# An Insight into my Hindside

> Earth bound misfit, I


## Posts

- [Onycholysis & Onychomycosis](https://thescurvydawg.com/2025/11/15/onycholysis-onychomycosis/): Onycholysis is when the nail of a finger or toe separates from the underlying nail bed. Below is my experience with this condition, documented over many months.  It contains pictures of my toe with the condition. If the sight of an infected and exposed nail bed makes you feel queasy or disgusted, stop reading now.  Otherwise, go ahead.
- [Predator: Badlands](https://thescurvydawg.com/2025/11/08/predator-badlands/): My Expectations : 7/10My Rating : 7/10 Having seen the trailer for Predator: Badlands, I was not too excited to watch the movie. However, there was no way I could miss it, so I took the day off and went to watch it. The Movie The movie starts at Yautja Prime, the home planet of the Yautja. They are shown as a martial clan with strict honour codes. Dek, is the runt of his clan whose father wants him culled. He goes to Genna to kill the Kalisk and bring its head back as a trophy to prove his worth and earn […]
- [Garmin Run Asia Series 2025 - Thailand](https://thescurvydawg.com/2025/10/25/garmin-run-asia-series-2025-bangkok/): Last weekend, I participated in a 10k running event called Garmin Run Asia Series 2025. As the name says, it is organised by Garmin every year, in different cities, across Asia. This time, the Bangkok run was organised at Hua Mak Stadium. I also participated in this event last year where I didn’t come away too impressed. However, I decided to give it another shot this year. One of the main problems with this event is that it starts too early in the morning. The guns go off at 04:00 and they asked everyone to report by 03:00. This meant […]
- [Apple TV 4K (3rd Gen), Plex & Heat](https://thescurvydawg.com/2025/09/20/apple-tv-4k-3rd-gen-plex-heat/): I have been streaming content on Apple TV 4Ks for quite some time. This post is about an issue I discovered specifically with the 3rd Gen Apple TV 4K. When streaming high bitrate 4K HDR content on Plex, it overheats and starts stuttering. If you keep playing, it eventually halts, as shown below. Now, I was playing similar content on the Apple TV 4K (1st Gen), but never saw these issues. The difference is, Apple removed active cooling on the 3rd Gen model and slimmed down the unit. As per Apple, the SoC is efficient enough to not require cooling. […]
- [I like Bhutan Airlines](https://thescurvydawg.com/2025/09/13/i-like-bhutan-airlines/): I travel to Kolkata frequently and it is such a backward city, none of the bigger airlines service it, only low cost airlines like Indigo, Thai Air Asia, Thai Lion and Spicejet. What’s worse, all these flights are red-eye flights which I hate. So I was pleasantly surprised to see that Bhutan Airlines runs regular flights between Bangkok & Kolkata, and they are daytime flights! Bhutan Airlines is a small airline company and Bhutan’s first private airline. In fact it is so small, they just operate 2 aircraft on 2 routes. What I like So what’s to like about them? […]
- [How India is a low-trust society](https://thescurvydawg.com/2025/09/06/india-low-trust-society/): As I near 5 years since I moved abroad, each trip back here makes me realise how India is a low-trust society. What makes me think so Why has it come to this? Now, I am not arguing that the above steps are not required (they most certainly are), but why are they specifically required for us? Barring security issues which are courtesy terrorism, most of the above comes down to how un-trustworthy we Indians are. Surely, we have been stealing others’ Uber rides, package deliveries, credit cards long enough that they had to come up with all this. Sad.
