Abuse and Overuse of Depression (WARNING - LONG AND LONG-WINDED, PROCEED AT YOUR OWN RISK)

I often hear people say that they are depressed. The dictionary defines "depressed" as being sad and without enthusiasm or hope.

Some people can easily get into a depression. I do not know what is the medical cause that triggers that such a mental state. I hardly suffer from depression. It could be because I do not and sometimes can't recognise it as a depression. I do not want myself to fall into a depression. Maybe I'd like to think of myself as a strong-willed person.

My simple and non-psychological opinion of people getting into a depression is totally a self-inducing phenomenon. When one thinks that his or her outlook is getting slightly cloudy, one's mind sets itself getting greyer and greyer.

I have not had lots of bitter life experiences that are negative enough to put me straight to the point of no return. Basically my problems would be family-related, relationship-related, studies-related, friendship-related, my future/career, health and weight/self-consciousness problems.

I do not know of any psychological way or chemical substance to help me get rid of possible depressions. Either I have faced the problems directly or slept on them! Haha.. I just think that no matter what the problem is, it shouldn't affect, to a great extent, other aspects of my life. And some way or other I need to face the problem, track the source and device possible solutions. If there's not solution to be conceived, I will just accept the fact and then mostly the problem will just sit behind my mind, waiting for another time to strike or better, solution might come to me some time soon!

Perhaps some people deal with problems more positively than others. There are people who choose to face the demons and the others choose to run away from them, only to have them on your nerves forever. Giving in temporarily is just another way of giving up. I do not know how well can I face future pressure from life but I hope I can back myself up with determination and discipline everytime I need them.

I also do not know any other approaches to possibly help the depressed to be un-depressed. I do not understand how come it is so easy to get depressed and so hard to get out of it. I would share with them the way I would deal with the problem. Sigh...most of the time, I think my words just get flushed out of their systems the moment they try to register.

Is there people who doesn't wanna help him/herself? And is s/he not willing to be cruel in order to be kind to him/herself? I myself sometimes think that jumping out of one's comfort (or painful?) zone is quite hard to accomplish. We do tend to miss the bigger pictures when it matters the most.

I think I better not talk about the subject that I intended to bring up when I started the blog. S/he can make up his/her own mind and there's nothing an outsider can do unless s/he wants to change the situation him/herself.

More Potteries

hoT hOT HOT! The latest instalment of the HP series with budding romances among the next gen of wizards and witches. Ron vs. Fleur; Hermione vs. Viktor; Cho vs. Cedric-then-Harry.

Catch the trailer here. http://raincloud.warnerbros.com/wbmovies/harrypotter/trailer_300.asx

It's so exciting to know what will be conjured in the film. The visitors, the selection process, the tournament, the mer people, the dragons, the resurrection of everybody-knows-who, the death of ****** and the memory.

Sick baby

My own vainity has costed me once again. Despite the terrible weather that we have been experiencing in Melbourne I have refused to dress up to that. Instead of putting on a jacket and/or a scarft I wear 2 shirts and that's it.

(Alfred should be made kneeling on durians while heading pineapples.) I didn't learn from my first lesson, which was days before the trip to the Fallscreek. Luckily I was on the verge of recovering else I would have to forfeit my $400 and the ultimate fun!

Now before going to the Grampians I have fallen sick just once more. My whole breathing system is just so screwed up. Phlegm, cough, running nose you name it. Headache has yet to develop. So the trip is blown up now. I don't wanna risk everyone's life by having a sick driver.

Moral of the story - Dress warmer Alfred! Be vain and be sick again!

be CARful what you wish for

I want a car ... Been craving to drive! Sigh I wish the Pajero was here for me... Or my dream car the Beetle (VW) or Toyota Prius or Mazda MX5.

Torn

Sigh I am torn between doing my master here in Melbourne or in Sydney.

