Confessions of a researchaholic

2024-08-27

Reporter trying to “catch” employees

Filed under: Real — liyiwei @ 5:14 pm
Tags: ,

I received an invitation for a “chat” from a reporter with a major media company for a story he is currently working on about my current employer.
Per company policy I forwarded the inquiry to our PR (public relation) partner, who told me that the reporter is indeed legit but tends to try to “catch” employees unawares to speak to them on the side without PR.

On one hand I am all for the freedom of press and I have enjoyed their reportings, but on the other hand trying to trip employees up is probably not the most ethical way to obtain information.

So I just ignored the reporter and let the PR handle the situation.

2024-08-23

Fleeting moments

Filed under: Imaginary,Real — liyiwei @ 8:00 pm
Tags: ,

While driving back home on August 22, 2024 evening around 8:30 PM, I saw this impressive pale blue sky with dark clouds. I did a quick drawing the next evening and planned to refine it later. Then I realized that there are many fleeting moments in life that were better captured without further delays.


https://www.behance.net/gallery/206362211/ImpressionOf22Aug2024EveningAround8PM

2024-08-22

Electric Caltrain

Filed under: Real — liyiwei @ 11:02 am
Tags: ,

I took the electric Caltrain for the first time today and found it much quieter and smoother than the diesel one.

https://www.behance.net/gallery/190359367/ExteriorMotoGStylus/modules/1175902253

2024-08-16

Irregular tortillas

Filed under: Imaginary,Real — liyiwei @ 8:49 pm
Tags: ,

During July 23 2024 lunch time, I saw the company cafeteria staff trying to fix the tortillas machine that was doling out irregularly shaped portions which I commented to be still edible and uniquely artistic.


https://www.behance.net/gallery/205732405/IrregularTortillas

2024-08-08

Happy father’s day

Filed under: Real — liyiwei @ 9:19 am
Tags:

To all the fathers out there – from a half father.

2024-08-04

Dream this morning

Filed under: Imaginary — liyiwei @ 2:10 pm
Tags: ,

Arrived at the airport too late, with the boarding pass showing “too late” instead of the gate information.

https://www.behance.net/gallery/206373601/BoardingPassTooLate

2024-07-30

5 parties in one evening

Filed under: Real — liyiwei @ 10:18 pm
Tags: ,

I went to 5 parties between 5:40 to 9:10 pm today, spending a little bit time, eating a little bit, and chatting with a few people at each:

  • a posh bar at a hotel, quiet, high quality food, and a few select guests;
  • a sports bar at a hotel, many people, bar food, so loud that conversation was nearly impossible;
  • rooftop lounge at a chic hotel, open space to dissipate noise for conversation, hors d’oeuvres, medium crowd;
  • sit-down dinner at a landmark restaurant, a few select guests, good food, stayed longer than other stand-up parties;
  • a billiard bar with pool tables, bar food, raucous crowd.

And took some photos while walking between these parties:

2024-07-29

Last-minute paper presentation

Filed under: Real — liyiwei @ 1:22 pm
Tags:

On Thursday right before my flight to the conference, the first author informed me that his visa was rejected and prefers to give the paper talk by playing his pre-recorded video instead of having another coauthor present on his behalf.

We had not received any materials (talk video and poster) on Sunday evening, and it was decided that I would stand in for the fast-forward 10 minutes before the session started.

28 minutes before the start of the paper session on Monday morning we finally received the video. While I was on stage playing the video another co-author brought back the printed poster, right on time for the poster session at the end.

2024-07-18

Trespasser hit by train that I was in

Filed under: Real — liyiwei @ 7:43 pm
Tags: ,

My morning train ride was smooth and I was able to get a good view of a passenger with interesting features for a quick sketch.

https://www.behance.net/gallery/186107513/PortraitsMotoGStylus/modules/1155266287

When the afternoon train I took was about to arrive at my destination station, it stopped short of the platform. The conductor announced that there was a trespasser hit by the train and there would a delayed for maybe 2 to 3 hours, during which nobody is allowed to disembark while the scene is being cleaned up by medical staff and investigated by the police.

Given that the train was already easing into the station, I guess it was probably an accident (someone crossing the tracks to catch the train) instead of an attempted suicide (which logically would aim for train passing through a cross point at high speed).

After some probing around I sneaked to the front of the train car and started to surreptitiously drawing some passengers before the train geared towards the station after a better-than-expected 1.5-hour delay.

https://www.behance.net/gallery/186107513/PortraitsMotoGStylus/modules/1155374999
https://www.behance.net/gallery/186107513/PortraitsMotoGStylus/modules/1155374997

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