- [12th August Half Marathon 2025](https://thescurvydawg.com/2025/08/23/12th-august-half-marathon-2025/): Recently, I participated in a 10k running event called 12th August Half Marathon 2025, also called “Run for mom“. It is organised on the Thai mother’s day every year on the birth day of Queen Sirikit, the Queen Mother of Thailand. The event is held at the Queen Sirikit National Convention Center also bearing her name. This run holds a special place for me, as all profits go to Queen Sirikit Centre for Breast Cancer. When I ran this last year, my mother was suffering from breast cancer and this year, she’s no longer there. The Run I was quite […]
- [How to be an Insufferable Farang](https://thescurvydawg.com/2025/08/16/how-to-be-an-insufferable-farang/): As per Wikipedia, the word Farang loosely translates to someone of caucasian descent. In practical use in Southeast Asia, it is more widely used to refer to white men; less frequently women. In this article, I cover a specific class of Farang living in Southeast Asia – The ones who consider themselves authentic (travellers, not tourists kind) and come to Asia to (re) discover themselves. Most of them are jobless, mooching off social security in their developed countries or have remote jobs and stay here on tourist Visas. In my experience, they constitute less than 10% of total white people […]
- [Hoka Mach 6 (Wide)](https://thescurvydawg.com/2025/08/09/hoka-mach-6/): Recently, my Saucony Triumph 22 running shoes crossed 600kms & I started looking out for shoes to replace them. I always wanted to go back to Hokas, but I wanted something more responsive than the Clifton. After briefly considering the Rincon 4s, I decided to buy the Hoka Mach 6. I generally prefer colourful shoes, but the Hoka Mach 6 Oat Milk variant were 50% off and the others were not. The first impression is how light and bare they are, compared to what I am normally used to. Comparing to my previous Saucony, I see that they are also thinner and a […]
- [The Fantastic Four: First Steps](https://thescurvydawg.com/2025/08/02/the-fantastic-four-first-steps/): My Expectations : 7/10My Rating : 8/10 I know, I know, I decided not watch MCU movies anymore, but something about The Fantastic Four : First Steps felt different. Earth 828 What makes Fantastic Four: First Steps different is that it is set in Earth 828, which is in a different universe than the previous MCU movies. Earth 828 is a retro-futuristic version of Earth & most of the movie is set in 1960s New York City which reminds you of Mad Men. However, even though the clothes, aesthetics are 60s, the technology is futuristic. Example, the screens are all oval shaped […]
- [Superman (2025)](https://thescurvydawg.com/2025/07/26/superman-2025/): My Expectations : 7/10My Rating : 7/10 My first comment on this movie is that David Corenswet has the most generic face of all the actors who have played Superman till now. His face is so generic, if I saw him in the street right now, I may not recognise him. Kind of like bollywood actresses from the 70s and 80s. So I don’t understand why the movie even bothered to make up the eye-hypnotise thing to explain why no one recognises Superman is Clark Kent. Otherwise the movie is a departure from the last Superman series, bright, funny and cheerful, instead […]
- [Jurassic World Rebirth (2025)](https://thescurvydawg.com/2025/07/19/jurassic-world-rebirth/): My Expectations : 5/10My Rating : 6/10 I went to watch this movie only because my daughter wanted to see dinosaurs. This was a sequel of a reboot, so I had very low expectations going on. Overall, the movie slightly exceeded my expectations. The movie starts at InGen‘s (Another company trying to play god with dinosaurs) laboratories and the most ridiculous thing happens. Just because 1 door in their lab malfunctions, their entire security system reboots and releases all the mutant dinosaurs everywhere. Which designer can design such software and how can such a design go through the design review & approval […]
- [Home Garden - Red Button Ginger (Costus Woodsonii)](https://thescurvydawg.com/2025/07/12/home-garden-red-button-ginger-costus-woodsonii/): Continuing my series, this post is about the Costus Woodsonii, commonly known as the Red Button Ginger. Costus woodsonii, commonly known as Red Button Ginger or Dwarf Cone Ginger, is a tropical perennial. It is native to Central and South America. It is prized for its vibrant red cone-shaped bracts that resemble buttons, which often hold small yellow flowers. The plant has lush, spiraling green foliage and is popular in ornamental gardens for its compact size and striking appearance. I first saw this plant when I came to Bangkok many years ago and since then, have always wanted to grow it. Recently, […]
- [Farhan Akhtar Movie Weekends](https://thescurvydawg.com/2025/07/05/farhan-akhtar-movie-weekends/): With most of my family away for a few weekends, I decided to catch up on movies. After queuing up a few, I realised that Farhan Akhtar was a common element in all of them; hence decided to continue the theme. Farhan Akhtar is a multi-talented Indian filmmaker, actor, singer, and writer. Here’re the movies I saw, associated with him: 01-Zindagi Na Milegi Dobara (2011) Farhan’s Role : Actor, Writer, Producer, Playback SingerMy Rating : 7/10 Zindagi Na Milegi Dobara (You only live once), is a road comedy drama film. The film stars an ensemble cast of Hrithik Roshan, Abhay Deol, Farhan Akhtar, Katrina Kaif, and Kalki Koechlin. The […]
