So my newest hobby is to download (mostly free) games onto my iPod Touch, try them, then removed them. Well, most of them ended up being removed, to make the clutterness manageable.
Here's how I think the ratings of the games should go:-
1 - Uber awesome, a game that I am willing to pay (up to $2.99) for, and don't feel ripped off
2 - Addicting game that I'll play even when I should be doing something else
3 - Okay game that I'll play with if I'm in line or waiting for a friend running late
4 - Ugh, it's okay, but Delete!
5 - A waste of time to just install/uninstall it
Sunday, September 19, 2010
Tuesday, September 14, 2010
Monday, September 13, 2010
Advertisement
By now we are all used to the model of a free video clip after we are forced to watch a short commercial first. Okay, that's not a complaint, I understand that somehow the bandwidths got to get paid, the engineers putting the websites up have to get paid. But if I am on GameSpot.com watching the video of a product, isn't that in and of itself a commercial? Why is there a commercial in front of another commercial? :O
Sunday, September 12, 2010
Marriage, Revisited
People think that when they are not cheating on their current partners they are in a monogamy relationship. True monogamy, in the animal kingdom, is defined by mating with one partner for one's entire life. Hard to imagine, isn't it? A few species, mostly birds, are actually monogamous. If their mating partner die before them, they will never mate again.
For the longest time I wondered what is the reason to get married -- as many who does not support the institution of marriage would say, "If I am faithful to him/her, does a piece of paper matter?" On the other hand, if a piece of paper does not matter, why DO people get cold feet before marriage, if it changes nothing?
I have finally found the answer to my long term quest of the meaning of marriage -- when you are in a monogamous relationship, a lot less thought went into that decision, if it's a conscious decision at all. Is it still a commitment? Sure it's a commitment of sort, a commitment that says you agree to be monogamous on a temporary and indefinitely basis with your current partner. Whereas a marriage is, hopefully at least at the time of the wedding, a commitment, sometimes in front of many friends and family that a conscious decision has been made to spend the rest of one's life with the partner and, for most, the realization of starting a family.
For the longest time I wondered what is the reason to get married -- as many who does not support the institution of marriage would say, "If I am faithful to him/her, does a piece of paper matter?" On the other hand, if a piece of paper does not matter, why DO people get cold feet before marriage, if it changes nothing?
I have finally found the answer to my long term quest of the meaning of marriage -- when you are in a monogamous relationship, a lot less thought went into that decision, if it's a conscious decision at all. Is it still a commitment? Sure it's a commitment of sort, a commitment that says you agree to be monogamous on a temporary and indefinitely basis with your current partner. Whereas a marriage is, hopefully at least at the time of the wedding, a commitment, sometimes in front of many friends and family that a conscious decision has been made to spend the rest of one's life with the partner and, for most, the realization of starting a family.
Nissan Commercial: Kidzilla
What? No fine print disclaimer on the bottom that this was dramatization and NOT really how they test their cars? And here I thought everything in this country has to come with a disclaimer...
Monday, August 23, 2010
Karma
A friend of mine (Cathlolic, no less) likes to warn me about potential bad karma whenever I bad mouth someone behind their back. Why is it so ironic that she is Catholic? Because, correct me if I am wrong, I associate the entire concept of karma more with the Buddhism idea. I suppose the whole stick and carrot (Heaven v. hell) idea is a karma of sort...
Here's my thinking about her comment -- sure, I'm bad mouthing someone, but how does she know that this is not the person's karma getting back at them, through me? I might just be a middle ring of a chain, instead of the beginning of another ripple of karma. Besides, I'm not that naive to think that everybody I have came across think of me as a princess/goddess, I'm pretty sure for every person I've called names behind their back, one or more people will call me something else behind my back. So long as all these take place behind someone's back, nobody has any pent up anger, nobody's feeling gets hurt, no harm no foul, and life has, again, came a full circle.
Here's my thinking about her comment -- sure, I'm bad mouthing someone, but how does she know that this is not the person's karma getting back at them, through me? I might just be a middle ring of a chain, instead of the beginning of another ripple of karma. Besides, I'm not that naive to think that everybody I have came across think of me as a princess/goddess, I'm pretty sure for every person I've called names behind their back, one or more people will call me something else behind my back. So long as all these take place behind someone's back, nobody has any pent up anger, nobody's feeling gets hurt, no harm no foul, and life has, again, came a full circle.
Sunday, August 22, 2010
Liquid
Money is sometimes also referred to as liquid, hence liquidation sale before a place go out for business - quick way to get some cash in, or how liquid your investment is, etc. Why money is also referred to as liquid, I'm not sure (too lazy to google this one), but ironically, money has other properties that's identical to those of true liquid.
