Saturday, January 18, 2014

Brain Storm: Things I Should Have Known At 20

If there's one thing I would tell myself when I was younger, it would be "self righteous-ness gets you nowhere". That got me so uptight and socially inadequate.

 

http://theburiedlife.tumblr.com/post/24011465597/20-things-i-should-have-known-at-20

Thursday, January 31, 2013

Brain Storm: The One Left Behind

Spoiler ahead for the short film Time.

So I went for a screening of a few films with the theme "The One Left Behind". You can probably guess what is it about. I didn't really appreciate half of it. But one of it was quite sad.
The film opens with an ex couple sitting facing each other. The guy tries to show concern for the girl. The girl replies to his questions by writing on a piece of paper, as if she can't speak.

The guy ask her how is she. She did not reply to the question, instead she ask him why did he go and why did he not say a thing when he left. The guy replied that he couldn't.

The film switches to the girl's point of view, looking at the corner of the table. The chair of the guy is empty with only his shirt on it.

Back to frontal view, the girl continues to write emotional stuff. She ask if he would stay there for her. He said he doesn't know, only she would know. He promised to be there for as long as he can, but yet says he cannot promise.

She writes if she made him happy. Again he said he doesn't know, only she would know.

The film switches to the girl's point of view. The chair is empty again. Then she stands up, and starts speaking out and apologising that she didn't mean to blame him.

 

I only guessed what really happened at the end when she started speaking out. The subtle hints that the script writer used was quite good. You probably can guess what happened. The guy has died, without saying good bye. From the start, the girl was writing a letter to him because he wasn't there to listen. He said he doesn't know if she made him happy because he's not there to tell her anymore, so she has to believe whatever she thinks is the case, whether she did or she did not.

In many stages of our lives, we live people behind. No matter what your excuse is, when you move on to the next segment of your life, someone is bound to be left behind. Naturally a more powerful occurrence is when you leave someone dear to you, or vice versa.

I guess a lot of times, there are things we take for granted when we're attached to someone, knowledge that we assume to be the truth. When the detachment happens, you wonder things like why did it have to end up like that, what went wrong, and if the whole relationship meant something at all. Even if the detachment did not come from death, it is unlikely that you'll be able to get the answer anyway. Even if you did get an answer, it's probably just a patronizing one.

"Did I make you happy?" No answer, only what you believe it to be.

But I hope I did.

Wednesday, January 09, 2013

Tech Speak: Zombies, Run!

I recently picked up a running app which is for sale in hopes to keep up my resolution of keeping healthy. Like any other running app, it keeps track of your distance and timing. However the key difference is you play missions to make running fun. Zombies, Run! is a story where you're in a zombie infested world (aren't we in all the games?) where you play as a runner for Abel town doing missions which requires you to, well, run. Putting on your ear piece, the app will play the mission out to you during "cut scenes" and in between stories you can choose to play music as well as let zombies chase you. If you choose to let the zombies chase you, you will have to pick up your pace when they get closer. This adds to the fun. You will also pick up items along the way which you can use to upgrade your town facilities such as hospitals. Though the storyline may say stuff like "the zombies are right ahead, you need head right" or "I need you to cut into the abandoned hospital to get some medicine", you just need to keep going straight. No safety concerns here except when you need to speed up if the zombies are after you.


If there's one complaint I have, it's the review of your runs can only be done on their website zombiesrungame.com. However the review is quite detailed as you can see below. You can even see your speed and route. Upgrading of your town can be done in the app or on a browser.


The app cost $9.81 SGD usually and is going at 50% off, $4.90 SGD for "new year resolution sale". The sale has been around for quite a long time so I suggest you get it soon before it ends. There's another version which gives you a training program so that you can reach a running distance of 5km at one go as well. It's quite a bit cheaper and going at 75% off now but I think Zombies, Run! is a better choice.



Zombies, Run!




Zombies Run! 5k Training


Screenshot_2013-01-08-21-08-16


Screenshot_2013-01-08-21-08-25


zombie run

Friday, January 04, 2013

Ramblings: Lousy Celebrator

I think there's something about me being a companion for birthdays. It seems that I totally suck at it. I guess it's partly because of the unromantic-ism that I've been accused of having. The last 3 people I celebrated birthdays with all had a bad time. In fact I think they all forgot about it already. I think people would steer clear of me from now on. When will I learn?

