The Asylum

From Paldea with Pride: My Pokémon Violet Journey Concludes!

2025-07-12T23:31:00.000-07:00

It's finally happened! After countless hours exploring the vast and vibrant region of Paldea, battling trainers, uncovering ancient secrets, and forging an unbreakable bond with my Pokémon, I can officially say it: I've completed Pokémon Violet on my trusty Nintendo Switch 2!

What an adventure it's been. From the moment I stepped out into the sunshine of Paldea, I was captivated. The open-world exploration felt so fresh and exciting, and discovering new Pokémon around every corner was an absolute joy. I truly enjoyed every minute of my playthrough, and I'm so glad I finally embarked on this journey.

One of the highlights for me has definitely been the thrill of shiny hunting. There's just something incredibly satisfying about spotting that differently colored Pokémon in the wild, and Paldea offered so many fantastic opportunities to do so. My shiny collection has grown significantly, and it's been a truly rewarding side quest throughout my adventure.

And speaking of collections, the seamless integration with Pokémon HOME has been a game-changer. Being able to transfer my cherished Pokémon between games, organize my ever-growing collection, and see all my hard-earned shinies in one place is fantastic. It really brings the whole Pokémon ecosystem together.

Of course, a Pokémon journey is nothing without your team, and I'm incredibly proud of the squad I've built in Violet. They've faced every challenge with courage and strength, and we've celebrated countless victories together. Each member holds a special place in my heart, and their unique skills and personalities have made every battle a memorable one.

Now, with my Paldean adventure complete, a new challenge awaits! My incredible team from Pokémon Violet is ready to take on the Galar region. Yes, that's right – Pokémon Shield, which has been patiently waiting for me for three whole years, is next on my list! I'm so excited to finally dive into that game with a powerful and well-trained team by my side. It feels like the perfect way to continue my Pokémon journey, bringing the experience and strength gained in Paldea to a new region.

So, here's to many more Pokémon adventures, more shiny discoveries, and more unforgettable battles!

You know, while battling and strategy are key in Pokémon, sometimes you just want a team that looks as good as it performs! And let me tell you, I've been having an absolute blast putting together what I'm calling my "Beauty & Brawn" squad.

This isn't just any team; it's a collection of some of the most elegant and aesthetically pleasing Pokémon, each packing a serious punch in battle. My current lineup, which I'm absolutely loving, includes:

Primarina: My absolute queen from Pokémon Violet! She's not just stunning with her graceful, mermaid-like appearance, but her Water/Fairy typing and incredible Special Attack make her an indispensable powerhouse.

Milotic: The epitome of beauty and serenity. Evolving Feebas into this magnificent Water-type Pokémon is always a journey, and her elegant design combined with her amazing bulk and recovery capabilities make her a true gem on any team.

Gardevoir: With her graceful movements and psychic prowess, Gardevoir brings both elegance and power. Her Psychic/Fairy typing offers fantastic offensive and defensive utility, and she's just a joy to watch in battle.

Froslass: There's something so hauntingly beautiful about Froslass. Her ethereal, icy design is captivating, and her Ice/Ghost typing offers a unique blend of offensive pressure and disruptive abilities. She adds a touch of chilling elegance to the team.

Putting these Pokémon together feels like assembling a perfectly balanced and visually striking ballet of power. They're not just beautiful to look at; they're formidable in battle, too. It's the best of both worlds

Setting My Boundaries

2025-07-11T12:08:00.000-07:00

I'm starting this journey by imposing some very clear limits on myself. The first, and perhaps most impactful, step is a complete spending freeze on specific items that have been major money sinks. This means no more video games, gadgets, computers, handheld game consoles, watches, or manga. These are the things I've poured most of my money into, and cutting them out is crucial.

The hardest part of this will undoubtedly be battling the fear of missing out (FOMO), especially when it comes to things going out of stock or out of print. But I know I just have to accept that I can't have everything, and that's okay.

