Hair

Lately I've noticed more white hair. Kind of odd since I don't think my current work is much more stressful than grad school. At least it's not accelerated rate of hiar loss. [crosses fingers] ^_^

Machiaveli's The Prince

I finally finished reading The Prince by Machiavelli. It was actually very short. I just kept putting it off after starting it. :-p I found it on the bookshelf here in Cupertino after moving back and organizing stuff and figured that I should read it since I've always thought that I identified with his philosophy.

It turned out to be a very interesting read. I don't think he so much advocates benevolent dictatorship, but reliable tactics for sustaining a state. Dictatorship is a natural assumption since monarchies were the norm of his times. However, he also referenced republics as well. Finally, I'm not sure how applicable his ideas are in our age. I think a large underlying assumption in his writing is the fluidity of states through war and conquest, which is not so much the case any more.

Gooooooaaaaaaallllll!!!

Our indoor soccer team didn't do too well last night, but I did score a goal w/ a header, so... Woohoo!! ^_^

Mama kills animals

Just played this flash game.

Is there something wrong w/ me? The only things going through my mind (other than "Psh, they're just adding more blood to upset people. I mean come on! Blood and feathers out of an egg?! These people have been away from meat so long they don't remember anything anymore!) [Wow, that was a long parentheses. :p] AHEM!

Anyways, as I was saying... The only things going through my mind were "Hmm, the ingredients and procedures seem fairly accurate. Yeah, most people are unaware of the gory details of preparing an animal for consumption. I wonder if this is what Cooking Mama is really like? I could almost see myself playing it. It's kind of hypnotizing." ^_^

And finally concluding w/ "Ewww, tofu turkey. >_<"

Oh, and Cooking Mama holding a kitchen knife w/ blood is kinda cool. :)

But yeah, ethical treatment of animals, fine. Somehow that equating to vegetarianism, I don't think so.

Facebook ads

Ok, I'm curious. Who else keeps getting all the "Want a Girlfriend" ads on Facebook? Is it because I'm listed as single and over 30, or does everyone get it?

気迫 (kihaku)

Well, it's official. I failed my 1st attempt at 4 dan. :p It wasn't a surprise because I myself felt that I did not do too well. 

Tanaka sensei gave me some advice at today's practice. He said that I lacked kihaku (気迫). [Translators say "Spirit." I've always thought "Presence."] I should be ready to fight from the moment I stand, before the bow. And all the movements afterwards should show my determination to fight. And first movement from getting up should be forward. He said that I moved sideways, no good.

I've noticed lately, more during kata practice, how Tanaka sensei's kiai has a presence that mine doesn't. My kiai is just noise. His... well, all I know is it startles me. :p

He also said I'm attacking too much. I'm doing 2-3 dan kendo, which is ok for tournaments. But I need to have an actual opening before I strike. For the shinsa I only need to strike about 4 times, he said. I need to be ready, and then strike just as my opponent is coming in. Or break my opponent so I can make a strike (崩して). Something I've been trying to work on but still not effective yet.

I think it's not my natural instinct, unfortunately. For example, when I'm playing video games, I usually go for the automatic, rapid-fire, large ammo, large spread weapons. I rely on coverage fire. I am usually adverse to the other extreme, such as sniping. 

Well, time to start working on my kendo again. ^_^

Decline of patience revisited

Just read the following article.

So am I just becoming less patient or "infected" by the new Internet-connected world? ^_^

Is there something wrong w/ me? :)

So I was reading the comics today and saw the following Pardon My Planet strip. 

I thought to myself, jokingly of course, "Cool. Does that mean you're an RTSer?" (Real Time Strategy, like Starcraft.) And then my reaction was "God that was lame..." ^_^;;

Perception of distance

At Illinois, part of my run was on University from Lincoln to Mattis and back, about 6 miles. I have a similar run now here in CA w/ the same distance going down Stelling until it changes into Prospect and hits De Anza Blvd before coming back. 

For some reason the run here in CA seems much longer. I wonder if it has anything to do w/ me having done the run when I was younger, which colors my perception. But I still run it at my desired pace and it seems less imposing now that I've done it a couple of times, so I guess it's pretty much all mental. I think the density of the neighborhood, the knowledge of stores and stuff passed also make a difference.