health

GIVE LIFE ANOTHER CHANCE

/ Alan Atkinson / Leave a comment

It’s Sunday, 2.24am (GMT +8 hours). Time is moving so fast that it does not seem like it’s about to slow down anytime soon.

Or have we been shortchanged? Are we getting a full day or or 24 hours or 1,440 minutes or 86,400 seconds? Or has second lost perhaps a 1,000 of second, thus ultimately making each day shorter?

24 hours being the standard size of day is something we all equally have. Most of us don’t have to worry about how to fill our days up. What we fret about more is how little time we have to do all those things we have to do or plan to do. When somehow, the magic of modern technology helps us in our daily lives and helps organise our time, freeing us to have some free time in each day. Some have half hour, some an hour, others may be fortunate enough to perhaps get a couple of hours; that they never had in a very long, long time, now they’ve got it.

Then, you will hear this somewhat common phrase, “no choice”. That cannot be further from the truth than it already is. Everything we do or not do, is a choice. Most people omit that “not doing anything” is a choice. In fact, making a choice is a choice in itself.

We all have a past. We’ve made choices that maybe weren’t the best ones. None of us are completely innocent.

We all get a fresh start each and everyday to be a better person than we were yesterday. We have to work towards that.

So, yeah, life is tough. No one said it was going to be easy. Welcome to the real world.

Then I came across this news on the net:

“

[Zoraya ter Beek, 28, expects to be euthanized in early May. 

Her plan, she said, is to be cremated.

Ter Beek, who lives in a little Dutch town near the German border, once had ambitions to become a psychiatrist, but she was never able to muster the will to finish school or start a career. She said she was hobbled by her depression and autism and borderline personality disorder. Now she was tired of living—despite, she said, being in love with her boyfriend, a 40-year-old IT programmer, and living in a nice house with their two cats. 

She recalled her psychiatrist telling her that they had tried everything, that “there’s nothing more we can do for you. It’s never gonna get any better.” 

At that point, she said, she decided to die. “I was always very clear that if it doesn’t get better, I can’t do this anymore.”

“I’m a little afraid of dying, because it’s the ultimate unknown,” she said. “We don’t really know what’s next—or is there nothing? That’s the scary part.”

Zoraya ter Beek. (Ilvy Njiokiktjien for The Free Press)

Ter Beek is one of a growing number of people across the West choosing to end their lives rather than live in pain. Pain that, in many cases, can be treated. 

Typically, when we think of people who are considering assisted suicide, we think of people facing terminal illness. But this new group is suffering from other syndromes—depression or anxiety exacerbated, they say, by economic uncertainty, the climate, social media, and a seemingly limitless array of fears and disappointments. 

“I’m seeing euthanasia as some sort of acceptable option brought to the table by physicians, by psychiatrists, when previously it was the ultimate last resort,” Stef Groenewoud, a healthcare ethicist at Theological University Kampen, in the Netherlands, told me. “I see the phenomenon especially in people with psychiatric diseases, and especially young people with psychiatric disorders, where the healthcare professional seems to give up on them more easily than before.”

Ter Beek’s medical necklace says ‘Do not resuscitate.’ (Ilvy Njiokiktjien for The Free Press)

In 2001, the Netherlands became the first country in the world to make euthanasia legal. Since then, the number of people who increasingly choose to die is startling. 

By Rupa Subramanya, The Free Press, April 1, 2024]

From the onset, I do not want to judge, only question her decision. Why sell out on life so easily? Why give up what others are fighting to have, even if it is for one more day?

I cannot begin to even know how Zoraya feels. From the write-up above, it seems that she has based her decision on how she feels, her mental health.

The statement that her psychiatrist made “that there was nothing else that could be done for her” is very surprising. I think that she should seek help from another or other psychiatrists.

Her environment. The people in her circle, her city – they could have all had an influence on her. I believe that she has not explored all options that could be available to her. She has to check those options out.

Zoraya may be all alone (and she possibly feels that) in her quest to find the right answers to her questions. She may not get all answers right or the answers that she is looking for but she should never give up on looking for answers. Over time, the answers she may get get could evolve to better answers.

Now, it is no longer just about a person suffering from a life threatening terminal illness, a person who can’t live with the physical pain from the illness, a person who is brain dead (a vegetable)… It’s, “I don’t feel like living anymore”.

“Call the executioner. He or she makes house calls.” They aren’t doctors. Doctors are meant to save lives, not snuff them out. I wonder if what they are doing is from the bottom of their hearts, for humanity, to preserve humanity by killing them. Are these executioners doing it for free or do they charge a pretty penny?

She wears a medical necklace that says, “DO NOT RESUCITATE”. Which normal person who sees a person collapse in a public place, is going to stand by and not do anything? Even if he or she has read the message on her necklace? They won’t want to be party to any suicidal act.

People are literally fighting to have a moment extra in life.

Life is not a thing. It is a passage that is fluid. We just need to see how beautiful it is. Even in our darkest of times, we need to embrace this platform, this stage, if you may; to do our dance, our act from the time the curtains go up when we are born to the time they come down when our time is up. Nobody can perform your life’s performance better than you.

Giving up so easily on life. Life does not give up on you so easily.

Zoraya Ter Beek looks like a nice lady. I hope that people in and around The Netherlands can reach out to her and convince her to catch that twinkle of life. I do hope that readers of Leatherpotato.com from over 80 countries will encourage Zoraya to give herself another chance.