Familiarity is what I have here in Melbourne. In other words, it might not be a good reason staying since it hasn't provided me much employment opportunities (at all?).

Sydney is probably so much more bigger than I can chew on. The people are more diversified and probably less friendly? Oh why am I being so pessimistic. Not to mention I do not have any close friend in Sydney. My sister is in Melbourne too. On the bright side especially the opportunity end, I will get more chances in starting my career path.

Torn torn torn

I need a premonition! Please let me have a dream about that tonight.

OMG Marther-fcuking Holly-Gsus-Chris!!!

I wish I could go to these places... And I so admire Richard Branson - island after island he buys. There's another island that he bought which costs around AUD30,000 a night!! I'll try to locate that for my readers.

First of all, the Costa Careyes!! Hubba hubba hubba.. this is hot or wot? I wanna honeymoon there!!

Costa Careyes in Mexico is located on the Pacific Coast, south of Puerto Vallarta. Some of the most exclusive places are found in this area. Over there houses with pool are already yesterday, so how about a house built in a pool ? All rooms have direct acces to the pool ... better not be drinking too many cocktails darling ....

It's everything we like, Mediterranean and Mexican architecture with infinity pools in tropical gardens. It can be yours for $5,000 per day (with a minimum of 4 nights during the year and 14 nights for the holiday seasons) with a full staff service including, cook, pool boy, gardener, driver and maids ...

For more informations about Villas in Careyes visit http://www.careyes.com.mx/galleries.htm

ULUSABA LODGE - SOUTH AFRICA is one of the wild creations of the Genius Sir Richard Brandson. He has chosen a private area of more than 10 000 acres of untouched, unspoilt African bush located in South Africa to build two lodges. Rock Lodge and Safari Lodge.

For more informations about Villas in Careyes visit http://www.ulusaba.com/

No more Spam Comments

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Thanks.

More Fire from the Goblet

How can Australia defer its launch till December 1 2005 when the whole world is seeing it at least 2 weeks earlier?

I better revise my HP4 s.t. I will pass the exam.

Hmmm..Fullmoon

Just had a post mid-autumn celebration at my place. Not too many lantern but just one, without candle! I had no where to hang it except the smoker detectors which were definitely a good way to have all the guests wet when lit =P

And we also had a few moon cakes. However I didn't take a slice as I was too full. Hmmm I miss 上海月饼!! Haven't had it for a few years! Wah that would be forever if I am not gonna be living in Malaysia.

First and foremost, a pleasure working with JK this evening. We've been great kitchen partners. And Swee-san for her fantastic cheese/cookies&cream cake and jelly. PJ for her 年糕. Eelin-Liyan-Hankiong-Eeyong for their fantastic tumaric glutonious rice, curry chicken, fried rice noodles and curry puffs. Wot did JK and I come up with? We got fried chicken, fruit punch, fruit salad (which will be our morning juice tomorrow) and chocolatey-banana.

Oh gosh! I had not eaten so much since god-know-when. Hmmmm it's so nice to detox with the tea given by Daddy and listening to some Zen meditative tunes.

Had a great time guys. Hope you did too.

(Plan for tomorrow - yum-cha + a date with the Australian Idols!)

Haven't I had enough?

Thursday Few late showers. Min 12 Max 23

Friday Few showers clearing. Min 12 Max 20

Trend for Saturday, Sunday and Monday Change developing with showers.

Oh My god.

Rain rain go away

Come again in summer day

Little Alfred want to play

Rain rain go to Spain

I need my sun again

OMG my true colours...tell me if it's true

You want to be regarded as an exciting and interesting personality able to persuade others to comply with your beliefs and ideas. You are charming and able to influence other people who come into your sphere of influence. You like mental stimulation and you are the sort of person who is prepared to 'try anything once'. Your confidence is so much so that others are often swept away by your enthusiasm.

You are a fighter and always on the defensive. You always need to be sure that your position is safe and established. When you finally make a decision you will pursue it to the bitter end in spite of all opposition.

