Social Network Sites and Us

No! I'm not going to say that the social network websites like Facebook and Twitter are bad or that we should stay away from them. I'm just gonna sit down and analyse how different our lives have become since the advent of these websites. Don't get me wrong I am in love with these websites (especially Facebook and Twitter *You would have noticed how they are frequently mentioned when I exemplify these websites*)

For all those who use these websites and actually check up on them on a frequent basis and not do it once in a blue moon, you guys know how much fun it can sometimes get. But I'm not here to discuss the fun part of these websites. *I'll do that another day =P*

Let us analyse.........

In my opinion we have become to dependent on these websites. Okay I'm not gonna start pointing fingers at people. Let's talk with me in perspective. I have lately realised that I have become too dependent on these websites. I update my day-to-day occurence on it. People know what I'm up to and stuff. Some may term it being easy and simple. But I think it is slowly doing some damage to the relationship we have with these people. Why can't I just text them to share with them what's going on in my life? Or better give a call now and then. No that would involve money. Doing it through these websites is FREE!! And we cover a more larger number of people at the same time. Right?... Agreed but it does take a toll on the relationship. Somehow the friendship we have with these people is confined to that website alone. For instance if I wanna know what a friend of mine is up to right now, I would just have to check his Twitter or Facebook. But as his friend what does that tell about me? What kind of a friend am I if I need to rely on a website to know what my friend is doing or how is he feeling?

What happened to the days when we used to call up and check on our freinds? The advent of technology has caused us to sit in front of our laptops, PCs or phones and access the world. It has come down to that friends have stopped calling each other and converse through these websites. If I happen to be having a nervous breakdown, instead of getting a call from a friend, I probably get a comment to my status on Facebook saying 'What happened?'. I mean seriously!! Are we that busy that sparing a little time for someone would mean total chaos for us?? I still feel great when I hear a friend's voice over the phone or meet over a cup of coffee... Where has those days gone? People tend to give the excuse that life has become too hectic and that they are constantly busy. It's true that time and tide waits for no man but at the same time if we do not make some time for the people we care for and love, rely on these websites to know if yr best friend is sick or having a breakdown....worry just comes to mind.

So to all those who read this blog of mine * I am grateful that you read it. Seriously!*, pick up the phone, call a friend or two...check up on them or better set up a meeting and let them know that you are still there. Let us try to be better friends even with the help of these websites.

Honey! I'm Home......

YES!! Finally got my internet connection configured to my new laptop. Finally I have access to the world wide web from my room after being away from it for nearly a week. It was torture I tell u. But all's good and back to normal now. I have my internet and i persevered. Hahaha... By the way, here are a few stills of my new laptop.

Ta Chi House Dinner

I've been wanting to try out this place for a very long time and finally my long-standing wish was granted tonight. =)
Ta Chi House Cafe is located at No. 1, Jalan Tun Sri Lanang. Its just before Putra Hospital... in front of the church. I loved the interior of the place. It was simple and cosy unlike all those overly decorated high end places. Although it is situated by the road side, somehow it did not seem that noisy *maybe because our noise over-powered the traffic noise. =P*
Today's dinner was graced by the following people : Ruben, Taran, Daveena, Venothini, Dinesh, and of course, yours truly. Well the main reason we went there was to try out their Haagen Diazz milk shakes which were rumoured to be heavenly and simply yummy!! Needless to say I was all 'Let's go!' when with the mere mention of Haagen Diaz. *I love good ice cream okay. It's just too good to resist*
We decided to order dishes for dinner. On our menu for dinner was : fragrant rice *T-T*, rendang chicken, Ponteh chicken, chap chai, cencaluk egg. Food was good and filling. The chicken pieces served were good fleshy ones unlike the scrony looking ones you get at some places. Then came time for the milkshakes. I have got to say they were indeed heavenly.
Then and there it was decided that we shall return to this place probably for tea or something like that. I decided that whenever I am depressed or feel that I should reward myself, Ta Chi House Cafe's milkshakes it will be!!
Once dinner was over, we started talking...actually we started chatting about several things. Our chat made us realise and recall all the wonderful experiences we had gone through together throughout this 4 years. No matter what bitterness and hardship we have gone through, I am forever grateful to have met you guys and have you guys as my friends. =)

Can we resist temptation?

Found this article on the net the other day. It's interesting so I thought I'll share it with you guys. =)

If you think you're generally good at resisting temptation, you're probably wrong, scientists now say.

"People are not good at anticipating the power of their urges, and those who are the most confident about their self-control are the most likely to give into temptation," said Loran Nordgren, senior lecturer of management and organizations at the Kellogg School of Management, Northwestern University, in Illinois.

