As they say in any team, a chain is as strong as the weakest link, I think this too to be true for couples.

He’s Alright, But She…

How often does this happen? It can happen amongst a group of friends when a person has a partner that everybody else hates. They could be your friend or an acquaintance that everybody finds wonderful, that has a horrid partner for one or more of the following reasons

• Isolates the “good” person from their friends and family
• Makes life difficult for friends and family
• Makes situations uncomfortable/awkward
• Is annoying/insulting/abusive
• Treats the “good” half of the relationship badly

And the worst part about it all is that the “good” half of the relationship makes it very difficult for people to deal with the person who they would ordinarily could be more abrupt with and not have in their lives. Often, the “bad” half knows this and this becomes a sort of sadistic foundation for the relationship.

Bad Half + Good Half = Fully Bad

Is he really alright if his girlfriend is a complete psycho? I don’t think so. He’s weak in relinquishing his responsibilities to protect and respect his family and friends. She is destructive and so is he.  It’s the “good” halves fault that everyone is subject to the bad.

Even though my own friends would not see me as much the sentimental type, I’ve been in the market for a digital photo frame for quite some time now.  I actually feel quite warm and fuzzy being able to look at photos of my mates, family and past.  There have been a few reasons though why the current market of digital photo frames have not lived up to my requirements however.

Digital Photo Frames Obsolete?

• The screens on photo frames are generally of poor quality
• The screens are relatively small and you pay quite a great deal more for small increments in size
• The navigation on current digital photo frames are absolutely shocking. Hard buttons on the back are used to switch between photos.  Other frames with touch screens and navigation areas on the frame have been introduced with limited success
• The prices for digital photo frames are well over the mark, they have just the one purpose and as you can tell, in my opinion, they do not cater for that purpose all too well. For a decent sized digital photo frame you are looking at a couple of hundred dollars and they are still plagued with the same problems I see on digital photo frames time and time again

The End of Digital Photo Frames

The iPad may not be the perfect replacement for digital photo frames, mainly due to it’s price, but as far as the photo frame experience, the iPad fits the bill beautifully.

• The quality of the crystal clear screen allows for large viewing of photos and plenty of space for easy and effective navigation
• Speaking of navigation. It doesn’t get much better then this. Thumbnails ordered by how you want them whether it be by location, event, person (using face recognition techniques), you name it. Then of course all this is done via the touch screen rather then clunky buttons. To get a good idea of how this works, just take a look at iPhoto, there’s a nice short video here  “get to know iPhoto”.
• There are also specific photo album modes on the iPad so that photos can be displayed in unique photo album styles manners. I haven’t found out much about this feature but saw a snippet of it in a CNET review and it looked pretty neat.
• The optional stand and keyboard seems to support the iPad very nicely like a photo frame
• I’m assuming the iPad will not generate heat like a computer, leaving it safe and cool to touch and reasonable to leave in sleep mode for long periods of time (battery life in sleep mode is 30 days!) with a nice and fast boot up like a photo frame.

The Future of Digital Photo Frames

It does not have to be the end of digital photo frames, in fact, this could be the beginning. The iPad is clearly too expensive to own purely to serve as a photo frame, though the iPhoto software is so cool it’s tempting. But surely, either apple or another company can closely replicate the functions of the iPhoto in a more reasonably priced version of the iPad with a decent sized touch screen with clarity. I await such products to surface. Either that, or for the price of iPads to reduce.

I just read about this Roxxxy (from truecompanion.com), the high tech, real life “companion” – Slash – Sex Robot. I try to visualize us guys having her around as a “companion” (Sorry, I can’t help it with the double quotes) and for a moment felt like I could step into the shoes of a few of them.

The Broken yet Harmless Man

Picture a man who for reasons that are deeply ingrained in a collection of life experiences, has not developed the ability to form healthy relationships, particularly with the ladies

Think, Lars and the Real Girl. A nice easy drama I would recommend.

The Serial Killer

Roxxxy is real. And to the serial killer, Roxxxy is a rock, a lover, a confidant, a mother, a teacher and most of all, Roxxxy is…the puppet master.

I love her. I hate her! Lipstick smile anyone?

The Horny

She looks real enough. She feels real enough. I’m single, desperate, bored and horny.  Carpe diem!

Depressed

You’ve hit a low point in your life, your wife has left you, you have been retrenched and your dog died. 10 scotch and dry’s later and your “companions” face is kissing the carpet, your pants are around your ankles, the deed is done and you’re crying.

Get yours – Today!

It has a camera!

If the fun of driving one isn’t cool enough, it has a camera on it, so you can take shots of yourself partying it up in a crowd at a music festival. Then battle the crowds of people trying to steal your helicopter. But the really cool thing is the way the camera displays on the entire screen of the iPhone so you can navigate with it. Awesome.

