FWD: Nurse reveals the top 5 regrets people make on their deathbed

So this was an article I stumbled upon a while back, and I have now decided to share it here on my blog,

1. To serve as a constant reminder of the important things in life: not money, not sports cars, but these.
2. To share this good read with my fellow readers
3. To let it forever be in one of my archives so that I can look it up easier compared to Facebook
4. To remind myself that this is one of the rare articles that could bring me to tears

Pasting starts here, originally written by a nurse working in palliative care:

For many years I worked in palliative care. My patients were those who had gone home to die. Some incredibly special times were shared. I was with them for the last three to twelve weeks of their lives. People grow a lot when they are faced with their own mortality.

I learnt never to underestimate someone’s capacity for growth. Some changes were phenomenal. Each experienced a variety of emotions, as expected, denial, fear, anger, remorse, more denial and eventually acceptance. Every single patient found their peace before they departed though, every one of them.

When questioned about any regrets they had or anything they would do differently, common themes surfaced again and again. Here are the most common five:

1. I wish I’d had the courage to live a life true to myself, not the life others expected of me.

This was the most common regret of all. When people realize that their life is almost over and look back clearly on it, it is easy to see how many dreams have gone unfulfilled. Most people had not honoured even a half of their dreams and had to die knowing that it was due to choices they had made, or not made.

It is very important to try and honour at least some of your dreams along the way. From the moment that you lose your health, it is too late. Health brings a freedom very few realise, until they no longer have it.

2. I wish I didn’t work so hard.

This came from every male patient that I nursed. They missed their children’s youth and their partner’s companionship. Women also spoke of this regret. But as most were from an older generation, many of the female patients had not been breadwinners. All of the men I nursed deeply regretted spending so much of their lives on the treadmill of a work existence.

By simplifying your lifestyle and making conscious choices along the way, it is possible to not need the income that you think you do. And by creating more space in your life, you become happier and more open to new opportunities, ones more suited to your new lifestyle.

3. I wish I’d had the courage to express my feelings.

Many people suppressed their feelings in order to keep peace with others. As a result, they settled for a mediocre existence and never became who they were truly capable of becoming. Many developed illnesses relating to the bitterness and resentment they carried as a result.

We cannot control the reactions of others. However, although people may initially react when you change the way you are by speaking honestly, in the end it raises the relationship to a whole new and healthier level. Either that or it releases the unhealthy relationship from your life. Either way,you win.

4. I wish I had stayed in touch with my friends.

Often they would not truly realise the full benefits of old friends until their dying weeks and it was not always possible to track them down. Many had become so caught up in their own lives that they had let golden friendships slip by over the years. There were many deep regrets about not giving friendships the time and effort that they deserved. Everyone misses their friends when they are dying.

It is common for anyone in a busy lifestyle to let friendships slip. But when you are faced with your approaching death, the physical details of life fall away. People do want to get their financial affairs in order if possible. But it is not money or status that holds the true importance for them. They want to get things in order more for the benefit of those they love. Usually though, they are too ill and weary to ever manage this task. It is all comes down to love and relationships in the end. That is all that remains in the final weeks, love and relationships.

5. I wish that I had let myself be happier.

This is a surprisingly common one. Many did not realise until the end that happiness is a choice. They had stayed stuck in old patterns and habits. The so-called ‘comfort’ of familiarity overflowed into their emotions, as well as their physical lives. Fear of change had them pretending to others, and to their selves, that they were content. When deep within, they longed to laugh properly and have silliness in their life again. When you are on your deathbed, what  others think of you is a long way from your mind. How wonderful to be able to let go and smile again, long before you are dying.

Life is a choice. It is YOUR life. Choose consciously, choose wisely, choose honestly. Choose happine(ss)

Pasting ends here...................................................................................................................

I was originally tempted to pay my tributes to the original author by referencing it using the APA 6th style, but I was unable to identify him/her, as this article surfaced in the web around 2011, and possibly even before that. Many online publishers have copied and pasted pretty much the same thing and I was unable to pinpoint the original author due to poor referencing. And also, since I could not determine whether karenstan.net is a news page or a blog, I just decided to ignore it and just give the original link from FB here, so..

- See more at: http://www.karenstan.net/2013/11/11/nurse-reveals-top-5-regrets-people-make-deathbed/#sthash.M0uPXp4r.dpuf

P.S. If you know who the original author was, please do drop me a comment below. :)

Until next time!

-Shinn

Dota 2 - 10 Reasons Why the Transition was a Bad Experience for Me + mini-Review

I'm sure the word Dota is no stranger to anyone who's been into an internet cafe, or owns a computer. But today I'm not gonna talk much, just a little about Dota 2 - a standalone sequel to the immensely popular Warcraft III mod, Defence of The Ancients.

