the year is ending

the new year is almost upon us and i have yet to come up with a plan on how to spend it. like every year, the empire hotel is having the new year celebration with loud music and of course, fireworks. i'm almost certain i won't be going because i have no one to go with. no offense to my friends who ARE in brunei. i'm sure you'd want to spend it with your other half and i really don't feel like welcoming the new year as a third wheel. actually, i don't think there's anyone i know who is single. but that's another whole long topic, which i shall avoid right now.

since i've been back, it seems i haven't done much and yet i've been out almost every day. today is actually the first day i've stayed at home. although, i shouldn't count my chickens just yet, there's still 9 more hours till the day ends.

i watched national treasure the other day and i have to say, it's a really good movie. nice intro, nice plot, nice action sequences and the ending was satisfactory. definitely recommended. i haven't watched the first one so, i might get the dvd for that.

i've been looking around for a new laptop. my current one is old, can't be seen in public, slow (for me.. even though it's much faster than most) and most importantly, can't play games decently! i'm fairly OK with computers. but i'm mostly blurry with what makes a computer good, like graphics card, processor and other computer specs, which i have no clue. so, i've been doing a lot of research on it and i've a better understanding now. the mall has a tech show and i've been looking around. i've found the one i want but there's no guarantee that it'll arrive before i go back to uk. that completely pissed me off cause i'm not a big shopper. and when i finally do want something, i have to have it or else i'd buy something else to scratch that splurging itch. that's why i'm looking for a guitar now. even though i've said that, i'm still contemplating. should i bring it with me to uk? will it survive the flight? won't i have excess baggage? should i just leave it here and buy myself a new one over there (which i'll be leaving it at my sister's.. maybe.. hehe)

anyhow, merry christmas everyone!

our body is icky

i would like to start things off with something we all can relate. our bodies. specifically, it's nasty functions. smelly sweats, farty bottoms and slimy noses to name a few. but why? why do we all have these disgusting functions? let's find out.

perspiring like a pig

sweating is the body’s natural way of cooling us down. Although it may feel as if the sweat or perspiration is making us hotter, especially on warm days, without sweat, we would not be able to tolerate the heat our bodies would produce.

We sweat in order to keep the body at its normal temperature, which is 98.6 degrees Fahrenheit (37 degrees Celsius). If we lost this bodily function we could suffer from heatstroke in hot weather.

Think of all the food the body takes in each day. This has to be burned off somehow. The burning of this food produces heat within the body which triggers our brain to kick start the body’s natural cooling process. Inside the human body are long, twisting tubes of cells known as the sweat glands. The blood vessels in our skin open and the fluid is released through our pores.

There are approximately 2 million sweat glands in our body. We may not realize it but we perspire even when it is a cold day and we are not doing anything particularly strenuous. The body is two-thirds water and we lose a great amount of this every day through sweating. This is why it is so important to drink approximately 2 liters of water each day in order to replenish the lost fluids.

Excessive Sweating

Excessive sweating -- usually on the palms of the hand or the armpits -- that is not caused by emotional or physical activity is called diaphoresis or hyperhidrosis. It is often an embarrassing condition. The cause or causes are unknown, but the condition may be due to the following:

• hormonal imbalances (e.g., menopause in women)
• overactive thyroid gland (The thyroid hormone increases body metabolism and heat production.)
• certain foods and medications (e.g., coffee with its high amounts of caffeine)
• overactivity of the sympathetic nervous system

B.O.? please go..

Body odour is caused by a natural process involving sweat that occurs on the skin's surface. Sweat is odourless, but if left on the skin the bacteria that normally live there feed on it and break it down. This process releases chemicals that cause the unpleasant smell.

Some areas of the skin, such as the armpits and genitals, are more likely to produce body odour because these glands produce proteins and oily substances that bacteria feed on.

Sweat elsewhere in the body is mostly salty water, which bacteria don't thrive on so easily.

The feet produce their own characteristic odour. We tend to wrap them in socks and shoes, making them hot and humid and allowing fungi, as well as bacteria, to flourish.

Body odour may be influenced by diet. Certain foods, such as curry, garlic and strong spices, contain chemicals that may be excreted in the skin.