Cool footage of the Parrot AR. Drone Helicopter

Here, on their website

I can’t wait for season 3 of Breaking Bad. If you’re not familiar with the show, see synopsis here. I love the show. It’s depressing, disturbing, fast moving with the glimmer of happy and fun amongst it all.

Unhappy Mother with Addicted Daughter

I saw a comment  from a mother who was disgusted by the show which according to her, sensationalized methamphetamine and she could not believe it was considered entertainment.  Sadly, her daughter was struggling with addiction at the time of her comment.

Sensationalizing Methamphetamine?

I’m not sure if she had seen much of the series but I didn’t find that Breaking Bad made me want to try Meth in the slightest. If anything, quite the opposite. You’ll see in my description above that one of the words I used to describe the series is “disturbing”. Disturbing in a way that made me cringe at the consistent theme of the series – Methamphetamine.

The trade, the use, the consequences of the drug are not depicted as positive or cool in breaking bad and I’ll continue to enjoy watching the train wreck that it is Breaking Bad. I’m addicted.

From me Breaking Bad gets a

8/10

I’ve been watching this great series on the ABC called Hungry Beast before Safran’s race relations.  At first the initial response from the old man inside of me was to shake my first at the young ones on the television trying to present a thought provoking program with the depth of an MTV sweet sixteen.

It’s Really Really Good

But as I watched on I was pleasantly surprised by a great mix of comedy skit segments relating to controversial and current issues alongside some thought provoking stories such as the series, Robot Wars, a very interesting segment about the move towards wars being carried out by robots, very much like the terminator concept.

Better then Safran and The Chasers Team

Yep, despite Safran’s ego being f#cked by the media left right and center, I’ve found it very difficult to see his latest effort “race relations” as humorous or thought provoking.  More a collection of mediocre stunts lacking much substance and some moments which are just plain old f#cking weird  i.e. John Safran masturbating and more recently making out with the hot blond – moments that could be hilarious if done right by the right people, but in Safran’s case, just weird and disturbing.

And even the Chaser’s Team new they were getting a little old and it was time for a break, bless ‘em.

Back To The Hungry Beast!

It’s fresh, it has young people but don’t hold that against them. The show doesn’t seem to have gained much of a publicity f#cking like Safran but it’s quick, witty and smart, give it a go!

• Wed 9:00pm on ABC1
• Thu 8:30pm on ABC2
• http://hungrybeast.abc.net.au/

People these days tend to spend a lot of time scoffing at the emails from the Arabian heirs who need your help to transfer millions of dollars from their dead father’s accounts. Emails like these which don’t seem all that plausible are largely ignored.

However, the more subtle emails which ARE plausible are the ones that seem to circulate from office to office, home to home amongst large groups of people who THINK they know better.

Funny Letter Emails

These email often take the form of someone making a complaint, observation or response in the form of a written letter, note, email or other correspondence. Some of the characteristics these emails may share include

• A believable introductory line or paragraph that explains the premise behind the email
  • The reason and nature of correspondence
  • A man may be disputing a bill or responding to a landlord
  • Person may be complaining to council
• Colorful, clever, witty or humorous language used in the email
• No apparent reason for the email to NOT be true
  • No marketing
  • Nothing money related
  • No details requested
  • Visual aids such as diagrams, pictures and photos

I get these emails from friends quite often. It’s hard for me to find them funny when I assume they are fake which after a quick check proves they are.

Warning Emails

These emails provide email users with a shocking piece of information or story that must be shared with family and friends in order to benefit, protect or inform them of something they would otherwise be ignorant of.

Examples

• Emails that must be ignored if you receive them
• Product problems
• Petitions to sign about a story that people find absolutely disgusting e.g. a murderer being released from jail

Again, nothing a quick check even just on Google can’t clarify. Wise up people.

I’ve had problems with being dehydrated for the last month and I recently spoke about how I may have issues with dehydration. My latest bout of research has led me to the issue of looking at hydration at a cellular level. What does this mean? Well it supports the idea that I should add electrolytes to my water. At the moment I am doing that with just a pinch of organic crystal salt. But What other things can I do?

Could You Dehydrated at a Cellular Level?

• Do you wonder the following?
• Why is my skin dry even after using cream?
• Why do I feel so dry no matter how much water I drink?
• Why do I need to go to the toilet during the night if I drink water before bed?
• Why am I so dehydrated when I wake up in the morning?

Then YES, you could be.

