4 tips to stop watching too much TV

This topic is a personal favourite. I am also guilty of too much TV: watching dramas and animes for hours and hours straight, only stopping for toilet breaks or to eat. In fact, I wrote this after finishing a 15 episode-streak of the anime classic Slam Dunk.

The addiction can be detrimental at times, especially when you have an important assignment due or even a paper the next day, and you are torn between finding out what happens next and actually bring productive.

I would like to point out that addiction in drama or anime is not something to be guilty or depressed about, although poor handling of the issue can be a problem when it starts to cause you to perform poorly. On one hand, you know you should be working, on the other you just can’t stop. Like many other problems, the key really is to identify the cause and gradually make some changes to your life to solve this problem.

The Cause

1. Procrastination

A very common reason for spending too much time on drama or anime that I can identify with is procrastination. During the finals period, you would tend to observe activity on facebook increase hysterically because students would be taking a break from the hectic revision. Similarly, for some people, their way of taking a break is to watch an episode or two.

This could be dangerous when it turns to a form of escapism. “I’ll continue studying after this episode,” you tell yourself, but the truth is, studying sucks and you just want to continue enjoying the pleasure of watching, only to regret it later.

2. Its just sooo good

It can start from an innocent thought where you have 2 hours of free time and you thought “I’d watch some drama to kill time.” Subsequently and unwittingly, you get sucked in the vortex and before you know it, the end of each episode keeps you wanting for more, and you just had to keep watching. Sounds familiar? And this leisure activity goes beyond your “free time” and invades into your productive time where you should be working.

The Solution

After you identified the cause of your addiction, you got to think of ways to curb this addiction. There is no one solution for this, and a lot depends on your own mentality. That said, here are some ways that I have used to get myself to work rather than indulge further.

1.Find Motivation

Sometimes what is stopping you from doing your impending task is really a lack of motivation. You can conveniently find excuses like “I'll stop watching after this episode” and “I have to find out the ending” , but really the trick is to find a good motivation and underlying reason for you to get down to work rather than watching too much TV.

Think about the rewards – weigh the pros and cons. I can get a good feeling from watching drama, but that’s about it. On the other hand, the reward of completing a task is a permanent achievement – like good grades for your exams, or work that translates to more income. By viewing the situation in this manner, you will get more motivation to switch off the video and start working.

2.It’s the state of the mind

Work on self-hypnosis and convince yourself that something good would happen to you if you start doing something else. I once dragged myself to the library only to my pleasant surprise meet a female celebrity that I liked. And yes, we chatted J So maybe, a good event would happen to you if you did something else rather than stayed at home stuck in front of your television screen.

3.Watch currently airing series only

Well, one thing I am glad about my addiction for the One Piece anime is that it comes only once a week, 20 mins each episode. So even if I crave for more, there’s no way I could continue watching. Thus it could be a good idea to follow dramas or anime that are currently airing, and stay away from completed series!

If there is an old series you must watch, and you just have to find out what happens next (You know, those exciting scenes where something is about to be revealed only to have the ending credits pops up), one advice I would give is to only watch the next part of the following episode (the first 10-15mins) and then stop.

4.Discipline and Timetable

I think one of the most effective solutions is to have a timetable, where you clearly demarcate your Drama time and Work time. I have a mantra of 1 hour of work for 1 episode of anime. Furthermore, i realized that if I share with my friends my timetable it is actually helpful in a sense that they can encourage me to follow through my schedule.

Encourage and reward yourself to be disciplined such that you do not exceed your allocated timings for enjoying your drama. Sometimes, the slow process of watching the series gives us more time to enjoy and savour the beautiful plot!

Final Words

In summary, the next time you click play on your favourite anime or drama, think about the opportunity cost. Do you really have the time? Is it worth giving up your impending work for the short-lived pleasure of finding out what happens next in the virtual world?

PS: Even though i wrote this after a 15-episode streak, it was only because I have finished my exams and assignments, and I decided to reward myself with this well-deserved break!

Whats inside a vending machine? and trivia from the technician

A few months after I met a technician who shared with me whats going on within the coffee machine, I chanced upon the vending-machine technician who is doing his usual maintenance rounds at my hostel. At the lobby of my hostel stood a can-drinks vending machine which dispenses a variety of 10 soft drinks. Though nothing spectacular, I was curious to know whats inside..

Between the cans storage area and the exterior of the vending machine stands a thick door which helps to seal the drinks in a cold environment. You can visualise the vending machine like a special refrigerator with some small computers outside to dispense the cans.

Cans are stacked in their respective columns

The technician also shared with me some insights about the vending machine.

