By now, all my friends, those of you on Facebook, would have seen my newest, latest obsession. Well, actually, I have a few things going on in my life, but right now I want share my photography. I selected a few photos to post to an online gallery in the photography community/group at Geek Sugar's Cool Capture Photo group. It's my favourite subject of Food and Drinks. There's something immensely satisfying about recording the gorgeous food and drink before consuming it.

Here is the link my gallery called Eating and Drinking, I hope it works, what do you think???

Wait, what? Guilt-free running? Why ever would running make you feel guilty? It's supposed to be a good thing right? Well, yes, and no. And I am not even talking about the act of running (a torture in and of itself, is that how the expression goes?).

No, I'm talking about the environmental impact of running on a treadmill. Especially when you consider that running outside is free and does not use any energy (other than the stuff in your body that you're trying to burn). Yes, I'm dorky enough to sometimes consider the fuel I'm wasting on operating a treadmill at the gym. But maybe if the gym started installing these eco-friendly Treadmills. I can briefly worry about the cost of producing them, but that would be negligible if the treadmill is used regularly, over many years... right.

But whatever the cost of running, running outside is free. And with the weather (supposedly due to be) warming up now, there's one less reason to avoid outdoor running, and a whole lot of reasons why you should! Vitamin D... Less power consumption... Variety... Fresh Air... Well, fresh air is debating, but at least you don't have to worry about a heavy, smelly sweater getting on the machine next to you!

An interesting that I've come across in the blogsphere, has been reports that a study shows will power is limited, but it can be trained to be better and stronger. This is very interesting, But really, isn't that something we already knew? If you think about advice we get regarding getting healthier or fitter. Start with baby steps, start running by running first, swap one can of coke for a cup of tea instead. Are these studies not just another way to rephrasing that?

I think this is why some people crash and burn, after jumping into something really quickly and taking everything on in go. It's also why people continually fall of the diet wagon. And, I guess, also why parents eventually give in to their kids' pester power!

I have to admit, I am not sure I'd be so dedicated to my fitness and health if I had a more stressful job. Or more to the point, whether I'd have been able to adopt, and normalise, my health and fitness routine to be a, well, daily routine. It's been something I've had to learn, to not let falls off the wagon get me down or start rolling on the mud once I've fallen off.

Some more discussion on the blogsphere about this topic can be found here and here.

Slowly, information about cholesterol NOT being the cause of health problems, has been appearing more and more in the news. This is quite pertinent to me, not only because I have become very invested in my health. But because my mother has been testing quite high levels of cholesterol, which the doctor never worried about until her last checkup. It's gotten higher, and he's now thinking about putting her on drugs to control it.

But the more I read, the more it seems that the those drugs, and in fact, the demonisation of cholesterol, seems to be more about drug companies making money, doctors repeating dogma as truths and just not well backed up by science. Like the following article from Huffington Post.

And there's this article, which discusses how omega 3 and 6 oil has bigger impact on heart disease numbers than cholesterol. Which yes, I did get via a post on Mark's Daily Apple's forums. (I'd link the thread/post, but I didn't think to copy it and now I am not sure where it is.)

Then there's the Low fat/Low Cholesterol food idea that many people have. My Mother still avoids eating eggs because they are high in cholesterol. This is despite the now mainstream knowledge that eating eggs doesn't actually have a negative impact on cholesterol levels! A quick Google search finds various sources that says the same thing. Like this one http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/7882850.stm, and this one http://www.naturalnews.com/025995.html, and this one http://www.eatwell.gov.uk/asksam/healthydiet/eggsandpulsesq/ and even this one, while still on the bandwagon, concedes the link is not strong http://lowfatcooking.about.com/od/faqs/f/eggs.htm.

There's a similar debate going on about Coconut Oil as well. I brought some today, and mum took a look at it and immediately said she won't be able to eat what I was cooking up. I don't have much information either way about it, I brought it because it's a bit of a "halo"d food in the Paleo/Primal circles. So I refrained from commenting. I must continue my research on coconut and cholesterol for next time it comes up.

So, I have all these knowledge, information about science, or lack of and the constantly updated knowledge about food... in english. How do I get the same information in Chinese? From a publication that my mother would actually believe?

Sometimes I wonder if a person is limited in how many times they can find someone who catches their breath and make their heart skip a beat.

I wonder if every time you find and lose someone who makes you feel that way, you build your emotional defenses that little bit higher, find yourself a little more wary the next time. That as time goes by, you're just that little more jaded.

Or maybe there really are only so many people who'll have the power to make you feel that jump, and if you meet them all too early, you'll spend the rest of your life not ever experiencing it again. Or the other way, that you'll have to search and wait for years and years before that feeling hits you.

Or, maybe though I have given up romance movies and novellas, but it seems that I've not given up the idea of the lightening bolt. That instant chemistry.

