Cheat Work Thursday

I promise I'll quit using bullet points and numbered lists (or use them sparingly) someday, but as Syrio Forel would say, "Not today." 1) "You are jealous" is a very cop-out way to argue. Most disagreements do not come from jealousy. For example: I don't watch the Kardashians. Looking at the amount (or some would also say the quality ) of TV that I watch, it's shocking that I don't or that I'm not a fan of theirs in general. I'd then state my reasons to the concerned individual, some of which may or may not be in line with the reasons why I don't have Facebook and why I don't understand selfies. This explanation sometimes would trigger "You are jealous" conclusion. No, I'm not. In fact, I think the Kardashians are beautiful and super smart marketers. Put it this way: I don't watch wrestling shows, and I'm not a fan of Hulk Hogan. And no, I'm not jealous of him. 2) Speaking of the Kardashians, I hon...

Photo by Mario Calvo on Unsplash The news channel. I was home early this afternoon, sat on my towel and carpet to exercise, switched the TV on, and since then have been spending probably about 12 hours now tuning in to the news. You know what's on it in the past 20 hours. And, sigh, CNN news channel -- need them, hate them. You know basically how they report: put on a serious, concerned face as if they are about to relay something really mind-blowing and exclusive, frown or scream for effect... only to ask questions almost as good as the rhetorical ones, repeat what they have been saying for the past three hours (that they can still see a helicopter hovering in the air and hear the sound of dogs barking) and offer about 739 assumptions. "Things are dramatically unfolding here. We don't know yet if the dogs are hungry or just bored, but sources are telling us -- and we're using the term 'sources' quite loosely here -- that they are bored. Stay tune...

@ TheNardvak Etiquette -- spelling the word is already tough. About 2% of the time, I think about the effect of one action in two different situations. Why does a 40-year-old Lady A look good in a knee-length pencil dress, while another 40-year-old Lady B looks like she's wearing her daughter's clothes? (If you haven't heard about this already: my never ending clothes-age research.) Why could Country C invade Country D in the name of looking for WMDs, couldn't find any (unless WMD means oil) but still managed to get away with it? Can Country D get away with it if it's the other way around? Why do some food pictures posted on the internet inspire us (really, elevate our mood and make our hearts beat faster!), while some make us chuckle? I read about this a lot. Apparently, it's eye-rolling to post food photos on Instagram and Facebook. Honestly, sometimes I get that. And if you cross to taking pictures of other people's food... *gulps, cringes*...

These past few weeks were exam result weeks. One of my nieces received her PMR's, and another UPSR's. Both got all As except for one B. We are ok with that. I think. But getting a lot of (if not straight) As has always been our family's growing up... priority (?) At least it feels that way because it's in the conversation a lot. Some won't admit it, but I think that's how it goes in many homes as well, especially these days. I don't think it's a bad goal at all. When I was younger, more As meant an opportunity for a better future and to change our lives. To me, getting straight As could also mean that you are focused and hardworking and smart about your priority. It could be a proof of your I-can-do-anything attitude. I've always believed that formal education is important. Going to school and getting a degree are important. If you can afford it and have the opportunity, go get them. They are part of life's learning process. What you do with ...

Photo by Jose Alonso on Unsplash , altered. When I'm either done or bored solving my own problems, I like to think about others', especially when I'm a little sick like today, which means I have more time to do just that. _____ I was busy all day Friday. I'd already thought about sitting at my desk, going on the internet for many useless things that night, since 10 in the morning. I reached home that evening, kicked off my bag and shoes with the hugest satisfaction, showered and went to scan Twitter. That was when I, and probably millions others around the world, learned about what was happening in S**dy Hook. I turned on the news and watched as the horrible event unfolded (a tiny detail each time, the rest was either a repeat / an assumption / a question: typical CNN). The news named a suspect, and people hunted for his Facebook and Twitter accounts. (OMG common sense, people! It's just possible that more than one person has the same name.) It turned out to...

@ vinnawinna I almost don't want to sleep on weekend nights (I've mentioned this, of course, it's just important that I tell it often). I feel like there are so many things I can do or complete on those nights. Or ideas I can develop. I usually can't specify what those are exactly... but just the thought of it, 'having ideas to develop', expands my lungs. So, weekend nights' insomnia is good. Being up after midnight is often making me hungry, though. So I made a bowl of cucur bawang + ikan bilis tonight and just discovered that having it with Thousand Island makes it an even more delicious snack. Forget that cucur absorbs oil like a sponge and Thousand Island carries 400 over calories per 100g; I lost 15% of weight in the past one year. I hope it's because I eat a lil' better this year. I really need to rethink about what I just wrote in this paragraph. Speaking of food and hunger, I think one of the most horrible things a person could do i...