HOKKIEN NEW YEAR, SILENT, CLIKITY-CLACK

/ Alan Atkinson / Leave a comment

Sunday afternoon. 9th day of the lunar new year or more commonly known as Chinese New Year, here in Malaysia. It is the Hokkien New Year, celebrated by…yes, the Hokkiens. They seemed to have set off every firecracker and fireworks in the country, beginning from a couple of hours just before midnight. This did not affect my sleep. When I was sleepy, I just went to sleep, which was around 2.45am.

It’s 12 minutes pass noon. I did several experiments before – all of which came out with the same results which means that the sun is directly over Subang Jaya, or at least in the USJ area; only at 1.00pm. This means that the sun is 90deg to the ground only at 1.00pm; and not 12.00pm. Do the shadow test, where when the sun is rising from the east, it causes a shadow of an object, building, etc. At 12.00pm, there will still be a shadow in the west. Only at 1.00pm; when the sun is directly overhead; there is no shadow.

Our day begun when Jeannie, the Batik Influencer; and I, went for the 8.30am mass at St. Thomas More church in Subang Jaya. Mass was refreshing and rejuvenating. We then, headed to New Apollos restaurant for breakfast after mass. Jeannie ordered a Loh Mai Kai (1); I ordered two Tau Sa pau (2). For drinks, we both ordered Kopi peng (3); mine was the “kaw” (4) ‘version’. I usually like my coffee thick or strong; not diluted.

I am beginning to believe that sugar prices have dropped tremendously because some of the food that I have eaten recently seemed to have had a ton of sugar added in for good measure. The tau sar pau today was no exception. For me, I feel that I could do with 95% – 98% less sugar.

I have been looking for ways to “upgrade” my productivity over the past few weeks. I have read that one way is by using a mechanical keyboard. It does improve productivity. I researched quite a great deal (basic research) on why the choice should be mechanical keyboards instead of the membrane, silent, soft-touch ones; we see almost everywhere.

Logitech MX Mechanical with the Logitech wrist pad (sold separately).

I noticed that most of the big department stores all use mechanical keyboards. I asked employees how they felt using this type of keyboard. Most of them said they could type with confidence and it is more comfortable. I asked many people who do use these mechanical keyboards. Gamers use them for feel, speed and accuracy.

Logitech MC Keys

I have not used mechanical keyboards for the longest time (an American phrase?) I consider them old-fashion. I replaced them with membrane type keyboards, the latest and mainstay of which I have been using for nearly two years is the Logitech MX Keys. It is an excellent keyboard all round, well built, but pricey. The MX Keys is like driving a vehicle with automatic transmission – smooth, not much travel between action and result. Love it. However, I was looking for something more. I am writing / typing more and needed a keyboard that would over-deliver. Maybe, I am in the mood for a change because I have had the MX Keys for almost 2 years.

The MX Keys drive is like driving a vehicle with automatic transmission – smooth, not much travel between action and result.

MX Keys. The automatic backlighting is great, too. Though it can be annoying at times.

The battery life on the MX Keys won’t disappoint. Everything about this keyboard is inviting. I wanted more. Should I go back to the old fashion type of keyboard (mechanical: loud, noisy clikity-clack, bigger, heavier, less than looking slick)?

Logitech MX Keys (top), Logitech MX Mechanical (centre), Logitech MX3 mouse (right), Logitech wristpad (bottom).

I tested mechanical keyboards from several brands whenever I could at the IT stores. Whenever I asked people for their experience on using these type of keyboards, many would answer what they read or hear about the keyboards, “There is a good tactile feel”. What on earth is that? I mean, really…what on earth is that? I researched that phrase. (5) To me, I like the deeper travel when I press each key as I tend to tap the keys with a bit more emphasis when I type fast and, and even harder when I put down an exciting idea or point.

After much deliberation; I purchased the MX Mechanical. I have been using it for several days now. Still tend to make a few typo errors. However, I think I will overcome it when I get more familiar with this keyboard.

Should you get this keyboard? It costs a pretty penny. If you are into a lot of typing, and not in a “silent retreat” or “library”, environment; meaning where certain amount of noise is tolerated; then go for it. Think of this as a sports car of keyboards. Sportscars tend top be noisy but make up for the noise pollution with performance. Finally, the choice of keyboard will ultimately be up to each user – The one that works for use is the one to get.

Now, I have not talked about a whole plethora of customization that can be done with this keyboard. Examples are key swaps, hot-wiring. My purpose for these essay is to reach out to the everyday folk who may want more for their daily use than what they have now. Perhaps, I may put up an article when or once I tinker with the many options available.

For now, it is time for a mugga (for coffee), as in cuppa is for tea.

NOTES:
1. Loh Mai Kai: Also spelt as “Lo mai gai” literally “glutinous rice chicken”, is a classic dim sum dish usually served during yum cha. Wikipedia
2. Tau Sar Pau is red bean paste bun, is a popular sweet and soft favourite bun that goes well with coffee or tea.
3. Kopi peng is a combination of Malay (kopi) and Chinese (Peng) for “iced coffee”.
4. Kaw is a Hokkien word which means “thick”.
5. Linear switches don’t have much resistance, and can be pressed in one smooth motion. Tactile switches have a bump that you’ll hit halfway through pressing, which makes them slightly louder and give a physical response as you type. And clicky switches have that same bump, but make a much louder noise.
Business Insider, 8th September, 2023
Linear switches feel smooth when you press them, from top to bottom. Tactile switches have a noticeable bump partway through the keypress, which lets you know that you’ve activated the key. Clicky switches feel similar to tactile switches but add a click sound to match the tactile bump.
nytimes.com, 5th December, 2023