Family come over to KL

Today, my family came to KL to visit. The main reason was because my grandma was admitted to Institut Jantung Negara (IJN). 
Anyway, as my grandma was okay already and could be discharged, we were all in jolly mood. 

Took photos with my baby in IJN

Say cheese!!

Honestly, the IJN interior is pretty awesome...looks more like hotel than places for the sick. No wonder people like Dr. Mahathir also came here for treatment...

Here are some of the photos that I took...

As we were waiting for our grandma to be discharged, we decided to go for some makan session...my sister wanted to drink a coffee....and we stopped by at the Gloria Jeans' Coffee....

I took the photo of the prices for those who are interested...

Well, we had our mornings spent in IJN waiting...

saying hi next to a signboard directing to the IJN Auditorium...

After our mornings there, we went to KLCC...

Had our lunch in Ben's...

To eat is to Love? I couldn't really agree with this but it's pretty creative in design..

Hello!! Say hi to the sweetest couple!!

 

Checking out the menu outside before deciding to go in...

After that, we went for a quick shopping in KLCC before heading to my aunty's place for dinner with my grandma, uncles, aunties and cousins...

We ordered Domino's Pizza while my grandma had her favourite chicken drumstick with rice...

It was pretty good to catch up with some of them...we also managed to finish watching the movie: Friday the 13th....couldn't believe that I have yet to watch the movie until today. (super outdated)

Well, it was pretty much a good Saturday....enjoyed the family time!! 

Tonight big game: Liverpool vs Manchester United

If you are one of the Red Devils' fans, tonight game will be one of those big games that cannot be missed. It's like the World Cup final or the European Champions League final kind of game...because for those of you who know the history of these two biggest English clubs, you'll know the significance of the game.

Liverpool vs Manchester United

Liverpool might be at the bottom half of the table, but this is the club with a history that you cannot ignore. While United have Giggs and Scholes as their veteran, Liverpool have their own Steven Gerrard. 

Steven Gerrard, the captain for Liverpool

The revelations set out in the Hillsborough Independent Panel's Report two weeks ago sent shockwaves that resonated far beyond the footballing world, and Liverpool skipper Steven Gerrard and his United counterpart, Nemanja Vidic, will release 96 balloons into the air to commemorate those who lost their lives on April 15 1989.

The prematch handshake will be of intense moment as well, given the controversial issue surrounding Evra and Suarez, who was charged with racially abusing the Frenchman following the corresponding fixture last season.

The striker then snubbed Evra in the pre-match pleasantries at Old Trafford later in the season, but has a chance to put things right on Sunday.

It is definitely one of the big games not to be missed...

Just how many more goals will Van Persie score this season for United...

If you happen to be following United games, there seem to be a missed penalty kick on every game...will there be another spot kick for the Red Devils tonight and can any of them deliver?

Elsewhere, we have Manchester City and Arsenal against one another...this will probably be one of the best test to Arsene Wenger's boys this year around. Roberto Mancini's players will be keen to win this game to erase the painful last minute lost against Real Madrid.

Well, get ready the snacks and prepare for the big game!!

Some things that you don't know about your brain

100 billion nerve cells and yet we could forget our friend's birthday? 

Well, before one start pointing finger at our brain engine that runs all day long so long as one is alive, maybe it is time to understand some of the things that we don't realize.

1) Google is making the brain weaker...
A colleague of mine, Alicia mentioned that smartphone is actually causing productivity to drop even though it should improve it. Main reasons of course is the whatsapp, Google search, Facebook etc while we should really be working...but then, there is a fact in that statement...in fact, the internet is the cause of the weakening of our brain. The more one rely on the internet, the more one ignore the functionality of their brains. Study author Betsy Sparrow, PhD suggests we should focus on "greater understanding of ideas and ways of thinking," and less on memorization. 

2) Some of us crave for junk food, some don't...
During one of those study, subjects were shown with the name of foods and the parts of the brain that got excited was the same as the ones activated in drug addicts. Dopamine, the hormone linked to motivation and pleasure could be the source...people with fewer dopamine may need more food to energize the brain...