I remember in my science class when they explained the difference between the three states: solid, liquid, and gas. Think of solid as a wooden cube, it will neither change shape nor compress; air, as we all know, is highly compressable, up to a certain point; liquid, however, is the strangest among the three, it's highly malleable, you can pour it into containers of any shape, but it actually won't compress at all, as opposed to contrary belief. Think of water inside a plunger, if the outlet it block, no matter how hard you press, it won't give.
So here's a very simple concept for all ye American folks who are in debt up to their eyeballs (the one's being laid off due to the poor economy notwithstanding), if you monthly income is $2,000, and your expenses -- rent, food, car insurance, cell phone bill, gas, etc -- adds up to exactly $2,000, no, you do NOT have extra anywhere for even a $4 item. You cannot just squeeze it out of thin air, unless you cut expenses else where.
That is a simple concept that mysterious escape lots. The fact that the concept escapes lots eludes me....
I remember in my science class when they explained the difference between the three states: solid, liquid, and gas. Think of solid as a wooden cube, it will neither change shape nor compress; air, as we all know, is highly compressable, up to a certain point; liquid, however, is the strangest among the three, it's highly malleable, you can pour it into containers of any shape, but it actually won't compress at all, as opposed to contrary belief. Think of water inside a plunger, if the outlet it block, no matter how hard you press, it won't give.
So here's a very simple concept for all ye American folks who are in debt up to their eyeballs (the one's being laid off due to the poor economy notwithstanding), if you monthly income is $2,000, and your expenses -- rent, food, car insurance, cell phone bill, gas, etc -- adds up to exactly $2,000, no, you do NOT have extra anywhere for even a $4 item. You cannot just squeeze it out of thin air, unless you cut expenses else where.
That is a simple concept that mysterious escape lots. The fact that the concept escapes lots eludes me....
Saturday, August 21, 2010
Cue
I have recently acquired the sling box, the device that allow you to watch your TV/DVR from a computer or mobile device. As I like to watch some TV before bed, I have quickly came to the realization that I am plowing through TV shows faster than they make them O.o so I started recording/watching random stuff. Granted, not every shows can be Dexter or Weeds, but if my purpose is just for something to put me to sleep, it's not difficult. However, there's got to be a line for everything. The cue for me to drop a TV show is the heart-to-heart talk between characters. Perhaps that's what I am doing wrong at work, I have never had a heart-to-heart talk with anyone I work with. What's with the let's sit down and spill our heart out with our coworkers at the end of the day? That's worse than your medical drama with the core group of people mix and match sleeping with everybody else. Of the shows that I have watched in the past, first there's Crossing Jordon, then comes Gray's Anatomy, then the latest Rookie Blue.
Heart-to-heart talk = delete from my DVR!
Heart-to-heart talk = delete from my DVR!
The US Economy
Today, I've done my fair share in supporting the US economy... (not one, but TWO awesome fish ice trays =D)
Sold by HDE on Amazon.com.
Sold, obviously, by SourcingMap.
Sold by HDE on Amazon.com.
Sold, obviously, by SourcingMap.
Sunday, July 11, 2010
Movie: Percy Jackson & The Olympians: The Lightning Thief
Didn't really bother doing a lot of research on this movie. Is it from a book series?
I know it's a kid's movie (more like a teenager one), and I wasn't expecting Harry Potter or Lord of the Rings quality, but a few scenes can be done better. Overall, it also exceeded expectation -- I was afraid the dialogs will be overly cheesy, but that wasn't the case.
Couple things though:-
(1) The so-called "camp" thing that they stay at is pretty much an orphanage. Their human parents cannot get in there, their god parents aren't allow to see them. These are all abandoned kids!! Man, they'd all (most) have serious issues!
(2) Why are they training in martial arts with swords and shields?? There are no adults around, and since they cannot go into Olympia, the natural assumption will be they will rejoin the human society when they reach adulthood. Isn't there more important skills to learn than fighting with swords and shields, on their feet? :O Or are they all trained to be private investigators, military personnel (specifically special forces), bouncers, bounty hunters, stunt actors (?), etc?
I know it's a kid's movie (more like a teenager one), and I wasn't expecting Harry Potter or Lord of the Rings quality, but a few scenes can be done better. Overall, it also exceeded expectation -- I was afraid the dialogs will be overly cheesy, but that wasn't the case.
Couple things though:-
(1) The so-called "camp" thing that they stay at is pretty much an orphanage. Their human parents cannot get in there, their god parents aren't allow to see them. These are all abandoned kids!! Man, they'd all (most) have serious issues!
(2) Why are they training in martial arts with swords and shields?? There are no adults around, and since they cannot go into Olympia, the natural assumption will be they will rejoin the human society when they reach adulthood. Isn't there more important skills to learn than fighting with swords and shields, on their feet? :O Or are they all trained to be private investigators, military personnel (specifically special forces), bouncers, bounty hunters, stunt actors (?), etc?