Another key part of my strategy is to adopt a "one in, one out" (or rather, "just one") philosophy for my possessions. I'm committing to only having a single gadget or game for a specific purpose. There's no need for four media players or multiple copies of the same game across different consoles. This will not only save me money but also foster a more responsible approach to my belongings.

I truly believe these changes will lead to significant financial savings and make me a more accountable individual.

Finally, to tackle the root of temptation, I'm initiating a digital detox. I'm turning off all notifications. These constant pings are often what trigger my FOMO and pull me into that dark spiral of impulse shopping. By cutting them off, I'm hoping to break the cycle and reclaim my peace of mind.

I've realized something crucial: it's not just about stopping bad habits, but cultivating good ones. That's why I'm adding another layer to my strategy: I'm going to start blogging about all the things I already own.

This isn't about showing off; it's about fostering a deeper appreciation for what I already have. Instead of constantly looking forward to the next new gadget or game, I'll be looking inward at my current collection. I plan to share my experiences with my existing video games, dive into the details of my current tech, revisit the stories in my manga collection, and truly use and appreciate the watches I already possess.

By taking the time to post about these items, whether it's a review of a game I've owned for years, a deep dive into the features of my current computer, or a reflection on why a certain manga series holds special meaning, I believe it will shift my focus. It will transform the urge to acquire into a desire to engage with and value what's already in my life.

This public commitment also adds a layer of accountability, which I welcome. It’s a way to document my progress, celebrate small victories, and remind myself that true satisfaction comes from cherishing what’s present, not constantly chasing what’s new.

Decluttering My Life: Why I’m Starting a Digital Detox and Tackling My Shopping Addiction

2025-07-11T09:24:00.000-07:00

I’ve reached a breaking point.

For too long, my life has felt cluttered—not just my closet, but my mind. I’ve been caught in a relentless cycle of checking my phone and hitting "add to cart." The screen time reports are alarming, and the shopping sprees are embarrassing. I realized I wasn’t living; I was just consuming and scrolling.

The constant digital noise and the thrill of acquiring new things have become exhausting. They’ve drained my energy, distracted me from what matters, and frankly, cost me a lot of money and peace of mind.

This isn’t just about putting my phone down or canceling subscriptions; it's about reclaiming my time and attention. I’ve decided it’s time to break these habits. This is the start of my journey toward a meaningful digital detox and intentional living.

I know this is just the beginning, and there will be challenges. But the relief of deciding to simplify my life is immense. My intent is clear: I want to prioritize experience over acquisition and genuine connection over digital distraction.

The Midnight Bloom: When My Brain Decides Night is the New Day

2025-05-23T21:00:00.000-07:00

The hum of the city outside my Toronto window fades into a gentler murmur. The world around me is settling into the quiet embrace of night. And me? Well, my brain has just decided it’s time for the party to start. Insomnia and I are old acquaintances, but lately, it feels like we've become inseparable roommates.

There's a frustrating irony to it all. During the day, when deadlines loom and tasks pile up, my mind feels like a sleepy sloth. But as soon as the last sliver of sunlight dips below the horizon, it’s like a switch flips. Suddenly, ideas are buzzing, curiosity is piqued, and a restless energy takes hold. Sleep? What’s sleep?

My nights have become a patchwork of quiet activities, a desperate attempt to channel this nocturnal energy and maybe, just maybe, lull myself into some semblance of rest.

One of my go-to escapes is the digital realm. My favorite games, the ones I rarely have enough focused time for during the day, become my companions in the wee hours. There's a certain peacefulness to navigating virtual worlds when the rest of the house is silent, a sense of focus that eludes me under the daytime pressure.

Then there are the books. Stacks of them sit beside my bed, patiently waiting for the cloak of darkness to grant them my undivided attention. Whether it's getting lost in a thrilling fantasy novel or delving into a thought-provoking non-fiction piece, the quiet of the night allows the words to truly sink in.

