april 5, 2009: "New Website Launch" by sungho
Remember when the PS3 came out four years ago? I do. It was actually a pretty
memorable night for me. I stood in line at a local Walmart for nearly
twenty-four hours for a chance to buy the PS3 with the intent on turning it for
a fat profit. During my twenty four hour squat, I met a homeless guy who called
himself Black. He was asking people entering the Walmart to buy him a beanie
because his head was cold. We shared a beer and I listened to his poems about
the struggle of life on the street, his constant loneliness, and his dreams for
the future. It was one of the most inspiration times of my life. I also met a
drug dealer and a recently retired member of the U.S. Army—both were carrying
guns with them in line. Both knew the power of intimidation and both looked
equally menacing. I was shocked at how similar two people from opposite walks of
life could appear. I wasn’t the only Duke student braving the twenty degree
weather either. After months of camping out in K-Ville for tickets to the
Duke-UNC basketball game, a night out in front of Walmart was a breeze—but not
everyone thought so. One Dukie got in line thirty minutes before the store
opened. He asked me to tell the Walmart store owner that he was right behind us
in line. I said no. Then he offered me some money. My answer was still no. It
was the first time I was ashamed to be associated with someone at Duke--he made
me want to take off my Duke hat as he stood next to me with his Duke sweater.
Last I heard he got a job as an investment banker. Surprise surprise. In the
end, the Walmart had thirteen PS3s for sale when they finally opened. I was
fourteenth in line. I bought one from a guy in front of me for $1100. I sold it
two weeks later for $800. Thinking back, I wonder what would have happened if I
gave that $1100 to Black instead. For some, that night would only remind them of
a bad investment and a wasted Friday night. For many, it probably was. For me,
Nov. 17th 2006 taught me many valuable lessons about people and money, and for
that, I am grateful for the experience.
Oh yea. Shang wanted me to write a blog
post saying that after three long years, our website finally got a facelift. So
yea, we just finished redesigning our website. Enjoy.
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