Embracing

Things begin to move fast in my life. Here is a quick update on what is happening those few days, and my feelings towards things.

UP Singapore 

I have been interested in entrepreneurship for quite while. Catching up with Siyan at SMU E-Corner give me a bunch of re-burst energy.  After months and years exploration, I am clear on where my interests lies. If you ask me to devote my life for it, I will. So why not step out and gain some meaningful experience in prototyping and pitching.
The idea of elderly turism indeed pulled a ring in my heart. Technology after all should be a mean but not the end. It is surprising for us to win the first place, at the same time it made great sense. God shows his grace, not by granted us with triumph, but showed me the tenderness and kindness in everyone will win over everything in the end.

iCommu Youth Community 

The highlight of the year should be my American Trip. http://www.icommu2012.org/

I have never thought it will become true. But it does. The lesson is dream bigger and never be afraid of taking actions. I have to admit that the effort be put in this project was not enough after we finished the trip. I hope after the meeting tonight, we can encourage more youth joined us to actively involve in our research and post-activity community development again. 

We are all gifted and talented, but without one and another, what we can achieve me limited. 

Comfort

Something I read on Chambers yesterday. 

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We say that there ought to be no sorrow, but there is sorrow, and we have to receive ourselves in its fires. If we try and evade sorrow, refuse to lay our account with it, we are foolish. Sorrow is one of the biggest facts in life； it is no use saying sorrow ought not to be. Sin and sorrow and suffering are, and it is not for us to say that God has made a mistake in allowing them. 

Sorrow burns up a great amount of shallowness, but it does not always make a man better. Suffering either gives me my self or it destroys my self. You cannot receive your self in success, you lose your head; you cannot receive your self in monotony, you grouse. The way to find your self is in the fires of sorrow. 

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I sent it over to J, because that really remind me of one conversation we had about sorrow. I was trying to delete "regret" and "unhappy" from his vocabulary. However, we are being dishonest when we trying to deny the fact of sorrow does exist. The magic is how we respond to the sorrow and bitterness in life. Are we drived by the un-comfort  to search for solutions or we are stucked and crying over the poured milk or staying in the same old place lying to ourselves that everything will be fine. 

Amazingly, J replied he has a friend just lost her father, the message came in just in time to give her mind a moment of peace. 

I missed the sunshine in California. 

We stayed in a place called Maple Tree Inn in Sunnyvale for a reason.  North America, Los Angeles and Calgary, those names still echo in my dreams again and again. 

Shhhh..... Let's be patient and wait. 

Something Purely Cool 

Blessed, I met different people to talk about my Business Idea. Ciaran mentioned "Smule", a company working on technology and music based on a Stanford Research group.  I had few of their apps on my phone, but today, when I checked their new app Ocarina 2 I have to say it is something purely cool! A nice instrumental sound will come out of your phone when you breath towards the mic. 

Also with a reminder e-mail from Behance, I signed up as a creative account on the platform. I am an apprentice.Technology and creativity, let's make life rock~ 

Embracing, embracing the knowledge, insight and love he provided day by day. You send me a song called "crosstown traffic". The ambiguous and hidden massages. No, I did not slow you down. We constantly see each other might just because we are driving on the same gear.     

Reading from the Computer Screen or Print Material

From http://www.readfaster.com/ 

One of the most frequent questions we are asked is, "Will the enhanced reading skills I learn from The Reader's Edge enable me to read normal printed material better?"

The answer is a resounding unequivocal YES!

Why? Let's recall that The Reader's Edge teaches how to unlearn the habits of Slow Readers and learn the habits and skills of Fluent Readers. This simply means that with The Reader's Edge you will learn to see and read more than one word at a time, without vocalizing words as they are read.

Although this skill is learned on the computer, from a screen, it (the skill) is absolutely transferable to reading print, to reading billboards, or to reading any form in which print is presented for the eye to see.

Another common question asked is, "What is the difference between reading from the computer screen and from print material?" The general consensus of various experts is that reading from a screen is slower than reading from print.

