Hi, I'm Stephen!

Square Copied in China

Thu, 15 Mar 2012 17:31:01 -0500

Engadget’s post about the new credit card payment square rip-offs got me thinking that Jack Dorsey (Square’s CEO) is the kind of entrepreneur that is going to be eaten alive by Chinese businesses.

if you ask Square CEO Jack Dorsey, we’re sure he’ll have to a thing or two to say about these familiar-looking dongles

Square is neat as all get out, but its certainly not complicated. And the execution isn’t so great that there isn’t room for improvement. If square wanted the Chinese market they should have been fighting for it from day one. I can’t imagine the Prada wearing Golden Gate Bridge fanatic Dorsey is willing to put a knife in his teeth and fight for a piece of a market where no one really cares if its “elegant”.

http://www.engadget.com/2012/03/15/square-chinese-clones/

A Bugatti dealer has moved in on our block. When you go in to...

Thu, 18 Aug 2011 03:01:26 -0500

A Bugatti dealer has moved in on our block. When you go in to look at the Veyron they lock the door and lower a shade so you can ogle with privacy.

At 萬佛寺 Ten Thousand Buddhas Monastery

Sun, 10 Apr 2011 07:29:05 -0500

At 萬佛寺 Ten Thousand Buddhas Monastery

I’m in a windowless white room that could be a set from...

Thu, 24 Feb 2011 05:27:06 -0600

[Flash 10 is required to watch video.]

I’m in a windowless white room that could be a set from 2001 a space odyssey. In reality it’s a vodafone repair center.

Some kids in Central China trying to say my brother’s...

Thu, 27 Jan 2011 07:55:04 -0600

[Flash 10 is required to watch video.]

Some kids in Central China trying to say my brother’s name.

More AMG SLS action.

Thu, 20 Jan 2011 23:42:51 -0600

More AMG SLS action.

Holy F! It’s a 2011 AMG SLS gullwing Mercedes-Benz getting a...

Thu, 20 Jan 2011 23:41:00 -0600

Holy F! It’s a 2011 AMG SLS gullwing Mercedes-Benz getting a detail down the street. (behind the Maybach)

A new/fun little podcast I did about China and stuff.

Tue, 11 Jan 2011 20:08:00 -0600

A new/fun little podcast I did about China and stuff.

A GT3 must be a painful car to own on an Island with 8 mil...

Mon, 10 Jan 2011 04:58:19 -0600

A GT3 must be a painful car to own on an Island with 8 mil people and a speed limit of 50 mph.

Liberty Lost?

Tue, 04 Jan 2011 06:03:18 -0600

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!?

I’m at Consulate General of the United States of America “Waiting....

Wed, 29 Dec 2010 01:03:53 -0600

I’m at Consulate General of the United States of America

“Waiting. ”

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Mustard and mayonnaise RR Phantom.

Mon, 27 Dec 2010 06:45:18 -0600

Mustard and mayonnaise RR Phantom.

A kid risking his life to get me a six foot extension cord at...

Fri, 03 Dec 2010 05:17:09 -0600

A kid risking his life to get me a six foot extension cord at the Wan Chai computer market.

I’m at Wifi Boutique Hotel 366 Lockhart Road ...

Thu, 02 Dec 2010 07:50:24 -0600

I’m at Wifi Boutique Hotel

366 Lockhart Road

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I’ll have one Full Box of Meat and a Diet Sprite, please.

Tue, 09 Nov 2010 08:30:37 -0600

I’ll have one Full Box of Meat and a Diet Sprite, please.

Wi-Max in the flesh

Tue, 09 Nov 2010 03:59:40 -0600

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.

The Jefferson Hour Podcast

Tue, 09 Nov 2010 03:23:56 -0600

The Jefferson Hour Podcast:

I really hate to harp on this, but if you’re not listening to the Jefferson Hour Podcast you’re in real danger of slipping back into the dark ages.

