When Policies Aren't Enough

 Have you ever considered that the gun policy in the U.S. hasn't failed, but rather it's a failure on the part of psychologists and psychiatrists? Perhaps their methods for determining who is suitable to own a gun are inadequate, or maybe they allow clearly unstable individuals to remain free.

This is, admittedly, an extreme point of view. In reality, it's likely impossible to perfectly assess someone's mental fitness, and perhaps efforts should focus on stopping black market sellers and improving mental health evaluations.

However, even with these measures, the presence of lethal weapons can always lead to negative outcomes. For instance, a gun owner might have a troubled child who gains access to the firearm and causes a disaster, or someone might act irrationally during a panic attack. Additionally, accidents can occur due to negligence, or firearms might be stolen and used for criminal purposes.

With all that being said, wherever weapons and guns are present, tragic events can always happen, regardless of policies, mental health checks, or other factors. In today's society, disarming the population takes away the right to self-defense. Completely disarming everyone is difficult but might be possible. If not, whether we maintain the current situation or tighten or loosen regulations, I think things will continue the same.

Drowning in Silence

 That moment when everything seems to be going okay, something good is finally happening, and then, out of nowhere, bad news hits like a wave. You feel yourself slipping, sinking into that familiar place where the world just feels hollow and pointless. It’s like a descent you can’t stop, and the thought crosses your mind. Maybe this is it, maybe I’m falling into that dark pit again, maybe this is depression. And the worst part? No one’s there. You look around, but it’s like you're screaming into the void, and no one hears, no one cares. So maybe the only option is to go out, distract yourself with things—anything—to numb it all. But deep down, you know that even trying to do that feels empty too. I guess I'll give it a shot, but honestly, I don't know. There’s nothing else left.

Is Apple Doing This on Purpose?

Some haha:
ᴍʀ ʙʀᴏᴡɴ 237 🦁 ♎️ | Iphone 16 #apple #iphone #iphone16 #phone #fyp #fyp> #fyp.viral #tiktok #capcut #2024 #foryou #cavebat | Instagram

The latest iPhone presentation was so disappointing that it feels like Apple might have done it on purpose. It almost seems like a psychological experiment, showcasing features that feel outdated—things other brands like Samsung have had for over a decade. Is it possible this approach is designed to boost sales through lowered expectations?

The public reaction of a feature that windows has from years ago:
https://www.instagram.com/reel/C8PwMs-tNQj/?utm_source=ig_web_button_share_sheet

Something Exciting for me is Just Around the Corner!

 You know that feeling when something you once dreaded suddenly starts to spark joy? Well, that's exactly where I am right now! 

Without giving too much away (just yet ), I can finally say that something really nice is about to unfold in my life. Is it life-changing? Maybe not. But it's definitely the kind of thing that brings a little sunshine where there used to be clouds.

Funny thing is, I used to almost hate this "thing." But now, it’s like it's flipped a switch and started sending out good vibes instead. Makes you wonder, doesn’t it? Maybe we don’t truly dislike something until we give it a real chance. 

Stay tuned—when it's all wrapped up, I’ll share more. For now, I just wanted to drop a little positivity your way. Hope everyone has an awesome week ahead! 👍

Samsung made me want less

 
Two years ago, my company graciously gifted me a phone to "help" with my work. Enter the Samsung A33 5G, and my first reaction? "I will never use this." I mean, come on—it’s practically a minimum performance smartphone, and yeah, I still feel the same way.

At the time, I had a Huawei phone that was an absolute beast. Fast? Check. No major bugs? Check. It was a flawless performer. But then my little brother went and broke his phone. So, being the generous soul that I am, I thought, "Hey, my Huawei’s a few years old (even though it’s STILL leagues ahead of this Samsung), why not pass it on to him? I’ll just buy myself a shiny new phone soon."