So what I am looking for? Chemistry. The complete chemistry kit, in fact.

This isn't going to big a long thoughtful analysis or a angry rant. Just an interesting topic raised at Jezebel.com.

It's something that I may have thoughtful analysis or angry rant about later,but right now... I am just processing.

This is the link in person:  Type-Casting: The Skinny Glutton

Well, today I got someone to look at my finances. What, the bits and pieces that makes up my finances. At some point I may need to really grow up. I don't know how much I can do of what I want to do. I guess this is growing up. The bits where dreams don't come true. Even when you do do what you wanted. I've already gone through many stages that comes with growing up. And not one has ever lived up the the promise made by family, teachers or the media.

Take, for example, University. The big life changing centre of learning, where I discover myself and learn amazing thing about myself. My coming of age in the halls of learning. That's clearly too many Hollywood movies. The great opportunities and jobs that would be opened to me once I get my piece of paper. Well, I have to say I am rather ambivalent about my University experience. I hated it most of the time, I didn't really learn all that much about myself, and my closest friends are still those from high school, not Uni. 

And the post-Uni experience. To be honest, the first couple of years were such a forgettable experience that I have pretty much forgotten and work very hard to not remember the rest. I definitely did not find fulfilment in work or security in a regular income. 

Anyway, the point is, I followed the script till I was 22 and it wasn't all that great. That is probably why, even as I seek advice about my finances, I am reluctant to really commit to anything. My Mum wants me to buy, and wants to lend me money for the deposit to get me into the market earlier. But even with that money, I still don't have 20%. The lady seems to think that the bank will want me to have 20%, not 10%. Of course, she's not a mortgage broker. But personally I am reluctant to take on too much debt to get in myself. Although it'd be nice to have my own place, rent out another room... and when I go overseas, I can rent out my room and would pretty much have all the repayments under control (and hopefully I am earning some money the next time I venture aboard and can afford to make up the rest).

But that's all fantasy since I can't afford the deposit. But I did seem to get one thing sorted. I'm finally setting up some sort of investment fund. I am no longer relying solely on interest dividends for earning money. Now that feels like a grown up step. Along with arranging a more sophisticated super setup. Now, I think I may need to set up some enduring power of attorney for someone in my family. Because if you're not a spouse, it's a bugger to sort out money stuff of your comatosed loved one. So yes, I am getting one done up, and I am appointing my sister, not my parents. I think if someone needed to exercise that power, I want them to speak english fluently, it'd make it just that little less painful for all involved. Lucky Sis.

I could rant on about how those things (home, power of attorney) are much easier if you're a couple, but we already know how I feel about the way society is geared towards couples and families. But not your parents, no. My parents can't dictate how my money is managed if I was incapacitated in some way. But if I had a deadbeat husband that I was about to serve papers to when I ended up in a coma, he can all sorts of things on my behalf.

The movie of the book "He's just not that into you" isn't all that great a movie. In fact, it's not even a particularly good movie. But there are several scenes which are memorable. The one I am thinking of right now is the one with Drew Barrymore, discussing dating in the modern world, and lamenting on how exhausting it is to be rejected by all these different technologies. Here's he excerpt copied from imdb.com:


And indeed, it can be exhusting. Because not only are we now hanging by the mailbox or the telephone, we now have all these methods and implications that each method of communication means.

But it's only exhausting if you let it tire you. Much like work is only going to drain you or stress you out as much as you allow it. In fact, it's not really all that different. It's taken me a long time to get used to the idea of switching off the negativity at work. Sure, it gets to me sometimes, but I now recognise when I am overreacting to events at work and adjust my internal dialog accordingly. This I've generally been able to adapt to other areas of my life too, like dealing with my extended family and of course, dating.

Which is why I am so angry at myself for letting the whole possible power play of texting and who texted who and the delay between replies get to me a bit last night. The instantaneousness of text means the feeling of rejection hits so much sooner. What's more galling is that I wasn't even that concerned initially about it. The games we play, I think I am so above it all... until I find myself analysing each little 140 character maximum reply!

Stop me if you heard this before - Society discriminates against singles. We pay more in insurance, we pay more to travel and everyone is so concerned about your solo status. As a society, people have become so use brainwashed into the idea that one must be in a two, a pair, in a romantic relationship, that their focus is getting out of this singlehood as quickly as possible.

Which wouldn't be a problem, if people didn't transfer this concern about not being paired up in a relationship onto me. For me, personally, the hardest thing about being single is that lack of single friends I have. It makes socialising an occasionally repetitive exercise of watching others talk to each other.

Maybe I've just been on the wrong side of the fence for too long. Certainly, it's been a while. The idea of having go... report to someone. No, I guess that's not the right way to put it. But the idea of having to consider someone else's feeling, ideas, and plan my activities around someone's activities does not appeal.