The result: Many of us unwittingly expose ourselves to tempting chocolate or cigarettes, leading to a greater likelihood of indulging in addictive behaviors.

Nordgren reached the conclusion through a series of small, offbeat experiments done primarily with college students. The results may hold for the broader population, but that has not been studied.

In one experiment, more than twice as many smokers who thought they could resist temptation lit up a cigarette in a no-smoking test as those who realized they didn't have so much control.

Those who puff out their chests in the face of temptation have a deflated view of others. "They also demonize others," Nordgren told LiveScience. "They take a very dim view of other people who act impulsively, because they have this belief that they themselves wouldn't act this way."

The bottom line, Nordgren says: Avoid situations where such weaknesses thrive, and remember you're not that invincible.

Hunger, cigarettes and sleep

The new study, which will be published in an upcoming issue of the journal Psychological Science, builds on past research showing that when not in the "heat of the moment," individuals have a hard time understanding the depths of their cravings.

"If you aren't feeling a cigarette craving or hunger or sexual arousal at this moment, I believe you have a real difficult time appreciating the transformative force of those experiences," Nordgren said.

And most of the time, we aren't gripped by impulse, he added.

To figure out how this so-called cold state (opposite of the "gripped by impulse" state) influences behavior, Nordgren ran experiments on:

Hunger pangs: Seventy-nine university students and employees rated a list of snacks from least to most favorite and then selected one. Participants were told, "You can eat the snack anytime you like. However, if you return the snack to this location in one week, we will give you four Euros (and you will get to keep the snack you chose)."

Questions also measured participants' level of hunger. Satiated participants exposed themselves to more temptation, generally choosing their first or second favorite snack, while the hungry individuals selected their second or third favorite item. Those with full bellies were also less likely to bring back an uneaten snack, Nordgren said.

Cigarette cravings: Fifty-three university students who smoked were placed into a high- or low-control group, in which a bogus test suggested each had either a high or low capacity for impulse control. Then, the participants had to watch a film called "Coffee and Cigarettes" without smoking. Participants chose their level of temptation with corresponding levels of payoff. They could either keep the unlit cigarette in another room (lowest), on their desk, in their hand, or in their mouth (highest).

On average, low-control students chose to watch the film with the cigarette on the table, and those who thought they could easily resist temptation chose to keep the cigarette in their hand. About 33 percent of the high-control students caved and smoked during the film, while just over 11 percent of the low-control participants lit up.

Mental fatigue: An experiment of 74 college students revealed those who were drained mentally reported having less control of mental fatigue than their bright-eyed counterparts. The "sleepy" students also said they intended to leave about 53 percent of their studying to the last minute, compared with about 60 percent for the non-fatigued group.

The thinking is that the alert students couldn't appreciate the enormous drawbacks of having a drained brain and so chose to leave more studying to the last minute.

Wider implications

The study has implications for all corners of our personal lives, Nordgren figures. For instance, can a recovering alcoholic attend booze-saturated parties and stay sober? Can a dieter frequent his favorite dessert buffets and refrain from binging? Can a committed husband have drinks with a past fling without fear of infidelity?

"The answer is probably 'no,'" Nordgren said. "People have less self-restraint than they think, a false belief that often leads people to expose themselves to more temptation than they can handle."

In addition, he added, the study results suggest people often can’t predict how they will react in a given situation.

"It's not just about eating and addiction, but the 'cold self' has a really hard time understanding what you're capable of in a moment of despair, in a moment of rage," Nordgren said.

Death...

During the past few months, *to those who have noticed* the news has been all about people passing away and suffering. It has definitely been a very dim few months. It is a known fact that somewhere at all time someone is dying. But one cannot deny the feeling when you hear the news. Somehow a blanket of dullness, silence and sadness covers us up by the mere mention of the word --- D.E.A.T.H.
The world had lost some of its few great souls these past few months but while me mourn their passing away, let us not forget those who are still alive, still serving and contributing their part to this world in their own little way.
Like everything has an opposite, so does death. L.I.F.E. Let us not mourn the passing of these people but celebrate their life. Because at the end of it, they deserve it!
So if you have lost someone, be it a pet or a relative, a friend or a foe, join me and let's observe a minute of silence. In this one minute try to recall this person that you have lost. Don't think that they have gone. Recollect the fond memories you have had with them...about them. Remember how their voice sounds, how their face looks and how they make you feel... Remember..... To all those who have left me : I'm glad you are in a better place now. I know you are always with me in my mind and spirit. I miss you. I love you. R.I.P.