The adventure is now over....

After three and a half years of paid vacation, it's time for me to look for a new job. On Monday, when I rolled in to work, I was called in by my company President to meet. I thought it was in regards to an article that I asked him to review. But as soon as I saw that it was with him and the CEO, I thought we were going to talk about my request for a pay raise. Well, instead, they called me to tell me that they no longer needed my services as their Director of Public Relations. Wow. What a shocker!

I wasn't disappointed in losing the job. I had pretty much run the entire race for all the public relations duties involved in that job. I got them published in The Wall Street Journal, The New York Times, USA Today, Chicago Tribune, LA Times, PC World, PC Week, PC Computing, Investor's Business Daily, and about 300 other publications, broadcasts, and online news services. I placed my CEO on TV as a regular participant in a talk show (8 times). I also placed both the CEO and President as speakers at trade shows/conferences and luncheons. There wasn't much left for me to achieve.

I was with my company for three and half years, that's eons in the dot-com world. I was employee number four since the foundation of the company. If you count the CEO/Co-Founder as #1, the President Co-Founder as #2, another friend of theirs as #3, I was #4. I had seen many other employees come and go over the years. Many of my friends at other dot coms went through multiple jobs while I stayed at my company. Suprisingly, I watched my company go from one with less than $100,000 per year in revenue to one that generates more than a million per month. I survived a time when we thought the company wouldn't even make it and was on the verge of shut down. and I witnessed our first month of profitability.

I leave the company knowing that is profitable and has been so for more than two years. It is strong and I'm proud that I am able to look back, knowing that I played a major role in the company.

My only disappointment is the fact that this was prolly done because the company hired a new person who is not qualifed to do marketing. He's a total liar who has been sneaky, dishonest and stealthy in his efforts to rearrange the company. This new VP of Marketing has never done marketing before. His career history consists of the following: 1) working at a car dealership as a salesman, 2) working at another startup in their sales department, 3) working for an OEM in e-commerce. He's never done marketing and his MBA was not a sufficient preperation for marketing. He got his MBA at the University of Phoenix (and his BA from South Dakota State). C'mon! For crying out loud U of Phoenix is not even an accredited school! It's publicly traded on NASDAQ, which means the school is more concerned with gaining profits to keep it's stock price up. Anyways, this guy was annoying since day one, he basically threatened to fire several people since he first came. He even threatened to replace me. He gets on these quick anger spurts and tries to threaten or intimidate people.

This guy has "HBF Disease" - aka "High Bitch Factor Disease". Usually it subjects women who can't handle stress and wig out on other people as a way of offsetting their problems. But gay males often suffer from HBF Disease because of their effeminate personalities. This VP of Marketing, who is proudly gay, definitely had HBF disease. He would get angry very quickly and wig out immediately. He was very condescending, telling people like me what we already knew, already had done, already completed. Worst of all, he would do no real work. He didn't do anything that really was productive or constructive for the company. His only tasks every week were to attend every single meeting of the company. Then he would turn around and assign everything to me.

I came to realize that this VP really didn't have any skills and that he was using my work to show other people at these meetings what "he" supposedly did. That was wrong! He was basically trying to get credit for my work. That's when I realized that the only way for him to be caught in the act of his stealth was for me to leave the company early. So in a strange way, it is a blessing that I've been removed from my company. This VP of Marketing will now have to do everything himself. My CEO and President will soon find out that their VP, whom they sided with has no skills.

My overall disappointment is that the CEO and President whom I worked with since day one of the company sided with this idiot VP of marketing who really has no qualifications to speak of. Oh well, it's over now. The CEO and President will soon find out that this VP of marketing is not a panacea, but rather the result of opening Pandora's Box.

Yao Ming needs YOU!

CALLING ALL CHINESE AMERICANS!!!!

CALLING ALL CHINESE AMERICANS!!!!