IGN's Video Review:


Gamespot's Video Review:


So this game has been around for quite some time, I received my beta invite like 1.5 years ago, I still remember it like it was yesterday, sounds like a cliché i know, but it's the truth. And I still have my e-mail kept, I looked it up in my Steam inbox, and Voila! The date says June 23rd, so 1.5years sound about right. Screenshot below:

My Dota 2 Beta Invite

I was overjoyed when I received this cuz I was the first among my friends to be able to play this. So I played my first match of Co-op versus AI, and I didn't like choosing heroes so I randomed Invoker.Then I was like sh*t, i can't remember the invoke list, but you know what? I'm just gonna go with this cuz I want the extra gold. Nonetheless, it was definitely a bad experience at first cuz:

1. I had stopped playing Dota 1 for some time, skills were very rusty
2. Even in the original, I wasn't a very good Invoker player
3. I didn't know how to check the invoke list
4. Vastly different AI behaviour
5. We used to buy by left-clicking, then it was switched to right clicking
6. Searching for items was a pain in the ass at first
7. Different interface, icons, character models
8. Glyph of Fortification and Creep Kills/Denies were nowhere to be found until I noticed my bottom right
9. A minor one - the original's 'Sentinel vs Scourge' had become 'Radiant vs Dire'
10. The overworld map was darker overall, where the original was brigther; the map in the UI felt smaller too

Offline Mode Home Screen: I was selecting my AI difficulty here, as you can see, Unfair is the hardest as of now.

Hero Selection Screen V1: This is what I'd like to call - The Horizontal View, which I prefer less, but you do get to see the detailed facial animations of the heroes that we have all come to know and love.

Hero Selection Screen V2: This is the Grid View, where it's easier to select heroes based on availability, and type(S,A,I), the one I prefer.

Post-game Stats: My first ever perfect run against the Unfair AI, with no deaths and 26 kills. (Just only finished this match at 9pm Novermber 12th)

Even so, the change isn't so bad once you get used to it, and in fact, the change is for the better. The slicker GUI, the superb graphics, the sound design, item search and organisation - everything just looks and feel better. And I must say, I've already gotten to the point where I cannot, and won't ever wanna get back to the Warcraft original!!

I'm not trying to write a review here but I'll outline Dota 2's strengths and weaknesses:

+FREE to play

+Sleek, User-friendly GUI

+Excellent sound design (from the 'Zap' of Zeus' Thundergod's Wrath to the very familiar 'Mmmmooonster Kill')

Thundergod's Wrath: In an early version of the game, a well-timed screenshot showcasing the lightning bolts summoned by Zeus when his Ultimate is activated.

+Much better graphics and customization (Shadows, Anti-Aliasing, Ambient Occlusion, Texture, Post-processing.. you name it)

+Customizable hotkeys

+Instant gratification

+Constant updates significantly reduce bugs
+Highly balanced

+Steam workshop
+Infinite replay value
+Well-developed and has matured compared to other MOBAs like HON and LOL
+Highly entertaining and enjoyable when played with or against group of friends
+Reworked names such as Outworld Devourer from the original Obsidian Destroyer

-Updates can take you quite some time if you don't have a decent internet connection

-Requires internet to play LAN, which defeats the purpose of it (the LAN is currently only developed for the purpose of tournaments)

-The infamous item purchase bug
-VERY steep learning curve
-Complexity tends to push newcomers away

-Relatively high PC requirements compared to LOL and the original

-Hero roster still lack some heroes like Terrorblade

-Like all online games, some users are just jackasses

Utter Chaos: Sometimes there are just so many things happening on-screen that it's hard to keep track of them - until you die, of course, like the Undying here, no pun intended.

Closing Comments:
If you are a busy person and only play games for instant gratification, then look no further, Dota 2 is for you!! If you are looking for a competitive game with depth, strategy and challenge, look no further too, Dota 2 will suck you up!! If you like to play games with story, then of course MOBA games are not for you.

Simply put, Dota itself has a universal appeal, and can be very addictive. I've seen people who have put in >500hrs in it, than's more than the amount of time I spend in my Pokemon and Monster Hunter!! So it's Insanely addictive, and players must exercise caution and self-restraint not to overindulge in it.

Dota 2 is a well-polished, constantly updated, balanced and addictive MOBA game. Its visual aesthetics, combined with the superb sound design and distinctive heroes, have all made Dota 2 the sequel that we all deserve, and love.