Our view is that the basic level of your reading skills is the determining factor, i.e., if a person is a slow reader reading from print material, then that person will also be a slow reader when reading from a computer screen.

Our experience and research indicates that it is too broad of a statement to say that reading from a screen is slower than reading from print. We believe that in either medium, it depends on what content is being presented and how that content is presented. The similarities and differences between content for the web is compared to writing for print. There is no question that guidelines for good writing for the web, and for print, are beginning to coincide. This is good news for all of us... Web and Print Readers.

The guidelines for writing for the Web vs. Writing for print highlight the developing science which is devoting to making reading from the Web easier than reading from print. Let's review seven basic guidelines:

Guidelines for Web Writing

• Before worrying about CONTENT, recognize and address inseparability of text, design, format and navigation.
• Based on the assumption that reading from a screen is slower than reading from print, keep Web content no more than 50% of equivalent print.
• Web Writers write for scanability (using keywords, headings and lists) because web readers tend to skim before reading content in full.
• Web Writing acknowledges that readers read to find specific answers (more efficient). Readers tend to leave a site if they are bored.
• Web Writing provides content that is split into more easily digested and understood "chunks."
• Web Writers can't control where readers will start reading, i.e., different pages. Therefore, each page is designed as an independent segment.
• The goal of Web Writing is to provide text in columnar formats to ensure shorter easier-to-read sentences.

Guidelines for Print Material Writing

• Write for CONTENT with less (minimal) thought to text, design, format and navigation.
• General advice is to use fewer words and shorter sentences. However, in print, this guideline rarely produces a shorter document.
• This advice is suggested for Print Writers but is not followed as strongly as by Web Writers.
• Print Reading is not nearly as oriented to providing content and format designed to please a reader and provide for efficient reading.
• Although good advice for Print Writers, who still tend to focus on content rather than creating easy to read and understand communication.
• Print Writers are advised to use chapter headings and topic sentences at the beginning of each paragraph, with shorter sentences and words to facilitate efficient reading.
• Print Writing is typically in a single column format. This limits the amount of "white space" around the text and makes pages look "overflowing" and cramped. Hence, this makes single column material, such as hardcover and paperback books and 8 1/2 x 11 documents, very difficult to read.

In conclusion, many of us read as much (or more) text from computer screens than from printed material. Other than eye strain from either medium, there are more similarities than differences between reading from computer screens vs. printed material. The reason: Web Writers are focused on providing content in an efficient and effective format that ensures maximum readability. Because of the competition between the two mediums, Print Writers are employing the same guidelines to ensure optimum communication with their readers.

The competition between the two mediums will ultimately benefit all readers. Remember, with The Reader's Edge, you will learn Fluent Reading skills that permit you to see and read groups of words with each single eye fixation. Then, you will be better prepared to read, in either medium, better and faster with improved comprehension and recall.

The pathway of possibilities

I used to believe a lot of things are not possible. Even yesterday, when I read Tanya's blog post, I though, oh Jes., there is no way I can achieve the same level of mastering of English. 

Sometimes it is sad to think about the fact, which I am a Chinese, and unfortunately also one that enjoy freedom of expression and never pay much attention in grammers and rules. 

But the question is never "can I do this" but "am I willing to do this no matter what it cost". Everything in life is never about ability but willingness. We fail, we fail hard, but as long as we are still working on it, and adjust our strategy every time we fail, we are still on the right track to find the way. However, the moment we think, "no, I cannot do that" and stop, we will never again close to our goal. 

Feeling is important. Your feeling about yourself, reflect in the impression you give to others. In another word, our relationship with others is a reflection of our relationship with ourselves. And even if I think I love myself enough, without the framework of the whole world, I can never locate myself.
Self love for me does not come from just saying and accepting, but come from the clarity of who I want to be and the level of awareness to make myself truly that person.

Why? I asked myself, you work so hard and think so much? Because I never want to let you down. I never want to let the people I care and who cares about me feel disappointed. Even if I cannot do everything, there must be something I can do. And let me do these simple things well.

