Seriously, Come and Live Happy

How To Be Happy

1 Get physical. Exercise for half an hour three times a week.

2 Count your blessings. At the end of each day, reflect on at least five things you're grateful for.

3 Have an hour-long uninterrupted conversation with your partner or best friend each week.

4 Plant something - even if it's in a window box or a container. Keep it alive!

5 Cut your TV viewing by half.

6 Smile at or say hello to a stranger at least once a day.

7 Phone a friend.

8 Have a good laugh at least once a day.

9 Make sure you give yourself a daily treat.

10 Do an extra good turn for someone each day.

Source: Making Slough Happy, BBC

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I'm trying to do this one at a time.

Live Happy

I found this article in New Zealand Herald last week and have kept it for today's entry. TopSports reported New Zealand's Happiest Places and Rodney District takes the top honour while Waitekere City languishes at the bottom. Wellington is at fourth, behind Rodney, Dunedin and Tauranga. Auckland and Christchurch are in the bottom five of the top 10 list - if it's worth mentioning.

Anyway, the report spans around how people feel about themselves, their lives and their communities. The criterias taken into account are health, satisfaction with leisure time, sense of safety at home in the day, perceived safety of unsupervised children in the local area, balance between work and other aspects of life, emotional wellbeing, frequency of experiencing stress, feeling of isolation, ability to cover costs of everyday life, overall satisfaction with life, and perceptions of quality of life.

Although the paragraph above is, I think, pointless, but I copied it from the website anyway. And, believe it or not, from the report, money doesn't make us happy. Sure, poverty makes you unhappy but once basic needs are met there's little difference between the wealthy and the well-enough off. Which may explain why Auckland is at the bottom of the list.

I guess that's why the article caught my attention. I'm not an avid fan of money. I hate the fact that money is often an issue in life. Money does not make us happy. I just hope that this principle I strongly believe in won't hit me back in the face later in the future when I'll be scraping money for house loans and stuffs.

Approaching Insanity

Id-i-o-syn-cra-sies n. 1. an individualizing quality or characteristic of a person or group, and is often used to express eccentricity or peculiarity

This was discussed during our Easter break trip up to Northland and Auckland last week. Needless to mention who was the subject(s?) in this forum but I shall however reveal the draft theory gained from the outcome conclusion(s?).

This theory models the level of eccentricity of a subject, i.e. a human being, which for the simplicity of explaining this, I will create a scenario to make you relate to this matter better.

The subject wishes to remind herself (yes the subject discussed was a girl haha) that she needed to do something (I can't remember what it was so lets say she wishes to return a book to the library).

Hence, the theory recommends the level of eccentricity of the subject as below;

Level 1: She writes a Post-it note "Return book to the library," on the wall to remind herself in the morning.

Level 2: She adds an extra note "Good morning," above "Don't forget to return the book to the library,".

Level 3: She ends with another note "Kind regards from yesterday,".

Note: Level 1-3 is considered to be mild and can only be discovered with fierce interrogation or preferably close relationship with the subject. Meanwhile the following level is believed to be obvious from distant observation upon subject. In another words, if you think yourself to be included in the following level, you are, well in this theory at least, weird.

Level 4: Instead of a Post-it, she actually go to the post office and posts the notes or perhaps a full letter with stamps and all to arrive on the next day.

Level 5: She then replies the letter saying "Thanks! xoxo".

Level 6: If she (whichever the yesterday or present I've lost track) forgets to send a letter, the other she will write, in anger, "Where the bloody hell are ya?!".

Level 7: A real fight shall occur. One will not reply another until she apologizes. This goes on for several weeks.

Level 8: One of them apologizes and they make up. One of them asked to meet up for coffee.

Level 9: They actually go out for coffee and have a great time at Mojo.

Level 10: Someone (is it the police or the ambulance?) grabs you and send you to the mental hospital.

“Humor is the timeless antidote to life. The beauty of our humanity is that we are imperfect. It is our imperfections and our idiosyncrasies that make us such a wonderfully unique species”

-Tan Sri Lim Kok Wing-

Kids

Kids.

I know I don't even have a wife, nor even a girlfriend, to even start talking about kids of my own. Yet, somehow this thought just suddenly came into mind.

