A Glass And A Half For Some

I think I'm watching too many TV shows. It could just be because I have no one to talk to during my dinner time!

Anyways, there was a great documentary about excessive drinking, and the effects it has on your body. The program followed some guys out on the town, and in between the scientific stuff, had some random interviews with the guys, and their friends. Fun stuff.

So here are some of the facts that I gleaned from it:

1. Alcohol immediately affects the brain from the get go, increasing the pleasure and relaxant hormones, which is usually why the first drink is the best.
2. Women get more drunk not due to their size but by the relative amount of fat in their bodies, as fat does not contain water, and water dissapates the effects.
3. After two drinks, members of the opposite sex appear 25% more sexier.
4. Tetosterone levels actually decrease slightly with more alcohol. Oestrogren levels for women, on the other hand, increases a massive 400%, which is why you see all that booty shaking action on the dance floor. Why are men horny, then? Well, they are always horny, it's usually bottled up in self-control. That self-control is what is removed with alcohol (also induced by the said booty shaking that's happening in front of them)
5. Alcohol is a diuretic, and hence on a big drinking night, you pee more fluids out than drink in. Since the brain contains tons of water, water is reduced in this area as well, and the brain actually shrinks, causing that hammering feeling in your skull the next day.
6. Even when you have 0.00 alcohol levels the next day, your brain still can't function properly, leading to bad judgement ie the person sleeping next to you.
7. Testosterone levels will decrease with each drinking session. Over the long term, this is what leads to a shrinkage in testicles, reduced sperm cournt, and most badly of all, the dreaded man-boobs :)

And here ends today's lesson. Tune in next time when we discuss the effects of fast food. Alternatively, just watch Supersize Me!

Damn! ten cheap calls already:

well then.... i'll see you at the roof bar :p
ue - 30 June '04 - 18:51

So why does my voice go up to octaves when i get tipsy?
Lil - 01 July '04 - 06:54

It's the oestrogen talking
JookBoy (email) (link) - 01 July '04 - 07:06

Lil, i think its cos u go hypo too...when u go hypo on coffee...when E is trying to get u to do something ridiculous in public...when were pissing in our pants over another "incident" - you start squeaking!

=P
petals - 01 July '04 - 09:14

I'd always heard that with drinking - "the desire increases, but the performance decreases" ... now I know why! Well from now on - less drinks for me, more for the chicks :) more boo-tay shakin i say!
Dessy - 12 July '04 - 11:57

How can they say anything bad about the ultimate social lubricant?! How RUDE! Thou shalt not defame the drink!!
Peedz - 20 July '04 - 14:44

Perhaps you need to drink something harder than Malibu KC...the opposite sex becomes more attractive quicker no? :)

"After two drinks people of the opposite sex appear 25% more attractive" Hmm...does this work exponentially, or are we talking straight line correlation here?

Perhaps we should test this theory on you at our next night out!
ricegrains (link) - 12 August '04 - 07:48

Confirmed at Gold Coast. Everyone's hotter after 2 drinks!
JookBoy (link) - 21 August '04 - 16:21

That's right; and we have the evidence to prove it! w00t~
ricegrains (link) - 23 August '04 - 12:58

Why Is There Suffering?

I went to an Christian discussion session, talking about the reason that there is suffering in the world. The simply answer, from a Christian point of view, is that we are not in Heaven, and hence there is suffering. Whilst this argument makes sense, if you believe in Heaven, it doesn't help much if you don't. I think a lot of suffering occurs due to human selfishness, and the inability of people to recognise that it can be a win-win situation, rather than always win-lose, as we are taught from childhood.

The other question, which I thought was more interesting, was "what would be the worst things that could happen to you?"

A list that I thought of would be something like the following:
a) Loss of a loved one
b) Loss of freedom
c) Loss of hope
d) Some form of abuse, whether it be mental or physical
e) Loss of trust

Thinking about it further, I'm lucky to have not experienced any of the above to a great extent. And, as someone suggested to me that night, not having your mettle tested could mean that you do not feel that there is a need to rely of other people, or God, for that matter. I am of the firm belief that you are able to change the situation around you by the way you approach the situation (Yui, that "Fish" book was cool! I'll return it soon). Could this belief only work in events that are of less significance?

On another note, a friend of my brother-in-law was also in attendance. He had a good theory about why people have problems becoming Christian. Essentially, we all have a system of values and experiences (your character, as it were) that we put our faith in. We use this system to produce a certain set of results that we are happy with. The problem is that we need to put this system away, and take on a whole new system of values (as described in the Bible) to live our lives. And that's where it's tough, because no one wants to use an untested system, one that they have not had any experience in.

It's this leap of faith that takes the longest time, and one that, at this point in time, I am unable or unwilling to make.

