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My Place on the Net.
July 2025
2025/07/15
I'll be visiting my friend on Thursday. Now that I received my first salary this year, life is feeling good again. Besides, I don't want to say much yet as it usually brings bad luck, but I might have found a drummer to jam with: my old friend from high school.
P.S: The website was getting too out of hand again. So I made it a bit simpler and reverted back to the 90s :-)
2025/07/11
I didn't post for a few days, so I waited for some time to think about my life a bit more. Getting philosophical is not something I like to do, even though I used to be philosophical in order to impress people. But anyway, recently, I've started having dreams in which the day continued as though I never fell asleep. Now here's the funny part: when I wake up, sometimes it is hard to differentiate what is real. But only for the first twenty minutes or so...
2025/07/10
I promised not to play videogames anymore. Yet here I am again. I had to delete the WoW account and now I am about to finish the original Demon's Souls on PS3. In the meantime I had to occupy myself in some other way. As always, I did play the bass or watched some movies. I know it might seem boring to write all about the same things, but I suppose this proofs that life is indeed a cycle. But I am, frankly speaking, happy, that I am somewhat consistent with playing bass. I used to pick up whatever interested me only to quit after any failure.
I should be careful what I write here as I don't want to be the one who keeps breaking their promises. And so I am going to stop talking and then-maybe-doing and start doing first and then do the talking.
P.S. Now that I work in a shopping mall, I have become an impulse buying shopaholic. And it's driving me and my wallet insane.
2025/07/09
As I finished my shift at 9, I pet a cat sitting on the pillar, even though somewhat reluctant. I drove home while there was still daylight outside. That's why I like spring and summer the most. Even though I did not have time to play bass, I was ecstatic. The moment when you drive home from work has got to be the best ones in my life.
And even though sometimes I wish I were unemployed once again to have all the free time in the world to touch the strings of the bass and feel their tension as it presses against the neck, I think I'll prefer having some form of income anytime. And even though I sometimes feel as though nobody understands me and I have no one to have by my side, I think Charles Bukowski once said something along the lines of "If you come home and there's no one to ask you how's your day been, no one to keep you company, isn't it freedom?"
2025/07/02
Life need not be eventful everyday and that's okay. After all, perfection is the greatest illusion. But after some inactivity, I believe a few things have happened that are worth updating.
Firstly, I am feeling more confident in both my actions and the way I talk. It's as though I am no longer feeling the need to blindly agree with everyone but have my own opinion. Sometimes it can feel as though I have my own opinion for the sake of having my own opinion. I am aware of that.
Apart from that, a friend I haven't seen for a very long time asked me if I would like to jam with him sometime after seeing my bass covers. So now I am practicing even more vigorously than before. I set up a playlist of about 20 songs I would like to learn.
People like to give themselves as many labels as possible in order to feel important. So I guess I am a son, an older brother, a bass player, music enthusiast, an avid cook and an avid reader. I do like watching movies and despite being there for the large part of my life, I don't enjoy videogames that much anymore. I do like women and I do have some acquintances that I am attracted to. And that's okay. Because I am Kenough.
June 2025
06/19/2025
As I am writing these lines, I have a Word document opened in the background. I am about to finish translating a book of pictures drawn by Taiwanese author Jimi. I must say I really like his style. It is seemingly childish but I think he is influenced by Buddhism and the mindfulness and being bereft of ego.
I really hope AI will not take over the job of translators. At least not for the next 10 years. Otherwise the humanity will be one step closer to its destruction. Is there a way to sabotage AI?
Well, anyway. Here's some Radiohead.
06/16/2025
This week I am working every day. I guess I'm not complaining, at least I get some money.
However, many times I've found myself in a situation, where I had to choose between playing videogames after work or doing something more productive. I have seen what complacency did to my friend so I am always trying to do anything but play videogames. Reading books, playing bass, watching a new movie, learning languages, you name it.
My favourite YouTuber Kneecap Jake compared this after-work 'limbo' to a hollow from Dark Souls. And I think he's right. The more you get comfortable and your life starts becoming monotonous, the more you start rotting from the inside until you become completely hollow. So a reminder to not only myself: 'Neither of us want to see you go hollow!'
