visual inspiration.

I’m so bogged down with study, I really got nothing interesting to say.
I have been constantly typing up study notes, so I’ll use some bullet points here. ha!
* Wanting to convert to Blogger because of WP’s lack of flash support. I wanted to maybe embed slideshows from Flickr, but WP fails in that aspect.
* Hearing the hype around Google Wave makes me wanna try it. A MSN killer I hear? Only if it supports signing up with different email IDs, or if the incentive is big enough for everyone to switch to google. Currently its invitation only as its still in the process of being tested: GOOGLE WAVE.
* Extremely tempted to procrastinate. Found this: WIX.COM Save for the holidays me thinks.
* Getting uber excited about holidays (yes, too soon) – HK + Thailand? Taiwan? Japan?
* WhatTheBuck cracks me up big time!
xo

the fun theory.

Genius.

The Fun Theory – check it:
http://www.thefuntheory.com/

internet addict?

Stumbled upon netaddiction.com, an organisation which helps those seeking treatment for internet addiction. Its an interesting read considering the internet is so accessible by everyone nowadays and I literally know a handful of people who meet the criteria. I do believe that being addicted to the internet has significant consequences especially for children. Just by doing a simple google search, there are a tonne of articles on it and how it is linked to ADHD and depression in teens.

Here’s a checklist to see if you’re an addict:

Signs of Internet Addiction

Dr. Kimberly Young has likened Internet addiction to addictive syndromes similar to impulse-control disorders on the Axis I Scale of the DSM. She developed the Internet Addiction Diagnostic Questionnaire (IADQ) to diagnose the disorder. Meeting five of the following symptoms were considered necessary to be diagnosed.

1. Do you feel preoccupied with the Internet (think about previous online activity or anticipate next online session)?
2. Do you feel the need to use the Internet with increasing amounts of time in order to achieve satisfaction?
3. Have you repeatedly made unsuccessful efforts to control, cut back, or stop Internet use?
4. Do you feel restless, moody, depressed, or irritable when attempting to cut down or stop Internet use?
5. Do you stay online longer than originally intended?
6. Have you jeopardized or risked the loss of significant relationship, job, educational or career opportunity because of the Internet?
7. Have you lied to family members, therapist, or others to conceal the extent of involvement with the Internet?
8. Do you use the Internet as a way of escaping from problems or of relieving a dysphoric mood (e.g., feelings of helplessness, guilt, anxiety, depression)?

Other Symptoms Include:

• Failed attempts to control behavior

• Heightened sense of euphoria while involved in computer and Internet activities

• Neglecting friends and family

• Neglecting sleep to stay online

• Being dishonest with others

• Feeling guilty, ashamed, anxious, or depressed as a result of online behavior

• Physical changes such as weight gain or loss, backaches, headaches, carpal tunnel syndrome

• Withdrawing from other pleasurable activities

cred/ netaddiction.com; nyceflickr

forever young!

This past week has been extremely eventful with emotions going on extreme highs and lows…
I’ll get the lows out of the way first – long story short, I quit my work! I had been saying it for awhile, but this really tipped me over the edge. Basically, I don’t believe in working for a company who doesn’t adequately support their employees and points fingers when they don’t have their way. I’m currently undecided as to what I want to do: jump to another job? Or have a bit of a break since finals are coming up very soon…

On the up side, Bee & I had a post-birthday celebrations over two days. Whoa! I’m so tired from it but it was so much fun!! I’m never drinking the night before I have uni, because I slept in and missed my lecture!! =.=
Some pics from the night~

I wanna do it again!!

Not looking forward to the next few weeks of being surrounded by books, notes and highlighters!!

multitask.

I haven’t had many interesting things happen lately because I was so bogged down with studies. Now I can finally have a short break. I don’t know exactly when I got into an extremely bad habit of constantly multitasking whilst ’studying’. It seems more ‘efficient’ as you attending to two tasks – WRONG! Switching back and forth from study to web browsing/reading blogs/ebay/shopping/flickr/news/youtube etc.. actually costs you more time and in the end, you probably do below average at both tasks. If I keep going at this rate, I will FAIL FINALS (which is only 6 weeks away). So I’m determined now to just stick to one task at a time, which means switching off the computer when its not needed for studying.

