Friday, July 12, 2013
Journal of Summer 2013 Asia trip
Self-inflicted pain
Either I walk yoyo the yellow lab for an hour or I will prep my bike for commute to work. I kept the NBC stock real time on on my ipad and start breakfast reading Mercury News. The breakfast is usually rather substantial, a rich mug of coffee with milk, croissant with ham. I would love some fruit with it but rarely. While I eat, every so often I scan the stock market, if there is movement, I might trade some.
I have been in and out of the stocks of several big-new companies, Bank of America, AIG, RBS, Citi. The stock market goddess has been lay pity on me since the 2009 crash. Most of my asset are from stock purchased after the year. I often make scary bets, hundred of thousands in one shot. So far I am doing fine betting on the very likely of U.S. economy. What surprised me since 2005 is the rise of real estate market in mainland China and Taiwan. When my friend Fong suggest me to purchase an apartment in Shanghai for US$300K, I was incredulous. Now it is around $1M.
After either drive or bike to Monterey Bay campus, it is non-stop of meetings, emails, advising, classes, signatures. I try to walk around every hour also in school ITCD building, but often only get to do so a couple of times per day. The day goes fast, before I know it, it is lunch time, I take a cup of tea and a snack bar. Check the stock market again before it closes at 1PM PST. A day goes fast, I usually have a thing or two that I have to finish that day, although I hate to bring home any CSUMB work, I have to do it at least two days a week.
- to be cont -
Tuesday, July 9, 2013
Keeping journal
Reviewed a interesting poster this morning called success indicator.. most of the item s are common sense. But one criteria caught my eyes:
the successful people keep journal. The failed one said they will keep journal but don't. Well. Better start keeping journal then.
My challenge is there are too many places to keep: this blogger, 3434 yahoo blog, several note books, and evernotes. Since many of them are semi public, and I don't think any media is completely safe, I have been keeping the journal as if they will be published someday.
That would be ding, or can be the worst nightmares.
Getting the oil changed of the old Lexus. It has served me well over 13 years now..still going strong . Just have to clean it myself regularly. Since age 40, somehow I have become adamant on neatness. Very different form my young days.. now I can not standard kids being Sloppy. How ironic.
Wednesday, June 5, 2013
A Poem to my faculty
We are all monks
In the temple of academe
Worship the god of knowledge
Save the students from the sin of ignorance
So please take bring up governance
We are all nuns
Practice the love of wisdom
Dispel the devil of dogma
So when I ask you to work on weekends
So please say no more about unions
We are all priests
Spread the gospel of research
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So please no mention of salary
....
Sunday, June 2, 2013
Enjoy sunday down time. Or not
After commence excitment yesterday, the qientness of this merning felt like discomfort. Sitting in the corner of the living room that I seldom venture to, the house is quiet and inappropriately huge and empty.
Reflecting tthe years past, just realize the struggling time is the sweetest and most savoring memory. And in hindsight, no matter the battles were won or lost, there is always something gained. Maybe I am lucky enough that the godness of fortune usually on my side.
Monday, May 13, 2013
Interviewing for an executive position
Friday, March 29, 2013
Choices and Fates
We all make choices every day. Should we eat the extra large French fries or go the gym? Should we watch the TVs show or study? Should we take a lesson or a vacation?
Each one seems trivial. But the accumulative became our fate, our life and who we are.
Are our parents there to guide us, support us, punish us at each of the teachable moments? The lucky ones have. The unlucky ones either don't have parents around or their parents make the decision not to guide, support or punish.
The luckiest ones do all these for themselves. Bit it is rare. Am I the lucky one? Am I making the right choice for my self? For the kids? These questions bother me often.
Thursday, March 28, 2013
Bike to work and thoughts
Have been biking to work twice a week since Sep 2012. 28 weeks, 56 trips, over 1500 miles. Today, just before the 14 miles up hills trip home, I felt tired. Maybe because I talked to dad too late last night; maybe the years of wear and tear is catching up with me; maybe there is not much to look forward at home; maybe something else.Well, well, take a good deep breath and enjoy the ride. Sun is setting... Time is running out....
Monday, March 25, 2013
Spring break reflection - life is like a dream
Tuesday, February 12, 2013
Passionate words but cold deeds
Got frustrated lately. Not because the unrelenting amount of emails or the work during the bitter midnight, it is because people talk passionately but behave otherwise. I don't know how should I react. Should I pretend I appreciate the words even I know they are hollow? Should I mock their passion and enrage them? Sigh. I only nod slightly and see them going down their shallow pretense.
Friday, February 8, 2013
Powerful Quotes that Speak to Me
"Come back with your shield, or on it." - Spartan mothers to their waring sons
"I expect it will be hard; I expect it will be done." - Japanese Shogun games
"And whatever else history may say about me when I'm gone, I hope it will record that I appealed to your best hopes, not your worst fears, to your confidence rather than your doubts. My dream is that you will travel the road ahead with liberty's lamp guiding your steps and opportunity's arm steadying your way." Reagan, 1992
“It is not the critic who counts, nor the man who points out how the strong man stumbled, or where the doer of deeds could have done them better. The credit belongs to the man who is actually in the arena; whose face is marred by dust and sweat and blood; who strives valiantly; who errs and comes short again and again; who knows the great enthusiasms, the great devotions, and spends himself in a worthy cause; Who, at the best, knows in the end the triumph of high achievement; and who, at the worst, at least fails while daring greatly, so that his place shall never be with those cold and timid souls who know neither victory nor defeat.” Theodore Roosevelt Speech at the Sorbonne April 23, 1910
"Go big or go home." - yours truly.
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The day was much darker today. Suddenly clouds moved in, rained terribly, mood sank. Meetings were filled with useless arguments. Emails ...
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What surprised me most during my summer trip is that several of mine college buddies have retired. Some of them made millions, some just en...