I don't read MX that much nowadays. Don't have time, better things to read in the little spare time I have. But I did notice an article about how single people staying single because they are too busy being single. I have to agree. I've filled up my various nights with various activities and the idea of someone coming into my life and forcing me to have to stop some of the activities actually does kind of upsets me. Thursday is my kickboxing night, dammit!

Even now, I find myself saying stuff like "I'm going to bake a cake" or "Start knitting some mittens" and then not be able to get to it for weeks. I remember having to compromise how I spent my time, and I am really appreciative of the fact that I my own fulfilment is all that I need to be concerned about right now. And I don't believe that I am being selfish. I am being true to myself and not bending myself to someone else's ideas to life. Not conforming to what the world tells me that I should feel, want and need.

I met an irish guy over the weekend. And some seem very concerned as to whether something more would come out of it. I feel a bit offended by this, as if I go out and meet guys in an attempt to entrap them somehow. That the only reason why I'd talk to guys is because I am looking for something more. But for me? It really is sometimes just about sex. And to be honest, expecting anything is unrealistic and unhealthy. What you should be asking me is not "Did he call?" but "Do you want to call him?" 

Because, I can take it or leave it, I have plans and dreams for myself, and I don't need a him in my life to fulfil them.

Just one little sentence. Typed to me via MSN by my cousin, when I told him I had started a little knitting project. He thought knitting wasn't something I'd do because I'd consider it too girly. Nevermind the fact that I learned to knit years ago. (Or even,  hey, that I am a girl, why would something be too girly?). So what is my beef about this statement exactly? hang in there, I'm getting to it. There are several points that gets me about the statement.

Firstly, girly activities. That activities are divided along lines of being male and female. And of course knitting is a girl thing. Like, talk about so 2000 and late. (boom boom pow).

Secondly, that I am somehow not female enough to perform certain activities. Or just that I am incapable of making something?

It seems that all my ranting and raving in front of him of the issues with the blatant sexism around us, has not penetrated at all. All he has heard is that traditional female stereotypes are bad, I will go against every single one of them. Which is yet another stereotype really, the one in which one adopts certain roles and traits because they are opposite. Or masculine, in this case.

The point that's been completely missed appears to be that I believe that as long as it's something I want to do or need to know, I will do it. I like to cook, good thing, since I need to eat. I like to knit, because I like making things. I also like kicking butt in the weights area (ok, I don't really, but I refuse to let it intimidate me at least) and the feel of my gloves on hands as I throw a right cross. I like going to the footy and I don't see why I can't enjoy it. I am anything and everything I want to be. I don't pick my activities based on whether I am playing, or not playing, into a role that's been genderised.

This morning, or should I say, late afternoon. I was saying that I needed a hobby. An active hobbie. Like joining a Soccer team. But then I went for a walk, and went past a shop in Albert Park called Wool Baa. And walked out with a pattern book and some wool instead. Well, it's a hobby... I'll just need to find something else to fulfil the active component. I've decided to branch out from knitting scarves. Yes, yes, I'm going to make some leg warmers instead! If that goes well, I shall go onto one of the hats, or if I'm really brave, the jumper! Although, wool, at$6.50 each, works out to almost $60. I can probably buy it for a similar price... And it'd probably look nicer!

But let's see if I manage the leg warmers first.

I'm a goal-orientated person. What else to explain my inability to just drift in life for a while and instead needing to set some crazy goal. I kept myself quite occupied with losing weight. But now that I have hit my goal weight, and try as I might to get motivated to lose that smidgen more, I actually needed a new goal.

Which I have set. I want to go back to Uni and I want to do it overseas. So now I am on a crazy saving budget. Luckily, my social life is fairly tame nowadays, so I probably won't miss not being able to spend that much. And I've done so much shopping that the idea of even going into the shop freaks me out.

So, I shall be living like a buddist nun for the next couple of years.

And speaking of goals, it was a running goal that made me buy the Nike+ attachment with my ipod. The transmitter died, so I went to get it fixed under warranty. Except NOW they want the serial number on the receiver, which in the intervening 3 weeks I've managed to lose. I usually keep it inside my ipod armband, so either I've stupidly put it somewhere else or I've lost it somewhere. It's annoying because I accidently took it with me to HK, but remember seeing it back in Melbourne. I think... hmmm... shall keep searching. 

But I do wonder, why do Service Centres consider hangup calls attempts to contact clients? People have voicemail for a reason - Leave one!

Well, I've now made it fairly widely known that I am looking at going back to Uni for some postgrad. It seemed like a good way to "reset" myself, in a manner of speaking. A way to move forward from where I am, enhance my life and pursue my interests. I honestly didn't think I'd be stressing out before I even find something to apply for. The complications associated with some of my early picks and what I'd need to do to meet the requirements. The balance of my interested and strength and job opportunities. I want to keep it broad enough to do a variety of things, but specialised to be competitive in a job search.

