My favourite sites pt 1

I love to read online stuff, whether its a personal lifelog/blogs or websites/commentaries on specific interests, such as music, religion, technologies, genetics, manga, anime and etc. In fact, its my daily routine to browse through these websites before i start off my hectic work. Anyway, just to list out a few of favorites here:

1.Alex music Blog

This is a one of the most comprehensive download site for contemporary music which appeal to the mainstream, as well as those are not too contemporary such as acoustic, lounge music, jazz, celtic and other genre. For those MJ's hardcore fan out there, the download links for most of his albums can be found at the site.

2. TechXav

With the tagline "A tech blog managed by three 15 years olds", TechXav is full with Web 2.0 apps, online tips and most updated tech news. In fact Xaviers was awarded as Singapore Best Youth Blog this year, however the main author- Xavier was labeled as cocky and arrogant youth for making an outrageous statements during interview- "The Blog Awards need me more than I need them." Well, take away the controversy part, the blog is interesting and informative. For heaven sake, he is just a 15 years old teenager with hormone ranging wild in his veins and dreaming to become the next Warren Buffet. Give him a break.

3. Manga Traders

Mangatraders was a glorified dumping ground for manga lovers. It is dedicated to making English translated manga available to the world, FOC. Yes you heard me well. Anyway, I think its very much self explanatory.

4.Modern Mechanix-Yesterday's Today Tomorrow

This is the best and weirdest tech/mechanics/science site ever! Its actually a compilation of the issues of an old magazines which explained modern technology to the lay people in startling and excited ways, named Modern Mechanix. You can read all sorts of wacky creation such as Dog in sack on running board (1936), all the way to some wild crazy science theory/experiments - The earth formation theory (1923), and even the most discussed religion- Tom Cruise's Scientology (1968- The so called religion-ahem-cult is that old, can you believe it!).

To be continue...

My Transboundary driving experience

Yesterday, i had achieved another feat which marked an important milestone in my life-I drove back and forth across the country from KL to Singapore, for a total of 767 km, all in one day!

The night before yesterday i was having this pre-event stress which caused me a terrible sleepless night. I was reading the final episode of '20th century boys' manga (the manga is fabulous! will definitely write about it next time) before i went to the bed. And the instance i hit the pillow and closed my eyes, my mind started to roll like a movie film, replaying all the scene in the manga which i have read.

Like any of the insomniac will do, (not popping sleeping pill, you goons!) I started to psychoing myself with anything i can think off to empty my mind, which including counting the sheeps, alphebets, in ascending and descending, getting up and clear my bladder etc. but it was all useless! By the time the alarm went off showing its 530am, i was so tired yet still perfectly awake, and i have no choice but to go for an icy cold bath to stimulate my neuros.

By 630am, i am waiting for my colleague at my office's empty carpark under the dark open sky, and that started off my transboundary experience.

Frankly, it wasnt really an interesting trip, its nothing close to the so called cross country drive cum soul searching trip, with mustang or RV, accompanied by the blasting of Steppenwolf's "Born to be wild". In contrast, It was a hectic one day business trip to Singapore, cruising the Northsouth Highways with petty scenery of endless palm oil plantation fields at both side, while the one who suffered the most is my poor Myvi.

We stopped for a car-check at Yong Peng town, Johor, as the steering wheel was vibrating like an old man with parkinson whenever it hits 100km/hour. It turned out that the balancing was off and the front tyres had worn off and you can literally see the wires sticking out. The workshop owners told me that the tyre will surely busted if we continue our long distance journey. I have no choice but to pay for RM320 to change the front tyres.

While waiting for the car to be fixed, we went for a bowl of the famous Yong Peng's HockChew FishBall, which was claimed to be one of the bounciest fishballs. While slurping the noodle soup and biting the fishballs, i cant helped but noticing that the town was so old and under developed, there was no sign of economic vibrancy except a few old man sitting in the chinese restaurant watching the tele. My colleague told me that the town used to be blooming with tourist as those days the express busses used to stop at Yong peng for a break, however when the North South Highway was built, the town lost its crowd and was soon forgotten in time .

Well, at least the meatball soup was still quite good.

We reached Singapore, Orchard at around 1230. the shopping streets was full with crowds as it was noon time. We have our usual business lunch with the counterparts and time flies, by the time we finished our discussion, it was the time to hit the road again.

