Thursday Randoms

May 29, 2008

10. Unstitch your side!
If you’re like most people, when you run, you exhale as your right foot hits the ground. This puts downward pressure on your liver (which lives on your right side), which then tugs at the diaphragm and creates a side stitch, according to The Doctors Book of Home Remedies for Men. The fix: Exhale as your left foot strikes the ground.

11. Stanch blood with a single finger!
Pinching your nose and leaning back is a great way to stop a nosebleed—if you don’t mind choking on your own O positive. A more civil approach: Put some cotton on your upper gums—just behind that small dent below your nose—and press against it, hard. “Most bleeds come from the front of the septum, the cartilage wall that divides the nose,” says Peter Desmarais, M.D., an ear, nose, and throat specialist at Entabeni Hospital, in Durban, South Africa. “Pressing here helps stop them.”

12. Make your heart stand still!
Trying to quell first-date jitters? Blow on your thumb. The vagus nerve, which governs heart rate, can be controlled through breathing, says Ben Abo, an emergency medical-services specialist at the University of Pittsburgh. It’ll get your heart rate back to normal.

13. Thaw your brain!
Too much Chipwich too fast will freeze the brains of lesser men. As for you, press your tongue flat against the roof of your mouth, covering as much as you can. “Since the nerves in the roof of your mouth get extremely cold, your body thinks your brain is freezing, too,” says Abo. “In compensating, it overheats, causing an ice-cream headache.” The more pressure you apply to the roof of your mouth, the faster your headache will subside.

14. Prevent near-sightedness!
Poor distance vision is rarely caused by genetics, says Anne Barber, O.D., an optometrist in Tacoma, Washington. “It’s usually caused by near-point stress.” In other words, staring at your computer screen for too long. So flex your way to 20/20 vision. Every few hours during the day, close your eyes, tense your body, take a deep breath, and, after a few seconds, release your breath and muscles at the same time. Tightening and releasing muscles such as the biceps and glutes can trick involuntary muscles—like the eyes—into relaxing as well.

posted in Geek | 4 Comments

Wednesday Randoms

May 28, 2008

5. Clear your stuffed nose!
Forget Sudafed. An easier, quicker, and cheaper way to relieve sinus pressure is by alternately thrusting your tongue against the roof of your mouth, then pressing between your eyebrows with one finger. This causes the vomer bone, which runs through the nasal passages to the mouth, to rock back and forth, says Lisa DeStefano, D.O., an assistant professor at the Michigan State University college of osteopathic medicine. The motion loosens congestion; after 20 seconds, you’ll feel your sinuses start to drain.

6. Fight fire without water!
Worried those wings will repeat on you tonight? “Sleep on your left side,” says Anthony A. Star-poli, M.D., a New York City gastroenterologist and assistant professor of medicine at New York Medical College. Studies have shown that patients who sleep on their left sides are less likely to suffer from acid reflux. The esophagus and stomach connect at an angle. When you sleep on your right, the stomach is higher than the esophagus, allowing food and stomach acid to slide up your throat. When you’re on your left, the stomach is lower than the esophagus, so gravity’s in your favor.

7. Cure your toothache without opening your mouth!
Just rub ice on the back of your hand, on the V-shaped webbed area between your thumb and index finger. A Canadian study found that this technique reduces toothache pain by as much as 50 percent compared with using no ice. The nerve pathways at the base of that V stimulate an area of the brain that blocks pain signals from the face and hands.

8. Make burns disappear!
When you accidentally singe your finger on the stove, clean the skin and apply light pressure with the finger pads of your unmarred hand. Ice will relieve your pain more quickly, Dr. DeStefano says, but since the natural method brings the burned skin back to a normal temperature, the skin is less likely to blister.

9. Stop the world from spinning!
One too many drinks left you dizzy? Put your hand on something stable. The part of your ear responsible for balance—the cupula—floats in a fluid of the same density as blood. “As alcohol dilutes blood in the cupula, the cupula becomes less dense and rises,” says Dr. Schaffer. This confuses your brain. The tactile input from a stable object gives the brain a second opinion, and you feel more in balance. Because the nerves in the hand are so sensitive, this works better than the conventional foot-on-the-floor wisdom.

posted in Geek | 1 Comment

Tuesday Randoms

May 27, 2008

Here are some interesting facts. How true? I don’t know, but its still a nice read. It’s quite a long list, so i’ll do 4-5 facts a day till Friday.

1. If your throat tickles, scratch your ear.
That tickle in your throat; it’s not worth gagging over. Here’s a better way to scratch your itch: “When the nerves in the ear are stimulated, it creates a reflex in the throat that can cause a muscle spasm,” says Scott Schaffer, M.D., president of an ear, nose and throat specialty center in Gibbsboro, New Jersey. “This spasm relieves the tickle.”

2. Experience supersonic hearing!
If you’re stuck chatting up a mumbler at a cocktail party, lean in with your right ear. It’s better than your left at following the rapid rhythms of speech, according to researchers at the UCLA David Geffen School of Medicine. If, on the other hand, you’re trying to identify that song playing softly in the elevator, turn your left ear toward the sound. The left ear is better at picking up music tones.

3. Overcome your most primal urge!
Need to pee? No bathroom nearby? Fantasize about Jessica Simpson. Thinking about sex preoccupies your brain, so you won’t feel as much discomfort, says Larry Lipshultz, M.D., chief of male reproductive medicine at the Baylor College of Medicine. For best results, try Simpson’s “These Boots Are Made for Walking” video.