• Nobody in Singapore manufactures/ is able to manufacture such machines
• As such, prices can range from SGD$5,000 - SGD$6,000 to import such machines. For more complicated drinks machines which can dispense both hot and cold drinks onto a paper cup, those can cost up to SGD$15,000 to import.
• Most of the local vending machines are imported from US/ Japan. They have the technical know-how on both the computing and hardware associated with the vending machine. 

Though capital costs are high, there seems to be some local companies willing to absorb the investment in exchange for a lucrative site to place their vending machines. For a high density population country like Singapore, a strategic location could help you generate decent drink sales everyday. Drinks at the vending machines beside the basketball courts are consistently sold out.

Also, no horror story was mentioned like what was mentioned regarding the coffee machine.

EUFASS

Tips on using a different charger for my laptop

Yesterday I left my charger at my friend's place, and it was a frustrating experience as I had to go on without my daily staple of anime. It struck me that I had an old Compaq laptop lying around in my house and immediately I thought of using the Compaq charger for my Toshiba laptop to satisfy my craving. But the question is, can I use a charger of a different brand for my laptop?

Well I did some research and browse through a number of sites. It seems like there is a few points to take note of:

1) Physical

Make sure that the size and shape of the connector of the charger fits snugly with your laptop

2) Electrical

The voltage and polarity of the new charger must be the same. The current can be higher than your old charger.

My advice:

Dude, do you really want to take the risk!?

When I was contemplating to use my Compaq charger on my laptop, a few questions went through my mind.
1) Do I really need to use my computer so urgently?
2) What happens if it blows and I can't use it anymore?
At the end of the day, can I really not wait so badly that I really want to take the risk? The alternative could be waiting for a day or two to retrieve your lost charger, or swing by the electronics store for a new laptop charger for US$20. Anyhow, they sound better than a dead laptop to repair/replace anytime.

Thus I would advise even if you could find a charger of a different brand that fits both criteria, don't take the risk, you never know what nuances each company have that might damage your precious laptop.

The ultimate cost-saving FAQ for cars

Many have said that the car is a liability rather than asset. Whether it’s a liability or an asset, here are some money-savvy tips that you must know to fully utilize your money spent on your precious car. Precious, I used this word because if you haven’t heard about the outrageous price to drive a car here in Singapore, you should definitely check it out (hint- it’s USD 6-figure).  Here is my attempt to compile The ultimate cost-saving FAQ for cars.

What is the expected mileage per litre?

My dad’s Nissan Latio goes around 12-13 km per litre of petrol. 

If you suspect that your mileage is going low, some tips that you can do

·         Make sure your tyres are adequately pumped

·         Drive smoothly rather than jamming on the accelerator and breaking adruptly

·         Have you modified your car with any add-ons recently that can cause the inefficiency?

·         Check your odometer whether it is running on mph or kph? (no kidding)

·         It might be traffic conditions – consumption is higher in start-stop traffics as opposed to smooth driving on the expressway.

·         Aircon consumption.. speaking of this, this begs the question

How much fuel does air-conditioning consume?

We all should have some extent of knowledge that turning up the airconditioning in cars consumes petrol. Is this a substantial cost of concern? Should we go with natural wind to save money?

In a study by the National Renewable Energy Laboratory, the use of Air Conditioning can add fuel consumption depending on the type of vehicle, by at least 35%.

Then again, opening the windows does not seem like a feasible alternative since incoming wind will causes drag forces and requires the engine to work harder to go at the same speed.

Should I warm up the car before driving, or just drive?

You might have heard some advice from your friends or family to warm up the car for a while before driving to prevent complications on the car. There are also some arguments that idling in the parking lot to warm up the engine wastes fuel and does nothing to prolong the life of the engine.

The possible reason to warm up the car could be bring the engine up to operating temperature, as well as to heat up the oil to get to proper flow viscosity.However, under Singapore's sunny climate, the need to warm up isn’t really as necessary as in countries during winter seasons.

That said, the cold engine indicator still bothers me. What I would do is to let the car crawl slowly for the first 10 minutes out of the car park before really stepping on the accelerator

Lamb, Sheep, Goat – What's the difference?

We are familiar with lambs, sheep and goats, but then again there are so many things we are not sure of them. At a mealtime conversation, the curious case of mutton came up and after some research, explained.

Firstly, what is their meat called?

Loosely speaking, all 3 can be considered as Mutton.

Depending on your place, only sheep meat is considered as mutton, while lamb meat is known as lamb meat. Goat meat can be called mutton but is technically not correct. It is known as chevon in countries like France and Belgium.

If they are all called mutton, what’s the difference between their meat?