When I have a kid, or specifically a boy of my own, I would want him to like basketball. The first toy that he'll get for his first birthday (and possibly the next 20) is a basketball with a tiny rim in his bedroom. Heck, I would like to try and create this brainwashing technique that soon he will like basketball as how I want him to be.

All the toys in his room will have that basketball-ish theme, i.e. fluffy toys of basketball ball (well, how else can I call it? We have soccer ball, rugby ball, snooker ball and not basketball ball?), poster of basketball legends around the walls, music, or specifically the smooth sound of the ball bouncing on the parquet or the sound of the net when a ball got in or any other sound that relates to a basketball games that will serenade his sleeping night time, air freshener made of the smell of basketball leather or parquet on the court, basically if you get my drift by now the first 2 years of his life will be all about basketball-ish.

Why the first 2 years? I'm glad that you ask. Well, when he reached his 2nd birthday, or somewhere before, I will remove all those basketball-ish stuffs off his room and replace them with all the other normal toys and decorations that a normal baby room should have. The next few months, or years I will raise him like any normal daily life should be and open him up to all the possibilities to allow him to be whatever he wants to be and play whatever he wants to play - as a sporting flexible father as what I would like him to see me.

After a few years, when he's around 4-5 years old, during a family dinner, suddenly,

"Mommy, daddy, can I play basketball?"

And all he knows that he came up with the idea to play basketball by himself.

Trust, Worth and Crap

I just took this one quiz on Facebook, well, among many others lately, i.e. who am I in Twilight (which I haven't watched yet), what kind of legendary creature am I (which is the Dragon by the way, which is, well, you know, kinda cool and all whatever), which Gossip Girl character (why the bloody hell my character is Jenny?!), when will I get married (I got when I'm 32 which is super awesome because I still have lots of time to screw up) , Friends TV Show character (I got Ross which, well, I kinda liked it anyway) and the endless list goes on.

Oh yea, that quiz I was talking about earlier - do I support the National Front or the People's Alliance? Well, I wouldn't want to start by questioning (in a good curious way, not for argument) the questions surveyed so I just go straight away to my result, which is "neither".

Neither.

Am I on the fence? Or the current choice that I have is just simply inadequate? Should I be bounded by the current options? A new Prime Minister of Malaysia has just been appointed last week, as well as the new UMNO Youth Leader. Well, mm, I'm not excited about it, nor I resent the outcome of the interestingly complex process. I am here in New Zealand. I'm not really sure if I am capable of casting any kind of vote or support but I shall choose the easier option, which is to stay back and observe from a distance, without any intention of really analyzing the situation. If the choice made is utterly unpatriotic, well, mm, file a lawsuit and shove it up somewhere inappropriate.

On top of my head at the moment, effective leaders are suppose to have two things; the capacity to lead, i.e. the brain, the energy, all the necessity criteria that makes him or her capable of making the right decision for effective leadership; and trustworthy to carry out the landed responsibility.

A leader can be not that smart but trustworthy. He or she is honest, transparent and all the sugar and spice that makes him or her reliable to handle the taxpayer money. Well, mm, except he or she runs the wrong policy, draft a bureaucracy system which actually will only works if he or she was elected in Luxembourg, hire more not so smart people around to advice him and use electric car simply because it is green to do so (electric/hybrid cars are not exactly green by the way).

Meanwhile, another leader can be a genius but not so trustworthy. He or she holds a PhD in Awesome Leadership from Awesome University and has the ability to turn a desert into an international paradise. However, he or she will only do it if there's something in it for him or her (ahh it's getting annoying to do this he/she non-sexism thingy. From now on I'd just write him or he and we shall all accept it as a universal non-sexism notation). Anyway, he's smart yeah but you can definitely feel that your tax money is not entirely in good hands. Sure he'll build you a bridge, for the non-existing river that he'll eventually give you one as well.

Anyway, of course the actual political scenario is far more complicated than this. Should it be that difficult anyway? Well, perhaps it should, and we as committed citizens should learn all this crap, At least, for now, I know I'm not that fond of the National Party in New Zealand because of the weak sustainability policies, i.e. the ban on gas and coal-fired electricity repealed, carbon neutral public service programme cancelled, etc. Although it won't be enough for a sound decision making, but still, it's a start.