But increasingly, my insomnia-fueled nights have become a playground for my tech curiosity. It started with the allure of AI art. The struggle of setting up Stable Diffusion locally – wrestling with Python installations, CUDA drivers, and endless lines of code – became a welcome distraction from the gnawing emptiness of sleeplessness. There's a strange satisfaction in finally getting it to run, in typing in a prompt and watching an image materialize from the digital ether in the quiet of my Toronto home.

That initial foray has snowballed. Now, my late-night explorations often involve diving into the latest advancements in AI, reading research papers (or at least trying to!), and getting lost in the fascinating world of machine learning. Other nights, I’ll find myself devouring articles and videos about the newest handheld gaming devices, the intricacies of computer architecture, or the potential future of augmented reality. It's like my brain finally has the bandwidth to absorb all the tech knowledge I crave, but only when the world is asleep.

There’s a bittersweetness to these nocturnal pursuits. On one hand, I’m learning new things, indulging in hobbies I enjoy, and feeling a sense of accomplishment in setting up complex software or understanding a new technical concept. On the other, I know this isn’t sustainable. The fatigue eventually catches up, making the daytime hours even more of a struggle.

I’ve tried all the usual advice: warm milk, no screens before bed (clearly I’m failing at that one), a consistent sleep schedule (a hilarious suggestion when your brain has its own agenda). Some nights are better than others, but the pattern persists: as Toronto sleeps, my mind comes alive.

Perhaps one day I’ll find the magic key to unlock a regular sleep cycle. But for now, I’ll continue to navigate the quiet hours, finding solace and stimulation in the glow of my screens and the rustle of book pages, a midnight bloom of activity in a city that dreams.

Anyone else find their brain kicks into high gear when everyone else is asleep? What do you do with those restless nights? Let me know in the comments – maybe we can form a little insomniac tech support group!

My Stable Diffusion Addiction

2025-05-22T23:56:00.000-07:00

It feels like just weeks ago I was staring blankly at my screen, vaguely aware of this "AI art" trend but feeling completely out of my depth. Terms like "latent space," "diffusion models," and "negative prompts" sounded like something out of a sci-fi movie, not tools I could actually use. Fast forward to today, and my hard drive is overflowing with incredible (and sometimes utterly bizarre) images conjured from thin air, all thanks to the magic of Stable Diffusion running right here on my local machine. And yes, you guessed it – I’m completely, utterly addicted.

The initial learning curve felt a little steep, I won't lie. Setting up the local environment, figuring out the right software (shoutout to the helpful online communities!), and understanding the basic workflow took a bit of tinkering. There were moments of frustration, prompts that yielded hilariously distorted results, and the inevitable "why isn't this working?!" moments.

But then… the breakthrough. That first image that genuinely blew me away. It wasn't perfect, maybe a little rough around the edges, but it was mine. Created from a simple text prompt, brought to life by this incredible piece of technology humming away on my own computer. That feeling of empowerment and creative control was instantly intoxicating.

I absolutely adore Yukino Yukinoshita from Oregairu. So here we are -

Just something I have always felt

2025-05-22T23:52:00.000-07:00

Despite my attempts, I consistently feel like an outsider within society, not in a maladjusted way, but as if I operate on a different frequency. I often wonder if this is simply how I'm built. My passions, like art and science, are filtered through a uniquely morbid and unconventional lens, which I believe explains why people tend to avoid me. And honestly, I don't mind. The common human dramas, like heartbreak, don't resonate with me, and I confess to finding a certain satisfaction in observing others' vulnerabilities. I hold a profound conviction that the human race is inherently flawed and self-destructive, prioritizing performative respect and reactive measures over genuine progress. Yet, I endure among them, a singular entity. Any initial judgments about my demeanor are merely superficial until we genuinely connect

Back to buying watches

2024-11-02T00:51:00.000-07:00

I don't even remember what triggered the watch collector in me again, but this is the 12th watch I am buying this year, and it is a baby Gshock which I won't even wear.

I just think it looks good and hence on a whim I bought it.

Personally, I have never cared about social differentiation of things. If it is something I like, doesn't matter if it is a women's or men's category.

