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| birthday weekend |
Sunday, April 27, 2008
Pics from my birthday weekend
What up all. I finally got these pictures uploaded to picasa. Check them out and post yours.
Monday, April 21, 2008
NYC
Anyone want to go to NYC in early June? I think I'm going to do a long weekend sometime between June 1-15 mostly in the city but possibly the Hamptons as well. This would be in addition to our in-the-works (vegas?) reunion, unless we all just wanted to meet up there instead.
Tuesday, April 15, 2008
Denver and Future Reunions
I got back from Denver this past Monday. Things I realized on this trip:
- I need to upgrade my apartment. Or at the very least, get real people furniture, not foof couches and hanging hooks for my Rock Band instruments.
- Colorado can go through two seasons of weather in 12 hours.
- Rock climbing is an extremely fun and challenging activity. I realize why people get so much of a kick out of it. It's all about the challenge and how you overcome the rock and yourself. Here's where we went by the way.
- Alex may very well be the baddest motherf*cker I have ever known.
I am going to start doing some research for some reunion trip ideas. As I put together a budget and pseudo-plan for each destination/activity, I will make it post of it here. First up, Vegas. If you guys have any feelings one way or the other, please comment. If you have different suggestions, make a post.
laters.
- I need to upgrade my apartment. Or at the very least, get real people furniture, not foof couches and hanging hooks for my Rock Band instruments.
- Colorado can go through two seasons of weather in 12 hours.
- Rock climbing is an extremely fun and challenging activity. I realize why people get so much of a kick out of it. It's all about the challenge and how you overcome the rock and yourself. Here's where we went by the way.
- Alex may very well be the baddest motherf*cker I have ever known.
I am going to start doing some research for some reunion trip ideas. As I put together a budget and pseudo-plan for each destination/activity, I will make it post of it here. First up, Vegas. If you guys have any feelings one way or the other, please comment. If you have different suggestions, make a post.
laters.
Tuesday, April 8, 2008
The Last Lecture
ABC is showing a special regarding Randy Pausch and the lecture that Alex posted previously. It airs this Wednesday (4/9) at 10pm EST. I had actually thought about taking one of his classes while we were undergrads and now wish that I had.
In case you didn't know I have decided to go back to CMU for my masters. It was an easy decision to make once I had made my campus visits.
In case you didn't know I have decided to go back to CMU for my masters. It was an easy decision to make once I had made my campus visits.
Thursday, April 3, 2008
Google, FTW!
I just saw this sign on US-101 on my way to work today:
"Sherlock had Watson. You have us." (see for yourself)
The ad was for MSN. It seems clever at first, but what does it actually mean?
"Sherlock Holmes, great fictional detective of the highest mental caliber, has less intelligent foil, side-kick, and narrator of his stories."
Seriously, all Watson did in any of Sir Arthur Conan Doyle's tales was listen to Holmes explain his masterful deduction of the truth from his observations, carry a gun to protect him, and relate the fantastic tales for us, the reader. How does this equate to being a good online service? Especially one that wants to help you search for information and truth?
As a general note, literary and popular culture references are all good and fine in my book, but at least take the time to do some research and know what you're talking about. Had the allusion been: "Watson had Holmes. You have MSN", it might have worked. This also applies to you, Hillary Clinton, Rocky, the heavy under-dog (who's white by the way), loses to Apollo Creed (who's black by the way). So either you're saying you're going to take a moral victory out of this whole ordeal by lasting till the convention while reconciling with Bill, or you have terrible taste in movies (Rocky wins in II, III, IV, and V).
"Sherlock had Watson. You have us." (see for yourself)
The ad was for MSN. It seems clever at first, but what does it actually mean?
"Sherlock Holmes, great fictional detective of the highest mental caliber, has less intelligent foil, side-kick, and narrator of his stories."
Seriously, all Watson did in any of Sir Arthur Conan Doyle's tales was listen to Holmes explain his masterful deduction of the truth from his observations, carry a gun to protect him, and relate the fantastic tales for us, the reader. How does this equate to being a good online service? Especially one that wants to help you search for information and truth?
As a general note, literary and popular culture references are all good and fine in my book, but at least take the time to do some research and know what you're talking about. Had the allusion been: "Watson had Holmes. You have MSN", it might have worked. This also applies to you, Hillary Clinton, Rocky, the heavy under-dog (who's white by the way), loses to Apollo Creed (who's black by the way). So either you're saying you're going to take a moral victory out of this whole ordeal by lasting till the convention while reconciling with Bill, or you have terrible taste in movies (Rocky wins in II, III, IV, and V).
Tuesday, April 1, 2008
Going to Denver
I'm headed to Denver on 11-April, then coming back that Monday morning (14-April, straight to work!). It is Alex's B-Day, and I kind of need to get out of town for a while. It should be a fun mini-reunion.
