Tag: technology

The Balloon Holder – 24th April 2022

~ shaun tenzenmen ~ Leave a comment

Add another balloon to the balance
Watch the world from dizzy heights
Here’s another stone to pull you down
A day full of maybes and mights
Some days balloon turns to stone
And other days it’s the reverse
A terrible time turned out for the best
Then eating cake made things worse
Appreciate and accept these things
See them for what they really are
Everyone faces this difficult balance
And everyone has got this far
There are ways to share the weight
So be grateful when getting older
It’s ok to stay behind a while
Waiting to find the balloon holder

*inspired by an entry at The Tiny Wisdom

They laugh at me because I’m different. I laugh at them because they’re all the same.

often attributed to Kurt Cobain

Gratitude Journal

I am so happy and grateful to be able to video call Amy after her nights out and walk her safely home.

Sacred Solitude – 29th January 2022

~ shaun tenzenmen ~ Leave a comment

I must nourish myself to face the world
I’m always on the way to my home
I’m happy to have myself as my best friend
I’m never lonely when I’m alone

6th Mar 2024 – Submitted to Moonwashed Musings
11th Sep 2024 – Submitted to Word of the Day Challenge

All it takes to get better at something is first a willingness to be bad.

Austin Kleon

Gratitude Journal

I am so happy and grateful to all the people, technology and coordination that enables Amy to fly from here to Australia this weekend. It is not that long ago that this would be difficult to imagine.

The Book Of Joy – 2nd January 2022

~ shaun tenzenmen ~ 1 Comment

The comedy of survival
Tutu and the Dalai Lama toy
With this universal index
With this book of joy

All artwork is stored energy. The art releases its power whenever a viewer becomes a dreamer.

Larry Bell

Gratitude Journal

I am so happy and grateful for technology and being able to listen to my favourite music throughout the house now.

I was looking forward to a day at home, figuring out things to do as I go, when I woke up, Amy suggested going for a massage. As I went for coffee, fixed my bike number plate and worked out how to play music from my computer and into the kitchen stereo, my aching back and neck agreed that a massage is the best idea.

So, off we go.

The massage was of the relaxing type – not my favourite. I prefer pain for my money.

Give Me A.I. – 23rd December 2021

~ shaun tenzenmen ~ Leave a comment

Give me A.I., I’ll just be a brain in a box
Ditch my body for complete neuron unlocks
A twitching synapse controls my feeding tube
Lord Elon can come and change my lube
Devolution of thumbs, no longer required
Finally, it’s our thoughts to be admired
Give me A.I. and charge-free flying cars
Let’s get on the rocket and fuck off to Mars

Gratitude Journal

I am so happy and grateful for the technology that means we can video call our friends around the world. It’s a far cry from the dial phones I grew up with.

Last night, Amy and I had a long video and audio call with Aing in Bangkok. She was down and confused about her future and I learned a little bit about Amy as we talked. About myself too.

I was conscious of not just putting my ideas forward or just telling what I would do because I can’t really put myself into her situation exactly. Amy and I both listened more than talking, asking questions where appropriate.

Then Amy gave her some good advice. Aing felt better after this and we will try and help her as much as we can. She is a smart young lady with lots of potential. We would like to see her achieve her dreams rather than going along with what satisfies other people.

Amy and I talked more about it afterwards and she has a method in this kind of situation, which I didn’t really realise that I was doing too. That is to let the person talk and to listen carefully before offering any advice. Be sympathetic before a solution provider. Amy is very good at this. George too. I am getting better at it and try more these days to put myself in someone else’s shoes as much as possible.

Sometimes other people’s problems put more perspective into mine. Mine are all in my head. In fact, I would say most problems are just there. I try to put everything into categories of what I can control and what I can’t. That usually leads me to the way to the solution. Controlling my thoughts is the constant practice for the rest of my life.

