TODAY was tomorrow and will be yesterday

My time has been occupied mostly with cramming for my final exams. I've got my Organizational Behavior paper on Tuesday, so i've kind of been working on the essay questions for that.

I went for a Hari Raya open house today. The invitation came from one of my high school friends. Dhania and i were on the school netball team together and i used to play attack-Wing Attack (WA), and she, defense-Wing Defense (WD), so we were around each other quite a bit. We were also both presidents of our sports houses, so we faced a lot of overlapping issues. Anyway, it was good to see her and a whole bunch of my high school friends again...some of whom i haven't seen since high school ended. Everything's happening a bit too fast for me. So many of my friends are already out there 'conquering' Australia, the UK, New Zealand, the US, Ireland, and who knows where else...GOSH! I really miss you guys!!! Err...hope that wasn't too corny.

Most unfortunately, i was destined to be with my OB book the rest of the day...except for a brief shoe shopping spree; which turned out to be more of window shopping. Anyway, i saw these pink heels in Vincci with a 'D' on them. Meant for me? I'd like to think so. Well, that's about all for now. Oh, Mich...i'm waiting to see the pictures.

Later!

41 Ways to Annoy Your Parents

Here are some ways to annoy your parents...or anyone for that matter. I got this off friendster and some are really hilarious. Check it out...

1. Follow them around the house everywhere...
2. Moo when they say your name...
3. Run into walls...
4. Say that wearing clothes is against your religion...
5. Stand over them at four in the morning with a huge grin on your face and say, "Good morning sunshine."
6. Pluck someone's hair out and yell, "DNA"...
7. Wear a sticker that says, "I'm a retard"...
8. Have 20 imaginary friends that you talk to all the time...
9. In public yell, "No Mom/Dad, I will not make out with you!!"
10. Do what they actually tell you...
11. Jump off the roof, trying to fly...
12. Hold their hand and whisper to them, I see dead people...
13. At everything they say yell, "Liar!!!"
14. Try to swim on the floor...
15. Tap on their door all night...
16.Pretend to have amnesia...
17.Say everything backwards...
18.Give yourself a swirly...
19.Run around with a lamp shade on your head, yelling, "The sun!!! It's dying!!!"
20.Sing at the top of your lungs while running around the house...in your underwear...
21.Have nervous spasms at spontaneous times...
22.Snort loudly when you laugh and then laugh harder...
23.Run in circles...
24.Recite a whole movie 3 times...
25.Pretend to beat yourself up...
26.Slither everywhere...
27.Wear your pants on your head and your shirt on your waist... tell them you're making a fashion statement...
28.Try and drink out of a glass the wrong way...
29.Super glue your finger up your nose...
30.Talk to a pen...
31.Lay face down and chant like an indian tribe...
32.Try and climb the wall...
33.Spread out on the window and buzz, pretending to be a fly...
34.Take your ice cream cone and put it one yourforehead... say you're a lovely unicorn...
35.Put pegs on your nose and eyes...
36.Switch the light button on and off for a while. Then say, "Ooooh... I get it!!!"...
37.Eat your hair...
38.Whatever they are eating, tell them it looks like a certain animal...
39.Eat anything obviously not edible...
40.Say your pet is mocking you and chase it around the house...
41.When you shower or bathe yell, "I'm drowning!!!"

Realization

Mirrors would be absolutely dysfunctional without light. I kind of just realized that today. Not that i didn't know it, but i never realized it. Good thing we have light.

Strobe Lights

A while back some friends and i decided to pay Zouk a visit. During my long, eventful night there, which is a whole different story, i was rather fascinated with how the lights worked. The flashy-ness made movements appear in slow motion, abrupt and choppy. A few days later, i was talking to another friend and she mentioned that she had realized the same thing. Okay, call me weird or whatever, but i've decided to write a blog specially dedicated to club lights...in particular, strobe lights.

The word strobe is actually a shortened form of stroboscope which derives partly from the Greek word strobos, which means "to whirl." You may wonder what whirling has to do with a light that flashes on and off rapidly. Well, back in 1830 an Austrian named Simon Ritter von Stampfer found that he could create an interesting effect by spinning a disk with sequential, slightly changing images and looking at the images on that disk through a slit small enough to show only one image at a time. He called his device the stroboscope, and it went on to become a very popular "scientific toy."

