Hi, I'm Stephen!

Liberty Lost?

I was just standing in my kitchen filling up at our water cooler when I asked my wife if we should start getting two 5 gallon bottles delivered on Mondays rather than just one. She responded from the “office” with a, “whatever, we can do that” kind-of answer.

I started to respond, then I stopped myself, thinking better of what I was about to lob across the apartment. I realized how much liberty I’ve lost since my youth, and I fell into a dark reflection about growing up. What I stopped saying was, “Good, ‘cause I’m going to drain this fucker like a homeless mans ball-sack.” For some reason i cant drop that in my home anymore.

I recall a time when that would have been the least offensive thing I would say all day. A care free time when bath towels were napkins, and filth was OK.  Am I heading in the right direction, or have I built myself a jail!?

Wi-Max in the flesh

The best option for broadband in Hong Kong is what is commonly referred to as “fixed mobile broadband”.  Basicly, its a wireless router with a USB WiMax dongle stuck in the top as an antenna.  

It takes about 30 seconds to set-up and costs about 20 bucks a month for consistent 7.2mbps broadband (down).  It would be tempting to take around with you everywhere in the city, but the first time you turn it on it triangulates its position and after that if you move it more than a few dozen yards it stops working.

If there weren’t a small “void” sticker I’d be tempted to pop out the dongle and stick it in my MacBook Pro.

Its a Huawei router, with the same terrible firmware UI that I came to hate in my Virgin Mobile Wi-Fi router.