tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-39147412011-04-21T22:18:00.393-07:00Pan AsiaDefinition: 1. My identity (last name, continent of origin), 2. Sphere of influence that I aspire to, 3. A forum to record significant interactions and brainstorm new ideas, 4. Panorama of panegyric that panders to pandemonium and portends no panacea nor panache; resumes from previous blog at www.gennext.blogspot.com as I transition from the US to Shanghai, China.Andyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02667393757172657675noreply@blogger.comBlogger691100tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3914741.post-4639801432773582842008-05-06T00:45:00.000-07:002008-05-06T01:29:13.825-07:00Time flies when you're in your 30s, so some weeks are a blur to me.Work. I've settled down at English First, working out of the flagship People's Square office. It's nice to receive a stable paycheck again and not have to worry about funding or nonsense related to capital. I've been mentored by a Canadian guy Eric who is very easy-going and helpful. I found out recently he will be moving to Andyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02667393757172657675noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3914741.post-82633360450334110082008-03-07T01:00:00.000-08:002008-03-07T01:22:24.892-08:00With the thawing out of winter and the immiment onset of spring, I will pen a quick entry to capture recent memories.Work. In late January my body broke down. I was battling a recurring cold and dealing with a startup's responsibilities exacerbated the breakdown. We had finished our revenue model and I started pitching angels and VCs for investment. To my dismay, KPCB turned us down. I had Andyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02667393757172657675noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3914741.post-38261660163633314502008-01-10T23:12:00.000-08:002008-01-10T23:39:46.406-08:00It's another slow Friday afternoon so here's an update of the last quarter.Work. Three months ago I did not know what the future entailed as I had just quit from EBay China and was pondering a move back to Cali. The break was refreshing but I was also antsy to progress in my career. Within a week of moving back, I received two offers, almost simultaneously. The first was from English First, Andyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02667393757172657675noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3914741.post-59250953097192733062007-10-18T07:45:00.000-07:002007-10-18T08:35:12.143-07:00It has been a long while since I've journaled so let me do a quick update.Work. Truth be told, ever since late spring I have been antsy to make a change. By summer most of the expats at eBay China have left for greener pastures. I was going through the motions of releasing the new site, which was unveiled in early July at www.eachnet.com. Whether this proves to make a dent in the fortress Andyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02667393757172657675noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3914741.post-60493646297121647362007-06-15T00:48:00.000-07:002007-06-15T00:50:44.449-07:00The more things change, the more they stay the same, a.k.a. my life. Nevertheless, here are some highlights from the most recent six weeks.Work. Work has become extremely tedious as of late with a major platform release deadline looming. Our code is riddled with bugs and migration of key user data has started. I dream of alternative scenarios where I can engage my talents like trading futuresAndyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02667393757172657675noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3914741.post-51179355053107583972007-04-29T20:00:00.000-07:002007-04-29T20:03:48.647-07:00It's the eve of another holiday break, so I'll take some time to record some thoughts.Work. We will complete a major internal milestone today and release a pre-alpha version of our new platform. The process has been grueling at times with some features getting axed and others in mutated forms due to programmer time constraints. I've been given new responsibilities to define a seller ad and Andyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02667393757172657675noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3914741.post-67000917551682359392007-02-25T20:01:00.000-08:002007-02-25T20:03:35.513-08:00It has been a while since I penned a journal entry, and since people are still languishing in the after effects of the Chinese New Year, it's a good time to archive my thoughts.Work. The merger with Tom closed in late January so we started immediately to define requirements for the new platform. I worked on the buying flow, with a focus on a simple version of the highest trafficked page called Andyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02667393757172657675noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3914741.post-1167028264307985292006-12-24T22:27:00.000-08:002006-12-24T22:31:04.320-08:00Serenity envelopes the office on this Christmas day so let me jot some quick notes.Work. The last week has been exhilarating in the pace and extent of changes introduced. In the months leading up to the announcements, rumors have swirled about various buyout scenarios involving eBay China. Last Wednesday exec staff announced the merger of Tom Online and us to form a joint venture. Our Andyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02667393757172657675noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3914741.post-1162188368184375902006-10-29T22:03:00.000-08:002006-10-29T22:06:08.196-08:00It's