Limits...Sum to infinity?

Don't worry too much about the title. The topic today has little to do with mathematics. Rather, it's an exploration of the broad term 'limits'. We all have different limits for different things. For example, we have an anger limit. This is basically an accumulation of things that cause you to become angry. How much you can take is your limit. I do recall an interesting programme on MTV (yes, the one and the same channel which brings to you music among other things) called Boiling Point where a situation is set up such that the producers try to instigate unsuspecting contestants to blow their top within a certain time frame. Those that don't get to win a prize. I find it amusing sometimes at how easily we lose our temper. Thinking back, I also realise that I do have a short fuse though it also depends on the situation.
Then we have another different kind of limit. Endurance limit is another thing which I like to explore. When we are working, there will come a time that our body won't be able to take the work and shut-down as a defense mechanism. So what is this limit? How long can you stay awake studying?
The number of limits to explore are endless. So are these limits fixed? Can they be changed? Common sense suggest that they can. Physical conditioning can improve endurance. Anger management can maybe increase your tolerance level. The leading question would be which can be changed? Which can't? That's probably why I say that limits do have a sum to infinity. Identifying and analysing them would take an eternity.
Enough of all these introspective views. On a lighter note, can Spain lift the Euro 2008 cup? Definitely. Stay tune for results. Till next time, can lies exist in truths? Can truth exist in lies?

Slow-mo

Everything seems to be in slow-motion these days. the days seem to pass fast yet they do not. Time no longer seem to follow its rules. The clock on the wall seem to be moving at a snail's pace and yet the next time i blink, it is already tomorrow. My concept of time seem warp most of the times. I'm bored yet feel that there is a lack of time. Thoughts are jumbled and they are barely coherent in my mind. There's this vast ocean in my mind now and it seems to be swallowing up whatever thoughts I have. I am relaxed yet I am stressed up. Contradiction seem to exist at every corner. The thin line between fast and slow is very blur. Hopefully I can get out of this rut soon. University life beckons. Will I be able to enjoy the life I have now? It is slow-paced and relaxing. Or do I have to participate in the rat race in a bid to make my mark in this world. Is it all right to achieve the same thing without the cutthroat vision that I have? Or will I fall into the pit that already threaten to swallow many people? I wait with anticipation yet a sense of dread. If I'm not making any sense it's all right. Because now I am relaxing and complicated things become more complicated if I think about it.
Till next time when I'm more able to express myself then! Hope and peace are the only things that stand in the way of war.

Fear

Yes, I'm talking about the immense discomfort people experience that may cause temporary paralysis of the body. Sometimes body-numbing, other times mind-numbing, it can cause involuntary shivers down the spine. The heart starts working overtime, and the blood freezes. There are also times that it strikes the heart like a thunderbolt. So what is fear? If the above doesn't explain it, I'm not sure how to. There are many causes for fear. When people do something wrong or illegal, they tend to nurture this feeling. Well, it is perfectly reasonable in this way. Try not to do any of these things so that this feeling has no chance of growing in your heart. There other types of fear. Some people are claustrophobic which is the fear of enclosed places. Xenophobic tends to affect the more introverted group. While these are medical conditions, they are also a type of fear. How do we understand it? Sometimes, these fears are triggered by an event that happened in the past. Maybe the fear of water can be attributed to an incident when the person almost drowned. Again these are only possibilities. I doubt that even the medical specialists can accurately diagnose the reasons for fear. Can we overcome it? It is possible of course. It depends on how strong-willed the person is and how badly he or she is affected by the fear.

Anyway, till next time for more serious topics. I do hope Spain win the Euros. If Holland wins it's ok too I guess! :-)

What if...

Everybody wonders about things that could happen. There's this perfect world that exists in everyone. In this world, everything goes according to plan. The day will be sunny when you are going out for a picnic. The tests that you need to take will turn out with distinctions. The choices and decisions that you have to make will all turn out right for you. There's nothing really wrong by fantasizing about the best case scenarios and maybe indulging in a little escapism. But do not immerse yourself into the 'what if' world. The reality tends to be harsher than that 'world'. It's only human to wonder what would happen if that particular thing didn't stop you from winning. Going a little off tangent is also acceptable. However, the fact is that you didn't win or that you did not get that favourable result. It takes a certain courage to be able to face it. Defeat is not the end but a new beginning. A cliche it maybe, but who cares if it is appropriate? Reality is what we have to face and to do so head-on may yet be the best way to approach it. So the nex time you wonder 'what if', wouldn't it be better to ask, "How can I improve?"

Till next time, let time not taint beauty but groom it!

Driving

I think I have motor skills problem. I don't seem to have the ability to coordinate my hands, eyes and legs. Always worrying about the clutch cause me to forget about the foot brake. Looking at the mirror cause me to forget that I'm in the wrong gear. Everything is not smooth at all. This lead me to recall an advertisement by Gold 90.5FM about only hearing the good stuff. In the advert, the girl apparently cannot drive but only listens to all the 'good stuff' while blocking off the reality. Well, for me, I don't have the ability to shut thing out though the instructor never really criticise me badly, just said I needed practice. Still I feel I ought to do better. It's pretty frustrating when you want to practice but there is a lcak of opportunity. Anyway, on to the next relevant sub-topic.
Are cars really needed in Singapore? Without touching on pollution, whcih by the way is a serious threat to the environment, the transport system in Singapore is pretty good. Despite the spiking of prices for taxis and less recently, buses, most Singaporeans will agree that public transport is affordable and efficient. The fact that Singapore is not really a big country probably contributes to the efficiency. MRTs can take you almost everywhere without the hassle of traffic jams. Buses have bus lanes during the peak hours. Taxis bring you to the doorstep of your destination. Overall, I must say that public transport is a very good option for travelling. Yet, many people in Singapore still purchase cars. Some buy them because everyone has one. Not a good reason. Others buy them so that they do need to rely on publi transport. Better, but due to the efficiency of public transport therefore still lacking. Another group buy them because they have a family. This is probably the only good reason I can think of when buying a car. It's definitely a plus when you have a family since public transport may pose a problem due to family size. That's all I have to say for today. Till next time may brilliance arrive to those who seek it!

Gambling

Most of us do gamble. Be it buying 4D, TOTO, horse racing, SCORE, poker, mahjong...I guess most of us do indulge in it once in a while though for some, it's pretty often. My guess is that because money is involved, and the thrill involved when you win is more than enough to get people hook. Just like casinos, which glamourise gambling by offering a wide array of 'test your wheel of fortune' kind of games, there are many forms of gambling. However, one important thing to note is that it is normal that the casinos always win. Even in jackpot machines there are programs to ensure that the house always win. 4D and TOTO are purely about the odds. While they are considered legalised gambling, the odds of winning are heavily stacked against the gambler. Horse racing and SCORE have in recent years been associated with the syndicates who are prepared to shell out a fortune to bribe and fix races and matches respectively. If you are lucky then well you will make a pile. If not, the losses will pile up. Now poker and mahjong involve a little more of skill. Poker requires guts and a 'poker face' that gives out no emotions. Mahjong requires the memory of the tiles that have been played and making intellectual guess on what to hit. But to sum it all out, gambling requires a fair bit of luck and should only be persued within one's abilities. Staking the family jewels on gambling is one sure way of losing everything. Gambling addiction is a real threat in society and one that cannot be ignored. You have been warned.

Though forewarned, this blogger often indulges in mahjong. The only redeeming factor is that he refuses to play large stakes as he is in it only for the fun! :p