The rest of the 5 hours drive was dreadful, both of us had reached the limit of our sanity and we were cracking stupid jokes and talking non stop all the way back to make sure that we are both physically alert.

By 10pm, i have officially broke my personal records for driving 767 km in a day, and thank God my dear Myvi is still in one piece.

And the rest is just me and my pillow.

Sense and sensibility

Many philosopher believe that constitution is not an identity, that very same matter can made up 2 or more concrete object of different kinds at the same time, i'm not referring to Christianity's Trinity or political constitution here (if that's what in your mind), i'm talking about the most complex and sophisticated creature on earth-women.

Many said that there is a beast in every man, but we tend to forget that sometimes women are equally scary. Man can be fearless, but when it comes to their Kryptonite-woman, they are literally armless. Basically, i would like to think that woman is constitutes of two personalities -Ms. Elinor (Sense) and Ms. Marianne (Sensibility), trapped inside the same body. You can imagine something like Dr Jekyll and Mrs. Hyde, except that both are of the same sex. Anyway you get my point.

Many perceived that woman are emotional creatures, full with ranging hormones, has a soft spot for man who sweet talks, always think with her heart and not her brain. In fact, when Adam saw Eve for the first time, he said "She shall be called "Ishsha" (a Hebrew word for Women) as she was taken out of "Ish" (man)." Translation from Hebrew for Ishsha is softness/receptivity, while Ish means Strength/initiation.

This means, 'relationality' is the role of women, whereby connecting and being receptive to senses (sensibility) was coded in women's genetic. In nature, women are more attuned to what happen in their heart (than their brain); in another words, women are born to be Ms. Marianne.

Personally, i think its a stereotype, i resent it.

History of microevolution shows that human is capable of adapting to the fast rate of environmental change for greater survivorship, which means genotype is not the sole factor that give rise to the phenotypic manifestation of women.

Easy formula from Genetic chapter 1:

Phenotype= Genotype+Environment

One of the most profound emerging phenomenon of this developing world (environnment) is that women is attainning societal power, authority, earning capabilities which previously seem as being preserve of men. The consequence is that this give rise to women of a different breed, Ms. Elinor. Men see them as bossy, autocratics who had opted out of their domestic goddess role.

Again, i think its a stereotype, i resent it.

I believe every woman has both sense and sensibility in them. It will be a total fiasco if the women of this age have their Elinor seperated from Marrianne. And frankly speaking, i dont see a problem in that, i have female friends who are successful managing directors and business women, but happily settled with their love ones who bring back less cash compare to themselves.

The question is how did they strike the balance of the two?

You can argue the fact that because in term of materials and cents wise, these ladies are self sufficient therefore they dont really bother too much whether the other half's earnings are on par or exceeding theirs. However, does the woman of this age has totally lost the feminine side of them and prioritize externals/qualification of man more than what their heart feels?

Lets put on a scenario to illustrate my point, women, if there are two guys came and approached you at the same time, one with a highly paid executive job, not heart-achingly handsome but is stable and able to fill up the deep insecurity ravine in your heart, someone like John Cusack maybe. While the other one is a pretty laidback chap with less cash in the pocket, but he can make you go all mushy inside by writing and singing a love song to you like Kris Allen, or John Mayer, or Jason Mraz, or all in one.

John Cusack, and the Kris-John-Jason combi (i know my photoshop skill is bad)

Who would you choose?

The fact is the answer may be vary pretty drastically from person to person. Given a choice, doesnt matter is Mr. A or B, I'll go for the guy who, one day or forty years from now, can say, "You remember that time, it wasnt funny back then."

and then we both laugh together.

Neither a love song nor money can buy moments like that. Women needs a man whom they can laugh together and sharing this life together, let it be full of thorns or bed of roses.

I probably don't have a definite answer on how to balance the two, but my point is, there is a very little difference between the women and men in terms of feelings we are going through. We have virtually the same needs and pains (although the way of dealing is different). Man, if you were given the same question on whether you will choose Ms. Elinor or Ms. Marianne, probably the answer that came out will be the same as what the women would give.

So figure it out your own.

Ok, thats sound very philosophical, you heard my answer yet you dont.