a fairly quiet day at the office so let me catch up on some journaling.October holidays. I went to Hong Kong and hung out with Pui for a weekend. We walked around the usual places around Victoria Harbor and had drinks at a couple different bars. It's fascinating that he's trying to learn the game of professional investing when Chinese companies are so nebulous. I don't understand Andyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02667393757172657675noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3914741.post-1157347335527799512006-09-03T22:21:00.000-07:002006-09-03T22:22:15.546-07:00Work. There are some changes at work that directly affects my group. Our VP of product management has left the firm, which was anticipated. My manager and another senior product manager are leaving shortly to pursue entrepreneurial ventures. Our CTO pleaded with the rest of the PMs not to jump ship but challenged us to revamp the site. Our current business model is unsustainable so a Andyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02667393757172657675noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3914741.post-1155707736093491932006-08-15T22:54:00.000-07:002006-08-15T22:55:36.106-07:00Nostalgia. I miss Penny Hardaway. Anfernee was unique in his court vision, fluid playing style, and freak athleticism. For a brief 3-year span in the mid-nineties, he dominated the NBA with his unparalleled skills. There are better passers like Kidd and Nash, there are better scorers like Mike, better dunkers like Dominique and Vince, and plenty of better shooters in the league, but there Andyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02667393757172657675noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3914741.post-1155541185086105432006-08-14T00:37:00.000-07:002006-08-14T00:39:45.110-07:00Social Scene. My social life is in such a sad state that I'm beginning to question my commitment to China. I know I'll stay at least another year since that's how long I feel I'll need to understand the nuances of this Internet industry. I still meet new people, but maybe it's because I'm older now, it's difficult for me to be impressed or awed by someone. In retrospect, I've been lucky to Andyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02667393757172657675noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3914741.post-1154574932312644782006-08-02T20:14:00.000-07:002006-08-02T20:15:32.326-07:00Personal History. I come from a middle-class family where my parents are well-educated, diligent folks who work hard for a living. Sometimes I think I lead a charmed life where I take unexpected turns but always end up on the right path. Maybe Someone is looking out for me. As a rambunctious young kid, I would wander all over Taipei unattended. I’ve rolled down stairs and escaped numerous Andyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02667393757172657675noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3914741.post-1153148260705070662006-07-17T07:41:00.000-07:002006-07-17T07:57:42.616-07:00Since moving into the city center of Pudong, I haven't played an organized basketball game in a month. It's with great relish that I savor the return to my first love. Okay, if it's not the prime love of my life, it's a close second behind God. I had forgotten how much fun it is to compete and run up and down a court in a musty gym. Due to the long lay-off, my rhythm was off in the first gameAndyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02667393757172657675noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3914741.post-1152403597155369182006-07-08T16:58:00.000-07:002006-07-08T17:34:38.580-07:00I need to depart from my usual shtick to vent some frustrations here. It's not about basketball or work, it's more complicated than that.It's not quite 8 a.m. on Sunday morning here. I've slept only about 2 hours fitfully. I'd like to say I was out partying until the dawn hours, but in fact it has been the most miserable night in recent memory. It started out with me meeting up with Angel and herAndyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02667393757172657675noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3914741.post-1150274819379295552006-06-14T01:45:00.000-07:002006-06-14T01:46:59.406-07:00It's a slow afternoon as my manager is away on sick leave, so let me quickly rehash some random thoughts.Work. I'm formulating a strategy deck to enhance our Community product offerings. Currently our discussion boards are flimsy in functionality. Our VP is questioning the direction of the enhancements so I'm preparing a couple proposals to present to him. Our new CTO is very involved so I've Andyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02667393757172657675noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3914741.post-1148622342769900202006-05-25T22:42:00.000-07:002006-05-25T22:45:42.780-07:00Number 2. I was viewing NBA highlights on Youtube recently and was reminded how Pippen's game is so sweet. He is arguably the best all-around player in NBA history. He doesn't overwhelm you with his scoring, isn't known to shoot particularly well, suffered many judgmental lapses in his career, didn't get the best coaching early on coming from Central Arkansas, but became a critical piece of Andyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02667393757172657675noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3914741.post-1147859383362483362006-05-17T02:48:00.000-07:002006-05-17T02:49:43.373-07:00The GameMama warnin' me