For some time now it would seem that you have been frustrated and emotionally inhibited. The circumstances which appear to be beyond your control are making it very difficult for you to develop the detached emotional attitude that you seek.

You are pretending that the situation around you doesn't matter, but the effort of trying to conceal your emotions and anxieties is resulting in untold stress. The existing situation is disagreeable. You feel unwanted and lonely and you would really like to associate with someone whose ideals are as high as your own.

You want to be above the standard of mediocrity and this need to be needed and that need to need has almost become an obsession. You are trying to magnify the need into a compelling urge.

You would really like to tell the world how great you are but no, you are holding back because you feel that your peers may treat you with contempt. This is a great pity because you have in fact a unique quality of character, but the continual restraint that you impose on yourself makes you suppress this need for others and you pretend you don't really care.

You treat those who criticise you with contempt. However, to be honest, beneath this assumption of indifference you really long for the approval and esteem of others.

You are greatly impressed by individuality and have interest in people who have outstanding qualities. You try to imitate those people that you admire and their characteristics, hoping that you will be able to display similar qualities in your own personality.

Your Blogging Type is Artistic and Passionate

You see your blog as the ultimate personal expression - and work hard to make it great.

One moment you may be working on a new dramatic design for your blog...

And the next, you're passionately writing about your pet causes.

Your blog is very important - and you're careful about who you share it with.

Getting Frenchie..

I am known as
Marcel Brin

in French.

The Shortest Personality Test?

Your Personality Profile

You are funky, outdoorsy, and down to earth.While you may not be a total hippie...You're definitely one of the most free spirited people around. You are very impulsive - every day is a new adventure.However, you do put some thought behind all your actions.Still, you do tend to shock and offend people from time to time!

Projection

What am I gonna do? Master of Accounting? In Melb or Syd? The title would be nice...

Tiong Eng Chuah, B.Com (Hons) Melb, Master (Accounting) Sydney/Melb..

And later (FIAA? CPA? CA?)

Breakfast Helps You Stay Slim by Alex Dominguez, Associated Press

Girls who regularly ate breakfast, particularly one that includes cereal, were slimmer than those who skipped the morning meal, according to a study that tracked nearly 2,400 girls for 10 years.

Girls who ate breakfast of any type had a lower average body mass index, a common obesity gauge, than those who said they didn't. The index was even lower for girls who said they ate cereal for breakfast, according to findings of the study conducted by the Maryland Medical Research Institute. The study received funding from the National Institutes of Health and cereal-maker General Mills.

"Not eating breakfast is the worst thing you can do, that's really the take-home message for teenage girls," said study author Bruce Barton, the Maryland institute's president and CEO.
The fiber in cereal and healthier foods that normally accompany cereal, such as milk and orange juice, may account for the lower body mass index among cereal eaters, Barton said.

Nearly one in three adolescent girls in the United States is overweight, according to the association. The problem is particularly troubling because research shows becoming overweight as a child can lead to a lifetime struggle with obesity.

A girl who reported eating breakfast on all three days had, on average, a body mass index 0.7 units lower than a girl who did not eat breakfast at all. If the breakfast included cereal, the average was 1.65 units lower, the researchers found.

Breakfast consumption dropped as the girls aged, the researchers found, and those who did not eat breakfast tended to eat higher fat foods later in the day.

"We think it kick-starts your metabolism because you've eaten something," Barton said. "When you get to lunch you're not starving and you can make reasonable choices for lunch and dinner."

John Kirwan, a professor of medicine at Case Western Reserve University's Schwartz Center for Nutrition and Metabolism, said the findings may be "more reflective of overall eating habits and quality of food consumed."

"Those who eat breakfast on a regular basis are more likely to have a structured eating plan throughout the day and consequently are less likely to snack between meals and consume empty calories," said Kirwan, who has studied the effect of breakfast consumption on exercise performance and was not involved in the study.