Fast forward a month, and guess what? I was too busy drowning in work and stress to even think about a new phone. So there I was, stuck with the A33. Sure, the fingerprint scanner takes its sweet time, but hey, as long as you don’t have 12,473,324 tabs open, the performance is... passable. Not great, but passable. Call of Duty Mobile? It works, if you have the patience of a monk. Chess and Dream League Soccer? Well, those aren’t exactly taxing on the hardware, so we’re good there.

Productivity apps? No real complaints. No catastrophic bugs. Connectivity’s decent. Battery’s, you know, fine. Plus, I have access to the glorious Samsung ecosystem, which is... okay, I guess.

So here I am, living the Samsung A33 life, thinking, "Maybe I don’t need to drop hundreds on a new phone after all?" I never thought I’d stoop this low, given my love for cutting-edge tech, but hey—here we are

Mastering Spring Boot Microservices While Revisiting Articulate Storyline

 In the past, I briefly worked as an Articulate Storyline Developer, where my role involved assembling content provided by online course consultants into Storyline, and I also did some basic photo editing in Photoshop to enhance those courses. Now, as I've mentioned several times, I'm developing a trivia application using Spring Boot. However, until now, I’ve barely touched microservices—just a little bit. For the initial version of the trivia app, there wasn’t much need to implement microservices, but I think it's time to dive into them seriously.

To get started, I bought a course on Udemy called "Spring Boot Microservices with Spring Cloud Beginner to Guru" by John Thompson (in case anyone is interested). While studying, I plan to take notes and assemble my own course on Spring Boot microservices in an e-learning format, just like I used to do. This way, I’ll achieve two goals: learning Spring Boot microservices and creating a course about it at the same time.

I also need to check if I can use the Storyline trial version to create the course for my blog or look for a free alternative if that doesn’t work out. It would be a great addition to my blog and a fresh, unique offering.

Technology Is More Than Moving Icons: China Remains a Tech Potential, Not a Leader

 In a recent post, I discussed how Xiaomi is often underappreciated in the global smartphone market. Today, I want to delve further into the broader landscape of Chinese technology.

A few years ago, Huawei was at the forefront of the smartphone industry, consistently outperforming competitors. However, their rapid rise was interrupted by allegations of corporate espionage, including the theft of intellectual property from competitors. This seriously damaged their reputation and undermined consumer trust, especially in Western markets. The introduction of Huawei’s proprietary operating system, which lacks the seamless integration and ecosystem benefits of Google’s Android and Apple's iOS, made it even harder to convince users to switch away from these established platforms.

Now, as we shift focus to Xiaomi, I believe they are currently excelling in the smartphone space, but their success is being overshadowed by a lack of significant attention online. Despite their advancements in innovation and affordability, Xiaomi devices are rarely highlighted in prominent tech reviews on platforms like YouTube. My own research into issues with Xiaomi smartphones yielded little beyond a few general concerns, mostly related to older models. While some reviews mention bugs in Xiaomi’s MIUI software, these are typically issues that can be addressed through regular software updates over time.

That being said, I believe Xiaomi needs better marketing and should focus on fixing bugs and other potential issues with their products that may not be widely known. As a smartphone, it's top-tier, but addressing these concerns could make it even better.

Throughout history, Chinese products have often been associated with lower quality, particularly in terms of the materials used in manufacturing, whether it’s cars, toys, or other items. We’ve all experienced buying something as simple as a football made in China, only to have it break quickly. While reducing costs can make products more affordable, it should never be to the extent that the product can’t serve its intended purpose.

In my opinion, Chinese technology companies should focus on creating more premium or mid-range brands using high-quality materials, while emphasizing originality instead of always imitating Western technology. It may seem challenging, but by allowing innovative thinkers with strong strategies to lead, they could enter Western markets as serious contenders. Otherwise, the perception of their products will remain unchanged.
On the other hand, even if China doesn’t act on this type of advice, Europe and America should continue focusing on developing new technologies and pushing forward in innovation to stay ahead for when China finally realizes the importance of higher-quality materials. However, let’s be clear—simply changing the position of an icon is not a technological advancement... seriously.