not to be corruptTo trade heavenly gold for earthly muckEverything that I work for, there's got to be moreTo see your name in lights, decked out in ice,Chivas Regal on the rocks, I've got this town on lock,My paycheck just got fatter,Jack Ma dissin' us with his swagger,I'm a gun for hire, cuz' I showed Kobe's fireUsed to sing in a church choir,now Mama says be careful whatAndyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02667393757172657675noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3914741.post-1147690824312658352006-05-15T03:57:00.000-07:002006-05-15T04:00:24.323-07:00Time to cleanse the mental slate again, so here it comes.May Holidays. As much as I like to travel and experience new sights and cultures, I forsook any travel plans and just stayed in Shanghai due to low availability of options to Thailand at a reasonable price. The seven-day layoff presented plenty of time to do what I usually do on hiatus, namely read, work out, socialize, and meet new Andyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02667393757172657675noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3914741.post-1145865490507883582006-04-24T00:52:00.000-07:002006-04-24T00:58:10.520-07:00It has been a hectic month and a half since I last blogged, so to regurgitate what I experienced for posterity, here are my impressions of the memorable occurrences.Work. The landscape is evolving, the competition is relentless, and our team is undergoing internal change. From the highest levels of the firm, product is being reorganized to be more customer-centric, to operate more like a Andyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02667393757172657675noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3914741.post-1141884918991711562006-03-08T22:14:00.000-08:002006-03-08T22:15:19.000-08:00I just met Tim W, the aspiring rapper who opened for Jin during his Shanghai tour. I've always believed the best rappers are those who possess three elements: lyrics, musical hook, and street credibility. I don't have formal music training or much street cred growing up in suburbia, but IMHO I can spit rhymes with the best of them. Here is a quick tale to summarize my recent journey. Bored Andyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02667393757172657675noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3914741.post-1141373606877640482006-03-03T00:10:00.000-08:002006-03-03T00:13:26.890-08:00Spring is making her appearance as winter recedes, and my mood, directly correlated with the ambient temperature and the sunshine index, is also picking up.Vacation. In late January I went to Macau to scrutinize what this former Portuguese colony had become. My dabbled in blackjack and experienced wild swings in my bankroll and emotions while employing alternately a martingale and progressive Andyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02667393757172657675noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3914741.post-1138418425732432042006-01-27T19:18:00.000-08:002006-01-27T19:20:25.773-08:00On the eve of Chinese New Year, it's a good time to reflect on how different my life is from just a month ago.End of 2005. After I hosted the Christmas program twice, I flew back to the US in mid-December. In the US I saw some folks at Greg W's graduation show at Art Center. I hung out with my cousins and matched wits by playing poker with them. That was strange playing for fake chips when I Andyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02667393757172657675noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3914741.post-1135018123461605512005-12-19T10:47:00.000-08:002005-12-19T10:48:43.473-08:00I’m chilling warmly in my Torrance pad, with my year almost over. In hindsight, the trials and tribulations I endured served to make me stronger.Work. My next gig was officially finalized on December 1. After consulting Albert, who happened to be an insider at eBay, on negotiating tactics, I accepted the offer from eBay to work as a product manager at their Shanghai site. I asked for and receivedAndyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02667393757172657675noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3914741.post-1131722826601619912005-11-11T07:23:00.000-08:002005-11-11T07:27:06.616-08:00The last month has been filled with momentous events as I have reached some milestones so let's get right to it.Christ. In one of our small group meetings, I shared about the resurrection of Christ. Most of the members are either new believers or still seeking. I spoke from the Scriptures to verify the historical accuracy of the miracle. I can say without exaggeration this is the single most Andyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02667393757172657675noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3914741.post-1129300047374621512005-10-14T07:25:00.000-07:002005-10-14T07:27:27.383-07:00I'm back from the October holidays so let me retrace my meandering path over the last month.Milestone. I just passed the 18-month mark at my company. It's amazing I'm still here given the instability of my work environment and the low morale that exists. Our stock hit an all-time low this week. The firm's enterprise value as appraised by Wall Street is almost half of what it was when I joinedAndyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02667393757172657675noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3914741.post-1126622004141849612005-09-13T07:30:00.000-07:002005-09-13T07:33:24.150-07:00I have a brief respite, so let me run through the annals of my mind for