The Web of One

Today I got concerned over privacy issue the conspiracy theorist in me was awake and paranoid. Then I came across this. Here you go... seriously we should be paranoid. Information is power, do not let anyone tell you otherwise. Now imagine some one or something else controls what information you get. Essentialy your are now powerless because you don't get all the information. Think about it!

 

O Digger! My Digger!... blah blah.. now the DEAD SHALL LIVE AGAIN!

For those people who are in their early & mid 30's DOS was most likely the introduction to computers. The one thing as kids we all did was play games. Some were good and some were.. well great :). We were kids anything with colour and moved to a press of a button was miraculous. CONTROL!!!!!

so long long time ago..

You slotted a 5" Floppy disc into a disk drive slot and closed the lever shut turned the power on and prayed you did not get -- unable to read disk message! and when it does boot then we hoped the DOS disk  worked correctly so it could boot the computer.

Then we removed the DOS disk and slotted the game disk in, at the " A:> "(for those lucky few who had 2 disk drives we changed to "B:>" by typing "b:" ) typed "dir" and listed the content hoping the annoying little brother did not erase the disk. Searched for filename.com or filename.exe file we typed the filename and then the adventure starts.

My sayang the muppet spent hours and hours playing her favorite game. DIGGER (mine too).

We spent hours playing this game. It was exciting trying to get away from the monster. Then we had VGA and bye bye DIGGER!

The playstation's and xbox's of the world (even the mobile phone) has rendered these games ancient and obsolete.

Now for muppets sake! there is a new life for these games. dosbox!! bringing the the dead to life.

present day.....

(Only works for Linux/Debian/Ubuntu users.. sorry windows folks :P)

fire up the CLI *(The Terminal) - type

sudo apt-get install dosbox

mkdir ~/dos

dosbox

when you see the familiar "Z:>" drive type

config -writeconfig /home/yourname/dos

thats it your almost done. type

exit

now type into the CLI

nano ~/dos/dosbox.conf

or any other editor for those who prefer GUI then goto the dos folder in your home folder and gedit the file. Now we are going to make the ~/dos folder as your "C:>" for that go down the dosbox.conf file and look for [autoexec] and just add this below that;

mount c ~/dos

c:

save and exit. your done. Just goto DIGGER and download the file dump it into the ~/dos folder start dosbox from the CLI and you'll see the the folder you copied there. CD and... main main ;).. dah habis cerita.

 

The Re-Union

.... it's

Long Distance Do Work

I know this long distance relationship can work.

Recently, you reminded me of a special ingredient - inner calm (faith & trust)- needed to see the connection that we have on so many levels that it even surprises us at times. 

In you, I have found someone so right for me, I know I need search no more. For over the time that we've known each other, we have a connection that is real and enduring, and we work to make the effort to communicate.

True, relationships are work.

Yet, as I step back and take perspective on our long distance relationship, I know it has the ingredient for it to work - love.


 

Me & Saree

Option 1: Vivid Maroon Faux Georgette Saree with Blouse 1

Option 2: Exquisite Ethnic Saree

Tango.

I stumbled across a website today @ 3:45pm : http://strongermarriage.org/

From single-ton to couple-dom. 

Having been living alone for most of 3 years, I never really thought I woul meet someone I would consider my equal. Yet, what did I mean by equal? To be honest, I did not have a checklist in mind. I simply told myself that I will know the person when I met him.

Then, I met you - Wild Oscar.

The story is a simple one - two people casually getting to know each other over idle chatter that soon examines more personal topics over time. Through the course of 3 years, we updated each other on our lives - the past 1 year, we found ourselves conversing with one another using every opportunity available to us.

Communication was the key.

Soon, it occurred to me that it was a odd day when I was not talking to you - regardless of how mundane the conversation. It was a window into each other's lives - a window I was comfortable opening to you.

Comfort was the medium.

Acknowledging the comfort I felt as I shared of myself with you, and the eagerness I sensed to be in touch with you, I knew what I was looking for in a partner. An equal was a person who saw me as I am and embrace me, as I would do for him. That, as we both know, is only the beginning of any relationship - a good beginning, though.