In conclusion (ewah), I think it sucks to have leaders tainted with frustrating prosecutions. It really sucks.

Really, Live Green

Earth Hour.

Well, many of you guys know about this anyway. So I can spare the 400 words of introduction of what it is and just get straight to the point. I, resident at 2/243 The Terrace in Wellington, is one of many of the ignorant people in this city that ignored the campaign. Oh well, I have no reason to why I did not participate in this. Maybe I just simply forgot, or possibly it's not something that is signicant enough for me to pay that much attention to it.

I'm trying to maintain this blog by posting entries at least once a week. This week, I am not that well prepared nor even have any exciting stuffs to write about (assuming anything posted here before actually is). So, I decided to write something about what I do for my research. A bit of academic writing but I'll try to make it relevant for you.

Electricity in New Zealand is generated 54.9% by hydro power, 26.4% from geothermal, 6.9% from coal, 2.2% from wind and 1.8% from others. Therefore, it is safe (I think) to assume that this country consumes at least 80% of its electricity from renewable resources, hence very low carbon emissions.

Malaysia, instead, gets its electricity 67% from natural gas, 17% from hydro power and 16% from others, i.e. coal, MFO, diesel, etc.

I'm not sure what is relevant here but I'm guessing (from my amateur opinion) that the savings from turning the lights off in Malaysia for one hour is equivalent to the same activity in New Zealand, but for only 10-20 minutes, or possibly a lot less. I'm assuming this from the estimate calculation of carbon emissions from electricity generated by both countries. It may also not be very accurate, but I do think the logic is there.

However, raising this comparison is not relevant as the core objective of the campaign is to spread awareness towards sustainability. May I quote from the UN Brundtland Report in 1987 which stated that sustainable development is a development that meets the needs of the present without compromising the ability of future generations to meet their own needs.

So, again, live green?

Or just simply, be considerate, think of others, or at least your future great grand children. You save a litre of petrol today, you'll be providing more for them to use.

Colour Your Life Green

When it comes to sustainability, there are usually 3 things that come in context; environmental, social and economical impact.

...

That's a start for academic writing. Who gives a crap anyway? I do, but you might not.

I think you should, maybe. I found this website that can calculate your impact to the environment. I did it and the website told me that I am living as if we have 2 planets to support me. My carbon footprint is 7.84 tonnes per annum. I'm not really sure what does that mean but I will surely find out soon.

I'm thinking, if this calculations were true, my great grand children can kiss their dream to drive a sports car goodbye, assuming the world isn't planning anything to migrate to Mars.

In a political note, I might only consider to vote a party that promote a strong sustainable policy - if there's any.

Elevator Pitch

It's the final year, I guess. I suppose that's how it is, unless any new opportunities come up. So yeah, lets do it case by case, day by day, one assignment after another basis. Two weeks have passed already. Four subjects taken; one for research, then lighting, energy and the inevitable aerodynamics. All four for the whole year. Not too bad. On average Victoria University students do 3 subjects at a time. Four? Maybe a new challenge. It can't get any easier by the year is it?

I always wonder whether am I up for this kind of programme. The self-doubt is kinda bugging me once in a while but Tommy's always there to remind me, "The hell with it, do or you better off f**king dead dude,".

Anyway, there's one particular thing I find interesting that I just learned this past couple of weeks. Elevator Pitch. It's a good practice for those who's looking forward to be world changers. Okay, imagine yourself looking at your possible client, or a really really reaalllyy hot girl that you've fantasized for the past whole week and she's walking into an elevator. You followed her into the lift and now, you have a whole minute to say anything inside your head before she walks out the door and possibly never see you again.

60 seconds (hoping that it's a very long elevator ride) to tell her who are you, what do you want, what can you offer and finally picture frame your whole idea or proposal to her.

TING!

The lift door open, and what's left is her response as she stares at you from shoes to top wondering what's the deal with this fella. She likes it, and as so delightful you're gonna feel, she says yes. Now that's a successful pitch.

One whole minute, to make a difference. That is the Elevator Pitch. We should all practice that. Maybe.

Warna

I'd guess that most of my close friends know how huge I am a Sheila Majid fan. I love most of her songs and most of the bands that have accompanied her during her long career in music, especially for this past recent years.