Age.

The lamb is the young of the sheep (12 months and below). The meat is much more tender than mutton, and probably reasons why we have lamb chops rather than mutton chops.

Mutton on the other hand, is much tougher than lamb meat, and has a stronger taste. They are used for stews and soups.

Whats the difference between lamb, sheep and goat ?

As previously mentioned, the lamb is the young of the sheep, and thus we are actually looking only at the difference between 2 animals here – the sheep and the goat.

Biologically, the goat has 60 chromosomes while the sheep has 54 chromosomes. 

Goats are hardworking, they eat twigs, leaves from the top of the plants. Sheep on the other hand are grazers. 

Interestingly, we refer goats as start-ups - being agile and hardworking, while sheep are the lazy man on the streets. 

Another key difference is that the tail of the goat often goes up unless stressed, while the tail of the sheep is always down.  

The goat goes “baa” while the sheep makes the sound “meh…”

.... For more interesting trivia like this, check out my other posts


[Update Jan 19 2014 BY POPULAR DEMAND: Whats the difference between the Ox, Cow and the Bull? Discover the answer here!]

3 Tips to book the cheapest flight ticket

Getting the cheapest flight ticket would mean more money to spend on other stuff during your vacation.
Recently Kayak published a survey that revealed the best time to book your air ticket for the best price, which got me very interested.

I recall that while preparing for my graduation trip (Yes, sadly I will not be qualified for student deals anymore), I spent a lot of time over a span of two months trying to get the best deal. The experience was long, repetitive and sometimes painful, but at least I could blog and share about some of the tips to get the cheapest flight ticket and feel better about this.

1. Book early

The most straightforward tip of all is to really book early. Honestly, I am not sure what algorithm or rule flight tickets are priced with. There are just too many explanations out there. But after 2 months of scouring and even to the extent of awaiting the launch of a new budget airlines (Scoot), together with my previous trip to America and within America, I realized that the ticket prices that I've seen on the very first day are often still the very best price I could get.

So here is my tip, if you are someone like me who value your time a lot, go ahead and book the ticket should the price point is somewhat in your comfortable and expected price range. You will come to appreciate that the time you save from settling the booking early would be more worthwhile than the money you could potentially save if you continue to scour for deals in the following weeks. Furthermore, in the unlucky scenario, prices go up...

So.. once you made the decision, just go ahead to book your air tickets and save yourself from all the trouble and wasted time. The best tip, is still , to book early.

2. Use flight ticket aggregators

A common knowledge when booking flight tickets is to use services like Expedia, which offers choices from different airlines so you can immediately have a sense of how much the air ticket should cost. Furthermore , there are flight ticket booking aggregators like wego which allows you to do searches at different flight booking websites and compile the options. You can be doubly sure that the deal you are getting is the best price with such websites.

One tip that I saw somewhere is to clear the cache if you see that ticket prices have suddenly gone up. Such websites and airlines could track your search history and trigger a raise in price to induce panic buying.

3. Budget airlines deals

To outsmart their competition, some budget airlines like Jetstar offer a price beat guarantee, in which they would offer a 10% cheaper price than any competitor for a similar flight. I shared some tips on this previously.

Further, unlike normal airlines, you need not pay a higher price when booking one-way flight tickets with budget airlines. From here, two opportunities to save money arises via:

• Airline options
  Scour the different budget airlines (air asia, scoot, jetstar, tiger) separately for their cheapest tickets in the period you are travelling. Just select the cheapest flight.
• Currency options
  In my last trip to Taipei, I realized that booking one-way separately in TWD currency would be slightly cheaper(~$10)  if i took the round trip option. So instead of booking round trips, no harm checking whether individual trips will amount to a cheaper flight. (Keep in mind the exchange rate is via your bank's rate)

For the poor student, budget airlines are the best business model inventions in the aviation world. If money is your top concern, the best way to fly is most often via budget air!

Hope this was useful to you
Eufass

How to react when monkeys are stealing from your room

For some reason, monkeys were recently spotted on campus. This is not the first time I encountered these nimble creatures, but this is the first time that they appear so close to my hostel. They definitely did not behave that they were visitors. They entered the kitchens and rooms stealing food – with the temerity to enter even when people were inside. Watching them swing from one window to another looking for food was an interesting scene to behold.

These became monkey food

Here are the following steps to monkey-proof your room: -

1) Close all windows and door when monkeys are spotted in the vicinity or when no one is in the room.
2) Keep food out of sight. Store them in cabinets or fridges.
3) Double knot your garbage bag to make it less likely for monkeys to hunt and steal food.