The smell almost always disappears with a shower or bath, but can return rapidly, especially if a person puts on unwashed clothes covered in old sweat and bacteria.

ummmm... that wasn't me.

the gas that makes up a fart comes from two sources: more originates from the breakdown of food by the digestive system, and some is from swallowed air. In the first case, foodstuffs are broken down by enzymes, stomach acids, and intestinal bacteria in order for the energy in them to be made available to the body.

Through the processes of digestion and fermentation, gases can be liberated from what's eaten. In the second case, air that a person swallows from eating, drinking, breathing, chewing gum, and being stressed, among other ways of entry, that's not expelled during a burp travels through the stomach and intestine, transforming into fart-ready mode.

In either case, the gases flow down through the rest of the digestive tract and eventually exit the body — Poof! Ping! Pfft! Toot-toot! Kaboom! — expelled as a fart, or farts. And this silent or noisy expulsion of air can help bring about some relief and comfort from a buildup of gas within the lower part of the body.
To clear out a room you'd want to eat a lot of eggs, cauliflower, or meat.

*sniff*

there are a few reasons why our nose run.

when you're sick - your nose goes into mucus-making overdrive to keep the germ invaders out of your lungs and the rest of your body, where they might make you even sicker than you already are. You know what happens then: The mucus runs down your throat, out your nose, or into a tissue when you blow your nose. Or it can fill your sinuses, which is why you get that stuffy feeling.

when you cry - When you cry, tears come out of the tear glands under your eyelids and drain through the tear ducts that empty into your nose. Tears mix with mucus there and your nose runs.

when it's cold outside - When you're outside on a cold day, the air in your nose is a lot warmer than the air around you. You know how the bathroom gets steamy when you take a shower? Something similar happens in your nose - water drops come together, or condense. Then the drops mix with your mucus and run out your nose.

when you eat spicy food - most spicy foods contain something called "capsaicin," a chemical found in peppers. When ingested, it's believed to affect "the quantity and thickness of mucus and other fluids secreted in the nasal passages." In other words, it's a kind a nasal decongestant.

i hope you had a good read

i'm back! let the randomness begin..

hello you people out there in the blogging world. i know i promised to update while i was away but the ship's internet was being a *bleep* and i didn't even bother. i just got back a few hours ago so, you can see that i'm not wasting any time in bringing you randomness (and a few tid bits of updates in my life). anyway, to atone for my sin, i'm working on posts, which have been conjured up by my curiousity. so please check often cause i will be updating a lot to cover lost ground.

top 10 crime reduction tips for students

first off i'd like to say that i'm going away to work tomorrow. i'll be gone to japan for a month or so, so this might be my last post for a heck of a while. although, i've heard that the ship i'll be on has internet connection, if that is the case i shall keep you posted with something special. the sea-log of a seaman. it'll be an account of the daily occurances while i'm onboard. so watch this space for that.

anyway, i shall leave you with this. it's a helpful guide on how to protect your home, yourself and your wheels. it's emphasis is on students but you can of course incorperate it in related situations i.e. on holiday or a shopping spree miri.

1. lock your bedroom door - even if you're only going to the kitchen or bathroom. (for people living in halls.)

2. check doors and windows are locked at night or when going out - don't assume someone else will do it. (for those who share a house)

3. make a list of your personal property including the serial number and descriptions - use an ultraviolet pen to mark electrical and other items

4. think ahead - don't walk home alone late at night - arrange in advance to stay with a trusted friend or pre-book a taxi.

5. never leave drinks unattended in pubs or clubs - when you go to the toilet, ask your friends to keep an eye on your drink. men's drinks get spiked too. if you suspect your drink has been spiked, contact a member of staff or tell a trusted friend.

6. don't show off your cash, mobile phone or laptop, or leave them lying around - never leave your bag, wallet or purse unattended and don't carry your chequebook and card together. take out protection for you credit cards and note all you card details at home, so you can cancel them quickly if they're stolen.

7. try to go to the cashpoint in daylight if possible - be aware of people standing too close to you and always conceal you PIN. if it's dark, go with a friend if you can and don't check your money in full view.

8. always lock doors, windows, the boot and sunroof when leaving your car - even if it's only for a few minutes.

9. never leave belongings in your car - even an old coat could tempt a thief if they think there might be something in the pockets. if you have to leave anything, lock it in the boot.

10. keep your car topped up with petrol - try to park in busy, well-lit areas.

that's it from me. have a good one.

i'm back home

just a short personal post letting everyone know that i'm back in brunei for a couple of months. i hope i'll some of you around!