There is something our subconscious does very well:
It tells us what we are truly afraid off. In some ways, it's just overstating the obvious, but we can be fools to think that we can hide the truth from our very own selves.
Today, I had a weird dream about some person I like being more distant than ever. I was worried that despite the lack of any romantic interest, I'd soon be forgotten. It's not a particularly unique situation; I believe most normal people have to experience this sorta feeling.
Feeling helpless cannot feel any more helpless.
Monday, June 30, 2014
Sunday, June 22, 2014
The Insomniac's Guide to Sleep
Sleep issues are very common these days, even amongst young ones, mostly due to our societal increase in general stress (of the bad variety), bad diets, and unhealthy habits. I myself get into a bind very often, but these are my top few methods of getting better sleep.
1. A dark, dark, dark room.
Your surroundings need to be pitch black till you wake up (especially for those who sleep late). Most people do not know this, but our body still can detect light through our scalp even if you cover your eyes completely albeit to a smaller degree. Your curtains should not be too thin or bright, and you can always use an eye mask too.
2. Silence.
If you do not have control over your surroundings and cannot exclusively soundproof your room, I recommend earplugs. They come in various varieties from foam to silicon ones, and the best fit will be found only through testing.
3. No heavy meals before bed.
This includes protein rich or excessively huge carb/sugar rich meals, but can extend to dairy products and other stimulants. The best nightcap are small amounts of good fats like nut butter.
4. Environment control.
Make sure there are no mosquitoes around (don't think the blanket will keep you safe because you might roll around at night and reveal skin). Regulate the temperature to your optimum if you are using air-conditioning (especially for us near the equator) and use a humidifier if you get dry mouth too much (a small cup of water near your bed helps a little, but I never found it to be overly effective). If you have to deal with unpredictable weather without air-conditioning, it is better to sleep nearer to the floor and make sure the room has plenty of ventilation especially from the outside.
5. No electronics.
This is probably the most difficult, but it really does help if you stop one hour before bed.
6. Exercise.
Having routine exercise throughout the week improves the body metabolism and signals it to rest deeply. Plus you get fit and healthier so why not. Do note that you might need more than the recommended sleep duration if you maintain a strenuous enough exercise regimes, and not getting it will make your body sluggish.
7. Sleep early.
A difficult preposition for most of today's youths, but our bodies regulate its hormonal system following the natural light exposure, so a human's optimal sleeping time is actually about 10-11pm till 6-7am. Some people are more sensitive than others, and should be a little more strict with this if they can.
Note: There is no such thing as reclaiming lost sleep. Once it is lost it is gone forever. All you are doing after that is recuperating the damage on the body.
1. A dark, dark, dark room.
Your surroundings need to be pitch black till you wake up (especially for those who sleep late). Most people do not know this, but our body still can detect light through our scalp even if you cover your eyes completely albeit to a smaller degree. Your curtains should not be too thin or bright, and you can always use an eye mask too.
2. Silence.
If you do not have control over your surroundings and cannot exclusively soundproof your room, I recommend earplugs. They come in various varieties from foam to silicon ones, and the best fit will be found only through testing.
3. No heavy meals before bed.
This includes protein rich or excessively huge carb/sugar rich meals, but can extend to dairy products and other stimulants. The best nightcap are small amounts of good fats like nut butter.
4. Environment control.
Make sure there are no mosquitoes around (don't think the blanket will keep you safe because you might roll around at night and reveal skin). Regulate the temperature to your optimum if you are using air-conditioning (especially for us near the equator) and use a humidifier if you get dry mouth too much (a small cup of water near your bed helps a little, but I never found it to be overly effective). If you have to deal with unpredictable weather without air-conditioning, it is better to sleep nearer to the floor and make sure the room has plenty of ventilation especially from the outside.
5. No electronics.
This is probably the most difficult, but it really does help if you stop one hour before bed.
6. Exercise.
Having routine exercise throughout the week improves the body metabolism and signals it to rest deeply. Plus you get fit and healthier so why not. Do note that you might need more than the recommended sleep duration if you maintain a strenuous enough exercise regimes, and not getting it will make your body sluggish.
7. Sleep early.
A difficult preposition for most of today's youths, but our bodies regulate its hormonal system following the natural light exposure, so a human's optimal sleeping time is actually about 10-11pm till 6-7am. Some people are more sensitive than others, and should be a little more strict with this if they can.
Note: There is no such thing as reclaiming lost sleep. Once it is lost it is gone forever. All you are doing after that is recuperating the damage on the body.
Wednesday, April 23, 2014
The-Great-Monitor-Blow-Up-Pokai-fication-Scenario
So basically, my monitor went a little haywire a few days ago. It would power on but turn off immediately. I managed to turn it on after several tries, but I know enough to know that this isn't standard healthy monitor behaviour. Googling this issue led me to believe that the monitor is getting old and the capacitors inside are getting worn out.
Although I am still being thrifty in this period of joblessness, I cannot live without my computer, and so after much deliberation, advice from friends and a lot of research through the Internet, I made my decision to get myself a Dell S2440L.
It's really pretty with an edge to edge glossy glass panel that melds the actual viewable area and the bezels prettily, and uses a AMVA panel type, which is a good compromise between the speedy TN and radiant IPS.
I still plan to rescue my old monitor somehow. Then maybe I'll be able to set-up a 2 monitor rig.
Totally geeking out now.
Although I am still being thrifty in this period of joblessness, I cannot live without my computer, and so after much deliberation, advice from friends and a lot of research through the Internet, I made my decision to get myself a Dell S2440L.