Allow me to digress a bit here and discuss the persistence of vision and how it applies to stroboscopic effects. When we see an object, an image of that object remains on the retina for a brief period (about 1/5 of a second) even after it has been removed from our field of vision. When we see two things in rapid succession, with some minor change from one to the other, our brain merges the two images and we perceive them as one object in motion. The discovery of this effect led to the invention of many early forms of animation, including the stroboscope.

Now, strobe lights work by only allowing us to see an object a few times a second. Because our brain is still merging the images it's getting from the retina, the effect is that we perceive the object in "slow motion." Over the years, the term strobe light has been applied to any light that flashes fairly rapidly.

Today, strobes are used in the entertainment industry as a way of adding a little flash. A drum kit can be decorated with several "egg strobes" (small strobe lights that can be screwed into standard light sockets) to make it stand out from the back of the stage. Egg strobes can also be built into balloon arches or into a display to attract attention. Mobile DJ's can also use these miniature strobes to enhance their current lighting rigs, adding a visual punch to their set-up for a fairly low price.

So, the next time you're bombarded with flashing lights in the dark room of your favorite club, you know why people appear to be dancing or moving in slow motion because of the persistence of vision and stroboscopic effects.

Prisoner to Emotions

"Go away! Leave me alone!"

She huddled in the corner of her room, hugging her knees to her chest. With tears streaming down her face, she whispered, "Go!!! Please..."

The silence in the room was broken only by her gentle sobs. She was alone. No one knew what she was going through; no one heard her cries. Although they were silent, they were deep.

Huddled in the corner, all she wanted was to be free from the overwhelming feelings, to grab hold and take control...but it was all in vain. Once again, her feelings were in charge. All signs of the usual sanity and peacefulness ceased to exist. It was just her in the corner of the silent, dim room.

Her crying gradually died down and was reduced to sobs. Her face was a mess and her eyes were all red. Then it all stopped. She took in a slow, deep breath. And again...and again.

Standing up, she walked over to the mirror. Looking back at her reflection, she fixed her hair, wiped her tears, and tidied up her appearance. With one final glance, she walked towards her room door, opened it, and stepped out.

A stranger passed by in the hallway. She smiled at him and he smiled back. Then, she walked outside into the bright sunlight.

Right there in front of her was a familiar face. The next minute, she was embraced with a hug that provided comfort, safety and assurance...everything she needed at that moment. She felt safe. But how long would that assurance of safety remain?

A Teardrop

Silence...
The pool of water was still.
The surface could have passed as a smooth sheet of glass.
But suddenly there was a teardrop.
A teardrop that fell, as if in slow motion, towards the surface of the still waters.
All too abruptly, it hit the surface of the pool.
Ripples began to form and they got bigger and bigger,
Spreading further and further, reaching every corner of the pool.
The still surface of the water had been disturbed.
Although the ripples were unexpected and slightly out of place at first, they were welcomed and soon became a part of the pool.

But now, the ripples appear to be gradually fading.
Can it really be?
It’s an uncomfortable, unnatural, eerie feeling;
An unwanted, unwelcome feeling.
Can’t the ripples remain?
They brought such an amazing change to the pool.
It was the ripples that made the pool so much more attractive.
But the ripples are slowing down.
They no longer reach the ends of the pool.
What will happen then?
Will the pool go back to its original state?
No. It is forever changed by the presence of the ripples that once were.
Yet, there is a distinct difference.
The absence of the ripples will have a deep impact on the pool.
Will the ripples fade forever or will they come back with greater force?
I hope that the fading of the ripples is merely a momentary illusion, along with the misty eyes that I see in the mirror.

My Treasure Box

Today, i was talking to a friend about treasuring memories and then i thought of my treasure box. Let me say a bit about it:

I have this cardboard box in which i keep all sorts of treasures. It's contents basically consist of a collection of all sorts of things of mine from when i was a kid. So you can imagine a box with paintings and handprints from way back when i was 5 years old. I also keep postcards and letters from my friends and family in here. This box is something that i treasure and it's contents hold a special place in my heart. Someday perhaps, i will elaborate on the contents of this box of memories.

My finals are in a week and i'm not ready yet! Fortunately though, i only have 2 papers. Anyway, gotta go work on some Organizational Behavior now. Will be back soon...

Modeling?

I was given a modeling offer yesterday, but i turned it down. Some of my friends were disappointed but i had my reasons for doing so. One of my main reasons was the time factor. I have my finals in two weeks and i’m nowhere near prepared for that. Modeling would require a chunk of my time, of which i’m not able to give at this point in time. Nonetheless, all of this got me thinking about the whole modeling thing.