Byrne’s Music – 11th November 2021

~ shaun tenzenmen ~ 1 Comment

It’s a sex diagram
A time machine
Program Annihilator
A heartbreak scene
Messages subliminal
A Smith’s repetition
Gimmick harmonies
A metaphor competition
Ambiguous lyrics
A chaotic romance
Banging the drum
A community dance
Disturbed facilitator
A melodic personality
Layered catalysts
A concerted reality

Inspired and mangled from here: http://davidbyrne.com/explore/tree-drawings-arboretum/photos/music-tree-2002/1 with added references to SST, The Fall and Scream. The tune in my head is the Minutemen’s ‘One Reporter’s Opinion’.
13th Apr 2024 – Submitted to FOWC with Fandango

Gratitude Journal

I am so happy and grateful for the possibilities to keep my brain engaged other than the mindless use of social media.

Here I am again, safely tucked up in my corner at House – talking online with the good students and anxious if the other students are actually doing any work.

Amy is busy working out more details for her trip to Australia and I’m wondering what I’m gonna eat when she’s away! I’ll need to get organised with shopping and potentially – shock! horror! – cooking! I think any cooking will purely involve potatoes, cheese, onion and garlic!

After a relatively good period with less neck ache, it seems to be playing up again. I’m back on the abs workout and hopefully that helps a little. I think that when Amy is not here, I will try sleeping in other places, second bedroom, lounges, etc and see if they make any difference. My neck has been a problem for more than a decade now. Hopefully, my general fitness improvements all keep me going a bit longer. Like another 50 years if possible!

I was surprised at the happy ending to the Aladdin story. I’m uncertain if there was any moral to be learned from the story and curious if it was told for any more purpose that is culturally adjacent to its places of telling. I always thought of being able to wish for anything as a curse; that was my cultural context.

Reading some Rollins last night resonated with me a lot, particularly about doing things alone. I need to check out more of his more recent writing again.

It’s 11:11 today and I don’t think I can afford to buy anything on sale at Lazada this time. I looked at the new MacBooks in Central yesterday, considering buying one sometime but also clinging on to my current machine as it is still pretty reliable. I often get these compulsions to get things even though I perhaps have no real need for them. And even though I can afford them, I’ve noticed myself more recently talking myself out of things or delaying that gratification, perhaps to enjoy the anticipation for longer. Anticipation is usually more pleasurable and longer-lasting than gratification.

I think I’ve already talked myself out of the new MacBook Pros and could easily manage with the MacBook Air, which is about half the price. For what I currently use it for, it is more than capable.

I also want to get a big iPad and would be happy enough with an older one, so long as it can store books and comics on it. I just want it for reading. Still, my current iPad is adequate, though some comics can be tough on the eyes after a while.

I also note to myself my many first-world problems while surrounded by people with their third-world problems.

The Week That Was – 11th February 1979

Some say it’s the beginning of the end – 1st December 2020

~ shaun tenzenmen ~ Leave a comment

Weight: 78.0kg
Resting heart rate: 45

Gratitude Journal

I am so happy and grateful for all the technology I am able to use these days. They make life much easier and can simplify boring tasks.
I am so happy and grateful for the sickness that has knocked me on my ass. I slept almost all day yesterday. I still have a bad stomach but feel better today. It reminds me that I’m not immune to getting sick. This is my first illness since last December.

Could not wait to get wired for sound – 7th January 2020

~ shaun tenzenmen ~ Leave a comment

Things to be grateful for in this school:
– I have a printer!
– There is aircon and fans.
– There are enough resources for my teaching.
– I have a lot of spare time.
– The keen students make me happy.
– I have a desk, electricity, chair, water, board and markers, TV and computer.
– I understand what I need to do.
– It’s easy to get to work.
– My co-teacher is helpful and nice.
– The other teachers are nice.
– There’s no real gossip or if there is, I don’t hear about it.
– I have good classes of kids.
– There is toilet paper!
– I’m learning to think whilst surrounded by noise.
– I’m practising patience every day.

Gratitude Journal

I am so happy and grateful for the ease with which I can talk with my son, something that was much more difficult when I moved away from my mum. I am so happy and grateful that I was able to afford technology when I wanted it and invested in expensive and long-lasting equipment.

From commonplace book

He had been not so much horrified by death as by life with the slightest knowledge of its origin, its purpose, its reason and its nature.

