Yes, finally a sport that I can do that doesn’t involve running around and generally getting exhausted, physically. What you don’t see in pro archers is them getting stressed out, what you would know if you were watching me is that I now get mentally exhausted and stressed out over large arrows and where they end up on a target face. Continue reading
Author: shaunkokstar
What’s happening?
Hello everyone who reads this (probably family, maybe friends),
It’s been awhile since I posted and I apologise for that. We started this blog to write and write and write to get better, be more relevant, interesting and maybe by some infinitesimal chance become writers professionally… maybe.
I am 30 now and what can I say for myself, well it’s been a good 30 years from my recollection. I have a job, a girlfriend, I don’t dislike my parents or siblings in any way and I have a mortgage (…yay). Recently I had my hair cut in such a way that most of the sides is really short in an attempt to feel younger and it made me think of things I do to make me feel like I am still a younger man and being asian this isn’t too difficult I admit as only a year or two ago I was being carded at the liquor store when purchasing a bunch of cider. Now after the 30th birthday I feel like that isn’t going to happen anymore. I am going to be able to walk into a club or a pub and order a beer without the keep even considering asking me either because he’s figured out what an asian this side of 18 looks like or he’s just too embarrassed to ask.
I have also been, thanks to my girlfriend, attending functions whether they be of the birthday variety or dinners with friends maybe a picnic for grownups. It’s all brilliant and sobering because these functions are in celebration of the first year of a baby, bridal party or dinner just because and with no one over 35 or under 25 attending. Odd it was that no one was looking at me funny for stealing all the best cuts of roasted pork, or nicking slightly more than I usually get away with, being a grown up has it’s perks. Now you’re thinking this is a guy who is well advanced in his years and yet he is only just starting to see the light… grow up already right?
What does that mean these days? Should we have the requisite first property, not be renting and owning some form of personal transport (city slickers need not apply with your reliance on public transport you might as well be still at school)? Had a child maybe begun cleaning up after said child and waking up at odd hours to feed and then put them back to sleep?
Being is grownup these days is whatever you want it to be, don’t let people tell you what you should and should not be doing because half the time they have no clue themselves. I’m getting to the point where younger people with their fresh minds know way more than me on technical stuff and you know, that’s alright by me. Let somebody else figure out why my smartphone is not clearing alerts from the notification bar.
Bikes Bikes Bikes – Leg power all the way
Recently a group has started forming due to a good friend of mine and this group’s mission is to ride bicycles. Some I am sure have already had a go at bikes before whether as kids or recently to get fit or consistently because they just love it. One thing is for sure, riding in a group can be more fun as you work off each other’s energy and get going together. In there it is inevitable that the skill of said rouser of people was much higher than expected and you also find members who maybe haven’t given it a go yet.
The last time they may have ridden it probably felt something like this. Hmmm how about no – azbouncepro.com
Getting on the fitness train… next stop any town that isn’t here
This is going to be a primarily text post because I am not into taking pictures of myself in the mirror for everyone’s amusement, apologies ladies. I have had the good fortune to make a friend of a person who has inspired me to make a change in my own weekly routine (take that how you will). You see, normal for yours truly generally involves go home maybe do some light exercise and then shower and play games and/or read with dinner punctuating that. Weekends are filled with more games and possibly riding of the motorcycle all of which requires next to the square root of zip calories burnt… not good.
Top 4 games we want to play in 2015: Shaun’s picks
Grand Theft Auto V and Grand Theft Auto: Online
Pretty much a year ago and a bit I was loading up Grand Theft Auto V onto my PS3 because that’s what you do when the latest and greatest game series is released… on the PS3 and Xbox 360 only. So basically I was downgrading controllability from my previous super-fun experience on PC with GTAIV and going to the archaic PS3 with it’s 10 year old hardware and… well it has a Blu-Ray player so that’s pretty good.
New Bike! Not for me, for my buddy – KTM Duke 390
I have been a motorcyclist for 3 years now which isn’t that long I know, as I had a scooter before then for about a year. Since I got my 2-wheels moto license a friend of mine already had his and he started with a scooter too, which he has kept until now. He cites not needing anymore than what he has to get from A to B which is admirable but incredibly boring. I would probably be the most affected by his stoic belief in “what I have is enough” as we trundle, not blaze home on the commute to the suburbs.