If the monkey enters your room,

a) Stop whatever you are doing immediately.
b) Remain calm and quiet. Do not make sudden movement and do not maintain eye contact with the monkey.
c) Without cornering the monkeys, keep hitting the ground with a stick OR shoot a strong jet of water to lead them towards the exit.
d) Do not hit the monkeys.
e) Leave your room and wait for the monkey to leave.

If you encounter a monkey in the open,

a. Do not turn away from the monkeys and run. Do this subtly - look away and back off slowly.
b. Conceal or discard the object in your hand if it is attracting the monkey's attention

For more detailed information and tips, a pamphlet can be downloaded from ecitizen.gov.sg website.

Tips on Saving with Jetstar Price beat guarantee

To the money-savvy people our there, here's a post based on my recent experience that will potentially save you some coffee money up to the hundreds when travelling.

Jetstar has a price beat guarantee and offers 10% lower price to a competitor (think Tiger). Here are 2 key conditions which you need to make sure you can get the discount

1) Flight is within one hour of jetstar flight

2) Booking is one way only. ( i wanted to do a round trip flight, but since my return leg is not at a lower price, i have to book them separately)

Before you go any further to get your lower priced ticket, I must let you know that it is definitely not the easiest process. The first thing that you should give ample thought is - is it worth it to save that tens of dollars for a stressful booking session that you will undergo if you make that call.

My point on the inconvenience of having to book 2 separate one-way itinerary instead of one round trip is but just one of the many ways in which the experience  was made very, very bitter. If you have decided that the cost saving is worth it, read on.

How to

1, Identify the flight you want to pursue for the 10% price beat deal. It would be handy to have both the Jetstar booking page as well as the competitor booking page up for easy reference. Important info to take note are the flight date, timings and price

2. Call Jetstar based on your location. Click here for list of numbers

3. Press 1 for location and 4 for booking enquiry (Might vary according to your location).. Save time and effort by pressing the number quickly and maneuver to talk to a customer service officer.

NOW, here is where the stress begins. The whole phone call experience can get you hard if you are not prepared. Here, I have a noble purpose to pre-empt you such that you would not feel the frustration i felt. And I hope no one would ever go through what I did ever again. The frustration in getting the price beat guarantee stems from a number of factors:

1. Customer service reps with poor command of English that will piss you off. For example, they can repeat what you said and... silence. My experience was.. the rep said, "yes sir, the price is indeed higher and you qualify for the price beat guarantee." and then.. it was silence for one minute. Apparently she had no idea that yes, I would like to book the ticket please. 

You need to be very clear in instructing them what you want to do, be prepared. 

2. Repetitive clarifying. The reps would repeatedly clarify what you said. You would also encounter efforts to try to cut you off. My experience was that the rep assumed that I have not decided on my itinerary and told me, " Sir, it seems you have not confirmed your itinerary, would you please confirm your flight and call back again? OK bye" Cheap shot.

3. Putting you on hold Don’t be put on hold, you will wait for a few minutes and get cut off. Request to just be left hanging.

Even as I write, I can recall the frustration i felt.

Further tips to save

You would be subjected to the credit card fee of $8.50/pax for your outbound flight. Well, if you are booking for 4 people, its a total of $34 saved.. You could save this amount by paying at 7-11 or the SAM machine.

I would recommend using SAM for payment. It seems to be the easiest method and no possibility of service charge will be incurred. AT the Singpost SAM machine, click on "Shop at SAM" "Travel" and jetstar will appear.

At the end of the day, nothing can beat the low price. But I can never stress again, for the amount of cost saving, is the effort worth it?

3 tips on how to learn something new everyday

Live life fullest by learning new things everyday

It has been a month since my last post, as I have been pretty busy with some side projects. Entrepreneurship is a tough journey, but it definitely enriches one with so much knowledge and experience in a very short space of time.

Learning actually requires some work. Unlike reading a storybook, where you flip the pages, follow the development of the plot and savour the ending, learning requires you to constantly revise what you acquired. It is thus important that you determine your own style of learning and have the tools ready.

Taking me as an example, I have an ipad with me almost everywhere I go, and everything I learn something I would record my takeaways in the notes app. I like its functionality in being able to sync a copy into my gmail, which I could easily refer back and refresh my learning at my free time. The key here, is to record down what you have learn, occasionally refresh and think about your lessons. If I feel the inspiration, I would blog about it – exactly what you see me doing now.

Try something new

And thus…. The first tip will be to try something new in your life. Do something you have never done before. If you are stuck in lectures and tutorials most of the time (well, studying is learning), squeeze out some time to try something new. It could be a dance class, a new language, starting a blog, etc. Most importantly, it must be something you have never tried before. In my case, I am pursuing the development of a new product, and every day I am faced with fresh obstacles that teach me the difficulties of business.

