2015

=============== 2015 NEWS YEARS RESOLUTION ===============

This is my New Years Resolution of things that I want to achieve. This will require things I will achieve rather than should. This will require commitment and discipline. Goals and more goals. This is my own resolution. This resolution will motivate and invigorate me. This will resonate closely with my values and long-term plans. 

This years theme will be 'objective driven' towards the idealized image. 

The idealized image being: Eudaimonia Happiness  

Overarching Ideologies 

Productiveness and Effectivness

Determination, Discipline and Focus 

Utilitarianism, Positvism and Respect 

Conscientiousness and Objectiveness 

Prominence and Leadership 

General Health, Lifestyle and Well Being 

Wake up with goals to do each day. Write them down. 

Complete those goals. 

Go to sleep reflecting on effectiveness and potential strategies over goals.

Begin food log - general eating

Begin fitness plan - general fitness

Career and Work

Always approach work with grit and determination, work twice as hard

Academia and Research

Continuous intellectual engagement, increasing the drive to engage in idea, rational thought and search for truth

Seek to learn three new words a week 

Finance 

Keep track of net worth - as indicator towards financial independence (asset vs. liabilities)

Consistent saving of 74%

Savvy investment 10%

Everyday spending 16%

Spend less to enjoy it more (focus on value of money bringing true happiness)

Be aware of buyers remorse / avoid emotional purchases 

Maintain emergency fund of six months of expenses 

Morals and Values 

Leave behind smiles and positivism behind every interaction. 

Always determined, in face of adversity, push forth, remain disciplined, remain calm

Remain pragmatic and realistic in everyday matters and goals 

Further affective engagement to investigate emotions as a poet does 

Hobbies 

Herb Gardening

Bonsai Tree

Socializing

Public Speaking

Blogging and Writing 

Philosophy, Science and History

Photography 

Cooking

Skills 

Furthering aesthetic engagement, the emotional absorption of artistic and cultural stimuli from finding beauty as a painter does

Prioritization, prioritization and prioritization 

**

In summary, all these can be accomplished with the best weapon of determination. 

The Sydney Recollection - Part I

The world is our book, an unwritten book ready for us to unravel. Our lives are merely constructed from what we perceive around us, in us and between us. A good traveler has no fixed plans and is not intent on arriving. We travel to see sights, sounds and essentially take away and store memories and experiences from places that we travel to, in our hearts and in our minds. This is the culture of wanderlust. There are not set plans in stone, but rather, an exploration, of the mind, of the soul, of our lives. Perhaps we travel to leave behind a place has not future for us, and towards a place that is full of opportunities. Perhaps there are subtle forms of escapism, a need to leave behind past and create a new future. 

But we travel to go away, so that we can come back with new eyes and extra colours. It is often said that people who want to explore their inner experience need solitude to do so and letting the joys of curiosity take over. For those that have a high openness to experience, requires time to investigate our own intellectual and emotional life, which means leaving from societies and people's demands on our ears, eyes and mind.

We travel to learn, to see different things, to bring that back with us to our home. People will see you differently, more cultured, more worldly knowing. A collection of experiences hidden deep down with a touch of subtlety in emanating those experiences through every interaction. Wherever you go becomes a part of you somehow, people you met, things you see and food that you eat. This is the story of my first solo travel to Sydney. 

Wednesday the 17th of December 2014

6:30pm

I disembarked on a trip, knowing that this will be a educational trip, a business trip, a trip to explore and wander someplace more familiar and navigable yet unknown, a trip that has no real set plans, but rather learning to follow with the flow.

The sun was setting calmly in the background as I stepped onto the JetStar Boeing 737-800 flight from Brisbane to Sydney. Although this was not my first solo flight, it was one that was the first step to an adventure, a trip to remember, a trip to experience the bad and the goods that this world has to offer.

9:32pm

I arrived at the Sydney (Kingsford Smith) airport code IATA: YSSY.

I was briefly picked up by my friend Tanya and her dad who had heard about my hunger complaints before I left Brisbane. He kindly cooked braised beef with rice as a meal for me.

We left and headed to the hostel.

