Author |
Message |
Kitkat
Member
08-23-2008
| Monday, August 01, 2011 - 9:40 am
I agree with Chippy, that the reason we are talking about Brendon and his degree, is that he is constantly bringing it up and lording it over the others. And Goddess points out that Brendon has apparently done nothing of significance between his bachelor's degree and now at the age of 30 something. I see him doing more talking than doing. If he were truly interested and motivated in a particular field, he would be busting his behind DOING it. He is doing nothing and has done nothing in the past two years to that end. I don't care how much education one has, if you are truly dedicated and motivated to pursue a particular career, you will find a way. It may be through life experiences or it may be through higher education. Both are valid.
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Chippy
Member
08-16-2007
| Monday, August 01, 2011 - 9:42 am
Yeah, it's tough getting a PhD between BB seasons. lol
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Holly
Member
07-21-2001
| Monday, August 01, 2011 - 10:07 am
Well, let's be honest. Does anyone posting here really believe that Brendon is particularly intelligent? I'm beyond amazed that he was even accepted into a PhD program. What school does he attend? Or is it one of those online PhD programs (wink, wink), you know, the ones you can just buy if you have the bucks?
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Kitt
Member
09-06-2000
| Monday, August 01, 2011 - 10:17 am
Carmel is a town. Caramel was the original word for sticky sugary confections but now both caramel and carmel are used, seemingly dependent on where you live. I missed the conversation but it seems a bit like the Jeff neanderthal/neandertahl one: both pronunciations are used. One thing I've learned about the US, there's no one right way to say or spell anything! But back to Brendon's PhD. The thing about a PhD is you live it. It's a huge and integral part of your life, whether you do it full time or fit it around a full or part time job. It takes over your life and I can't see Rachel (assuming they marry) thinking much of Brendon not being there all the time for her. She does not seem like a low maintenance girl.
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Goddessatlaw
Member
07-19-2002
| Monday, August 01, 2011 - 10:19 am
If he's qualified to be accepted into a PhD program for biology or chemistry (I'm not sure which he's after), he has some kind of smarts that I don't have. But then again I was smart enough to get out of ever taking any biology or chemistry but for one biology class when I was in high school (seriously, it is among my proudest accomplishments to avoid those classes. My GPA's would have tanked.) He may have lab smarts, but whatever brain space that takes completely eliminated room for parts of his social development. He's at least somewhat functional socially, unlike many scientists I've met who are just off in an intellectual wonderland that never brings them back down to earth. Do I think he's all that smart? No, I think he might be a competent lab worker, maybe fairly good in a manufacturing environment if he can avoid getting his ass beat by his fellow workers, but he's not going to cure any dread diseases. That kind of work is reserved for the astrally-removed-type scientists.
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Chippy
Member
08-16-2007
| Monday, August 01, 2011 - 10:23 am
Specific book smarts, probably cause he's gotten this far with his education. But, one has to wonder how another human being watches himself being so foolish, reads his reviews, hears what people say about him/them... and then does it again. I'm not smart enough to understand that. lol But, I am a brain surgeon.
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Kitt
Member
09-06-2000
| Monday, August 01, 2011 - 10:24 am
It's Biomedical Physics, he has yet to state his research field but the group do imaging and oncology (link is higher up in the thread). It's not typical physics. I'm sure he's good at what he does or he wouldn't have been accepted, but he'll have to be good and dedicated to get his PhD.
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Holly
Member
07-21-2001
| Monday, August 01, 2011 - 10:39 am
What school, Kitt?
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Landileigh
Member
07-28-2002
| Monday, August 01, 2011 - 10:49 am
Sunshyne, Carmel is a town in California. Clint Eastwood was the mayor there. It's next to Monterey. so Brendan was correct.
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Kitt
Member
09-06-2000
| Monday, August 01, 2011 - 11:00 am
UCLA, Holly. The link to the program is up the thread a bit.
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Calimom3
Member
07-12-2007
| Monday, August 01, 2011 - 11:00 am
Holly: UCLA It's emblazoned on every article of clothing he wears! (& some of Rachel's...)
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Calimom3
Member
07-12-2007
| Monday, August 01, 2011 - 11:09 am
Sunshine/Land: it depends how it's pronounced--- the town is pronounced carMEL, the candy has ALWAYS had 2 ways of saying it, depending on region &/or who taught us the word. I say 'kar-mul' some of my friends say 'care-a-mel.'. Either way, the town of Carmel is NEVER pronouced the same as the candy...
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Earthmother
Member
07-13-2002
| Monday, August 01, 2011 - 11:13 am
I believe he is highly educated as is Rachel, but with that said I know a lot of highly educated STUPID people. Having entitlement issues has nothing to do with being educated. Being a controling creep has nothing to do with education. Being a blowhard has nothing to do with education...all of the above have to do with dysfunction.
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Lexie_girl
Member
07-30-2004
| Monday, August 01, 2011 - 11:27 am
Yeah, what EM said.
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Goddessatlaw
Member
07-19-2002
| Monday, August 01, 2011 - 11:29 am
Carmel Indiana is pronounced like the candy. And what EM and Lexie said.
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Wargod
Moderator
07-16-2001
| Monday, August 01, 2011 - 11:52 am
Funny, Gal, one of the kids was watching Diners, Drive-Ins, and Dives yesterday and Guy was in Carmel Indiana and was pointing out the differences in pronounciation between Carmel, Indiana and Carmel, California. I agree with Kitt's 10:24am post.