Relationships are work.

The work is at once personal and relational. With time, and across different situations, we come to learn what we expect of and from the other partner, how to best communicate our expectations, and learning to accept what is possible of the other partner. Sometimes, we stutter and I am still learning to dance this tango.

However, the only partner for this dance in life I seek is YOU.

From Singleton to Coupledom

Singapore to Malaysia (and back) - The Longest Way Home

I love to read travel blogs, especially blogs with beautiful photographs depicting the writer's journeys.

This blog, especially, caught my eye a long time ago for its premise - an individual trying to find a place he can call home.

Currently, he is in SINGAPORE and is intent to traveling into MALAYSIA. So, it is totally appropriate that I link this page!

The Longest Way Home

As for me... there is no truer statement than "Home is Where the Heart Is"

Edibly Asian

Edibly Asian

Yes, we are ASIAN - South Asians born and raised in South-East Asia - in other words, we are spoiled foodies (It does not help that we both have mothers who are very good cooks!) .

During a search for recipes for an old-time favorite of mine, I came across this site.
One word to describe my reaction - WOW!
It was like I hit the mother-lode of all recipes Asian.

And it gets better!
The person(s) who started, runs, and maintains this website ALSO provided links to other websites offering recipes and insights into various Asian cuisine.

Source Code

Yes, it is simply the TITLE of this new movie that made me think of you. Given your reverance for the open source community and your passion for creating code (regardless of how frustrating the process can sometimes be) - the moment I saw this movie poster, it made me think of you - Hairy Man, and I laughed. Because, it really is about the little things that we enjoy and have come to learn about each other that I love. I love that you have this innate curiosity to learn things for what they are, and come to understand them on your own terms thereby allowing you take something "alien" and make it all your own. I appreciate how you take the time to let me see this world through your eyes, which has given me a whole new way of looking at computers, programs, operating systems, and of course source codes. Especially, given the importance of technology in our relationship :)

The Maverick Meerkat (Really... Karmic Koala in disguise)

 

 

It Had to Be YOU

 

 

Now this is a song I would love to dance to with YOU.

The Scribe

To make bloggin easier I went on the world wide web other wise know as GOOGLE ( and yes I know the difference, there's a pun there. Get it?) to seach for a convinient bloggin client. After a couple of days of searching we found ScribeFire. This is not a standalone client, rather a Firefox plugin.

It took less than a minute to setup and configure, then your off bloggin. Since its embeded into the browser it allows you to browse through your tabs while you create the blog. Since most of us scour the net for links and images this is very handy and convinient. I personally like ScribeFire.

The King's Speech

http://www.kingsspeech.com/

Muppet:-

It was movie with a simple premise - the relationship between two men. One is a potential heir to the throne of England. The other is an amateur actor from Australia who offers speech therapy. Their paths cross when a concerned wife decides to help her husband correct his stutter, which he has had since the age of 5. Along with his stutter, she had hope to rid him of his fear of and the embarrassment he faced with public speaking - public speeches being a common task for a member of the British Crown.

My first favorite moment in the movie was the conversation King George VI (Colin Firth) and Lionel Logue (Geoffrey Rush) shared when they were preparing for the coronation in Westminister Abbey. The King was informed that Lionel was not a qualified speech therapist, to which Lionel informed the king that he never claimed to have such qualifications. It was memorable because it addressed 2 things:- (1) We want to believe what we want to believe even when in the absence of such evidence, because we create an idea/image/expectation of what is right/wrong - The King believed that his speech therapist had to be someone qualified, and therefore a DOCTOR; thus, he always referred to Lionel as Dr Logue despite Lionel's insistence to be called by his first name. (2) Lionel explanation for doing the work that he does - "to give voice" .. It is a particularly personal scene for me as someone who aspires to listen simply to provide individuals' the opportunity to give themselves a "voice."

