Guest Interview: Daniel Wang

This is the erection of a new series of “Guest Interviews” where we get to know some of the most interesting people in the world: my friends.

Guest Interview # 1: Daniel Wang aka DYW21

Background: I have known Daniel since we went to high school together at Langham Creek.  Possibly before that at Labay Jr. High, but we were not friends.  Through the years we have become inseparable (aka ”Samiel Mang”).  We met through mutual classes and really bonded through our joint coup and subsequent rape of Junior Achievement our senior year.  Together we also formed our high school’s first and only Asian Culture Club, which lasted a fantastic 2 meetings before it was promptly dissolved.

To be fair, we also created a much more long-lasting club called Homo-Erotica (Hereafter known as “HE”) and began initiating members by stabbing random students and strangers in their crotch regions (aka “cu”).

Interesting antedote: Once during high school, Daniel came to my church as a visitor.  Feeling rather comfortable in the church enviornment, he proceeded to yell out, “Hey Sam, check this out!” He then whipped out his car keys and promptly stabbed a stranger (BTH) in the cu, and then twisted the key while making a noise to simulate  a car ignition.  Long story short. We had a great laugh, and then I had to have a long, awkward talk with the youth pastor. He began with, “So tell me about this new trend you are starting…”

Daniel is now 25 years old and working at a rather unsatisfying but high paying job at Shell in Houston, TX.  He is currently dating Loan Lam, his girlfriend of approx. 1.5 years, who works for Deloitte Consulting. Daniel has an outgoing, energetic personality, and I think that will come through in the following interview.  Joining me on the question barrage – all the way from sunny California - is Timmy Chui (we’ll interview him later).

Énjoy!

Interviewers: Sam (S), Timmy (T)

Interviewee:  Daniel (D)

D: Hi guys, my name is Daniel Wang and I’m glad to be here today. I’m excited to get this interview started.

T: Thanks for joining us Daniel. How much do you weigh?

D: I’m currently around 197, I’ve really been working to slim down but am often impeded by my love of food. I was around 202 3 months ago, it’s been a long, slow and arduous process.

T: Wow, that’s quite heavy.

D: F you timmy (Censored, my sisters read this blog)

S. Are you ever self conscious about your weight?

D: Aren’t we all? I always feel like I could be quicker, jump higher on the basketball courts if I could shed some of these extra pounds

S. Define your ideal woman

D: Well, Sam, I gotta say I’ve given this a lotta thought since I’ve been dating Loan. I would want my ideal woman to be easy going, fun, low maitenence, fun as hell, and hotter than sin.

T: Describe your ideal job.

D: My ideal job would involve waking up late because I can. Working on my own schedule. Working with my friends/family (i.e. ppl I care about) to accomplish goals and tasks. It would be lucrative, and it would involve helping ppl and equalizing social inequities. It also would hopefully capitalize on some of the things I do well such as negotiation or speaking.

S. Try to name an actual job that does those things

D: Sam Mar’s dad seems to have this job as the founder of P-ACM.

S. Define in your own words “success”

D: Success is being able to do those things I just listed. Having my health and health of those I love, a family, and security, Providing security for the future generations of my family. That and owning the Houston Rockets.

T: If you could eat any food right now, what would it be?

D: Bejing Duck from “quanjude”. Look it up.

S. What is your dream car?

D: The car I will first buy now when I strike it rich will be a Lexus GS350, I think. It’s not my dream car, but a car that I am currently enamored with.

S. On a scale of 1-10, how happy are you with your life (10 being happiest)?

D: I would say if you asked me this question 3 months ago, I would say 4.5. Ask me today (which you just did) and I would say 6.2. Precise numbers, for sure, haha. But I think in the last few months I’ve really started working towards something. New goals, getting shit done, etc…

S. Name 5 of your favorite foods that come to mind first

D: GOOD one. Dumplings. Pho/banh mi. Hummus/tabouli (cuz I’m eating it now). Chinese food in general like peking duck and garlic eggplant, and of course eggs.

S. if you could stay one age for the rest of your life, how old would you be and why

D: 28-29. Old enough to do everything have some basic life experience. Won’t be viewed as too young, avoid the stigma of being “30″. Physical prime + mental prime?

S. Why do you think the Ford F-150 is so “clean”

D: Just the angles man, the angles! It’s got curves where curves are needed, sharp lines where sharp lines are needed. It is really simple yet elegant looking. I love that classic look. SO CLEAN.

