I'm writing this on the eve of my 25th birthday. I remember when I was 18 I thought I was already getting old and made a decision that I shall die at the age of 40 because I didn't think I could deal with aging both in terms of appearance and deterioration of health. As I look back on this now I can't help but laugh at my nativity and narrow-mindedness in viewing life.
For the past few birthdays, I've been feeling somewhat bitter-sweet as each one comes and goes. Bitter in that I hoped I have accomplished more than I have in the passing year and also as I come to a greater realization of just how fleeting life is. Sweet in that I have gained more life experiences and hopefully became a better person. Yes, I'm always trying to become a better person, although I can't exactly pin-point what makes one a good person. I guess that definition is rather subjective. But the acknowledgment of one's imperfections is a start and humbleness in dealing with others is also important.
Life is but a dream - time flies by just like that and sometimes you look back and regret the things you've done or worse you haven't done. Yet unlike dreams, we have control over our own paths in life and so my motto for the coming year is, learn from the past, live in the moment and hope for the future....
Thursday, October 7, 2010
Monday, September 27, 2010
Updates
I've being living in my new apartment for about 6 weeks now. It took 3 weekends and around $2000 to get everything set up. I have to say that my place is quite beautiful and have a modern yet cozy feel to it. It's seriously wonderful and relaxing to have place to call my own!
An update on my horse riding crusade. I've been going horse riding every Thursday night and I'm progressing on cantering. I'm also supposed to do the sitting trot, I say 'supposed to' because I think it's physically impossible. During this rather uncomfortable ordeal, the horse is hurting me and I'm sure I'm hurting the horse...we'll see how that goes. Btw I'm still eagerly awaiting for jumping...
My Dell Adamo laptop broke on me, long story short - it's a piece of junk from the beginning. So tonight after some serious thought I got a Mac Pro (although I stubbornly refused to before cos I just don't like the look of it). But it's benefits seem to outweigh my initial and hopefully dying prejudice. 3 years later, when I get my signing contract, I'm going to get my beloved Sony Vaio Z series laptop :) I'll just suck it up for now with a Mac although at $1399 plus tax (and $200 applecare) there really shouldn't be any complaints.
Lately, I feel that I haven't being working hard enough. I've being going into work at 9 and leaving at 6. It would all be very well if I was productive, but I think waking up late really kills my day. Then again, it is SO hard to get up early. This can not keep going. I've decided to work from 8am to 6pm from now on and also come in on Saturdays as necessary. As time progresses, I hope to change to 7 to 6 workdays.
An update on my horse riding crusade. I've been going horse riding every Thursday night and I'm progressing on cantering. I'm also supposed to do the sitting trot, I say 'supposed to' because I think it's physically impossible. During this rather uncomfortable ordeal, the horse is hurting me and I'm sure I'm hurting the horse...we'll see how that goes. Btw I'm still eagerly awaiting for jumping...
My Dell Adamo laptop broke on me, long story short - it's a piece of junk from the beginning. So tonight after some serious thought I got a Mac Pro (although I stubbornly refused to before cos I just don't like the look of it). But it's benefits seem to outweigh my initial and hopefully dying prejudice. 3 years later, when I get my signing contract, I'm going to get my beloved Sony Vaio Z series laptop :) I'll just suck it up for now with a Mac although at $1399 plus tax (and $200 applecare) there really shouldn't be any complaints.
Lately, I feel that I haven't being working hard enough. I've being going into work at 9 and leaving at 6. It would all be very well if I was productive, but I think waking up late really kills my day. Then again, it is SO hard to get up early. This can not keep going. I've decided to work from 8am to 6pm from now on and also come in on Saturdays as necessary. As time progresses, I hope to change to 7 to 6 workdays.
Sunday, September 19, 2010
Space tourism
It looks like space tourism is becoming a reality within the next decade, with Boeing joining Virgin Galactic in this commercial market. Going to space has been a dream of mine since...forever?! That was the reason why I wanted to become an astronaut when I was small with hopes of exploration and discovery.
Now there are flights available at 200k per person for a 2hour Low Earth Orbit (LEO) ride. Where according to Virgin Galactic you will be a 'future astronaut' haha...This is like calling a passenger on a ship a 'sailor', anyway just one of their marketing strategies aimed at rich arrogant folks. People have been going to space and landing on the moon since decades ago. The only differences now are that this will be LEO flight, where the money comes and goes, and purpose of the flight. I want to go to space for exploration and hopefully learn and discover new things for the advancement of human race - which space tourism does not seem capable of offering. But hey, if I have money sitting around and could not find any better use for it for instance my less fortunate fellow human beings, then why not splurge on this indulgence...
