Happy Moo Year / Invasion Day.

Apparently everyone is "Happy Niu Year"-ing and "Australia Day-ing". I don't really like the former. Don't like the connotations. Don't really like the latter. Happy the day we took over and invaded this land? Hmm. Someone I know calls domesticated bovines "moo moo's". Hence, Happy Moo Year / Invasion Day, children.

Next week is going to be the hottest week in a century in Melbourne... maybe I should take out a bucket to catch the sweat.

Yesterday's tennis was EPIC.

Stalker alert stalker alert.

Gasp. SIGHH. OHHH. NOOOOOOOOOOO.

GASPPPPPPPPPPP.

NOOOOOOOOOOOOO.

THE END OF THE WORLDDDDDDDDDDDDDDD.

MARAT SAFIN IS OUT OF THE AUSTRALIAN OPENNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNN.

TEAAAAAAAAAAAAAARSSSSSSS.

How extremely devastating! gahhh! who should i go for now?

SIGHHHHHHHHHHHS.

Should have gone to at least, AT LEAST 4 sets.

I am devastated.

Go, Murray?

January 22, '08

I found out today that sitting around in the airport for 3 hours is worth it if the reward is a massive T-bone steak and lemon lime bitter.

Normality is good. I'm sleepy. Good night, children.

South Australia Scandals.

SA is very interesting. Went there recently, first time ever. It was very, very, very dry. The drive into Adelaide is very beautiful, save about the hundreds of blind insects that fly into Ollie's windscreen every few moments. It is very hilly and there are many interesting things not far from the city - e.g. national parks, beaches, wineries... all very close by.

Hilights of the trip include but are not limited to:
- Photo taking.
- The 20 minutes of silence walking alone along Henley beach.
- Whispering wall, especially for the half hour when we were the only people there.
- Learning the true definitions of cappucino, espresso, Irish coffee, and instant coffee.
- Literally stripping in Adelaide Uni in the middle of the night (~1am).
- Spending time with four goofs.

With all trips, there are some down sides. Me and the President only had 3.5 hours sleep before both long drives (drive between Melbourne and Adelaide). Not everyone was 100% healthy - sore throats, naughty stomachs and the like.

All in all, a fantastic trip. Thanks to my fellow travel buddies, Mr. President, Chief and Deputy Navigators, and the Safety Officer for making the trip memorable and fun.

Simple trig

Let: f(x) = a*sin(bx+c), where:
a, b, and c are constants, and -100 < a < 100.

Let: g(x) = 0

There are many values of x in which f(x)=100. Hurrah.
g(x) can never equal 100. In fact, g(x) can never approach any integer, except the neutral integer of zero.

Then, why not forget g(x)? Why have multiple functions when one will suffice?

The answer is, one will not suffice. Because as soon as f(x)=100, being a sine function, you know that decline is on the way. Especially when the period is small, the decline is rapid.
In fact, one could say as f(x) approaches 100, f(x) approaches -100.

Beware of f(x).
Choose g(x).
Choose the neutral integer.

Dear Readers,

Greetings. Hoping '09 has been treating you well so far. If not, not to worry, there is still over 300 days left of it for things to change.

I thought that since I haven't written to you, the reader, for quite awhile, I thought it would be appropriate to do so now. Hence, here I am, typing away in bed on my trusty little laptop. Shockingly, this rectangular device currently remains nameless, which for those of you that know me well enough, would know it is rather shocking indeed.

Recently, I have had quite a lot of questions regarding Nothing of Particular Importance. I was asked whether I felt people know a lot more about me from being a fellow reader of this site. Certainly not, I replied. Why do I write it? Because I like writing. And no, it does not take much time or effort, and no, I do not usually proofread. Hence, apologies for astounding errors in the text. Average post takes me 3 minutes to write. Shorter than a shower, and even that I do twice a day.

I was asked whether I read other people's blogs? Hm... yes, not many, but I do read some. I look at other people's photos more. Hence, if you post up photos on Facebook and I am your Facebook friend, chances are, I've looked at every single one. In fact that's what I use Facebook primarily for. I have not developed the interest in reading people's walls yet, unless something shocking comes up on my news feed... but photos have provided hours of entertainment.

Let me get back on track. I would like to add that, ideally, I should preface every single sentence I write in this blog with "I believe" as I recognize that what I write here is not fact, it is not absolute. It is my opinion, and is very much as valid as anyone person, dog, or cat's. Hence, I thank you for the comments people post, those that post it directly here, as well as the majority who choose to give it to me via other means.

Thanks for reading, and thanks also for being a part of my life. For those in Melbourne, it would be lovely to catch up soon. For those elsewhere in this great planet of ours, do drop in a line when you have a free moment. I apologize for not keeping in touch with everyone as well as I could, but know this, I would really love to hear from you. Thanks to our little friend called technology, this is actually possible.

Dear Reader, what is your resolution for '09? I sincerely hope that this year, your dreams really do come true.

Kind regards,
Kei

Falling in love.

I received a long but interesting email today. Quoting bits and pieces I can strongly identify/agree with:

"Fall in love. I didn't say 'be loved'. That requires too much compromise. If one changes one's looks, personality and values, one can be loved by anyone. Rather, I exhort you to love another human being. It may seem odd for me to tell you this. You may expect it to happen naturally, without deliberation. That is false. Modern society is anti-love. We've taken a microscope to everyone to bring out their flaws and shortcomings. It far easier to find a reason not to love someone, than otherwise. Rejection requires only one reason. Love requires complete acceptance. It is hard work – the only kind of work that I find palatable... Despite popular culture, love doesn't happen by chance, at first sight, across a crowded dance floor. It grows slowly, sinking roots first before branching and blossoming. It is not a silly weed, but a mighty tree that weathers every storm.... You will find, that when you have someone to love, that the face is less important than the brain, and the body is less important than the heart. You will also find that it is no great tragedy if your love is not reciprocated. You are not doing it to be loved back. Its value is to inspire you."