They had an event to head to Side bar. An international party filled with backpackers and travelers from other countries. Many of those there were lost, looking for love, to fill in that gaping dark hole and seeking adventure. I'll leave this story for another time.

Thursday the 18th of December 2014

In a new big world city, with merely one trustworthy friend, I set my sights on establishing and forming some friendships with the fellow travellers. I stayed at Bounce Hostel, a surprisingly clean hostel which costed a handful more than other places, but was definitely worth it. I was set in room 201, which I was briefly greeted by two German travellers. There was another British girl, and a French Laos girl who abruptly scurried past me and briefly said hello giving away her distinct accent.

I headed to the rooftop to wait for Tanya to come so that we could check out a brunch place that her friends had recommended.

Devon Cafe at Surry Hills

Just a brief walk away, we arrived at our brunch place named after an county archaically known as Devonshire from England. I will type up my review of the place later with pictures included [to be updated].

I had been contacted by a private planing firm at Lindfield to discuss planning matters and needed to head off by a 45 minute train ride to the north of Sydney. I spoke with the director there who had a wealthy knowledge and experience in the private, public and academic sectors, he also provided penetrating insight into the planning industry in Sydney [to be updated].

I headed back to Central station to explore the city with Tanya who had visited her friend. This was my first glimpse of inner-workings of the city with a completed planning and urban design background.

We headed to the state library to complete my plans for the rest of my stay in Sydney.

She later took me to the 'best pho restaurant in town', which was unfortunately disappointing to say the very least, but a memorable experience, for every time I walk past or see that restaurant, it brings dark memories of the battle I struggled with the bland and poorly cooked beef noodle soup.

Scubar [to be edited].

Friday the 19th of December 2014

I woke up rather late this day. I readily got ready for the 2:30 free guided tour offered from the start of town hall, which led me through the sights and sounds of the city to learn the history and gain a local insiders knowledge to Sydney. This led me through town hall, to the waterfall with eternity written in it, to the Queen Victoria statue, to the Queen Victoria Building (QVB) to the central of the city area, to the office areas, to circular key [to be edited].

The tour ended at the end of Darling Harbour. One thing I must point out is the gigantic and enormous sight of the cruise liner that stood majestically among the world icons of the Opera house and the Sydney Harbour Bridge.

I embarked towards the Rocks, an urban locality, tourist precinct and historic area of the Sydney's city centre. It has quite an interesting historical background, for it was established shortly aft erthe colony's formation in 1788, with many beautifully built sandstone buildings. The place surprisingly used to be a slum, frequented by sailors and prostitutes. From there I stumbled across a bizarre markets, an 1920s inspired  market full of awe and eccentricity, characteristics that I quite admire. I will continue this post later as I have to head out for a brand new day.

Pictures will be added soon.

House

A lighthouse powerhouse

I believe in being a man.

I believe in taking responsibilities of myself and others.

I believe in a greater good that we must work towards.

I believe that time is essential, and it should not be wasted.

I believe that each interaction should be dealt with sincere heart and interest.

I believe that good can be brought out in others. 

I believe in respect and kindness, but also discipline and rigour. 

The search for our golden fleece is a never ending journey.

I believe that each individual has their purpose aligned to their values.

I believe that with an open-mind, determination and discipline many things can be accomplished. 

For our search always continues, but it is the act of searching that empowers. 

I believe that deep down, we all have a light.

A light that we can choose to hide, or choose to shine.

For me, I have chosen to let it shine as a beacon.

A beacon that lights up the world, and those around me.

Even among those who are in the dark.

For with light we can see.

Lighting the pathways ahead for all those around me.

But at the same time, I am also a powerhouse.

Generating power for myself, and those around me.

Empowering the community, and the people.

A powerhouse that powers forward in adversity.

With not just idle dreams, but goals.

Each goal, lit up and accomplished.

Next one comes.

Next one goes.

This is our search for the golden fleece.
As a lighthouse and powerhouse. 

Surrounded by those around me.

We are the light, strength, rigour and determination.

