Can Windows go hand in hand with Apple without bringing out the Apocalypse?

Is there a happy ending to this?

I don't know.

I guess, one way or another…this topic is inevitable for me. In fact, I think I mentioned this topic before in regards to another situation which I assume a lot of you have already forgotten from your minds a while back. But putting that aside, let be get straight to the point.

My mother found the 100 Things About Me.

And she wants me to remove it.

Thanks to someone's advice about it though…I figure maybe it is about time I took it down. Not permanently, but in order to come up with a better rewrite. At least something that's still me and wouldn't really give my mother a heart attack. Maybe it won't be a 100 things about me, maybe it'll be 50 concise things about me or 10. I don't know.

What I do know is that as big as it is for any of our parents to read our blogs and discover a life that their kids have been living, a part of me, a large part of me sees nothing bad that comes out of this…at least not at my age. It would be really hypocritical about me to blog about blogging responsibilities and the right to freedom of speech and not practice it.

I mean after all…I wrote this…all this. As much as it terrifies my to know that my mother knows about my own life, how would that be different than the rest of you knowing about my own life? Ok…it's different that they are my parents and whatever they say for the most part has been the word of law, but I shouldn't be ashamed or embarressed that my parents actually read things about me.

I should be proud.

I should be responsible for what happens.

I know it's going to be hard and tedious to explain to my parents about whatever I have done in my past or why two sentences about my sexual life is up there enough to shock them. Then again, I do hope that at the end of it all, they don't define me through the things I have done, but rather…look at me for the person I have become through what has been done.

Yes, I have always lived under the shadow of my parents in fear, then again which of us children haven't one way or another? No doubt about it, I will always be their son…even when I'm 40, I'll always be their son. But at the end of it all, I'm still a person who lives in a world and is responsible for his own actions in that world. I'm old enough to be able to make decisions of my own and pay the prices for it as I have been doing for a long time.

I know what I'm getting into.

My parents didn't teach me to be any other way.

So would this change the way I blog? No. Would this mean I password protect a lot of the things I have written before? No. What this means is, my parents know what I write and I would invite them to read my blog like anyone else who has. This is my blog and my life and I stand by it the way i have always stood by it as who I am in the world I live in. After all…you all know compared to some other more "femes" blogs out there…

My blog is downright prudish and boring.

So Ma…if you happen to be reading this, here is something that over the years I have learnt and followed and even blogged about.

"When I was a child, I spoke as a child, I felt as a child, I thought as a child. Now that I have become a man, I have put away childish things."

I hope that you understand that none of this is meant to shock or embarress myself in public. It's just a record of me. A record of my life and thoughts out there in the world and through it be true to myself as a person that I am.

Through it be true to the friends who have stood by me for who I am.

