Urban Kid

I went to the nearby mall today with my aunt, MK (my 7-year-old cousin) and my mom. We went there because my aunt finally figured that it was time to give MK what he's always wanted. What is that thing? Trust me, it's no ordinary toy for a 7-year-old.

It's not a toy. It's not a book. It's not a video game.

It's an Acer laptop!

I'm 18 and I don't have a laptop yet. But he's only 7 and he beat me to it.
Talk about unfairness. Lol.

I asked my aunt today, "Isn't it a little bit too early giving him a laptop when he's still so young?"
"No, all the other friends have laptops, except him." came her reply.
I thought I'd heard wrongly. "Your friends or his friends?"
"His friends la. His classmates in school."

When I was 7 years old, all I ever wanted for Christmas was a new Barbie doll. Haha, yeah, you get my point. Little boys back then would die for a new remote-controlled car, or their favorite superhero action figure. We didn't give a damn about laptops and computers because we assumed they were for grown ups. Wait, were there even laptops in 1997? Wow, I feel so outdated XD

I remember how my dad used to complain that kids these days are "spoilt with the latest gadgets" when I got my first handphone in Form 3. It was the old monophonic one... black and white screen, without a camera or an mp3 player. And he still complained that I was too young to own a phone =.= He would start off with the commonly overused phrase, "Back then when I was your age . . . we didn't care about handphones. We probably hadn't heard of them. And today handphones are the 'in' thing among you youngsters."

And I'd go, "Oh, that's so sad. Well, everyone in my form has a handphone now."

After my cousin purchased his laptop, he was happily carrying the bulky black bag out of the shop and I told him, "You know, when I was your age last time, we didn't have laptops."

He looked at me like I'd just said the most ridiculous thing on earth. "Ha?? Serious ar? Then what you all play with?"

"Well we had dolls... LEGO... play dough... TV..." I was trying to think of all the childish games I'd played as a kid. Somehow those memories seemed so far away.

"But then hor, all my friends play computer games. They all got Internet. Last time you don't have ar?"

"Yeah." I said sadly.

Now I completely understand how it feels to be the victim of time.

I won't be surprised if the next Bill Gates turned out to be a teenager.

But thinking about it, I'm glad we didn't have laptops or PSPs and all that stuff last time. Because kids these days are missing out on their childhood with the hours they spend in front of the screen, gaming away. Hehe. At least, when we were young, we played real games. Not virtual games. We had a life. I miss my childhood =)

Get Slim with... SHOPPING!!!

Some say that brisk walking in parks or in the same neighborhood can get pretty boring. Yeah, I agree with that. It's even worse when you're on the treadmill at the gym, because you're just moving on the same spot, and time passes reeeeaaaal slow. So why suffer when you can have a nice change of scenery, like, say - at shopping malls? :) Plus you get everything there - good music, delicious aromas, and gorgeous clothes. And for guys, hot chicks.

Did you know, that shopping helps you burn calories? You don't necessarily need to hit the gym every week or jog five rounds around the park to lose those extra calories. Just a trip to the mall does it all! Aside from burning calories, you get to shop til you drop too. Now, talk about killing two birds with one stone! XD


I'm not just saying this because I love shopping. I'm saying this because it's so true! And I'm not making this up.

Shopping is a great exercise, both mentally and physically. Walking is just another form of burning calories. So, walk some more!! The faster you walk, the more calories you're burning. And you're actually burning calories too when you wait in line. Why? Because standing up burns as much calories as lying down. And when you try on outfits, calories are lost too.


Who said females can't carry weights? Have you seen real shopaholics? Look at the amount of packages they carry, including that large fashionable tote bag on their shoulder. So yes, don't underestimate a female's strength ;) Girls are stronger than you think. We just don't like to waste our energy lifting dumbbells. We use it on what we're passionate about.

Like I said, shopping does some good mental exercise too. When you can't decide which out of the two skirts to buy, or which restaurant to have lunch in, or simply where to go next, you're cracking your brain to think and therefore, burning some more calories!! :)

Whoever said shopping is a waste of money?
It doesn't have to be.
Ever heard of window shopping? :) For me, that's like shopping with a lot of self control.
Just absorbing the pretty scenery and parading the mall in your favorite outfit is good enough.
Your body's actually becoming slightly fitter without you noticing it. You need to make it a constant activity to see real results. Just like how going to the gym only once a week doesn't produce prominent results, the same goes with shopping only during the SALES season.

