It's 'so far', because as I'm writing this, I'm thinking that technology inventions are running so fast that in the nearer future than we think, these things will be irrelevant.
But as of now, I need to mention some which I DEFINITELY AM FINE to live without, but unfortunately need to encounter almost on daily basis, --and most especially today... because encountering them multiple times in a day is just ... well, overwhelming? ... :]
- Top of my list, ... CAPTCHA!!
It has to be!
You know those distorted words for validation that we need to enter before, say, commenting...?
Yes, I like the idea behind it, I think it's pretty simple, and nice, as a validation of are we human, or mere bot (--although I'm not sure which one I am sometimes...).
So they give us those distorted images which are, supposedly, characters, which only humans can read, and not bots. See my confusion here? Because I CANNOT READ THEM MOST OF THE TIMES.
Dear goodness, it feels like a piece of abstract art sometimes. Perhaps they should put it in a museum some time.
Huh?
I generally refresh my CAPTCHA around 5 times or so before I find characters that I can read and put in correctly.
Also the name, makes me feel like every time I do that or not putting the correct characters, it's like someone say to me, 'Gotcha! ;P', only this time they say:
Really though, I completely support the idea behind it, so here are some of my offering unsolicited solutions:
a.) I love the one in Goodreads where they ask us to enter the title and author from an image of a book cover. Simple and pretty. :)
b.) Hire people! Haha. Real human writings. Humans can write some beautiful, as swirly whirly flowery patterned variations of texts as needed that will actually be READABLE to humans, yet cannot be read by any character recognition software!
- Finger print recognition devices.
:| You remember those laptops that unlock your password using fingerprint recognition? Sounds really cool at first. Until I tried it and realised I will not work for me 80% of the time. :S You have no idea the countless times I couldn't unlock my laptop (especially in panic) during a presentation. :S
To general people, see, there is a certain way to swap your finger for it to be able to recognise it. Generally it takes 2 or 3 times to get the correct one, or 1 if you're really a PRO in it (--it's a true skill, really! :S). I usually need at least 3 swipes before it recognises some distorted version of whatever half of my actual finger print. Now, this... is since my fingers get wet pretty easily, ... and even though I did dry them first before trying, it just won't accept me. :S Thanks, .... discriminating software. :| I'm back to traditional password, me.
- Touch screen keyboards! Or anything touch screen!
As much as I don't like it as much, it is pretty much almost all the options we have these days, especially with mobile phones devices. I really have to learn how to type with my all-thumbs-fingers on it. :S Also how to use them properly without slipping or over clicking much for the same reason above.
- Touchpad scroll wheel.
Seriously, I keep forgetting it is there until I wonder who is this poltergeist who keeps gliding my mouse point to far off points than those I intend to.
- Lastly on my list, the snooze button.
Simply said, because it's a TRAP, people! It's a TRAP! 'You want to be there on time for the meeting? ;) Maybe another 5 minutes rest will do you good. ;) 5 minutes won't harm you...' 'Yes, 5 minutes is good.' Repeat that every 5 minutes for 3 times and it's 15 minutes already! :)
I feel I wake up much energised too without the snooze button somehow.
Side fact: I just read that the inventor of the snooze button is Lew Wallace? Really? The same author of Ben-Hur? :S What is this, is this a case of Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde of inventions?
There! Off my rant! :D What would be on your list? Do you ever feel irritated by certain technology?...
I had a very fun day out with a friend recently, and generally I do like going out, and visiting places, and trying new things. :) But sometimes it feels like my natural habitat is really, simply at home.
It's not that I'm not happy to meet a friend, or for take-out food,.. it's just that it
feels the happiest, ... if everything happens, ... at home... if ever possible :)) --and really, I think I'm perfectly happy staying at home all day long! :))
Are you a homebody too? --Or you can't stand staying too long at home instead? I'd love to know the secret to that. :)
I went out with a friend last weekend. Finally, as we've been planning to do so for months, and since we are not the most outgoing persons. There are 2 more posts coming up about this, but in the meantime, here are some pictures from the day! :)
Nothing really exciting or out of the ordinary, usual chit chat in quiet places. We went to the bookshop, then to the coffee shop, then the pizza place. Gosh! Sounds really boring, haha.
One thing that I like to do in bookshops is finding rather interesting weird books, but aren't we all? :) This time the one that caught my attention is this book that says 'HOW TO BE INTERESTING! Places to go, and things to do!' (I'm pretty sure our 'itinerary' that day is not the list :S).
Now this book is placed face-front. Unlike any other book around it that was placed side-front. But more than the title and the placement, placed next to it is the another book that has within the title 'Starting Today!', and next to it is another book that has in its title 'Bad Ideas' (to be fair I think the real title was 'Good Ideas Bad Ideas'. But is it clever marketing or what?