Meet (different) people

If you do not have the time to engage in something new, a less time-consuming way is to meet people. Everyone knows something you don’t, and this fact is stark if you have dinner with a group of friends. You will realize that knowledge is concealed in the cheerful banter, where friends share their experiences and what they have seen and heard recently. In fact, I am a fan of Never Lunch Alone, as every meal is an opportunity to interact and learn from somebody.

Of course, meeting with new and different people is strongly encouraged. That way, you will hear something new, or even have the opportunity to reinforce or hear a different opinion on what you thought you had already knew. The basic rule for this tip is that you have to remember that

“Everyone knows something you don’t”

and thus definitely worth talking to no matter what the occasion. Friends are generally the best people to learn from, and it is recommended to eat with different circles.

Break your routine

This final tip does not require you to spend additional time to start a new project or to reach out to people. In fact, it is so powerful that it just requires you a little effort to press your reset button. The reason that you feel that you have stopped learning is things are becoming like a routine. You become a machine doing the same thing every day, which is toxic in that you stopped learning new things but instead develop muscle memory. The trick – is to break your routine.

The sheer amount of ideas to change your routine is immense and inexhaustive. Some ideas is to leave home half an hour early, eat breakfast somewhere else, run in the day, go to your destination from a different route. At work, you could schedule your meeting in a café rather than in the office, use a different toilet, hang out with a different group, etc. You will be surprised at the potential of a small change to the routine. Keep a lookout and discover what is different, and you might generate new ideas and learn something new from there.

TRIVIA: how does stitch occur, prevention and alleviation of stitch

During running, its a common occurrence to experience stitches (also referred to as side cramp) someone near the stomach/ under the ribcage. It can occur on either side depending on the individual. It is caused by... is what I want to be able to share, but unfortunately, even scientists do not know the exact cause of stitch. Through reading a factsheet provided online by the Australian Sports Commission, there are a few theories for the cause of stitch. However, previous theories has their loopholes and a more recent and accepted theory is that stitch is caused by irritation of the parietal peritoneum (layer of membrane that line the abdominal cavity).
To put it simply, due to a lack of lubricating fluid between the membranes of the abdomen during exercise, friction between the membranes causes discomfort which we experience as stitch. This pain experienced is usually benign and a quick verification is to stop running and the pain should subside.

Shake off the stitch and continue running

That said, the main problem with stitch is that the runner does not want to stop! Especially when you only started  running for less than 5 minutes and you have to stop due to the stitch when every other muscle of your body is still roaring to go! So what are the ways to treat stitch on the run?

Well I personally tried this method that I found online.

1. Hold the area where you're feeling the stitch by stabbing around it with your fingers. 
2. Change your breathing pattern.  If you always exhale when your right foot lands, change your breathing rhythm to exhale when your left foot lands.

My personal take: It did manage to alleviate my stitch. However, I also added some elements which I think is the most useful to treat the stitch on the run

• Slow down your intensity of the run. Change your pace to a slow jog for a few minutes to shake off the stitch before gearing up your speed again.

If the stitch still persists, you should rest. I know, I shared before to never give up, but there are times you should take a break. To alleviate the stitch, bend forward while holding on the affected area and do deep breaths. You can then start with a slow jog to see if the pain comes back again.

Prevention of Stitch

Though the theory of stitch is unknown, what is heartening is that we do know that doing certain things before running will increase the probability of it. Now the best way is probably to avoid doing these things:

1. Do not eat or drink too much water 2 hours before and during a run. This always gets me and by experience I have stopped any large intake of food/water if I want a great workout session.
2. Run regularly. I realised that the occurrence of stitch is more frequent if I run spontaneously rather than run religiously. It seems that regular training do have an effect to strengthen your abdominal against stitches occuring.
3. Maintain deep breathing and good posture. I probably didn't realise it, but the more I ran, the better was my running posture and breathing rhythm. This explains why you are more likely to get a stitch if you run at inconsistent speeds. Avoid suddenly sprinting at first, always start your run slow and steady.

Finally, if you are interested in running, do check out my previous post on running longer and further. May your next run be a stitch-free one!

EUFASS

Trivia: What sound does a deer make?