We should feel embarassed that the Houston Rockets have chosen a white guy to be the interpreter for Yao Ming. Collin Pine was quoted as Yao Ming's interpreter in a recent article on the Associated Press. I remember telling my friend Andy to apply for the job. Andy is fluent in both Mandarin and English. How could the Rockets not even consider him?

Okay, maybe Collin Pine is a basketball fan. Don't you know that Andy is "THE MAN" on the Lowell courts!?!?!?!

Okay, maybe Collin Pine lives in Houston. No problem. There are plenty of Chinese people in Houston and Texas overall.

Give me a significant reason that shows why Collin Pine is more qualified than one of the thousands of Chinese speaking Chinese Americans who love basketball?

Ugh!!!!!

I don't know whether I should be embarassed that my Mandarin wasn't good enough to take that job. Or if I should be upset that Chinese Americans have not been flooding the Houston Rockets office to get that job? Or should I be pissed off that the Houston Rockets chose a white guy over any other Chinese speaking Chinese American?

Ugh.

What's your Myers Briggs?



Eh, what are you talking about? The Myers Briggs Type Indicator is a well respected test that gives you an indication of your personality. The MB test is used in various forums to give people an idea of who they are, what kinds of situations they would best fit, who they would work with best/worst, and how they process information, assignments and tasks. I took it for my career development class at CSM. If you're familiar with the test, I am an ENTJ. You can take it for free online at several sites, like HumanMetrics

The Myers Briggs interpretation of each character type is interesting, although it does sound like an astrological description sometimes....

The ENTJ takes his/her energy from the outer world of actions and spoken words. He/she prefers dealing with patterns and possibilities, and making decisions after considering the consequences of the various courses of action. His/her life is organised on a logical basis. He/she tends to control life, organising systems and people to meet task oriented goals. He/she often takes the role of executive or director, using a business-like and impersonal approach. He/she may appear intolerant of people who do not set high standards for themselves or don't seem to be good at what they do.

How did they come up with this description of Moi? Basically, the MBTI focuses on four areas:

1. Where, primarily, do you direct your energy?
The first question is answered by whether you are Extroverted or Introverted

If you really know me, you'll know that I am an EXTROVERT!

In fact I scored a 28 out of 30 on the Extrovert scale, which means I'm fulfilled 90% of the possible characteristics of being an Extrovert.

What does that mean? Well contrary to the popular definitions, MBTI has it's own set of definitions.

Extroversion is generally associated with being social, expressive, group settings, interaction, outward and action before thought
Introversion is generally assocaited with being private, quiet, amongst small groups, concentration, inward, and thought before action

2. How do you prefer to process information?

MBTI uses 2 measures, to answer this question, either you're more Intuitive (N)or Sensing (S). My test scores show that I'm more Intuitive, but not by much. I'm actually just a 1 on Intuitive, which means I have a good balance of both characteristics when I process information.

Ignore the common definitions for these words. If you're Intuitive it means that:

People who are sensing like to see facts, go through with the experience, live in the present, understand the practicality, grasp the enjoyment, sense the realism, and put things to use.

People who are Intuitive are open to possibilities that have yet to be experienced, open to novelty, look toward the future, have aspirations, pursue development, sense idealism over realism, and are cool with change.

So I guess I'm just smack dab in the middle of this category. I like both.

3. How do you prefer to make decisions?

Either you make decisions by Thinking or Feeling. I scored a 3 out of 30 on T. Although I think I am probably more like a 15 out of 30 in that category.

People who are more T will find themselves analyzing issues, using an objective stance, implementing logic, criticism, acting as an onlooker, deciding on principle for the long term.

People who are more F will find themselves sympathizing with individuals, using subjective factors, personal relationships, and appreciation for a particular factor. A Feeling person will act as a participant in order to make a decision, while looking more at the short term immediate result.

IMO, as a T (even though just a light T), I think F's would be WAAAAAAY to biased to be decision makers.


