I finally got my hands on a Wii. Not for me, mind you. It's more for my parents. They are completely addicted to Wii Sports. When a game system has a following from the 50+ crowd, I'd call that a success.
I got a heads up on the weekly ads for today, and Best Buy had them advertised. I arrived at the store one hour before opening, thinking that would be more than sufficient. Turns out, when I arrived, there was already a huge line at the door. Fortunately, I got a voucher for #20 out of 23 available. Five more minutes, and I would have been SOL.
While I was waiting for the store to open, I headed to Sears to get a replacement part for a lawn tiller. I couldn't find the lawn and garden section, so I tried to find someone to ask for directions. Since it was early in the morning, most store employees were stocking shelves. I approached a young black man dressed in a shirt, tie, and vest.
"Do you work here?"
"Uhh... no."
I had made an embarrassing mistake. Did I approach him because he was black, and that meant he was more likely to be an employee than a customer, or did I approach him because he was dressed up and looked like he was at work?
I'd like to say that it was 100% the latter, but I can't be that certain.
Anyway, if anyone else is looking for a Wii, Best Buy says they may get more in on Monday, and Target is rumored to be getting some in for next Sunday.
Sunday, April 22, 2007
Friday, April 20, 2007
N* Brown
So a lady's daughter finds a tag on their brand new dark brown couch that describes the couch as "n*gger brown". No, it's not "nagger".
The culprit? Apparently, a Chinese manufacturer used an outdated dictionary to translate the color from Chinese to English. Apparently in this dictionary, the dark brown is translated as the n-word.
Anyone who has visited China, Japan, or most other Asian countries knows this type of thing happens all the time. Things are always mistranslated. There's a whole site dedicated to messed up English.
Even national monuments and World Heritage Sites have engraved plaques with horrendous English, so it doesn't surprise me that a random Chinese factory didn't check it's English carefully. There's no way for them to know. Even if they had employees who studied English in college, I can guarantee they don't come across the n-word much, and can we really expect non-native speakers to know all English slang? Especially when most Chinese perfect their English by watching "Friends". When was the last time you heard the n-word on national TV?
The lady who discovered the tag wants to pursue legal action. I think while the whole thing is more than a little unfortunate, it's a little ridiculous to sue. She's going to end up making everything worse.
The culprit? Apparently, a Chinese manufacturer used an outdated dictionary to translate the color from Chinese to English. Apparently in this dictionary, the dark brown is translated as the n-word.
Anyone who has visited China, Japan, or most other Asian countries knows this type of thing happens all the time. Things are always mistranslated. There's a whole site dedicated to messed up English.
Even national monuments and World Heritage Sites have engraved plaques with horrendous English, so it doesn't surprise me that a random Chinese factory didn't check it's English carefully. There's no way for them to know. Even if they had employees who studied English in college, I can guarantee they don't come across the n-word much, and can we really expect non-native speakers to know all English slang? Especially when most Chinese perfect their English by watching "Friends". When was the last time you heard the n-word on national TV?
The lady who discovered the tag wants to pursue legal action. I think while the whole thing is more than a little unfortunate, it's a little ridiculous to sue. She's going to end up making everything worse.
Friday, April 13, 2007
Simpler times
Today, I came across a photo of my friends in 7th grade. The thing that struck me was how simple life seemed in that picture. Of course, at the time, things weren't all rosy. There was language arts homework to worry about, not to mention pimples and cooties. But the main thing was, nothing seemed out of reach. Anything seemed possible.
As I got older, slowly, things started to seem impossible. When I was in 2nd grade, I still dreamt of being an astronaut or President of the United States. In 4th grade, I thought I might one day be a great jazz musician. In 6th grade, I would be a world-reknowned artist. In high school, I thought maybe one day I could swing the Nobel prize. Or at least a Rhodes or Fulbright scholarship, or maybe be a pro tennis player.
Now, my future seems much more limited. The scope has narrowed, not necessarily because I didn't want those things anymore, or because I wanted something else more. It was more that as I grew older, I continually hit limitations of what I could do. It's a humbling and depressing process.
Every time I meet a fifty-year old grocery store cashier, I think about how that man was once a bright-eyed and hopeful child. What did he dream of being back then? Did he read the same biographies of great men in history and think, 'I can do that, too!', as I did?
I'm not sure if my future is actually limited, or if it only seems that way, or if there's even any difference. All I know is that I hate feeling that way.