Yes, so now you see my point.
Maybe most of them applied to females only, but males, it doesn't mean that shopping doesn't benefit you.

So the next time someone teases you about being a mall rat, you'll have another point to add to your list of defenses. =)

I know, right? this gives me another awesome reason to go shopping! Haha.

So, what are you waiting for? Get out there and start shopping! It's healthy. :D

Caterpillars

The holidays are making me lazy. Weirdly, I haven't had the craving to shop or hang out.
Stuck at home most of the time, I began to think of new things to do - no matter how ridiculous they may seem.

I like photography. Taking pictures of objects or places makes me occupied and happy. I guess that's one of the beauties of photography; the process can be quite tedious as to how and where to get a perfect shot, but you learn and discover new possibilities in the making. I may not be a skillful photographer, but do drop by my photoblog if you haven't and feel free to jot your comments/criticisms. I'd highly appreciate that! :)

www.carissa.aminus3.com

I'd hate to waste my holidays. Maybe I need to get out a little more, like someone suggested, to take more pictures of cool places. Yeah... I think I would.

Anyway, a few days ago, I spotted three ugly, humongous caterpillars on one of my mother's plants. They ate up most of the plant!! No wonder they were so fat.

Most of you may not know this, but I grew up with a phobia toward frogs, worms and creepy crawly creatures. Don't ask me why. I just never liked them. When I saw the caterpillars, I decided to take a few random shots of them. Too bad, they weren't photogenic. It was hard to get a good angle.


Anyway, I was bored of taking pictures of their sluggish green bodies, so I decided to try something different.

Let's add a little more action!

I took the gas lighter. The fire acted as a stimulant.The caterpillar started crawling faster than usual. Haha. No, I wasn't that cruel to actually burn it. Though I wouldn't mind, I'm not here to show you how to roast a caterpillar. My cousin brother was beside me the whole time, and he was laughing away while I taunted the poor caterpillar. He has more evil roots than I do.
"BURN IT!!! BRING THE FIRE CLOSER!! COOK IT!!!!"
He was so noisy that it was hard to concentrate. Trying to balance the gas lighter in one hand and the camera in the other, I turned to him and said, "Ok, if I cook it, you better eat it."
Haha kids are so vulnerable. Like I expected, he looked appalled and stopped talking.

Caterpillars are not dumb, emotionless things you know. They can get pissed off too.
This one arched its back and bore its angry red feelers at me. I guess it doesn't like heat.

What about water, then?

My cousin brother asked me if caterpillars can survive in water. To prove my point, I selected the larger of the three caterpillars and placed it in a container with some water inside. The caterpillar swam around for a few minutes, then it contracted cramps and started twitching oddly in the water.
"What's happening to it?" my cousin asked curiously.
"Muscle spasms," I replied.


Just like how fishes die, the caterpillar died in the same, upside-down manner. Its body floated on the surface of the water, and I looked at my cousin. He was still staring at it with such intensity, as though this was the coolest thing he'd ever seen.
"Wow," he breathed. "You killed the caterpillar... so cool!"

This kid is so not gonna be a nice little boy when he grows up.

Well, I'd taken enough caterpillar photos for a day. That gave me something to do, at least.
Come on, you guys killed FROGS in school - caterpillars aren't any different. :)

PS: As for the other two caterpillars, I decided to let them morph into butterflies.

Race of Love

One day, a son asked his father, "Dad, will you run the marathon with me?"
"Yes, son." The father replied, and they ran their first marathon together.
On another day, the son asked his father, "Dad, will you go on another marathon with me?"
"Sure, son." The father said, and they ran their next marathon again.
Finally one day, the son looked at his father and asked, "Dad, will you run the Ironman with me?"
*the Ironman is actually a triathlon - an almost superhuman combination of 26.2 miles of running, 112 miles of bicycling and 2.4 miles of swimming*
The dad smiled and answered, "Okay, son. Let's do it."

And here they are... Dick (father) and Rick (son) known as Team Hoyt!




Amazing, isn't it? That video struck a chord within me.

Dick and Rick Hoyt are a father-and-son team from Massachusetts and together, they've run marathons and even trekked 3735 miles across America. What makes it really miraculous is that Rick is paralyzed; he can't walk or talk. In 1962, Dick and his wife Judy were greeted with devastating news when the doctor told them that their first unborn, Rick, would not be able to survive for long because his umbilical cord had coiled around his neck and cut off oxygen to his brain. Rick was born paralyzed and the doctors added that there was no hope for his development. They were wrong.