King George VI: [Logue is sitting on the coronation throne] Get up! Y-you can’t sit there! GET UP!
Lionel Logue: Why not? It’s a chair.
King George VI: T-that… that is Saint Edward’s chair.
Lionel Logue: People have carved their names on it.
King George VI: L-listen to me… listen to me!
Lionel Logue: Why should I waste my time listening to you?
King George VI: Because I have a voice!
Lionel Logue: …yes, you do.

My second favorite scene was when Lionel has returned home from having upset the King during a conversation about the King's fear about becoming the King. This particular scene has Lionel discussing his distress (briefly and simply) about the situation with his wife, who demonstrates an uncanny ability of knowing her husband, and promptly offers him simple but honest advice. Advice, which Lionel appreciates, and heeds. It appeals to me as a demonstration of a couples' ability to care and communicate with each other. The wife was able to sense her husband's distress, inquire, and from his honest response, she was able to provide him with helpful and supportive advice. The husband in turn was open with the reason for his distress and when demonstrates his appreciation for the thoughtful advice by acting on it as he felt fit.

A simple movie about real relationships.



The ORIGINAL speech by King George the VI on September 03,1939

Viewed by Muppet on Saturday, March 26th, 2011 @ 7:30pm with GFB
Viewed by Wild Oscar

To John Denver

From Annie.

Listening to Happy Songs

Dream a Little Dream of Me - Louis Armstrong

( Wedding song? Definite contender)

Can't Smile With out you - Barry Manilow

(Dedicated to Crazy Hair Girl, yet another contender)

Somewhere Over The Rainbow

(This just makes me happy all the time)

Spicy Fruits of the Sea - Prawns & Pineapple Sambal

Ingredients:-

1 tablespoon butter
Prawns (peeled & de-veined)
Diced Pineapples


Sambal:-

4-5 cloves garlic
6-8 shallots OR 1 large red onion
1-inch ginger root
4-5 Asian dried red chillies soaked in water (I used about 1/2 cup of sambal oelek)
1/3 cup of dried shrimps
1 tablespoon vegetable oil
approx. 1 teaspoon tamarind paste (blend with 1/2 cup water)
approx. 1 teaspoon Lea & Perrins Worchestershire sauce

Preparation

• Blend the garlic, shallots (or onion), and ginger; Add chillies and blend
• Heat the oil & fry the dried shrimp; remove shrimp from the oil
• Add the blended chillies (etc.) to the oil and fry until the oil surfaces
• Remove the oil and return to the flame; add the dried shrimp
• Blend the tamarind paste with water and Worchestershire sauce; Add to Sambal

• In another wok/skillet, heat butter
• As butter starts to melt, add prawns (make sure they are as dry as possible)
• After 3-5 minutes, when butter has coated the prawns and they are cooked, add the sambal
• Cook for another 5 minutes, then add the pineapples
• Cook for another 2-3 minutes

• Let the dish sit for the flavours to meld
• Heat before serving

Mango Surprise! - Really Surprised (a.k.a Mango Surprise Version 2.0

Ingredients:

• 1 1/4 cups all-purpose flour
• 1 teaspoon baking powder
• 1/4 teaspoon salt
• Ripe mangoes
• 1/4 cup unsalted butter, melted + 1 tablespoon oil
• 1/4 cup coconut milk + 1/4 cup water (1/2 cup mango juice / nectar)
• 2/3 cup brown sugar
• 1 large egg
• 1/2 teaspoon vanilla (or pandan) essence

Preparation:

* Put oven rack in middle position and preheat oven to 375°F. Line muffin cups with liners.

* Whisk together flour, baking powder, and salt in a bowl. 

* Cut half the mango & blend with coconut milk and water (mango juice / nectar; NOTE: If using mango juice, blend some mango pulp. If using mango nectar, forgo the pulp)
* Whisk blended mangoes, butter, sugar, egg, vanilla (pandan), and 1/2 cup coconut in a large bowl until combined well, then fold in flour mixture until flour is just moistened.
* Cut the other half of mango into chunks and place into batter (Add chunks after placing batter into muffin cups - on to the top of the muffins)

* Divide batter among lined muffin cups. Bake until muffins are puffed and golden, about 25 minutes. Transfer muffins to a rack and cool slightly.