Was my future truly wide open back in grade school? Or was it merely an illusion?
As a teacher, I truly believed (and I suppose I still do) that all children are capable of learning and doing great things. That almost every child has the potential to go to college. But maybe that's not true. Maybe we are each born with our limits, and our lives are simply an expression of those limits.
As I got older, slowly, things started to seem impossible. When I was in 2nd grade, I still dreamt of being an astronaut or President of the United States. In 4th grade, I thought I might one day be a great jazz musician. In 6th grade, I would be a world-reknowned artist. In high school, I thought maybe one day I could swing the Nobel prize. Or at least a Rhodes or Fulbright scholarship, or maybe be a pro tennis player.
Now, my future seems much more limited. The scope has narrowed, not necessarily because I didn't want those things anymore, or because I wanted something else more. It was more that as I grew older, I continually hit limitations of what I could do. It's a humbling and depressing process.
Every time I meet a fifty-year old grocery store cashier, I think about how that man was once a bright-eyed and hopeful child. What did he dream of being back then? Did he read the same biographies of great men in history and think, 'I can do that, too!', as I did?
I'm not sure if my future is actually limited, or if it only seems that way, or if there's even any difference. All I know is that I hate feeling that way.
Was my future truly wide open back in grade school? Or was it merely an illusion?
As a teacher, I truly believed (and I suppose I still do) that all children are capable of learning and doing great things. That almost every child has the potential to go to college. But maybe that's not true. Maybe we are each born with our limits, and our lives are simply an expression of those limits.
Tuesday, April 10, 2007
Get real
Just when I thought reality TV couldn't get any better, VH1 comes out with "I Love New York", "The Flavor of Love", and "Flavor of Love: Charm School". Ok, I know "The Flavor of Love" isn't new, but I've just become acquainted with it. The latest series, "Charm School" is brilliant because it brings back the most crazy and naughty of "The Flavor of Love". I also love how black people make everything so much fun, like giving pretty descriptive nicknames to people just cuz. Like "Hottie", "Pumkin", and "Smiley".
I want a nickname like that too. Then I can be cool too!
I want a nickname like that too. Then I can be cool too!
Sunday, April 08, 2007
The Cadbury Creme Egg Scandal
This just hit the wires this weekend, Cadbury's running a big scam.
I'm as shocked as anyone. But, I have to wonder, why is this getting so much attention when the Dannon debacle of 2005 went unnoticed? What debacle, you ask? Well, around that time, Dannon redid its packaging for its Fruit-on-the-bottom yogurt. They got rid of the plastic lids (that didn't really do anything, unless you tend to eat small containers of yogurt in more than one session), opting to have only the foil sealed top. However, I also noticed that the amount of yogurt decreased! Not only that, but eventually, the containers themselves got smaller. All the while, the price went up a little.
Sneaky! It was like a double price increase! Now, I'm pretty much addicted to Fruit-on-the-bottom yogurt from Dannon, it's so much more fruity and natural tasting than blended yogurts... but I was so shocked at this development that I stopped eating Dannon yogurt for a little while.
Still, I don't understand why Cadbury's move gets big press while Dannon got away with highway robbery. Maybe it's because chocolate gets more respect than yogurt. Or maybe it's a religious thing, after all yogurt isn't associated with any religious holiday. All I know is Dannon screwed me.
I'm as shocked as anyone. But, I have to wonder, why is this getting so much attention when the Dannon debacle of 2005 went unnoticed? What debacle, you ask? Well, around that time, Dannon redid its packaging for its Fruit-on-the-bottom yogurt. They got rid of the plastic lids (that didn't really do anything, unless you tend to eat small containers of yogurt in more than one session), opting to have only the foil sealed top. However, I also noticed that the amount of yogurt decreased! Not only that, but eventually, the containers themselves got smaller. All the while, the price went up a little.
Sneaky! It was like a double price increase! Now, I'm pretty much addicted to Fruit-on-the-bottom yogurt from Dannon, it's so much more fruity and natural tasting than blended yogurts... but I was so shocked at this development that I stopped eating Dannon yogurt for a little while.
Still, I don't understand why Cadbury's move gets big press while Dannon got away with highway robbery. Maybe it's because chocolate gets more respect than yogurt. Or maybe it's a religious thing, after all yogurt isn't associated with any religious holiday. All I know is Dannon screwed me.