Tuesday, January 01, 2013

Event: Significant Events of 2012

January

1 Cycling on New Year with Qing Song

4 New year KTV with the gang

14 Made Pineapple tarts with Calvin and friends

February

10 Made V-day roses orders

13 V-day dinner 1

14 V-day dinner 2

18 CAC+US concert with Qing Song

22 Tested negative for HIV

March

10 Celebrated my birthday with Qing Song

15 Celebrated our birthdays with Calvin

16 Celebrated my birthday with EE gang

17 Attended NUS Open House

17 Celebrated my birthday with Tsun Wang and Guan Wen

17 Got severe food poisoning

31 Attended HTC One X opening ceremony with Hai

April

1 OG chalet and BBQ

4 Attended Kent Ridge Ministerial Forum

20 Shop for snacks for exams

26 End of exams

May

8 Demise of HTC Desire Z

12 Celebrated Qing Song's birthday with him

15 Meet up with Leonard and 2E4 gang

25 Trip to Zoo with platoon mates

27 Yet Con dinner with the gang

June

2 Wushu gathering

9 Resonance concert Vocal Obsession V

12 Got a iphone 3GS from Jason

15 Met brother's teachers and taught them a lesson for being incompetent

16 BBQ with Turks OG

25 Massage at Roxy Square

July

5 Danny's birthday celebration with the gang

12 Attended senior's commencement ceremony

19 CAC Camp gathering

27 Special Semester finals

August

4 - 8 Engin Oweek with new OG Necro

7 Send Danny off

10 Rag day

20 Send brother off to Japan

24 Send Leonard off

September

8 CAC internal elections

22 Chin Hua's farewell dinner

October

21 Celebrated Hai's birthday with him

27 Went to USS Halloween with OG mates

28 Went for Starbucks members sale

November

9 Send Zuli off

13 - 17 Project Presentations

17 Attended Adeline's 21st birthday party

December

4 End of exams

5 Gathering with the gang

10 Bidding farewell

10 - 15 ICT

25 Christmas brunch at Food For Thought with EE gang

Brain Storm: Reflection Coefficients

2011 was the worst year I ever had. 2012 wasn't easy too. In fact I think it was way worse. But somehow it didn't feel as bad, I think I'm really worn down already. At the tender age of 23? I think I'm still too young to be so negative. But there you have it. Desensitization is bound to happen if events come one after another. Perhaps it's because I have learnt nothing. In the end the year of 2012 was a lousy one cause all I faced was false accusations one after another. At the end of the way I don't even know if it's because I didn't put in enough effort, I was oblivious to the situations, or I simply weren't doing it right. I had enough of the fate shit so well it's time to blame someone. Me or someone else I don't know but enough of the destiny shit. I got to know some new friends but I'm glad I kept them as friends and nothing more. Enough complications with my life right now.

I think from now on resolutions shouldn't be "goals". It's just not gonna work. Instead, resolutions should function like motivations which serve to make you a happier person. It can be long term or short term. If I want to be a better person, I would be able to do that if I'm happier. So first, let's make myself happy and maybe healthier first.

Okay here's the review of the past year's resolutions.

1) Keep fit and pass my IPPT within the first holidays.

Failed and need to do RT by march. Sigh.

2) Study way harder.

Studies have stablized. Not good, but at least I'm not sinking anymore.

3) Hone my focus. This includes not setting expec­ta­tions on things which I shouldn't and setting expec­ta­tions on things I should. Walking away when I’m supposed to, sleeping when I should be.

I think I totally didn't keep this in mind the entire year. I was just cemented into the ground and stuck on the same page not even trying to escape.

4) Man­age my money better.

Well I think in this aspect I did far better this year despite the fact that I had very little tuition and income. Or maybe it's because someone else was keeping me afloat for at least the first half of the year. Maybe.

5) Learn some new skills, java would be good.

Well I didn't learn any skills. Maybe I know a bit more about C but that's it.

 

Right now I'm still dealing with all the problems that rolled over from 2011. Actually they're all over already. But I'm choosing to cling on like the idiot that my evil twin says I am. But hey a boring life is a not fun either. Not that it's fun now. Most of 2012 was a stalemate anyway. There wasn't any game to play except to make myself feel pitied yet dignified. On the bright side, it's not affecting me so much now. For the first time in my university life, I actually understood what I was reading. I think I got used to it already. But I suppose there's enough of a stalemate so far. In 2013, there should be some progress of some form. Maybe not in my emotional life, but it's time to pick up internship and look at how I'm gonna live in the future. It won't be long before I graduate. Let's get on it.