Now there are flights available at 200k per person for a 2hour Low Earth Orbit (LEO) ride. Where according to Virgin Galactic you will be a 'future astronaut' haha...This is like calling a passenger on a ship a 'sailor', anyway just one of their marketing strategies aimed at rich arrogant folks. People have been going to space and landing on the moon since decades ago. The only differences now are that this will be LEO flight, where the money comes and goes, and purpose of the flight. I want to go to space for exploration and hopefully learn and discover new things for the advancement of human race - which space tourism does not seem capable of offering. But hey, if I have money sitting around and could not find any better use for it for instance my less fortunate fellow human beings, then why not splurge on this indulgence...
Monday, September 6, 2010
Super sweet chocolate chip cookies
Very random post - but I haven't baked anything (haven't opened an oven) since coming to the states and a couple of days ago I decided to bake some cookies which was quite monumental. I can't exactly say that I made them all by myself cos I got one of those premixed packages. All I had to do was mix a stick of butter and an egg before adding the premix = cookie dough ready for baking. I baked them for 15min cos I like hard and crunchy cookies. The appetizing aroma from the oven was heavenly albeit a bit too sweet. Taste test...what did they put in those chocolate chips!? It has to be the sweetest thing that I've tasted! Nevertheless, I'm very happy with my otherwise tasty and hard cookies and from now on, I shall be making my own cookies rather than buying them. I see some nuts and perhaps dried fruits mixed in in the future and I'll also be making them from scratch.
Monday, August 30, 2010
Trapped Chilean miners
Okay, it looks like the 33 trapped miners in Chile could be stuck underground for another 4 months! Damn, and I complain about being stuck in a plane for 12hours...anyway, the following shows a nice simple schematic of the rescuing process.
First, a 33cm pilot hole is drilled down to the miners' location
Next, the hole is "reamed" with a wider drill to a diameter of between 60 and 70cm. Debris falls down the hole to the bottom
Thirdly, a rescue capsule is lowered down to the men and each is slowly brought to the surface
and I just saw this headline 'Trapped Chilean miner sends wedding proposal to sweetheart'. WTH?! He doesn't even know if he can get out alive, to put his 'sweetheart' through this has to be one of the most selfish things someone can do.
First, a 33cm pilot hole is drilled down to the miners' locationNext, the hole is "reamed" with a wider drill to a diameter of between 60 and 70cm. Debris falls down the hole to the bottom
Thirdly, a rescue capsule is lowered down to the men and each is slowly brought to the surface
(BBC news)
and I just saw this headline 'Trapped Chilean miner sends wedding proposal to sweetheart'. WTH?! He doesn't even know if he can get out alive, to put his 'sweetheart' through this has to be one of the most selfish things someone can do.
Wednesday, August 25, 2010
Imminent collision
Before the smashup (NASA/JPL)This is an artist's rendition of 'an imminent planetary collision around a pair of double stars'. According to NASA, this type of collision is likely to be common around tight binary star systems where over time, the stars orbit each other closer and closer. The resulting changes in gravitational force is enough to send orbiting bodies out of whack.....(http://photojournal.jpl.nasa.gov/catalog/PIA13347)
Isn't this absolutely AMAZING?! It's moments like this that makes me dream about living in the future. People there would be able to travel from galaxy to galaxy and see the wonders and beauty of the universe.
Sunday, August 8, 2010
Furniture shopping and thoughts on religion
In prep for moving into my own apartment next weekend, I went furniture shopping in the last couple of days. I set my budget at $1200 for all furniture including mattress. So there are not many places I can afford to go to. Ikea is the no-brainer choice.
