expression in words
knowledge is power.
unapplied knowledge is unactivated power.
unapplied knowledge of a very knowledgable person is the choice to not exercise power.
refusal to use knowledge of a very knowledgable person out of ignorance is wasted power.
uncommunicated knowledge is stored power.
excessively uncommunicated knowledge is hoarding of power.
hence,
applied, well-communicated knowledge the best extraverted exercise of power.
backtrack
fucked myself up by missing scholarship applications.
and many other things in freshman year of university.
i shall not fuck up no more.
lets pray that scholarship applications are still available next year.
elasticity and bending.
One of the reasons why babies learn fast the way they do is because of the nature of the exposure and the elasticity of their minds. Right? Neurologists please correct, basing this only on my own reasoning lol.
They are exposed to many beginner level, novice stage, simple stuff. So it's like a big thing when a baby takes his first steps. From crawling to walking, the improvement is so vast, and the knowledge gained so much, so wide, but it ain't deep.
Same for many things. It's easy to learn the beginner stage and simple stuff first because our mind picks it up quickly and learns faster by practice. On the contrary, for the difficult stuff, you need to practice more. It's definitely harder for Usain Bolt to shave a second off his PB, than it is for me to accomplish the same.
For bboying, learning the beginnings of a windmill, nike, 6 step, indian step, handstand, or even flare, is alot easier than perfecting a flare. It is partially because of the nature of the move and the elasticity of the mind. When we first started bboying, we explored our style, know nothing about knowledge, and just want to form the first set as quick as possible. But as our style develops, we construct better sentences for our sets and replies, and our dance starts to make sense.
Then comes the difficult part. This is when improvement will slow. It's no longer so easy to get a move in one day. Our styles and tendencies make us, but sometimes also limit us. It becomes hard to make more minisets. Sometimes creating new stuff requires brainstorming.
But when you watch videos, you suddenly gain inspiration and have new ideas. Not so much of biting ideas, but the movement of another person opens up a little channel in your mind. More often than not you go like "that's fresh! why haven't I explored it?!" than "wtf was that shit?". The fact that you responded well means that there is a certain thing in his movement that you can make sense of. And the sense you made turned up to be something beautiful. All these is because of an exposure to another movement or idea, thought, interpretation.
But that's not all. we can go deeper. What does that imply? What does being inspired by an external idea mean? What can we conclude from this in the end?
To be inspired means that your mind, or your soul is receptive enough to an external stimulus to be influenced positively. Why this happens is because of 2 reasons:
1. The external stimuli and the person himself have a somewhat understandable understanding field.
2. The person himself has enough brain elasticity to capture and understand the stimuli, even if the difference between the stimuli and the person's mind are very far apart.
Reason 1:
Let's say if I'm going to teach a stranger bboying. And I start by teaching him 1990s straight up by telling him to go on 1 hand and spin like a top. Compare that with breaking down the steps, teaching him to go to handstand in a circular motion, then followed by a whip, then the lean. Why teaching step by step is alot more helpful is this: I convey my information in a way that the student understands and can connect with. To a passer by, seeing Cico do 32 1990s is like "WTF JUST HAPPENED". But to Boy, it may be something like "Oh so he sat in for more spin, that's all I need to do to sqweeze 15 rounds more?". 2 totally different reactions, because of the extreme discrepancies in knowledge and understanding ability.
Reason 2:
There was a period of time earlier this year when I was trying rainbows. I could not understand and feel the motion of the hollowback cartwheel, although I can do it. I just.. couldn't feel it! Until one day I went esplanade and ask Gilbert from FTC. He gave me a tip to reach far out with my second hard for the ground. When I did it, he told me to reach a little more backwards. Boom here comes the rainbow. AND I CAN FEEL IT (Thanks Gilbert, again). This is how I got reverse halo in 2 days. I was thinking that if I grub and place my nonstabbing hand down, my body will unwind, so all I need to do is to pull my left hand to encourage the CCW spin (thanks XF for that inspiration), and boom i spun, but didn't catch. The next day I caught so I got it!. This is how many of you suddenly got a move you didn't know you can. Apart from natural body tendencies granted to you since the Sperm fused with the Egg, your style and movements outside of bboying play a big role in your natural tendencies too. The trick here is, keeping your mind open and mouldable to new ideas, knowledge, perspectives. Things get a little different when you rephrase the question. Instead of "How should I surprise my girlfriend", you can explore the possibilities of startling your mom. Ok that's poor. Sorry I'm thinking of dinner and bboying later...
So long as your mind is mouldable and receptive to new ideas, you are able, physically, to do something new, because you are mentally ready for it. Learning a backflip on matress and road are 2 different things not because the road is easier. (FYI the difficulty of a backflip is influenced by how high you jump and how fast you spin, so matress consperm more difficult) But that we are mentally prepared to fall, so that frees up a large part of the brain. Just like jumping off a building won't kill you. But the 100mph impact with solid ground probably will.