Well, I suppose I did get something out of the times I multitask… such as an order on ASOS!! It was the first time I ordered from them and I’m quite impressed but how quickly it arrived. Shipping costs are quite reasonable as well. However, I was a bit disappointed that a pair of shoes were too big for me so I need to return them. But keeping these!! In love with the shoes <3

No doubt anyone in Australia, well at least in Sydney or Brisbane, saw the huge dust storm that swept across the two states!! The whole sky was just orange and it felt like a massive construction site. Did some MAJOR EXFOLIATING when I got home. LUCKY MY WINDOWS WERE SHUT!!!! Or I would have seriously would have cried if I had to wipe every inch, every one of my displays and my plush toys!

It cleared up overnight and seeing blue sky again was just great!

Oh, and you should try this MULTITASK GAME I scored 92 XD

retro is the new modern.

FACT: I love lovvvveeeeeeee cameras!
Where shall I start? The camera-loving began with the awesome top of the range Canon Powershot s40 (i think) 5 MEGAPIXEL point and shoot camera. Then decided to downside to some little Pentax… to the Lomo film cameras….then my first pro-sumer camera Ricoh GX100 and in New Years earlier this year, I finally took the big plunge to get a DSLR!! W00TTT

Probably the ultimate camera that a camera collector aspires to is a Leica. I’m sure a lot of people can’t justify paying $8000 – $10 000 for an M8 or M9 Rangefinder camera, let alone about $30 000 for a Leica S2. But, the white edition M8 is to die for!! Leica actually updates their camera in really long intervals compared to all the other camera manufacturers: about 10 years on average between major upgrades.

Leica’s first digital rangefinder: Leica M8
in Limited Edition White

This is the newest release by Leica, the M9.

____
Recently, there has been a new market of cameras: Micro Four-Thirds. Think of it as kinda a transition between Pro-sumer and Digital SLRs. I love the retro design of these cameras and the picture quality is definitely on par with the some of the DSLRs out there. I suppose you can say these are more “affordable” than the Leicas above with the price at the moment between $900 – $1500.

Olympus PEN EP-1
New Micro Four-Thirds

Panasonic DMC GF-1

—–

There are also those classic cameras like the Rolleiflex Twin Lens Medium Format Camera. These were first made in 1929 and I’m sure if you watch really old black and white films, you’ll see one of these.
Rolleiflex 2.8F

Rollei have tried to follow the digital trend as well with the MiniDigi. Although it has only 3 megapixels and a 1.1 inch screen, I would get it simply because its a Rollei!

Currently, I’m on the look out for a film SLR. Can anyone point me to a decent one? I reeeally realllyyy want a Rolleiflex too!! Browsing on flickr for photos of cameras is not doing me any good.

nuts.

Haaahaa ok.. this post isn’t supposed to be suss nor about nuts (kinda). One of the presents I got was a new lens for my camera. So thoughtful cos I’ve been looking at that one for aggggess!!! So I went out to take some test shots. Still trying to get used to taking pics with a prime lens – but I can definitely see the difference between that and the kit lenses. Love f/1.8 !!!

A cookie cake from Mrs. Fields… yummmmmo

A cute little gift my sister got me. It doesn’t stop wobbling on my desk XD

twenty-one.

Everyday has been a big rush to meet deadlines and I’m getting so tired of it all. I finally have a bit of chill time now to post this. So here goes…

I had my birthday last week and although it was just a few quiet night outs, I thoroughly enjoyed every bit of it. My birthday seems to fall on the time where everyone is busy with uni and exams so I usually post-pone celebrations until the break. I received a lot of well wishes from a lot of people – thanks heaps cos it really made my day. I even got a card from the local councilor with this quote which is really thoughtful.
“In the end its not the years in your life that count; it’s the life in your years.” ~Abraham Lincoln

All you need is love.
<3

choc choc.

I remember back to primary school camping days where we had to make damper bread as one of the activities. So I felt like making some chocolate chip scones! Its the first time making it, so they might not be too presentable. Next time it should be better hehe.

Baking…


I just kept on nibbling on the choc chips.. ><

Yum yum

I’m not really a bird person, but this little fella was sitting so peacefully and did not threaten my safety (birds are spontaneous ok!) while I walked passed. Pretty cute I admit.

1 hour until me big day…

invisible man.

A very interesting collection by Liu Bolin, a contemporary chinese artist, who has cleverly painted himself to blend into his surroundings – like a ‘human chameleon’. In an interview, Liu claims he spends up to 10 hours on a single photograph. He was inspired by the sense of feeling like a social outcast.
“Some people call me the invisible man, but for me it’s what is not seen in a picture which is really what tells the story,” Mr Bolin told the UK’s Telegraph.

cred/ ifagallery