My lying family

URL: Louise's father was a cheating scoundrel who had two other families. So why does she blame it all on her mother?

I've read the article above and it reminds me of my father who is now on his third wife. My father was away all the time when I was little, and it wasn't until I was older that I found out what was happening. 

Most people were surprised that I didn't seem to care about the lies, deception, cheating, adultery, and so forth. I didn't get angry or lash out at anyone, but deep down I am extremely angry. I will never forgive and I haven't forgotten about it many years on.

I can hate my father all I want for what he has done but the reality is that what is done is what is done, and all I can do now is just disrespect him and never follow any of his commands. Rather than be a loyal son, I just do what I want and expect him to follow me, not the other way around. I will never help or support him or take care of him when he is old. In fact, everything is already set. His new wife will need to take care of him as he gets older, as will his new children (my half-siblings). I don't really need to think about my father. He has a lot on his plate with his new children. They are a handful.

My mother is alone now, and I have become her de-facto husband, which I resent because I feel like it is my right to be my own person. My mother is my mother, not my wife. My mother is my dad's second wife. I don't know if my father cheated on his first wife with my mother and I have no idea whether my mother knew that my father was cheating on her with his third wife. In a way I feel it is her fault for not being suspicious enough of her husband or lover, and I don't feel like it's fair for me to suffer as a result of her lack of due diligence.

I have changed my attitude now. If people around me are liars who try to control me, there is no humour in my conversations. I don't smile. I am serious, and I tell them that they are to follow my commands or else I will hurt them, and if they try to push me or control me, I will push them, and I will hurt them if they push me too hard, and I am prepared to die to defend my boundaries.

Pandora vs iTunes Radio

Pandora is great. It provides free music. You select what type of music you like and Pandora will automatically play that type of music. If you're in the mood for relaxing music to study to, you can set Pandora to play ambient music. If you're in the mood for catchy tunes, you can set Pandora to play the latest popular music. The versatility, simplicity, and low cost of Pandora is what makes it appealing.

Recently, however, there has been talk that iTunes Radio, which is similar to Pandora, will pose a threat of Pandora's business. However, it turns out that iTunes Radio has not had much impact at all on Pandora.

Why is this? It's difficult to know what is happening at a macro level, but in terms of why I haven't switched to iTunes Radio, the main reason is that I would need to buy an Apple device, i.e. an iPhone, iPad, Apple TV, etc. If iTunes Radio were available not only on Apple devices but also on Android and on web browsers (like Pandora is) I think it would be much more popular.

When I told this to a friend, she asked me why I didn't buy an iPhone, given that the amount I paid for the Sony Xperia Z was about the same price as an iPhone 5. The answer is that if I got the iPhone 5 instead I would have to compromise. I wouldn't get expandable storage, I would get a smaller battery, lower resolution screen, a slower processor, less RAM, and a phone that is not waterproof.

Losing respect for my parents

I used to respect my parents and did everything they told me to do.

Then I learned about the womanizing, the deception, and the financial mismanagement, and I wanted to distance myself from my parents.

I now do what I want to do and expect my parents to follow me, not the other way around. I am the leader of the family, not the follower.

I fear that the closer I get to my parents the more I will be contaminated by their impurities.

Women with big bags

I travel light. I just bring around a wallet, my keys, my phone, a handkerchief, and a small umbrella when needed. But many women, I notice lug around massive bags. Some say it is for makeup, but can't makeup be applied at home?

Khmer translator for Android with Khmer fonts

I have Khmer parents who don't speak English well. My Khmer is not as great ad my English, so communicating with them has always been difficult.

When I learned that Google Translate would now support Khmer, I celebrated because now I can use Google Translate to communicate with my parents.

Unfortunately, when I install Google Translate on my Android phone, the Khmer translation shows up using the Roman alphabet because Google Translate does not support Khmer text. This is a bummer since it means I will mot be able to show my parents the Khmer text. They cannot read the Roman alphabet well.

This problem was fixed simply by installing another app from the Google Play store called Instalator. This app is powered by Google Translate but in versions of Android greater than 4.0 it supports Khmer text. It is perfect.

Don't use Zovirax for cold sores

About one year ago, I had an outbreak of cold sores. I took Famvir immediately, which seemed to work.  Famvir is pill that you take as soon as you see the cold sores appear. My doctor gave me extra prescriptions for Famvir.

Unfortunately, recently, about a year later, I had another outbreak of cold sores. I tried to find the Famvir prescription but I had lost it. Instead I purchased Zovirax, which is a cream you apply to the cold sore to treat it.

The bottom line is that Zovirax seems to work, but the package and the internet say that you cannot swallow Zovirax. This is completely unreasonable because cold sore almost always break out on your lips or near your lips. If you apply Zovirax to your lips to treat cold sores, you will eventually swallow the cream when you eat, drink, or sleep.

I will ask my doctor for prescriptions of Famvir so I don't need to use Zovirax (or Blistex or similar cold sore creams) when I have a cold sore outbreak again.

Importance of Battery Life on Phones

http://gizmodo.com/5992917/battery-life-is-the-only-spec-that-matters

The article above talks about the importance of battery life in phones, saying that many phones nowadays make the mistake of sacrificing battery life for thinness and lightness.

I actually don't think battery life is important. So long as the device lasts for one day, there is no need to worry. Most people charge overnight as a daily habit and don't think about it.

The iPad 3, with 11,000 mAh battery capacity, will last a long time, but it is too big. Your arms will get sore carrying it around for too long. The Nexus 7, however, is thin, small, and light, and it lasts long enough.