- [My BitTorrent Setup](https://thescurvydawg.com/2025/06/28/my-bittorrent-setup/): First things first, like me, you must not download copyright protected content via BitTorrent. There’s plenty of open content available that downloads much faster on BitTorrent, compared to https and this article applies to such content. In this post, I discuss using qBIttorrent to download data from the internet via BitTorrent. Below are the reasons that I didn’t like it My first reaction was to move to put.io, but I couldn’t justify its high subscription price considering I had already invested in a Home Server. Enter alldebrid, which is a much cheaper and simplified alternative to Put.io. Here’s my setup […]
- [Mac Mini M2 Pro: Video Decoding & Encoding](https://thescurvydawg.com/2025/06/21/mac-mini-m2-pro-video-decoding-encoding/): I recently lost a bunch of videos (mostly concerts) to a disk encryption mis-understanding., so needed to rip them again from their Blu-Ray sources. Having previously done video decoding/encoding on my daughter’s Mac, I was curious to know how the Mac Mini M2 Pro would compare when doing video decoding & encoding. I used the trusty app Handbrake for this task. 1080p Recode I started with the Blu-Ray disc for Hell Freezes Over. Video/Audio specifications Source : Blu Ray Disc, Duration 1:38:45 Video : 1426×1080, 30fps, SDR, H.264 to H.265, 8-bit Preset : Quality, 60 CQ Audio 1 : BD-LPCM […]
- [Retro Computing: Windows 98 SE/Further setup & config](https://thescurvydawg.com/2025/06/18/retro-computing-windows-98-se-further-setup-config/): Continuing from my last post, we look at the further setup and configuration of Windows 98 SE. Emulator : UTM After experimenting with UTM SE on iPad, then Synology VMM on the NAS, now I am using UTM on the Mac Mini. Unlike the iPad, UTM on mac has full support for JIT, so performance is much better. I use UTM Remote to access the VMs on my iPad, even though they are running on the Mac. Windows 98 SE: Further Setup The first screen after Windows 98 SE boots for the first time is this welcome screen. Time to […]
- [Bye Bye Jetpack? Not so fast!](https://thescurvydawg.com/2025/06/14/bye-bye-jetpack-not-so-fast/): For those who don’t know, Jetpack is Automattic’s WordPress plugin, which connects your blog to their cloud service and provides a number of features. I have been using Jetpack for as long as I remember having this site on WordPress. And for most of the time, it has worked well. However, recently, I noticed that when composing posts, the block editor would get stuck “saving” and not recover at all. Over many months, it led to hours of lost work. After troubleshooting thoroughly, I found that the problem only happened when Jetpack was enabled. After begging a few days on […]
- [Home Garden - Jade Plant (Crassula Ovata)](https://thescurvydawg.com/2025/06/11/home-garden-jade-plant-crassula-ovata/): Continuing my series, this post is about the Crassula Ovata, commonly known as the Jade Plant. Jade Plant (Crassula ovata) is a beloved succulent known for its thick, glossy, oval-shaped leaves and its tree-like appearance. Native to South Africa and Mozambique, it has become a popular houseplant around the world. It is prized for both its beauty and symbolic meaning. Often referred to as the “money plant” or “friendship tree,” the Jade Plant is associated with good luck, prosperity, and positive energy, especially in Feng Shui practices. Its fleshy leaves are thought to resemble coins, reinforcing its connection to wealth and abundance. […]
- [Homebridge & Plex on Home Server](https://thescurvydawg.com/2025/06/07/homebridge-plex/): I recently did some pretty complicated configurations on my Synology NAS & subsequently the Mac Mini & decided to make diagrams to document how things communicate with each other. The below sections describe the traffic flow for Homebridge & Plex on my home server. Homebridge The Homebridge traffic flow is relatively straight forward. Homebridge acts as a bridge between IoT devices and Apple’s HomeKit. There are many 3rd party plugins for different types of devices. The plugins are searchable/downloadable from the app itself. The traffic flow goes like: There’s a fair bit of mDNS involved for device discovery, so make […]
- [Home Garden - Bougainvillea](https://thescurvydawg.com/2025/05/31/home-garden-bougainvillea/): Continuing my series, this post is about the Bougainvillea that we recently bought. Bougainvillea is a vibrant, fast-growing ornamental plant known for its explosion of colorful, papery bracts that surround its tiny, white, inconspicuous flowers. Native to South America, it’s widely cultivated in warm climates around the world for its stunning display and hardy nature. Bougainvillea is perfect for adding bold color to gardens, balconies, and landscapes. With minimal care and the right sunny spot, it rewards with vibrant, long-lasting blooms almost year-round. It is one of the most striking flowering plants you can grow, prized for its vivid, paper-like bracts […]
- [Home Garden - Lucky Bamboo (Dracaena Sanderiana)](https://thescurvydawg.com/2025/05/28/home-garden-lucky-bamboo-dracaena-sanderiana/): Continuing my series, this post is about the Dracaena Sanderiana, commonly known as the Lucky Bamboo. Dracaena sanderiana is a popular houseplant. People know this for its elegant, slender stalks and its reputation for bringing good fortune and positive energy. Despite its name, Lucky Bamboo isn’t a true bamboo—it belongs to the Dracaena genus, which is native to Central Africa. My wife bought it from our local Thursday market. This resilient plant is often used in Feng Shui to promote harmony and prosperity. Its stalks are frequently arranged in decorative groupings, with each number symbolizing a different kind of luck. For instance, […]