He also pointed out that the study did not distinguish between low-sugar and high-sugar cereals, noting growing evidence that those who eat so-called low glycemic foods have a lower risk of obesity, diabetes and cardiovascular disease.

While cereal can often be high in fiber and low in fat, "you can't walk away saying, I'm going to eat cereal and lose weight," said Melinda Johnson, a dietitian with the Arizona state health department and an ADA spokeswoman.

Johnson also noted, however, that the foods often consumed with cereal tend to be healthy, and the study was another in a series to find a link between breakfast consumption and lower body mass index.

"You can walk away saying breakfast has been shown in lots of different studies to be really important for my children," Johnson said. "So parents can feel confident that serving cereal is definitely not going to do harm and eating breakfast is the right thing to do."

©Associated Press 2005

Roger - Andre down - Roger

It was like a dream that I am quite reluctant to believe. Roger Federer won the US open again, this time against the longest playing player ever (I detest the word oldest) - Andre Agassi. The final scores were 6-3, 2-6, 7-6, 6-1.

It was obvious that Agassi almost took Federer down in the 2nd and 3rd sets. Federer lost quite a lot on volleys and Andre's left-court serve where he couldn't slice the ball back. The was a couple of nice net-shots too. However when it was nearing the end of the 3rd set, we could hear Andre with every hit he made. He was worn out hence the easy take-down in the last set.

Albeit I have not seen Federer play too many times, he had always maintain the kool but this time he was a bit concerned when Agassi was playing ferociously. Furthermore, it was indeed 24,500 Americans going against the Swiss. I have to admire his emotional management. With all the cheer on every point Agassi collected and on every point Federer lost, he really came back in the 1st set of the 3rd game with almost perfect aces!

Agassi has proven again that he is still competitive and I have to quote the cliched old chinese saying - the old ginger still gives you more kick! He told the media that he would go as long as he could. I just love this man! He's just so fucking amazing - just keep digging mate! And yeah, there was Steffi Graf, kinda miss the good old days when she used to swing her way in the courts.

Now people, AA = Anti Aging if you play like Andre Agassi.

李安 - 断背山 / Ang Lee - Brokeback Mountain tops at the Venice Film Festival

(Warning - This blog is classified LM. It is long and meant for mature readers. Proceed at your own risk!)

Director Ang Lee receives the Golden Lion at the Cinema Palace in Venice September 10, 2005. Ang Lee's "Brokeback Mountain", a tale of homosexual love in the wilds of Wyoming, won Venice's Golden Lion on Saturday, beating film festival favourite George Clooney in the race to take the top prize.

The latest movie by the director of "Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon" and "Hulk" is adapted from a story by Annie Proulx and stars Heath Ledger and Jake Gyllenhaal as love-struck cowboys whose forbidden affair begins in 1963 and ends 20 years later.

Taiwan-born Lee described "Brokeback Mountain" as a story of love against adversity. Independent and low-budget, like several U.S. entries at the festival, it was filmed in Canada to save money.

"After two big movies, I decided to make a small movie that really moved me," said Lee, who flew back from the Toronto Film Festival to take the award. "I have the impression this is the most auteur-specialist of all film festivals and I never thought I would come here. I can't tell you how proud I am."

Brokeback Mountain" starring Heath Ledger and Jake Gyllenhaal (pictured) has sweeping vistas, lonesome men, bucking broncos and smouldering campfires. It also has some steamy sex scenes between the two men whose lives are changed, disturbed and entwined after being hired to tend sheep for a summer in Wyoming in the early 1960s.

"The love story has good vibes. I hope it will penetrate prejudices,'' Lee told reporters a few hours before the premiere of the movie at the Venice Festival.
He said setting the story in the 1960s in the conservative West "helped set up the obstacles, especially to gay love, affection.''