recent memories of note.International Fellowship. After the malaise I suffered in July where I felt a great sense of alienation here, I reasoned the proper anecdote would be some nurturing fellowship. I attended a few community group meetings held in Pudong. Most of the group are Southeast Asian and in their forties with aAndyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02667393757172657675noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3914741.post-1123507071042430782005-08-08T06:15:00.000-07:002005-08-08T06:17:51.050-07:00Now that I have some time to reflect on the last 6 weeks, let me do a quick brain dump.Illness. The one word I can use to describe my July is sickness. I felt sick about my situation in Shanghai. Work is extremely mundane with no respite in sight. Although there are a few new people that have come here, my social life is very predictable with no new sparks. I felt an acute sense of homesickness Andyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02667393757172657675noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3914741.post-1119672832828025062005-06-24T21:11:00.000-07:002005-06-24T21:13:52.833-07:00Rob. I love to compete; I get such an adrenaline rush to square off against someone mentally or physically. As the former “godfather” of SMIC, Rob is someone that makes for an easy target of comparison. In seemingly most things, he is slightly better. Let’s run through the vitals. Education: Master’s degree for R vs. master’s program dropout for me. Undergrad school: Stanford vs. Cal. Classic Andyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02667393757172657675noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3914741.post-1119016992481579102005-06-17T06:59:00.000-07:002005-06-17T07:03:12.486-07:00Visitors. Shanghai is a magnet for everyone with the continual influx of FDI coming unabated. Even Rule 11 in the recent circular distributed by the Chinese government can't stem the enthusiasm by VC investors. Intel's $200 million fund earmarked for China is a prime example. I've met up with a long litany of folks in recent months. In roughly chronological order of when I saw them: Hanron, SteveAndyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02667393757172657675noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3914741.post-1117623942886365442005-06-01T04:04:00.000-07:002005-06-01T04:05:42.890-07:00"Rachel". I knew I was in for a ride and that she was a special person based on our strange but seemingly destined interactions. The first time she was in the company cafeteria my eyes immediately picked her out from among the crowd. As she bused her tray, my eyes followed her for a good ten seconds while she returned the gaze. The first time I talked to her we discussed the prostitution industryAndyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02667393757172657675noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3914741.post-1116424583474834802005-05-18T06:49:00.000-07:002005-05-18T06:56:23.483-07:00The weather is perfect now in Shanghai, warm enough to bask in the sun and temperate enough to not perspire profusely.May holidays. I flew out to Hong Kong with Ivan. I almost didn't make it on to the flight as I neglected to bring my old expiring passport with my visa. When the customs officer denied me passage, I had the weird thought of "Why can't my face be my passport?" which was quickly Andyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02667393757172657675noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3914741.post-1114232958075602902005-04-22T20:31:00.000-07:002005-04-22T22:09:18.080-07:00Although the misty rains of winter still make their appearance intermittently, spring and its accompanying sunshine has come to stay.Work. During March the office was somewhere between purgatory and hell for me. The actual time spent wasn't excessive, but the energy expended and mental anguish experienced can only be described as torturous without hyperbole. Technically we concluded an audit at Andyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02667393757172657675noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3914741.post-1110089284372723042005-03-05T22:04:00.000-08:002005-03-05T22:08:04.376-08:00Spring is teasing me with a few appearances, just enough to instill hope in its arrival.Work and Play. After Chinese New Year when practically the whole firm was away on holiday, I had another week when my managers were gone. I chatted with anyone I could find around the office to whittle away the time. On Valentine's Day I ventured out to Bund Number 5. It's a lounge-bar catering mostly to Andyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02667393757172657675noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3914741.post-1108562922798998332005-02-16T06:04:00.000-08:002005-02-16T06:08:42.806-08:00Spring Festival. Chinese New Year's Eve came cloaked in the guise of rain. Ivan and myself took two secretaries out for dinner and lounging at the Westin that night. The next day I decided to visit Hainan Island, a tropical vacation spot off the southern coast of China, on a whim. I flew out that afternoon, booked a hotel room after I landed in the capital city Haikou, and walked around. The cityAndyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02667393757172657675noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3914741.post-1106307179266119662005-01-21T03:29:00.000-08:002005-01-21T03:32:59.266-08:00The Christmas and New Year holidays came and went, so it's time to jot some notes of what transpired.