1. Although I was raised in Malaysia, I was officially born in Yorkshire, England.
2. English has been my first language to me not because I was born in England, but because I spent a large part of my childhood reading books and watching TV.
3. I was never brought up on children's books, most of the books I started out with were science and medical books my parents left lying around the house.
4. I started reading when I was 3 years old.
5. I am tri-lingual. I can speak english, mandarin and malay with relative ease in decreasing fluency.
6. I studied at a chinese primary school throughout my primary school years. It also explains the next line.
7. I used to be bullied a lot as a kid. Every so often I would come home with a roughed up shirt only to have my parents punish me for having my shirt dirty. Life is never fair isn't it?
8. Even though I am Malay, I could never get the hang of the Malay language or culture. In fact, I have always avoided a lot of contact with my own race choosing instead to hang around other races.
9. I am a latchkey child. I always came home to an empty house even when I was very young
10. I am an only child, but I wasn't raised spoilt, my parents saw to that personally…and I still have the scars to prove it
11. Even though I'm officially a Muslim, I am not religious. In fact, truthfully I am an agnostic philosopher at heart. Always have been.
12. Thieving was skill picked up pretty young. Candy from shops and money from my mom's purse were the few things my fingers found their way into. No I have never used this skill on a professional level…much to my disappointment.
13. I have always been a science geek. I never left anything unexploered and left no questions unasked.
14. Despite my love for science I hate maths. Well…or rather I have problems trying to figure out numbers. Except probability and statistics. That one doesn't give me a headache.
15. I am mildly dyslexic, I used to have problems reading numbers and words when I was young.
16. I love to cook. I started cooking when I was 8 and I don't think I have ever stopped. Cooking is like my own wild and delicate experiments…in which you eat. I say if there God put it on this planet, then it's meant to be eaten. How we cook it though…that's another story.
17. I love fire…fire is good. I love to watch things burn. I love to keep things burning big and bright. It's good to be a pyromaniac.
18. I first burnt myself with melted plastic when I was 4 and I still have the scar on my right hand, and my legs.
19. I cultured my first bacterial colony when I was 13 from a foot sweat sample. It was hard to get the smell out from my closet after that.
20. I made myself my first explosive when I was 14. I had an explosive day to say the least.
21. I have an overactive imagination ever since I was a kid. I lived in my own world that helped keep me out from boredom as an only child
22. I used to build a lot of things from junk as a kid. Forts from boxes, guns from soap, explosives from eggs. Anything I could think off, I would try and build it.
23. I knew about sex when I was 7 years old. Curious exploring minds around your house isn't without its concequences
24. I realised the true purpose of sex when I was 12 from a friend. Needless to say everything in those medical books started to make sense.
25. I always had a secret love for penguins. Ju Yit brought it out of me on my 20th birthday when she gave me my first penguin soft toy.
26. I always find some comfort in the thoughts of angels. I secretly wish that I am actually a fallen angel.
27. I had my first computer when I was 4. It was a Commodore 64. It also came with a programming book on games which I programmed my first game Space Invaders a year later.
28. The first girl I had a crush on crushed me and changed my outlook on life forever. Thanks Marianna.
29. I dissected my first live animal when I was 13. I learnt to always sharpen the scalpel before the first incision.
30. I had two near death experiences on the same day while climbing a hill when I was 15. It put my life into perspective and put my sorry life together again.
31. I always felt left out of things in my life because of who I am and what I am.
32. I have problems trying to be sociable in real life. It's nothing short of irony that I am also a person that craves physical intimacy
33. Despite the fact I am a flirt, it always ends up with me being the emotional shoulder for a lot of girls
34. Even though I can take on a lot of crisis, I'm emotionally insecure when it comes to my own personal problems.
35. I am Claustrophobic. I fear enclosed spaces.
36. I've got an acute sense of smell which increases whenever I get hungry.
37. I suffer from recurring migranes ever since I was a kid. I'm used to it now. It just feels like a gentle throbbing on the background noise.
38. I have been hearing voices in my head ever since I can remember. It's like a loud scary mess of background noises. I've learnt to deal with it my own way.
39. I have to keep playing a song, any song in my head because it helps me concentrate, focused and keeps the voices out.
40. I keep claws on my hands. It's a long story so I put it here.
41. I am usually a two finger typer despite my speed in typing. However because my right wrist sometimes hurts a lot, I can now do one handed typing with my left hand.
42. My goal in life is to help people, change the world and live forever. I figured that out when I was 10 and I haven't changed my priorities yet…except for maybe the order of importance.
43. I have exposed to enough corruption (gore, sexual sadism, etc…) around that few things surprise or shock me anymore.
44. I stopped looking at people looks after I was 15. I can't really tell what's physically pretty or not unless it was an inorganic object. The only physical thing I look at when I see a person are their eyes. I think that eye's are the windows to the soul.
45. I don't like dumb people. Sometimes I wish I could stuff them all in a pile and watch them burn. But I can't…lucky for them.
46. Dr. Hannibal Lecter is my most revered and respected role model. I try to emmulate him the best I can.