Never, never am I willing to say that I want to give up. Even though not everything happens according to my will, but I will never give up. Those things including being well educated, being lovable and being able to love, creativity, wealth and a sexy figure.

I always dreamed of being able to sing when I get married.
I always dreamed of being able to stand by your side, looking at your handsome face and saying, I love you since I am young.
I finally understand God's grace is powerful. Peace and joy is guaranteed in his blessing. so secure and certain.

Ruiqing get her intern at Yanglan Interview Group.
I am working for someone who can afford a Rolls-Royce for her father. What Alex has told me is happening again and again, while at the same time I know, what I observe and understand in my own eyes, counts as well.    

Yesterday, I checked Vera Wang's wedding design site. I will never dreamed about those things one years earlier. But now I dare to look at those and think, yes, I deserve it, too. I have worked so hard. I have followed so many rules that people keep talking to me. I deserve one of the elegant designs. Or I will design myself something similar.

The reason why I appreciate her work is that the material does not looks luxuries or boast like some of the big brand. It is elegant, gentle and delicate. It makes you feel so comfortable, peaceful and relax. You know you are part of the beauty. The settings is not to show off your success, but to tell the world loudly you are happy and so should they.

Yes, she is a part of the beauty, so can I. I felt so blessed that a lot of people like my various design. The image of me in my head get more and more clearer. 

When the time comes, I will stand besides you, singing, being your beautiful love. And the guests coming are blessed with his grace. I won't feel tiered or shamed or uncomfortable. I am depending on my own with his grace. The circle will come, the reality will be create. 

The Start Up of Me

You will never know what you can complete until you try it out.
This drawing is done with the inspiration of the gift that someone passed me. After successfully accomplished iCommu project, I realized I have a deep interest in design and arty expression. It is the variety of expression draws me to the world of Media as well as the people who are around me.

2012 June, I am 21 years old. When I find out Taylor is the same age as me, I am totally amazed. People can achieve so much at a young age. Truly, it is not about age and experience but execution and knowledge. By taking actions, many and many of us have made a real impact on people's life. 

Grace joined  YangLan conversation program in TV station in China. Sometimes, I wondered what is fate that made each one of us so different. 

We are the decisions we make. We are the action we take. And we are the connections we have. 

It is great to know Mr. Tan, who is currently organizing TechVenture in Singapore. The essence of involve in start-ups, involve in building a business, get fundings has never died in me. But I want to build something slightly different. 

When I watched makers, I admire Jennifer Siebel, Leila Janah and Lauren Bucherie. Those beautiful women are full of courage and determination. Their product is beautiful, be it a movie or a music platform and their way of approach is nearly always elegant and stylish. 

Check more from here : http://www.makers.com/

If you are a female, you will find your role model. If you are a male, you will be simply amazed by how much women can do.

Mr. Tan has recommend me the book written by  Reid Hoffman, the Co-founder of LinkedIn and Ben Casnocha. The book shared a similar idea with one of popular Youtube Video. The world is changing very fast, and by merely memorizing fact and theories on books is far from enough to get us successful (However that is not to say school is not important, on the contrary, I believe it is fairly important. Do not hate school because you did not  excel or you get frustrated sometime. The trick is always try another time and make it better. If you cannot have an good attitude with school, seldom will you with life, too.) Therefore, to keep up with the world, we have to stay with correct information resources. 

Attached is a mind map summary of the book. 

I still dare not to say, I have done all the things I am interested in, even fantastic. But I have a clear intention here in my heart and I roughly know how to get there. 

Never say never. Entrepreneurs always in the state of starting something , and the most important start up is, you. 

