Saturday, March 27, 2004
Social Networking
Decided to check out this whole social networking thing when I got an orkut invitation. After being on it for about a month, I'm still totally clueless as to why its supposed to be so cool. I can't figure out what you actually do once you join. Boring !
Topic: Social Networking
Siddhi's Rating: Dud
Topic: Social Networking
Siddhi's Rating: Dud
Tuesday, March 16, 2004
Some stuff that I use ;)
Inspired by a post by harish. Some of the stuff I use...
Scrubs, masks, gel, wax
Fragrance
Hair and skin
Packets
Scrubs, masks, gel, wax
Fragrance
Hair and skin
Packets
Wednesday, March 10, 2004
I just ran into a great resource for wet shaving.
These two MSN groups are really good -
WetShavers
TheWetShavers
I've recently been looking into my shaving methods in more detail, and nowdays my shaving is more fun than it has ever been, and I feel totally great after I'm done. Some days I spend up to twenty minutes just shaving. Wonderful ! Banished forever are the days when shaving was boring, and took just 2 minutes. I'm now on the quest to find the perfect shave, no matter how long it takes.
My current shaving regime is -
Splash warm water on face
Dip brush into water and let the excess water drain
Add shaving cream to brush
Apply to face and lather on the face
Shave with the grain with minimal pressure (for me that is downwards on my face as well as neck)
Wash face
Apply non-alcoholic aftershave gel
I'll be adding a couple of extra steps tomorrow -
Place warm towel on face for 30 seconds to further soften hair and open pores
Lather on the palm of my hand before applying cream to the face
Convert the one pass shave to a two pass shave - with the grain and across the grain
Store used razor blades in a cup filled with vegetable oil (to preserve sharpness). Apparently this extends the lifespan of the blades.
The main test will be the shave around my neck area, especially around the adams apple. The shave over there is usually not very smooth and the skin there is prone to irritation and ingrown hairs. This is why I only rarely shave against the grain in my neck region. Will have to see if the towel makes it better.
Anyone else with some other ideas on shaving ?
These two MSN groups are really good -
WetShavers
TheWetShavers
I've recently been looking into my shaving methods in more detail, and nowdays my shaving is more fun than it has ever been, and I feel totally great after I'm done. Some days I spend up to twenty minutes just shaving. Wonderful ! Banished forever are the days when shaving was boring, and took just 2 minutes. I'm now on the quest to find the perfect shave, no matter how long it takes.
My current shaving regime is -
Splash warm water on face
Dip brush into water and let the excess water drain
Add shaving cream to brush
Apply to face and lather on the face
Shave with the grain with minimal pressure (for me that is downwards on my face as well as neck)
Wash face
Apply non-alcoholic aftershave gel
I'll be adding a couple of extra steps tomorrow -
Place warm towel on face for 30 seconds to further soften hair and open pores
Lather on the palm of my hand before applying cream to the face
Convert the one pass shave to a two pass shave - with the grain and across the grain
Store used razor blades in a cup filled with vegetable oil (to preserve sharpness). Apparently this extends the lifespan of the blades.
The main test will be the shave around my neck area, especially around the adams apple. The shave over there is usually not very smooth and the skin there is prone to irritation and ingrown hairs. This is why I only rarely shave against the grain in my neck region. Will have to see if the towel makes it better.
Anyone else with some other ideas on shaving ?
Sunday, March 07, 2004
Movie Review : Irreversible
Enough people have talked about THOSE scenes, so I'm not going to add anything apart from agreeing that they were extremely violent, very painful to watch, and in fact at times I did have to look away from the screen because I could not take it.
Okay, with that taken care of, we can now concentrate on the rest of the film. Overall, I thought the film was pretty well made. It was not an enjoyable film at all (you have to be pretty weird to actually have fun watching this film), but it was a very poignant, emotional film.
I'm going to assume you have clicked on some of those links, so you know who the characters are.
This first half of the movie is sheer hell. The camera twist and turns in unpredictable ways. If you dont get totally dizzy, you will at least get a feeling of nausea. It starts off with a scene with two men searching a gay S&M club for a guy called 'The tapeworm'. Here the sound effects really get going with a heavy growling soundtrack, and by now you will be positively sick. Which is just as well, because its followed by that violent murder scene. The next scene shows these guys searching for this club, and we soon realise that the movie is going backwards from end to start. Soon enough, you are sick of the camera, and wish it would stabilize, which it does, and you quickly regret it, because you are left to see the 9 minute long rape scene. Like I said, I wont say much about this scene because everyone else has commented enough. See the links at the start of this post.