Would it be fair to say that the model selection process discriminates against people whose physical appearance is challenged? This is a common perception as women are told that they are too fat or not beautiful enough. Thus, this group of people is placed into an out-group. But then, one could also argue that these people are chosen because they have what it takes or they have certain assets that are required in this field...just like basic requirements for every other occupation. So, in that case, doesn’t everything discriminate to some extent at the foundation level? I don’t have an answer to that yet, but i’m still thinking about it and waiting to hear various views on this issue.

Now here’s the part that’s even more interesting: “The process of selecting models discriminates and models are discriminated against.”

Stepping back and viewing modeling from a whole new perspective, you would see that models are frequently stereotyped. They are made out to be dumb blondes, bimbos and the works. This is not always true. Of course, there are sufficient cases on both sides proving both cases, but it is vital to remember that some models are quite brilliant and some have a very respectable IQ level. Thus, placing all the models into a single group and labeling them with derogatory terms is neither right nor correct.

Although i said no to the modeling offer this time round, i think it would be a good experience and i might actually consider it if i'm given this offer again some time in the future. Nonetheless, this decision of mine would be based on many determining factors, all of which would play a significant role in influencing my decision.

Well, these are my views on modeling as a whole...from both sides. It would be fascinating though to hear from someone who has actually modeled before. Do feel free to share your thoughts and either agree or disagree with mine.

In a Nutshell

Stuff i was reminded of today:

• Life is not easy.
• A team is only as strong as it's weakest link.
• Patience is truly a virtue but it's not an easy one to live out.
• Best friends are the best people to have around.
• It's not easy to keep yourself from taking your frustration, anger, etc. out on other people, yet it's neither fair nor right to do so.
• Optimism should be treasured...it's desperately lacking.
• There are all sorts of treasures out there just waiting to be found. Start looking.
• It's so easy to lose perspective of things and focus so much on yourself.
• It's important to tell your mother that you love her because mother's are precious.
• Although things might seem bad, there's always hope.
• Friends are vital.

The Paradox

"This statement is false."
Is the statement above true?

This statement is paradoxical: assuming that the statement is true, then it must be false; assuming it is false, then it is not false. No truth value can be consistently assigned to the statement. FUN huh?

Movie Recommendation: Centrestage
This is a ballet movie and to all those who just love dance, this was meant for you. I found the moves simply amazing. Anyway, check it out. It's really good.

Precious Gems

Ever been in a friendship where you feel like you're being used? Not necessarily for any negative reason, but it's just that you only hear from the person when they need something. The rest of the time, there's just silence.

I don't think this is something too foreign to many of us. In fact, i'm sure that many of us behave the same way. I know i do sometimes. It's weird though because i know how irritating this can be. But it's even worse when you feel that the person is doing it unconsciously because then you feel like telling them, but you don't know how and you don't want to hurt them. So, you end up in this really weird position...between a rock and a hard place. To tell or not to tell...?

Then again, my friendships are like gems and i will treasure them, no matter what happens along the way. Small bickerings are not sufficient to harm the relationships i have with my friends.

Hmmm...well, i think i'll leave my thoughts at this for now. My throat is starting to hurt. I think i'm getting sick. I'm going to sleep now.

Tiny stars shining bright and it's time for me to say good night!

1K

I looked at the numbers at the bottom of my page today and a smile gradually formed on my face. 1000 visits!

This blog is dedicated to all those who have visited my site and i would just like to say thank you to all of you who have taken the time to read my thoughts and indirectly contribute to those statistics. Knowing that there are people coming to my site is very encouraging and i do appreciate it.

I will keep writing and do keep coming back. Oh, and don't forget to give me feedback and share your thoughts...i always look forward to that.

Anyway, that's all for my Grammy speech.

Cheers!

Matrix Within A Matrix

I've been watching the Matrix trilogy again over these last few days, trying to decrypt the hidden meaning and understand the movie. In the process of doing this, i have come to realize that it is definately not an easy task. I'm still in the process of trying to fully understand it, which is difficult because there are so many different interpretations of the movies. Anyway, i've stumbled upon a question that i thought could bring about an interesting discussion. "Is it possible that there is a Matrix within a Matrix in the movie?"

Could the 'real world', as the people freed from the Matrix believe it to be, really just be another program? Kind of like a different level of Matrix simulation than the known Matrix, but still a Matrix within a Matrix.