Going Ape-Shit for Bananas & Coconuts!

Ingredients:

• 1 1/4 cups all-purpose flour
• 1 teaspoon baking powder
• 1/4 teaspoon salt
• 2 very ripe bananas, mashed (3/4 cup)
• 1/4 cup unsalted butter, melted + 1 tablespoon oil
• 1/4 cup coconut milk
• 2/3 cup brown sugar
• 1 large egg
• 1/2 teaspoon vanilla (or pandan) essence
• 3/4 cup sweetened flaked coconut

Preparation:

* Put oven rack in middle position and preheat oven to 375°F. Line muffin cups with liners.

* Whisk together flour, baking powder, and salt in a bowl. 

* Whisk/Mash together bananas, coconut milk, butter, sugar, egg, vanilla (pandan), and 1/2 cup coconut in a large bowl until combined well, then fold in flour mixture until flour is just moistened.

* Divide batter among lined muffin cups and sprinkle with remaining 1/4 cup coconut. Bake until muffins are puffed and golden, about 25 minutes. Transfer muffins to a rack and cool slightly.

Secret Ingredient: Hershey' Dark Chocolate Kisses in the Middle!

Black Pepper Beef Stir Fry w/ Boiled Potatoes

Ingredients:

½ Pound of Beef – Thinly Sliced (3-4mm)

3 tbl spoon flour

3 tbl spoon of Vegetable Oil

4 Potatoes

1 Onion - Chopped

1 Chili - Chopped

4 Clove of Garlic - Diced

1 Capsicum/ Green Bell Pepper – Julian Sliced

for seasoning

Ground Black Pepper

Salt

Unsalted/Salted Butter (remember to adjust proportion of salt is you use salted butter)

How to Make;

Boiled Potatoes

1. Slice the Potatoes into fours and steam for 15mins

2. Once Cooked peel of the skin (optional), add butter, salt and pepper to taste ( you can also add parsley + anything else to make it better) toss together

Black Pepper Beef Stir Fry

1. Mix flour, pepper and salt in a bowl and coat the Sliced Beef

2. Pour oil to hot pan and caramelize the onion followed by the garlic and toss

3. Move the onion/garlic aside and fry the beef for a few minutes and toss all together until the beef if cooked

4. Put the chili and capsicum in stir, pour some water into the left over flour+pepper+salt mix and pour into the pan

5. Season with Black Pepper (Generously) + Salt, simmer for couple of minutes to thicken the sauce.

Serve the Black Pepper Beef Stir Fry with a Side of Potatoes. Thats it takes 30mins to make and serves 2. Enjoy.

Coconut + Pandan = Smell of Home

Ingredients :
1 1/2 cups all purpose flour
1/2 cup brown sugar
3 tsp baking powder
1/4 tsp salt
1/2 tsp Pandan essence
3 to 5 Pandan leaves
1 egg
75 ml cooking oil
100 ml coconut milk
120 ml water
6 muffin cups
Special Secret Ingredient: pieces of MS

Method :
1) Preheat oven to 375F. Line paper cups on a muffin tray, set aside.
2) Blend the Pandan leaves with 50 ml of coconut milk and 20 ml of water. Sieve the liquid into a container and remove the pulp.
3) In a bowl, lightly beat the eggs, add water, coconut milk, oil, pandan essence and extract, salt, sugar, baking powder and mix well.
3) Sieve the flour, and slowly pour into the mixture, mix well, and set aside.
4) Scoop the muffin mixture onto the muffin cups until 2/3 full.
5) Bake for 20 to 25 minutes or until a light brown crust appear or cracks out of the muffin top.
6) 15 minutes into the baking process, place a piece of MS on top and return the tray to the oven.

Sometimes, it is about the simple things.

