Wednesday, December 01, 2004

happy - shiny - people

Not too long ago I went for a regular blood test, and not too long after, I got my results. Its funny how little things in life really do affect the results at the end of the day. I'm generally healthy although I expected myself to perform above par, I didn't. This reminded me of my academic years when I'm just skimming on the borderline, somehow that always seemed to be the case as it is now. I have to watch out for only 2 things, uric acid, and cholesterol. These items were skimming at point something pass the average, so it should be manageable. However I don't want it to be an inherent genetic trait since some of my family members are suffering from bouts of gout. But its good to be in pain sometimes, I always say, as some of you may know, the pain keeps you alive.

Cholesterol was a strange thing though, since I watch what I eat most of the time, but I guess its residual, I just have to work a little harder, a little longer, and stick to my plan of being faster, stronger and better. That brings me to a question that many ask: How do you define beautiful?

I have this generic answer regarding beauty, its not merely surface level, its about character, its about chemistry, its about attraction. Thats why it is diffcult to define what is indeed beautiful, since it encompasses many of the traits that are subjective, because that is what truly counts. Beauty is also about poise and how one handles his/herself. If you know that something is not right, you don't do it, its a state of mind that is aware of the way you act/react, the way you dress, and how you affect the people around you. The other day as I was driving I suddenly cringed, and it wasn't because I was having early symptoms of gout, there was an extremely obese woman who was wearing a really short skirt that just dashed across the front of my car *as* I was driving around a corner. I can only remember the horror of her cellulite formations on her thighs that was like a triglyceride waterfall of death. I could feel my stomach acids go a notch higher and any more, I would have orally expelled toxins from my body in an uncontrollable fashion.

So after I got my test results today, I have decided that it still holds true, the fact that beauty is how one carries oneself, and how you affect the people around you. But I add one more thing, its about health. Its about how you take care of your body, and if you are actually doing something about it to make yourself look and feel better.

This is not an attack on fat people, really. I'm not perfect anyhow, what I'm saying is, a) Dress appropriately (Don't let innocent people like me cringe while driving, it elevates accident rates), b) If you know you're not exactly fit, do something about it (Go to the gym, take a walk, in a tracksuit, and do some cardio), c) Don't walk in front of a moving vehicle like you owned the road (That is self-explanatory, I think). This is generally an attack on the abovementioned person, who encompassed all 3 of the above traits. I think I wouldn't have minded as much if she didn't sprint in front of my car, that is a total disregard of basic traffic rules, and I would think that if she has that mentality then she'll be treating everyone with the equal amount of disrespectfulness, if there is even such a word.

So there you have it, just 3 simple things that can make anyone become truly beautiful. I wouldn't have it any other way.

The thrill of quality equipment

I've always had a fascination with high tech equipment especially if it relates to my line of work. But it is difficult to define what kind of stuff that you can, should or need to use because the longer you think about it, the more you think you'd need it.

I recently procured some exceptionally interesting equipment that I will put to serious test come this weekend, that's what's keeping me alive at the moment. Firstly, yesterday I collected 2 Half-Jacket replacement lenses. It actually didn't cross my mind that my Half-Jackets had interchangeable lenses, how silly of me, here I was wondering how I ought to get my hands on some cheaper Oakleys, and this was the best option to have crept up unexpectedly. I purchased a Clear, and High Intensity Yellow XLJ Lens.

My fascination with Oakley eyewear was years ago when I was still in college. There was something unusual about the way they made stuff, from their radical designs to their sensible features that you can't find elsewhere. When it boils down to the end of the day, its all about precision optics, and the fact that not everyone is too concerned about it. As for me I wouldn't spend money on eyewear that doesn't have optically sound characteristics, just as I view most designer eyewear.

Fast forward to the present, I found myself working at my currently large carpentry workshop (which will soon be downsized to another smaller location in a matter of months, so I'm enjoying it while it lasts), more and more often. When you're working with power tools and basically a wealth of hazardous equipment, its generally a good idea to have some good equipment going for you. I had disasterous experiences toying with cheap machinery that nearly killed me, and that's not any way to regret later in life. So of course wearing goggles is one of the prerequisites, of course after a while I didn't wear any except my specs because a)the plastic goggles (RM5) fogged up constantly, b)distorted my vision at the edges and c)were seriously uncomfortable for long periods. Recently I resorted to wearing my Half-Jacket, although it had Black Iridium lenses so it got pretty dark most of the time, which is also a bad idea.

Oakley uses Plutonite(R) lenses that are optically superior, blocks all UV rays and blue light, and is impact resistant, generally the qualities that you would seriously appreciate once they become relevant to what you do. Browse through the Oakley site to find out more, I feel the same way about their products now as I did years ago, its not about fads, its about equipment that works.

The second item that I am anxious to test drive is my Bosch GCM10S Slide Mitre Saw. This is one sweet piece of machinery: 1800 watts of pure power rotating a 254mm circular blade at 4600rpm! This is going to be my new baby. Also purchased as an industrial strength vacuum cleaner so at least now I can practise my 5S's of cleanliness and orderliness in my workplace.

Its slightly frustrating how you can't get much information about power tools over here. I called Bosch the other day with some questions regarding their tools prior to purchase, and they actually couldn't help me at all. Makes me wonder why they have a dedicated Customer Service Hotline in the first place? All the attendant could say was, please go to one of our dealers. But I can't help it, Bosch does make some of the finest equipment around, and their warranty policy is the best I've ever encountered. Regardless though, its amazing how much you have to put up with in this country to get things done right.