47. I am a movie buff. I enjoy watching movies at the best quality that they came out in. Which means cinema's with good seating and sound systems. I can even watch movies alone without anyone else with me.
48. My favourite movie is The Matrix Trilogy. I have probably watched it more times than anyone else (with 201 times for The Matrix at the time this is written)
49. I am a competitive bastard. When I get into something. I'd go all the way to see it be the best.
50. I had microfractures in my kness before from rollerblading. So I can't exert too much force on my knees or it'll hurt bad. Sometimes they just hurt bad anyway.
51. I used to have an imaginary friend named Bob. Actually…I don't think Bob left. Hey Bob…say hi to the good folks out there. Bob's always better than me at parties. I envy Bob.
52. I am not a cheap drunk. It takes a lot for me now to get drunk which damages both my liver and my wallet.
53. I am prone to extreme levels of stress. So much so that I actually had a stomach ulcer because of it.
54. I routinely crack my knuckles, feet, back and neck. It feels good to do that.
55. I am a habitual nail biter. At least biting the nails which are not sharpened.
56. I have a minor Obsessive Compulsive Disorder. I like to arrange things if I see them out of place…especially at fast food joints.
57. I am allergic to dates (the edible kind) and prunes. I break out in hives and start itching all over. Not a pretty sight.
58. I love anything that is black, dark blue or silver grey. Everything else around my lifestyle reflects those colours including my clothes.
59. I can spend 10 minutes to buy the clothes I need but 1 hour trying to get the mouse I want.
60. I collect 1983 50 cent coins out of pure superstitious habit.
61. I suffered from suicidal depression when I was 14. As a result my parents sent me to see a psychiatrist. Fat lot of good that did me. I'm not depressed anymore, but I'm still crazy.
62. I am a student of war. I spent my childhood reading up on all the historical battles and wars. My favourite in particular happens to be World War II.
63. Weapons are a hobby of mine. I like reading about guns and swords in particular. I hope I can make my very own Japanese Katana for myself.
64. I think the four most scariest things in life are Teletubbies, Barney, Mashimaro and Pikachu in that order.
65. I have climbed Malaysia's highest peak - Mt. Kinabalu - twice.
66. I love roleplaying games. Always wanted to feel like being someone else in an adventure other than in my own sordid life.
67. I have dated someone 6 years older than me.
68. I lost my virginity when I was 19…exactly as statistics have proven.
69. I love sex and everything about it, I think it was influenced by the time I discovered it when I was 7.
70. I tend to be adventurous when it comes to anything sexual. Cars, cinema, college are just the places where you can have lots of fun.
71. I happen to wear briefs not boxers alright? So stop asking already.
72. I like strong willed women who have their own opinions and know what they want. Hell…I like a woman on top of me during sex.
73. I love to sing. I was in my school choir for 5 year being head tenor in the end. I never stopped singing.
74. I have been known to talk to myself no matter where I am. Don't worry…it doesn't mean I'm psychopathic…at least not by much.
75. I have no love for soccer nor will I ever understand why people love soccer so much. I really don't get it.
76. For some reason Mosquitoes always find me nice target to bite. I would always be the one coming out with all the mosquito bites in a room full of people.
77. I happen to find leaches very cute especially when they are feeding on you.
78. I rather spend time with a small group of friends you know personally rather than a large group where you know by name.
79. I've got unsteady hands. They quiver for some reason.
80. I have a Brown Belt in Taekwondo and a Blue Belt in Karate. I just never got around to finishing it both.
81. I scorn the Macintosh Apple like I would scorn a rabid dog. If there is an operating system to support, it's Linux.
82. My eyes are sensitive to light. I can't go out in the sun if I don't wear some shades or it'll hurt.
83. Despite my sensitivity to light, for some reason, I see much better in the dark.
84. Until now I still am scared of very quiet dark places. Even in the wide open, it makes me feel…claustraphobic.
85. I'm known to have a short temper. I know alot of people are scared of that.
86. I am vindictive. I'm known to keep grudges. I don't really dwell on them…but I like to get even one way or another.
87. I don't have much of a sweet tooth. Chocholate and ice cream are the only two sweet things I would be willing to eat.
88. I believe that Durians are put in this world of one reason - Biological Warfare. I'd rather shoot myself than eat it.
89. The most I have gone without sleep is 85 hours on a stretch.
90. I sleep at night with my socks on. I get cold feet at night for some reason.
91. For four generations, all my computer systems have gone under the name Sarah. I treat her like a human being, which is not surprising since she is more human than me anyway. She has "issues" once every month.
92. Almost everything in my life I have worked hard to get…that includes the 4 generations of Sarah's.
93. My family has a history of high blood cholesterol. That means sooner or later, I might be going under the knife for my heart.
94. I have always been fascinated with death. It has been a hobby of mine to always poke and prod dead bodies.
95. I am a self-cutter. I have 27 scars on my arm in one sitting to prove that.
96. I mess around with Rubik's Cubes when I'm bored. Thanks to Albert for teaching me how to solve them. They keep my sanity in check.
97. I am a hypochondraic by nature. It comes from reading too much medical books.
98. I have always been known to push my limits whenever I get melancholic.
99. After a close friend passed away, I made a pledge to stop cancer and I would do anything in my power to make sure no one suffers from it ever again.
100. I know I have found my soulmate, and I will not rest until I have stand in front of her again and find my own home at last.