While i was doing some reading, i came across two main events in Reloaded that are used to support this theory: Agent Smith's unexpected manifestation in Zion (when he turns Bane into a duplicate just before Bane jacks out), and Neo's apparent ability to sense and stop the Sentinels just before the end of the movie. Here's one individual's thoughts, which i got from www.thematrix101.com

"Smith existing in the 'real world':
Smith is a program, so how can he actually exist in Zion? How can he be made real, when he's just a pile of bits in the first place? Zion must be part of the Matrix for Smith to exist in it, and the humans have no idea they're still in the Matrix. This seems like a possible explanation, but it's by no means the only explanation. Personally, I think it's entirely possible for a rogue program to copy itself onto someone's mind. Look at it this way: when Bane is jacked in, he's basically a floating mind, a bunch of brainwaves occupying an 'avatar' in a computer simulation. Essentially, he's temporarily a program running in the Matrix OS. Smith comes along and copies himself over this Bane program, overwriting the previous code. When Bane jacks out, the rewritten code of his brain now contains Smith's programming, not his own. He's still Bane, but Smith has taken control of his body by overwriting his mind. Far-fetched? A little, sure, but what we have to remember is we haven't been given all the rules of this universe. We really don't know for sure what the machines are capable of, or what Smith has become. Additionally, Smith has a little bit of Neo in him now, as he says "there's a connection". Could this little bit of humanity aid in his ability to control a mind in the real world?


Neo stopping the Sentinels:
Similar to the above argument, supporters of Matrix Within A Matrix believe the only way for Neo to have powers like that in the 'real world' is if it's not real, if it's just another level of the Matrix. Again I have to point out, we don't know all the rules of this universe. We only know what we've been given, so I think there could be a million explanations (ok, maybe not quite that many) for what Neo is suddenly capable of. The one I like is that Neo is not quite himself after his encounter with the Architect. That conversation is supposed to pretty much be the endpoint of the path of the One. He returns to the source, makes the expected choice, and his path ends soon after. I like to think that as soon as he passes through the glowing door, something changes. He's so close to the machines at this point, does he end up taking something back to the 'real world' with him? Neo's path involves constant change, constant evolution. As he enters that room, he's still evolving, still changing as he gets closer to his purpose, and in making the unexpected choice and leaving the Source, Neo has gained a closer relationship to the machine world, but can now use it for his own purposes, rather than theirs."

Well, i suppose this theory can be analyzed from different perspectives, but i thought that this is an interesting question, so i would love to hear any thoughts on this issue.

Stuff That Goes Through My Head

Here are some random thoughts of mine:

I have decided to stop using the elevators at work and instead walk up three flights simply because i could use the exercise and sometimes it takes a while to wait for the elevator.

One of the reasons i like Malaysia is because we have loads of public holidays due to the multicultural society.

I hate it when guys whistle at girls to get their attention. We have names. If you don’t know our names, ask. If you’re too shy to talk to us, i’m sorry. If you're just passing by and you're trying to get some cheap entertainment or something like that, go do something more useful.

Blogs could possibly be considered selfish.

Wearing heels on soft ground is not a good idea.

Malaysians couldn’t live without malls.

There’s a lot we need to do to improve our public transportation system.

I don’t like puddles unless i’m wearing boots and a rain coat.

Guys should never wear tight pants.

Butterflies are beautiful. (i stopped to admire a black one for 2 minutes.)

I need to think and question more.

White Wine, Red Wine

One look will tell you that red wine is different from white wine. Red wine is red or purple in color and white wine is yellow or straw color. But what actually makes these two wines different?

After talking to a few friends, i realized that many people are not aware of the real difference between white and red wine. Contrary to popular belief, the difference between these two wines is NOT that white wine is made from green grapes, and red wine is made from red grapes.

The most important difference between red and white wine is the use, or non-use of the grapes skin when the wines are made. Quite simply, the skin of the grape is first peeled off before making white wines. When making red wines, the skins, seeds, and stems are used and the wine takes on the color and flavor characteristics of the skin. The tannin in the skin of the grape gives red wines an added flavor dimension and allows red wines to develop or age for a longer period than white wines. The tannin acts as a natural preservative.

To understand the term 'tannin' better, just think about a strong cup of tea. That woody taste is tannin. In wine, it can lend a wonderful complexity to a red wine. Generally, red wines are heavier and more complex than white wines. White wines are usually a good place for beginners to start because they are initially more palatable to novices since they often tend to be sweeter.