Failed trip to the Northern Mountains with My Bros

 I don’t know if it’s bad luck, bad timing, or just the universe conspiring against me, but here’s what happened: My friend generously lent me his car for a long-overdue trip with my brothers—a rare 2-3 day getaway we’d been planning forever. So, we set off, all excited, and after a mere 50 km... boom. The car gave up. No power, no will to move forward. We sat there, looking at each other like, "Is this happening?" Waited for about 20 minutes, and miraculously, the car came back to life. But no way was I trusting it for the remaining 500 km, especially since we had mountains ahead—actual big, intimidating mountains. So yeah, I turned around.

This trip was supposed to be special, something we never do, and there I was, heading back home. All the build-up, the anticipation… gone. I’ll get another car soon (hopefully), and maybe then, I won’t have to rely on the kindness of friends or pray that their cars don’t spontaneously decide to take a nap. Oh, and before you ask—no, it was too late to rent a car. Because, of course, everything was working against me that day.

So, what did we do after our grand return to the city? We went karting. Yes, karting. A "why not" move to salvage the day. Honestly, it was fun—and surprisingly expensive—but we liked it. Or at least I thought I was enjoying it until I saw the lap times. Someone beat me by ONE SECOND. One. I was convinced I was the fastest, like, "No one can touch me!" Fast-forward to me realizing I wasn’t. It was a humbling, painful realization.

And the worst part? I didn’t even know during the race! If I’d seen those times earlier, I would’ve turned into a karting god, overtaking every pleb in my way to claim my rightful title. But no. I found out too late. Now I’m plotting my return for a redemption lap. Because there's no way I’m letting someone else be faster than me. 

Am I a coward?

 Would you willingly abandon the comfort of an easy, calm life for something that demands a monthly price—a price that would strain your budget, pushing your lifestyle to the edge, or perhaps even beyond? This thing, whatever it may be, might offer some kind of help, but at what cost?

I find myself standing on this precipice, teetering on the brink of a decision I’m too afraid to make. I was so close to diving into this uncertainty, but the fear of losing the life I've carefully built holds me back. Does this make me a coward, clinging to what’s safe instead of risking it all for something unknown?

Is Xiaomi being downplayed?

 In the recent smartphone reviews I’ve watched on YouTube, it seems like Xiaomi phones are often dismissed right from the start. Reviewers typically focus on the top three brands—Apple, Samsung, and Google Pixel—while Xiaomi barely gets a mention. When they do talk about Xiaomi, it’s usually to say that the brand has declined in recent years, but they never explain exactly how or why. From my perspective, Xiaomi offers some of the best microprocessors on the market and provides excellent value for budget phones. I don't understand the criticism beyond the preinstalled apps, which isn't a major issue for me. I can’t help but wonder if these YouTube reviewers are being paid to downplay Xiaomi and sway public perception, because I believe Xiaomi deserves to be in the conversation as one of the top three smartphone manufacturers.

Natural Cures: Are We All Just Gullible or What?

 So, whenever I come across some ancient "natural remedy" or a plant that's supposedly going to cure my migraine or some random chronic pain, my first thought? SCAM ALERT. Seriously, who else hears "natural cure" and thinks, "Oh yeah, sure, like that’s gonna work"?

Like, back in the day, who was even doing the quality control on this stuff? Was there some ancient FDA that I didn’t learn about in history class? I bet there were a few smart folks who actually figured out some good treatments, but then you know there were also those who were just winging it. "Oh, this leaf looks cool, let’s say it cures headaches." And people were probably like, "Yeah, totally makes sense."

Maybe half of those "cures" didn’t do squat, and the only reason anyone felt better was because, well, time passed and the body did its thing.

Look, I know I’m talking out of my you-know-what here. I’m too lazy and way too busy to deep-dive into whether any of this stuff actually works. But it’s a thought that’s been hanging out in my brain for a while.

It’s probably just me being clueless, like most people, because I haven’t exactly done the homework on this. I’m just out here throwing shade from the sidelines. ✌️