Why didn't you reply my Email? Why did you get my hopes high for nothing? Why did you tell me to Email you when I'm coming to visit? Even if you don't want to meet anymore, you could just reply something, right? It sucks to be so hopeful and in the end everything boils down to nothing.

Transgender

After reading this article, I remembered a line in Lady Gaga's "Born This Way": No matter straight, gay, or bi, lesbian or transgender life, I'm on the right track, baby I was born to survive.

I do not have any oppositions against people who are not-straight; in fact, I know some people who are actually gay or bi. I mean it's their life, why should others be bothered if these people are straight or not.

The above article is touching not merely because this guy actually accepts a transgender girlfriend, but it gives the readers, at least me, hope. The hope that this world is not hopeless, that there's true love which transcends all societal norms and constraints. That love is not built on our appearances and biological/physical functions, but it's based on something else, something undefinable (perhaps we can define this as "feelings" but I think the term doesn't fully describe this undefinable element).

In this world when we are being categorised and fit into a box called societal norms, it's nice to hear that such amazing things do happen. I hope in time to come, soon, such story will not be something that people feel amazed about. There's nothing to be amazed about, they are just like each and everyone who prides themselves as "straight".

Courage

I thought I could be brave, to embark this journey alone. But why is it that my heart is filled with fear and anxiety, tears at the brink of my eyes, as the day to leave draws nearer and nearer? Isn't that what I have been wanting? What I said I wanted? Isn't this all my decision? To choose to go? But why, why this feeling? It's only two months. Everything will turn out fine. I would have gone somewhere else after my program, just to have people I know and travel companions around me. But after meeting you, I wish to go where you're and will be. You gave words, but I hope you keep and remember them; for I take those seemingly innocuous words as truth, as promise, as a glimpse of hope. Of course, spending all my days with you after my program ends would be ideal; but that seems impossible. I have just known you, perhaps should be, you have just met me. I have been around, it just that you have no idea. I don't harbour any erotic or romantic fantasies towards you, just hope that we can be good friends who probably hang out with one another from time to time. I guess I should decide, and then tell you about it, and hope you reply the message.

Keeping my fingers crossed.

Alex Goot's Cover of Maroon 5's Payphone

Talisman

(Image Source)

I like to see you as a sort of talisman or some mysterious content hidden inside a small porch and I should only open up the porch in times of need and when I have no other choice, as seen on television. Like the characters seen on TV, I don't know what's inside the porch; it may be something that can get me out of the fix I am in, or simply a piece of paper telling me to "pray hard".

Therefore, I am apprehensive of sending you E-mails unless I have something to say or ask. You may reply me and save me from the worries, or ignore me and I have to pray hard and think of other ways to ease my worries. But then again, I wouldn't want you to think that I am "using" you and contacting you because I need help from you.

You're a person that I hold great respect and admiration for. Naturally, I am afraid of getting near/ attempting to get closer to you (although now I am closer than I used to before). I wouldn't want you to have any negative impression of me or whatsoever.

You may just be any other person, just like that new classmate, that new OG mate, and that random student I met in the library. Actually, you're just like them. But still, I couldn't face you like I face those people. It's definitely not your looks that I'm attracted to because people around me describe you along the line of "normal". I think it's your passion, your drive and your attitude. It's probably because you're doing something that I failed to pursue... I am seeing in you the lack that I have in me.

I can't help worrying about what's gonna come next, all the anxiety of going to a new place.

I hope we could be in touch and probably come up with some plans.

I hope when I opened that small porch that contains the talisman in a few weeks time, it will ease my worries and not a paper that ask me to fret for myself.

I don't know if I ever get to see you again, and don't know where you will go... But still, if we can keep in touch, I'm sure we can meet again. I won't think that I know you a tad too late because meeting and knowing you, even if I will never get to meet you again, is always better than nothing at all.

I really hope we can meet again soon...

Why People Don't Reply Messages on Facebook?

Have you ever sent Facebook messages to people and received no response from them at all?

Sad to admit, I do. Of course, to people I have met, not just some random strangers on Facebook.

When such things happen, I would wonder if it is me... Is it because I'm boring? Is it because they don't want to keep in touch or interact with me?

In the beginning, I would console myself by saying that the person is busy, he/she might not check his/her Facebook messages often etc... But eventually, I would admit defeat and get myself out of my self-denial.

I was searching on Google "Why People Don't Reply Facebook Messages", and to my surprise, I found some really interesting points.

1) Personal
Sometimes it just lies with the person: not wanting/lazy to reply, procrastinating their replies and eventually forgetting about it, feeling that there's nothing to reply, etc...

To read about other possible reasons on why people don't reply message on Facebook, check out these links:
http://www.modelmayhem.com/po.php?thread_id=566811
http://www.socialanxietysupport.com/forum/f26/do-you-dislike-people-if-they-dont-reply-to-your-116343/

2) Technical
What I read from this article really amazes me. The article mentioned that such feature is implemented around November 2010; however, I just realised it today (13th May 2012)! It works like the spam/junk folder in Email but it just that many people are unaware that there's such a folder on Facebook. To check your messages in this folder, simply click on the "Messages" on the left-hand side of your homepage, and click on "other" from the drop list. To my surprise, I actually have 26 messages, which I was totally unaware of before, in that folder! But well, to speak the truth, these messages aren't really worth my time. But the article did mention that "messages only appear in the main inbox if they're from friends or friends-of-friends". So I assume that the "other" folder is simply for messages not from the two above mentioned groups. So, if I sent a message to a "friends-of-friends" and he/she didn't reply, I should face the fact bravely.