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Goddessatlaw
Member
07-19-2002
| Monday, August 01, 2011 - 11:55 am
I saw that episode, Wargod, the food he makes looks grubtastic I'm going to grab my bff and go there for lunch some day.
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Tk27
Member
07-04-2004
| Monday, August 01, 2011 - 12:07 pm
I'm sure he has brain smarts but like others have said not so smart on life. When he had his argument with Kalia. He kept saying I know what is going on this isn't rocket science. No Brendon its not that for sure. But it is a social experiment and just because you might be able to make a rocket doesn't mean you understand psychology. You might want to go to school for that too Brendon or are all psychologists not that smart either Brendon?
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Mummy35332
Member
09-09-2005
| Tuesday, August 02, 2011 - 3:04 am
<77> Where I live Canadians can cross the border daily and work in the U.S., but American citizens can't do the same. Different laws. Brendon isn't a late bloomer. My goodness, he has had two summers with a chance to win half a mil to pay for school or set up his future life. Who in their right mind turns down a 1 in 14 chance at half a mil? To all of you......Why is that wrong? Why can't Brendon try for half a mil when he has the chance? Why does that mean he isn't serious about his degree? Of course he knows jobs are hard to find right now. Why not explore other opportunities and then get back to the academics? To me it's like a great athlete. They can go pro after HS, during college or after college. But they play the sport during college and an injury can prevent them from ever going pro. School will always be there. The chance at big money won't always be there. School will always be there. The chance at big money won't always be there. Do I think Brendon ever had a chance of winning? No, but he might have. I don't believe in crushing dreams.
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Closetfanfour
Member
07-11-2009
| Tuesday, August 02, 2011 - 4:11 am
Beautifully said, Mummy!!! Thank you. <77>
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Flossiebebe
Member
09-01-2005
| Tuesday, August 02, 2011 - 10:23 am
Hey, Mummy, I live on the Michigan/Canadian border and have a friend who is American who works in Canada. I also know know an American who lives in Canada and crosses over to work in the US. I believe it depends on the type of work you do as the latter works in healthcare.
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Sunshyne4u
Member
06-16-2003
| Tuesday, August 02, 2011 - 2:18 pm
he's gotten this far with his education he is FIRST year?? as for brains and ability, my courses weeded people out by semester. out of 60 people we lost about 12 immediately. IF a person didnt have it, they were ousted. I have NO IDEA how the USA does it and if different Univ. have a policy if you PAY you stay?? I just did a quick bit of research about Bio Phys. From what i've seen of Brendan, he is NOT gifted. To be a good researcher, you must be able to think outside the box. Trouble with brendan is he wants to be the leader and make the rules but the rules arent based on any substance. IF he carries this trend on in his studies, he will be weeded out within the first year or so. IMHO
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Kitt
Member
09-06-2000
| Tuesday, August 02, 2011 - 4:40 pm
I don't think you can tell much about how Brendon will do during his PhD from how he is in the house. The course work in the first year or so is much like the final year of a BSc, so he will probably get through that fine, because if he hadn't done fine in his BSc he wouldn't have been offered the PhD position. When it comes to the research part he'll either buckle down and get on with it or not. He's keen and that goes a long way, so as long as his idea is within the realms of his research group then with the right supervision and a lot of dedication he could do well.
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Sunshyne4u
Member
06-16-2003
| Wednesday, August 03, 2011 - 12:47 am
offered the PhD position so this isnt something a person just takes the course? a person has to be offered a position BEFORE passing the courses?? i've not heard of that before.
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Closetfanfour
Member
07-11-2009
| Wednesday, August 03, 2011 - 3:04 am
Exactly, Kitt.
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Needmylifeback
Member
08-14-2000
| Wednesday, August 03, 2011 - 7:45 am
"I must lastly thank all those people in my life who have ever doubted my goals or ambitions, for it is this doubt that has given me the drive to never give up." Last line of his acknowledgments in his thesis... I think this explains a lot!
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Mysti
Member
09-28-2005
| Wednesday, August 03, 2011 - 8:01 am
Sun - you have to apply and be accepted to Grad School just like you do for the undergrad programs. There is a set number of positions to fill. At the school my DD is at, if you haven't finished your PhD by 7 years you are out of the program. Makes sense to me, if you haven't finished by then, move on!
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Kitt
Member
09-06-2000
| Wednesday, August 03, 2011 - 10:26 am
I saw that, Needmylifeback! Says a lot about his psyche! Sun, as Mysti said, you have to be accepted for a PhD, and there are usually only a few places which means you have to be well qualified. Someone on the Questions thread found the name of Brendon's Masters thesis yesterday, and we found a pdf of his actual thesis (I'd feel bad for stalking only I can't see him caring!). The track from BSc to PhD (in the sciences) is usually take a few extra specialised courses and then begin the research which will become your thesis, but as he has an MSc already he might be able to skip some of those courses and get into the research work sooner.
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Needmylifeback
Member
08-14-2000
| Wednesday, August 03, 2011 - 10:30 am
Yep Kitt.. if he believes that the way he was treated (sounds like there were important people to him that didn't believe he'd amount to anything) made him a better person maybe this is why he is so harsh with Rachel... Kind of a skewed view... but not something I'd put in a thesis...
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