I've already made a higher ed choice once, and with the perfect vision that is hindsight, it probably wasn't the best one for me. With the knowledge that I'd pick wrong once, I feel pressured to get it right second time around. But I also know the pressure the first time around was one of the factors behind my undergraduate choice. With that in mind, I feel almost like I should take a step back and regroup. 

Just so many considerations to... well... consider. I have more information now, so it could be time to sit down with a pen, paper and highlighter and go through it all. And ask as many people as I can what their experiences has been.

Do you know what real milk is supposed to taste like? I have to confessed that I wouldn't have the foggiest. - The Right White Stuff in The Age.

How chicken is made to be uniform on the shelf. By adding things such as water and salt. Does anyone know what the deal for Australia chicken is? Luckily my mother is just as onboard with the Farmer's market produce as my sister and I, so at least occasionally we know for sure we're eating something really natural and organic.


Speaking of going organic - an interesting article on what items we should fork over a little extra for the good stuff. 5 easy ways to go organic - NY Times.

And then lastly.... how to use what you've gotten from the farmer's market to maximise the benefits for you. Power Pairs from AOL Health.

I am currently reading Saving Fish from Drowning by Amy Tan. I don't think it'd be much of a spoiler to mention the following scene. A group of american tourists are in a temple somewhere in Burma. They stumble across a chinese crew filming a documentary, and are then interviewed by them.

That reminds me of my encountered with a camera crew on my own travels. I had a few days in Mendoza, Argentina. A lovely town, famous for wine and wineries. It was also the midst of their coldest winter in 21 years, if I read the headlines correctly. Anyhow. I had wanted to do a day of skiing, but it was highly NOT recommended because of the windy conditions. So instead, I signed up for a winery bus tour (with a chocolate factory thrown in at the end).

At one of the wineries, a Korean crew was filming a documentary, and at one point during the tasting, they got a few of us to do a little tasting. So yes guys, I may have had my second TV appearance of my career on Korea TV!

I often read a lot of things that are relevant, or will be one day, to myself, my friends and my family. But I just can't talk about each one individually, so this post is just a series from today that I found interesting or pertinent.

From the Never Say Diet blog:
Thin people are better for the environment because they consume and drive less.

From CNN Health:
Breast feeding for more than 12 months is good for your heart.
A specific area in Greece have people who live longer and die quicker when their times come.

And a very important bit of information from RealAge:
How to Make Gas go Unnoticed.

This article from the BBC is about sexual harassment and rape in the US Army of females serving on active duty.

This is so disgusting I don't even know where to begin. All this bullshit about making the world a safer place and  spreading democracy and freedom, and they can't even keep their own troops safe.

There isn't even that much to say about this. We all know it's wrong, it's unacceptable. Even everyone involved knows that. They know that they shouldn't be doing that shit and knows that they will be condemned, which is why they are hiding it. I can never understand why people would know something is wrong, but go and do it anyway.

The Army should give each female in their army a taser.

I don't normally wish for people who are rich to end up in the gutter, but this piece was so inconceived that I may start wishing that she not only end up bankrupt, but friendless. What's the difference? Well, when rich people go bankrupt, they get "gifts" from family and friends that sees me live a life that's not a particularly hugh step down. But if they are friendless, there is no one to spot them till they recover.

One of these Doodle Bras. It looks fun. That is all for now. I am going to bed. Good Night.

Actually, I am not sure if I completely missed the cat. My sister and I did a shopping trip in Doncaster and were coming back on the Eastern. We'd reached the spot where the road divides for Hoddle St and Victoria Pde. I saw a flash between that slightly bushy gap. Then I saw it come out in front. I was sure if it was an animal, but the way it sat on the road, it looked like a piece of rubbish, possibly a black garbage bag. It was only when I was pretty much on top of it that I saw it was in fact a dark coloured cat. Yes. It was on the lane marker... but the tail... it was scary. I didn't feel a bump, but to be honest, I am not sure we'd feel a bump if we ran over a cat's tail.

It's given me another reason to disapprove of owners who lets their cats roam free. My concern had usually centered around the fact that it's really bad for the environment. They hunt, and they don't discriminate. And you don't know what it's eating and who's feeding. Why is it acceptable to let a cat run free, but not a dog except in strictly prescribed situations, in which case, it's not particularly free at all.

And a 3rd reason that thought about.... what if it goes and sits on someone's porch swing, and then that person sits on it? Not only might they get covered in cat hair, they might have a deadly allergy to your cat!

Yeah, that last reason I only just pulled out of my ass then. It was a bit of a stretch, but 3 reasons made such a nice round number.