P.S: No Surprises is such a fun song to play on a bass!
06/10/2025
I think the color scheme of this blog was making me depressed and this was reflected in the writing. So instead of doing a proper 'spiritual cleansing' I was still stuck in 'Victorianesque lamentations' of the stiff upper lip.
I like to think of this change as a lotus. First it needs mud in order to sprout into a beatiful flower.
06/08/2025
First week on the job. I have a week off so I am practicing dilligently with a metronome. For some reason, I thought my rhythm was just fine for the past ten years of noodling with the guitar (but I can't keep up with the rhythm at all!)
Anyhow, I have a full week off, so I will be a tour guide for a couple of friends visiting me this week. It's gonna be fun.
P.S. I should keep searching for a more suitable job and stop being complacent. And yeah, Colin Greenwood is my favourite bass player :)
06/05/2025
Time passes and there is nothing new in particular. Maybe except for the fact that I decided to style my hair a little differently and am officially sporting a curtains haircut. Is it cool anymore? I don't care. I've always wanted to try one.
I always used to think of myself as a smart guy. At least that's what my parents and everyone around always told me. But now that I barely got my college degree (but still got it, ha!), I started doubting my true intelligence/wisdom. But maybe that has kickstarted my passion for learning new things. Back then I took everything for granted and when I had to tackle challenges, I just gave up and stayed in my comfort zone.
This leads me to another point. Now that I have started working the significant reduction of free time is quite noticeable. And I think it actually makes me appreciate it even more and thus be more intentional about how I spend my free time. Just wanted to share it with you all. Maybe it will motivate you, maybe not.
06/03/2025
I think I am much happier now that I have a job and some form of income. Sure, it's not the kind of job I studied so hard for, but oh well. It's my first job after all. And working in retail is not that bad either.
Secondly, my Taiwanese friend visited me for a few days before flying to Amsterdam. Confucius used to say: "Isn't it nice to have a friend arrive from afar?"
Thirdly, my plans of living smartphone free are shattered as my shifts are posted in a WhatsApp group. While not ideal, I have disabled every browser I had on my phone as well as YouTube.
Oh yeah, and everyday after work I play the bass. It is so relaxing and fun at the same time. But I must admit, I'll have to work intensively on my fretting technique if I want to be a great bass player.
May 2025
05/28/2025
Let's get philosophical for a moment. I suck major ass at guitar. The worst thing is I've played guitar as a hobby for more than 10 years. And while I think bass is super cool, it makes me sad that I suck at guitar. Full five stages of grief in one day. But on the other hand, I really want to be good at something, perhaps even exceptional. So I'm going full bass. Maybe if I learn a thing or two from bass, I'll get better at playing guitar. I think I need a priority to set: is it going to be job, fitness, or music? I am going to try my best at all of them, but fitness will be my no. 1 priority. The reason is because I kind of need to be in shape in order to get a better job.
The second insight is the amount of philosophical fluff I've been able to come up with at night. I realised that I used to hate my country because I did not know that much about it. But the more I know my country, the more I can understand and therefore I am not as resentful as I used to be. I was actually surprised that I came up with this as about 90% of my thoughts come from the internet. I hate to admit it, but it's true.
05/26/2025
Today I woke up feeling ill. So the things I wanted to do today will have to wait till I get better. In the meantime I binge watched the entire season 3 of the Peep Show.
Yesterday I got a message on Messenger from a friend asking me to hang out. But by the time I got to check the message, he had already gone out. I guess that's one of the disadvantages of not being chronically online.
In case I won't need to use a smartphone for my job, I guess I'll continue being disconnected and see where it goes. A few days ago I got asked if my 'dumbphone' can access internet, Whatsapp, Maps and what not. They looked horrified when they heard I can only make calls and text. I mean I don't blame them. I've been a smartphone user for at least half of my life. I don't remember times when people walked the streets not glued to the screens in their hand either.
05/25/2025
I went for a run just to get some fresh air. It's crazy how many thoughts run through your head at the night when you don't watch YouTube. It got up to a point that I wanted to get up and hop on YouTube for a few minutes. Like a child wanting a pacifier hah.
