In the interest of efficiency, I have begun learning Chinese characters so that I am able to read, though not write. That might sound strange, but Chinese and other logosyllabic languages are unique in that it is often much easier to recognise what you have learnt once you see it again, rather than produce it…
OK, I know it’s a bit obvious, but cooking shows are a really popular and really cool way of self-education. No, seriously! Without having to go to cookery school or watch your mum for days in the kitchen, a simple TV show can teach you how to make hearty recipes that you’ll use over and…
What is speed reading? Speed reading is, quite simply, the art of reading quickly. While the average reader reads approximately 250-300 words per minute, a speedreader can read up to 1,000 words per minute, and some even more than that. Speedreaders thus comfortably read at about three times the speed of the average reader. Why…
…but this individual with a very cool Croatian name, has recorded himself pronouncing it on his site to help people. Such a great idea! I may steal his idea for myself 🙂
When writing a screenplay it is often cited that dramatic structure should follow a 3 Act structure, which Aristotle described succinctly as: ολον δε εστιν το εχον αρχην και μεσον και τελευτην “A whole is what has a beginning and middle and end” This is definitely sound advice, however many scripts do fail from being…
Contrary to some beliefs, frugality is not synonymous with stinginess but is in fact a lifestyle choice based on the notion of basic necessities and non-indulgence in excess. The basic necessities of human-beings are small in number, but they are critical for the existence and survival of all of us, no matter who we are…
I have no idea how to meditate. I have never before been able to reach a state of true and complete inner peace no matter how much I’ve tried to. The stereotypical crossed legged position and ‘omm’ humming similarly never worked out and I ended up utterly frustrated at myself. I truly believe that meditation…
As you have seen, one of my missions for the end of this year is to be Intermediate in Chinese, in all speaking, reading and writing. As I work full-time and at very weird hours, this is not an easy endeavour. I am often out of the house by 9am, not returning till passed 10pm.…
Aya Khan 