T: What is the most alcohol you have drank in a night?

D: 18 shots. Or close to there.

S. What is your favorite TV show curently, and which character do you feel like you relate with

D: How I met your mother, it’s my current marathon show. I’ve watched almost 3 seasons in 3 weeks. I really don’t identify with any of the characters. But I guess I like Barney’s life the most. Cuz the women he sleeps with are normally hot.

S. Okay, which TV show character in general do you feel like you relate with (any show)

D: I’ll probably say george constanza. His life is so funny. A series of misfortunes that he makes the best of. He’s a fast talker and mildly shady, but hilarious. He sleeps in the office too. Which I dream about all the time.

T: If you had $2000 to spend right now, what would you buy?

D: Golf clubs and golf lessons too. I really need those things. Then the rest of the moeny would be spent on tee times cuz golf is expensive. I already have everything else I need: TV, watch, laptop. If you had bumped up the amount from 2000 I would have said downpayment on a nicer car. Not to abandon my 1995 Honda Odyssey minivan or anything. But it’s getting a little embarassing valet-ing the thing.

S. What is your favorite dessert

D: You know this already. Creme brulee. I think I have tried Creme brulee everywhere. But I love a lot of desserts. Hence why I’m 197 pounds, I guess.

S. if you had to eat 10 of those or none, which would it be?

D: Eat 10. That’s not even hard. As long as I don’t worry about health ramifications.

T: Would you rather eat 15 bowls of rice, or a whole turkey?

D: Whole turkey. I get gravy right? Rice would get so boring/bland. This was an obvious answer if you’re not a woman/idiot.

T: An entire turkey is enormous. And why did you assume I’m giving you gravy? NONE FOR YOU. D:

F you again, Timmy. (Censored)

S. Which sport would you say is for f@gg0ts only?

D: Hmm, I don’t think any sports is for f@gg0ts only. But I guess figure skating would be close?

S. Favorite type of alcohol and why

D: Hmm tequila. Matthew Mcconanahey made me a fan. I associated it with Texas and as to being kind of unique. It doesn’t bother me taste wise like vodka or rum. If we’re not talking liquor I like a good cab, cuz it’s healthy.

S. if you had 1 million dollars, and you had to spend it either on yourself or saving a village in africa, what would you choose

D: Dang, way to make me look like an asshole if I answer honestly, Sam. But in all seriousness, could I take the money…do something with it. Invest it? So I’d take the money, then invest it, even a CD with guaranteed returns would be okay. And then I’d give a portion of it to save a portion of the village. This would have been a lot easier if it was a Chinese village.

S. Would you rather have a lot of money or be famous for doing something awesome and valuable to the world (nobel prize style)

D: Definitely famous for doing something awesome and valuable. Two reason…first of all you can MAKE money once you’re famous and doing something awesome….public speaker clinton style? And second of all, then you live on in eternity. Because of your acheivements that EVERY knows about.

S. No, they are mutually exclusive…you will be moderately high income & famous (sub 200k salary), but not filthy rich

D: I’ll still take the moderately high income & famous. 200k is A LOT of money….especially if you are going to eternalized forever in your acheievments.

S. Do you believe in Karma, can you give an example of it happening in your life?

D: Yeah, I for sure do. Everytime me and Sam Yee bet things, I talk mess to Sam Yee/get too cocky, I ended up losing a lot of money to him. He once said it best, “once you say something too cocky…it’s bad news bears”

T: If you could kill any animal with your bare hands, what would it be?

D: Hmmm, probably a honey badger. World’s most fearsome animal. (Correction: Fearless)

T: Would you rather marry somebody who is stupid or boring?

D: Whoever is hotter. If equally hot, then someone that is boring. I have trouble taking stupidity.

T: Please list your top 5 favorite current NBA players.

D: Current? This is easy. Shane Battier, Luis Scola, Yao Ming, Caron Butler (cuz of the whole jail, redemption thing), and Tmac (if he stops dagging us over). Lebron is too cocky, and I hate Kobe after I saw what a cheap bitch he is.

S: In case you don’t know who Luis Scola is…I have created this handy factsheet

T: Tmac makes your top 5?!?!?! Such loyalty.

D: The verdict is not out yet. We’re gonna win a championship this year, plus I still own his damned jerseys.

S. Rank the top three causes you believe in (e.g. curing aids, homelessness, etc)

D: Stem cell research..the ability to recreate organs that your body won’t reject, curing cancer, bridging social inequities.