Well, I found this video on YouTube.

Rini Wulandari - Warna (Sheila Majid cover)

Oh boy, she sings this song better than Sheila herself (My personal opinion. Sorry Sheila, but I still love you, always, in a fanatic fan kind of way of course, unless you're looking for something much more, we can always arrange something). This girl performed Warna as what the song should be, a colourful powerful composition that tingles you every time she daringly strikes the high solid notes. Oh how beautiful her voice that lifts your spirit high. Great accompanying band too.

I'm gonna listen to this song over and over again.

Hari Kekasih

It's that kind of season I suppose, in the western world, ... well, or for us modernized easterners. I'm a Muslim so celebrating Valentine's Day is kind of non-Muslim-thingy. Hence, the adjusted phrase as entitled above, Hari Kekasih or Lover's Day. So yeah, for us mature and so-what-I-have-other-priorities cool people, we shall continue to wait for that Friendship Day thingy to come (When is it anyway? I googled and got confused. I found that it's on the first Sunday in August and another theory that it's in February. Is it sort of like a back-up marketing scheme that people use to tackle the losers on Valentine's Day?).

And I quote from my previous entry on the same issue last year:

“Just being attracted to someone doesn't mean that that person is attracted back, and few things drive us crazier than wanting something we may not get.”

-The Science in Romance: Why We Love?, Time Magazine-

Hence, here I am now. Still single, but not sad. But hey, love is great when you can share it when someone. Something like great desserts, or spaghetti like in that Lady and the Tramp cartoon.

Anyway, now, I wish to dedicate a special love letter to my future other half, my hunny bunny, that significant other, cream to my pie, the Juliet for my Romeo, Chun Li for the Ryu in me (or Ken?). Who knows, if you're reading this, clueless that we'll be together someday, but somehow at the end we do, and you're actually reading this, fate is silly I know, but I hope you'll remember this because I possibly won't, anyway this is for you.

My love dearest,

I just wanted to let you know that if you lost all your limbs, we'd still be together forever. I mean I really hope that doesn't happen because I think your limbs are pretty great. And when you said my name, it would always sound safe. I would always try to make you smile when you're tired. I know you think that's pretty hard to do but I could do that. And you would never have to be scared to tell me anything. And if you like this shirt, I wouldn't take it off for a month. And I would be more than willing to paint your grandmothers toenails so your grandfather doesn't have to do it anymore. You don't have to save me dear. But I am going to love you for the rest of my life, so things would be a lot better for me if you were around.

Lots of love,
Huggly Wuggly Bear

...

Well, I didn't write that off my own head (I got this from a pretty cool movie. Slow, but still cool. Matt Perry is in it. You can try google it). I do think I could've come out with something more original but who cares. "You complete me,". "I wanna grow old with you,". All the good stuffs have been taken by those bloody romantic Hollywood movies. But, then again, I do believe that most of us still love the clichés. "Sugar is sweet, and so are you" still works. Women get flattered, men get lucky.

As long we're happy, that's all that matters. To you boys and girls out there, celebrate your love. Ladies, if he doesn't buy you enough white lillies, nor compliment you enough how wonderful the way your hair falls in your face, nor just simply not loving you like you should the bloody hell deserve, I'm always here available for booty calls. Then afterward, you can go back to your man, apologize and realize that your man loves you like no one else possibly can.

Sort of something like that quote early in this entry.

Cognitive Psychology

Hypothetically:

“All those who lives in Perak must fill out the Form 3A(b).”

You do not live in Perak. Do you have to fill out the Form 3A(b)?

Well, many individuals who deem themselves logical might answer no to this question. But really, there’s not enough information to assume the most correct response. The possible case is, that maybe you don’t need to do so but actually you may also have to.

When it comes to casual analytical process, we can break it down to series of questions to try to understand our obligations on that particular matter. The process of understanding might educate us to be more considerate of the current issue. However, towards the end, when it comes to urgent counter responses, our ability in decision making is put at test. Hence, is it fair to act without enough information or if it is considered acceptable, should urgent responses be deemed the best solutions?