When asked the question what sound does a deer make, instinctively I answered "mehhhh". But hey wait, thats the sound of a sheep. So google I did, and boy was I surprised by the sounds they can make.. It can range from a low grunt to a high pitch eeeeeeeeeeeee

Here's a poor attempt to express some of the sounds captured on video in words

1. ehhheeeeehehehhe (video link)

2.eeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeoooooooooohhhhhhhhhhhhhhh (sika deer)

3. grrr grrr grrr (fallow deer)

4. moooooo ( red stag) (I'm not kidding)

5. mehh eeeee eeee eee (some deer) - yes there is a certain extent of mehhhh-ing

Well, I hope we all learnt something new today!

Stolen/Lost Ipad – What should I do?

Lost your ipad and wondering what you should do next? Whether you misplaced it or it was stolen, the pain of losing your iPad is real, but first things first, the most important is to protect your privacy. After making sure that your accounts are secure, only then you should try to retrieve your ipad back. Lastly, try to come to the terms with the loss. This blog post will show you how to react, and shares my own experience of losing my ipad.

First things to do for your lost iPad

1. (If it is stolen) Note your serial number and inform the police. A step-by-step tutorial can be found here 
2.  (If you have find my iPad set up) Remote lock or wipe your iPad, send message and check your ipad location using icloud.
3. (If you have nothing set up) Send an email to your own account accessible to iPad with your contact details so that the person who picked it up can see it. Also do the same for facebook and other media accessible from your iPad.
4. Proceed to change passwords for data and accounts accessible from your iPad

The fact is, precaution is still better than cure. A very important lesson I took away from this saga is that it would have been less stressful if I had set up find my ipad or at the minimum set up a passcode and include my contact details on the wallpaper. If I have an iPad again, I would be less lazy and set up the necessary precautions.

Protect your privacy

When I lost my ipad, my very first thought beside the bite of the material loss ($600+!), was that the content in all my emails, notes, dropbox, facebook accounts were compromised. You could be in the same situation, possibly with more accounts accessible through your ipad. Knowing that somebody else can have access to all my data,  I immediately regret not taking the additional precaution of setting a passcode.

Passcode lock

Setting a passcode takes less than 2 minutes to set it up. If you are reading this, and you haven’t implemented a passcode to your ipad yet, do it right NOW. Go to your ipad:

Settings>> General>> Passcode Lock

And input your passcode lock. The iPad also have a additional security to wipe out your iPad after 10 incorrect tries.

Now the problem with the passcode lock is that a honest person cannot return it to you as he will have no clue how to contact you. What you can do is to download free ipad wallpaper apps and add in your contact information on the wallpaper. An important thing to note is to make sure that your number would not be blocked by the passcode dialog box.

Another point to take note is that the passcode can prevent users from using your accounts freely, but not prevent them from taking over your iPad. It does not take a smart thief to figure out that he could break the passcode by restoring the iPad to factory default settings entirely.

Find my ipad

A stronger form of lost precaution would be to setup find my ipad service provided by apple. This service allows you to locate your ipad from a PC, display a message on your ipad, and even beep to help you find it. Moreover, it allows you to set a passcode remotely as well as to delete all your date remotely. The beauty of the remote wipe is that it overcomes the limitation of the security feature of wiping out your iPad after 10 incorrect tries in which your data could still be accessed by plugging into the PC. Thank you Apple!

You can find out more about it at http://www.apple.com/ipad/find-my-ipad.html and set it up in a jiffy.

Worst Case scenario of losing your ipad

Summarizing your potential losses in an engineering style

• Monetary loss of $600+++
• Loss of information only saved locally in iPad
• Compromise of private information which could be priceless
• Misuse of private accounts

Thankfully Apple has a security feature to prompt for password everytime a purchase is made, this should deter thieves from going on a shopping spree. But more than the monetary loss, it is apparent that bigger loss could be inflicted through the loss and compromise of private information and also the misuse of your accounts. The precautions mentioned beforehand should be able to deter most of these potentially huge losses.

In my next article, I will share with you some of my reflection and lessons learnt post-event.

Why is there a ridge on the keyboard buttons "F" and "J"?

Ever wondered why is there a raised bar on the keyboard buttons F and J? Well even if you don’t know the answer, you still deserve the credit for noticing.  As for me, I am not sure whether I noticed or conveniently disregard the raised ridge on both keys altogether.

This further sparked my curiosity what is the purpose? It can’t be a coincidence that every keyboard manufacturer decided to introduce a ridge on these exact two keys.

Touch typing and muscle memory

The answer: Touch typing.  The ridges allow touch-typers to locate their fingers on the keyboard. These amazing breed of people are able to type without looking at the keyboard -a skill that can be acquired through muscle memory. In touch typing, the ridges are used to position the initial placement of the hands on the keyboard.