T: Why haven’t you joined Twitter?

D: I have. I am dyw6484. I’ve had it for 2 years now. Just never use it. Although I did check out and add a bunch of NBA players to my twitter feeds recently around playoffs time.

T: It told me that username does not exist

D: I might be dyw21, then….haha. shows how much I use it.

T: Why don’t you use Twitter? It’s great. It will change the world.

D: okay, i may start. Loan just created an account yesterday. Lonelamb.

S. Who was your childhood hero

D: MacGuyver? The Jack Bauer b4 Jack Bauer.

T: How much money would it take to get you to have sex with a man?

S: you would be taking part in both sides of the penetration

D: Honestly? Ive had this conversation so many times before with Sam Mar. I think if the money is actually in front of me, and assuming this is a “quick encounter” 100k.

S. What is your favorite non-alcoholic cold and hot drink?

D: I love a cold sprite, or orange juice. Orangina anyone? Hot drinks I guess hot chocolate?

T: What is your favorite children’s book?

D: I can barely remember this. But I did read a lot as a kid. I read girly books like Babysitters club in addition to Enyclopedia Brown, Goosebumps, etc…

S. what about Holes? i thought you loved that.

D: I read that during College….It’s not really even a children’s book. It probably meant for middleschoolers. you might as well throw harry potter seires in there.

S. If you could live in any country outside of the US, where would you choose and why?

D: Taiwan. Family and food. Easy. Language barrier would piss me off though.

S. name 3 cartoons you used to watch as a kid. Rank them in order of preference. Which was your favorite character?

D: Simpsons, Ninja Turtles, and Ghostbusters, in that order. I love Homer Simpson.

T: Name your top 5 favorite movies.

D: Shawshank, Schindler’s List, My Sassy Girl are in the top 3. Then after that (not in order) would be love actually, the girl next door, dark knight, slumdog millionaire. But im have trouble picking top 2 from those. I also love all Pixar…like the Incredibles…which might actually make top 5.

T: Top three favorite inventions of the past decade

D: Cellphone…even though that’s been out longer than last 10 year…but it gained prominence. Tivo. and portable harddrives (WD passport)

S. Describe your ideal vacation in vivid detail

D: Hmmm, it would be really long…spanning multiple countries over two months. Just enough time to REALLY miss home, so you’re ready to go back, yet feel like you took a sabatical. It involves doing things with the locals, taking exotic/sick pictures. Involves a challenge like a really tough hike, or scuba dive. Involves sharing it with some people you like a lot. Involves some planning but not too much, so you get to fly by the seat of your pants a little. Would alternate between really nice hotels and not so nice ones. So you’re always appreciative of the nice places you DO get to stay in. Would involve warm weather, and a beach. Lots of seafood, and other culinary delights. Not too much boring stuff like churches/cathedrals. Would not be expensive, so probably not in Europe.

S. if you were a girl, which one of your friends would you date first, and why

D: Jeff Chan probably. Smart, witty, good looking, very fair/reasonable, moderate temperment, classy, will treat you like a real lady. Also, because as a girl, I would be pretty opionated still, so he’s a good balance.

(we’ll interview Jeff later)

S. Name 5 brands you are loyal to

D: Thinkpad cuz of the design of the laptops. Chex mix. samsung/sony…but not really. I actually have very little brand loyalty.

S. You forgot ROCKPORT.

T: and Coca-Cola please.

D: Rockport I love, but I’m not faithful to it, I have a pair of Johnston and Murphys as well as a pair of Cole Haans. Coca Cola is TRUE. I am disgusted with store brand, and always wish pepsi was coke instead.

S. whats the most interesting place you’ve travelled to

D: Chiang Mai. We lived with a mountain tribe over night. That was nuts.

S. why are you so afraid of rats

D: These thigns are so ridiculous! They can jump super high relative to their size, they can fit in holes the size of quarters…are they breaking their bones to fit into the hole or somethign? they carry diseases…i know bubonic plague was fleas, but THEY transported the fleas. They breed like crazy, they chew and gnaw shit to pieces, they get aggressive and bite if feel threatened, they’re just generally associated with very dirty things. I hate them so much.