Keep it elastic, keep bending it. Im not talking about your dick. But your mind, the key to unlock likes in the receptiveness of ideas, perspectives and discovery of your own.
Labels: bboy
why worry.
Ive always loved to chill.
I mean, what's the rush?
More often than not, it pays off.
It will pay off if this is taken in an inspiration for proactivity than an excuse for delayed reactivity.
But even so, proactivity isn't paranoia.
So chill.
But chilling is a bit difficult when others are worried for you. Or even about you. The worst thing is that they doubt you can take care of yourself. Sometimes, it may not even be so serious. Just an exasperated concern, albeit rational, could cause you to lose a certain confidence in yourself. Especially if the person is someone who you really value. As for me, I would believe that the person knows me enough to um.. worry, so it may be true.
But what if they don't? What if the person, although close to you, knows little about you? Your core self? How about when his perspective is forever marred by certain mistakes you made? What if the person cannot change his perspective, or listen to new stuff? Finally what if he and you are different people? Wouldn't that make knowledge more difficult?
I have always wanted to go on a working holiday.
Because, you know, I can travel AND earn the damn airfare back. In some cases, let's say if I work in Australia or New Zealand, I can definitely come back with a fatter wallet (and luggage). So money wise, it's not a problem.
PLUS, I know people in the States, Australia and New Zealand! All of them (except NZ) I have met personally.
Is there a spirit of doubt and worry? If there is it tickles me once in a while. Especially decisions like that. Investments of time.
The problem is when others say stuff like: How much will your savings be after the trip? Some of these places are very dangerous, better not go alone!
Which I understand is out of concern. Sometimes I can sense a tinge of discouragement, but nevermind its really okay. Most of the time, they are not interrogations or anything meant to scare me, because I am not least scared by it. Come on, Australia and the States, though more dangerous than our Singapore, isn't Baghdad. And most people who entered Baghdad made it out alive. Oh did I say they stayed there for many months? Facing guns? You probably didn't know that do you?
But what some of these concerns did is to make me think twice. Which is completely irrational. I can consider, but not THINK TWICE WHAT THE HELL. Sometimes, it made me doubt. It made me lose confidence. Which is irrational. I know more people, am more socially capable, more situationally aware, streetsmart and intelligent than the average chap. And I'm confident that I'm better in those aspects by a good deal more. How many of you know what hands in pockets could mean, or, look back every minute to see who's behind you, or recognize the streets you walk, or notice the environment change as you round the corner, notice vans and pickups, take note of exit routes, how to take down the person down the street the most effective manner, dress like the locals, avoid looking like an outsider, try to pick up accents (I failed at the chinese one so forgive me), take note of eye movement and planning what to do next instead of looking straight ahead when you walk to your car or convenience store, improve your peripheral vision and your night vision? and fire a pistol? OK i haven't learnt jungle tracking and survival because Im not in the infantry so im down on that part. But given those things I do with my head as I go to town and come back, am I not better prepared than the average person? PLUS I have the best insurance, a friends on the land itself.
So, why worry?
One should worry if he is going to face a task and he is not prepared for it.
But should not worry if he knows the Shit Hits the Fan and can't do a thing about it.
EVEN MORE should NOT worry if there is little shit and that he carries an umbrella to deflect shit away.
Most of the time, comments and concerns from others don't mean to discourage. But more of offer a perspective the person may or may not have thought of. But if every concern tickles your confidence in yourself by a noticeable amount, then, perhaps, you're worrying too much.
So this is how to send a chill guy into a tailspin.
You don't need him to worry himself out.
You just need to make him have doubts.
So knowing this, I won't go into a tailspin.
the solution
Let's say:
The return airfare from Singapore to Florida is: 1739 Singapore dollars.
And minimum daily expenses are: 20 SGD a day.
Hence, the total amount needed to exist for one day is:
1739SGD + (n*20SGD).
Deduction 1: it will cost less per day the longer I stay
Deduction 2: the proportion of cost of airfare on total cost will decrease the longer i stay'
Conclusion 1: Staying longer will equate to money better spent.
Conclusion 2: Staying longer will mean a less wastage of money spent on transport
So if I stay for 15 days (just on food.) in FL, it will cost:
1739 + (15*25) = 2114 SGD
That's assuming that I have accomodation for free. But just in case it's not free, and thru experience, the cost of hotel there was 31 per night because i booked on expedia. So let's recalculate.
1739 + (15*25) + (15*31) = 2579SGD
That's what I have to do to exist a day comfortably (not living off hamburgers and 1 dollar pizzas). No sightseeing and shopping. Wait. Haven't factored in transport.
The car rental in the states for 15 days is... 710USD with car insurance (extra 25USD a day cos im a F**KING YOUNG DRIVER), without GPS (im smart enough to bring a gps there now). Assuming i pump full tank once in 8 days, and the car contains 45L of petrol, then daily petrol usage is 5$. Hence, daily car cost is 58.6SGD.