 

For 2013, some goals and resolutions would be,

1) Keeping my health up.

More fruits, healthier meals, more exercises. I think my waist is finally not holding up anymore. Maybe 24 years old would be the gone case year for me. Better watch it. Also thinking of taking up Mix Martial Arts but that's more for me to bash people up. We'll see about that.

2) Pick up a new skill

Seriously, still java. I better start on it.

3) Blog more. Look into freelance writing.

My alternate blog has been under going preparations since forever. Maybe I can earn some income with this.

4) Learn to heck care and accept my situation

I think a lot of times it's less painful to be hopeful and just accept what is happening. Second guessing what is possibly happening is the worst route to go. Assume the worst, shut off the world.

5) Shun unappreciative people

Like people who forget about the big things I do for them. Shall try to be as not petty as possible. But honestly this lack of appreciation is haunting me with angst and emo-ness.

6) Learn to hate

Takes time but with enough darkness I think I can hone love into hate. Let's try.

7) Not be a hypocrite

I need to chant this mantra from now on. I hate liars, so I shall not lie. I hate people who don't appreciate me, so I shall show my appreciation. I hate emotional deceiving people so I shall try not to lead people on.

8) Keep others out of my emotional life until further notice.

Sorry sweethearts, I'll take a year to recuperate. I want to deal with what are already in my hands.

 

I think I should print this out and paste this on my desk.

Saturday, December 29, 2012

Tech Speak: What I To See In The Tech Scene In 2013

I wrote about what I want to see in the technological scene in 2011 http://infinite.acperience.net/2011/01/what-i-want-to-see-in-the-tech-scene-in-2011/
and I missed it for 2012. So here's my take for 2013.

In 2012, we saw that technological advancement is still not slowing down. There was a huge turn out of different mobile devices and the tablet scene is finally picking up the pace. Dirt cheap tablets are coming in. Personal assistant Siri and Google Now had a bit of spotlight as well. Battery capacities are finally starting to increase. Apple played punk by releasing 2 iPads within a year. They also showed that an older architecture doesn't necessarily mean a lesser chip with A6. Frankly 2012 was a disappointing year. I wasn't impressed with a single Android phone. Galaxy S3 Touchwiz UI is still ugly as hell. HTC and Motorola finally unlocked their bootloaders for many phones but it was still difficult to achieve S-OFF with them. Even Samsung and nVidia are still not releasing drivers for the AOSP development community. iPad Mini is a disappointment too. (yeah yeah we all know how Apple works by now, release a lousy device so that they can put in better stuff next year). Windows 8 caused less excitement than I expected. Tablet laptop hybrids are crazy expensive, effectively cranking up the norm prices for a standard laptop again. Windows Phone 8 was still meh.

 

What Should Happen in 2013

1) Flexible Display

Samsung and Apple are getting in on this one so I think we should start to see the first non-straight device in 2013. Can't imagine how a device's screen can bend within the insides bending though.

2) Higher Capacity Battery

With Samsung Galaxy S3 and Motorola Razor Maxx putting in large batteries inside slim bodies, it appears that it is possible to have high capacity batteries in a slim profile. The processors are getting more and more powerful. Bigger batteries would be nice.

3) Custom Processors like A6

I would expect the likes of LG and Huawei to go deeper into custom processors instead of just using the common ones like Qualcomm's in hopes of achieving what Apple did with A6. More variation might have its good but I also expect more problems with apps compatibility and more hassle among the AOSP community.

4) Cheaper Mainstream Tablets

With rumours of a $99 or $129USD ASUS tablet, it seems like everyone is forced to lower the prices of their tablets. It just doesn't seem worth it to get a tablet at $999 anymore if they can do almost the same things. iPad Mini was a big disappointment in the price range department. I suppose Apple makes premium goods for a price but that much more expensive than Nexus 7?

 

What I want to see in 2013


1) NFC adoption

NFC is picking up the pace too slowly. Sure we could put the blame on Apple for not joining the wagon since they would definitely boost the adoption speed by leaps and bounds. But I guess Google should have quite a bit of influence too right? Hopefully more OEMs and credit companies would open up to NFC.

