Man

Tired, sleepy, but i can't fall asleep. Lied on the bed for 1 hour. flipping and tossing. Is it a sign that its not time to sleep? Got to do more work?
Study, study , study. I'm tired of studying. what's next?

1 more month. 4 papers. 1 project. I have to push myself.

Do you know?

What can you do to recall your dreams more often and interpret them more clearly? The experts offer there tips:

Incubate and idea. Before you go to sleep, consciously think about a topic or a person you'd like to dream about. Pose a questions thats troubling you and see how your dream responds to it.

Keep track. Next to your bed, place a pad and pen, or a tape recorder or laptop, to record your dreams as soon as you wake up.

Try a awake naturally, without the help of a alarm clock or barking dog that can disrupt your dream cycle. If your schedule doesn't allow you to sleep in during this week, begin your dream journal on a weekend or during a vacation.

Wake up slowly. For the 1st moment after you awaken, lie still and keep your eyes closed, because your dream may be connected to your body position while you slept. Try to recollect the dream, then store it in your memory by giving it a name like "Late for an exam" or "My date with Ashley Judd". When you rise, immediately write down as many images, feelings and impressions as you can.

Connect the dots. To better interpret your dreams, try to make connections with your recalled dream and recent events. Do you recognise people from the present or past? Can you detect any themes from the dream? Look for patterns over several dreams that might help explain an individual dream.

Change the outcome. If you have recurring nightmares that make it difficult to sleep, try to change the endings. Once you awaken from a bad dream, visualise a change in the action to create a more positive outcome. If you are trapped, try to fly. In your dream, you can do what you want.

Be patient. It may take days or weeks before you're able to recall your dreams in detail, but the experts advise to keep practising. Dream memories are fragile, and trying to recall all the plot twists and turns on consecutive nights seems to have a cumulative effect.

"Vera hugulsamur. Hugsa frekar þú segja eitthvað" (Icelandic)

True Facts

Its true! I need at least 7 hours of sleep a day. or else, I'll be lifeless. just like today. was in school for about 11 hours. Discussed tutorial (to be handed in today) and to do some projects.

Its true! Australians are laid back. At least for Queenslanders. Everything is on the dote. 11am means 11am. 4pm means 4pm. Wanted to use the drilling machine to drill some holes at about 3.45pm. (Off-work at 4pm) It was nice for the fella to ask about hole size, material, etc, but alas! he politely asked me if i can come back tomorrow? What can i say mate? No? Asked him what time is the workshop open? "half-past 7", he said. "Cool!", i replied. "I'll come tomorrow."

Its true! Weather here in Australia is peculiar. Its hot 1 moment and the next moment, its cold. strange... but i'm starting to get used to it already. Strangely, i'm able to adapt fast! Real fast... Just love the low humidity here. :-) Not missed too much about Singapore. Maybe just a little? ;-)

Do you know?
Who would have dreamt that the resonant sounds of a clarinet could ease you into a good night's sleep? That's only the case, however, if you learn to play the instrument yourself.
Swiss researchers ran a trial involving 25 adults with moderate obstructive sleep apnoea. They found that playing a wind instrument like the clarinet for 25 minutes a day for 4 months helped reduce snoring and the daytime sleepiness associated with the condition, which causes the throat to close and the patient to stop breathing momentarily during sleep.
Melbourne sleep expert Professor Matthew Naughton says the circular breathing used in playing wind instruments could improve upper-airway muscle tone and exercise the glottis, which may be a good thing in snorers.

"liv är kostbar, göra fylld använda" (Swedish)

Soon, soon, soon

1 months time and it'll be my finals. Cheong ah! Cheong cheong cheong!!! 1 more month, 1 more month, 1 more month. endure, endure, endure. I can do it. Yes i can! 4 papers, and 1 project. So many things, only 1 month.