A tech enthusiast's confession

2024-11-02T00:50:00.000-07:00

As a tech enthusiast, I've always had a penchant for collecting digital data. From movies and music to software and personal files, it seems like my digital footprint grows exponentially with each passing day. To accommodate this ever-increasing digital hoard, I've amassed a collection of storage drives that's almost as impressive as my collection of gadgets.

Sandisk Dragon Edition 1 TB SSD is one of my new finds.

A Sky Full of Stars

2023-06-06T17:24:00.002-07:00

This is an amazing visual novel and a must read in my opinion. It has a great cast of characters, really good OST and beautiful artwork.

I started looking up at the sky in a different way after reading it. It has taught me so much about the constellations and astronomy that I am clicking astrophotography pics from my Pixel 7a.

A special note for Saya Amanogawa. She happens to be the cutest and an amazing character I have come across in visual novels of late. Her route kept me wishing for more and was happy with the epilogue where she achieves her dreams.

Date A Live Season 1

2023-05-15T20:41:00.002-07:00

I recently finished watching Date A Live, Season 1, and I absolutely loved it! Date A Live follows the story of Shido Itsuka, a young man who has the ability to manifest people’s spirits by kissing them, and saving them from danger.

Throughout the anime, we follow Shido as he learns more about these mysterious spirits, as well as rock-solid foundation for their friendship. As a result, Shido is able to gradually overcome their hatred for humanity and slowly help them develop a better understanding of its potential.

Aside from the great plot and characters of the show, I was impressed by the beautiful animation and artwork of Date A Live. The art style was very colourful and clean, with some stunning special effects. The soundtrack was also incredibly good with the OSTs being up to the mark.

Overall, Date A Live Season 1 is an excellent anime that I would highly recommend to anyone who loves harem, romance, and sci-fi. It has a great mixture of action, comedy, and heart-felt moments that make it highly enjoyable to watch. If you haven’t seen it yet, don’t wait any longer and give it a try. You won’t regret it.

Oregairu LN Volume 1

2023-05-13T20:37:00.000-07:00

As an avid reader, there are few things better than discovering a new novel that captures your interest.Unfortunately, it's not often that you are able to find a book that covers interesting topics in a captivating way.

That's why I was so pleased when I stumbled upon Oregairu Volume 1 of the light novel series. Oregairu, which stands for 'My Teen Romantic Comedy SNAFU' is a story about a high school student named Hachiman Hikigaya and his classmates who have contrasting and unique views on life. The novel encapsulates the issues faced by many high schoolers- working with their peers, understanding their superiors and dealing with the various obstacles of teenage life.

The story is told through the eyes of Hachiman and takes the reader on an emotional roller coaster of discovery.You are also introduced to other characters such as Yukino and Yui, who add a unique perspective of the events.The novel provides an entertaining read as well as moral lessons, which can be taken away by readers.

In particular, I enjoyed how skillfully the author tackles difficult topics such as bullying and peer pressure and how the characters managed to overcome these issues.The novel does not offer a simplistic view of the world, but rather a complex one, which invites the reader to think about the various perspectives and solutions.

Overall, I was thoroughly impressed by Oregairu Light Novel volume 1.It was a captivating read with characters that the readers can relate to.The story was well written and held true to the complexity of teenage life, while still providing readers with an enjoyable experience.Without a doubt, I am looking forward to reading the subsequent volumes in the series.

Sakura in Toronto

2023-05-06T20:44:00.000-07:00

Sakura has long been a symbol of beauty and resilience in Japan and the sight of them in Toronto was a reminder of the power of nature. Seeing them made me take a moment to appreciate the beauty that surrounds us each day and to acknowledge the strength it takes to keep blooming, even after the storms that come with life.

The sight of the Sakura trees was so peaceful and beautiful that it almost seemed like a dream. But I knew that it was real, and the experience will stay with me forever.

Gaming over other media

2021-06-06T02:57:00.002-07:00

Games are like books, multiple small worlds devised for us to explore. However, with current iterations, they give us the power to influence the outcome making the journey memorable.

One of the reasons why there is such an outrage when the ending is not satisfactory.