2) Wireless charging

This is just for my convenience I guess. It's getting too little hype.

3) Less devices

More thoughtful designs, less variation please. I think Motorola is heading in a good direction. They only have a few good devices whereas HTC, Samsung, Sony all have a huge range that it's hard to keep up. Before you know it there's a slightly better upgrade to a phone that's a few months old. All these OEMs have mentioned of lesser but higher quality devices but looks like their hands are still quite itchy.

4) HTC to wake up their idea

Yes, I have been a user of HTC for a while. And there's nothing but disappointment in 2012. No LTE in flagship devices, multiple flagship devices etc. Stupid One X+ upgrade though Droid DNA was just nearing launch. These are all crazy mistakes.

5) Higher adoption of LTE

Singapore is finally in the LTE game but there are still way too few LTE devices.

6) Blackberry's comeback

I know nobody cares. But more competition is always good. I would like to see how Blackberry makes a comeback and if those who abandoned Blackberry and tasted iOS or Android would go back or not.

7) Google's smart watch

Google has made a patent on smart watch for some time but we still haven't seen anything yet. Now that there's rumours of Apple and Intel ganging up to make a smart watch, Google better watch out. Time is running short.

8) Google Glasses

The Google Glasses Demonstration during Google I/O 2012 was superbly impressive. If I had the money I would have ordered the prototype. Having a wearable computer in the size of your glasses is beyond cool. Looks like futuristic technology is finally coming.

9) Less patent wars

Seriously enough is enough.

Sunday, August 05, 2012

Ramblings: Maybe It Was For Nothing

"Maybe there was no reason, just belief." That's a quote I just took from my friend's Facebook.

Cynism really gets people sometimes. There's many things in this world to be cynical about. There are many things that perhaps just seem to need too much effort. But I'd like to think that there's more to life. That I shouldn't give up hope of being better, getting better.

Maybe it would have been for nothing. But at least I tried.

Thursday, July 12, 2012

Snippets of my Life: Forever Alone

Le me walking alone in vivocity. Super coincidentally saw Benjamin outside Franc.

Me: hey what are you doing here alone? Shopping alone? So sad?

Ben: No lah I'm meeting my parents for a meal and I sneaked out to around for a while. You leh?

Me: shopping alone...

*truly forever alone*

Tuesday, July 03, 2012

Ramblings: A Year On

I'm now sitting in the club room that used to be mine, 3.30am, alone on the first night of the annual camp. Exactly a year ago, I was sitting in the exact same place. But I had a name to myself then. Now I'm nothing, just a normal person. My words have no weight, my presence causes no concern. A year on and I have fought, fallen and learnt. I have naught but experience. This isn't the life I wanted. But sitting here has showed me that my time is over, at least in this place.

I used to struggle with retaining power after stepping down from any position. But today, I realise why some people don't cling onto their past. Former glory is but former. Time speeds past and then it is a year on. And all I can do is look back and then face forward.

Tuesday, June 05, 2012

Brain Storm: Friends and Life

A while ago I had a chat with a friend regarding the meaning of life. He lamented how life feels empty because he doesn't really know who is still in his life. There's no permanent residents in his life, people come and go, being single and all. The times he meet up with his close friends back in secondary school is few as well. As do I.

I think it's pretty safe for me to say that I have very close friends from secondary school. I have a set of friends whom I make an effort to meet up once in a while. It's true we don't meet as often as close friends would. We all get really caught up in our own lives and we're no longer each others' priority. Admittedly, we even let each other slip out of our minds sometimes. But does it really matter? I think at the end of the day, true friends are those who don't forget about each other and will always be there when I need them. That'll be good enough. I know that when I really need help, I can count on them. And they know it too. When we can help it, we will make an effort to meet up. Sure some of my friends see me about twice a year. But we have already made it a ritual to meet up as soon as one party is free. And that party will haunt the other until he/she agrees to meet up. Such is my life, and I'm satisfied with it.

I think no matter what there will be definitely be people in your life. They may not be as close to you compared to your previous friends, but they occupy most of your time at present. So you can't really say there is no one in your life. An empty shell is what you make of it. Those people you are close to now may go away eventually. But this is precisely the time to try and make them stay, vice versa isn't it? My secondary school friends didn't appear to be permanent residents of my life when I was in secondary school. Maybe I'm only spending time with my university friends because I have no choice since I am in university now. Maybe not. Time will tell.