If there is one thing I seem to be saying a lot to my friends lately, it's this. There are 6 billion people on this planet and not all of them are going to be very bright bulbs. I guess that's especially true when you begin to realise wherever you will go there will always be people like that with nothing better to do than to make your life an absolute annoyance.

I get that a lot and over time…I figured out a way out of it.

Edrei's Final Solution For Stupidity:

1. Concentration Stupidity Camps
2. Bonfire

Of course though…methods like that haven't been tried in a while and the last time something like that was done, the only people who were pleased with it wore tight pants and marched funny (I know that wasn't the case, it's meant to be funny…so laugh already).

Anyway to make things have a little more sense I guess there is a way that makes up for when stupidity strikes you hard and there is no way to fight back. I think it does work after all.

Edrei's Realistic Solution For Stupidity:

1. Count to 10 or 1000, whichever is closer to making you calmer.
2. Let it be.
3. Let it be.
4. Let it be.
5. Let it be.
6. Let it be.
7. Let it be.
8. Let it be.

That's right. It doesn't matter what kind of stupidity, whether it be jealousy, immaturity, arrogance, elitism or plain common senlessness of any kind, short of the final solution, there is absolutely no way you can get rid of it. So the best thing…and bare with me here because I'm going to sound a bit hokey. The best thing you can do in all this…

Is to let karma take its proper course of action.

That's right…let it be and do what you were doing all along if stupidity doesn't hinder you that much…and even if it does…there are always other ways to get past it, other ways to where you want to go. It's always best to be patient and keep working towards what you want no matter what. It's always best to keep doing what you're doing no matter what and not get worked up about something that wouldn't deviate you from your lifestyle an inch.

At the end of it all…life always wraps up its loose ends and gives everyone their just desserts. I guess, I've seen enough karma go around to know that it actually does work. It actually pays to be nice even though people are acting like idiots. It actually pays to be helpful when you're denied the right to make a bigger difference.

It pays to be a lot of things despite the shit you have to endure.

So when it comes to this. Sit back, calm down, relax and be patient. After all, as long as nothing stands in the way of what you're doing, stupidity is the mere fly hovering over your head as you walk towards the finish line. Wave it off and just keep walking.

Sooner or later the fly will be dead.

Sooner or later you'll get what you want.

Sooner or later.

Sometimes sooner.

Mostly later.

Well…it had to come out sooner or later.

Think Magazine just wrote an online article about some of us who are blogging for Blogathon 2005.

Thanks Chris for taking the time to publish the article and spread the word.