The Ability of Being Still

 From a public speaking point of view, the speaker has a very good ability to control his body movement.
A quick summary of what he have said will be :

a. Keep an external focus
b. Learn from your mistake
c. Embrace your inner edition
d. Resist the pull of the core

The form of life

This is a picture I got from Shilo Shiv Sulema's Facebook updates. Finally, INK conference becomes TED @ Bangalore.  I feel really happy for my group of Indian Friends.
I have to say that INK 2010 was the most inspiring event ever happened in my life. It gave me a chance to see beautiful forms of life. How lives become a fantastic story, a piece of artwork and fruitful with highly intellectual works. It is a state of exuberance that exclusively belongs to people who work hard intellectually, believe in collaboration, and live for a passion.

Always I admire him for having a music community. There are barriers I must tackle subconsciously. Currently I am helping out a company to do their branding. When I went for the girls in tech events, I realized being a female entrepreneur is  not rare. Not only Min can manage to do it, but many of us can.
I believe one day I will have my own studio, delivering online content for marketing and branding purpose.

At the mean time, I found something interesting about emotions online.
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Love and Fear

                                          by Gary Wilson and Marnia Robinson 

 Various spiritual teachings say that there are only two fundamental emotions: love and fear. For the body, this is true. All mammals, including humans, have two opposing hormonal responses to stimuli. Threatening stimuli cause an increase of stress hormones—adrenaline and cortisol. Soothing or reassuring stimuli cause an increase in oxytocin.

A sudden threat triggers the fight-or-flight response associated with adrenaline. Adrenaline steps up heart rate, increases respiration, activates muscles, and promotes hyper-alertness. Longer-term stress (from a few minutes to days and weeks) increases a different stress hormone: cortisol. Cortisol, too, makes us hyper-vigilant, but its evolutionary functions are quite different than the temporary jolt of adrenaline designed to propel us out of danger.

The stress encountered by mammals—and our hunter-gatherer ancestors—was chiefly physical, not emotional. The most common physical stressors were probably starvation, long migrations, and critical injury. To cope with such emergencies, cortisol begins to break down non-essential organs and tissues to maintain blood sugar and feed vital organs. When cortisol stays at high levels, it automatically digests bones, muscles and joints to obtain these key nutrients. The result is elevated blood fats and sugar, which are related to many disorders. Another side effect is hunger; we reach for high-calorie foods.

Today our biggest long-term stressors are emotional and mental, not physical. In effect, we are a “new” scientific experiment. We face threats in the form of potential job loss, the pressure of commuting in heavy traffic, a barrage of fear-producing media, relationship disharmony in a marriage, etc. Even though these are not physical threats, our body has only one, automatic response: more cortisol. Cortisol is very hard on the body, so all these threats indirectly become physical threats.

Fortunately, we have a built-in mechanism for countering stress, which forms the basis of our alternative response to stimuli. It entails another hormone, called oxytocin. Apart from its functions of inducing emotional bonding, labor, and lactation, oxytocin counters the effects of cortisol. This anti-stress effect of oxytocin is a recent discovery, and very exciting, because it points the way to better health by entirely natural means.

Fear - Cortisol	Love - Oxytocin
Aggression	Anti-stress hormone
Arousal, Anxiety, Feeling stressed-out	Feeling calm and connected, Increased curiosity
Activates addictions	Lessens cravings & addictions
Suppresses libido	Increases sexual receptivity
Associated with depression	Positive feelings
Can be toxic to brain cells	Facilitates learning
Breaks down muscles, bones and joints	Repairs, heals and restores
Depresses immune system	Faster wound healing
Increases pain	Diminishes sense of pain
Clogs arteries, Promotes heart disease and high blood pressure	Lowers blood pressure, Protects against heart disease
Obesity, Diabetes, Osteoporosis	---

As you can see from the chart above, nearly all the negative effects of continued stress on the body and mind are related to elevated levels of cortisol. These include: chronic anxiety and depression, emotional over-reaction, negativity, weight gain, heart disease, high blood pressure, and weakened immunity. Oxytocin, by countering cortisol, can ameliorate all of these conditions—as well as some others (see list of recent discoveries at end of article).