Recommendations for foods that hydration at a cellular level

• Melons such as Watermelons
• Pineapple and pineapple juice
• Ice-burg lettuce

Electrolyte

Apparently if all the water we take in is free of electrolytes, we will dispose of most of it. I feel like for the last year or so, this has been largely true for me. So what am I trying to do to re-establish sufficient amounts of electrolytes?

• A pinch of crystal salt in a glass of water at night before bed.
  • and I’ll probably ad a pink of salt and some honey to water in really hot weather and/or strenuous activity
• Re-introduce bananas into my diet for potassium
  • especially before and/or after strenuous activity

I may find other beneficial things to do or change my plan completely, but right now, these two things will do.

Inter-cellular hydration here I come!

What is MSG?

MSG stands for Monosodium Glutamate. We often hear it mentioned and even reference it ourselves, but does everyone know anything about it. Many people know it makes food taste “better” and the reason it does this is because it is a flavor enhancer, stimulating the taste buds and intensifying the flavors of food.

Unfortunately MSG is used widely in Asian Cuisine, more often then not it comes down to a matter of whether MSG is used, but more so, how much.  The amount of MSG in some places is far more noticeable  then in others. On top of that, some of us are more sensitive to MSG then others, I have a strong sensitivity towards MSG. If a restaurant doesn’t use any MSG whatsoever this is something they might like to advertise.

Why Should Stay Away From MSG

• It’s bad for you – VERY bad for you
• Customers are being cheated out of good tasting, good quality food that isn’t bad for them
• Many people may be experiencing negative side effects of MSG without even realising it. On different occassions I had experienced headaches, dizzy spells, tiredness and an extreme lack in concentration.

Signs of MSG

• Food is very intense in flavor
• Food tastes more salty
• The flavors of the food in your mouth intensify after you have finished eating
• Drinking water does little to clear the palette of the foods flavors

MSG Restaurants to Avoid

Some places in Melbourne have way too much MSG. There’s a number of reasons that I think this is extremely bad practice and I’m going to continue this list of places as I discover them.

• Grand Asian BBQ in the Target Center – If they used less or no MSG in their soups, they would be PERFECT. Unfortunately as far as delicious soups go, theirs are packed with truckloads of MSG and is equally packed with loads of customers who are slowly being poisoned, unaware of the secret to the soups intense flavor.
• Vietnamese Noodle House – I could actually see the crystals of MSG in their rice which is quite disturbing.  I initially mistook the MSG crystals for salt, which is still a disturbing thought.
• Kum Den

Restaurants that Don’t rely on MSG

• The Indian place in Bourke Street Food Court

A few of my mates and I were discussing the cost of food and how we tend to veer towards Asian cuisine for a good quality, bang for your buck work lunch. Then came up the topic of Pasta and the pricing of pasta in general. An Italian in our group had little light to shed on the topic but here were the topics we discussed.

How Much Does Pasta Generally Set You Back?

Whether it be at a cafe or restaurant, a good bowl or plate of pasta will generally start at around $13 for a basic to the more involved pasta dishes in the mid $20 range.  Let’s compare this to other meals you could fetch for lunch in the city of Melbourne.

• Pasta $13 -$25
• Quality Fish and Chips  (Exchange Tower Little Collins Street) Less then $10
• Quality healthy, substantial and fulfilling Tapas – $12
• Clean quality Sri. Lankin\Indian Food – Less then $10
• Quality Asian Food – $8.00 – $$11.50
• Large Focaccia and Sandwhiches – $5.50 – $8.00

How Much Should It Cost?

• Pasta is cheap, even good quality pasta sourced from the markets.
• Some of the sauces, particularly the tomato based sauces would be cheap and easy to make in bulk, sustaining their quality. Some of the creamier sauces may be a little more difficult, more involved and unable to keep while retaining their quality
• Once cheap quality pasta is sourced by the cafe/restaurant, cooking of the pasta is easy and quick
• Unlike some Asian food which is very cheap and if you know what to look for is great quality, many of the pasta dishes which are being paid larger amounts of money for can be easily and cheaply recreated at home (I don’t care what the chef in the kitchen says)

Why Is Pasta Comparatively Expensive?

I’m sure there’s some logical explanations, otherwise we’d be able to source more places that sell quality pasta at the prices we think they should cost.

• Is there a pretense attached to the quality of pasta that makes people believe that the price is justified?
• Is there a lot more to making each bowl of pasta then I think?

Fresh and quality ingredients? No ingredients is fresher then the ingredients I source myself.  In the list of alternative lunch food above, we source the right places and dishes, we are looking for fresh and quality ingredients without being told we have to pay extra for it.

As for the places that do quality pasta at the right price. I had one, but changed chefs and the quality of the pasta is no more. Sad face.