As we proceed to the next stages of our life, the people in our lives will change. Some will go and some will stay. But I won't be dejected. Just because the previous group of friends didn't work out as permanent residents doesn't mean the next set will be the same. Everyone is different. Superficiality is as far as you want it to be. Of course it depends on the other side too. But your attitude will affect the others, and an effort is neede. And I think everyone need to keep in mind that a few good friends is good enough. Why do you need so many good friends for? For your facebook collection?

Friends are who we can count on in our lives. I think life partners and friends come by a different means. Your lover loves you for who you are, thinks your flaws are your strengths and an overlook your problems. For me, I accept my friends for who they are, but if they have problems, I will condemn it, though I'll still be there for them. At the end of our lives, friends will be our only prized possessions. And only then you can truly see how many lives you have touched during your time. And whether they take up a 1 quarter of your time yearly in your life or merely 1 or 2 days, I still consider them part of my life, never gone.

Brain Storm: Settling

They say "sometimes in a world of a million, all you need is one". But there are 6 billion people in this world. How would you know who is "the one"?

When I was confiding my problems to one of my friends, we came across the topic of settling down. He said that many of his friends had already gotten married and many times it is because those people have felt age catching up and decided to choose the next easiest prey to marry. This concept of settling, in my friend's term, is the act of "making do with something less than you deserve". And many times we argued and discussed the idea of settling and settling down.

He never imagined himself to settle for less in his life. After all, why would you shortchange yourself? I guess there are many schools of thought. Aside from shortchanging, there's also a concern of not knowing until you try, and also if the person is "the one". I'm of course talking about the state of mind one should have when dating or when marrying. Commitment is not just spelled with time and effort, but also sacrifice. I think it's quite possible for one to fall for more than one person. And perhaps there is indeed someone who is perfectly meant for you. But many times a person would not be able to tell if the attached is the one and only. When someone better comes along, hearts are wavered and the main question is, "do I settle?" Would you settle if you can't tell if your partner is the one? Would you settle if you would have never known otherwise how it would have turned out?

Whether you settle or not, you have to be able to convince yourself. How many people can mention true love as the reason to stay? How convincing would that be if someone really good comes along?

But there is no conclusion to the discussion I had with my friend. In the end, time waits for no man. Would you risk the possibility of not ever finding "the one"? Would you break a million hearts just to find one meant for you? Would you not settle for less because you think too highly of yourself? Or is love so blinding that it depends on the intensity?

So we concluded the infinite possibilities.
Perhaps time is of essence, so we should have to eventually settle.
Perhaps there is no right answer, and you would only find out when it happens to you.
Perhaps one fine day, you will realise that a conviction has to be made, not out of pure true love, but out of consideration for both of you.
Perhaps one fine day, you will realise that it's never just about yourself.
Perhaps one fine day, you will realise that you are old enough and wasted enough time.
Perhaps one fine day, you will realise that peaceful bliss is better than a torrent of emotions.

And maybe some people are lucky. And maybe some people are totally unlucky. And maybe one day you'll settle for me.

Sunday, May 13, 2012

.

I'm again reminded of my failure. Thinking back, everything went downhill ever since I went to university.

My grades are like shit, my leadership abilities dipped (if it was even there in the first place), I can't make new friends, I have tons of relationship problems, my finance is horrible, I'm unmotivated, and I can't even plan a birthday dinner properly.

Then I keep wondering why am I such a loser, and how everyone strays from me the minute they know I'm a failure.  Maybe pissing people off is all I know. I lack discipline, I'm not loyal, and I abandon people once I get what I want, I crave like a maniac when I can't get what I want. My stalkerish behavior throws people off, scare others and makes me extremely distasteful. My geekyness turns people off and on top of that, it's not even real geek that I am, all I know is superficial knowledge.

So how like that? Wandering in my life, no aim at all, keep doing things which I know will end up in a deadlock.

Friday, April 06, 2012

Brain Storm: An Open Birthday

107 facebook posts

5 tweets

10 whatsapp messages

3 SMSes

A total of 125 well wishes.