The point is, our interpretations of language are often inconsistent. When ambiguity may be the source of error but it is us humans that often make mistakes in reasoning, and we make those mistakes over and over again. Hence, how do we, as humans, practice tolerance, under the spirit of humanity, for both side of the one who questions the ridiculous riddle and the one who is supposingly ridiculed?

And oh by the way, this entry must have nothing to do with the current political scenes in Perak. Just so you know.

Although, hypothetically, I could’ve actually used a different state to name here with 14 (or is it 19?) others to choose from. Ah, this is annoyingly provoking.

Hensem Boy

Aku kini berambut pendek.

Sekian.

:D

We're All in This Together

Oh by the way, I just found this video on YouTube. I think it's kinda fun to watch. Well, at least for my friends in Wellington.



Enjoy :D

Dating Resolutions

I was inevitably forced to read this one short article about dating resolutions, well, for men. Being a sexy single man myself, I couldn't help it but to feel that hey, I might can use this. Plus, it might be fun sharing this anyway.

There's a list of stuffs mentioned but I'll just gonna highlight a few. To start, I might want to develop some new dating tools. Be it might I be already a very super interesting guy and all but even the most fascinating people still need to learn new things. Pick up some books on wine or take a vineyard tour to learn the actual process of wine making. If I have an area of expertise, like dancing, don't be afraid to show it off on a first date (Clearly I'm reading the wrong article). Despite the obviousityness that I'd never want to know anything about wine drinking nor I possess even the nearest amateuristic skill of a dancer, maybe we all can get the idea that we, single sexy men, can try learn a little something about what we eat or drink, and earn any artistic skills that may seem faggoty at first but somehow girls like that, silly.

Online dating can be an option too. People, well, this article say that online dating today, isn't as it used to be, the only chance at love for the hopeless, desperate or the socially inept (Yes!). Thank goodness with Facebook, I can go through a list of open resumes (assuming the page is not private, which should be ban) and filter interests, favourite colours, hobbies, etc and save that amount of weeks courting, first dates, getting to know her, third dates, she likes cats you hate it, knowing that the relationship isn't going anywhere, break ups, the new girl, courting and hence, the cycle. Online dating saves time. Yeah.

Owh it also says that it might be a good idea to get a new look. Nothing builds the confidence like a new set of Ralph Lauren's and a fresh hair cut (Really? For male heterosexuals?). Well, I booked an appointment at a saloon yesterday anyway. The sexy hot Asian-European mix stylist took a good look at me and say, "Mr. Pitt..".

...

Thus I knew straight away, I don't need dating resolutions.

Managing Comfort

Humans are very adaptive creatures. If we get hungry, we find food to eat. If we're bored, we find interesting things to do. If we're heartbroken, we shoot that bitch that stole your partner. Humans are intelligent creatures that find solutions to find the right balance in ourselves, ergo, to be happy.

Or comfortable.

Well, I'm trying to fill you into the study of human comfort. We, humans, are not like those kind of birds (I don't know what kind are they) that migrate from one place to another when winter comes. We're not like bears that spend the entire season hibernating, just because it's cold outside (Although I do wish we actually do that). We, humans, adapt to our environment to continue being productive.

There's this website I found during my time of study, I think about 2 years ago. There's this Comfort Calculator you can play around. Just key in any ambience temperature, what kind of activity you're doing and what are you wearing and it'll simulate and display the comfort level using that cute colourful bunny (or is it a kangaroo? I'm not so sure). It think it's fun, heheh.

Here's a simple depiction of the study.


I've never been to Ottawa. I hold no responsibility for the validity of these information. Heheh.

Brad Hair Day

I like my hair to be short. My hair is long now. Maybe I'm still in doubt to spend $20 to cut my hair at the moment. Maybe I like to try to have that hair long enough to have a tail at the back. Sort of like those kind you can find on Hong Kong bad-ass mafias on television (Well I've never seen one in real life so yeah I don't really know how do they really look like). Although I do think I look better in short though. Not that I'm in any prospective position to be superficially good looking to court anyone. This is my time to be sloppy, as I always enjoy being.

I don't have any photos to visually describe this, but here's to share to you dear readers of two examples of hairstyle I've experience. I found these photos in GQ Magazine edition somewhere in 2006. I censored these photos to protect the model's privacy.