Clay Jenkinson is a student of Thomas Jefferson’s life and I have to say is probably waiting for us to topple the current US government and force him to lead us back into an era of liberty and enlightenment. At the very least, you’ll be inspired to be a more thoughtful American, which can’t be bad. God, I’m making it sound like church… just listen, ok?

He actually makes me want to visit the Dakotas in winter… if thats even possible.

You never forget your first horse head.

Tue, 09 Nov 2010 03:11:36 -0600

You never forget your first horse head.

Nokia’s last gasp. How could they release something this...

Mon, 08 Nov 2010 22:55:25 -0600

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Nokia’s last gasp. How could they release something this slow?

Workspace in any City, Instantly--Free (sort of)

Mon, 08 Nov 2010 21:44:00 -0600

I’m willing to bet that you’ve never even heard of Regus. That’s forgivable, they’re not the most exciting company in the world, but,they do offer a pretty interesting service. I hesitate to even tell anyone about this for fear that my quite place of work will be over-run with losers like myself. Regus Businessworld Free internet, coffee and a quiet desk in every major city in the world all for the low low price of $4 and change a month.

I was introduced to Regus when Trip-it offered to throw in a Regus Gold Card for free if i signed up for Trip-it Pro. I was already thinking about dropping the discounted 54 bucks so I could organize my awards accounts with the travel itinerary iPhone app that I was already addicted to. Then they were throwing in this Regus thing. All i could find out about it was that the Gold Card would afford me entrance into any of there 1100 business lounges world wide where i would find free wifi, and free coffee/tea services. I was confused, but I signed up anyway. For the first few weeks I kept seeing that Regus had offices around me in Atlanta, New Orleans and Austin while i was traveling in the USA but i didn’t try one out. Then, upon arrival in Hong Kong I was desperate for some internet so i wandered into the Business Lounge in the IFC Hong Kong Central. It was amazing. I was ushered to a “think pod” (imagine a self contained office with a phone, desk, and chair the size of a business class seat) where i was offered a cup of coffee and the wifi password. Fantastic.

It’s not very well described/reviewed online so I didn’t really understand it until i experienced it. But after my hanging out in my pod for a few hours and sipping on free espresso I felt like a moron for dropping all that cash at Starbucks for coffee that i didn’t really want so i could get online for 40 minutes.

Since my first visit to the IFC Regus in Hong Kong a few weeks ago, I’ve been in dozens of Regus office’s. Most major cities have more than a few locations. Sometimes I’ll work in then morning at one office then grab lunch and head over to another office for the afternoon. They request that you don’t use the business lounge as your main office, but if you bounce around enough I doubt they’d notice. The amenities do vary some what. The business Pods aren’t in every location, sometimes you have to make due with a pub table or an arm chair—but is still free Wi-Fi and free coffee. The office staff are on hand to help you print things, make copies ship stuff. It feels a little bit like Mad Men. Those services cost extra but I’ve found them to be comparable to FedEx Office Well worth the $4 bucks and change a month.

In my experience, the first time you show up you get the best treatment. If you show up for a few days in a row the “can i get you a cup of coffee Mr. Wakeling?” seem to come much less frequently.

The Regus offices are always in prime real estate and often have stunning city views. The downside is that everyone else in the office is in professional dress so you feel the need to tidy up a bit before you head in. I’ve been a comfortable fixture wearing jeans and a collard shirt for the last few weeks in the dress-to-the-nines locals of Hong Kong and Urban Australia.

If you go to Regus.com, and get a Gold Card (the level you need to access their “business lounges”) it will cost you a bit more than $4 dollars a month, but, still probably worth it if you travel a lot. Now, this is where this deal gets a little dark. When you sign up for Trip-It Pro, you get one month free, so you can cancel before they charge your credit card. Though, your Regus membership is issued immediately, and as far as i can tell, if you were to cancel, I think you could basically get these great amenities for free.

All in all, if you get around more than a few times a year. Its def. worth it.