But then again, how can I blame others for not replying, when sometimes I commit such faults as well? I do love to see that I have new messages in my Facebook inbox. It's always like a surprise when I click on the notification and check out who sent me messages. Sometimes it's from a friend who is at the other end of the world, sometimes it's just people trying to keep in touch. However, sometimes the messages might be too long and I would tell myself that I would reply later, and soon, I forgot all about it and the messages are never replied/ replied after a long time. Sometimes it just gets a bit irritating (I'm sorry to say that but it's what I feel) when people I don't really know, say people I met at some activities, school etc... I think it's okay if they send me a few messages trying to get to know me and allow me to know them better. It's perfectly fine if I feel the conversation is insightful and enables me to gain a new friend. Yet, it's super irritating if people simply send me "Hello, how are you?", "Hi, how are you doing?", or anything along the line and they are trying to prone into my private life and know my every details of my daily life, etc. I mean, there's a line between friendly and creepy.

So, it takes me some courage to send people messages. If he/she doesn't reply, I will probably not send another because it might just sound irritating. I always believe that I should do to others what I want others to do to me. If I don't want to receive "irritating messages", I should not send any at all. Sometimes, It's just obvious that the person is not going to reply, isn't it? Life moves on, get a life.

To end off, check out some suggested Facebook etiquette over at this site here! :)

Have you ever sent people messages on Facebook and a reply seems really unlikely? What do you think are the reasons? Do you ignore other's messages? What are the reasons?

Whatsapp

Many people have asked if I've "Whatsapp" and asked me to get one. While it seems to be really cost-saving as compared to SMSes (and I have to admit it is a wonderful invention), I don't think it is necessary for me personally. I don't want to be so "contactable" and bother myself with so much social networking stuff. I'll only get if I find it really necessary, for family/for you (hope we can keep in touch!)/for work. :)

Promise

I believe a promise is a promise. I'm so frustrated when people promised you something earlier on, and get all friendly about it, then they tell you this and that. I mean, if you have already made a promise to someone, you should keep it. I'm so pissed off and it happens again and again! That's the reason why I don't feel like going there...

I can't say it right in your face because it's like I'm trying to start an argument, but I feel pissed off whenever such crap happens.

Anyone experienced the same thing? How do you solve such problems or calm your own rage?

Arm Ache After Running

I went running yesterday; finally, after so long!

Now, I'm having pain in my arms. I derived this can be associated with lack of proper warm-up.

Furthermore, we tend to swing our arms while running, unconsciously moving them in different positions when we do things like putting both hands on our hip.

It can also be attributed to our posture when we run; the way we position our shoulders will affect and exert pressure on our arm since they are connected. Hence, running also requires good posture.

One thing that I learnt from my Taekwondo lessons in the past is to keep your spine straight and your head straight. When doing things like stretching (sit and reach) or running, sometimes we tend to lower our head. This bends the muscles at the back of our neck, thus exerting pressure on this area. As the neck is close to the shoulders, it ultimately affects our postures and thus exerting pressure on certain parts of our body.

Therefore, to avoid pain in the arms a few days after running, it's best to relax your hands and don't try to position your hands in a particular position.

Blood Lamp

How many times would you turn on the light, if every turn costs you a drop of your blood?

In many countries, turning on the light is merely a simple click away. In many places such as in my schools, I have seen people turning on the light and leaving it on even when no one is in the room. Another case is when students are freezing and putting on their hoodies and jackets because the room is too cold; they could just adjust the temperature of the air-condition instead. Often, most of us have take electricity for granted and have never really thought about the consequences of consuming so much electricity in a day. 

Mike Thompson's Blood Lamp actually makes the user think twice before lighting a lamp. This lamp, which can only be lighted up with one's blood and can only be lighted up once, forces the user to light up the lamp only when light is really needed. This thus also forces the user to "rethink how wasteful they are with energy, and how precious it is." (Source)


For more information and a video clip of how Blood Lamp actually works, check out: http://www.miket.co.uk/blood_lamp.html

I love to always think the Earth doesn't belong to us; instead, we belong to the Earth. This makes us subservient in comparison to Earth, for it is Earth's generosity that allows us to set up our homes on this place. Instead of repaying kindness with kindness, we take for granted of the natural resources that are given to us and exploit whatever is available to satisfy our convenience. I'm not a green person; I use plastic utensils, I use plastic bags, etc... But, I am trying to become a more environmentally-friendly person. Baby steps; I hope Singapore will gradually become more environmentally conscious and Singaporeans will be more active in recycling programs.

But how ironic... I am typing this on my laptop with my room's light switched on at 1.33 AM. Perhaps sleeping early and waking up early (tapping on daylight!) is another way to conserve the Earth.

To A

(Image Source)

Dear A,

I know you'll never see this post; and even if you do, I know you won't associate yourself with the "A" mentioned here.

It was great to see you yesterday (although you don't even know about my existence). It seems like it's the last time I will ever see you, before the semester ends, because you're graduating.

I still remember how I paid no attention to you when I first saw you outside your school, the first time I looked into your eyes at an event (and if I looked longer, would things changed?), etc...

Our relationship seems like an asymptotic curve, even till now, when you're going to graduate.

I would have known you, and probably become good friends with you if I were a little talented and managed to get into my dream course in university.

I don't know if I'll ever get to know you (since I have a friend who has become closer to you recently, but it still seems impossible) or ever meet you again, but you are a really special person whom I met in Uni.

For a long time to come, I believe, like now, no matter at which part of the Earth you'll be at, I will still like you. <3