My Favourite Apps: Late edition
It’s Fridaaaaaaay! And what better way to celebrate than get all personal with the apps you love. I admit I don’t really pay much attention to the productivity stuff and mainly focus on a very select bunch of games and productivity killing apps to stave off boredom when you’ve nothing to do and a whole lot of time away from your Playstation/PC/desk/home etc. there are some interesting ones though so bear with me:
(If you are an iPhone user, some may still apply though I am an Android user so I don’t have limitations)
I am so smart S.M.R.T: Moto 360 smatwatch impressions
Oh yes… it is indeed
For some time now Motorola has been tantalising tastebuds for smartwatch thoughts with their triumphant touting of the typical square form factor. Square smart watches are so passe, none of them appealed to me, I mean I was doing the square touch screen thingo on the wrist thing in 2010. I was the guy with the iPod Nano secured with a black metal bracelet that was both protector and watch band for the iPod, it was on my wrist and everything. I could tell I looked really cool with this touchscreen device on my wrist and everyone asked what it was. I was a man before my time.
Motorbike Diaries: New Levers… and other stuff
I have been absent recently from the blog and for that I apologise up front. Honestly I love writing when something happens and recently not a lot has been going on… except that isn’t true because plenty has happened and I have just not been actively thinking on it. I purchased my first baby present for the new addition (due December) to my buddy’s new family. The gift in this case is in delivery mode from Apple and is a Withings Baby Monitor.
It plays lullabies and is a night light, room temperature and humidity sensor and a camera streaming to your iPhone or Android device.
Sleep is for those who don’t read NoSleep
I have had somewhat of an obsession with the writings of subreddit /NoSleep. If you know are an avid reader of this subreddit you already know how fascinating the stories can be. For the most part the stories are basically horror or thriller-horror with fantastic twists in the plot that you didn’t see coming. The genius is that the OP or original poster has approximately 600 odd words to:
a) drag you into their world
b) tell and engrossing story
c) scare you and/or creep you the heck out
That isn’t easy so OPs tend to extend the story, releasing their 600 word intro then updates each in 600 word blocks. The great thing is that a rule of the subreddit is that all stories are to be treated as true and everyone commenting is to remain a believer and comment as one (unbelievers are removed).
I aim to absorb as much of the best of /NoSleep by way of reading the monthly contest winner which I wait patiently for each month yet I absolutely dislike watching horror movies. I can’t stand being force-fed jump-scares or gory imagery. I don’t want to be made to be scared like that and yet I really like reading /NoSleep and I am not sure why.
This week has been sort of slow so I decided to grab something hot from the pages of /NoSleep to grab my attention. I found upon this:
http://www.reddit.com/r/nosleep/comments/2jxke8/room_733/
Written by Reddit user The_Dalek_Emperor it’s a story about two good friends and a haunted room in a college dorm, any more than that and I might spoil the fun. Haunted room stories are not exactly uncommon however I love the pacing, great characters and the fact that the OP wrote the entire story throwing character limits to the wind. You find yourself at the end breathless and feeling for the characters, though it’s a long ride to the bottom I enjoyed every word.
One of the first stories I read that convinced me that I had found a new home for satisfying some scary itches was about Netflix and being able to watch your friends:
http://www.reddit.com/r/nosleep/comments/2aj1t2/ive_been_watching_my_friends_on_netflix/
I don’t know what it was exactly about this 4 part post that made it so engrossing it made me feel part of the action like I was right there. The gist of this one is the title, if that isn’t freaky I think you and I should stop talking.
Really though to make your life easier so you can get all the best stuff in one place checkout:
http://www.reddit.com/r/nosleep/wiki/contest_winners
I am finding that increasingly I would start a story reading it like I was narrating it, half in my head and half audibly like I was simulating an audiobook and it has recently re-ignited a desire to do voice work. A long time ago when I had an agent I went for voice coaching sessions in Crows Nest (north of Sydney) and I found I had an innate talent for complicated medical words in what seems like a voice sample for a corporate release. Other than that I was not that good especially with sensual radio commercials for jewellery. I think it’s time to dust off the old voicebox and give it another try again, possibly for the No Sleep Podcast, wish me luck.
KOKSTARS 