SMIC Christmas program. As previously written, I performed a skit with some Christian brethren about the tycoon and Lazarus parable. I nailed the pompous strut and the waving of the hand to summon and dismiss my maid. Of course, I also writhed on the ground in agony as I recalled from hell what Andyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02667393757172657675noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3914741.post-1103553695882070652004-12-20T06:38:00.000-08:002004-12-20T06:41:35.883-08:00Winter is in full force as the fierce winds ream our meager defenses, but let’s quickly revisit what has transpired over the last six weeks.
Birthday weekend. The Friday night prior to my 29th birthday, I went out to KTV with a few guy friends and drank a little. I didn’t really pound shots but did become slightly buzzed. The next day I ran in the 200 meter race in our company’s athletic Andyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02667393757172657675noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3914741.post-1100698361652616422004-11-17T05:29:00.000-08:002004-11-17T05:32:41.653-08:00The start of the NBA season is always exciting. There are various questions that will be answered in the drama of the League. How will the revamped Lakers fare with Kobe as top dog? Will Grant Hill survive through an entire season after multiple surgeries? Can the Rockets blast off with Tmac and Yao forming a new tandem? I'm busy assessing my fantasy team too. It's a twelve-team league with my Andyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02667393757172657675noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3914741.post-1099566892028771492004-11-04T03:11:00.000-08:002004-11-04T03:14:52.030-08:00We're officially in winter season now, so here's an update of the last 6 weeks.
Work. I'm fighting the grind. There are days I'm moving data and massaging numbers with nauseating repetition that my mind seemed to be atrophying. There are other days where I am so free I scour all the news sources and read excerpts from Phil Jackson's latest book to fill the time void. There is another pending Andyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02667393757172657675noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3914741.post-1095684962889695962004-09-20T05:52:00.000-07:002004-09-20T05:56:02.890-07:00Summer has swiftly turned to fall as the recent spate of harsh winds and rainstorms starkly highlight the changing of the seasons. So much [if this were dynamic text, insert your own expletive for excrement] has happened, let me try to recount them.
Work. Let me get this staid but major part of my life out of the way first. After denying all employees Web access for a while in an effort to boost Andyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02667393757172657675noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3914741.post-1090414111002844022004-07-21T05:48:00.000-07:002004-07-21T05:48:31.003-07:00Summertime in Shanghai with its scorching heat is unbearable, but then I remind myself of the misery of Syracuse weather, and a smile forms.
Thoughts on romance. Picking up where I left off last time, as I was pondering this question of finding someone who complements me on every dimension (physical, social, emotional, functional, spiritual,) I came across a parallel in a fictional character’s Andyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02667393757172657675noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3914741.post-1087880231598139182004-06-21T21:56:00.000-07:002004-06-21T21:57:11.596-07:00I’ve been in China for two months now, so I’ll recap some notable experiences.
Work. I’m officially reintegrated into the corporate world with its attendant mixture of paper-shuffling and actual usage of the cranium. In this Dilbertesque world that I occupy, I am stuck in a morass of meetings and documents with no foreseeable end in sight. Work can be boiled down to a few key activities: Andyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02667393757172657675noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3914741.post-1083808537676353292004-05-05T18:55:00.000-07:002004-05-05T18:59:55.966-07:00It has been about a month since my move to Shanghai, so here’s my first entry from this side of the world.