In fact, if you are a frequent computer user, you might have some degree of muscle memory too! Just try it! Try typing the first sentence of this paragraph without looking at the keyboard. You are able to do it right? Now try to figure out where the individual letters are on the keyboard. You might have some difficulty in identifying all the letters. This is an example of our muscle memory utilized in typing.

Now with these ridges, blind people now are able to use them as a guide to type accurately.

"F" and "J" on IPAD and Android

With new gadgets coming up, did you ever notice that these ridges appear on f and j keys on the IPAD keyboard as well? Though the ridges are useless on a flat touchscreen, I think it is no coincidence but really the result of meticulous design from Apple. Is there also such a feature on the Android keyboard? I don’t recall seeing one…

How to choose a tutor

In some modules, you will have a number of tutorial classes to ballet for. Naturally, students select their classes based on their schedule, but that is often NOT THE SMARTEST CHOICE.

Instead, select the best tutor and attend his/her tutorial class.

A good tutor

• Able to teach reasonably well
• Covers the tutorial questions
• Answers questions you have
• Basically anything expected

In comparison, a great tutor

• Is interesting
• Covers the tutorial questions in half the class, teaches additional stuff in the 2nd half (which are often important concepts for exams)
• Makes you think about what you have learnt by asking questions
• Sends you additional resources like videos, powerpoint slides, templates, etc

How to select a great tutor

The very first thing you can do is ask your seniors. Those who have taken the module would have some impressions of their tutor. Seek out your seniors and compile all their opinions to make the best choice.

Secondly, google the tutor's name. Now I am not encouraging you to be too stalkerish here, but essentially is to check out the career background of the tutor, his/her experiences and previous networks. You might also be able to find reviews on the tutors or chance upon blogs commenting on their experience with the tutor. These information would give you a hint of how qualified the tutor is.

So remember, when there's the chance, choose your tutorial class based on the tutor, and not by your schedule!

How much money do I need for a one week visit to Singapore

Its going to be August soon, and a great time to start planning seriously for your year end vacation! and how do I know that? Because I have friends from different parts of the world asking about travelling in Singapore!  (Verzon spent one year in the States on exchange)

If you ask me, I think one week is a good time to completely experience Singapore. In fact, I think one week is on the high side, unless you wish to experience life on this sunny island. And the top concern is how much money should I bring to Singapore? Well, as a local, here are my estimates which tend to the higher side. It's better to play safe here as inflation seems to be more prominent recently... 

All currencies are in SGD.

Budget for Basic Necessities 

Food - A meal in the air-conditioned food court is around $5. A Macdonalds value meal is also around that price! - $15 per day

Drinks - Given the hot climate, you might want to get drinks during the day, which can cost up to $2 per bottle in the city. - $6 per day                                                 

Transport- Most Places are accessible by train and cost around $2 per trip. Assuming you go to 3 places a day , - $8 per day.

Cabs run by the meter, and starts from $3.20. You can calculate taxi fares here.

Accommodation - you can get a room around $60 per night for budget hotels further away from the city. The more reputable budget hotels are Fragrance and Hotel 81.

Thus for a 7D6N stay in Singapore i recommend at least $550- $650 for your basic necessities

Fun and More

And now to the things that matter. I mean, whats the meaning of a vacation if you do not enjoy right?? According to your fun appetite, set aside a reasonable amount of budget.

Alcohol - Alcohol is more expensive  in Singapore ( way too expensive IMO). A pint of Erdinger is around $12-14 in bars in clarke quay.

Casino - The few things that are free.. Locals have to pay $100 to enter though (to discourage gambling). For entering the Casino in Sentosa, you need to pay $3.50 for entry into Sentosa. (Another example of rising prices, used to be $3 not long ago)

Sentosa  - An island within our island dedicated for tourist attractions. Universal Studios Singapore is also here, with tickets at $68-$74 for a one day pass. You should be able to cover the entire USS in one full day. Besides the USS, there are also other attractions in sentosa that will require admission fees. For more details, click here.

Gardens by the Bay - Our proud $1 billion investment to inject greenery in the city. Some areas require a entry pass which costs $28.

Movies - Tickets are around $10 at local cinemas. Remember to book online to get good seats.

Clubbing - entry fee which comes with 1 free drink usually costs around $28-$32. 

Tips for tourists on Saving money 

Check out the local groupon deals one month before arriving. You could usually get cheap deals on good food, attractions and services.

If you are a nightclub goer, check out Hazel's guestlist. Get yourself on the list and enjoy free entry/ offers to the better clubs in Singapore. Ladies, you should always be clubbing for FREE.

If you are able to embrace the heat and culture of Singapore, have your meals in hawker centres. Food is cheapest there and is around $2.50. "Lao pa sat" looks like a hawker centre, but commands prices unworthy to be called a hawker centre.