Damn! fourteen cheap calls already:

I must say, I generally live by the motto "God helps those who help themselves" :) However, the thought that if you believe in him, God will protect you in life and death against any evil is quite a nice one too (Romans 8). But like you said, until you can take that leap of faith, it's just a nice thought, and not a belief I could live by either.
milli - 27 June '04 - 07:26

is it that you have have a different system of values - as in what u think is good and bad is prob gonna be similar to Christians?? - but maybe it'd be your motivation for doing things that would be different if you were Christian??
mushiejc (link) - 27 June '04 - 15:23

If God created the world, then by definition he created suffering (unless you subscribe to the argument that Satan had something to do with this, in which case, God is not omnipotent or all-powerful).

If that's the case, then God is one vengeful, sadistic bastard. Having said that, I now face the prospect of going to hell.

At least I'll get to meet Ghandi there.
-Stephen- (email) (link) - 27 June '04 - 19:19

-lol- just found this quote on bash, thought it was appropriate for topic of conversation:

Personally its not God I dislike, its his fan club I cant stand.
reenie (email) - 28 June '04 - 08:19

Yes, mushiejc, as I was told the other night, if you were Christian everything is done for the glory of God, rather than yourself.

Stepehen, I think the answer to that would be Man chose to make the world NOT heaven, and that is why there is suffering.
JookBoy (email) (link) - 28 June '04 - 13:22

i think putting faith in any system of values rather than my own is in effect saying that i don't believe in myself and i don't believe in my power to make judgements for myself, which scares me.

having said that, IMHO western society is fairly "Christian" anyway (follow Christian holidays, laws based around Christian ideals, large surrounding population of Christians, open advertising by Christians, ...) so our values have already shaped themself to be fairly close to Christian ones (with completely different motivation for doing things I admit)
al - 29 June '04 - 21:54

You're right al, we live by the Christian moral values. And truth be told, I think those values are great. Do they compare quite differently to the values you see in China?
JookBoy (link) - 30 June '04 - 17:25

"Do they compare quite differently to the values you see in China? "

Motto: If you can sell it for $2. I can sell it for $1.50
Peedz - 03 July '04 - 20:46

Normally very different... but I noticed apparently Chinese law does legalise one thing that many of us are doing "not so legally" in Australia : apparently it is OK to copy software for "testing" purposes here...
al - 04 July '04 - 21:50

Hi Kev.. just came across your blog through a friend. Haven't been keeping up with my blog rolling and must've missed yours! :) And yes you do know me, but I haven't seen you in a while.

Anyway, interesting post. I liked the way the friend of your brother-in-law put it, the theory on why people have a problem accepting christianity. I'm interested to know which place/church/organisation you went to for this Christian discussion session.

But yeh, keeping in line with what your friend said, I reckon it basically comes to this with most people: You want to be in control of your own life, make your own decisions and live whichever way you please.. rather than submit to someone else's (ie God's) authority over your life. I guess, I believe thats the heart of the problem (what the bible defines as sin), and contributes to a lot of the reason why there is suffering in the world.

Anyways, yeh, I think its cool you're willing to think about things like this, and even attend discussion sessions to investigate this stuff.
Kazzart (link) - 08 July '04 - 11:53

Hi Kazzart,

I went to my sister's church, I think it's called CPC, the one on Crown St in Surry Hills.
She's been going there since I was about 13.
The speaker for the night was a great guy, James Fong. Worth going just for his presentation!
JookBoy (link) - 10 July '04 - 15:13

Ahh yep, I know ppl from there.. think I've been there before too. And James Fong is an awesome speaker! I've heard him speak a few times before.. such a crack up! Heheh. Did he tell his "most embarrassing moment" story? Man.. so funny.
Kazzart (link) - 11 July '04 - 07:27

hehe i think i heard that bloke speak too ... he was great! was wondering - if ur values systems are all pretty similar to Chrisitian morals, than what would the so called "leap of faith" involve?
Dessy - 12 July '04 - 11:11

So what you're trying to say is that you're a Quasi-Christian Kev? :)

To quote Shakespeare: "A rose by any other name doth smell as sweet"

Couldn't the same be said about people living with Christian virtues and morals but not being Christian?

It's like people who live in de facto relationships but who choose not to get married. Some people just want to do it their way.
ricegrains (link) - 12 August '04 - 07:43

The New Bloke

Reading the newspaper as I was relaxing down in Jervis Bay (thanks Milli and Matt for organising!), I saw that another guy persona was identified. An excerpt:

The New Bloke is no wimp but he is no male chauvinist either, though he gets a laugh out of pretending to be: mock chauvinism is one of his party tricks and he enjoys satirising his unenlightened comrades.

He's typically in his twenties, relaxed and confident about his masculinity, attractively blokey in style. To borrow the key word from the women's movement, the New Bloke is liberated. Try to get him talking about politics and he'll steer the conversation to girls, jobs, girls, sport, girls, the internet, girls, movies and drugs (of the legal and illegal variety).

He is as interested in having a good time as any bloke ever was, but the big difference is that he knows women are equal. He accepts that a serious relationship with a woman involves taking her identity and her needs seriously, and that the woman's agenda is just as important as the man's. (Some of his best mates are women, by the way.)