Friday, April 06, 2007
In search of the deal
I've always been a bargain hunter. But I've recently noticed just how much of my time is spent searching for bargains when I need to buy something. I'm not happy to just get a decent price, I have this overwhelming urge to get the absolute rock-bottom price.
Consequently, I spend hours and hours researching my purchases, be it a computer, auto insurance, or cable TV service. If I buy something, and later find out I could have gotten it somewhere else for $5 less, I get upset and brood about it for days.
Once, I bought a Gap scarf in Chicago for $20. It was a decent scarf, warm and stylish. I went home for break the next week, and saw it at the local Gap on sale for $9.99. No amount of discussion with the store management worked, and I wasn't able to get any sort of refund. I didn't have my receipt with me at home, so I considered buying the one on sale, then returning the $20 scarf when I got back to Chicago. I almost had a nervous breakdown thinking about all of this. Finally, my mother said to me, "How much time and gas money will it take to do all this?"
I'm working on letting go of "small money" as my parents call it. I probably spend more time worrying about $5-10 than it's worth, but it's so ingrained in my thinking that I sometimes have nightmares about falling prices-- after I've made a purchase.
Consequently, I spend hours and hours researching my purchases, be it a computer, auto insurance, or cable TV service. If I buy something, and later find out I could have gotten it somewhere else for $5 less, I get upset and brood about it for days.
Once, I bought a Gap scarf in Chicago for $20. It was a decent scarf, warm and stylish. I went home for break the next week, and saw it at the local Gap on sale for $9.99. No amount of discussion with the store management worked, and I wasn't able to get any sort of refund. I didn't have my receipt with me at home, so I considered buying the one on sale, then returning the $20 scarf when I got back to Chicago. I almost had a nervous breakdown thinking about all of this. Finally, my mother said to me, "How much time and gas money will it take to do all this?"
I'm working on letting go of "small money" as my parents call it. I probably spend more time worrying about $5-10 than it's worth, but it's so ingrained in my thinking that I sometimes have nightmares about falling prices-- after I've made a purchase.
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Monday, April 02, 2007
The Application Game
In the past three years, I have gone from completely undecided on my future direction, considering paths in law, business, and education research, to applying to law school, and finally applying to business school.
I'm finally settling on a decision to go to business school, and I'll be in sunny Durham, North Carolina next fall attending Duke's Fuqua School of Business! It's a great relief to finally be done with all the tests, the essays, the waiting... and also all the nervous, pretentious, and often patronizing chat among applicants.
It's funny because if you ask someone where they were admitted, they might say, Columbia. But if they're not too proud of where they were admitted, they'll say something like, oh, a top 10 school. Or a top 15 school. Usually that means #9/10 or #14/15.
I'm one of the unlucky people who don't have a clear idea of what they want to do long-term. This has led me astray, including a year-long quest to go to law school, including taking the LSAT (twice), applying, and finally turning down offers after my gut told me I wouldn't be happy in law school. I wish I had known all that prior to starting, but I was blinded by pure ambition and the desire to impress (myself, mostly). I've believe it's worth it to really spend time exploring and thinking about what makes life meaningful, and striving to do something that fulfills that ideal. This is something I've paid for with a lot of money, time, and disappointment.
But now, relief. Excitement. Hope. I'm definitely looking forward to doing something cool.
I'm finally settling on a decision to go to business school, and I'll be in sunny Durham, North Carolina next fall attending Duke's Fuqua School of Business! It's a great relief to finally be done with all the tests, the essays, the waiting... and also all the nervous, pretentious, and often patronizing chat among applicants.
It's funny because if you ask someone where they were admitted, they might say, Columbia. But if they're not too proud of where they were admitted, they'll say something like, oh, a top 10 school. Or a top 15 school. Usually that means #9/10 or #14/15.
I'm one of the unlucky people who don't have a clear idea of what they want to do long-term. This has led me astray, including a year-long quest to go to law school, including taking the LSAT (twice), applying, and finally turning down offers after my gut told me I wouldn't be happy in law school. I wish I had known all that prior to starting, but I was blinded by pure ambition and the desire to impress (myself, mostly). I've believe it's worth it to really spend time exploring and thinking about what makes life meaningful, and striving to do something that fulfills that ideal. This is something I've paid for with a lot of money, time, and disappointment.
But now, relief. Excitement. Hope. I'm definitely looking forward to doing something cool.
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