Oscar, you make me happy. Muppet.

The Snickers Bar from Far Far Away...

One upon a time in a land far far away, there lived a girl with crazy hair and her brow named Lefty. Together, they lived a harmonious life.

One fine Sunday morning, the weather changed. Clouds covered the ever-shining sun, and rain began to pour from the sky. All became gray and cold. Water drummed onto the rooftops, streaming down onto the ground making the roads damp and the pavements slippery. 

Crazy haired girl winced at the sight - she and Lefty brow could get badly hurt if they fail to watch their step. But one has to brave these things in order achieve the goal of the day. Wrapping a blanket around herself and her true companion, Lefty Brow, the Crazy haired girl stepped out onto the porch. The door slam shut behind them.

Standing on the porch looking ahead, the weather was less than inviting.  Nothing will stand between the Crazy haired girl and her Snickers bar - the panacea for all ills. Not even the Hairy man would be able to change her mind. Sensing the resolve the Crazy haired girl had for her quest, the Hairy man both feared and respected her.

On a distant tower, The Hairy man sat ponderous on his chair gazing upon the window that showed him the world he dedicated his time to create. This was no ordinary window. This window enabled him to glimpse into the life of the Crazy Haired Girl and her companion Lefty brow. As the Hairy man sat sipping on his cup of Milo, he pondered as to the success of the Crazy Haired Girl’s journey. No doubt, he thought to himself, Lefty brow will get her into trouble.

Cold and damp, covered only with a blanket, the crazy haired girl marched towards the merchant who will provide with her the snicker bar she so craves. Obtaining the Snickers bar would not be easy since the merchants are known to trick unsuspecting little girls. However, this is unknown to the Crazy Haired girl who was rather clueless about the intentions of merchants.

The Hairy man's window only allows him limited sight of the Crazy Haired girl, but beyond that he relies on the help of the wind whisperers to hear what transpires. But wind whisperers have been plotting against the hairy man lately. They are ruthless ethereal creatures that ride the winds and bring news to all those who can appease them or bend them to their will.

Knowledgeable about the Crazy Haired girl’s cluelessness, the Hairy man feared for her upcoming encounter with the merchants. Away in his tower, he wondered how he would be able to reach out to her should she face difficulties obtaining the elusive Snickers bar. The wind whisperers had grown tired of bending to the will of the Hairy man, and his messages to the Crazy Haired girl were often garbled and misunderstood by her.

Having braved the cold, gray weather and the treacherous path to the merchant, the crazy haired girl finally reaches the merchant only to find herself stuck in a maze of aisles stacked with enticing goodies. Such are the tricks the merchant play on unsuspecting girls - confuse them with treats so they forget their true treasure.  But the merchant's tricks has no effect on the crazy haired girl for she knows what she desires and will not be hindered in her quest to obtain them. She walks the confusing maze of aisles searching for a Snickers bar - her one true indulgence.

At last, she finds them neatly stacked. She reaches to grab a single Snickers bar . Once she has a bar in hand, she turns to head out but the merchant had more tricks up his sleeve. Her quest is not over despite having her Snickers bar in her clutches she now has to escape the maze to begin a long cold journey back home. Lefty brow raises himself but offers no advice. Crazy haired girl decides to turn around and walk backwards retracing the path as she recalled.

Reaching the end of the maze the crazy haired girl is faced with her final challenge to leave the merchants maze. The gates are locked and a price must be paid to pass. She looks, left brow twitches with confusion. To the left of the gate sits a funny looking contraption that suddenly bursts into life with an eye red and angry scanning the snicker bar in her hands. “ You shall not pass till the price has been satisfied” a voice came from the contraption.

The Crazy haired girl was stumped. She stopped and asked, “What is this price that has to be satisfied?” The contraption beeped and blinked. It made whirring noises. It choked and sputtered. Finally, it revealed the price could only be paid by a magical will.