Levin, Anna Karenina by Leo Tolsoy, pg 904

To-do list

  • Get new passport photos. ✅
  • Start thinking about work permit requirements. ✅
  • Practice gratitude about the school.
  • Think, then speak. Do not complain. You will be surrounded by complainers. ✅
  • Write to Jochen. ✅

After attending a meeting in the morning, for a 4-day English ‘camp’ (not sure why they use this word) I was thinking a lot of negative thoughts. There was nothing particularly wrong about the items of the meeting but just the whole lack of coordinated planning got into my head. It affects the Thai teachers too as they are unable to answer our questions.

I kept my mouth shut as much as possible and started to feel complete disinterest in teaching in these schools. I even started to question my enthusiasm for teaching at home too. Thailand is getting to me a little bit.

I soldiered on and late in the day Kru Noon confided quite a lot of her doubts about the school. I used that opportunity to be quiet and she talked and talked. She had a lot of useful information though nothing particularly positive for the future at that school. So with all that, I don’t think I did practice any gratitude about the school today. Only having two lessons was a joy at least.

Amy and I both went to the track to walk/run after I got home. It’s tough to motivate yourself so I’m hoping to tie this habit with getting home from work and going for exercise. I feel pretty good at the moment (physically) and able to lose a bit of weight and keep it off. I pushed up squats to 40 and will stick with that for a week or two.

My self-control was mostly tested in that morning meeting and I think I did well and was able to tell myself ‘Shut up, don’t say anything’. Tomorrow I would like to continue this thinking before speaking practice, especially before saying anything negative. I think I caught myself a couple of times today and quickly tried to stop talking or change the subject

Who needs action when you’ve got words? – 25th December 2019

~ shaun tenzenmen ~ Leave a comment

After a busy and tiring Sunday, I’ve been struggling this week. I’ve just started to get my energy back but not quite there mentally. If I look at the last couple of days properly I can probably realise that everything has been going along as normal. Perhaps I’ve reached a kind of plateau at the moment and the next steps will require perseverance as the improvements in my life will be smaller. Who needs action when you’ve got words?

Gratitude Journal

I am so happy and grateful to have friends all around the world. Thankful for technology that makes it easy for us to communicate.

To-do list

  • Go to CRPAO – be courteous if see Kru Paew.
  • Write week 15 lesson.
  • Do not complain!
  • Stay calm.
  • Next Thai video

Did it list

  • Three good fun classes today.
  • Visit CRPAO and meet old students and teachers.
  • 30 squats and 30 weightless shoulder presses.
  • I don’t recall myself complaining today.
  • Complimented some students on good thinking.
  • Only one coffee today.
  • Watched another Thai study video and Drops (study).
  • I think I stayed calm all day today.
  • Joined some online courses.
  • Streamlined my email/web browsing.
  • Read 3 chapters.
  • Went from tired and a little down to happy and enthused.
  • Showed people around Auntie’s house for rent.

In my regular class today we played a team game and people reacted differently when losing – it was a perfect opportunity to introduce kids to the growth mindset. 
I started out today feeling a little tired and flat but thankfully I had three good lessons in a row, with a quick lunch in-between. 
Then going back to CRPAO and getting an overwhelming response from the kids was very gratifying. I’m starting to get a good bonding feeling with the kids at Anuban now though and really enjoying it there. 
Time is getting more precious now and I have to squeeze things in anywhere I can – some non-essential tasks will have to be removed.

Not Working – 15th July 2008

~ shaun tenzenmen ~ Leave a comment

Modern technology is rubbish.

2nd Nov 2023 – I think I disliked technology when I was working within its environment, as I was at the time. Since leaving I have become a little more forgiving, even though I still know that things should just work the way you want them to. I was obviously having a bad day and I’m guessing it was Windows related. Within the next 3 years, I would become a Mac convert.

Techno-Master – 23rd February 1984

~ shaun tenzenmen ~ Leave a comment

They travel in little white boxes
Machine-made machines in metal dances
Steel meets steel on foreign rocks
Crashing waves in circle trances

Kiss me to be clever
My heartaches mercury
Shiny lips of steel
From this century

Eating glass in broken shards
Hosting of metal Mardi Gras
Toast to our past as our century bleeds
We are the masters of a forgotten creed

Kiss me quick before I twist
It was a chance that we missed
Miss me now as I break
Technology was our mistake