They have allowed us to be actively involved in the story, participate in decisions and influence the world around us. Something which other forms of media like books and movies lacks.

One of the main reasons why I am so taken by video games.

FOMOW

2021-05-18T02:47:00.007-07:00

Do you feel guilty when you can't login or get to work due to some unforeseen circumstances? It always weighs down on my conscience. I get worried and over think of all the activities, clients etc. which makes the leave undesirable.

Weekends or planned leaves are always guilt free. I read about a situation called FOMOW or fear of missing out at work. Not that i am worried my colleagues may gain an upper hand for that promotion. I couldn't care less. However being in clinical research , staying away for a study which i have been leading for past 2 years feels wrong.

I need to stop overthinking and no matter how much i worry or think about it, there has been no power in our city from sunday 8 PM which makes to about 42 hours without electricity. I cant do anything about it except waiting for it to be fixed.

Maybe i should enjoy the technology detox which is being forced upon me. No work laptop, no web browsing, no gaming. This gives ample amount of time to stay away from any screens and blue light.

Although i am waiting to get back into my gameplay of Persona 5 Royal which was cutshort by this god damn cyclone.

A cyclone once again

2021-05-17T06:13:00.001-07:00

This seems to be a new normal now a days. The climate has worsened so much that after 30 years of my life here in this city, we are experiencing cyclones every year. Incidentally my last post was about the hardships of life without electricity due to cyclone and here we are yet again with the same situation.

This time the cyclone is names as Cyclone Tauktae , and although the epicentre is not directly over the place I stay, the cyclone has been very severe to cause damages to the surroundings. Lets hope this too passes away.

I think when i have absolutely nothing to do, i get back to writing. It is the best way to pass some time, stay composed and reduce the baggage on my mind.

Lets see how the next few days pass. I am just flustered by the lack of readiness and infrastructure here to mitigate the damages caused by the cyclone.

P.s. The coronavirus pandemic is still ongoing with massive amount of infections and life loss.

Living life in a pandemic without electricity

2020-06-05T12:33:00.001-07:00

Today is 6th June 2020 and it seems everything has taken a turn for the worst.

Let me recap,

There is a pandemic situation due to a coronavirus infection which possibly originated from bats or pangolins since apparently in China people eat raw animals and there was a zoonotic transmission to humans and it was hidden from the world which then blew out of proportion.

As of today, there are 6,774,598 infections with 395,603 deaths.

India is at 236,060 infections and 6649 deaths. India went into total lockdown on about 16 -24 March 2020 and she's still slowly opening as of today. Even the rest of the world is under a lockdown with each country deciding whether to open and to open at what level. This means no foreign travel which obviously impacts one of my life decisions.

As a bio technologist by education, I can understand the severity of this situation but watching people question lockdown, trying to become contrarian or rogue by purposefully going against directives honestly baffles me. Humans are going to be extinct because of stupidity of humans, not because of leaps in technology but because some idiots cannot follow simple rules.

As a Clinical researcher by profession, I understand the timeline of vaccine development is long and it may take years before we have a viable vaccine and then it will take months till production and supply will be enough to vaccinate the rest of the living world who are not infected or not dead.

The lock down is still in effect which means I have to stay home and I have..I haven't got out of my building since 17th March 2020. That's about two and half months now.

The cyclone, 3 days back on 3rd June took out the power grid here, so no power. It was fine on day 1, we restricted the usage of lights and fans only at night on the power backup. No laptops or TV and even less phone usage.

Day 2 we lost water, since apparently nowadays everything depends on power. No electricity means no way to pump the water up the building water tanks. Which means you have to conserve water and use it as a resource from your backup. Fine.

Today is day 3 and the power backup is now over. Which means no ceiling fan can operate which means no proper sleep since they humidity is off the charts here. No way to charge phones. I have a 20000 mah battery which can charge my phone about 4 times.

The electricity department is unsure when the power will be restored in my area, which apparently is the capital of the district. I cannot imagine the state of other towns and villages in the district, when the capital is not yet restored.