Do you know?
Sneezing occurs when something gets up your nostril and irritates the nerves, which notifies your brain to send a message to your nose, diaphragmand chest to expel the irritant. If you're asleep, the part of the brain that receives such a message - the lateral medulla - is relaxed, and your sensory input won't stimulate it unless the irritant is really strong - for instance, pepper.
But if the irritant were that strong, it would wake you up first, so you won't be sneezing in your sleep, says Dr Richard Wassersug, professor of anatomy and neurobiology at Dilhousie University in Halifax and scientist-in-residence for the Discovery Channel of Canada.
The very definition of sleep, he says, is that there is a decrease in responsiveness to external stimulants - unless you somehow happen to inhale pepper, of course

"Pagayon marami bagay, pagayon maliit takdaan ng oras" (Filipino)

Not another day

Time truely flies... yet again.... How come? Felt like only a few minutes have past. but it'll be sunday soon. just a couple more hours. and voila!

Seems like the haze in Singapore has hit another high. pretty bad eh... sigh...

Do you know?
I'm bored??? hahah.. A long, long 1.

Those absent-minded shapes you draw in long, boring meetings help relieve tension, say psycologists. But if your boss accuses you of not paying attention, cite the experiment that suggested that students who doodled in lectures took in as much as note-takers and more than those who just listened.
But be careful, your scribbles may give away more about you than you realised. "You often read a doodle like a book," says psycologist Dr Ho Law, who uses drawing with clients. "Doodling is a creative outlet that reflects a person's state of mind."
Drawing can unlock mental blocks and help you think more creatively. Try starting with a stick figure and doodling around it to indicate what's happening in your life. Use names, numbers, figures, faces, signs and different colours. Keep you pen moving for 10 minutes with your mind relaxed. Look at the paper later: solutions may come to you.
Drawing to the left of the page suggests reserve and a focus on the past. Drawing on the right shows sociability and a focus on the future. Doodling in the middle shows a need for attention. Psychologists also ascribe meanings to different symbols

Boats, planes and cars: A longing to get away from it all; a need to go away on holiday.
Arrows: Upward arrows show ambition and horizontal ones show perceptiveness. Arrows pointing in all directions reveal an open mind.
Noughts and crosses: If you play games with yourself, it may reveal a competitive personality.
Stars: People who draw stars tend to be idealists . A 5-pointed star indicates ambition, while 6 points represents a capacity for concentration.
Squares and triangles: Geometric shapes reflect an organised brain and clear thinking processes.
Pretty faces: You have a sociable and sunny disposition.
Animals: You like to protect others
Hearts: You're a sentimentalist.
No doodles: A blank page doesn't mean lack of creativity; non-doodlers tend to be precise, direct and to the point.

"Ja wola docierać moja życie do tyłu wkrótce" (Polish)

Mooncake Festival

Just got home. Was doing project again... a couple of weeks more for early hand in bonus marks... 1 mark/day mate. Didn't stay long in the lab. about 3 hours. My software enginner was tired. Had dinner at nearby (10 min walk from Uni) Chinese-Vietnamese stall. After that, went to BWS (Beer, Wine, Spirits) store. Its a place where they sell liquor. There's BWS everywhere! When there're shops, there's a BWS somewhere. Bought blueberry vodka at A$9.99 for 4. Share it with 2 other friends.

Why all of the sudden buy vodka? Cos it's the mooncake festival! haha. 以茶代酒。No... its 以酒代茶... Haha... Friends bought some mooncakes from Chinatown and down to the park!

Moon was blocked by clouds, think it'll rain tomorrow....

There're a few bbq pits at the park, and they are free! There's light till i don't know what time. Its still on when i left at 1230am. Think might go there after the exams. got 2 months to slack after the exams.

Didn't really ate any mooncakes cos i don't really like them... kinda dry and sweet... Uncomfortable for my throat.

Still got tonnes of work to do, tutorials to hand up.

Do you know?
"When your child brings home a poor report card, the best advice is not to react immediately," says education expert Nick Whitebred of education centre Oxford Learning. "Instead, say, 'Thank you, I'll review this and then we can talk about it later.' Adults must remember that children are sensitive. They deserve respect, and we should take every opportunity to boost their confidence and self-esteem. Negative comments or vague criticism will limit your child's motivation and potential for success."
1. Don't blame or explode.
2. Don't say, "If only you had tried harder." You could actually demoralise and discourage your child.
3. Offer solutions:"I see your mark in maths a little below average. I think we can improve next term by developing your math skills."

"Istorie înăuntru art.hot. proces" (Romanian)