More difficult than interpreting a love story between men - cowboys at that - was getting beyond clichéd perceptions about the American west, he said.

"My biggest enemy was the (western) movie genre which was invented,'' said the director, whose films include Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon, Hulk, The Ice Storm and Sense and Sensibility.

Ledger called the film the best love story he's done in his career.

Lee, maker of Oscar-winner "Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon" is also noted for "The Hulk" and "Sense and Sensibility".

"Brokeback Mountain" will get its North American debut at the Toronto International Film Festival this weekend, but it is not in competition there.

Unfortunately the only Chinese movie<<长恨歌>>directed by 关锦鹏 starring 郑秀文，梁家辉and吴彦祖，failed to get a hold of any of the trophies. However, there are a couple of Asian latents recognised in Venice - 宫崎骏在威尼斯影展接受终身成就奖荣耀 and Korean director Park Chan-wook was seen as a front-runner for his beautifully shot "Sympathy for Lady Vengeance".

I didn't know that George Clooney was that good in directing. Well he did directed a quite well acclaimed Solaris. However I never thought that he would be nominated for his "Good Night. And, Good Luck". Critics had predicted Clooney's black-and-white tale of 1950s broadcasting courage would win the Golden Lion. Clooney, adored in Venice, did not go home empty-handed, winning an award for best screenplay while his star David Strathairn won the best actor prize for his intense portrayal of journalist Edward R. Murrow.

Worth mentioning - Heath Ledger is probably the new sizzlingly hot Cate-Blanchett-Nicole-Kidman-Hugh-Jackman in Hollywood. He had 3 films showing at the film festival, namely Brokeback Mountain, The Brothers Grimm and Lords of Dogtown.

李安，你是咱们华人的骄傲！Love is a force of nature - I can't put it any better. Opening 26 January 2006 in Australia.

Something Wicca This Way Starts..

Charmed Season 8 is opening in the US on September 25. Yay!! I can't wait what is in store in the Halliwell manor. Now that they have 'died' in the last season, Piper, Phoebe and Paige will now live under disguise, magically speaking. Leo too.

Spoiler - they will focus on bringing up the next generation of magical witches. To charmed it forward eh, so to speak.

The storyline of the new season will spend more time on the sisters' personal lives instead of kicking demon asses. Having said that I hope to see some closure since this could be the final season ever. It's true that the last 3 seasons have been focusing on mostly, if not all, demons and supernatural. Looking back at the first few season when Prue was still 'charmed and kicking', they did have more fun especially in the relationship department. I would prefer more mythology though, on a personal note.

This is the new teenage witch - Billie...I also hope that they'll let the cute little Wyatt and Chris come into powers and send some demons straight back to where they come from. Having said that, I hope to see Phoebe's daughter too, if her going into the future in Season 7 proves to be surreal. Anyway time travelling is really complicated and the future changes as we speak. Leo and Piper once were expecting Melinda but Wyatt and Chris were borned instead - breaking the all-female Halliwell line.

I hope Phoebe and Paige will get some TLC from men...It's been a long time - if you know what I mean.

Budget shrunk!! My fav Leo is gonna appear only in 10 episodes and no more of Darryl Morris. Will be some guest stars. However less CG and special effects and demonic/visual make-up effect. =( Brad Kern, the show's writer and producer said that he's got something up his sleeves to prepare for the Season Finale if this is really gonna be the final '8'.

P3 - You guys rocks...Charmed is probably the longest living all-female leading cast series ever. I have and will continue love you guys. You guys always help me through exam periods. I'd always study while my lappy played the old seasons of charmed. Record wise, I did finish re-charming myself for the whole 7 seasons in the last exam period.

On a Stage

I put myself on a stage, all alone and acted on a self-written script. In the whole play, I also directed. I think I also won an oscar but the audience just didn't get what I was trying to put forward.

Such a drama queen.

So I added a little extra to the ending: laugh hard at yourself.