HENCE, for a good transport, decent food and decent accomodation, it will be:
1739 + (15*25) + (15*31) + (15*58.6) = 3458
Finally, this is it. We, as bboys don't need to shop.
While it sounds stupid, it is actually not so, because I am a bboy, and my primary objective is to learn and not sightsee or shop.
Apropos, it is ridiculous.
How can you possibly spend 1739$ to go US and NOT SHOP?! DAMN.
So of course, let's come out with a shopping list. I would at least need to buy:
2 Shoes
There. So 2 shoes cost about 120USD (give abit of allowance).
But of course, there are many things that would catch my eye.
So let's calculate this way. Let's say eveyday a T shirt catches my eye, every 3 days a shirt catches my eye, every 4 days, a pants catches my eye, and every five days an Airmax catches my eye. So if a Tshirt is 15SGD, a shirt is 40SGD, pants is 40SGD, Shoes are 75 SGD, then, the daily shopping expense will be:
1*15 + .333*40 + .25*40 + .2*75 = 53SGD/day
So with these 2 essentials, and assuming (hoping) that i can get a free entry to Disneyland, and assuming i stay for 15 days, my total cost will be:
1739 + (15*25) + (15*31) + (15*58.6) + (15*53) = 4253
For 15 days. One person.
WTF.
The solution:
But, things get better when there are more people. For example, the car and the accomodation can be shared, which results in the case of 2 people:
1739 + (15*25) + [(15*31) + (15*58.6)]/2 + (15*53) = 3581
What wonder if there are 4 people travelling together. Let's add an extra $4.40 for the car cos... there needs to be more space yea. so it results in:
1739 + (15*25) + [(15*31) + (15*58.6+4.4 = 63)]/4 + (15*53) = 3261.5
Oh yes, if we can register a driver who is NOT under 25, then it will save us 31$ a day! Alternatively, you can travel after 25 but please...
1739 + (15*25) + [(15*31) + (15*63-31=32)]/4 + (15*53) = 3145
Finally, because of my vast network of bboys, and if they're hospitable enough, it would be great man, which means we would not need to pay for accomodation. Problem is: do they have space? Assuming that accomodation is 100 a week, it will mean 14 a day. shared by 4 is:
1739 + (15*25) + [(15*14) + (15*63-31=32)]/4 + (15*53) = 3081
3081SGD. This is the cost of going to Florida for 15 days, the most expensive state to go to in US because of the flights. Shopping, food, accomodation, and bboying included. The shopping part is 800SGD. For me its abit difficult to reach, but for girls..
So assuming i take a long vacation of 21 days there with 3 other friends,
1739 + (21*25) + [(21*14) + (21*63-31=32)]/4 + (21*53) + 31 on extra baggage = 3649
That's 1113$ of shopping, which is about 15 airmaxes with.
The solution: Hang on. How about I stay longer, and find temporary employment to earn back some cash?
The problem is, if that's so, I would have to travel on my own as I can't expect others to do this with me. So, travel expenses are (assuming I still rent the car, which isnt feasible): 167 a day. Very unfeasible.
But let's pray that I could stay with someone there in the states, the accomodation, be 100 a week, or 14 a day, it will mean a reduction of 17$ a day. If I don't rent that car (which i probably won't), then costs will be reduced by 58.6 a day.
Thus, daily living expenses will be:
25+14+53 = 92/day
If I live on one dollar pizzas and burgers, food expenditure will be 9 a day, equating to:
9 +14+53 = 76/day.
That's still spending 53 a day on shopping. And if i stay 2 months, I would have spent: 3200$, which is buying 42 airmaxes wtf. So let's say I go shopping once a week, and during which I buy an Airmax, 2 tees, 1 shirt and pants: 75 + 30 + 80 = 37/day. That equates to a ridiculous 8 airmaxes at the end. So let's half that number. which means i will spend 18.5 a day on shopping.
Hence:
Food (9) + Accom (14) + Shop (18.5) = 41SGD
Let's tabulate a hourly rate table, assuming I work 7 hours a day:
Rate (USD)
5 35 = 43.5
6 42 = 52.5
7 49 = 61
8 56 = 70
9 63 = 78.5
10 70 = 87.5
IF i can get a rate of 7USD an hour, i could make a surplus of 20 SGD a day.
Using that to service the cost of the airfare, the cost of travel would be:
1739 - (n*20).
So if I work for 2 months, the price of travel will be:
1730 - (60*20) = 530
If i work for 10 weeks, the price of travel will be:
1730 - (70*20) = 330
This is the solution to travel. Although an average tourist will suffer a lot from less shopping and less sightseeing, it's the most efficient method of travel. Because I got to travel, and I got to learn too. I would learn a hell lot about... almost everything. Let's hope I can get some allowance.. because if there is I could turn a 'profit'.