Despite Rick's condition, his parents never ceased to shower him with love and they nurtured him like normal parents would. Unfortunately, enrolling him into a public school was hard. Rick was turned down many times because the school authorities thought he couldn't understand since he could not talk. But that wasn't true. When a group of Tuft University engineers told Rick a joke, he cracked up - that meant that he could communicate! So they helped build a special interactive computer that allowed Rick to type out his thoughts with his head movements. Soon, he was admitted into a public school.


One day, Rick said that he wanted to participate in a 5-mile benefit run for a local player who'd been paralyzed in an accident. Dick was far from athletic. Yet, for Rick's sake, he agreed to push Rick in a wheelchair. They finished second to last, but nevertheless, it was a great achievement for them. Rick had a passion for sports and marathons.

After 4 years of marathons, they competed in their first triathlon. For this, Dick had to learn how to swim and ride a bike properly. With a newly-built bike (adapted to carry Rick in front) and a boat tied to Dick’s waist as he swam, the Hoyts came in second-to-last in the competition held on Father’s Day 1985.


Dick, who is 65, says, "Rick is the one who inspires and motivates me, the way he just loves sports and competition."

Rick graduated from Boston University in 1993 with a degree in special education. He is now working at Boston College's computer laboratory a system codenamed "Eagle Eyes", through which mechanical aids (like for instance a powered wheelchair) could be controlled by a paralyzed person’s eye-movements, when linked-up to a computer. Here is his testimony that he typed out, "Dad is one of my role models. Once he sets out to do something, Dad sticks to it whatever it is, until it is done. For example once we decided to really get into triathlons, dad worked out, up to five hours a day, five times a week, even when he was working."

Dick is now 65 and he still goes on marathons and triathlons with Rick. Evidently, the love of a father toward his son runs deep. And with the courage and determination that Rick has, it is enough to inspire Dick to keep going. In total, they have completed 229 Triathlons, 66 marathons and much more.

This is what true love is all about.

What a beautiful inspiration. =)

Go, Team Hoyt!!!

Beyond The Limit

China used to be a well-respected country, until various reports concerning their products proved otherwise. I don't deny that they are very intelligent and innovative people, but sometimes, when intelligence overrules, disasters happen.

I believe that there should be a limit for everything. China had been doing pretty well in the past, until some smart asses decided to go beyond the limit and try to be Gods of their own creations. As a result, they have opened the windows to more health problems, criticisms and even deaths. Eventually, it gets you thinking, "What the heck is wrong with them?" Read on and you'll see.

For the sake of money-making, people are desperate to try anything.
If you were to visit China, beware of roadside 'ramen' noodles. It is called "Lan Zhou Ra Mien".
A certain chemical is used in the making of the noodles, which tenderizes and improves the elasticity of the noodles.


To discover the severeness of the damage upon the human body, the reporter conducted an experiment on a paper cup.

The chemical seeped through the paper and left a dark stain on the floor. Even after the floor was washed, the stain was still visible. Wow, that must have been one remarkable chemical!


And of course, the hottest health issue on the planet was the melamine content in milk products. People have DIED from it.
Melamine is used in industrial production and therefore, is not edible.
Some of the affected companies are Nestle, Nescafe, Chesdale, M&M's, Snickers, and even STARBUCKS (wth?!?!?) This is bad, people. This is very, very bad. :(
*Boo Hoo. Looks like I won't be having a frappucino this holiday*

Because of them, we have to be extra cautious in everything that we purchase. I used to only check the back of the box for the calories. Now not only do I have to check for the ingredients, but for the manufacturing country as well! If I see "Made in China", the bell of skepticism starts to ring in my head.

Even hairbands should be inspected.

Beware of cheap hairbands like these. You'll never know what you may find inside...

OMG. Is that a condom?
Well, technically yes. It's actually a used condom. Now there's a new way of STD transmission.
Dirty, huh?

You would've thought that with today's growing civilization, barbarians would have ceased to exist. You're wrong.


If you're wondering what that black thing is, that is actually a fetus. An unborn baby. Yes, no joke.
A restaurant in China serves baby herbal soup to increase health and sexual stamina. They consider it a "delicacy" and it costs about $4000 a bowl. People actually want it. Can you believe it?! How sick and cruel is that??
Most of the babies used in the making of the soup are females. The poorer families abort their babies once they realize it's a girl and they sell them for money. The profit would probably be enough to buy them a month's meal.
How could anyone be so inhuman to think of making a profit out of innocent babies?
If they can think of eating dead babies, what will stop them?