Score: 9.0 Amazing

Attack on Titans #51 - Levi's Squad Review

Levi's Squad

The 46-pages-long Attack on Titans #51 provides an interesting conclusion to the previous mini-arc and foreshadows what's about to come in the future installments. Minor Spoiler: It seems we'll have to wait for a couple of issues before any titans are featured again.

Yes, I enjoy every read of AoT, but since it usually takes a month for Hajime Isayama sensei to release a new chapter, it kinda breaks the momentum, which is a bad thing really.

*I'm still deliberating whether I should write manga reviews with spoilers or not, of course each has its own pros and cons, the obvious being there wouldn't be anything to write about if I can't write anything that spoils the story for readers.

I read #51 here!

Humble Bundle - WB Games

Introducing the Humble Bundle!!



If you haven't heard about it, it's a site for you to purchase games at a price you'll never dream of.
This season they have the Humble WB Games Bundle, which will give you these games:

• Batman: Arkham Asylum Game of the Year Edition
• F.E.A.R. 2: Project Origins
• F.E.A.R. 3
• Lord of The Rings: War in the North

Just name your price, any amount will do, yes you didn't read it wrongly, ANY AMOUNT!!

THE HUMBLE WB GAMES BUNDLE: Support charity by buying games!

In addition, if you pay more than the average, now at 4.63USD, you'll unlock two more awesome games!

• Batman: Arkham City Game of The Year Edition
• Scribblenauts Unlimited

In a nutshell, if you pay 4.64USD or more, you'll instantly gain access to 6 awesome games that could easily cost you more than 50USD!! Additionally, you're supporting charity by buying games from Humble Bundle, I'd say it's a pretty awesome deal!

Now some of you might think that this is too good to be true, but I must say, this is not a scam and is 100% legit. I repeat, THIS IS NOT A SCAM! I've personally bought three Humble Bundles so far, and all of the Steam and Origin game keys worked like a charm!

PAYMENT: You can literally pay any amount you want for the four games, in addition to selecting the distribution of your payment. I usually go for the Default Split as shown above.

If you're not sure about the charity organization - We Can Be Heroes, it's part of DC's CSR programme - it's a non-governmental organization which organises DC merchandise sales, exclusively-autographed stuffs and the like, all in the name of charity, in which 50% of the sales profit directly goes to the benefit of the less-fortunate.

Just check out their website - http://www.wecanbeheroes.org/

STATS: Just look at how much people all around the world are willing to pay for these games!! Or rather, support charity!!

So what are you waiting for? Support charity today at https://www.humblebundle.com/  !!!

Blog update: Nov 10th, 2013

I'm a week away from my final exams, which is why I'm here in the first place.
1st - to get away from my boring revisions.
2nd - to update my blog
3rd - to post my review of XCOM
4th - to plan a revamp of my blog

As you can see, I'm planning to blog about different stuffs from here onwards. In my past few years, I only blogged about my personal issues and ranted angrily about some other stuffs.

But now, I've decided to change, to switch my blogging entries into something more of my lifestyle. You see, I read manga, I play games, I watch movies, I update myself with stuffs mostly from the geek side of the world.

Which is why I thought I should post my blogs with these relevant entries too, most probably reviews about games that I have played this year, or maybe reviews of each week's One Piece, Naruto, Bleach and Fairy Tail mangas - so stay tuned peeps(not that any of you are my regular readers, but whatever)!

Until then, ciao!

-Shinn

XCOM: Enemy Unknown, a very late review

So I finished my first playthrough of XCOM: Enemy Unknown on PC not long ago on September 7th, yes I'm about a year late to the party but this game didn't really impress me initially so I didn't wanna play it. But now that I've played it, I'm gonna say this was one hell of a ride for a TBS(Turn-based Strategy) lover like yours truly.

I hereby present to you my first ever game review in my blog, minor spoilers alert!

COVER ART: XCOM Enemy Unknown PC Box Art

Basic Info:
Developer:     Fireaxis Games, Feral Interactive
Publisher:      2K Games, Feral Interactive
Release Date: Oct 9th, 2012(NA) Oct 12th, 2012(Int.)
Genre:           Turn-based Strategy/Role Playing Game(TBS/RPG)
Game modes: Single player, Online multiplayer (2persons PVP mode)
Ratings:          Mature/Pegi 18
Platforms:       Windows, Macintosh, Xbox 360, PS3

OPENING: The game opens with an interesting, yet 'terrifying' quote, a prelude to what's about to come. (Aliens, UFO, anyone?) *Also, I had to shrink all the other images from XL to L, or else they would have crossed the line like this one did.