- [Retro Computing: Windows 2000 Professional](https://thescurvydawg.com/2025/05/26/retro-computing-windows-2000-professional/): After the painful (and unstable) experience of using Windows 95 and Windows 98, Windows 2000 Professional came as a breath of fresh air. It was the first version of Windows I used, based on NT technology. While going through the process of running it on my NAS, I tried to recall what I felt the first time I installed it. This was almost 25 years ago, and I was apprehensive about moving to a new platform. When I consulted my friend Vishal Chopra about it, his simple advice was “2000 is a higher number than 98, so it is better”. […]
- [Home Garden - 9 Succulents](https://thescurvydawg.com/2025/05/24/home-garden-succulents/): Continuing my series, this post is about nine succulents that I recently bought. Dog-Tail Cactus (Strophocactus Testudo) The Strophocactus testudo, also known as Dog-Tail Cactus is a fascinating succulent that boasts long, trailing stems resembling a dog’s tail. This unique growth habit makes it a popular choice for hanging baskets and terrariums. It is the favourite of all my succulents. This succulent is native to Central and South America, found abundantly in Brazil. It needs careful handling, or bits of it can fall off. You can read more about this plant, here Peyote (Lophophora Williamsii) Lophophora williamsii, commonly known as peyote, […]
- [Home Garden - Mexican Heather (Cuphea hyssopifolia)](https://thescurvydawg.com/2025/05/21/home-garden-mexican-heather-cuphea-hyssopifolia/): Continuing my series, this post is about the Mexican Heather plant that we recently bought. Mexican Heather (Cuphea hyssopifolia) is a charming, low-maintenance ornamental plant known for its fine-textured foliage and delicate, colorful flowers. Despite its name, it’s not a true heather but gets the nickname due to its similar appearance. I generally grows about 1 to 2 feet tall and wide, making it perfect for borders and ground cover. It is a pollinator-friendly plant, attracting bees and butterflies. The flowers are tiny, trumpet-shaped blooms in shades of purple, lavender, pink, or white, appearing almost year-round in warm climates. With its […]
- [Home Garden - Garden Croton (Codiaeum Variegatum)](https://thescurvydawg.com/2025/05/19/home-garden-garden-croton-codiaeum-variegatum/): Continuing my series, this post is about the Garden Croton plant that we recently bought. The Garden Croton (Codiaeum variegatum) is a vibrant, tropical shrub known for its bold, multicoloured foliage. Native to Southeast Asia and the Pacific Islands, it features leathery leaves in a dazzling mix of green, yellow, red, orange, and even purple, often with dramatic veining or spotting. While they’re often grown outdoors in tropical climates, they also make striking houseplants. However, keeping them indoors turns the leaves dull and green, so I refuse to bring it indoors. It is known for the variety of leaf shapes it […]
- [Bye-Bye Synology, Hello Mac Mini](https://thescurvydawg.com/2025/05/17/bye-bye-synology-hello-mac-mini/): I had been using my Synology NAS for a few months now. However, as I started to do more and more with it, its inherent lack of processing power started to irk me. The CPU was too slow, the RAM too limited. More than that, its ugliness on my living room shelf disgusted me. Eventually, I decided to replace it with a Mac Mini. Since I was anyways using the NAS more as a computer than for storage (a measly few hundred GBs), the choice was not difficult. I got a good deal on a used Mac Mini M2 Pro […]
- [Home Garden - Split-Leaf Philodendron (Philodendron bipinnatifidum)](https://thescurvydawg.com/2025/05/14/home-garden-split-leaf-philodendron-bipinnatifidum/): Continuing my series, this post is about the Split-Leaf Philodendron that we recently bought. Philodendron bipinnatifidum, commonly known as the Split-Leaf Philodendron, is a stunning tropical houseplant popularly prized for its dramatic, deeply lobed leaves that can grow quite large. This plant is native to South America. This plant is known for its air-purifying qualities, but I myself am skeptical if this has any practical impact, even in indoor spaces. I keep this plant in partial sunlight, near our south facing windows, where it receives sunlight 2-3 hours a day in the late afternoons. We keep it inside a cane basket, propped […]
- [Home Garden - Candelabra Plant (Euphorbia Lactea)](https://thescurvydawg.com/2025/05/12/home-garden-candelabra-spurge-euphorbia-lactea/): Continuing my series, this post is about the Candelabra spurge that we recently bought. Although it is a succulent, I thought it deserved its own post. The Candelabra spurge, also known as the Euphorbia lactea is a fascinating and sculptural succulent native to tropical Asia, particularly India and Sri Lanka. It features upright, triangular stems with wavy, jagged edges that are often streaked with pale green and white—giving it a marbled, almost bone-like appearance. The stems, which may be mistaken for leaves are actually quite hard, despite its fragile appearance. The plant’s name “lactea” refers to the milky sap it produces, […]
- [Bangkok 21k Park Run 2025](https://thescurvydawg.com/2025/05/10/bangkok-21k-park-run-2025/): My second run of the year was the Bangkok 21k park Run 2025. This was my second time participating in this run, having done it in 2024, too. This is one of my most favourite running events in Bangkok. Like before, the run was in the scenic Suan Luang Rama IX park. Like last time, it was raining the entire week, but surprisingly didn’t rain on the morning of the race. Since this is a race I did twice with a gap of 1 year, it is a good opportunity to compare the metrics. 1 Year Metric comparison As you […]