Maybe it's because the Chinese there are very superstitous, they believe almost everything their ancestors tell them. There's a myth that fresh monkey brains will make you smarter. That's only a myth, right? Scientifically, monkey brains just contain nutrients. In China, they eat monkey brains ALIVE with wine. The poor monkey would be screeching in agony while the beastly retard sits there poking his chopsticks around the pink gunk in the monkey's head, devouring his way to "intelligence". People in the wildlife organizations should do something about this!

Yes, this is the ugly side of China. Seriously, what is wrong with them??
I'd been receiving so many emails about China's dirty works and decided that I've had enough with what I've seen and read.

The least I could do is post about it.

Winds of Change

Congratulations to Barrack Obama for bagging the title as the first African-American President of the United States! This is history in the making.

President Obama and his family onstage during his victory in Chicago.
The crowd was a roaring sea of elated supporters.

His victory over McCain in terms of percentage was 70% to 30%.

“We have witnessed tonight in America a revolution of values, a revolution of ideals. There’s been a transformation of America, and it will have unbelievable influence on the world.” said John Lewis, a legend of the U.S. civil rights movement in 1960.

Most of America sees a potential in this 47-year-old Democrat senator, and so do I. I believe that it's certainly time for a change.

Overjoyed Obama Supporters of the American Embassy in London

I especially liked this statement of his:

"Change will not come if we wait for some other person or some other time. We are the ones we've been waiting for. We are the change that we seek."

-Obama-

He deserves this. He really does. :)

Look at her shirt.

Now, it's our turn to prepare ourselves for a change!

Photos taken from www.msnbc.msn.com

Itallianies

After our Public Speaking exam yesterday, a bunch of us headed over to Itallianies at Sunway Pyramid for dinner. We literally forced our lecturer to join us, because the main purpose of the gathering was actually to spend one last moment together as a class, and to thank our beloved lecturer, Miss VG, for everything she'd done for us throughout the past few months.

It was my first time at Itallianies yesterday. There were 25 of us who turned up, and we booked up almost 5 tables on the top floor of the restaurant. We were the longest and noisiest table that night. Lol. We ordered a variety of food, and here are the ones that I managed to capture:

Salmon Fettucini
Its creamy texture and salmon bits provide a succulent taste.


I forgot what this was called.
Potato wedges, onions, tomato slices and chicken (was it chicken?) soaked in rich gravy.

This was the one that May Chong and I ordered:

I forgot the name of this one too. :P
Shell-shaped pasta topped with creamy tomato sauce and mozarella cheese. Simply delicious!

It was so good!! I'm missing it so much now. :(

Some of the guys ordered red wine. Lol. I'm not a fan of wine, so I didn't try it. My first experience with wine was last year at a friend's party... I took one sip of it and stuck out my tongue in disgust. Why did it taste like medicine? =/ I guess I just didn't know how to appreciate it. My friends, on the other hand, were gulping down glasses of wine. I kept telling them to stop in case they got drunk but they laughed it off, drunkedly saying, "Boooolshitt laaa. I won't get drunk wannn. Haha ... haha... haha..." And they began talking nonsense and laughing like drunkards the rest of the night.

Miss VG is the one in the middle.
We forced her to give us an impromptu speech using the methods she'd taught us in class.
At the end of her little "speech", we presented her the huge card with our greetings inside.


Picture time! :)

She's been a wonderful lecturer and we're all so blessed to have her.

And of course, not to forget this quirky mixture of students in the class who've made things so lively and memorable for everyone.

Time flies and I won't be seeing some of them anymore. :(
But, I shall not forget that I had a great time this semester.
Thanks for the memories! =)

Just An Update...

I went for my first driving lesson today and my instructor sent me out on the real road with real cars and real traffic. It was crazy. He said he had faith in me. LOL. Then he said, "Have faith in yourself." And I was like, "okaaayyy... if you say so."

On the road, driving wasn't so fun anymore. I had to maintain a constant balance of the clutch and the oil pedal and worrying about getting us both back to the driving school in one piece.

I do not like traffic lights.

In fact, I'm kind of afraid of them now. Stopping the car isn't as hard as starting it up again. Manual cars are such a hassle. You gotta take everything into consideration once you stop the car: clutch, brake, accelerator, gear. I stalled the car several times at the traffic light because I couldn't start up the car nicely. I was in the middle of the road with all the cars zooming past me. Sigh, so embarrassing =(

Thank God none of you were there to see that happen :D