[warning, long and whiny post possibly without much elaboration and overly judgemental, but it'll be even longer if I pen out all my thoughts in details]

I suppose any social person would find that number of birthday well wishes to be puny. But truth be told, this was an overwhelming number to me already as I have never gotten anything more than total number of fingers I have on my hands. If you read my post last year, you would know that my birthday is a date shrouded in mystery. I do not openly publicise my birthday, you will not find any trace of the date on the internet and I dislike telling people my birthday even when they ask, expecting them to find out through some magical way. Yes I do know that 10 is a pathetic number even if my birthday is not on a public domain. While I have no excuses for myself (not a popular or well liked guy, or someone with many friends), but let's face it, many people have become over reliant on social networks to remind themselves of others' birthday. I shall not dwell on this since I talked about it last year.

This time round, I'd rather talk about how I felt throughout the 24 hours. For the first time in my life, I posted my birthday on Facebook. To me, it was a social experiment. Pardon my "excitement" but this is the first time in my life where I actually expected well wishings. In the past, my tardy male friends would either forget or whatnot. So the people who do wish me are generally the same people but it fluctuates a bit. I have long heard rumours of well wishes arising from the "I see the notification on fb so I just wish lor" syndrome and I was expecting it to happen to me.

At 12am, it started. Thankfully the first well wishing was a text not Facebook wall post (else it would be really pathetic). I suppose there will definitely be people who sees it and goes "er, I don't think I know him well enough to care" and yes I applaud you for your attitude. That's how I am too. I don't want to be someone who gave a shit about you on only one day a year.

I managed to spend my day with whom I wanted to, so it was good enough for me (I remember I spent it in a meeting last year and nobody realised it was my birthday until 12am that day). Throughout the day, I kept my Facebook mobile notification on and checked who wished me every now and then. It was amazing to see people whom I didn't even know how they got on my Facebook wishing me happy birthday.

And frankly, it was rather empty too. Granted, most people has a Facebook friend list choked full of acquaintances. But how many of those whom you think would have cared, cared, and how many of those acquaintances cared? It is understandable for many of our real friends to miss our birthdays. I speak not just for myself. I have seen close friends birthday well wishing count go up to 200, out of the 700 - 1000 friends they have. I have also read other people who actually counted their own Facebook well wishings and posted it up. Those also usually go up to about 20% of their total Facebook friends. Mine happened to be nearly 20%. Does everyone only has 20% of their Facebook friends as real friends?

Let's take my case as reference. Out of all my Facebook friends, a small 10% are close to me, a rough 40% are considered friends, some 30% acquaintances whom I don't care about, and the remaining 20% are people who I actually don't know personally, including people whom I don't even remember at all. I used to have strict control on who I add on my Facebook, but I stopped that policy while I was acquiring contacts as the chairperson of my club last year. How many people would believe that the 20% of my Facebook friends who wished me on my wall are from the 50% of my closer friends? I would say that only about 10% comes from that category. How about the other half?

It's true that I have given nonchalant birthday well wishings before. But thinking back, on your birthday, how many birthday well wishings actually made you feel HAPPY when you saw it? I didn't. I wasn't happy at all. I see person A who was a freshman in a camp I organised last year wish me and I wasn't glad to see it. I'm not ungrateful though. I am thankful that I am remembered, though it was more likely that it was a moment of convenience. I am at least thankful that I was given a fuck. I mean, he or she could have easily went "who cares?". What really appalled me was on this day, there were actually people who posted stuff without thinking. There's actually this guy who typed "happy birthday.." and I have absolutely no idea where the hell he came from. If you want to be polite, you should at least TRY to be sincere. How sincere it that dude's birthday well wishing? The fact that I know 50% of the people who posted on my wall are acting sincere is disturbing. The fact that there are at least some people out there who don't even pretend to be sincere is beyond disturbing. The idea creeps me out.

How can anyone take this? I can't. I rather have 10 well wishings coming from people whom I know actually cared to remember than to have hordes of pretentious well wishings. It is unsettling. It made me sick throughout the day. I do know that without a reminder somewhere (ideally Facebook), most of our close friends will not remember my birthday. But that's fine. I don't think it's that important a day to warrant some memory nerves on so many people's brains. I won't pretend that I don't care about my birthday since I was obviously upset by this matter (or maybe just by the fact of the insincerity around). The secrecy of my birthday used to be caused my insecurity about "people know my birthday but they didn't care". I used to think that if they don't know and they forgot, that's less hurtful than if they know (through Facebook) and they still forgot.