Or well, no, haha. Because in my mind it now sounds like;
'How to be interesting? Places to go, and things to do! We can tell you! Start today!',
and there is another voice that says immediately,
'DON'T. It's a bad idea!'.
:D Have anyone ever read this book, let me know! :))
Anyway, then my friend ordered a Nutella drink in the newly opened coffee shop, which by the the name of it, oh goodness! YUUMMM! Nutella drink? Yes please! Hoping to escape the thought of the possible fat content. :P Also, to be fair, it was too sweet, and so kind of tasted too stuffy after a bit she said. But it was worth the try. We should try to make this on our own sometimes, if you love Nutella as much as I do! :)
Next, simply put we were too hungry to snap any photograph of the food and drinks, and so please pardon the blurry probably more-appalling-than-appealing picture. :S But it was delicious! :)) I love Pizza Express, their aglio olio spaghetti plain, and the one pizza with pitiful artichoke and courgette one, which both are in their vegetarian menu apparently.
It was great meeting an old friend, always. Regardless everything else. Should it rain and hail any day, and I'm meeting a friend that day, I'm sure I'd still call it a good day. How was your last weekend?! :)
I went to an all-girl school, and most of us didn't have any boyfriends at the time, but every Valentine's Day, it was a day to look forward too!
Why...?
CHOCOLATESSS! :D
Because on every Valentine's Day morning, we would arrive at our desks and find chocolates or little sweets waiting sweetly on the desks. :D
Some of us 'made' (as in prepare, mold and add flavours and such) some chocolates and wrap them (with ribbons and cards too) and give them to each other.
It was definitely a sweet gesture of friendship and general kindness, and of course they were easy to make. But it was lovely and yummy all the same (to nibble quietly during classes :D).
I kind of miss those days, and so here's an idea to give little gifts to our girl friends on Valentine's Day! :) Even though this one is more for a night in on Valentine's Day, since this year it falls on a Friday.
Happy Valentine's day!
I've been thinking lately, as to why am I not as romantic, gushy touchy feely as I used to. Believe me, I used to be the most hopeless romantic kid in the playground, and that went on until high school, at least... and probably some more time afterwards!
But lately, ... I've been feeling a bit 'Meh :|' about finding a 'potential partner'. Which is ... completely the wrong time to feel so, because slowly, one by one, all my friends are steadily getting... m a r r i e d.
Now, TODAY, on the ride home, in a friend's car, this radio that was playing songs from the 90's was on... and it made me think... maybe... just maybe, ... it's also because the songs I listen to these days. As how songs can affect moods, if little by little but steadily given, I think the music I listen to can change my feelings and perception. :S
Oh NO! Brainwash.
Some songs I listen to now...
'Oh no, did I get too close?
Oh, did I almost see what's really on the inside?
All your insecurities
All the dirty laundry
Never made me blink one time--'
Really my favourite part of Katy Perry's 'Unconditionally', my ultimate current favourite song (I love her makeup too in the video).
But compared to this...
'I'd walk halfway around the world, for just one kiss from you
Far beyond the call of love, the sun, the stars, the moon
As long as your love is there to lead me, I won't lose my way, believe me
Even through the darkest night, you know ...--'
Backstreet Boys' 'Anywhere for You'. :P
-- I mean, halfway across the world! WALKING! What? To get one ... grand ... kiss ...? *sigh*
Or this...
'--It's in the stars
It's been written in the scars on our hearts
We're not broken just bent
And we can learn to love again--'
Pink's of course, 'Just Give Me a Reason'. The scars of our hearts?? Our hearts have scars?? Ouch.
Compared to this...
'--Even the stars shine a bit bright I've noticed
When you're close to me
Still it remains a mystery--'
Not the same stars, are they? Oh yes, we are so could be in love, Lea Salonga and Brad Kane's, 'We Could Be In Love'.
To me, I feel as if the ones I listen to these days are much more realistic, there's a difference in the pictures they paint, and although this is good, I think subconsciously I just find it less romantic, whereas the rest of the songs I listen to these days doesn't even talk about love at all. Not pulling any Lorde here, but you know even her songs don't even talk much about the glorification of love. :)
So, ... I think it is the same reason as why I love love love most of Taylor Swift's and Ed Sheeran's music. BECAUSE I NEED SOME LOVE SONGS to keep me warm and fuzzy.
Give me more of those walking-halfway-across-the-world songs and I'll be off my feet fluttering with borrowed Cupid's wings all the way through to the 14th of February! :D Any love songs suggestions are welcomed! --How's your week so far?