Once thats over, the camera settles down, and the story quickly turns from violent to touching. We see life as it was before it disintegrated. We see everyone talking in the subway on the way to the party. And, in probably one of the most touching scenes, we see Alex find out that she is pregnant. In the back of our mind, we already know how things are going to end, and that makes this scene all the more heart wrenching. The stark contrast between the two halves of the movie create even more emotional discord in the viewer. The only jarring thing in the whole movie was the ending, where there is a strobing light that quickly increases in frequency. I felt like my head was about to explode. I have no idea why that was included.
The camera work and cinematography was good. You could easily get the feeling of calm or unrest just by viewing the movements of the camera. The dialogue, though banal at times, was also very natural in some areas. The conversation in the subway in particular had a great, believable flow to it. The acting was exceptional. All three actors were very natural. In particular, the lovemaking scene at the end was so relaxed and even paced like I have never seen in a movie before. At times you could almost feel as if you were inside the movie. The sound was great too. From the industrial growls during the start to the calm soothing music at the end, the music talked to you and set the mood excellently.
All in all, this movie was well made. You wont enjoy it, but you will be satisfied. You wont laugh, and you will cry. But if you can handle it, it will be an experience you might never get at a cinema theatre. And like it or hate it, you will never forget it.
Okay, with that taken care of, we can now concentrate on the rest of the film. Overall, I thought the film was pretty well made. It was not an enjoyable film at all (you have to be pretty weird to actually have fun watching this film), but it was a very poignant, emotional film.
I'm going to assume you have clicked on some of those links, so you know who the characters are.
This first half of the movie is sheer hell. The camera twist and turns in unpredictable ways. If you dont get totally dizzy, you will at least get a feeling of nausea. It starts off with a scene with two men searching a gay S&M club for a guy called 'The tapeworm'. Here the sound effects really get going with a heavy growling soundtrack, and by now you will be positively sick. Which is just as well, because its followed by that violent murder scene. The next scene shows these guys searching for this club, and we soon realise that the movie is going backwards from end to start. Soon enough, you are sick of the camera, and wish it would stabilize, which it does, and you quickly regret it, because you are left to see the 9 minute long rape scene. Like I said, I wont say much about this scene because everyone else has commented enough. See the links at the start of this post.
Once thats over, the camera settles down, and the story quickly turns from violent to touching. We see life as it was before it disintegrated. We see everyone talking in the subway on the way to the party. And, in probably one of the most touching scenes, we see Alex find out that she is pregnant. In the back of our mind, we already know how things are going to end, and that makes this scene all the more heart wrenching. The stark contrast between the two halves of the movie create even more emotional discord in the viewer. The only jarring thing in the whole movie was the ending, where there is a strobing light that quickly increases in frequency. I felt like my head was about to explode. I have no idea why that was included.
The camera work and cinematography was good. You could easily get the feeling of calm or unrest just by viewing the movements of the camera. The dialogue, though banal at times, was also very natural in some areas. The conversation in the subway in particular had a great, believable flow to it. The acting was exceptional. All three actors were very natural. In particular, the lovemaking scene at the end was so relaxed and even paced like I have never seen in a movie before. At times you could almost feel as if you were inside the movie. The sound was great too. From the industrial growls during the start to the calm soothing music at the end, the music talked to you and set the mood excellently.
All in all, this movie was well made. You wont enjoy it, but you will be satisfied. You wont laugh, and you will cry. But if you can handle it, it will be an experience you might never get at a cinema theatre. And like it or hate it, you will never forget it.
Thursday, March 04, 2004
Just back from seeing the movie Irreversible. I'll post my thoughts on it once I have time to digest the movie. All I can say right now is that it's a very different kind of movie, and I'm still not over it yet.
Thursday, February 26, 2004
64% Feminine ?
Just took the gender identity test down at Emode. Here is the result -
Siddhi, you're 64% feminine
WTF?!!