Winter 2006

Spring 2006

Well, I guess my best and worst hairdos (to my own preference) to date was cut (or kept?) in the same year. I do think I look horrible during that time in winter 2006. It seemed that I learnt from my own stupidity and came back in the awesomest of style (again, self proclaimed) in spring with my super cool short hair, just in time for Malaysian Night.

Anyway, why suddenly I'm gibbering out this nonsense about my hair (although hair is, as one was told, the crown on our head, or is it apply only to women?)? Well, the thing is, today I went to play basketball at the varsity recreation centre. I hate playing with my long hair. Today, I missed a number of easy layups because my front hair kept poking into my eyes (and I don't like wearing headband fellas). See illustration below:

That's it. I'm cutting my hair this week.

I just installed a scanner to this computer. Heh, it's been quite a while since I last draw anything. This is fun. Another sketch before I leave today. :D

Solution, Vision and Injustice

I was reading TIME Magazine Dec 29, 2008 / Jan 5 2009 Double Issue and there're two things that specially caught my attention; Palin and the Atlantis. Of course Obama and Fey should both be my obvious choices; Barack's cool photos in 1980s during his college freshman year and the photo of the ever adorable Tina in her cute orange gumboots on a vintage red bicycle. I can never stop enjoying Tina's performance in anything at all and the new US president-elect is certainly a major democratic hit. Yet, I find Palin and the Atlantis to be more of my cup of Chinese Tea (Well, meaning that something you enjoy not everyday but once in a while it's very fulfilling, if that even make any sense).

Solution

Anyway, Palin, No.4 for TIME Magazine's Person of the Year 2008. I won't go much into Sarah's or her campaign's political perspectives, as I for one, am not very well informed or intellectual enough to question another's political opinions. However, to quote from the article, "She's fresh, she's phony; an inspiration to women, an insult to them; the bright future of the Republican Party, the cartoon princess of its populist past."

When talking about objectivity, she seems to be the exact solution to what the losing campaign needed. Despite her interesting remarks on her foreign policy credentials, faking her son's birth, or her apparently-I-find-it-funny lipstick joke, she was, in fact, a solution. "The size of the crowds doubled, the money poured in, and in a matter of days, McCain was running five points ahead of Obama,". Although personally I would prefer Zhang Yimou to be ahead of Palin instead of being at No.5 but somehow I have find her to be a plausible fit to this TIME Magazine's Person of the Year 2008 list.

Whether she can make it in the next election or not, but last year, she was a solution to a purely objectified campaign. I like that. Somehow I look forward to see more of her in US future political campaign.

Note: TIME Magazine's Person of the Year 2008; No.1: Barack Obama - US President-elect, No.2: Henry Paulson - US Treasury Secretary, No.3: Nicolas Sarkozy - President of the French Republic, No.4: Sarah Palin - Former US Republican Vice-Presidential nominee and No.5: Zhang Yimou - Director of the Opening and Closing Ceremonies of the Beijing 2008 Summer Olympic Games.

Meanwhile, the Atlantis is a totally different subject. I'm pretty sure many of you've heard of the Burj Al-Arab in Dubai - the world's most luxurious and most expensive hotel to date. Well, the Atlantis is not exactly as commercially patented - arguably. Yeah sure the $1.5 billion resort has awesome underwater Lost Chamber suits (which you guys should check out) and the breathtaking views of the Palm Jumeirah and beyond from the Royal Towers. However. the highlight of this development for me was the partners leading this project; Sol Kerzner, a South African hotel and gambling magnate of Jewish Russian descendent and Sultan Ahmed bin Sulayem, Chairman of Dubai World.

Vision

"We are businessmen from Dubai and we look at it as business. If he is the best Jewish man but has no vision, we wouldn't do business with him, But if he is from Timbuktu with a good idea, we will. What people believe is up to them. And when Sol came to Dubai, he didn't wear a flag that said, 'By the way, I'm Jewish'."

-Sultan Ahmed bin Sulayem-

Objectivity. I applaud the creation of solutions and great monumental things without judgement based on simple empirical observations, without influence of emotions or personal prejudices. I have no intention to justify anything of what any of these people did as only God can be the ultimate judge of what is right or wrong. I just wish to be inspired by great things, with God's blessings.