It's really pretty with an edge to edge glossy glass panel that melds the actual viewable area and the bezels prettily, and uses a AMVA panel type, which is a good compromise between the speedy TN and radiant IPS.
I still plan to rescue my old monitor somehow. Then maybe I'll be able to set-up a 2 monitor rig.
Totally geeking out now.
Thursday, April 17, 2014
The Few Foods I Really Miss
1. Sabah Noodles
Authentic Sabah Noodles (also known as Tuaran Mee) use similar type of noodles as Hakka Noodles (although they are less springy, flatter and has a more eggy taste), but is fried with eggs, caramelised barbequed pork, roast pork, and a medley of vegetables including cabbage and bean sprouts. The noodles tend to get coated evenly by the eggs with a charred aftertaste, yet still have a slight sticky wet feeling. I used to eat this often when they sold it at a corner hawker shop in SS2, but it has disappeared for a long while already.
2. Yam Chai Kueh
Yam is classically used in the Teochew version of the standard Chai Kueh (Vegetable Dumplings). It consists of a savory yam and dried prawn filling wrapped in a translucent tapioca and rice flour dumpling shell, and is steamed till translucent. I used to find them in pasar malams (night markets) but they now only seem to stock the regular ones.
3. Nasi Kerabu
Fresh herby vegetable mix and kerisik (dried coconut mix) tossed with fragrant blue rice (whose colour comes from using butterfly-pea flowers) and doused with a splash of the trademark sauce (which varies, but typically is made from juices of the bunga kantan (torch ginger), Asam Gelugur, Malaccan palm sugar and fish sauce) and adorned with fish keropok for added crunch. This northern Malaysian dish is usually served with choice of Ayam Percik or your choice of rendang or curry.
I have more but I can't think of them right now, so I'll save them for another day.
Authentic Sabah Noodles (also known as Tuaran Mee) use similar type of noodles as Hakka Noodles (although they are less springy, flatter and has a more eggy taste), but is fried with eggs, caramelised barbequed pork, roast pork, and a medley of vegetables including cabbage and bean sprouts. The noodles tend to get coated evenly by the eggs with a charred aftertaste, yet still have a slight sticky wet feeling. I used to eat this often when they sold it at a corner hawker shop in SS2, but it has disappeared for a long while already.
2. Yam Chai Kueh
Yam is classically used in the Teochew version of the standard Chai Kueh (Vegetable Dumplings). It consists of a savory yam and dried prawn filling wrapped in a translucent tapioca and rice flour dumpling shell, and is steamed till translucent. I used to find them in pasar malams (night markets) but they now only seem to stock the regular ones.
3. Nasi Kerabu
Fresh herby vegetable mix and kerisik (dried coconut mix) tossed with fragrant blue rice (whose colour comes from using butterfly-pea flowers) and doused with a splash of the trademark sauce (which varies, but typically is made from juices of the bunga kantan (torch ginger), Asam Gelugur, Malaccan palm sugar and fish sauce) and adorned with fish keropok for added crunch. This northern Malaysian dish is usually served with choice of Ayam Percik or your choice of rendang or curry.
I have more but I can't think of them right now, so I'll save them for another day.
Thursday, April 10, 2014
홍순각 2 & 3
Just more photos of my favourite 60 year old korean air force pilot. This is what I should aspire to be.
Link to the first post: 홍순각
Minor update for those who would even care: I am currently bumming for an indefinite period now to sort of my various personal baggages and stuff. I hope that it is for the best.
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| 홍순각 2 |
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| 홍순각 3 |
Minor update for those who would even care: I am currently bumming for an indefinite period now to sort of my various personal baggages and stuff. I hope that it is for the best.
Tuesday, February 11, 2014
Have Hookup Apps Ruined Gay Romance?
For convenience (and also to not steal the authenticity of the article), I'll link directly to the write-up:
Have Hookup Apps Ruined Gay Romance?
Oh, and happy Chinese New Year 2014 of the horse! Eyyyyy, sexy lady!
Have Hookup Apps Ruined Gay Romance?
Oh, and happy Chinese New Year 2014 of the horse! Eyyyyy, sexy lady!
Monday, December 23, 2013
Of Breakdowns, Breakups and Brimstones
I'm alive! (Somewhat.)
The past month has been a really rough ride for me to go through work-wise, but it is probably the much needed catalyst to sever the umbilical cord of which I (possibly) (definitely) maintain I never had. At this point I'd rather be dead (semi-literally) (semi-philosophically) (don't worry I'm not suicidal yet and I'm too afraid of taking my own life) then to trudge through this swampy grounds. I had a minor spat with my bosses (and in a company as small as mine, that's large enough a drama) which led me to expedite my leaving the company.
For now, the breakup with the company should happen at the end of January. I still have no clue what to do after that, and I need to at least try applying to various places by now. Tsk.
The continuous conflict between the part of me which is financially unmotivated versus the part of me who wants to at least remain competitive in today's screwed up political-economy is just frustrating, almost paralysing.
I am first and foremost a geek, so I have withdrawn back deeper into my introverted shell and revisited a childhood teenagehood game that is a complete metagame with no clear goals. I can't believe I walked away from it back then, the game is partial genius and continually evolving. There are things I don't like about it, but the community is strong and wonderful. If you do start playing, leave your IGN in the comments and I'll send you a big goodie bag. :)
Christmas is coming and I haven't finished shopping yet. If you see a desperate shopper, it's probably me.
Stay loving. <3
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