WiredAtom

We went to Brentwood this afternoon to pick some peaches. It seems like everyone who’s lived in the Bay Area long enough knows about Brentwood and fresh fruit picking. There are many different farms and ranches for picking various different kinds of fruits. Originally we wanted to go for cherries. But when Grace called, they said the cherry season was over but peach season is in!

The particular ranch we went to was Moffatt Ranch. It’s a family farm specialized in different varieties of peaches, but the only variety that’s just ripened was yellow peaches. So that was what we got today. We got two bucket full of peaches, enough to fill two boxes full. My mom was pretty impressed with the taste.

It looks like I am not the kind of material for a Ph.D. After checking out some of the philosophy Ph.D programs around the country (which is the next level up from MFA without gong into Art History), it seems like almost every program is looking for genius-like candidates. Just the language requirement along shuts me out of the door (usually fluency in French or German is a prerequisite). And besides, most programs want you to already have a MA in philosophy plus A LOT of spare time doing dissertation (unless you get accepted into one of the “good” programs, then they pay for everything so that you can focus on the research).

And also, looks like the “ambition” in getting a Ph.D in philosophy is to get tenure in an university and remain in the academics… not much use in the rest of the job market per se. But maybe that is a good thing.

Back in 2000/2001, I had an idea for my MFA thesis — to programmatically generate art through DNA, genetics or something of that sort. But of course, back then, I didn’t have the technical know-how, the connections nor the time to follow it through.

Over the years, there’s been a few companies built around this idea: DNA 11, DNA Artistry… among others. And then there’s Genetic Art, and Kandid and other genetic-related art projects. But I haven’t really seen one that generates an image based on an URL.

Web2DNA is the first one that converts a website into “dna art”… Neat stuff.

I sometimes I wish I can be just like Moto to do art for a living (not just any art, digital fine art!). But at least someday when he’s really famous, I’ll be able to tell everyone that I am good friends with Motomichi! Hmm… Maybe I should start buying up his “limited edition” prints while he’s still relatively an underground hit (for now).

To stop my mom from nagging about one less thing about the immigration issue, we went to San Francisco yesterday to visit the Taipei Economic and Cultural Office (TECO). She was counting on the fact that she’s friends with an official in charge of issuing passports of TECO office might put my case in a “special circumstances” pile and get special privileges. But of course, no such luck. First the “connection” whom her friend is good friends with is no longer on the post (perhaps she granted one too many favors?). The new head person is tough as a nut.

After the TECO official and my mom had a small chat about the background of my situation, here’s an over-simplification of how the rest of the conversation went:

Mom: Isn’t there anyway around renewing my son’s passport?
TECO Official: No.
Mom: But our situation is really very special.
TECO Official: So is everyone else’s.
Mom: Then this puts my son in a really bad position…
TECO Official: Yes.
Mom: Can’t you turn one eye blind on just this case? (While she’s saying this, there are OTHER people in the room as well.)
TECO Official: No. I can’t do any favors outside of the law.
Mom: But…
TECO Official: No. (Proceeded to walk away slowly… )
Mom: But there must…
TECO Official: No. (Proceeded to open the door as she inched her way to the door… )

So much for a promissory note pending a Canadian Green Card.

But we did learn something “new” in the short 5-minute conversation with the official — they’d still be willing to grant me a three-year passport if I am enrolled in a PhD program before I turn 33.

Holy Christ… More schooling?
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On the way back to San Jose, Bryan was exhausted. So he cried a lot in the car until he cried himself to sleep.

A new strategy will have to be examined if we were to get that Green Card for Canada now that all hope on Taiwan is lost.