Commencement Speeches

What's the point of commencement? It's really just a glorified word for "graduation," which in turn is to say, "you didn't fail, by our standards, anyway." I don't want to say it's pointless, but it's kind of like having a long, drawn out birthday ceremony each year congratulating everyone for not dying.

The point, as my high school history teacher once pointed out, is just to let everyone else recognize you as being "accomplished." Well, I've got my mom there, who still can't quite describe to her friends exactly what it is I do, and well... my collegue's parents and friends and family, all of whom I don't know. So if it's not for me, and there's no one out there that I really care to impress, what's really the point? To hear an old person speak his mind?

Well, I don't remember my college graduation speaker, nor do I remember my high school graduation speaker. I believe we had a middle school graduation speaker, but it's all quite fuzzy. I don't think I've ever had a memorable, funny, or inspiring graduation speaker. The only thing I do remember from all of my graduations is that it was hot, humid, I had been forced to pay too much for my cap (cardboard square) and gown (nylon sheet), and the only thing I was looking forward to was lunch.

I think I'm in a negative mood today.

How to be the worst car dealer in the world - The Guide

1. Address your customer as "Buddy" as in... "So buddy, do you want to buy a car?"
2. Scowl at everything, including the plastic plants on your table.
3. Stare at her butt.
4. The customer always comes third.
5. By test drive, they mean for you to take it for a spin around the block.
6. If you weren't there, the customer would take the car and run. Thieves.
7. Ask the question, "So what can I do to sell you a car today?"
8. Wear a tie that doesn't quite work with anything you own.
9. Stare at her butt.
10. When in doubt, run away from the customer. Just like in the movies!

What the...

Now that I'm updating and shuffling around my older blogs, I'm kind of amazed at how long this sucker has been up. It's been around for SIX years! That's 566 posts! Whew, who knew my life could be so boring.

Future Plans

Confused you are! So here's what's happening. The Refridgerator (Blog II) is going to be slowly integrated into this one (Blog I), and then it will cease to exist. The new blog (Blog III) will start taking pieces out of Blog I, and take over as my primary blog.

But here's the rub: Blog I will continue on (tee hee), especially since Blog III is regulated by my employers.

Btw - Links to all of this mess can be found on the right hand nav bar, including my official picasaweb gallery.

Moving Again...!

First it was the Cave of Silver Metallics, and then the Refridgerator. Well, I've completed yet another pilgramage to the holy blog land and you'll now find me at bioscigrad.wordpress.com.

Since I'm now being paid to blog (what a concept!) for six hours a week, you're guarenteed some posting goodliness. And GEEZ, the blogger interface feels almost archaic compared to wordpress. Check it out fellow bloggers!

Where the hell is....

So, my last post was dated November 10th, and today is just a few days away from Christmas. Hey, I've been busy. So what's been going on?

-- Monster Massive 2007
> Video 1 Ground Floor (Seek 3:10-3:50)
> Video 2 Third Floor (Seek 0:30-1:00)
-- Trip around the United States
> http://picasaweb.google.com/thechill
-- Finals
-- Job hunting/interviewing
-- Shooting range (9mm 1911, .40 USP, G19)
-- and much much more!

And for some feel-good goodliness, the "Where the Hell is Matt" videos:
> 2005 Video
> 2006 Video

Cheers and Happy Holidays!

This is your blog. From New York. From an underground Apple Store with glass walls.

Still Scary

A 40-something man comes into a posh, young japanese restaurant. He orders a $27 Seared Yellowfin Tuna, a $9 salad, a $6 cocktail, and a $47 bottle of Chianti. He finishes about 40% of his tuna, doesn't touch the salad, takes a sip of the cocktail, and drinks half a glass of wine, and then pays and leaves. You New Yorkers are crazy.

Flight of the Bumblebee

In the next three weeks, I'll have done more travelling outside of Southern California than I have done in the past 6 years. How did I get myself into this mess?

Homebase: Claremont, CA

November 6th, 2007:
A day trip down to the San Diego Convention Center for the Society for Neuroscience Conference, paid for by my school as a part of my master's project.

November 7th, 2007:
Leave from Ontario airport on the red-eye to New York to visit labs at NYU in Manhattan. My team will be staying in Times Square, and have Friday, Saturday, and Sunday to ourselves. All expenses paid for by my school as a part of my master's project.

November 11th, 2007:
Return Sunday night to LAX, where I transfer to a flight to San Francisco. Pick up service, hotel, and flight paid for by Gilead Sciences, Inc.

November 12th, 2007:
A full day at Gilead Sciences, Inc at their headquarters in Foster City. Back to back interviews with department directors until 5 pm. Drop off at SFO, and board the red-eye flight to Raleigh, North Carolina. Flight paid for by Campbell Alliance.

November 13th, 2007:
A full day of round 4 interviews at Campbell Alliance, including case-studies and on-site writing assessments. Board flight back to Ontario. Flight paid for by Campbell Alliance.

November 14th, 2007:
Return to Ontario, go to 7:00 AM breakfast at the Hyatt Regency in Irvine for the Southern California Biomedical Council. Entry paid for by my school as a part of my master's project.

November 20th, 2007:
Board flight to SFO, for Thanksgiving. Flight paid for by my ever-so-gracious brother.

November 24th, 2007:
Return to Claremont. Sleep for a very long time.

Really Good Times

Time to update the ole list of good time's in this author's life. Reflection? Or boredom? The world will never know.

Now, in no particular order:
- Killer Pizza from Mars, 21st Birthday
- Hanging with Ben and Cathy, Cathy's place
- Hanging with Mike and Jen, Indecision circles
- Burgers with Raymond at 1:00 AM
- Two Rodeo Wine Tasting
- Tangerine in Las Vegas
- Late Nights with Medal of Honor
- Badminton at UCSD, Losing horribly
- Campus Loop Training at UCSD
- Job Shadow at Presto Studios
- Snowboarding Heavenly in Tahoe
- Going to SigGraph
- Filming Amgen Golf with Amy
- Late Nights in the Park
- A Summer at Starbucks
- Early Mornings at Genentech
- Backstage with Junkie XL
- Hauling equipment with DVC
- Gs 1, 2, 3, and 6
- Restaurant Weeks 2006/2007
- San Francisco with Amy
- Trip to London/Paris
- Wandering the Louvre
- BMW Ultimate Drive, a Z4 3.0si at 120
- Gas Company Building, Volunteering at NIH
- Monster Massive 2007