Daily Life. After a two-week stay in a guest room, I’ve recently moved into a one-bedroom apartment in Pudong. It’s in a highrise typical of housing here, part of the firm’s living quarters. Most of the employees live here because it’s close to work. I board a shuttle bus to work, and Andyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02667393757172657675noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3914741.post-1080937967063581102004-04-02T12:32:00.000-08:002004-04-02T12:36:26.403-08:00Another month has moved to the rearview window, and at last I have some clarity on life direction.
Shanghai bound. I will be starting a new chapter in my life in less than ten days on the opposite side of the world. The opportunity is a business development and marketing role with the leading semiconductor foundry in China. The offer was made in an unusual way, and I definitely wrestled with Andyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02667393757172657675noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3914741.post-1078004332775313392004-02-28T13:38:00.000-08:002004-02-28T13:41:42.686-08:00It has been a couple months since I last wrote an entry. The layoff has been partly due to laziness and partly due to insufficient material worthy of highlighting. Nevertheless, here are the memorable events and experiences that occurred in the interim.
New Year’s Eve. I sported a rainbow-colored rayon shirt for a shindig at a party thrown by Greg W to comply with the retro T-shirt theme. Andyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02667393757172657675noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3914741.post-1072387040800924182003-12-25T13:15:00.000-08:002003-12-25T13:18:44.936-08:00“Though the fig tree does not bud and there are no grapes on the vines, though the olive crop fails and the fields produce no food, though there are no sheep in the pen and no cattle in the stalls, yet I will rejoice in the Lord, I will be joyful in God my savior.” Habakkuk 3:17-18.
In recent days I have been toiling the soil of the land, so to speak, and have yet to enjoy the fruits of my Andyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02667393757172657675noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3914741.post-1069039571248305032003-11-16T19:26:00.000-08:002003-11-16T19:26:43.280-08:00Since I’m waiting for my laundry, now is as good a time as any to reminisce on my encounters since relocating to the Bay Area again.
Halloween. I stopped by Tilden and Mimi’s place in Fremont for their holiday bash. I chilled to the side as more and more folks grooved to the dance music in the house. The interesting point in the evening occurred when Raymond S walked in with Lynn W. I Andyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02667393757172657675noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3914741.post-1067985206360568302003-11-04T14:33:00.000-08:002003-11-04T14:33:42.513-08:00Inspired by the combination of free-style rappers and the classical poets, here are my attempts at verse. First up is the ever popular romantic variety.
Pining for lover
The flow of your tresses
The promise of your caresses
The prints on your dresses
Stop the presses
The sparkle in your eyes
The moon reflecting your light
I have no more fight
I just know this isn’t right
Separated by Andyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02667393757172657675noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3914741.post-1066621184801357922003-10-19T20:39:00.000-07:002003-10-19T20:40:19.373-07:00“When times are good, be happy; but when times are bad, consider: God has made the one as well as the other. Therefore, a man cannot discover anything about his future.” Ecclesiastes 7:14.
The last couple months I have endured a constant cogitation about my life, playing scenarios in my head at all hours of the day. My life been marked recently by exploration and discovery, but some Andyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02667393757172657675noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3914741.post-1063012698997675592003-09-08T02:18:00.000-07:002003-09-08T02:18:19.010-07:00Interviews, job fairs, and my private hell. I talked to an SMS text message startup on Tuesday in San Diego. The company's vision is bold, to rule the world as the dominant mobile community. They created an interoperable platform to deliver messages across various networks. Their scope is global, their momentum is swelling. Their pitch? "We can be 10 times as big as E-bay. Everyone needs Andyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02667393757172657675noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3914741.post-1063008354121896882003-09-08T01:05:00.000-07:002003-09-08T01:05:54.103-07:00I just submitted an application to the CIA for the political or foreign area analyst position with a focus on China. Besides the fact that sometimes I find what the Agency does unsavory, I am still strangely attracted to the opportunity to study current events for a living. There was also a career matching survey on its website that suggests a possible path for you. After I meticulously Andyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02667393757172657675noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3914741.post-1062023994576158552003-08-27T15:39:00.000-07:002003-08-27T15:39:54.576-07:00"Most men are not satisfied with the permanent output of their lives. Nothing can wholly satisfy the life of Christ within his followers except the adoption of Christ's purpose toward the world he came to redeem. Fame, pleasure and riches are but husks and ashes in contrast with working with God for the fulfillment of his eternal plans. The men who are putting everything into Christ's Andyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02667393757172657675noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3914741.post-1061792377428690912003-08-24T23:19:00.000-07:002003-08-25T00:15:11.986-07:00I have some down time so I will jot down some thoughts on recent events and lessons. Oh, I'm in SF because I felt suffocated in LA or and also was dying a slow death of futility.