Actually, on second thoughts, maybe thats not so surprising after all.
Siddhi, you're 64% feminine
WTF?!!
Actually, on second thoughts, maybe thats not so surprising after all.
Wednesday, February 25, 2004
Rorschach Test
Took the ink blot test over at Emode (thanks stale). This test is really good. Very very accurate, at least in my case.
Anyway, this is what it says -
Siddhi, your subconscious mind is driven most by Curiosity
This means you are full of questions about life, people, and the potential of your future. You spend more time than others envisioning the possibilities of your life — things that others are too afraid to consider.
Your curiosity burns with an almost physical need to know and do more. It's only through new experiences that you feel a greater understanding of yourself or the world — which ultimately is the greatest way for you to feel satisfied.
It is possible that the underlying reason for your drive towards curiosity is a deeply rooted fear of boredom. That means that you are probably more susceptible than others to feel like you're falling into a rut when life slows down into a comfortable routine.
You need to make sure you have stimulation in your life — that makes you feel like you're innovating or being exposed to the ideas and experiences that truly inspire you.
With such a strong orientation towards curiosity, you're also prone to a rebellious quality that shows up when you feel you are just going through the motions, and are unable to really influence the world around you. But interestingly enough, your drive towards novel experiences also indicates an openness others don't have, but wish they did.
Unconsciously, your curiosity presses you to learn more, experience more, and get the most out of life.
This is all so true, its absolutely scary.
Anyway, this is what it says -
Siddhi, your subconscious mind is driven most by Curiosity
This means you are full of questions about life, people, and the potential of your future. You spend more time than others envisioning the possibilities of your life — things that others are too afraid to consider.
Your curiosity burns with an almost physical need to know and do more. It's only through new experiences that you feel a greater understanding of yourself or the world — which ultimately is the greatest way for you to feel satisfied.
It is possible that the underlying reason for your drive towards curiosity is a deeply rooted fear of boredom. That means that you are probably more susceptible than others to feel like you're falling into a rut when life slows down into a comfortable routine.
You need to make sure you have stimulation in your life — that makes you feel like you're innovating or being exposed to the ideas and experiences that truly inspire you.
With such a strong orientation towards curiosity, you're also prone to a rebellious quality that shows up when you feel you are just going through the motions, and are unable to really influence the world around you. But interestingly enough, your drive towards novel experiences also indicates an openness others don't have, but wish they did.
Unconsciously, your curiosity presses you to learn more, experience more, and get the most out of life.
This is all so true, its absolutely scary.
Cheese
Yesterday went down to a neighbourhood shop to buy some New Zealand cheese. This stuff is interesting because you dont get these in your regular supermarket. They had a nice selection of cheeses. In the end, I bought about 160g of goats milk blue cheese. It has an interesting taste. Its slightly salty towards the center, but as you go towards the rind, the taste becomes less salty and stronger, probably influenced by the mold and the rind. It's similar to the other blue cheese that I've had in the past, but much more creamy, probably influenced by the goats milk. Nice combination.
I'm thinking of having some of this along with tea, as suggested in this article. Right now I'm thinking of having it with some earl gray tea that I have lying around, which should impart a flowery taste that should go well with the creaminess. I'm not sure if it will be strong enough for blue cheese. A better match might be a more bitter tea, but I dont have any with me right now.
Results of the experiment coming soon.
I'm thinking of having some of this along with tea, as suggested in this article. Right now I'm thinking of having it with some earl gray tea that I have lying around, which should impart a flowery taste that should go well with the creaminess. I'm not sure if it will be strong enough for blue cheese. A better match might be a more bitter tea, but I dont have any with me right now.
Results of the experiment coming soon.
Woohoo
Recently been playing the 'opposite' game that comes with the Nokia 8250 (yes, yes, I'm still in the dinosaur age). This game is basically just Reversi, but they call it 'opposite' on the phone. Probably some copyright issue in naming the game or something.
Anyway, I finally beat the game on the hardest difficulty (level 6). It was pretty close, with me winning 34-30. I played pretty much the best I have ever played on that game, an almost perfect first half, then started losing out, but hung on in the end. Before this, my highest level win was only level 4. Considering that I have spent quite a while learning the various strategies, I must say that I'm a satisfied soul, although seasoned Reversi players would probably have no problem at all in winning at level 6.