I have decided to move to the city if the power is not restored in the next two days, which means taking immense risk of travelling to the heavily coronavirus (covid19) impacted areas. I need to check into work since I am already on an exigency leave since last 3 days.

Honestly, I am sad at the state of affairs of the state government. The disaster recovery force came into action and evacuated people and cleared the national highways which is appreciated.

But how come noone takes into consideration of the infrastructure damage before it happens. Since it was extremely obvious power is going to be impacted. In certain areas the electricity department is telling people that power will not be restored in next 15 days since they dont have the supplies like wires and poles.

Buildings and houses, I agree cannot be restored in a few days. But atleast power should be. They are declaring the support package of 100 crores now after the events. Electricity is one of the basic requirements since everything depends on it.

Food, cause without it now refrigeration has failed and its risky to venture out in a pandemic everyday to get food.

Water, since pumps no longer work so water is not available to buildings.

Medicines, which I noticed since my grandmother has no insulin available as it needs to be refrigerated. So after 3 days the insulin stored at house maybe ruined and same with medical stores.

No ATMs in the area. And you need cash cause by day 3 most shops no longer have card readers working as they have no bloody power.

Some fuel pumps are closed. I guess they don't want to spend fuel for their generators.

I and like me many others in my area are working from homes and we can no longer do that. Atleast the section who could work and keep companies running when others are shut down due to pandemic , is shut down as well.

Basically, slowly everyone is coming down to a halt. People are having dinner by 7 PM since they can no longer do anything at night. Feels like the 60s.

Well, I was stuck at home in a pandemic and it is fine, but now without electricity and water my patience is waning with each passing day. NO more computers, TV and probably after two more days I may not be able to use a phone, so no more communication.

The Cyclone Experience

2020-06-05T11:47:00.000-07:00

Just when you think the wost is over, a new calamity strikes. This year is one of the worst I have experienced in my 30 years.

For the first time in 129 years a cyclone decided to hit the coastal areas of Maharashtra specially near mumbai . And it Specifically hit Alibag, a place where I live and am currently Stuck because of the ongoing pandemic.

The cyclone is called Nisarga and it made its landfall in the coastal town of Alibag on 03-jun-2020 at around 1.30pm to 2:00 pm. Although its arrival started quite early at 11.00 am with heavy rains and extreme winds. I guess the actual center of the cyclone reached in the afternoon.

Since it was quite an experience and as I hadn't experienced a cyclone in my life as of yet, I thought why not make a note of it.

It began with winds and heavy rainfall which is not unusual for this region from 11 am, by 1:00 PM, the winds intensified to the extent that trees started tilting and tin roofs started shuttering.

By 2:00 PM it seems it was in full force taking down 5 trees and along with it electricity poles in my area.

We could see tin roofs flying and then landing some other places. I was extremely worried about my motorcycle and car, since any damage now would be quite a blow and considering the pandemic situation, the spare parts are in extremely short supply, which probably meant the impact would decommission it for a while.

Hut we took a smart decision of parking them in such a way between our buildings that any roof or flying debris would not touch them.

At about 2:30 PM the atmosphere changed and it seems the clouds were gone. There was little rain although the winds were at their max speeds. It felt something different, probably the pressure changes were so drastic that we could feel the difference.

Around 3:00 pm the clouds came back and so did the heavy rainfall. My guess would be we were at the center which seems to have no clouds, maybe because they were circling around and maybe that's why there was little rain. Went the center passed over, I guess we were impacted again by the circling clouds, and hence the heavy rainfall like before.

By 4:30 PM the winds decreased by the rains continued. They went with same force in to the evening.

The experience was exhilarating and I was excited. There was relief that we suffered no damage, physically as well as materialistically.

I went down and started my car and bike and the engines let out their usual purr notifying me they are fine.

The excitement vanished since the realization dawned that since electricity poles were uprooted, definitely there would be no power today or maybe tomorrow.

This was a sad realization. The backup batter power would last for 6-8 hours and we need to use it as a resource.