Thug Life. I got a glimpse into the gang culture over the summer. I hung out with a fex ex-Bamboo guys in LA and started to get a feel for their mentality and thought patterns. First, testerone is charged to the Andyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02667393757172657675noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3914741.post-1060063521822711002003-08-04T23:05:00.000-07:002003-08-04T23:05:21.773-07:00Defiance. You can call it being unflinching in your convictions. You can call it being stubborn. Whatever label you choose, I definitely harbor an ample supply of this characteristic in reserve. When I was six, I distinctly remember giving my first grade teacher a maddog stare and holding my gaze as she delivered blows with a ruler to the back of the hand for some minor classroom infraction.Andyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02667393757172657675noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3914741.post-1058251893456486242003-07-14T23:51:00.000-07:002003-07-14T23:51:33.460-07:00I have some peace and quiet now to reflect on the activities of the last month, so let me delve right into it.
Question solution. I solved the dilemma with two simultaneous weddings in different parts of the country by reframing the problem. I went up to golf with Wade during his bachelor party two weeks prior to his wedding, freeing me up to go to Austin this past weekend for Dave W’s Andyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02667393757172657675noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3914741.post-954551732003-06-09T00:02:00.000-07:002003-06-09T00:02:27.503-07:00Time to examine the files of the days on the west coast, 2003.
The Boys. I hung out with some of my brothers in LA and SF over the last month and here are my impressions. I commiserated with Mike C, who bemoaned the paucity of eligible women for him to date at 33. Your time will come, dawg. I hung out with Greg W on a few occasions in Pasadena and Westwood. He’s becoming quite the socialiteAndyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02667393757172657675noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3914741.post-946687862003-05-20T21:18:00.000-07:002003-05-20T21:18:47.350-07:00I’ve had some time to assess my semester at Syracuse, and with hindsight, some of the lessons learned were bought at a high price and mistakes made seem even more glaring than at first glance. Without going through the experience, however, I would not have known these things so I still would have made the same choice at that juncture if I were to do it all over again.
Physical Environment. Andyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02667393757172657675noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3914741.post-928919782003-04-19T09:04:00.000-07:002003-04-19T09:39:38.000-07:00"When you're old, you will stretch out your hands and be led to where you do not want to go." This dark prophecy Jesus pronounced to Peter boomeranged in my head last night as I struggled to fall asleep in between coughing convulsions. I caught some kind of coughing virus, which I hope is not SARS. There is an outside chance it might be because I was fine until after my sister and bro-in-law'sAndyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02667393757172657675noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3914741.post-920104362003-04-04T15:13:00.000-08:002003-04-04T15:44:25.000-08:00So what has been going on since I've been back in the Northeast? Here is a rundown.
Winter. After a brief respite, winter is back in full force since last weekend with a barrage of storms and snow. I'm clad in my usual garb of beanie and bomber jacket as I trudge around campus.
Weird Times. This is an unusual time to be alive. The US is at war with Iraq which has elicited many protestersAndyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02667393757172657675noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3914741.post-910208622003-03-19T15:22:00.000-08:002003-03-19T16:24:42.000-08:00It has been a while, so let's quickly get to the update.
"Sync". Science of synchronization. The author sought to understand why fireflies always flash their signals in harmony even when they start off out of sync. Examination of dynamic nonlinear systems that also follow this behavior found in nature. Explanation of traffic flow and congestion theory. An interesting discussion on circadianAndyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02667393757172657675noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3914741.post-896163522003-02-23T14:03:00.000-08:002003-02-23T14:03:51.663-08:00It has been an eventful two weeks characterized by new experiences mediated by periods of tedium, so let me get to it, starting with the usual books that I’ve consumed.
