Monday, 30 April 2012

Twitter (i)

After a brief time of using Twitter, I find it rather unresponsive. I know many things take time to grow, but then I also realize how facebook had seriously succeeded in this respect by realizing that people need an initial base group to start with. 
On Twitter, I am behind just one of millions of accounts that do not have high initial status. I feel like I am talking to dead space. I'm going to interest/provoke people if I want better conversations. And a better way to get responsive followers.

Oh Wait, on Facebook I am the same.

Friday, 27 April 2012

Keyboards! (I)

I am going to admit it - I get keyboard itchy and then feel like typing. I like really silent, highly-responsive keys without bounce or tacile feedback.

Logitech only manages to give me more of a bouncy feel and I don't appreciate that. It is like the king of all bouncy keyboards. It is as if stock keyboards don't have enough noise and bounce to them, that one must add more to it.

Right now, I like doing my notes on the computer for this one reason.

When I actually look at the price tag of mechanical keyboards, it does get me thinking whether I actually need it or not. I have yet to break any keyboard, and I don't think I can actually use it very much at school anyway. Hence, I can conclude it is better to get something else more versatile and useful.

On second thoughts, I think I will try and get my laptop keyboard and battery changed at acer tech-support instead, add RAM, uninstall and re-install Windows and give it a good cleanup.

I guess it really needs that mid-life upgrade I can really fully utilize, compared to the keyboard that will live almost forever in computer terms (statistically, over 30 years).

Monday, 23 April 2012

Mt Kinabalu

OK, this is a pretty old post from almost 2 months ago. I found it in the draft pile.

"
Yesterday, we did the mount Kinabalu climb and returned safely.

It was not an easy climb, but I find it less dangerous than Sharp's peak. Maybe I would find it much more ridiculous if it rained on the way down.
We arrived at Kinabalu Park HQ to get climbing permits and a mountain guide. The guide came in the form of a newbie with just 6 summit ascents. In T-shirt, shorts, ankle socks and trainers, he carried a small backpack with only the absolute necessities, and no water. By necessities, I mean a thick windbreaker-jacket, headlight and poncho (our guide brought an umbrella). His technical confidence doesn't stop there.
The intiial stretch of 2km was easy, so my mates made the mistake of walking too quickly and then getting out of breath. At first, the breaks were relatively far beaten, but gradually became very often. Actually, even at 1500m, the air already feels cleaner and thinner. But just 600meters up, it became surprisingly easy to lose one's breath.

And then, something about the path reminded me of our hike up Lantau peak and the "steve method". I found out the best way is to take one breath for every step I took, and the synchronise beating in with taking a step. This way of climbing would make Kinabalu the most relaxing and enjoyable experience in hiking, all the way to the top.
The hill got better as we ascended above the rainforest canopy, towards the top. Stopping to take photos every hundred meters or to catch the breath back was epic.
It took us 6 hours to reach our hut for the night. The hut was very chilly inside and you really couldn't remove most of the layers. It was not until I woke up from the rest that I realized there was a blanket under the sheets. I could really have did with that one.
Being the second least fit out of my group, it turned out I was the least affected by the high altitude. On the way up, you will hear a lot of panting and people stopping every few steps.

But sunrise has its special powers that can give one a kind of energy that flows through the body and inspires the mind to go higher.

I want to do that again someday, but do it faster and summit twice so that I can sit at the top to enjoy the entire sunrise and do the climbing course that traverses a part of the mountain. Having said that, the weather on Mt Kinabalu changes quickly and we really got some very good weather this time.

"

The charm of a secluded spot in the internet

There has been a lot written about the big nodes on the internet and many people do worship these places of pilgrimage as Google, Youtube, Facebook, Twitter.
But those are like public toilets compared to this blog. Everybody "has" to use them. there is all sorts of crap there, people dump their shit there. Today, following/liking/thumbs-up/sharing is almost as reflexive as the involuntary action of excretion. Everybody follows the same format (dumps in the same bowls).
This is in stark contrast with this blog. Here I get to do it freestyle. However. .I. .want. .it.!

There is a fine gap dividing a public toilet and the toilet at home.

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