The Crazy Haired girl remembered something her dad gave a long time ago. A Magical square shaped amulet. It is said to contain within it a great power and a will to do what she wishes. But the crazy haired girl is scared of using its powers fearing to become enticed and addicted to it.

The Hairy man  sits at the edge of his throne and watches all that transpire - his knee aching with anticipation for what the Crazy Haired girl will do next. Sensing this the wind whisperers seize the opportunity to hide the messages and news they have been so diligently shuttling back and forth. The Hairy man in his throne unable to help the poor Crazy haired girl. Sits wondering in the dark.

She musters the courage to wield the magical amulet knowing it will satisfy the price demanded by the red eyed contraption. She removes it from her inner pocket, and assertively inserts it into the contraption. The amount of magic in the amulet was so great that the red eyed contraption was unable to contain it, and it burst into flames soon thereafter. Quickly, the Crazy haired girl retracted her hand still holding the amulet.

The gate opened. She dashed into the rain dropping her blanket onto the ground. Running home, the Crazy haired girl did not look back and Lefty brow quivered in the cold. Nearly slipping on the slick roads, she finally arrived back on to her porch. She was drenched from head to toe. Her Snickers bar grasped tightly in her hand

Time froze. The Hairy man sat in silence with no news of the Crazy haired girl. The wind whisperers have had their revenge. Staring blankly at the windows he created to keep track of the Crazy haired girl, he looked for any sign that could give him news of her. When all was thought to be lost, he finally saw movement. She was soaking wet while Lefty brow was twitching. And, there in her hands was THE Snickers bar. A smile grew on the Hairy man's face. He was glad, proud and relieved. He knew then, nothing not the climate, confusion, temptation or hardship will keep the crazy haired girl from getting what she desired.

By CPKD

Communication Broken-Down

Communication is the key to health in any relationship. And being honest to oneself (just being oneself) is what makes a mode of communication function in a relationship. Despite our best efforts to communicate effectively and honestly, however, we may discover that our communication styles differ and our expectations of the other person's communication style may lead us to path of disappointment and/or resentment and/or (enter some other negative to a relationship in this space).

Still, it is worth reflecting upon and asking ourselves as well as our partner (whom clearly we love dearly to undertake such a process of self-evaluation),

"What is our personal communication style, and our preferred style of communicating with others...?"

These past few days, the conversations I have encountered with you Oscar has made me ask this very question of myself. In the efforts to just be me and continue to facilitate the healthy conversations we have been having, I have been asking myself, "how do I communicate - and what is effective?" I hear you when you tell me that I am able to communicate to you, and I am aware of your ability to reach me in a way no one before you has proven capable.

And my brief exploration... has provided me with this conclusion (thus far):-

I love you, and I am consciously aware that you love me. There is no doubt that what is said is for either our own personal benefit or for the other's benefit - more importantly, it is for the benefit of our relationship. Our ability to articulate what is true to us, regardless of how frightening it can be (fears of rejection, overexposure, misunderstanding, etc.), only provides us with the opportunity to reassure ourselves that we do indeed have nothing to fear. You step in to inform me, provide me objective/subjective perspectives that prove always enlightening (even if I may not agree with them), and reassure me when necessary. Furthermore, your willingness to share of yourself - scars and all - allows me the space to share myself with you. We allow our guards to be down, and reciprocate by being considerate with our words. Still, the truth is not minced and honesty not spared. It is incredibly refreshing, even if at times, frustrating.

As my promise (both to myself and to you) on your birthday, I will just be myself and speak what is true to me. I will, at times, stumble at this task - but I intend to go where I have never been before... a place without fear.

XoXo muppet.

An example:-
Asking and Guessing represent a continuum of how people think to communicate with others – it’s about what we expect to say, and what we want left unsaid. Understanding where your significant other falls on this continuum – and how far that is from you – will help you understand why they communicate the way they do, and how you two can communicate better in the future.

Counting Down the Days

I'll Be

Sayang,

It is funny how for someone who can be so articulate with her thoughts and feelings, I feel so lost. I cannot begin to find the words, and so, I stumble and trip over myself.