4. How do you prefer to organize your life?

I'm also a light J. I only scored a 5 out of 30 in this category.

Basically it measures how you like to organize things. Judging is often misinterpreted as being critically judgmental.

Judgment basically means that you like closure and decisions to issues/schedules/meetings/discussions/etc. You like structure and organization to define roles, identities, and projects. A person who's more "J" would prefer control or firmness as opposed to loose definition or inconsistency.

A person who prefers Perception differs from a J when they organize things. They're more open to exploring things. They will even meander into the unknown or trivial matters. They will inquire about different things and have the flexibility to change and spontaneity.

I can see myself as a P sometimes. When I'm having fun with my friends I'm cool with being a P. In fact I can be a P at work too. Those of you who know me, know that I act like a P all the time at work. Sometimes I chat. Sometimes I email. Sometimes I check sports scores. Sometimes, I do work!

I guess that's why I'm a light J. I'm definitely not a stiff who just follows a program everyday. In fact, I get bored really really easily. So I guess I could see myself as P. But then again, when it comes to making decisions in life, I do prefer knowing where I'm going. For example, if I go on vacation or a road trip, I try to pack up my schedule with possible events. But I don't lock them into stone. Also, I like to know what I'm doing for the entire week and pack my schedule with things to do. But I'm always open to changing it if something seems more interesting. I guess that makes me a light J, almost a P.

Short and Sweet

I've gotta blog more frequently. But it just seems like it's a real project to blog a bunch of things at once. It takes up so much time! But Millbrae told me to just blog really short brief snipets because it's easier on the readers and easier to just get multiple entries in more frequently. So that's what I'll do from now on.



So if you don't read my stuff cuz I'm so infrequent. I'll be more frequent.

I know, I know...

I haven't posted in quite a long time! But I have good news for anyone who's an AT&T wireless investor!

I just switched plans from Verizon to AT&T. I know, most people would say I'm sacrificing quality of service for minutes. In some ways, that may be true. But I have 30 days to test for dead spots throughout the Bay Area. Okay, okay, you want to know what 's good for AT&T Wireless investors?

Here's the 4-1-1:

You can still get peak time of 7am to 8pm instead of the crappy 6am to 9pm (that's standard to non-investors).

The minutes are still the same as they are for other subscribers:

600 anytime (peak minutes)

3000 nights/weekends

free long distance

free roaming in CA/NV/AZ/HI



Here's the catch... if you order through AT&T by phone or in an official store, you're stuck with the Nokia 5165(outdated phone!).

But wait!!!!!




I got the Motorola V60t for free because I signed up at WorldCommunications on Irving Street. It's one of those independent retailers who just want to sell. Signed up for the one year plan, instead of the 2 year, that's required by AT&T. Then I called AT&T and told them about the AWE Offer, and whoomp there it is. I end up with the better peak period and the best phone!!!!



Do it if you haven't done it yet!!!!!

"28 and 1"

What does 28 and 1 mean?

I'm not talking about Duke basketball.

I'm not talking about any sports team

Then what the heck is a record of 28 and 1?

Well, it' was my personal record for number of days that I could avoid using a squatty potty in China.

I was so proud of myself originally, with a streak of 25 and 0. But then on the 26th day, in the middle of metropolitan downtown Shanghai, I really had to use the bathroom! I figured I could continue my successful record of finding a regular toilet if I went to a modern shopping center.

I had to push past many people in the crowded mall (New World Shopping Center). And finally I found that bathroom.

UGH! It's a Squatty Potty!

Man, I really had to use the bathroom that day. So my streak of 25 days ended. But I made up for that loss with 3 more days of consistent discovery of real toilets.

Wow....