FIRST MISSION: Your first mission commences with only 4 squad members with the same armor and weapons, with randomly assigned names and no class specialization. Eg. Holly Clarke, which i prefer to read it as - Holy Clerk!!

As your new recruits gain experience in the battlefield and get promoted, they are randomly assigned into one of the 4 different classes that each has their own pros and cons.

1. Heavy
2. Assault
3. Sniper
4. Support

The Psionic class is an extra, special class that you'll not gain access until late game. Keep in mind that the Psionic class is not a separate class, but it builds upon your current class and enables your unit to gain access to additional Psionic abilities.Take my 'Omega' Summer Cheong for example, she's a Colonel ranked Sniper, but also has access to the Psionic abilities. Only Psionic-enabled units are able to wear the Psi Armor, where the Psi abilities are in purple, as shown in the 'HEADSHOT' screenshot below.

HEADSHOT: 'Omega' Summer Cheong prepares to snipe an Uber Ethereal with her Plasma Sniper Rifle. Her Psi Armor is easily the best armor you can eventually research and purchase in the game, but at $400, it doesn't come cheap .

The gameplay is divided into 2 segments: TBS on the battlefield, and Base Management during mission intervals. Battlefield TBS is self-explanatory - you're deployed into an area with alien activity, and you'll be ordered to Dispatch the enemies, Locate and escort a VIP back to base, Examine the UFO wreckage or Assault an alien base.

MISSION PREP: You'll eventually unlock 2 more squad slots to allow up to 6 units in your mission squad. It's just glorious when you have them lined up like this.

BASE MANAGEMENT: Facilities built adjacent to one another nets you the adjacency bonus. For example, every Satellite Uplink or Satellite Nexus built in adjacent will provide a +2 satellite capacity bonus.

The Base Management, however, is more complex than it seems, where early decisions will have significant repercussions. For example, if you bought extra Medikits from the Foundry(I actually bought 6, damn it), which heals 4 HP on use, it'd be a waste of money since you might not want all of your squad members to carry a Medikit, cuz you're only allowed to carry an extra item such as a Medikit, a Scope, or a Grenade in the early game. To remedy this, your Support class units are able to learn a skill that enables you to carry two items in a mission. For other classes however, it is wise to take a moment off to think about what to bring along.

LAUNCHING SATELLITES: I permanently lost 2 countries in my first playthrough, unfortunately, which was a shame.

However, that was just a small example of Base Management. A bigger example would be Launching Satellites. As you progress through the game, nations will have increased panic level due to unchecked alien activity without a satellite scanning the region. Therefore, it is imperative to launch as many satellites as possible at the start of the game to minimise panic and bring in the extra income per month as each satellite is launched for a nation.

In the case that the panic level of a nation has exceeded the threshold, the country will permanently withdraw from the Council, where any additional rewards you were receiving will be null from that point onwards. If 8 countries withdraw from the Council, it'll be an immediate game over. Micromanagement and careful planning are therefore important if you want to survive another planetary assault to see the ending and credits.

BARRACKS: The game gets better though: You can customise your squad member's names, skin colour, hairstyles, loadouts etc. The game certainly gets more interesting if you name your squad after your friends.

HUGE shoutout to my fellow blogger and friend: Quince Yap, my Major ranked Heavy class, codenamed 'Thunder' - checkout his awesome blog at http://mygfisguminho.blogspot.com/

UNIT CUSTOMISATION: Fairly late into the game, my boy Quince was gorgeously equipped with a Titan Armor, a Heavy Plasma, a Blaster Launcher, and a Scope lens for that +10 Aim. 

END GAME: It took me more than 20 hours to beat the game, and it was a fairly good run, as you can see, i did a little better than most people on the planet - I only lost 3 soldiers in the final level(whose names I won't be mentioning). I tried repeatedly to not lose anyone for more than 2 hours, but I just gave up in the end cuz it's too damn hard to not let anyone die.

Here's a video review by IGN's Steve Butts:

Here's another one by Gamespot's Kevin VanOrd:

Summary:

+Addictive, tension-filled TBS gameplay

+RPG elements - classes and skill tress make your squads progressively more powerful

+Soldier perma-death gives you an emotional attachment to your squadmates, especially if you name them after your friends

+Memorable and diverse cast of aliens

+Well-animated character models

+Complex base management economy makes each decision important

+High replayability

-Difficulty spike during final mission, especially in the last segment

-Equipment sorting during prep

-Boring and repetitive maps, for some reason, the UFOs never crashes into cities, only forests

-Dumb civilians who sometimes run towards aliens to be killed

-Camera foibles and visual glitches

-No selling option for extra equipments

Score: 8.5 GREAT