05/24/2025
Even though I've been telling myself that I will get rid of all my bad habits since Covid hit, I feel like I am still stuck at square one. None of the self-help books I've read made me a better person.
But the thing is, nobody is going to help me but myself. If I just keep reading these books without taking any action, nodding in agreement with every advice and patting myself on the back for nothing, I am just deluding myself. I think Irwine Welsh summed it to perfection in Trainspotting:
“The truth is that I'm a bad person. But, that's gonna change - I'm going to change. This is the last of that sort of thing. Now I'm cleaning up and I'm moving on, going straight and choosing life. I'm looking forward to it already. I'm gonna be just like you. The job, the family, the fucking big television. The washing machine, the car, the compact disc and electric tin opener, good health, low cholesterol, dental insurance, mortgage, starter home, leisure wear, luggage, three piece suite, DIY, game shows, junk food, children, walks in the park, nine to five, good at golf, washing the car, choice of sweaters, family Christmas, indexed pension, tax exemption, clearing gutters, getting by, looking ahead, the day you die.”
How am I gonna take action? Commit to meditations, like big time. I'm going all in: deleting all video games. They don't do me any good anyway. Then reduce screen time. Then socialize. That's what I'm gonna do. 90 days full commitment. Then I can choose whether to go back or continue. That's what I'm gonna do.
05/23/2025
After more than 10 years of playing guitar I did the unthinkable: I bought a bass! The problem is I don't know anyone who would be willing to play with me.
I have written so many blogs but I wasn't happy with any of them. So I decided to stop caring and that's why this blog is mainly html and few lines of CSS only. The Chinese call this can't-be-bothered state as Wu Wei 無爲. Maybe I've been caring so much about everything and it's time to just let go.
05/21/2025
After a bit of a videogame binge I'm back on track baby! Recently I found a full-time job. After 6 months of being rejected over and over again.
The key take of today is that now that my phone is broken I am actually more productive without it. I think it has to do with the fact that while smartphones do have smart banking, bus tickets and navigation, it has become plagued with apps trying to grab your attention. In other words, it has become so convenient that it is inconvenient.
P.S. I have to post more often.
05/13/2025
I'm 26 already, but I don't feel like it at all. People my age used to already have small children, paying their mortgage and working on their career. I haven't even started yet. On the other note, after spending the last three months learning to do programming and reading books, I found out I actually want to get better at playing guitar, meditating, going to the gym and writing/translating books. This is my life purpose now and as cliché as it sounds, maybe journey is the destination
05/08/2025
Today marks the end of the WWII. Hands down, there will never be another brave generation as the one who fought in war.
Truth be told, the only thing I did in my life was playing video games and studying dilligently. None of the things will truly prepare you for the real life. But that makes it all the more purposeful. I have always struggled with finding my purpose, so I guess I'll have to reread Dr. Frankl's book to get back on track. Maybe figuring out what I want from my life is a good foundation.
05/07/2025
I got back on track with the Udemy Web Development Course and now I'm doing JavaScript. Other than that, still no job prospects. But I might be getting close this time...
05/05/2025
After a short break of indulging in alcohol and porn I ask myself: is it really worth it? Since I'm still unemployed I don't even feel like searching for a job anymore. But I am still going to the gym at least once a week.
05/01/2025
I read three books in April. The Fellowship of the Ring, Eugene Onegin and Othello. I think I even improved my reading a bit because of meditation. And mainly because I focused on the process of reading and not reading in order to have a book finished and brag about it.
April 2025
04/30/2025
James Clear writes about the Atomic Habits in his book of the same name. Basically our life boils down to the habits and the systems that we create. Even if we improve only a bit every day, in the long run we improve a lot. So, out of all the habits I want to return to, I think meditation is a clear winner as far as the foundation is concerned. Meditate everyday for at least 5 minutes, that is the goal.
04/29/2025
Today I found out that I no longer enjoy World of Warcraft. The reason might shock you. I think I never really liked the game in the first place. I never lived through that moment and I only picked it up because of the hype. I thought I would make some friends there, but it only left me feeling more isolated from the world.
04/28/2025
Choose your friends wisely. They will either help you accomplish things you've always dreamt of or bring you down. So far I only had the luck on the second kind of friendships.