- [Home Garden - Parlour Palm (Chamaedorea Elegans)](https://thescurvydawg.com/2025/05/07/home-garden-chamaedorea-elegans-parlour-palm/): Continuing my series, this post is about my Parlour Palm. The Parlour Palm, scientifically known as Chamaedorea elegans, is a popular houseplant appreciated for its graceful, feathery fronds and adaptable nature. The Parlour palm was discovered in Central America and brought back to the United States, where it became a popular indoor palm. Parlour palms grow in attractive clumps with light-textured foliage cloaking thin trunks. These slow growers can take years to reach full height (2 to 6 feet indoors and 6 to 16 feet outdoors). My fondness for Palms is already common knowledge. I got it as a gift from our […]
- [Home Garden - Dumbcane (Dieffenbachia Seguine)](https://thescurvydawg.com/2025/05/03/home-garden-dieffenbachia-seguine-dumbcane/): Continuing my series, this post is about the Dumbcane plant that my wife has been neglecting for quite some time. Dumbcane, scientifically known as Dieffenbachia Seguine is recognized for its striking variegated leaves, typically featuring shades of green and cream. It’s a popular choice among plant enthusiasts due to its ability to adapt to lower light levels. It is one of the most common plants that people have in their homes. It is native to the tropical regions of the Americas. Although we have had it for quite some time, I recently took over its care, moving it to an earthen […]
- [Home Garden - Snake Plant (Dracaena Trifasciata)](https://thescurvydawg.com/2025/04/30/home-garden-dracaena-trifasciata-snake-plant/): Continuing my series, this post is about the Dracaena Trifasciata, commonly known as the Snake Plant. The Dracaena Trifasciata is an incredibly resilient plant that thrives in various conditions. Known for its striking, upright leaves that can grow several feet tall, this plant is a favorite among indoor gardeners. People say it purifies the air, but I am skeptical of how much impact it can actually have. This plant is native to West Africa, specifically from Nigeria to the Congo region. The pot is Fjärilsbuske from Ikea, and has a beautiful glaze. I keep this plant in shade all the […]
- [Home Garden - Orange Jasmine (Murraya Paniculata)](https://thescurvydawg.com/2025/04/28/home-garden-orange-jasmine-murraya-paniculata/): Continuing my series, this post is about the Orange Jasmine plant that we recently bought. The Orange Jasmine (Murraya paniculata) is a fragrant, evergreen shrub or small tree prized for its lush foliage and beautifully scented white flowers. Despite its name, it’s not a true jasmine but gets its name from the sweet, citrus-like fragrance of its blooms, which resemble orange blossoms. Native to South and Southeast Asia, it is often used as a hedge or ornamental plant due to its dense, glossy green leaves and attractive shape. It can grow up to 12 feet tall in the right conditions. Its […]
- [Home Garden - Chinese Evergreen (Aglaonema)](https://thescurvydawg.com/2025/04/26/home-garden-aglaonema-chinese-evergreens/): Continuing my series, this post is about the Aglaonema, commonly known as Chinese Evergreen. The Aglaonema is a versatile houseplant that thrives in lower light conditions, making it a popular choice for indoor gardens. It is known for its striking foliage, featuring vibrant green leaves often adorned with splashes of silver, cream, or red. Mine has leaves with red borders around it and a firm, white stem. This plant is native to tropical and subtropical regions of Asia, particularly Southeast Asia. This includes countries like Philippines, Malaysia, Thailand, Indonesia, Vietnam & its namesake Southern China. This means it is right […]
- [Retro Computing: Windows ME/Setup](https://thescurvydawg.com/2025/04/23/retro-computing-windows-me-setup/): Continuing my adventures with Retro Computing, this time on Synology Virtual Machine Manager. Next up, Windows ME Setup. Windows ME was critically panned on release. It dropped many features from previous Windows versions, but did nothing to improve stability. I made an ISO from my old and scratched Windows ME disk, mounted it in Synology VMM and let it boot. The boot screen sent me into throes of nostalgia. So did the next steps. I could feel myself going crazy when the setup GUI came up; thankfully, the mouse & keyboard worked without any tinkering. The installation process and steps […]
- [Home Garden - Jungle Flame (Ixora Coccinea)](https://thescurvydawg.com/2025/04/21/home-garden-jungle-flame-ixora-coccinea/): Continuing my series, this post is about the Jungle Flame plant that we recently bought. The Jungle Flame, scientifically known as Ixora coccinea, is a vibrant, evergreen shrub native to Southeast Asia. Commonly referred to as Flame of the Woods, Jungle Geranium, or Maui Sunset, this plant is celebrated for its clusters of small, tubular flowers that bloom in shades of red, orange, yellow, and pink, providing a striking display throughout the summer months .  What makes the this plant stand out are its dense clusters of small, tubular flowers that come in shades of red, orange, pink, and yellow—resembling tiny […]
- [Short-Term review of the Meteor 350](https://thescurvydawg.com/2025/04/19/short-term-review-of-the-meteor-350/): I wrote my first impressions of my bike after just a week of ownership. This is the second, short-term review of the Royal Enfield Meteor 350 after 5000km. The Good The Bad The entire fuel tank and related systems suck. That’s it, don’t have more complaints and am very happy with the motorcycle.