The types of grapes used for red and white wines are different. There are hundreds of different grapes and each grape has its own color, bouquet and flavor characteristics. Very often different grapes will be blended into one wine.

I should admit that i am no expert whatsoever on wine, but i decided to write a blog on this in an attempt to create some awareness on the differences in origin between white and red wine.

Same-Sex Marriages

I was reading up about the elections on www.cnn.com when i came across a part that stated the ballot measures on certain issues in various states. The issue that stood out the most to me was the issue of same-sex marriage. Many of the states, including Arkansas, Georgia and Kentucky appeared to support the ban on same-sex marriages.

I myself support the decision to ban same-sex marriages, simply because i don't think that it should be encouraged. By allowing these marriages to go on, we would be supporting same-sex marriages, and unless we are prepared to say this, i think that this ban is necessary.

But then, these are my own views. Everyone has a right to express their own thoughts on this matter, and i welcome those thoughts of yours.

Facts That You Probably Never Need to Know

If coloring weren't added to Coca-Cola, it would be green.

A cockroach will live nine days without its head before it starves to death.

The male praying mantis cannot copulate while its head is attached to its body. The female initiates sex by ripping the male's head off. (Girl Power?)

Some lions mate over 50 times a day.

The strongest muscle in the body is the tongue.

Right-handed people live, on average, nine years longer than left-handed people. (If you're ambidextrous, do you split the difference?)

Elephants are the only animals that cannot jump.

An ostrich's eye is bigger than its brain.

Starfish have no brains.

Polar bears are left-handed.

Humans and dolphins are the only species that have sex for pleasure.

The average bed is home to over 6 billion dust mites.

Ernest Vincent Wright wrote a novel, titled 'Gadsby' whose 267 pages, did not contain a single letter "e."

There are more than 100 chemicals in a cup of coffee.

Blue and white are the most common school colors.

On average, a 4-year-old child asks 437 questions a day.

Human hair and fingernails continue to grow after death.

Termites eat wood twice as fast when listening to heavy metal music.

The cockroach has a high resistance to radiation and is the creature most likely to survive a nuclear war.

Apples, not caffeine, are more efficient at waking you up in the morning.

A pack-a-day smoker will lose approximately 2 teeth every 10 yrs.

When you sneeze, all bodily functions stop ... even your heart!

Babies are born without knee caps. They don't appear until they are 2-6 years old.

The average person over fifty will have spent 5 years waiting in lines.

40,000 Americans are injured by toilets each year.

Michael Jackson owns the rights to the South Carolina State anthem.

Prince Charles and Prince William NEVER travel on the same airplane just in case there is a crash.

The longest one-syllable word in the English language is "screeched."

On a Canadian two dollar bill, the flag flying over the Parliament building is an American flag.

All 50 states are listed across the top of the Lincoln Memorial on the back of the $5 bill.

Almonds are a member of the peach family.

Los Angeles' full name is "El Pueblo de Nuestra Senora la Reina de los Angeles de Porciuncula".

A goldfish has a memory span of three seconds.

It's impossible to sneeze with your eyes open.

In England, the Speaker of the House is not allowed to speak.

The microwave was invented after a researcher walked by a radar tube and a chocolate bar melted in his pocket.

"Stewardesses" is the longest word that is typed with only the left hand.

Guinness Book Of Records holds the record for being the book most stolen from Public Libraries.

Toilet Facts

DID YOU KNOW?...and DID YOU WANT TO KNOW???

An average person visits the toilet 2500 times a year.

About 6-8 times a day.

You spend about 3 years of your life in the toilet. (oh, joy...)

Poor toilet condition is a worldwide problem. More than half of the world population have no proper sanitation.

Suppression of urination due to dirty toilets can lead to kidney and bladder diseases.

In order to avoid visting public toilets, Some people refrain from drinking and suffer dehydration.

Females take 3 times longer than males, yet both toilet sizes are often same.

Toilets remain 'taboo' as people are shy to discuss the subject.

There are toilet associations worldwide promoting toilet education and culture.

There is actaully a World Toilet Organization.

30% of all indoor household water demands are used to flush toilets.

Each flush of the toilet releases a plume of bacteria-laden spray, which settles on the toilet seat.

The PVC piping used in most homes for the soilstack amplifies flushing sounds.