Achievement of the day - Beating the computer at 'Opposite' on the Nokia 8250 at Level 6
Anyway, I finally beat the game on the hardest difficulty (level 6). It was pretty close, with me winning 34-30. I played pretty much the best I have ever played on that game, an almost perfect first half, then started losing out, but hung on in the end. Before this, my highest level win was only level 4. Considering that I have spent quite a while learning the various strategies, I must say that I'm a satisfied soul, although seasoned Reversi players would probably have no problem at all in winning at level 6.
Achievement of the day - Beating the computer at 'Opposite' on the Nokia 8250 at Level 6
Wednesday, February 18, 2004
Didn't know that Cowboy Neal had a blog up. I guess most people know who he is, but in case you dont, I should redirect you to this site.
Tuesday, February 17, 2004
Sunday, February 15, 2004
[Weather - Drizzling]
A photograph I took during the Expressions UK fashion show that was held on 25 August, 2003. This show was part of Singapore Fashion Week 2003.
A photograph I took during the Expressions UK fashion show that was held on 25 August, 2003. This show was part of Singapore Fashion Week 2003.
Monday, February 09, 2004
[Now Watching - Dreamspaces (BBC World)]
This photo shows the Cenotaph, a world war memorial. The memorial was built to commemorate the soldiers who lost their lives in World War I. It was unveiled on the 31st of March 1922 by the Prince Edward, Prince of Wales (later King Edward VIII and Duke of Windsor). After the Second World War, the momument was modified to also honour soldiers who died in World War II. The photo shows the WWI insciption. The WWII inscription is on the opposite side of the memorial.
In the background, you can see the Esplanade (The two spiky domes).
This photo was taken by me sometime in July 2003.
This photo shows the Cenotaph, a world war memorial. The memorial was built to commemorate the soldiers who lost their lives in World War I. It was unveiled on the 31st of March 1922 by the Prince Edward, Prince of Wales (later King Edward VIII and Duke of Windsor). After the Second World War, the momument was modified to also honour soldiers who died in World War II. The photo shows the WWI insciption. The WWII inscription is on the opposite side of the memorial.
In the background, you can see the Esplanade (The two spiky domes).
This photo was taken by me sometime in July 2003.
Saturday, February 07, 2004
Religious conflicts
[Weather - Cool & Clear]
From a discussion with a friend. He was saying that a lot of conflict has been caused in the name of religion, therefore religion is a problem to society and should be abolished.
My reply is that many conflicts have also been caused based on the colour of a persons skin. Does that mean we should invent something that makes everyones skin colourless ? Sounds absurd ? Yes, because the obvious thing is to leave the skin colour as it is, and teach people to be accepting towards people of other skin colours. Same way with religion, we should leave religion as it is, and teach people to live with people of other religions. The solution is not to get rid of religion.
I have heard many times that if we didnt have religion, all our problems would go away. Not so. A person who wants to cause conflict will find a reason to do so. If its was not religion, it would have been skin colour or language or the length of a persons hair. There are any number of ways to differentiate people. So abolishing religion would not have prevented any conflict. There would have been another reason given for the conflict.
"The cause of racism is not having a skin, but the it is the work of man and similarly the cause of religious conflict is not the religion, but the work of man. So leave religion alone and cure the person."
From a discussion with a friend. He was saying that a lot of conflict has been caused in the name of religion, therefore religion is a problem to society and should be abolished.
My reply is that many conflicts have also been caused based on the colour of a persons skin. Does that mean we should invent something that makes everyones skin colourless ? Sounds absurd ? Yes, because the obvious thing is to leave the skin colour as it is, and teach people to be accepting towards people of other skin colours. Same way with religion, we should leave religion as it is, and teach people to live with people of other religions. The solution is not to get rid of religion.
I have heard many times that if we didnt have religion, all our problems would go away. Not so. A person who wants to cause conflict will find a reason to do so. If its was not religion, it would have been skin colour or language or the length of a persons hair. There are any number of ways to differentiate people. So abolishing religion would not have prevented any conflict. There would have been another reason given for the conflict.
"The cause of racism is not having a skin, but the it is the work of man and similarly the cause of religious conflict is not the religion, but the work of man. So leave religion alone and cure the person."
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