“Nanotechnology.” This overview of the field for laymen starts with the science of materials, chemicals, and biology that are relevant to build the foundation for the portrayal of the emerging industry of nanotechnology, or Andyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02667393757172657675noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3914741.post-888173302003-02-09T15:03:00.000-08:002003-02-09T15:30:55.000-08:00Another two weeks have elapsed, so it's time to take a barometric reading of my mind.
"Renaissance Diplomacy". The development of diplomatic service from the 14th to the late 17th century. Concomitant with the flourishing of the arts in the Renaissance in Italy, the origins of diplomacy emerged. A combination of factors, chief of which was its geographic isolation, led to the development of Andyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02667393757172657675noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3914741.post-880276282003-01-25T17:54:00.000-08:002003-01-25T18:00:35.000-08:00This is my first post from Syracuse and suffice it to say, it's been an education. Let me retrace the challenges a California boy had to cope with in adusting to a new environment.
Last Days in LA. The last Thursday I was in LA, I had lunch with AL who gave me a hand-sewn pillowcase. She has my head covered since I'm heavily dependent on the Cal beanie she gave me years back to keep my head Andyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02667393757172657675noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3914741.post-871019292003-01-07T23:19:00.000-08:002003-01-07T23:25:08.000-08:00Another two weeks have elapsed, so let’s start with another foray through the thoroughfares of my mind.
The Nobel Prize. History of the various prizes that was bequeathed from the fortunes of Alfred Nobel with ample doseage of the personalities that were involved in the literature, chemistry, physics, economics, and peace sweepstakes. Many selections were arbitrary and politically driven, withAndyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02667393757172657675noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3914741.post-864145862002-12-22T17:30:00.000-08:002003-01-07T23:22:54.000-08:00Ideas shape a man and a nation, so let’s start with some new thoughts gleaned through recent readings.
More Than Words. Edited by Phillip Yancey, this is a compilation of authors, pastors, and laymen who communicate truth through the arts and their own experiences with works that have sparked their creativity or shed new insights at critical inflection points. This is a treasure trove of ideasAndyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02667393757172657675noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3914741.post-857086522002-12-08T19:50:00.000-08:002003-01-07T23:21:42.000-08:00Time for another update. Let’s start with more book reviews.
Square Peg. Written by Senator Orrin Hatch, this book delves into the legislative process and gives a defense on some of his positions on issues. A good example of a bipartisan approach to public service.
Mozart and the Fighter Pilot. Written by a medical surgeon, it presents ways to improve the efficiency of our brains. Most of Andyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02667393757172657675noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3914741.post-851267952002-11-26T13:18:00.000-08:002002-11-26T13:18:28.726-08:00I’ll start off with capsule summaries of books I’ve imbibed over the last few weeks.
Phantoms in the Brain. This is an interesting survey on the weird cases of patients who suffer neurological disorders. The title refers to those people who have lost their limbs but still retain a mental map of their missing tendrils with its accompanying side-effects. There are people who do not notice Andyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02667393757172657675noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3914741.post-841914872002-11-07T13:57:00.000-08:002002-11-07T13:57:17.933-08:00I thought I’ll start with some book reviews since they reflect a great deal on the pathways of my mind over the last 6 weeks or so.
Beating the House explores the theory behind beating the only game you can win in the casinos. Having a system that evens the odds intrigued me and this book revealed the tactical ways to make a living playing blackjack. Includes basic counting and betting Andyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02667393757172657675noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3914741.post-839833572002-11-03T18:42:00.000-08:002002-11-03T18:48:53.000-08:009/27/2002
One quick note for posterity's sake before resuming our regular programming.
Visiting MS and baby. The little girl who yearned for marriage at 25 had gotten her wish fulfilled and motherhood ensured soon thereafter. I stopped by the apartment a few weeks after her daughter's birth to chat. It was incredible seeing this friend, with the Hong Kong movie star looks, radiating as someoneAndyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02667393757172657675noreply@blogger.com