic bag. He insisted that I try it. He even followed me outside to my motorcycle to ensure that it would work.
He even had the foresight to ask me if I was going straight home. After I replied I was meeting a friend, he reminded me to take off the bag from my belt before I went into my friend's house.
Of course, during this entire time, my Aunt and Uncle were laughing at the ridiculousness of the situation.
What a great family.
Tonight, I dropped off some CDs for my Aunt and Uncle. I thought it would be a quick drop-off-and-leave ordeal, but I should have known better. As soon as they opened the door, they presented me with a brown bag which contained moon cake and guava inside. The only problem was I rode my motorcycle and didn't bring any sort of backpack with me. And my spacious trunk was already full. What to do? What to do? (This was what my Aunt asked my Uncle)
Fortunately, I come from a very intelligent family and my uncle came up with a solution. After first suggesting I hang a plastic bag around my neck, he thought up the ingenious idea of looping my belt through the handles of the plastic bag. He insisted that I try it. He even followed me outside to my motorcycle to ensure that it would work.
He even had the foresight to ask me if I was going straight home. After I replied I was meeting a friend, he reminded me to take off the bag from my belt before I went into my friend's house.
Of course, during this entire time, my Aunt and Uncle were laughing at the ridiculousness of the situation.
What a great family.
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