By night, the rains didnt stop and mentally was prepared in case there were floods to follow.

Nature has screwed us so much with pandemic, heat wave, human stupidity and now cyclone, I dont even care anymore.

Lockdown and content

2020-05-10T03:45:00.001-07:00

I don't remember the exact day of lockdown but I think I am getting used to it. I do miss staying alone and it is taking a lot of time for me to adjust again staying with my family but I think I will survive.

The days are routine and working from home also took some time to adjust however I am now used to it. What makes me sad is that people around us do not understand the gravity of the situation , the severity of a pandemic. Everyone here in India is busy blaming the government for imposing a strict lockdown and doing very stupid things to break it. However they do not understand that it is for the benefit of the people that the government of India has imposed this lockdown. But stupidity of people knows no bounds and it may end up wiping half the population.

Although this is a depressing time, I did get a chance to stay home for such a long time for first time in my life in 12 years.

One benefit of this lockdown is we get to catch up on all the content we have missed during these last few years.

I have been playing a lot of games and also watching a lot of movies and TV series which have been pending due to such heavy workloads and the time spent in travelling and socializing with people.

I watched a brilliant movie called fracture yesterday, starring Anthony Hopkins. I just love the movies shot during that time period in Hollywood, the payphones, Vintage cars and the entire Ambience of the surroundings. These murder mysteries also have really good suspense and the keep you glued to your seats. Even though we knew who did the murder, the trial and the gradual decline of Mr Beacham and ultimate victory is amazing to watch.

Stability and Changes

2019-03-12T00:37:00.001-07:00

This year I have planned for a lot of changes. I think I am finally tired of stability which we achieve in life.
It's quite funny that we strive so hard to attain a comfortable level of stability and then within a few months , get bored of it.

Maybe the decisions I am taking may make or break me further, but I tried atleast is what I will think afterwards. If I continue without doing anything in life, I would end up thinking 'what if' for the rest of my life.

Stability gets us in a comfort zone which limits our ability to break free, grow. If stability is defined by miniature expectations , we are just going to end up small like them.

Gaming Nostalgia and more debt!

2019-03-07T08:35:00.002-08:00

Last night while surfing through youtube videos, I came across gameplay and cutscenes of older and some of my favourite games like Battlefield Bad Company 2, Alan Wake, VTMB.

Battlefield Bad Company 2

And lo behold I went to check for any gaming deals which I could muster. Its like the universe works in magical ways.

Origin ended up having 80% discount sale (atleast here in India) and I brought a lot of games. Got the Bad Company 2, Vietnam, Burnout Paradise Remastered, The Saboteur and I re bought Crysis increasing my further debt.

But these games deserve attention. These were some of the best games with interesting story lines. The Saboteur for example was one of the most underrated games i have played and enjoyed. It never gained the respect it deserved.

Battlefield Bad Company 2 had the most amazing squad mates and crazy story line before EA went ahead and screwed up Battlefield series with always online multiplayer crap.

The Sabotuer

Maybe I will stream some after iI get home from office today...so stay tuned!

Blogging, Vlogging and Streaming

2019-03-04T07:54:00.001-08:00

Now i realize how difficult it is to actually try multiple things at a single time. A part of me thinks i should master one of the activities and then move on or add the next activity.
But it is really difficult to remember what the vlog or stream was about to write into a blog. I think it would be really efficient if i can tie everything into a single thing, or maybe cut short on streaming.

It does take out a lot of time from my schedule especially after my day job. Let's see how it goes...

A new beginning..once again!

2019-03-02T01:07:00.001-08:00

So i am back to thinking what else can I do in my spare time and I keep revolving around the idea of starting to blog and vlog once again. Maybe something I am really good at..like motorcycling and gaming.

I just hope I dont abandon it like always after a while and continue writing and creating stuff.