A few years ago, I wouldn't believe how excited I'd be stepping into a furniture store! The things in Ikea are SO cheap but flimsy at the same time (there were woks were $4!). It's a good thing that their furniture seems pretty solid. I went around and noted down the furniture that I wanted on a piece of paper and pencil which they conveniently provided. I heard that Ikea is famous for their Swedish meatballs, so I had to give it a try. I was surprised at the number of meatballs for just $3.99 (one can only guess the meat quality). First one, mmm not too bad, second one, tastes better with all the sauces, a few afterwards, this is getting gross, last few, I was tossing up between whether it's better to throw them away or ending up with a high chance of throwing up. I settled on chucking them away. After lunch, there were suddenly tons of people and I had to avoid bumping into people or stepping onto kids, I started to feel like I was at the airport - not good! I quickly went about finilazing my orders, which actually took about 2 hours. Finally I was ready to tell them what I wanted and have those delivered to my apartment this coming Friday (delivery fee is only $49!). But Ikea can only hold on items for you for 2-3 days, so I'll have to go back this Wednesday and pick out my things then.
Today I drove to Fry's in Anaheim (40miles away) to get this microwave which I really wanted from seeing online. Yes, Fry's is the only store that carries it in stores and the closest one that has it is in Anaheim. I got my highly sought-after microwave. I also got this all purpose toolbox for assembling my bed and dresser etc. I'm so looking forward to it! I wonder if I should enlist some help? No, I'll do it by myself, it's going to be a little hard and perhaps frustrating but I'll appreciate my own place all that more!
I then went on a few more shopping assignments. Outside one of the stores. there was a man preaching to everyone and anyone who walked past, 'Jesus Christ is coming, never forget that!' (I wonder how can one forget something that they don't even know). He reverts between this line and the following 'Jesus Christ is coming, be prepared to greet him!' (hmm how shall I greet him? 'Why hello Jesus, what brings you to our humble place?'). I tried hard not to laugh. Do people not realize that most if not all religions are 'mental institutions' conjured up by those who use it as a diversion for their own purposes, namely control and power?! And there is this reward-punishment system of heaven-hell after you die. How convenient! No dead man can come back and prove or disapprove it's existence. You may say that having faith helps people through the hard times. That is only beneficial for those who do not have faith in themselves. Life is what you make it, you can either pray for it to be better and go through the motions, or strive for it yourself.
A few years ago, I wouldn't believe how excited I'd be stepping into a furniture store! The things in Ikea are SO cheap but flimsy at the same time (there were woks were $4!). It's a good thing that their furniture seems pretty solid. I went around and noted down the furniture that I wanted on a piece of paper and pencil which they conveniently provided. I heard that Ikea is famous for their Swedish meatballs, so I had to give it a try. I was surprised at the number of meatballs for just $3.99 (one can only guess the meat quality). First one, mmm not too bad, second one, tastes better with all the sauces, a few afterwards, this is getting gross, last few, I was tossing up between whether it's better to throw them away or ending up with a high chance of throwing up. I settled on chucking them away. After lunch, there were suddenly tons of people and I had to avoid bumping into people or stepping onto kids, I started to feel like I was at the airport - not good! I quickly went about finilazing my orders, which actually took about 2 hours. Finally I was ready to tell them what I wanted and have those delivered to my apartment this coming Friday (delivery fee is only $49!). But Ikea can only hold on items for you for 2-3 days, so I'll have to go back this Wednesday and pick out my things then.
Today I drove to Fry's in Anaheim (40miles away) to get this microwave which I really wanted from seeing online. Yes, Fry's is the only store that carries it in stores and the closest one that has it is in Anaheim. I got my highly sought-after microwave. I also got this all purpose toolbox for assembling my bed and dresser etc. I'm so looking forward to it! I wonder if I should enlist some help? No, I'll do it by myself, it's going to be a little hard and perhaps frustrating but I'll appreciate my own place all that more!
I then went on a few more shopping assignments. Outside one of the stores. there was a man preaching to everyone and anyone who walked past, 'Jesus Christ is coming, never forget that!' (I wonder how can one forget something that they don't even know). He reverts between this line and the following 'Jesus Christ is coming, be prepared to greet him!' (hmm how shall I greet him? 'Why hello Jesus, what brings you to our humble place?'). I tried hard not to laugh. Do people not realize that most if not all religions are 'mental institutions' conjured up by those who use it as a diversion for their own purposes, namely control and power?! And there is this reward-punishment system of heaven-hell after you die. How convenient! No dead man can come back and prove or disapprove it's existence. You may say that having faith helps people through the hard times. That is only beneficial for those who do not have faith in themselves. Life is what you make it, you can either pray for it to be better and go through the motions, or strive for it yourself.
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