Bring on Christmas

Feliz Navidad

A dance of minds

關喆 Grady - 想你的夜

Autumn 

The Difference Between American and British Humour

Apart from the spelling of the word, obviously

It’s often dangerous to generalize, but under threat, I would say that Americans are more “down the line.” They don’t hide their hopes and fears. They applaud ambition and openly reward success. Brits are more comfortable with life’s losers. We embrace the underdog until it’s no longer the underdog.We like to bring authority down a peg or two. Just for the hell of it. Americans say, “have a nice day” whether they mean it or not. Brits are terrified to say this. We tell ourselves it’s because we don’t want to sound insincere but I think it might be for the opposite reason. We don’t want to celebrate anything too soon. Failure and disappointment lurk around every corner. This is due to our upbringing. Americans are brought up to believe they can be the next president of the United States. Brits are told, “It won’t happen for you.”

There’s a received wisdom in the U.K. that Americans don’t get irony. This is of course not true. But what is true is that they don’t use it all the time. It shows up in the smarter comedies but Americans don’t use it as much socially as Brits. We use it as liberally as prepositions in every day speech. We tease our friends. We use sarcasm as a shield and a weapon. We avoid sincerity until it’s absolutely necessary. We mercilessly take the piss out of people we like or dislike basically. And ourselves. This is very important. Our brashness and swagger is laden with equal portions of self-deprecation. This is our license to hand it out.

This can sometimes be perceived as nasty if the recipients aren’t used to it. It isn’t. It’s play fighting. It’s almost a sign of affection if we like you, and ego bursting if we don’t. You just have to know which one it is.

I guess the biggest difference between the U.S. version and the U.K. version of The Office reflected this. We had to make Michael Scott a slightly nicer guy, with a rosier outlook to life. He could still be childish, and insecure, and even a bore, but he couldn’t be too mean. The irony is of course that I think David Brent’s dark descension and eventual redemption made him all the more compelling. But I think that’s a lot more palatable in Britain for the reasons already stated. Brits almost expect doom and gloom so to start off that way but then have a happy ending is an unexpected joy. Network America has to give people a reason to like you not just a reason to watch you. In Britain we stop watching things like Big Brother when the villain is evicted. We don’t want to watch a bunch of idiots having a good time. We want them to be as miserable as us. America rewards up front, on-your-sleeve niceness. A perceived wicked streak is somewhat frowned upon.

Recently I have been accused of being a shock comic, and cruel and cynical. This is of course almost solely due to a few comments I made as host of last year’s Golden Globes. But nothing could be further from the truth.

I never actively try to offend. That’s churlish, pointless and frankly too easy. But I believe you should say what you mean. Be honest. No one should ever be offended by truth. That way you’ll never have to apologize. I hate it when a comedian says, “Sorry for what I said.” You shouldn’t say it if you didn’t mean it and you should never regret anything you meant to do. As a comedian, I think my job isn’t just to make people laugh but also make them think. As a famous comedian, I also want a strict door policy on my club. Not everyone will like what I say or find it funny. And I wouldn’t have it any other way. There are enough comedians who try to please everyone as it is. Good luck to them, but that’s not my game, I’m afraid.

I’m not one of those people who think that comedy is your conscience taking a day off. My conscience never takes a day off and I can justify everything I do. There’s no line to be drawn in comedy in the sense that there are things you should never joke about. There’s nothing that you should never joke about, but it depends what that joke is. Comedy comes from a good or a bad place. The subject of a joke isn’t necessarily the target of the joke. You can make jokes about race without any race being the butt of the joke. Racism itself can be the butt, for example. When dealing with a so-called taboo subject, the angst and discomfort of the audience is what’s under the microscope. Our own preconceptions and prejudices are often what are being challenged. I don’t like racist jokes. Not because they are offensive. I don’t like them because they’re not funny. And they’re not funny because they’re not true. They are almost always based on a falsehood somewhere along the way, which ruins the gag for me. Comedy is an intellectual pursuit. Not a platform.

As for cynicism, I don’t care for it much. I’m a romantic. From The Office, and Extras to The Invention Of Lyingand Cemetery Junction, goodness and sweetness, honour and truth, love and friendship always triumph.

For me, humanity is king.

Oh and for the record I’d rather a waiter say, “Have a nice day” and not mean it, than ignore me and mean it.

Source: The Difference Between American and British Humour - Time Magazine