There's not much about the 21st Western ideas of falling in love that I really identify or agree with. I believe you cannot help who you fall in love with, but I also believe that you can choose to love anyone. It is not easy (just like my choosing not to hate), but I believe it can be done.

It can be done because loving someone is not a feeling. Loving someone is a choice. Loving someone is an attitude, a way of living. None of this butterflies in stomach, can't get you out of my head nonsense. Why? Because while exciting and fun at the time, it doesn't last. Ask those with experience. Ask those that have had their heartbroken not once, not twice, but multiple times believing in those lies.

Those that believe those lies often end up apart.

Lesson of the day

The act of hating is really quite time-wasting. It's not like I don't have better things to do or think about. Hence, I decided yesterday I would try to actively do something about it.

I decided to ask a non-hater pro his thoughts regarding the matter. You know, have a How Not To Hate 101. It was quite an interesting discussion. Various ideas were thrown around. In the end, it seemed like there was no direct solution to how to stop hating. The hatred won't go away. Certainly not now, nor in the future, and perhaps not ever.

Then what? I'm seriously not bothered to waste any more of my time with this nonsense. In fact I'm hoping this is one of my last posts about this. Thus, the idea at the end of the lesson was to focus on more on loving, as these things/objects/people are much more worth my time. e.g.

Thus, a few tributes...
To Jimmy and Ollie, my camera and car respectively.
To those that give me shelter and force-feed me.
And to those that believe in justice, those that believe in doing what is fair, and those that don't outright go out of your way to hurt/harm.

End of lesson.

How things could be.

I believe, although it might take a fair bit of imagination and effort, most of us can picture the day when things are no longer this way. The patient the day he is cured, the widow the day she no longer grieves, the heartbroken the day he has moved on. The day when things are better, the day when things improve.

Sure, it may be wishful thinking. And no, dreams don't always come true. But some do. And for those that don't, be encouraged that nightmares often subside, that at the end of a night of crying and wailing, the baby does eventually go to sleep.

We have a great asset - the ability to see how things could be.

One resolution, multiple goals.

Just one resolution because a resolution, to me, differs greatly from a goal. I guess I don't take goals very seriously. The only time I really set them was at school, when we were forced to set goals. One of those primary school assignment thingys.

Resolution, on the other hand, stems from a self-motivating determination. I rarely have resolutions. But this year, 2009, resolution will be fulfilled.

Resolution aside, many goals as well. One is to spend less time on internet. It is quite appalling how much time I spend on it. I thought about it today, and this is an approximate breakdown of internet usage:

- 40% - Strobist/Flickr/other photography related sites
- 20% - Email
- 20% - Facebook
- 10% - News
- 10% - Other (e.g. writing this nonsense)
*MSN is usually multi-tasked while doing all of the above.

Looking at the breakdown, one would think I should cut down on photography stuff, but I think that is one of the less time-wasting things when looking at the above. Hence reduce it a bit by perhaps un-joining some of the less useful discussion groups, but that's probably the extent I am willing to do there. On the other hand, I can reduce email sending to < 10 a day (for now, at least... during work it'll be about 110 emails per day but that won't count).

OH. And. I KNOW. This was recommended me by someone a few months earlier, I forgot who. I was mentioning that I don't even like going on Facebook most of the time, it's just like, I have nothing better to do so I go on it and I get quite bored. Well she recommended that everytime I feel like going on Facebook, call someone or go talk to housemates or some real person instead. I tried it for like 2 days and it was actually quite successful. Far more productive. Hm.. so maybe decrease Facebook time to 10 minutes per day, and doubling housemate-bonding activities =D Can't do that with email though because it's actually a useful communication tool rather than a stalking device.

COOL. DEAL. I will work on that.

That aside.. I got wooden glasses today. I received opinions regarding my new fashionable accesories. Apparently they make me look comical/goofy/mischievious. I should wear them when feeling "wacky" as they make me look like a cartoon character. It would be better if I had crooked teeth so I would further look like a cartoon character. Whatever the reviews, I reckon they are AWESOME. They creak and everything... just.. like.. er.. wood.. hahahaha =P

Until tomorrow night (or sometime soon), children.

Calling the Melburnians...

never fear, I am returning soon!

... those of you present in the lovely city of ours (or its surrounds) this month and are bored, please feel free to volunteer to be my clown. I will appreciate most forms of entertainment till February 2. Clowns, comedians and those that sing out of tune are most certainly welcome!

... alright, if this does not appeal to anyone, come over and I'll make you beef rice and brownies. Yes, I am kind indeed.

In conclusion. Those bored in Melbourne with summer school etc, please send me a telegram to advise me of your plans. If not possible, email might suffice. I will think about it. Facebook messages will unlikely be responded to due to my poor memory.

... OH. and. It's the Queen's birthday today. Not Elizabeth... but the one that sits on the Indonesian throne. Long live the queen, my uncle, and Ms T.

Happy 2009.

I have a sneaking suspicion... I suspect that 2009 will be a good year.

I remember this time last year. I remember thinking that I didn't think 2008 won't be good. And, looking back, it wasn't good at all, in my opinion.

But 2009 will be different. I feel it in my gut. And my gut has been spot on in the last few weeks.

I only have one resolution this year.

Happy '09, friends.