I recommend anyone join me if they want. For any of the Bay Area folks, I can drive you back from the airport on Monday, or to there on Friday if need be.
My itinerary:
Apr 11 Fri
OAK-DEN 1576
Depart Oakland (OAK) at 5:15 PM
Arrive in Denver (DEN) at 8:40 PM
Apr 14 Mon
DEN-OAK 3227
Depart Denver (DEN) at 7:10 AM
Arrive in Oakland (OAK) at 9:00 AM
I recommend anyone join me if they want. For any of the Bay Area folks, I can drive you back from the airport on Monday, or to there on Friday if need be.
My itinerary:
Apr 11 Fri
OAK-DEN 1576
Depart Oakland (OAK) at 5:15 PM
Arrive in Denver (DEN) at 8:40 PM
Apr 14 Mon
DEN-OAK 3227
Depart Denver (DEN) at 7:10 AM
Arrive in Oakland (OAK) at 9:00 AM
Stupid Philly
As I was watching that God-awful performance of the Phillies pitching staff yesterday (11 R to the Nationals? Really?), and I grew to realize that that sight might become a more familiar presence in my day to day, I just couldn't take it any more. There are 161 games left in this season. Any reasonable person looks at this team and sees that beyond Cole Hamels, no one on that team has any legitimate shot of doing anything besides losing us games. Yeah, I know there's reason for hope with Rhino, JRoll, and of course, the devilishly handsome Chase "So Dreamy" Utley, but you can't expect to win all your games 12-11. So it got me to thinking. That team is gonna lose 80, 90, maybe even 100 games this year. And even if they win 88 games again like last year, make the playoffs, what are they gonna do? Chances are, of the 8 teams that make the post-season, the Phils are not gonna be the luckiest, or the best. So why do I do it any more? That is a sound question. I've got a job now. I've got a life that requires time and effort, things I can no longer afford to waste on some stupid childish fantasy of hopefully witnessing a parade down Broad St.
So I thought about it. If I'm gonna have time to grow up, and mature, then I'm gonna have to make some sacrifices. I can't watch MLB.tv games during work, can't obsess over news feeds and blogs. I want to do well at my job and get a better job. I want to read more. I want to travel more. I want to learn more. I want to get in shape. I want to focus on self-improvement, and all being a fan of the Phillies has done is made me focus on self-destruction. Yeah, they've provided me some of the best moments in my life, but after those moments pass, I realize how empty it was for me to be rooting for 25 paid mercenaries just because they happen to wear the uniform of the team I used to like.
All the reasons are there. I guess I finally just came to admit it. I, Zhi Qiao, effective immediately, on this day, do give up on the Philadelphia Phillies. There's no reason to be happy when they win, or sad when they lose. I won't watch them, listen to them, or read about them any more. It's just too painful. Oh, I'll maybe catch a game here and there, but it won't matter who is playing. I just want to watch baseball now socially, casually. I won't care to be right all the time about sports, it's just a game. I think I'll just root for whatever team happens to be the most local to me, just for kicks. That is the best strategy now, changing teams isn't so bad.
I think this will be good for me. I'll have more time to enjoy the other pursuits in life. I think this may also carry over into my other obsession, the Eagles. They are even more of a time-suck. Yeah, I feel better already! More time, less stress. I love it.
So I thought about it. If I'm gonna have time to grow up, and mature, then I'm gonna have to make some sacrifices. I can't watch MLB.tv games during work, can't obsess over news feeds and blogs. I want to do well at my job and get a better job. I want to read more. I want to travel more. I want to learn more. I want to get in shape. I want to focus on self-improvement, and all being a fan of the Phillies has done is made me focus on self-destruction. Yeah, they've provided me some of the best moments in my life, but after those moments pass, I realize how empty it was for me to be rooting for 25 paid mercenaries just because they happen to wear the uniform of the team I used to like.
All the reasons are there. I guess I finally just came to admit it. I, Zhi Qiao, effective immediately, on this day, do give up on the Philadelphia Phillies. There's no reason to be happy when they win, or sad when they lose. I won't watch them, listen to them, or read about them any more. It's just too painful. Oh, I'll maybe catch a game here and there, but it won't matter who is playing. I just want to watch baseball now socially, casually. I won't care to be right all the time about sports, it's just a game. I think I'll just root for whatever team happens to be the most local to me, just for kicks. That is the best strategy now, changing teams isn't so bad.
I think this will be good for me. I'll have more time to enjoy the other pursuits in life. I think this may also carry over into my other obsession, the Eagles. They are even more of a time-suck. Yeah, I feel better already! More time, less stress. I love it.
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