@ 9to5Life In real life, if a political campaign staffer meets with a staffer from the other camp, could he/she get fired for that? Yes, I just saw The Ides of March . So seriously, could someone get fired for that? Sure, they are meeting about the possibility of jumping ship, but doesn't that sound like a case of being oversensitive to you? Or is this just happening in a movie? In which case I've been meaning to remind myself to start learning all my life skills from outside of a movie. Speaking of politics, it recently hit me that probably... probably I'm fascinated with the US presidential election the same way I'm fascinated with American Idol. You'd like anything if you hear about it often enough. I'm so easy to figure out. So, Obama is going to win the reelection tomorrow, right? Although, they now say "It's a deadlocked race", and there were a few times in the past few weeks when I thought Romney had a good case with the econ...

I was shocked when I heard the "S*icide is for M*slims" line on True Blood a while ago. So I went on the internet for reviews and recaps. Many viewers were shocked and found it offensive too. Then I came across this post on Tumblr. I think the author is right, I was missing a point earlier. Quoting a paragraph: "The writers did not write their own sentiments in this line. They wrote their characters. We are meant to be disgusted, just as we were meant to be disgusted at their actions in Iraq. Every moment where two different groups fail to coexist in this show, we are meant to be disgusted." _____ When I was mad with Mad Men in this post , I was taking the show too seriously too. I forgot that sexism and sexual harassment were not challenged and punished 50 years ago the same way they are today, not that they are already two archaic issues by now. I actually continued watching more episodes but was restless the whole time. My blood boiled watching the sce...

I don't know which one is more wrong: buying the roadside egg, cheese and dripping mayonnaise hotdog, or buying it in a nightdress and cardigan. But I just did both. However, instead of focusing on what's wrong with me, I'd rather we focus on what's wrong with the society or the world. I was flipping through an old newspaper and found this section publishing letters from readers, and it annoyed me. These readers were appalled by the standard of English usage in Malaysia. The letters sounded like this: "The standard of English is appalling..." "The decline of English proficiency is a serious issue..." " We are heading into a dark age... " ..... The language privilege. I read all the letters twice. None of them suggested a solution. If you think the state of English usage is worrying, tell the readers what they can do to improve it, so it will be up to your standard: Urge the government to continue teaching Maths and Scien...

We choose our own poison and get haunted by our own demons, addiction and bad habits. Some of us drown ourselves in stress and depression. Some choose drugs or alcohol or three boxes of chocolate. Some have affairs. We wish quitting were easy (although it's a mystery how I can quit running in just 10 seconds). Before judging an addict, think of our own habits first: how difficult it is to quit the simplest things like biting nails, or to start new good habits like recycling or praying diligently. While it's none of my business if others choose to cheat, it still cannot be right. And because I'm probably cold, my main worry is not about betraying my partner, it's about what kind of values I want to live with. A married-with-kids friend told me she's having an affair with another married-with-kids man. She's now haunted with guilt but finds it difficult to get out of the relationship. The first thing that came to my mind was, "Why do you have to have ...

One of my guilty pleasures is following the US election news. Guilty because I wish I was fascinated with my country's affairs as much. (I use 'much' and 'three news a year' interchangeably.) I've just registered with SPRM two weeks ago because I'm scared of my mother. She's going to nag me again if she finds out that I still haven't registered after so many elections. God, I'm too old for that nagging now. It'll be great if I ever get around to understanding what these two US parties keep arguing about someday. Which is a small detail. For now they got me at how their multimillion-dollar campaigns and speeches crafted. If you're not afraid to poke fun at yourself, and don't have to scream and pop your veins out of your forehead to deliver your speech, or don't (appear to) find it okay to attack your opponents' personal lives -- the actual content will kind of just fly past me. And we sooo don't do concession speeches o...

The Walking Dead If I haven't mentioned this for tens of times already: I can't get enough of the show. It's an addictive zombie series, which is unexpected and new to me. The showrunners, however, would make seven episodes of it, then make you wait for months for another seven. Suits This is one charming show. I mentioned about it here . Watching the show is like eating gummy candy. Smash It's hard to talk about Smash without talking about Glee. Glee the TV sweetheart was exciting to me for about five episodes, plus another couple of episodes when Blaine sang familiar songs. Then I can just scan and pick for clips that I like on YouTube. While kudos to Glee for making us forget that the show is in the same genre as High School Musical and for pushing boundaries, it needs a new storyline and drama. It now feels like just a show about a group of school kids making music videos. I only got the Schuester-Silvester rivalry for about 10 minutes. With only two episode...