- [Home Garden - Golden Pothos (Epipremnum aureum)](https://thescurvydawg.com/2025/04/16/home-garden-epipremnum-aureum-golden-pothos/): Last 4 years, I had been avoiding getting plants for our home here, because our stay in Bangkok felt temporary. Having realised now, that we’re not going anywhere any time soon, I decided to dive back into gardening. First up, Golden Pothos. Golden Pothos, scientifically known as Epipremnum aureum, is a beloved houseplant known for its vibrant heart-shaped leaves that can bring a touch of nature indoors. Often referred to as “Devil’s Ivy,” this plant is praised for its adaptability and low maintenance requirements, making it a perfect choice for both novice and experienced gardeners. In India, it is more […]
- [Food that I miss](https://thescurvydawg.com/2025/04/12/food-that-i-miss/): Below is a list of food that I miss dearly, because I can no longer eat them. 01-Chicken Cutlet Perhaps one of my favourite foods. It is simply minced chicken with spices crumbed with bread and deep fried. I don’t even remember when I first had it, but my earliest memory is eating it at one of my aunt’s house in Kolkata. I have had various kinds over the decades. Some of them have a bone sticking out of the corner. Growing up outside Kolkata, it was rarely found anywhere, even at Bengali restaurants. Hence, I looked forward to my […]
- [My Home Network](https://thescurvydawg.com/2025/04/05/my-home-network/): Recently I was describing my home network to someone and decided to document it for posterity. Below is the main network design. The Router My Router is a TP-Link BE800, which is a decent router, theatrics aside. I got a good deal on a used unit and am quite happy with it. I am using the following features on the router The router is capable of connecting to TP-Link’s cloud, which means you can manage it remotely using their app without having/knowing a public IPv4. Local Area Network I have my LAN set up as shown above. Everything is one […]
- [The iPad Pro is such a neutered device](https://thescurvydawg.com/2025/03/29/the-ipad-pro-is-such-a-neutered-device/): I have had a long & complicated history with various devices in the iPad lineup over the years. Don’t get me wrong, the iPad is a fantastic device for what its made for. Is just not made for some of the things I want to do; which is making it work like a real computer. What it is good at After using iPads (Mostly Pro versions) over many years, I have realised that the iPad is good at: I love the sexy slab design and the folio cover. But spending this amount of money just for the above items doesn’t […]
- [Mickey 17](https://thescurvydawg.com/2025/03/22/mickey-17/): My Expectations : 6/10My Rating : 7/10 The most recent movie I watched is Mickey 17. I had read the reviews, so walked in with low expectations. Robert Pattinson plays Mickey Barnes, a dumb loser who cannot do anything right. He joins a space colonisation mission organised by a cult leader Kenneth Marshall (Mark Ruffalo), in a bid to escape debt collectors. In the mission, he has the role of an expendable, which means he is assigned increasingly dangerous and fatal tasks. When he dies (mostly in very painful ways), his body is 3D printed and his memories restored from […]
- [Cloudflare](https://thescurvydawg.com/2025/03/15/cloudflare/): I had dabbled with CDN before (LiteSpeed, Jetpack), but a recent requirement around my NAS required me to move my DNS service to Cloudflare. So I thought, why not use their CDN, too and compare the before and after performances? For web traffic, you can use Cloudflare in two modes As the names say, the first option uses Cloudflare servers as your authoritative name servers, but your traffic goes straight to your original server. There’s no caching and there’s no CDN. Turning on the proxy is where the real benefits are supposed to be visible. I used their free plan […]
- [Retro Computing: Epic Fail!](https://thescurvydawg.com/2025/03/08/retro-computing-epic-fail/): Continuing from the last post, we continue with my attempts to host Retro Computing VMs. However, there has been a change around how I host my VMs. As I mentioned before, the performance running VMs on UTM SE sucks balls. No fault of the app itself, the problem is around the artificial limitations imposed by Apple on iPadOS. So I decided to find another way to run them. Microsoft Azure Dv3-Series I recently found out that service like Google Compute Engine and Microsoft Azure support nested virtualization. Basically you can run VMs inside the VMs they provide you. Due to […]
- [Synology DS224+ NAS](https://thescurvydawg.com/2025/03/01/synology-ds224-nas/): I know, I know. I got the Synology DS223j just a month ago. However, I ran across a pretty un-surmountable roadblock with it. It can’t run Virtual machines, which I really want to do. So I returned it and got a Synology DS224+ instead, even though it meant having a device with an Intel Processor. The first thing I noticed moving from the DS223j to the DS224+ is how much uglier it is. While the DS223j was beautiful and elegant, the DS224+ is an ugly block which has no business being on a living room shelf. Anyway, function over form. […]