Time machines (12/365)

2018-11-01T07:15:00.001-07:00

I have always been a huge fan of watches since I was a little kid. I loved the mechanical ticking sounds of analog or the beeps of a digital watch. In the 90s, that was a piece of technology you carried with you and it provided you with the most important commodity, time. There were no smart phones nor smart watches back then.
The obsession just kept in increasing as I grew up. Analog went to digital, then digital watches had planners in them and now we have something equally powerful as a small computer strapped to your wrist.

Now I am not a smartwatch or technology hater or anything but I have started feeling that smartwatches never had that appeal, that level of attachment you have had with your analog watches.

After switching from smartwatch to smartwatch I just understood no matter how much you love it and how brilliantly it's built, it is going to be obsolete or outdated in next 3 years. And considering the pace of improvements, I don't think many people wait till their smartwatch gets outdated, they will just buy it every year as like their phones.

Do we really need to change a watch every year? the only thing we need it is for the time and some minor features without having the hassles which come with phones or other pieces of technology.

Consider a watch which you have been wearing for the last 10 years, it would have been with you through thick and thin, through prosperity and adversity. You may have been dumped wearing that watch and may have proposed someone wearing that watch. The point here is, it has been there with you all this time, and it certainly has an emotional attachment.

Current gen smartwatches last hardly for 2 or 3 years before you need a battery replacement, and its not easy. By that time you realize the watch is no longer made and may not get the battery replacement and you are left with a very costly bracelet. Be it Apple, LG, Huawei or any company.

I started with an LG G watch then moving to Moto 360 1st Gen. I had a phase of life where I was keen on fitness and since my Moto360 barely lasted through the day without even fitness I decided to get Samsung Gear Fit. two years later I wished to get back to Android Wear and got the Casio WSD f10 (really good in batterylife till date after 2 years). but the charging struggle was real and with proprietary charging cables and dock which i forgot to carry, I used F10 majorly in timepiece mode just for the time.

Finally frustrated with smart watches I just got myself a Casio Protrek PRG650 tough solar and I have never looked back ever since. Although guilty of switching between protrek and WSDF10 based on need, F10 is great during rides when you need a quick glance at the notifications on a motorcycle.

So which time machine would you like to own?

Prediction or coincidence(11/365)

2018-09-20T01:10:00.001-07:00

Either Google is very good with prediction or has a good spying ability or it's just a coincidence.
Today is day 2 of me not consuming any processed sugar. It was just a causal discussion with my dad on obesity and weight loss and from the next day Google recommended '30 days without sugar' video on my YouTube timeline. I didn't search sugar or weight loss anywhere on google. And yet it was recommended.
But I am not complaining , the recommendation actually motivated me to take the leap to not have any processed sugar.
This means no waffles, no soft drinks, no burgers or pizzas and anything which is packaged. Really difficult if you are a bachelor like me who has no idea how to cook.
So first day was ok, second day I just started to feel hungry all the time but my energy levels stayed up which seems good. Let's see how it goes in the next few days.
Coming back to prediction, i am still not sure what caused Google to recommend the exact topic which I discussed and was nowhere searched or accessed over the internet. Or maybe it's just a trend here in my age group in India which is why it showed up.

Fixing broken things(10/365)

2018-09-19T01:20:00.001-07:00

The only way to move forward with life is to move on and if possible fix the broken things, repair. In recent times replacing things has been given such an importance, nobody thinks about repairing. In bikes ,slight issue with chain noise ends up with chain and sprocket replacement. A phone with a loose backplate, we buy a new phone. Many times we move away from stuff which has still life left, which can still be useful to us with a simple fix. Yet we prefer to move on.
And this has specifically been carried over to our nature, in our relationships. We prefer to replace than fix. We forget the Importance and memories associated with it and simply move on.
I believe everytime I buy something I put a piece of my soul in it. Maybe everybody does which is why we are attached to it. But if we start replacing stuff simply instead of taking any efforts in fixing it, we will keep loosing parts of our soul and it will make us insensitive towards things someday.
There are many relationships where there is a simple matter of communication, but people prefer replacement than fix.

I have decided I will bring the change in myself first before preaching here. :-). Which is why I have ordered strings for my guitar and a display replacement for my older laptop. Let the repair commence.