Movie: Leap Year
Okay, another one of your romance comedy. Spoiler alert: It's a happy ending!! Bet you didn't see that one coming, huh? This movie exceeded my expectation, got some funny dialog. I particularly like the one regarding her suitcase:-
She: "It's a gift from my fiancee."
He: "He bought you a suitcase?"
She: "It's a Vuitton."
He: " A what?"
She: "It's a Louis Vuitton."
He: "She named her suitcase.This woman is a crack pot."
If you like romance comedy, this is not a bad choice for a relaxing weekend afternoon.
Monday, June 21, 2010
The Simpler Time
So I made Hubby watched Around the World in 80 Days
(circa 1956) because he has obviously never heard the story before. T.T While watching the movie, not only was he awed at the awesomeness of movie production back in the 50's he also commented on how he think the "simpler days" (not the 50's, but the age the story was based in - 1800s). I am sorry to say that I do not share his sentiment towards the "good ol' days." I am a strong believer that modern days are better than "good ol' days," and the future will continue to be better. That is up to the point that finally succeeded in making the world uninhabitable and wiping out our own species.
Older days make me think of oppression. And I don't just mean for females and/or colored people. I mean for anyone other than those born to wealth. And even females born of wealth might not be able to fully exercise her free will. I feel that in modern days, at least in US, one can truly say that one can rise above one's birth through hard work. Sure, it certainly helps to be born with a silver spoon, but at least through hard work it's not impossible to become wealth, or at least attain a certain level of comfortableness. I don't think any of the now billionaires dot-comers started out as Rockefellers.
Don't even get me started on technological/medical advancement. Really? Do you want to choose between dying from appendectomy or having a surgery without anesthesia? Have you ever needed a cavity filled/wisdom tooth pulled? Okay, I rest my case.
Hubby said to not burst his bubbles.... =.=
(circa 1956) because he has obviously never heard the story before. T.T While watching the movie, not only was he awed at the awesomeness of movie production back in the 50's he also commented on how he think the "simpler days" (not the 50's, but the age the story was based in - 1800s). I am sorry to say that I do not share his sentiment towards the "good ol' days." I am a strong believer that modern days are better than "good ol' days," and the future will continue to be better. That is up to the point that finally succeeded in making the world uninhabitable and wiping out our own species. Older days make me think of oppression. And I don't just mean for females and/or colored people. I mean for anyone other than those born to wealth. And even females born of wealth might not be able to fully exercise her free will. I feel that in modern days, at least in US, one can truly say that one can rise above one's birth through hard work. Sure, it certainly helps to be born with a silver spoon, but at least through hard work it's not impossible to become wealth, or at least attain a certain level of comfortableness. I don't think any of the now billionaires dot-comers started out as Rockefellers.
Don't even get me started on technological/medical advancement. Really? Do you want to choose between dying from appendectomy or having a surgery without anesthesia? Have you ever needed a cavity filled/wisdom tooth pulled? Okay, I rest my case.
Hubby said to not burst his bubbles.... =.=
Sunday, June 20, 2010
Marriage
Many people like to ask this question: why get married? Do I need a piece of paper to prove my love? The answer? No. A piece of paper, of course, will not show your love, as evidence by many people who get married for all sorts of (wrong) reasons. However, I do believe there are differences between getting married or not.
Certainly there are unwedded relationships that are stronger than a marriage. Certainly some people truly hate the convention that you must get married to be "official." But those are the exception to the rules. And since I am not a believer of pre-marital/post-marital sex, that has nothing to do with this discussion either.
In my opinion, there are two major differences between marriage and "in a relationship." Seriously, if marriage is just a continuation of dating/cohabiting with an additional, official piece of paper, why would people get cold feet? Hmmmm?
Difference #1: Getting married is a ceremony to attest your love, and more importantly, to make the announcement that you are making a commitment to this individual, that you have chosen him/her to be your life partner in front of your friends and families. To put it in simple terms, it's a lot more complicated to get out of that relationship than dividing up the DVDs tomorrow and just move out when things go south.
Difference #2: So long as you didn't officially make the commitment, the deal is not sealed, you can always back out of it. If you have been screwed over before, you will know there is very much a difference between a verbal contract versus a written one. And for most individuals with some sense of moral, they will at least think twice before making a promise. In a steady relationship, faithfulness is merely implied.
Difference #3: Dating is like testing the water, shopping for a product -- you can always change your mind, up to the point of making the decision/commitment. He/she does something that severely annoy/disappoint/embarrass you, you can always withdraw from the relationship. Whilst you are in a marriage, for better or for worse, you will first try your darnest to resolve the issue before calling it quits.