- [Bumrungrad Race to Heal 2025](https://thescurvydawg.com/2025/02/22/bumrungrad-race-to-heal-2025/): Continuing my series, this is about my first race of 2025, in an event called Bumrungrad Race to Heal 2025. All the proceeds from this race went to charity, so I was keen on participating. I was quite excited for this race because having done a sub-1 hour 10k before, I wanted to see if I could do it again. I left home by grab bike at 5:00 AM. The race was in the beautiful Queen SiriKit Park at Chatuchak, Bangkok. The park has long, winding running tracks and beautiful lakes. It was a treat watching the sun rise here. […]
- [Wanderlust: Day trip to Saeng Chan Beach](https://thescurvydawg.com/2025/02/15/wanderlust-day-trip-to-saeng-chan-beach/): Continuing my series, this is my latest road trip, to Saeng Chan beach in Rayong province. It was my birthday and after a rough month on the personal front, I seriously needed a break. What better to relieve sadness than a motorcycle trip to the beach? Total Distance: Approx 380 km The initial part of the ride is nothing special, same as Pattaya which I have already covered here and here. Industrial highway with lots of traffic and a different stink every kilometre. I left at 4:30 in the morning and it was dark, cold and miserable. I made good […]
- [Synology DS223j NAS](https://thescurvydawg.com/2025/02/08/synology-ds223j-nas-review/): Recently, I had been looking to move my pirated media away from the Mega + Infuse combo (Mega had been throttling transfers, causing choppy videos). Additionally, I was paying monthly subscription fees for both. So I decided to move everything to a NAS. My main requirement was for the NAS to not be based on x86-64 architecture and especially not an Intel processor. After a tight battle with the TerraMaster F2-212 and ASUS Drivestor 2, I decided to go with the Synology DS223j. Even though the TerraMaster and Asustor provided more value for money and in some cases more features […]
- [Third Molar Extraction](https://thescurvydawg.com/2025/02/01/third-molar-extraction/): During my adolescent years, the third molars in my lower jaw came out crooked. Because of food getting stuck in the space between the second molar and the third, I used to suffer regular bouts of Pericoronitis which was annoying. After years of annoyance and advice from dentists to take them out, I finally decided to do so, late last year. I had actually considered doing it a few times before, but always chickened out. This time, I decided to go ahead with it. I did this at my regular Dental clinic, Smile Seasons. The Process The first step is […]
- [My TV Shows of 2024](https://thescurvydawg.com/2024/12/28/my-tv-shows-of-2024/): I thought I would do a yearly version of this article. Below are the TV shows I started watching in 2024, TV shows I stopped watching in 2024 and TV shows I tried to watch but couldn’t. Also, TV shows I continued to watch this year. Shows I tried but couldn’t get into TV Shows I started watching Shows I continued to watch TV Shows I re-watched TV Shows I stopped watching Overall, I feel I discovered many great TV shows this year. 2 shows (Severance & Shrinking) that I tried, but couldn’t get into last year, turned out to […]
- [Saucony Triumph 22](https://thescurvydawg.com/2024/12/21/saucony-triumph-22/): Recently, my trusty Hoka Clifton 9 running shoes crossed 600kms & I replaced them with a Saucony Triumph 22. The various Hokas performed quite well over the years and I had no intention to go with another brand. However, the below factors compelled me to I was keen on trying more responsive shoes, so I went with the Saucony Triumph 22, which were on sale. I ordered them from Rev Runner and they arrived within 2 days. First Impressions My first impressions, after using them for 10 days, are below, but first, some before-after comparison by numbers. As you can […]
- [Bad Dreams](https://thescurvydawg.com/2024/12/14/bad-dreams/): Ever since I have been on Escitalopram, my dreams have been quite vivid. Most of them resemble action-packed Hollywood movies, but some of them are really unpleasant. I have noticed a recurring pattern of vivid bad dreams, documented below: Unable to graduate I have covered this one in a dedicated article before and the pattern is simple. I think the root of this bad dream is the fact that I graduated under such improbable circumstances. Living in Squalor This is a more recent theme of bad dreams. The pattern is I think people who have grown up living in the […]
- [Amazing Thailand Marathon 2024](https://thescurvydawg.com/2024/12/07/amazing-thailand-marathon-2024/): As December came back around, it was time for another (my second) Amazing Thailand Marathon 2024. Last year’s was my first marathon, so I wanted to do it again this year. Getting There Getting there was the worst part. I made the mistake of taking a Grab and due to extensive road closures, got dropped off 5km away from the start line. With the clock ticking, I started running towards the venue. On the way, I came across a shuttle bus which was ferrying people who had abandoned the 42k/21k and hopped on it. However, soon, its way was blocked […]