Still, I will attempt...

I have never known a love like the one you show and give me - a genuine warmth willing to bear all without judgment. The time I spend with you, I feel like I never have - complete, full and true. It makes those moments in time away from you hard to bear - knowing that I have you in my life, though, gives me faith. For so long, I have known that I just needed to feel accepted, and now that I have found that with you - it makes me incredibly happy. You make me happy. I want nothing more than to have you to hold, because right now, it will make it all complete.

As you sit with me, you see a person - once broken almost done putting herself together, and still finding pieces. There are a parts of me I have never shown so truely of myself that sometimes it even scares me to see it. I can only ask for you to continue to show me the limitless patience you have already provided as I learn to share with you these pieces. And, it is getting easier - as I see myself through your eyes - I know there is nothing to fear.

"I'm yours." I don't plan on going anywhere. I want you here "in front of" me always.

And if my words fail me, I hope to show you in action that I am here - wanting to love you and be loved by you.

 

K.

Time left for Temptation....
"I can resist everything except temptation. " - Oscar Wilde 

:)

c3p0 and r2d2

To My Fire Hydrant

Game Theory & Love

The mathematical model  considers a male and a female in a courtship encounter of unspecified duration, with the game ending when one or other party quits or the female accepts the male as a mate. The model assumes that the male is either a ‘‘good’’ or a ‘‘bad’’ type from the female’s point of view. The female gets a positive payoff from mating if the male is a ‘‘good’’ male but a negative payoff if he is ‘‘bad’’, so it is in her interest to gain information about the male’s type with the aim of avoiding mating with a “bad” male. In contrast, a male gets a positive payoff from mating with any female, though his payoff is higher if he is “good” than if he is “bad”.

Evolutionarily stable equilibrium behaviours, in which females are doing as well as they can against male behaviour and males are doing as well as they can against female behaviour. It shows that extended courtship can take place, with a good male being willing to court for longer than a bad male and the female delaying mating. In this way the duration of a male’s courtship effort carries information about his type. By delaying mating, the female is able to make some use of this information to achieve a degree of screening. Because bad males have a greater tendency to quit the courtship game early, as time goes on and the male has not quit it becomes increasingly probable that he is a “good” male.

Human courtship, for example, can involve a sequence of dinners, theatre trips and other outings lasting months or even years. Why don't people speed things up to reduce these costs?  Long courtship is a price paid for increasing the chance that mating, if it occurs, will be a harmonious match which benefits both sexes.

From a female's point of view, males are not all equal. A female would like to mate with a good male, but cannot tell a male's type from his appearance alone. The strategic problem the female faces is how to screen out bad males, and this is where long courtship comes into play where it permits the female to acquire information about the male. Specifically, the delay in mating allows the female to reduce the chance that she will mate with a bad male. 

A male, on the other hand, is assumed to always want to mate with a female, but a good male is more willing to pay the cost of a long courtship in order to claim the prize of mating. This leads to an outcome in which the female is not willing to mate immediately, but instead requires the male to wait for an indeterminate time before she agrees to mate with him. During this time, the male may give up on courting the female. Bad males, therefore, are those that give up at some random time if the female has not by then mated with them, but good males are more persistent and do not give up.

The female’s strategy is a compromise - a trade-off between on the one hand the greater risk of mating with a bad male if she mates too quickly, and on the other hand the time cost of delay. Under this compromise there remains some risk that she will mate with the wrong type of male. She cannot eliminate this risk completely unless she decides never to mate.”

Sayang, my risky venture,

Love is a gamble and risks are inherently involved - however, with you, there is no sense of a trade-off where the risks are not worth taking.

muppet.

Happy New Year!

Sayang,

Happy New Year!

Last evening (new year's eve, US Eastern Standard Time, GMT - 5 Hours, Romeo Zone) - I decided to create this blog - a means of writing to you with the ability to post photos, links, and other internet-based methods of communication a tech-dinosaur like me can indulge in as a way of staying in touch with you.

So here it is...

K.