Last but not the least, getting married is like the last call. Many people get comfortable in a mediocre relationship because they are lazy, lack of time, lack of energy, or generally being a coward and things just drag on. They don't really believe they are with their life partner, but they will continue to waste the other person (and their own) time. Getting married, in this case, is like the last call, "Buddy, shit or get off the pot!"
Certainly there are unwedded relationships that are stronger than a marriage. Certainly some people truly hate the convention that you must get married to be "official." But those are the exception to the rules. And since I am not a believer of pre-marital/post-marital sex, that has nothing to do with this discussion either.
In my opinion, there are two major differences between marriage and "in a relationship." Seriously, if marriage is just a continuation of dating/cohabiting with an additional, official piece of paper, why would people get cold feet? Hmmmm?
Difference #1: Getting married is a ceremony to attest your love, and more importantly, to make the announcement that you are making a commitment to this individual, that you have chosen him/her to be your life partner in front of your friends and families. To put it in simple terms, it's a lot more complicated to get out of that relationship than dividing up the DVDs tomorrow and just move out when things go south.
Difference #2: So long as you didn't officially make the commitment, the deal is not sealed, you can always back out of it. If you have been screwed over before, you will know there is very much a difference between a verbal contract versus a written one. And for most individuals with some sense of moral, they will at least think twice before making a promise. In a steady relationship, faithfulness is merely implied.
Difference #3: Dating is like testing the water, shopping for a product -- you can always change your mind, up to the point of making the decision/commitment. He/she does something that severely annoy/disappoint/embarrass you, you can always withdraw from the relationship. Whilst you are in a marriage, for better or for worse, you will first try your darnest to resolve the issue before calling it quits.
Last but not the least, getting married is like the last call. Many people get comfortable in a mediocre relationship because they are lazy, lack of time, lack of energy, or generally being a coward and things just drag on. They don't really believe they are with their life partner, but they will continue to waste the other person (and their own) time. Getting married, in this case, is like the last call, "Buddy, shit or get off the pot!"
Saturday, May 1, 2010
Trust With My Life
As with everyone else, I have worked with my fair share of assholes and morons. Luckily for most of us, with the exception of the military, I do not need to trust these assholes and morons with my life. I only need to maintain a "professional" relationship with them so chit can get done and we all collect our paychecks at the end of the month, or bi-weekly, or weekly, or cash at the end of every day.
I used to know this one guy, who was in his early twenties, who would always want to be the driver whenever we go somewhere, because he didn't trust anyone with his life. He also insisted on sitting at the seat with his back against the wall whenever we went to a restaurant. No, he was not an immigrant from a war-torn country. Not as far as I know. Born and raised in US to the best of my knowledge. Well, perhaps he was from a bad neighborhood.
Back then I just thought he was a little strange, after all, his liking to drive and restaurant seating arrangement did not bother me that much. As I get older, I am starting to see his theory. Well, no, I don't think anyone will want to try to take me out in a restaurant, but I definitely would rather drive myself if I don't trust a person's driving -- same criteria insurance companies use -- single males in their early twenties. As much as I love you, guys, you just cannot gamble with my life.
I used to know this one guy, who was in his early twenties, who would always want to be the driver whenever we go somewhere, because he didn't trust anyone with his life. He also insisted on sitting at the seat with his back against the wall whenever we went to a restaurant. No, he was not an immigrant from a war-torn country. Not as far as I know. Born and raised in US to the best of my knowledge. Well, perhaps he was from a bad neighborhood.
Back then I just thought he was a little strange, after all, his liking to drive and restaurant seating arrangement did not bother me that much. As I get older, I am starting to see his theory. Well, no, I don't think anyone will want to try to take me out in a restaurant, but I definitely would rather drive myself if I don't trust a person's driving -- same criteria insurance companies use -- single males in their early twenties. As much as I love you, guys, you just cannot gamble with my life.
Neutral
Once upon a time when I was young, innocent, and naive, I used to assume that everyone I met is a nice person, until proven otherwise. After way too many disappointments, I learned to withhold my judgment until the person has done something to convince me one way or another. Every new person I met starts with a neutral score of zero. Zero not as in on a scale from 0 to 10 and 10 being the highest, zero as in the point of origin (0,0) on a graph. I neither like nor dislike a person until he or she has convinced me of one way or another.
Religious fanatics - automatic 40 points deduction on their IQ chart. If I work with you, that's highly unprofessional, I do not need to know your religious viewpoint. If I do not work with you, our conversation ends right here, and hopefully I will never have to talk to you again. Amen.
Religious fanatics - automatic 40 points deduction on their IQ chart. If I work with you, that's highly unprofessional, I do not need to know your religious viewpoint. If I do not work with you, our conversation ends right here, and hopefully I will never have to talk to you again. Amen.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)