Light of the candle

Some people say that the light of the candle travels to every corner of the universe.

I don't quite agree with that because how does one know that there are corners in the universe?

And it doesn't matter how far can the light go, it is not illuminating the path where I wanted us to go and it is not shining me into your world.

When the candles finish, we just vanish, like the smoke.

When the tune of September plays

1o nE\/\/ eN+riE$ in @f's p@yi$+

1. Simply the best - Tina Turner
2. Symphony No. 6 in F Major "Pastoral" - Beethoven
3. We Belong Together ft. Jadakiss & St - Mariah Carey
4. For Once in My Life - Stevie Wonder
5. Sweet Child O' Mine - Guns N' Roses
6. You're still the one - Shania Twain
7. 想见不如怀念 - 那英
8. Kolibre - Maxim
9. Irrestible Bliss - Chris Botti
10. Circle of Life - Tsidii Le Loka, Lebo M, Faca Kulu and Ensemble

sUn/sEa/deliciOus/ImUrs

(I am trying to get the hipotalamus in my brain to generate enuf peptide strands to help make my emotion to be consistent with the title of the blog.)

Had a great time at St Kilda beach today. The cool/cold sea breeze kissing every inch of my exposed skin, the sun waking up and warming all the cells that had been hibernating and the noise from the people and pets around just cheered my blues away.

I found bull-shaped cloud in the blue blue sky...

I saw this cute toddler sitting on the beach with his parents watching over him. He was shaking and nodding his head, smiling. Oh...the purest essence of innocence.

I also saw a pair of siblings playing a very small version of frisbie. The younger sister was also doing some acrobatic moves on the ground.

And a very talented dog which used his (actually not very sure about that) head to roll the ball back to his master when the master threw it.

It was indeed a very beatiful day. I was forgetting all my problems and wholly enjoying the tranquility and long-lost peace-of-mind.

The New Blues

New Orleans is no longer singing the blues, it's living it.

The relief came in after 6 days. When a natural disaster strikes, even the first world country becomes like a third world country. People just take whatever they can find and they can eat on the streets, stores or trash. And the male species always has to use the extra limb they have got to devastate the already devastated.




Believe it or not - the people of New
Orleans could die from dehydration
despite the city has just been showered with plenty of H2O. Roof-top sun-ROASTING is what the people there are forced to do now.


It's estimated that there are a million stranded in the watered-city and only 15,000 people are moved out of New Orleans daily now. From the report I saw, the pets are not allowed to board the fleeing buses. Those who could not respond to the government announcement of evacuation before Katrina hit the common denominator was low-income earners+no vehicles+sick. On top of that, they were predominantly African American.


Instead of fighting a war that might not be won, I hope the Americans will take care of their homeland for the time being. However it's ironic to see that the Americans are always the first to come to aid when world disasters take place. When it comes to the Americans' turn, we don't see too much of help flowing in internationally. Is that the price the US pay for being the Big Brother of the world?

SUMMERising!! berrrrrrazillllllchic

These are definitely the kewl pieces of MUST-HAVE in my closet!! Well at least in my imaginary closet. =P

Grrrrrrrwwwww0llllll for me...
Sun/Sea/Delicious/ImUrs
Oh I love this pair of pants! Something I have neBer had b4.
How kool is the scarft
hmmm yeah right...I know wot I'll do this summa with that pair of trunks!!

All right - all said but not done - gotta hit the gym harder and more frequent. Work that chest, work that abs, work those legs, work those shoulders, work those bi&triceps and work that @$$.

Summa! Can't wait.

Declaration and Reaffirmation

"Sometimes things just happen for a reason. When I have met you, I knew that it was for life. Today I'm happy to share one more time this special moment by your side. You are everything to me.

Feliz Cumpleaños Mi Amor.
Alek"


It's so simple. It's so powerful. It's so overwhelming. It's so heart-felt. It's love.