When I first joined Lumps back in May of 1999 (wow, that long ago?), I was really excited to be a part of a fellowship that I thought would be a part of for a long time. It was the first time I had joined a San Francisco church fellowship that felt like a campus fellowship. Unlike most SF Chinese churches, SCBC is blessed with enough people in their 20s to form a good sized fellowship that actually meets in a "large group" setting. Most churches have a lot of small groups that never meet together in a large group format. Even Cornerstone Chinese Evangelical Church, which has a lot of young people gathers people in small groups, rather than large groups. There's something different about the large group setting that's very different from just meeting with 5-6 people every week.



I'm not saying that small groups are bad. But when you work in an office all week and are couped up in a cubicle, it's kinda fun to meet 50+ people every week. Yes, I'm admitting it.

Silicon Valley Office Life=Horrible social life for at least 40hrs/week.

Those of you who are unemployed get to hang out with each other, at least. That's kinda fun!

Anyways, as I was saying before. Lumps was/is still very special because corporate worship is something you don't get outside of Sunday services and The Rock. Most small groups just have about 5 people and some of them don't even have a worship leader within them. So it's kinda cool to have corporate worship.



In a lot of ways, Lumps feels like a college fellowship. I think it may be due to the fact that the clear majority of the members attended a college fellowship and modeled it based on their experience in school. That's what I liked most about Lumps. In 1999, I had been out of undergrad for 6 years already and had never found any church that offered that kind of feIlowship experience. It was kinda hard when I left college and missed a lot of my friends. I have always felt nostalgic of those days at UCLA. I still love Westwood more than Cambridge. (And if I had to choose a school to identify my "college experience", it will definitely be UCLA over Harvard). The biggest reason why I feel this way is because I had such memorable and personal experiences with my friends in fellowship. Lumps was the first fellowship group that I was a part of that actually rekindled such feelings.

So three years have passed since I first joined Lumps. It looks very different from when I first started. I was in my 20s then. Hahaha. I know. Greg always gets a kick out of announcing "Lumps is a fellowship of 20-somethings" and giving me a smirky chuckle/look. Alright, I'm the ancient person in Lumps.



But actually, it's not my age that makes me feel "old" at Lumps. Instead, I feel "old" because I've watched several transitions in the "makeup" of the fellowship. A lot of people have come and gone from Lumps over the past three years. Timing and frequency is unpredictable. It's not like college, where you could expect certain people to graduate on a 4 or 5 or 6+ year plans. We were aiming to complete our degrees in college and had many similar experiences, studying, fulfilling requirements. But now that we're in the so called "Real World", I find that everything happens randomly, without any predictability. People move in different directions at their individual pace



Back in 1999, Jerry mentioned that "Lumps is a transitional" fellowship. When I first heard, this, I cringed. It made me feel like we were discouraged from caring establishing long term friendships. Many times over the past three years, I've asked myself if these friendships would last longer than the time when we're all in the same city. I didn't like the idea of "transitional" because it's always hard to say goodbye indefinitely. But over the past three years, I've seen several phases of departures. This summer, Lumps will witness it's largest departure as 10 people will leave for school or career.



Let's take an inaccurate attempt to look at "significant departures" since 2000:



2000: JimmyQ

2001: DaveL, JanaH, GaryL, BerniceY, Michelle+Dan, JacobL, KarissaH, JanelleJ

2002: EricaC, GregW, JeffM, CharlesL, TinaN, JasonC, JasonC, WalterW, AliceA, MC, JC, AaronF, KenM, KimY, FeliciaL, JessicaM


2003(expected): ChrisC+AudreyF,TimY(M)+KimC, OwenT+AmyL

As I was saying, I feel old because I've watched people come and go. Being a veteran feels weird because I sometimes wonder if there is a time when I will leave Lumps. Yes, me. I haven't found a specific time or year. But it's something I've wondered about. I don't have a conclusion to make about this. But I just wanted to make these entries to ponder some of the changes in a "transitional" fellowship.

Something familiar...



This Picture is linked here



Have you ever felt restless? I often feel that way with the monotony of professional life. And many of you who know me well have heard my story.