3) Music, nostalgia and Brain?
It is probably not difficult to connect these three...meaningful songs from childhood days could easily trigger the fond memories...

4) Ability to predict what is to happen...
The front-most region, the frontopolar cortex of the brain, helps predict future events from past experiences. Sounds like some psychic-superpowers? Well, it's not exactly psychic-superpowers, but the brain has the ability to make short-term predictions and think strategically about the future by drawing conclusions from recent patterns. 
For instance, the study's participants could anticipate slot machine payoffs based on previous trends in the games. 

5) Distracted easily while shopping
I never believe this before since I'm a guy but after reading this, I sensed some truth in it. 
When one is cloudy from stress, lack of sleep or low awareness, it is easy to be persuaded to buy something if out in the shopping mall. The brain will also subconsciously push one to buy for expensive products or branded goods if there are attractive, potential mates nearby, so as to impress them.

6) Trust your gut feeling
Even the brain might not be able to make the right decision when it comes to big and complex matters. When the unconscious state of the brain takes charge, most people end up having less remorse. A good example is taking on a new job...(salary, long-term potential, location, et cetera) could be the factors but instead of getting stuck in it, it might be better to sleep on it at times.

7) Forget about brain games...focus on music instead?
If you think that brain games are going to help you in developing your memory skill or boost the learning abilities, you can forget about it. The recent studies show that it does not really work...if you really want to improve your brain power, focus on music...Stanford University researchers found that it helps the brain to better organize chaos, pay attention, make predictions, and update memory.

8) It is not difficult to stimulate the brain...but it might not be what you are thinking...
Instead of trying to charm a beautiful lady or being more popular on Facebook, you can actually find healthy ways to stimulate the brain...
Exercise, spending time with friends, treating yourself to a day of relaxation.

9) The brain peaks in the 20s...
If you are after about 27, then the brain cells are already starting to lose although the brain functionality normally starts deteriorating after the age of 45. If you want to beat the odds, eat your way with healthy fruits like blueberries...help reduce the risk of Alzheimer’s, maintain your memory, and boost my acetylcholine levels (which helps improve memory function).

Sleeping is not lazy...it's a need...

10) The need to sleep...
While the brain never really sleep, it is important that you get a goodnight rest....Sleep helps stabilizes memories. It also may help the brain to process them, by encoding the emotional bits and ditching the unnecessary details to remember the order of events. 

11) The brain can be reprogrammed to be happier...
A new colleague of mine teach me about hypnotizing oneself to be happier...and I always find it difficult to agree...but like it or not, the brain could actually be reprogrammed to be happier. 
To rewire the brain to become more optimistic, take positive actions! Recent research shows that genes play only a 30 to 40% role in your life outlook, and you can shift from being a pessimist to an optimist over time. So, start taking positive actions today!! Now!

12) The brain becomes better with exercise...
You might not want to believe this but exercise helps more than just keeping your bones strong and heart pumping. Art Kramer, from the University of Illinois, found that memory—one component of the brain many functions that declines with age—can improve with treadmill usage just three days a week, working up to an hour a day. Exercise increases blood flow to the brain, which delivers vital oxygen and glucose. MRIs revealed that areas pivotal for decision-making, planning, and multitasking also improved in those who went on the treadmill.

This type of comedy might just be what you need...

13) Laughter is the best medicine even for the brain
The amygdala and hippocampus (two parts linked to depression) light up when one hear laughter, as does the nucleus accumbens, which is a key player in pleasurable feelings. Chuckling reduces stress hormones and lowers blood pressure too, decreasing your chance of heart attack and stroke. In one 2012 study, researchers found an increase in oxytocin (also known as the “love hormone”, which enhances the brain's reward centers), when subjects listened to infant laughter. This may just explain the YouTube popularity of laughing baby videos. Maybe it is time for me to start watching at funny videos again...

Believe is the key

There are times that things don't work as well as planned. There are times that people don't understand you...but if you persevere, you will come out stronger...

I learn this when I watch Rocky Balboa...