Someone I know makes a lifestyle change because her new family 'encourages' her to. This person is not so fond of the idea but her soft heart led her to. If this were me, would I do it because eg 'my' partner wants me to? Ha. Good thing is, most of the time I get the concept of space and place. I'd keep my opinion to myself, although the blunt side of me would be rolling on the floor wanting to let it out. I am lucky my parents always have to let me make my own decision. Oh wait, plus this is not a bridge that I have to cross cross yet. I know friends who work hard and are doing well with their careers, only to let it go to accommodate changes in family. I guess that is love. You compromise or something, I don't know the right word. You probably take turn and make way to achieve one goal at a time because of the circumstances. It makes you happy to make your loved ones happy. Just like when I'm happy to accompany my parents to weddings of...

I did a lot of shopping this week and received a lot of freebies. Which is good, and thank you, God and you generous, generous people. It got me into thinking about this the whole week: how businesses work, especially these days -- how celebrities or people with tons of money receive tons of gifts and free stuff, some they don't even want, while people who actually need them are often forgotten. If this person can afford an RM10,000 bag, I think we shouldn't worry about her. She can afford the RM10 parking fee. Give the parking voucher to that father who's counting every ringgit in his wallet to buy some milk for his kids instead. - I do realize this can be argued in so many other ways. - Can I myself honestly practice that with my own work and life? - No, I wasn't the one who bought the RM10,000 bag.

I was born tone-deaf and with two left feet. But sometimes when I'm alone in my car or in my room, I do alright. I'm currently listening to Grenade . I have to blog my thoughts on Justin Bi*b*r and pop culture: Spending hours on the internet on a Saturday night Squeezing some time out of my busy adult schedule, checking pop culture on the internet, I notice adults in general can't stand Justin Bi*b*r and would love the chance to crucify knock some sense into any kids screaming for him. Come on, whether you are 30 or 50, you were 15 once. At some point in your life, you must have been into pop culture too. And admit it, there are things that you are embarrassed about obsessing or find funny now: hairstyle, way of networking, choice of music, clothes and more! Let the today's 15-year-olds have their time, shall we? The bowl-cut hair? Please, we soo... have seen the '80s. I don't want to name names, but God was probably mad at the whole entertainment ind...

Aww I miss this space *hugs PC*. The moment I thought of ignoring the internet, my e-mail, the pet and the blog, I suddenly felt like I had a lot of opinions on a lot of things that I needed to broadcast. They are all suddenly very important and life-changing. I'm still half -ignoring my e-mail, though. Don't you think life would be much simpler without e-mail? Also, if each of us aims to only write pleasant e-mails for the rest of the year, 2011 is going to be phenomenal. Imagine if seven billion of us were only to write e-mails that will make the recipient happy. That doesn't mean we can't write complaints demand for things or let the recipient know how we feel, but what if we only communicate our demands in a more pleasant way (than usual)? One that will make the other party willingly do what we want them to do, make people feel good about themselves, and make everyone's life easier? You read that, people who are going to e-mail me this year? Plea-sant.

Contrary to popular (?) belief, I don't only read Stephenie Meyer's books, I also read the news. I haven't been watching local TV news for ages, though, because I can just scan them online in five minutes. Ok, this isn't really an effective way to keep up, I must say. More than once, I've had to put on my wide-grin-blank expression when clients bring up an obvious current event that I've never heard of. I can go on defending myself more on this, but this is not the point of this post. So, scanning the news, I feel like blogging some thoughts: 1) I can't recall if we had this many movies or TV shows portraying Muslims as terr*rists prior to September 11. It's almost a popular culture. Or do I get this wrong? As September 11 was like nine years ago, I may have forgotten or never really given much care about the issue prior to the date. So each time you hear sh**ting or b*mbing news nowadays, you'll be kind of expecting that two days later an Ara...

Although I'd rather talk about TV, I was talking about schools with someone earlier today. It's pretty blurry now, but here are two points from the conversation: 1) This person wishes to homeschool her children. 2) She doesn't think uni degrees are that important. She said Bill Gates was a dropout. ..... Alright, I'm a study-hard-go-to-uni-it's-good-for-you supporter, but we know having a degree does not 1) make you suddenly smart. 2) guarantee you a bank account balance of more than RM15. 3) give you an automatic ability to be a better kind person. 4) magically transform you into a happy person with a good life. So I may be wrong, but what kind of homeschooling are we talking about here? What kind of teacher and syllabus and environment and reason behind this choice? Doesn't traditional school exist for a pretty good reason? Yes, we should choose, take risks and pursue our dreams. And if we do have the opportunity and resources to pursue...