Dr. Cat

I am mid-30, male, single. Some people think I am smart, but more think I am a bit out in the left field. I am quite playful from time to time when the circumstance is not critical. Well, it is just me. :D
On the job: I used to be a research scientist working in one of the most filthy rich research institutes in the world. I was literally a jack-of-all-trades in the lab. You can just call me that, or call me a lab manager (and my name is Jack. Go figure that out!). Things I used to handle: from stealing the paper towels to fill the dispenser, to trouble-shoot/repair/replace the turbo vacuum pump of our issue-prone, hybrid-type dumb-ass instrument; and everything in between. Messing with the lab rats was only part of the repertoires in the lab. There were certain aspects of my work that I loved, and others that I was not so fond of. I guess it is just a typical preference profile for most of the jobs, eh?
After several years of waiting (mostly $$$ reasons), and working around the obstacles, I finally started taking flying lessons in September, 2005. Flying is a dream that I have had since childhood. At mid-30s, I finally have a shot to fulfill this dream. Guess it is not that bad, eh?
I have done some stupid things in my young-and-dumb-and-full-of-whatever-you-call-it days. Things that I have tried: distance running (twice marathon finisher and proud of it; although my body type no longer looks like a distance runner anymore. Haha! 8-p); building and tweaking PCs and small SGI computers; and occassinally jerry-rig my Linux boxes. The distance running/cycling thing give me a habit of keep moving and being active. The PC thing is mostly for gaming purpose (well, you can argue that knowing the need of high-performance gaming PCs is helpful for handling the real computational tasks) One time I even pulled my hamstring when switching the motherboard. As far as Linux/Unix is concerned, it is a personal goal to acquire the LPIC (Linux Professional Institute Certification). I don't have problems getting the units up and run, nor do I have problems doing some system and security admin on them. But my level of skill is far behind that of the real gurus/geeks.
(IMHO: eBay is a very good place to buy personal-size Unix box. I bought two of them there.)
Personal vice: I need quite some amount of caffeine in order to: (1) stay functional, and (2) avoid brain farts. It is especially true when I am in the cockpit, flying within the Washington DC region ADIZ, talking to the ATCs, and trying to land my poor little Cessna safely on the ground. I also like to play WWII type First-Person Shooting (FPS) games. Other common vice among guys: sports (baseball mostly; football to some extent; hockey optional); love some electronic gizmos; and like to watch pretty girls (Can't help it. I am single!) Unfortunately I am genetically alcohol intolerant (Thanks a lot, mom and dad!!!), which excludes me from the common bar scenes that most people do. Except that, I have very low tolerance level to loud, unharmonious noise.
By now you probably have found out that I like to say "eh". I am more or less half a Canadian. (Long story, anyway. At least for now.) Like most of the cliché, my life took a huge turn early in 2007. After studying/working in the US for more than 10 years, I ended up returning back to my hometown in Kaohsiung City, Taiwan, and found myself a faculty position in the university that I graduated from 14 years ago. There were lots of "coincidences" intertwined with this arrangement. Don't know what this means, and don't know what will come my way. But I guess I will just take it as it comes.
Before going further, I think I'd like to publicly acknowledge that I am a half-son of a police officer. My "Mom" (godmother) in Cleveland, OH, was a police officer. I will be always proud of her, stride to follow her footsteps in helping people in need. I guess that's probably why I joined the volunteer fire department soon after I finished graduate school. Funny thing is, in my firehouse, we have another dude with a background very similar to mine -- advanced education, yet serve locally. I guess the same kind of mind sometimes aggregate/lump together. Eh?!
SOME MORE THINGS ABOUT ME:
TELL ME ABOUT YOURSELF - The Survey
Name: Jack, a.k.a. Dr. Cat.
Birthday: March, 1971.
Birthplace: Kaohsiung City, Taiwan.
Current Location: 22.38N; 120.17E
Eye Color: Brown
Hair Color: Black
Height: 1.72 m (~5'8")
Right Handed or Left Handed: Right handed (they said left hand feels like a stranger.. hee hee)
Your Heritage: Marsian and Jupiterian (Ok, ok, Southeast Asian with a Cleveland, OH, connection)
The Shoes You Wore Today: asics running shoes.
Your Weakness: Coffee; Bach by Glenn Gould; well-educated, elegant ladies (oink! :p)
Your Fears: Let me count the ways...
Your Perfect Pizza: Thin crust, not too much cheese, very little red source, grilled, topped with lots of fresh vegetable.
Goal You Would Like To Achieve This Year: Find a much higher-paid job.
Your Most Overused Phrase On an instant messenger: WTF?!
Thoughts First Waking Up: Eh?!
Your Bedtime: It depends.
Your Most Missed Memory: 3000ft AGL, smooth air, little air traffic, blue sky.
Pepsi or Coke: Whatever that is on sale
MacDonalds or Burger King: Yuck!
Single or Group Dates: Both work.
Lipton Ice Tea or Nestea: Oolong or Arizona.
Chocolate or Vanilla: Both.
Cappuccino or Coffee: Triple-shot espresso.
Do you Smoke: No Way!
Do you Swear: Like a fireman when driving...(wait, I USED to be one...WTF?!)
Do you Sing: I'll do so on demand if you want to torture yourself.
Do you Shower Daily: Yup!
Have you Been in Love: Yup!
Do you want to go to College: Been there, done that, 18+ years ago.
Do you want to get Married: If the right person comes along.
Do you believe in yourself: Yup!
Do you get Motion Sickness: No (Can't get a pilot license with that condition!!)
Do you think you are Attractive: Yup! (What kind of question is this?!)
Are you a Health Freak: No!
Do you like Thunderstorms: It's OK as long as I am not in the cockpit at midair.
Do you play an Instrument: Used to play piano and trombone.
In the past month have you Drank Alcohol: No.
In the past month have you Smoked: No.
In the past month have you been on Drugs: No.
In the past month have you gone to a Mall: Yup!
In the past month have you eaten a box of Oreos: Two bags of Milano in two days. 8-D
In the past month have you eaten Sushi: A lot!
In the past month have you been on Stage: Does lecturing count?!
In the past month have you Stolen Anything: No!
Ever been Drunk: Yup, like a flopping fish.
Ever been Beaten up: Yup!
Ever Beaten Someone up: Yup!
Ever Shoplifted: No!
What country would you most like to Visit: Austria, Germany, Switzerland, France, Italy.
IN A BOY/GIRL..
Favorite Eye Color: Any.
Favorite Hair Color: Any.
Short or Long Hair: Each has its own attraction.
Height: 4'10"-6'0"
Weight: As long as it is manageable...
Best Clothing Style: Casual.
Number of Drugs I have taken: 0-2, prescription and OTC combined.
Number of CDs I own: more than 300, 70% classical, 25% jazz
Number of Piercings: None.
Number of Tattoos: None.
Number of things in my Past I Regret: Einmal ist keinmal...
CREATE YOUR OWN! What Airplane Are You?
You are a BEECHCRAFT B58. You enjoy the simple enjoyments in life. You're not afraid of taking a few chances, but would prefer to live somewhat more on the safe side. You enjoy simple luxury, travel, and conversation. A day soaring above the clouds in one of these is your idea of a fun, safe, and enjoyable flight.
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