4. Feel no pain!
German researchers have discovered that coughing during an injection can lessen the pain of the needle stick. According to Taras Usichenko, author of a study on the phenomenon, the trick causes a sudden, temporary rise in pressure in the chest and spinal canal, inhibiting the pain-conducting structures of the spinal cord.

posted in Geek | 4 Comments

New music on the right

May 21, 2008

Added some new tracks to the radio on the right sidebar. Am loving Death Cab for Cutie and the new Jason Mraz album.

Enjoy!

posted in Geek | 6 Comments

Mothers’ Day

May 19, 2008

Instead of succumbing to the commercialism of mother’s day, we did what we used to do as kids… Make her breakfast! Jie jie and I make a great tag team.

So what’s cookin? We gave her the works!

Menu
Caramalized Banana pancakes with maple honey and double cream
Bratwurst Sausages
Scrambled eggs
Back bacon
Button & Portobello Mushrooms
Tomatoes
Toasted Crossaints

You’ll spot a Leow when you see one, it’s a family trait.

Lots of love

posted in Family | 13 Comments

Kevin, Jie jie +1

May 9, 2008

I’ve heard a lot of stories on the severity of sibling rivalry; the screaming, fist fights, hair pulling, scratches and vulgarities. Me and my sister just never went through all that?! Is that weird? Maybe it’s the age difference? Or maybe it’s the threat of “the teng tiao” that hangs in the back kitchen with the brooms. Dang danggg….

Anyway, I’ve always had a lot of respect for my sister growing up; she was definitely miss goodie-two-shoes in the family. The one that read more books, didn’t get into too much trouble and did better in school.

Looking back, I couldn’t have asked for a better sister. There’s no one else I’d rather do the egyptian walk around the house with, that was our thang. We’re such goofballs. I’m completely myself around her…

So I’ve wanted to post this draft for the longest time, but wanted to make sure I had the go ahead before doing so. A few weeks back, we celebrated my mum’s birthday as usual with a family dinner at home.
Read more…

posted in Family | 19 Comments

The Windsor

May 3, 2008

There’s this pub down the street from my place in South Perth called The Windsor. A few years back, that place was quite a dump.

No one really went there, it was dated, and patrons were mostly old foggies. Recently it went through a facelift, and today its bustling with activity and hot bartenders (ok maybe just one).

Jon, Naree, Chris, David, Louise and myself walked there to watch the footy over some beer and pizza. (By the way, the eagles were getting trashed man! What happened! They used to be so good! )

It was great, a simple evening filled with friends and laughter. I missed them. and I will miss them.

posted in Geek | 6 Comments

trot-a-tot-tot

May 3, 2008

So after this morning’s little panic with the bathroom door, I was fed up of running errands. I drove to the Perth Hills for some bush trail horse riding.

It was about one hour away from Perth city in the hills, but not too difficult to get to.

I had my favourite Js on my itouch, Jason Mraz, Jack Johnson and Jason Castro accompanying me all the way to the stables.

I was riding with another Japanese guy who happened to be here on holiday. I wasn’t in the mood for small talk, so i just rode and took in all the sights and smells of the Australian bushland. I really missed riding, I think the last time was with Wayne at Margaret River about 4 years ago.

The highlight of the ride was seeing Kangaroos in the wild. But the highlight of the DAY was the paddy field of sheep i met on the way home.

It was most bizarre, when i slowed down to have a look at them, they all came running towards the fence. Probably thought i was going to feed em. It was hilarious…coz when i moved, they moved. When i went a bit faster, they ran a bit faster.

i kid you not! Here’s the video…They were so cute!

posted in Travel | 5 Comments

Shoestring with Aioli

May 2, 2008

When I was studying in Perth, I’ve always had a weak spot for the shoestring fries at Oriel cafe Subiaco. The chips thickness was just right, cooked to the perfect crisp, and the aioli gave it that extra kick. So of course I had to go back for a taste… just to be sure it hasn’t changed 2 years on.

With the girlies Naree & Emma

Jonus & Naree

posted in Geek | 3 Comments

Update on the locked bathroom door

May 2, 2008

So i locked the bathroom door in right? I went through the yellowpages and called up two locksmiths for a quote, and it was going to set me back at least A$90. But one of them was nice enough to tell me that its likely my lock has a little pinhead sized hole on the handle that releases the lock.

So I went all McGyver, got a paper clip, bent it straight, found the hole, and WALAH!!! I UNLOCKED IT! WOOHOOOoooo… i just saved myself A$90!!

posted in Geek | 3 Comments

Horridae

May 1, 2008

Just when i thought i was finally on holiday, this morning I woke up set for a jog. Went into the laundry room to get my gear, and the door had locked itself in. SHIT! Now i’ll have to call a locksmith in!?! You got to be FReAKIN KIDDING ME!!!!!! ARGGHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHH!!!!

posted in Travel | 3 Comments

Adidas Cycling shoe - Beijing Olympics 2008 edition

May 1, 2008

Check out my new cycling shoe from Adidas!! Talk about a pimped out shoe!

Limited edition Beijing Olympics 2008 cycling shoes.

It comes in two different editions i think – road or tri. This one is the tri ones.


It’s so white and clean, I’m afraid to wear it out to the trails! But seriously, that’s what its made for, to use and abuse! Not as a display in your shoe cupboard. Wish there was more information about the shoe online. I want to know what its made of, and the design elements of the shoe.

So Sexaaaayyyy

posted in Fashion | 11 Comments