Numerous activities produce more oxytocin: meditation, yoga, exercise, massage, caring for a pet, joining a support group, worshiping, and so forth. Yet one of the most important avenues for decreasing stress and increasing levels of oxytocin lies in our intimate relationships. In Love & Survival, Dr. Dean Ornish points out that love and intimacy are such powerful determinants of health that if they were produced in pill form, doctors who failed to prescribe them for unhealthy patients would be guilty of malpractice.

Incidentally, one might wonder why we can’t just take oxytocin pills to increase levels of this helpful hormone. Unfortunately, oxytocin doesn’t cross the body’s “blood/brain barrier,” except in the form of nasal sprays. However, long-term administration of oxytocin via spray has resulted in amnesia, hallucinations and imbalances in electrolytes and hormones. To gain its benefits, we must either produce it naturally in the brain (or have it injected with great precision into a tiny area of the brain using special equipment…not terribly practical).

Oxytocin has been nicknamed the “bonding hormone” and the “cuddle hormone.” We produce it naturally when we love, are loved, nurture another, give selflessly, or engage in affectionate touch. It is not the neurochemical behind lust or burning sexual desire, although it is associated with sexual responsiveness.

When we choose to make love by avoiding the stress-producing cycle of highs and lows of conventional sex with its attendant anger, resentment and discouragement—and substitute a very selfless, affectionate, more balanced form of lovemaking such as Karezza or Taoist lovemaking—we can improve our health and wellbeing. This shift takes time, and the effects are subtle at first. Yet consistency can lead to profound improvements in wellbeing in a surprisingly short time.

Oxytocin equates with love; we could not fall in love without it. Cortisol equates with fear. These different hormones generate these opposing emotions, just as the emotions of love and fear trigger the production of these respective hormones. In other words, neurochemicals and behavior are circular. This means that with a bit of awareness and determination we can consciously direct our behavior toward the maintenance of our ideal hormonal balance.

By the way, oxytocin is a very unique neurochemical; the more oxytocin we make, the stronger our body and mind respond to it. Our nerve cells actually sprout more oxytocin receptors, making them more sensitive to its effects. It grows easier and easier to be loving. Oxytocin is the neurochemical basis for the adage, “The more you give, the more you get.”

Love tends to breed more love, and fear tends to breed more fear. It’s up to us.

Recent findings demonstrating the power of oxytocin:

• Oxytocin reduces fear. Increased levels of oxytocin inhibit the fight or flight response in the brain. (Huber, 2005)
• Oxytocin speeds healing. Wounded hamsters heal twice as fast when they are paired with a sibling, rather than left in isolation (DeVries, 2004).
• Oxytocin counters cravings for sweets. (Billings, 2006).
• Oxytocin reduces antisocial behavior. The administration of oxytocin normalized social behaviors in animals exhibiting schizophrenia. (Lee, 2005)
• Oxytocin promotes healthy social behavior. Administration of oxytocin reduces symptoms of autism. (Hollander, 2003)
• Oxytocin reduces cravings. When scientists administered it to rodents who were addicted to cocaine, morphine, or heroin, the rats opted for less drugs, or showed fewer symptoms of withdrawal. (Kovacs, 1998)
• Oxytocin calms. A single rat injected with oxytocin has a calming effect on a cage full of anxious rats. (Agren, 2002)
• Oxytocin levels were higher in both men and women who reported greater partner support. (Grewen, 2005)
• Oxytocin appears be a major reason that SSRI’s ease depression, perhaps because high levels of cortisol are the chief culprits in depression and anxiety disorders. (Uvnas-Moberg, 1999)
• Oxytocin increases sexual receptivity and counteracts impotence , which may explain why this other way of making love remains pleasurable. (Pedersen, C.A., 2002), (Arletti, 1997)
• Oxytocin counteracts the effects of cortisol, the stress hormone. Increased levels of oxytocin in the brain decrease levels of blood cortisol. (Legros, 2003)
• Oxytocin may increase longevity. Companionship can increase longevity—even among those who are HIV positive (Young, 2004). Oxytocin may also explain why, among various species of primates, care-giving parents (whether male or female) live significantly longer. (Cal Tech, 1998)