Accommodation might be your biggest cost after nightlife. Save on your accommodation by couchsurfing or bunking with friends!

Shopping: For American brands like Coach, Abercrombie, CK,etc. You can get them for really much cheaper in the premium outlets store in the US. Really, they are overpriced here... For cheap and decent styles, head over to bugis village. 

For Handy numbers to know in Singapore: check out my recent blog post here
.

EUFASS

The ultimate guide to running longer and further

If you are looking for how to make yourself last longer, unfortunately, this only applies to running.

Are you getting most of your running session? Do you hit your desired distance, timing and pace? Or are you always failing to hit your target? 

I face the problem of always failing to run the distance I set for myself. I would give myself excuses like my heart can't take it, I'll run more tomorrow, etc. With such lame excuses, it was only natural that I begin to see my waistline expanding despite the fact that I was exercising. I got sick of this and decided that it's time for change.

It's been a while now, I wouldn't say I been successful all the time, but generally, I am getting a pretty good feeling after my run. Here are some tips to get the most out of it.

Plan Your Run

• The most effective way is to make running your routine. Fix a certain timing for the few days a week that you will run, and never fail to make it, no matter how far you would go. If your run is in the evening, constantly remind yourself during the day that you have a run, and you are going to do it. The first step is always the hardest and this will inculcate a habit for running.

• Target Distance: write down the distance you will cover this month, next month, 3 months later. Having a goal in mind would always be easier to achieve than having nothing at all.

• Plan your route: instead of running a few rounds on the same route, plan a full loop for your route. Firstly, you are compelled to cover the whole distance as the only way to get home is to complete the run. Secondly, the it is mentally draining to run the same route over and over again, you will tend to stop at round 9 when you have to do 10 rounds.

Pre-Run:

• No heavy meals 2 hours before, you want to prevent stitches.
• Same logic here, refrain from drinking more than one mouth of water 2 hours before. I think it varies for the individual, but for my case more than one mouthful of water gives me stitches during the run.

During the run:

• Get your Ipod loaded with your favourite songs
• Tell yourself to think of other things
• If you actually shout "I'm not giving up!" it works (trust me)
• Picture your loved one/your reward at the finishing line

And at the end of the run, savour the feeling of accomplishment in completing your target distance.This will keep you running, keep you gunning for more.. Enjoy your run!

Inspirations from David Beckham

Have you caught the video  where David Beckham surprised Adidas shoppers at their photobooth?

To say that the shoppers were shocked is an understatement. They were overwhelmed. Some cried, some were paralyzed in disbelief. Their responses were sincere and pure. To witness a global idol appear before their very eyes is utterly unbelievable.

That set me thinking. If you enjoy world-wide fame, your mere presence can bring such an emotional reaction from people. Your influence is far-reaching. You hold a power in your hands - a power to move people.

If you reach that level, what would you do? Would you be content with what you have, or would you strive for even more? Would you use this power to do good, or would you use this influence to spread evil?

David Beckham's simple visit touched the lives of some. At that level, one has the potential to touch so much more. At that level, the power of one can really make the world a better place.

Get famous, don't stop there, do good.

What are those letters after a name in a namecard

If you started working, and you start to meet more people, chances are you will receive a number of namecards with some letters behind the name.

What are these letters?

They are known as post-nominal letters. They indicate the qualifications attained by the individual.
The ones you might be familar are Ph.D, which does not mean Permanent head damage, but rather Doctor of Philosophy. Similarly, MBA stands for Master of Business Administration.

Some examples of post-nominal letters in medicine

Just so happened that I met 2 clients from the realm of medicine. One of them is a very senior lecturer whom post-nominal letters look unfamiliar to me. I did some research and here's a compilation of letters more commonly seen in Singapore and what they stand for.

Name	Post-nominal
Bachelor of Medicine, Bachelor of Surgery	MBBS
Masters of Medicine	MMED
Doctor of Medicine	MD
Fellow of the Royal Australasian College of Physicians	FRACP
Fellow of the Academy of Medicine, Singapore	FAMS
Fellow of the Royal College of Physicians	FRCP

It seems like there are a lot of medical organizations out there, so we can see doctors with letters starting with F, signifying that they are a fellow of the organization. This list is non-exhaustive. 

Some examples of post-nominal letters in finance

And in a realm I am more familiar with. Again, the list is non-exhaustive

Name	Post-nominal
Certified Financial Planner	CFP
Chartered Financial Analyst	CFA
Certified Public Accountant	CPA

Feel Free to add more to the list! 

EUFASS - my post-nominal :)