The New Bloke despises "old" blokes who pretend to be in love so they can get a woman to sleep with them. The New Bloke is explicit about the difference between uncommitted and committed sex, and he knows plenty of girls who are equally clear about that distinction.

Often posing as a traditional larrikin, he wouldn't want you to know he's reshaping the world, but that's his agenda: he wants us all to have more fun, to lighten up, to accept that the pathway to good relationships between the sexes lies in an acceptance of genuine equality. Any other way of operating strikes him as being unfair, unsustainable and just plain silly.

And for once, I would like to be that type of guy! And upon further thought, I would say that most of my friends fall under this category as well.

Which makes me wonder, why do we have these attitudes? Why is there such a difference from the perceived notion of Asian guys having no respect for their partners, and us? I guess it's because we have been raised in a Western society that allows us to see this "equal opportunity" at a much more developed level than if we had not emigrated from our homelands. And for that, I'm very glad to be living in Australia.

On another note, is that why most girls I know think of Asian guys that are still living in their own countries as "ugly"?
Seriously, there cannot be that much of a difference in the way people look if you're both from the same ethnic background, can it? Hence, could it be not of the looks but rather on their outlook on women?

Of course, this can be taken to the other extreme, where a man has too much respect for his partner, and ends up having no equality of his own. Which reminds me, Bill, can I get one of those Chop Design shirts done with a big thumb crossed out within a red circle, and the words "No Thumb!"? :P

Quote for the holiday:
Kev: Helen, why are you sucking that pickled gerkin?
Helen: Cause I like to suck....oh dear

Damn! sixteen cheap calls already:

I'll start working on some designs :)
What about one for Helen with the phrase "I like to suck..." and a picture of a pickled gerkin?
ding! (link) - 14 June '04 - 10:34

this ought to get her commenting.
ue - 14 June '04 - 12:24

Nah, she'll blatantly ignore all these cheap calls :)
JookBoy (email) (link) - 14 June '04 - 14:03

Hmmm IMHO sophistication is the difference between overseas chinese and chinese still living in their homeland.

Cheap tacky clothing, people standing waaaay too close when talking, lack of consideration for others, unwillingness to splurge on lifestyle... it ain't the same in Shanghai :(

As for outlook on women; well, in Shanghai, women are (big generalisation) typically more ferocious... so men actually have to give way to them a lot. i'm not sure if outlook on women is what is unattractive about asian guys living here. i think its more of a general outlook on life :p
al - 14 June '04 - 23:43

Ferocious eh Al? You love it mate :)
Peedz - 15 June '04 - 13:56

5 guesses to what 'S' in helens middle name might be?
the vault - 16 June '04 - 09:38

Ooh...good call from the Vault; you couldn't resist posting it could you Kev? Oh well, if you weren't going to, someone else would have :)

And ferocious women? You would know something about that wouldn't you KC?

I'm not sure if the word is sophistication though Al..can't put my finger on it, but I'm thinking of another word...can I get an ABC up in here? :)
ricegrains (link) - 17 June '04 - 10:24

I'm down for ferocious women...Mary-Ann always tells me to go after hard chicks :)
JookBoy (link) - 18 June '04 - 09:10

hard chicks maybe but not ferocious - they end up growing into those scary old asian dragon ladies!!
mushiejc (link) - 20 June '04 - 16:32

good point, i wonder what cutesy girls grow up to be like though? will they always remain cutesy?

bogi: i think i worked it out. could it be bad teeth?

peedz: give it to me baby ... armpit hair included
al - 20 June '04 - 21:12

Too much cutey when you're older I don't think works very well. You gets no respect!

So al, it's probably a good business opportunity to start up a dental surgery in China? Or do people just not care?
JookBoy (email) (link) - 21 June '04 - 12:02

I read somewhere that Japan has the highest rate of malocclusion in the world. An orthodontist prob won't get much business there. Coz apparently the snaggle tooth look is cute. Ugh.

Don't know about China though.
milli - 22 June '04 - 06:35

My girlfriend tells me Japanese have smaller jaws, but still generally have to fit the same amount of teeth as other people (28)

China ... maybe it's more about discoloured teeth than misplaced ones?

I think you could make a lot of money as a dentist for foreigners here though. I paid 3900RMB to have two wisdom teeth extracted last year ... whereas my local friend paid 90RMB, no kidding!
al - 22 June '04 - 21:39

al - was that cause you got anaesthetic and proper dental equipment, whereas your friend got thread wrapped around the wisdom tooth at one end and a door knob at the other?
reenie - 23 June '04 - 09:37

interesting article, dude. Though I reckon it's just a new fad/label, same as the metro or the SNAG.

Best bet is to go for macho. It just keeps coming back.

RC
randomcow - 09 August '04 - 05:15

No fear? It's too much of a lie!
I'm not down for any type of scary movies :)
JookBoy (link) - 10 August '04 - 06:57