S. rank the following chores assuming each takes 1 hour: mowing the lawn in moderate heat, washing the dishes after a big party, mopping the floor after your dogs piss everywhere, cleaning your bathroom (bathtub mildew, toilet, etc)

D: I would take the mow. Moderate heat, so that’s good. Feels like I’m getting some exercise / work on my tan. And its only one hour. Then after that I’ll take dish washing…it’s easier. Then bathroom. Piss all over the place is last, i dont like to deal with feces or urine.

S. name the people in this world you would do anything for (lie, cheat, steal, kill, betray all moral principles, possibly commit genocide on an entire race)

D: My immediate family. Loan, Sam Mar, Sam Yee, Jeff Chan, Eva Longoria, and other hotties.

S. name 5 skills and/or hobbies that you would like to be good at but you suck at now

D: Golf. Fishing/hunting. Fixing cars. Ballroom dance. Swimming (so I could compete on Survivor)

S. describe yourself in 3 words

D: Caring, extreme, outgoing (courtesy of Loan)

S. When are you the happiest?

D: When I’m with my friends and family and I feel like I’ve accomplished something. Also when I’m watching a marathon of shows…like an entire season of a really good show like 24 or HIMYM.

S. what are you really good at?

D: Thinking on my feet, bullshitting.

T: We can tell…. “F you, Timmy.” Knew it! (Censored)

D: F you for the 3rd time, Timmy. These answers are from the heart! (Censored)

S. If you had three days to live, and you could do any 3 things, what would they be?

D: Hmmm, as long as they can be questioanble morally. Probably sex up Jessica Alba or any other really hot celebrity. Do a ton of drugs, since I’m going to die anyway. Eat a feast of a meal with all my friends and family, preferably after the 2nd thing, so I have the munchies really badly.

S. If your dog was going to die, would you trade one year of your own life for two years of his/her?

D: Yes. That’s easy too. The dogs are family. They sleep on our beds, eat our food, etc. What good is lviing if you’re not happy when you’re living.

S. Name the things you notice about a girl upon first seeing her (in order)

D: How pretty her face is, her general body (big boobs/skinny/butt), her hair, skin tone.

S. Rank these: Chick fila, bourben chicken at the food court, Arbys, Sbbarro’s pizza

D: Arbys, chick fil a, bourbon chicken, sbbarro pizza. I dont even really care for the last 2.

S. Rank these side dishes: fried okra, rudy’s cream corn, cheesecake factory mashed potatoes with brown gravy, garlic seasoned french fries, chips and salsa

D: rudy’s cream corn first obviously cuz you can’t get that just anywhere. then fried okra, then chips and salsa (cuz it’s healthier than french fries), then garlic french fries, cuz I love garlic, then cheesecake factory mashed potatos. Why is that even on the list, are they that great or something?

S.Rank them: Army, Navy, or Airforce?

D: Marines. You left that out. I would be a marine first. Then airforce, then army, then navy.

S. Marines is obvious- cuz theyre more hardcore

D: Not so obvious, cuz it;s also the most dangerous I think.

S. Favorite type of meat to be in a sandwich/burger

D: Hmmm, I like all meats. But it has to be hot. I guess fish? That’s why I love McD’s filet o fish so much. Too bad they’re so small.

S. Followup on that, Filet o fish vs. Arbys roast beef vs. Chickfila chicken sandwich

D: Wow, good one. I’m going with Arby’s roast beef stuffed with horsey/arby’s sauce. Then chick fil a, with polynesian sauce of course. Filet of fish last, although still a favorite.

S. Why do you not like apple pie or christmas?

D: I don’t like mixing sweet and salty things. And pie to me should be salty…i.e. chicke pot pie. And apple is sweet. I don’t like fruit pies in general. The only pies I like are chocolate silk and pecan. I don’t like Xmas for a variety of reasons. I once wrote a xanga entry on it. But a lot of it probably stems from the fact that my family never celebrated xmas growing up, and everoyne else would always be so happy around that time of year and I would never get that same sense of joy. I hated that growing up.

T: YOU DON’T LIKE CHRISTMAS??

D: No, that’s my least favorite holiday. It narrowly edges out valentine’s day.

T: Do you hate babies and puppies also?

D: No, i love puppies and babies. especially babies around the age of 2 when they’re walking, talking, have huge heads, and are at peak cuteness.

T: Would you keep doing your job the rest of your life if they paid you $300,000 annually? Why or why not?

D: Wow, this is a really good question. 300K is just the right amoutn to tempt me, too. I guess at this point I’m naive and I believe i can do better on my own, so….no…..gosh I’m so hesitant to say that. I really don’t know the answer to this one.