Am I just sour about my negative popularity? Maybe. But no, I rather keep my birthday a secret, no thank you. I'd rather count my blessings on my fingers.

Wednesday, February 22, 2012

生活中太多的进退

生活有一百种 - 卢广仲。快二十三的我,生命里好像突然好多好多风波。源源不断,一个接着一个。

有人说,有什么事就问文钦吧。友人问他,'怎么讲?为何问文钦?'。 他说,不知道,问他就对了,文钦什么都懂。

可是我说,不,我不懂。我多希望我懂。在似乎坚强的外则里是懦弱,是疑惑。也可能是心僵硬了。再痛也只是痛。 但人终究是人。你一定看见了,我有的是人的心。那心就在你掌握之中。可能你觉得好玩。可能所有的人都觉得好玩。

我的邪恶守护天使对我说,你人太好了,你用人不值得那对待的态度来对待他们,然后你就一直输着。

可是我说,人生没这么容易。不用拼命的东西怎么会值得,怎么会珍惜?

他说,你看,那观念就是正在毁了你的态度。你有这么伟大么?

我想,对我来说,只要有美好回忆,那就够了。我有我的问题,你有你的顾虑。我不想,也不能要你任何的牺牲。这样很伟大吗? 自己一个人又不会怎么样。在付出多一些也不会死。有时候会累,会躲在浴室,站在里头愣着,反问反问自己在搞什么,生活的人一百条路应该怎么走。没答案,每一次都没答案。流下光脱脱的身体,也不知是水,还是泪。但感觉不错。少了一道墙,多了一披被。洗澡变成我唯一的解脱。奇怪吗?

但再柔弱的身体也能穿上盔甲。不是假装,只是要坚强起来。因为不可能只有我的生活辛苦,有挫折。你一定也有。你一定也会懦弱,会疑惑。你一定也会不懂。不只是我而已。

每一个人都有过去,都会犯错。你,我,所做的,已经是过去。我说过我不会顾虑任何人的过去。那我应该放下你和我的过去,再来过。但,我过得去么? 我不知道。很多应该只有我会知道的事我都不知道。

你痛哭过么?痛哭,假笑,好像是两边的极端。但在长大的时候才学到笑着哭最痛。在忍住时忍不住。可是笑着哭又常常是不美好中的最美好。那,不是很好吗?

断线的风筝,起初会飞得远,然后就掉下来,等待人来发现,修补,再飞天。你说要收线,别让线断了,等下次飞天的机会。可我没听。哪怕只是短暂的飞翔,那也值得。就算你注定擦肩而过,只要你开心。伟大? 你错了。 我也开心啊。我哭了,但我也笑了。那就够了。终有一天,我会对你的骗局了解,自己的欺骗醒悟,再傻笑。

生活就像河水,有进无退。在时间的流行中,你能停顿么? 会有一天,一百条路我得选一条。可惜的是,在这歇脚亭,一百条路还是模糊。而你,还是在遥远的平行河道,没有接近的暗示。

再然,我只能往前走。再累,也要继续走下去。因为有人在等我。

Saturday, February 04, 2012

Tech Speak: Get Extra Space On Dropbox

Source: http://lifehacker.com/5881692/get-up-to-45gb-of-extra-space-on-dropbox-for-uploading-photos-and-videos

Increase your dropbox size by up to 5GB. This is part of Dropbox's experimental testing. Help them test their beta and earn free space. The new function to this beta is auto uploading of pictures/videos from your memory cards, cameras, handphones to dropbox. It's not exactly auto actually. When you insert your SD card into your computer, autoplay will show dropbox as an option (i.e. to say autoplay has to be enabled). Dropbox will auto detect your photos and copy them into a folder called "camera uploads" and starts uploading them into your dropbox. For every 500MB of data you uploaded this way, you get 500MB of free space. You get 500MB the first time you upload something, and in total you can get 5GB using this method.

 



I tried to copy photos I already have on my computer, put inside my SD card and then import them using autoplay. Dropbox said it did not detect any new photos. So I guess there's no easy way to trick the program. Still, this is a good method to gain more space for your dropbox.

Do make a backup of your dropbox folder just in case. I installed the beta without a hitch though. Information on how it works on Mac and Linux is in the forums post below. Download link for the beta is also there.