For the past three years, I’ve been asking myself, “What is my purpose here on Earth?? I’ve already concluded that it is not to do public relations for the rest of my life. There’s got to be something deeper, more meaningful, and more lasting in value to God, society and me.


So what matters? Recently, I’ve learned that the only thing that matters to God is that the whole world will one day acknowledge who He really is: our Father, Lord and Savior.


I want to play my part in the Great Commission—to spread the gospel to all nations. It’s only when all nations confess His name as Lord and Savior that God will fulfill His promise to return in His full glory.


This June, I’m traveling to East Asia with a team of people from the Bay Area. For two weeks, we’re going to teach English at a college there and build relationships with the students. I have a passion for the people of this country. I want to be a part of God’s plan for their spiritual awakening.


I can’t tell you all the details about the location or school because we will serve in a country that outlaws our faith. We can’t even teach our beliefs. We can only build relationships with the students and trust that the love of God is evident in our actions and words.


I’m writing to you to raise financial and spiritual support. I need dedicated prayer support and I’m calling for three brothers/sisters who would be willing to pray everyday of this trip (June 1-15).


The trip will cost $1,600—not a measly amount by any standards. I would truly appreciate it if you feel willing to help out. I know our current economy has been difficult for many of us. So I truly appreciate your support. If you can help out, please write the check to “Home of Christ? it’s the church based in Cupertino, California that I’m traveling with. You’ll get a receipt for this tax-deductible donation.


Lastly, I must say that this outreach effort is one of the few things that I really feel excited about these days. But amidst our joy, I have to ask you not to reveal any of this information because of the delicate nature of our evangelism in a country that does not allow missions.

What is the meaning of life?

Ha! I knew I could catch your eyes!

If i knew the answer, I wouldn't tell it you guys on blog! I'd write a book and sell it! Hahahahaa! Nothing in life is for free.

Open call....

What would you guys like to read about?

I've concluded that my blog is not my blog. It's a blog for everyone.

email me at statuskuo@asianavenue.com

I've decided...

to make my site a polling booth. I'll put up topics and ask for people to submit their opinions and vote on various topics. I think people always want to know what other people's opinions are. But they're not always brave enough to ask.



Now we can find out what people really think... Everyone is welcome to submit there written opinions as well... just email me at statuskuo@asianavenue.com.

By the way, I think I'm getting decent traffic on this blog. I had 50 unique visitors in one day last week. I'm averaging about 30 a day!

Thank God for lactose free milk

Instructions: Please Rap...
"The Light of Christ is a blazin’ one . There’s a fight to live right and it’s major son. But the grace has come so we praise the Son . And celebrate Him ‘cause we know what He saved us from." (Cross Movement, Human Emergency Album)

If you've always want to learn how to rap, but felt it was not the Christian thing to do... try www.crossmovement.com!

Huh What? Huh, Huh, Huh! What? What?

Blogging? Why do people post such personal information on the web for strangers to read? I can't post such personal information! If anything this is my space of random thoughts of impersonal nature. I will not post anything that I find valuable.

SAM I am... not the movie. This is a hilarious article about a Single Asian Male who tests out the classified ads for dates Read and enjoy! Article

I have always wondered what it would be like to date a black girl, a white girl or a hispanic girl. That article gives a humorous approach to it all.

What is Statuskuo? Many people think statuskuo is the same as status quo. Do not be mistaken. Status Quo is a latin phrase that means "The state in which anything is already" (Webster's). Statuskuo is a more dynamic phrase that embodies an ever-changing, exciting, entertaining existence. It contrast the static existence of status quo.

Who is Statuskuo? Many wannabe posers have attempted to steal this name. To date, only one person owns this name on the major email services (hotmail, yahoo, excite, and others). Me!

Why Statuskuo? Because it's a fun name to use. It's catchy. It's easy to remember.