Let me tell you something you already know. The world ain't all 
sunshine and rainbows. It's a very mean, and nasty place an' no matter how 

tough you think you are, it'll always beat you if you let it. It ain't about 

how hard you hit, it's about how hard you can get hit and keep moving forward, 

how much you can take and keep moving forward. That’s how winning is done! If 

you know what you're worth, then go out and get what you're worth. But you 

gotta be willing to take the hits and not pointin' fingers saying you ain’t 

where you wanna be because of him, her, or anybody! Cowards do that, and that 

ain’t you! You’re better than that!

Sometimes you might find it difficult to get up when you get knocked down...and this is something that I learn while working...believing is the key. Working in an insurance company expose me to a lot of the successful insurance agents and none of them succeed because they are special...they succeed because they believe and persevere.

Manchester United 4-0 Wigan

One word to sum up the Red Devils' performance against Wigan....brilliant!!

4 goals...and clean sheet...

2 players scoring on their debut game...that is the sort of performance that deserve credit.

It was a beautiful tale...with Scholes stars in United romp...

Here, the veteran midfielder did not just open it - he sent it crashing off its hinges.

Mixing a typically astute performance with some of those thunderous challengers for which he is noted, Scholes also broke the deadlock with his 155th United goal.

Few could have been converted in such ease as he tapped home after Ali Al Habsi had pushed Nani's low cross straight into his path.

Then, it was Hernandez who redeemed himself by scoring the second goal for United...after all, it was he who missed the first penalty kick. He bagged a second when he turned home Alexander Buttner's misdirected shot.

The Dutchman capped a fine debut by driving home the hosts' third, putting more pressure on an underperforming Patrice Evra, who watched from the stand. Robin van Persie was introduced 19 minutes from time but it was his fellow substitute Nick Powell who wrapped up the win on his debut, blasting in from 20 yards.

The veteran players have shown the example...the new players are showing potential...this is definitely good news...a brilliant 4-0 win over Wigan!

Manchester United vs Wigan

Well, if you are not excited about this game, then you are definitely not a United fan. This will be the game where Manchester United hand a debut to Alexander Buttner, while Robin Van Persie, Antonio Valencia, and Shinji Kagawa are all on the bench.

It will be interesting to see how United will perform with Chicharito and Welbeck start in front. I still believe Chicharito should start but I don't see why Ferguson would want to test the pairing with Welbeck....probably Van Persie's injury...

Anyway, it's about time to kick off soon...am already excited about the game!!

Forget about work...it's weekend!!

It's time to forget about work...it's weekend!!

I just done some revision in the afternoon...

But I guess it's enough for the day...it's gonna be some time to hang out...gonna be going for running with Wen Shiuan and maybe Tom as well in University Malaya.

Time for my running shoe to show off...

It will be an amazing night....football night....Manchester United, Liverpool game on...and maybe Real Madrid as well....Soon Aik will be back to the house from Klang for this...

Tomorrow morning will be Broga Hill!!

Staying active

I was feeling rather tired after the morning exercise...a short one though but I felt I need to get myself fit again.

One thing exercise helps is that it keeps me focus...on the things that I have to do and get done.

I wanna maintain this active lifestyle but rest is still very much needed...really need to maintain this in a healthy way.

Well, I need to get going...


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Steamboat sessions with university kakis....

It has been some time since we had any steamboat. I remembered the last time my juniors had steamboat sessions, I was not invited...unbelievable. Haha!!

Anyway, this time around, we are having it in my place....2 of my juniors are with us, Siow Wei and May Kee...then we have Aaron back in our place as well....not forgetting the invited Lai Wei Hoong.

I was back pretty early that day since they told me bout the steamboat session. And I was stunt when I see the amount of food they bought for this small group.

Well, it was definitely a good time to spend together...to see these people together...the best part about steamboat is the people that spent those moment with you.

Food food food!!

Feeling hungry even as I write this post...

Lai Wei Hoong, the MIA man is back...emoness is his nickname!

Chow May kee, the girl who is leaving for UK!!

I couldn't think of a better way to capture this moment...I know that probably 5 years down the road, I probably hardly will talk to any of them but I'm happy that we have gone through all these moments together...