T: Favorite superhero, and why?

D: Superman, he can do everything.

S. what are some of your bad habits?

D: procrastinating, fantasy sports, bad temper when my wrath is incited, packrat

S. why do you think Juliet from Lost is hotter than Kate?

D: cuz she is. blondes have more fun! Just kidding. It’s pretty close, but juliet is pretty.

S: For the readers’ reference…

T: That is a traveshamockery.

D: naw, just an opiinion that MANY ppl hold.

S. Name 3 songs you love as fast as you can think of them

D: dang….Halo, since I’m listening to that right now/this week. Celine dion – power of love, love her vocals, and Save tonight by eagle eye cherry…i will play this song at my wedding, even though they lyrics are totally inappropriate.

S. If you had to change your name, what would it be

D: Something more unique. Max Powers. Just kidding, that’s a Simpsons joke. It would be a name no one had. Or a unique spelling. But I like Daniel….there are far less Daniels than Davids.

S. Do you believe people are inherently good or bad? Discuss why

D: Inherently good. Humans long to be social, it’s innate..we just need it. And the easiest way to be social and ensure social harmony/interactiosn is to be good to one another.

S. Would you rather hang out with T-Mac (at full stregnth- no injuries) for 3 days or have Jessica Alba (pre-baby) grind you in a club for one night (unlimited pictures and video)

D: Tmac. The grind is just a tease. It would actaully be torture. If i can sex jessica alba for one hour, I’d take that over hanging out with tmac for 3 days.

T: Tmac sucks and probably isn’t that interesting, he better say Jessica Alba.

D: see torture reasoning.

S. What do you want written on your tombstone

D: My name and a nice quote my son says about me.

S. can you give an example of the quote you would like him to say

D: “Here rests one of the greatest men that ever walked the Earth. A husband to one, father to three, friend to many, and a savior to all. The world will never forget my dearest father, Daniel Yee-Lee Wang.”

S. If you could only have one sense PLUS sight, what would it be?

D: taste? How bad would it be to not be able to enjoy food? But nevermind, you need touch fool. How can you not have the sense of touch? I would take touch hands down (no pun intended).

S. Would you rather be really hot and sweaty or really cold and freezing

D: hmmm. i used to think cold. but know now the answer is hot and sweaty, since that’s how it is in Houston everyday these days.

T: 5 fantasy basketball sleepers for 2009-2010.

D: Hmmm…nice one timmy. Let’s go with Kevin Love. Actually why am I gonna give away my sleeprs to you…forget that. See you for fantasy season 2009-2010!

T: Would you rather drink a gallon of milk or eat 4 sticks of butter? 15 minutes to do either.

D: give me a gallon of milk.

S. What do you do at Shell? name one thing you’ve learned from working there that you can carry with you in your future endeavors

D: I manage budgets and costs right now. One thing I’ve learned is the value of perception.

T: Top 5 websites visited D: www.slickdeals.net, www.gmail.com, www.yahoo.com, www.espn.com, www.youtube.com

S. do you still love www.postsecret.com?

D: yeah, but I don’t check it every week. but when I do, I love it.

T: What is your proudest moment in the past year?

D: Probably when I finally finished cleaning my room, a 2 year endeavor. I made a bar and everything it’s sick..just hope I can maintain. Cleaning my room seems mundane, but Sam Mar knows how difficult it was for me. Especially to part ways with a lot of my junk.

S. rank your top 5 dim sum dishes

D: Hakau, sumai, la ba gou. (shrimp dumplings, pork dumplings, and white raddish cake). Also gotta have the taro dumpling that has taro inside with the flaky strands/shreds on the outside. Lets round this out with some chicken feet, a staple of dimsum.

T: Would you rather learn 3 languages or 4 instruments?

D: 3 languages for sure. So that would put me at 5, how sick would that be. You can use them anywhere, anytime.

S. if you could outsource one task in your life to India, what would it be?

D: My job at Shell. haha. Then I could get paid for doing nothing.

S. in what ways have you improved or deteriorated post-college?

D: Hmmm…this is a good one. I’m a little more focused and determined. My chinese has significantly deteoriated since college, when i was taking all those chinese classes (oral and written).

D: It was fun guys, gotta run! (not really, but I always see ppl end interviews this way)

S: Thanks Daniel, good job taking time out of your day to do this interview instead of work!

Leave a comment below if you want to get interviewed or be an co-interviewer.