Injustice

But today, it should not be about us. How can we be inspired when today there're hundreds of people are dying of injustice? Please lend your prayers to God to end all the suffering of all the innocent people in the world, especially today in Gaza, and to bring justice to these oppressive rulers. God bless.

Tomorrow Will Be Better

Today.

I went out doing some house and personal errands. Walking across central city, treat myself a nice Latte with Mrs. Higgin's Blueberry and Dark Chocolate muffin enjoying it by Midland Park under the sunny afternoon. Later, went back home and enjoy a great basketball match up Blazers against the Lakers (kudos who pioneered the Internet TV) with my awesome Big M Edge Iced Coffee and Bluebird Grain Waves "Tangier than ever" Honey Mustard. Tangy, heh. I'm a Spanish basketball fan so, yeah, too bad Rudy and the Blazers lost to a much composed and more experienced Los Angeles Lakers.

I packed my sports gear and went to the Rec Centre. Shot some hoops and had some awesome casual pick-up games. I've been longing to play against quality players and today has certainly be a good day for me, and I'm not even bad myself. Well, just the fitness is really troubling me though. Should I sign up for the gym? Hmm.

Went back home. Had a nice long bath in the tub. Enjoyed my downloaded pirated movie; Stranger than Fiction. Good movie, I well recommend it. And here I am now, writing this. It's been a good day.

Well yeah, it really has been a really good day. And I really wish you all the really same tomorrow. Good night. Really.

Oh by the way, this is my current desktop wallpaper.

Ain't it just really the cutest thing? :D

Janus and His Motivation

It's Friday evening and suddenly, I feel like writing. Maybe it's the fresh air from the backyard a minute ago or perhaps the intellectual after-effects of watching some episodes of Boston Legal. Either way, I'm now in a good mood to pour out something while sipping my favourite Bundaberg Peachee.

How about my new year's resolutions?

Statistically speaking, my success rate of completing my new (well, previously) year's resolutions weren't very convincing that I should even be bothered of making any new ones. Lets see, back in 1999, I wanted to be cool. Well, you know, it was high school and every kid wanted to be hip, or so I believed. Anyway, it didn't turned out that way. In 2003, I wanted to learn karate but truth to be told, I'm still the wimp I always was.

So why bother? Well, I don't know. Maybe out of 10 resolutions made, 3 might turned out okay. Time taken is another thing. I wanted to be a culinary expert in 2005 but today I suppose I've achieved that half way. Mathematically I should be one by 2011. The beginning of 2006 I wanted to look like Brad Pitt but I didn't achieve that till mid year 2008, or was it around October? Hmm.

2008.

I gonna take this time to reminisce a little bit. I spent the earlier half of the year in Malaysia and the remaining in New Zealand. Both times have been remarkably fruitful for me. I have to say last year was certainly a good year for me. Not very perfect, but still good. Among the top 3 I suppose, approximated since as far as I can remember. And many of you who were in it I deeply cherish.

I want to have a better year. I want to improve socially, spiritually, academically, emotionally and more other -ily stuffs if possible. I don't want to be a genius but with no friends. I don't want to have a girlfriend while losing judgement in faith. Wasatiah, the balancing acts of good - as I chose among the many intepretations. I was and always am the jack of all trades kind of guy. Not that I want to say I'm good in everything. I wish to bite a bit of all the food on the table. Not necessarily all though. Possibly just the ones which not too spicy, or chickens only, or perhaps anything that starts with the letter 'k'- ayam kicap, kentang goreng, ketam masak lemak, etc.

The point is, I want to take care as much aspects I can carry in my adult life. With then, I can feel more complete. That, I conclude, my resolutions for 2009. I want to be more complete. There you go, and I wish you readers for a better year as well. Ciao!

Of Being Resolute

Resolutions, well, as in relation to this blog.

1. Write consistently. Not necessarily more frequent. Just consistent.
2. More relevant input. Nothing trivial, but not too significant either.
3. New template. I'm thinking black and white, or red. Silver-ish?
4. Update links, and add some more useful ones.
5. Change photo.
6. More photos.
7. More sugar and spice and everything nice.

Something like that I guess. Oh well, have a great new year dear readers.