 

http://forums.dropbox.com/topic.php?id=52900

 

Sunday, January 29, 2012

Ramblings: The Most Expensive Items I Own

I saw this thread on a forum. It's basically an open declaration to welcome people to come rob you. The thread starter ask everyone to list the top 10 most expensive items they have ever bought. No worries unlike their diamond rings, condos etc, I don't think mine are expensive enough for people to come and steal.

1) MSI GE600 16inch gaming laptop (laptop meant for university and gaming)

2) ASUS Eee Pad Transformer TF101 (tablet used for university and entertainment)

3) HTC Desire Z slide out keyboard phone (current phone)

4) Microsoft Zune HD 32GB Silver (21st birthday present, current PMP)

5) Sony PSP 2000 Silver (portable console meant for army)

6) Timbuk2 laptop backpack HAL (laptop bag for my 16 inch monster laptop)

7) Timbuk2 Classic Messenger S Size (messenger for university)

8) Sennheiser Classic CX300-II Chrome (current earpiece)

9) Braun Buffel wallet (Christmas gift, current wallet)

10) Canon Powershot 1000 (AA battery operated compact camera meant for travel)

Friday, January 27, 2012

Snippets of My Life: CNY Woes

In my paternal family, there are 5 branches altogether, i.e. to say my grandma had 5 children. All 5 branches have 3 kids each, and they all consist of 1 girl and 2 guys. In general, my cousins get married pretty much on a chronological order. There are 9 cousins (including my sister) older than me, one cousin my age and 4 cousins (including my brother) younger than me. So far 5 of my cousins are married/engaged. Before yesterday, I thought only 3 of my other older cousins are attached. That is to say I had one more older cousin who was still single. He was my shield. They'll get him before they get me. But yesterday he brought his girlfriend along. My shield was gone. My other cousin at the same age as me was attached long ago. I was alone.

I always wondered why other older friends grumble about getting asked about girlfriends and engagement stuff during CNY. It seemed like not big deal to me, until it happened to me. The questionings had to be the single most irritating thing the entire time I was at my grandma's house. Yap yap yap yap yap they went. Why no girlfriend? When are you bringing one back? All just because according to my age, I was the next in line. They asked another younger cousin as well but I think that's because they saw my extremely sian-ed-diao-ed face. When I was lo hei-ing with my family, I had this epic conversation with my second aunt.

Aunt: Wen Qin why you never wish for girlfriend when you lo hei?
Me: Er, I'm busy studying in university.
Aunt: Study also must find mah.
Me: But I got no time for girlfriend.
Aunt: No time also must find. Busy studying then she can support you.
Me: Huh? (What talking you?)

I fled the scene after a while. Spare me all these lah. I might never bring back a girlfriend for what that matters.

Thursday, January 26, 2012

Brain Storm: What Is Love

A friend said she's doing a little experiment and asking all her friends to post on her wall what we think love is. This is my answer.
Love is wanting the best for someone, wanting him/her to be happy, and be happy when that happens, holding on though it's hard on you, letting go when it's hard on him/her.

 

Humans are selfish creatures. We want the best for ourselves. When we fall in love, it makes us happy, naturally. And we want the happiness to ourselves, so we pursue the happiness, or the person who gives us happiness. That's what love is, or so it seems. At least that's what I have always told myself in the past.

But reality isn't as nice as it seems. Sometimes, you being happy doesn't mean the other party will be happy. Sometimes it's just the wrong timing, place, or whatever. And at some point in time, you may find that you aren't happy even if you're with that person. So does this change the meaning of love? Does this mean you do not love that person anymore? I wouldn't think so necessarily. When a relationship between 2 persons bring pain, it doesn't mean love is absent. Sometimes it just mean that you have to love each other in a different way.

So in the end, I decided that love simply means wanting that person to be happy, rather than yourself. Personally I don't think we are that noble of a creature. If love means giving without expecting anything in return, wouldn't you find many people standing stupidly by the ones they love forever even though the love is not reciprocated? Sure the love may stay, but you have to move on right?

But still, we are selfish. We do gain something even by letting go. If you know letting go will be the best for the other person, you will be happy yourself. If you know that making that person happy in any other way except being with him/her, you will be happy yourself.

 

So after a while, I decided not to be selfish in the "I just want it for myself" way anymore. Because it's better off that way. I won't hold on anymore. And in the end I hope you'll be happier. Really.