- [Get rid of bloat and Ads on Line and WhatsApp](https://thescurvydawg.com/2024/11/30/get-rid-of-bloat-and-ads-on-line-and-whatsapp/): Recently I found out how to get rid of Ads on both WhatsApp and Line. The concept is same for both, pretend to be from a country where the service is not popular. Get Rid of Ads on WhatsApp Ads on WhatsApp while subtle, are still irritating for me. The ads are mostly in form of “channels” that some losers pay WhatsApp to promote. Since WhatsApp is very popular in India, using an Indian number to register WhatsApp causes several distasteful channels to be recommended. The solution was simple (at least for me), change your WhatsApp account to use a […]
- [Apple iPhone 16 Pro](https://thescurvydawg.com/2024/11/23/apple-iphone-16-pro/): I had been using the Apple iPhone 14 Pro for more than 2 years. But I started yearning to upgrade it as soon as iPhone 16 Pro was announced. I did try to convince myself to wait for another year, but last month, I gave up and bought the iPhone 16 Pro. My views on the iPhone 16 Pro Lessons learnt when selling the old Phone
- [My List of Mobile Handsets (updated)](https://thescurvydawg.com/2024/11/23/my-list-of-mobile-handsets-updated/): I’ll go back in time now and make a list of all the mobile handsets I have owned till date. You may notice that the list is quite long, with it being especially dense in the first few years. The iPhone X still holds the record of the longest used mobile handset by me (almost 3 years). Year Phone Comments 2003 Reliance LG RD2030 (CDMA) My first phone, my father had to pull many strings to get me this. 2004 Nokia 3530 My first colour phone. I miss the paragliding game. 2004 Samsung C100 Had a hidden temperature sensor and […]
- [Wanderlust: Day trip to Chaosamran Beach](https://thescurvydawg.com/2024/11/16/wanderlust-day-trip-to-chaosamran-beach/): Continuing my series, this is my latest road trip, to Chaosamran beach in Phetchaburi province. It had been a few weeks since my last motorcycle trip, so I decided to head out into the highway. Total Distance: Approx 320 km Unlike the more popular beaches near Bangkok, Chaosamran beach is on the eastern coast of Thailand, just short of Cha Am and Hua Hin. I left on a monday morning, so getting out of Bangkok was painful, with many traffic hot spots. Once out of the metropolitan area, I found the highway quite similar to Pattaya and Ayutthaya. Not very […]
- [Apple Watch Series 10](https://thescurvydawg.com/2024/11/09/apple-watch-series-10/): I have been using the Apple Watch Series 7 for almost 3 years without any complaints, nor had a yearning to upgrade. However, the battery health went down gradually over the years. Eventually, at 79% health, I couldn’t even complete a 10k with it playing music while connected to LTE. Fighting back the urge to get the Series 9 or Ultra 2, I decided to wait for the Apple Watch Series 10 and buy that. Strangely in Thailand, it was launched much later, even after India. Since I experienced a financial windfall, I decided to move up to the Titanium […]
- [Garmin Run Asia Series 2024](https://thescurvydawg.com/2024/10/26/garmin-run-asia-series-2024/): Recently, I participated in a 10k running event called Garmin Run Asia Series 2024. As the name says, it is organised by Garmin every year, in different cities, across Asia. This time, the Bangkok run was organised at Rajamangala Stadium, where I went a day before to collect the race pack. The Run Since the run started in the stadium, it had a sporty feel to it. However, outside the stadium, most of it was in the back-alleys behind. It had rained the night before, so the weather was cool, although humid. Overall, I didn’t find the run as well-organised […]
- [Wanderlust: Day trip to Prachinburi](https://thescurvydawg.com/2024/10/12/wanderlust-day-trip-to-prachinburi/): Continuing my series, this is my latest road trip, to Prachinburi province. Since I installed the CarPlay unit on my motorcycle, I had been eager to test it out on a day trip. The opportunity presented itself last Monday, when I just couldn’t bring myself to go to work. I took the day off and headed out on the highway towards Prachinburi province. Total Distance: Approx 280 km I left around 7:30 in the morning and immediately got caught up in morning rush hour traffic. Excruciatingly made my way out of Bangkok and was rewarded with beautiful tree-lined 2 lane […]
- [Apple CarPlay on Meteor 350](https://thescurvydawg.com/2024/10/05/apple-carplay-meteor-350/): As you know, I have been going on road trips infrequently & relying on Royal Enfield’s tripper navigation system for directions. Although, initially I was impressed by the simple nature of the tripper, eventually I found it a bit too simplistic for road trips. I took wrong turns one too many times and got lost. Overall, I must have spent many hours re-tracing my steps. Also, it was not compatible with my polarised sunglasses (Had to tilt my head to see). Before my next trip, I decided to upgrade the navigation system on my Meteor 350. I initially considered dedicated […]
- [Wanderlust: Day trip to River Khwae Bridge, Kanchanaburi](https://thescurvydawg.com/2024/09/28/wanderlust-day-trip-to-river-khwae-bridge/): Continuing my series, this is my latest road trip, to River Khwae Bridge, in Kanchanaburi province. The Bridge Over the River Kwai The Bridge over the River Kwai is part of the infamous Death Railway that was constructed during World War II. The bridge was built by the Japanese to support their military campaigns. Over 60,000 Allied prisoners of war and 200,000 Asian laborers were forced into backbreaking labor under brutal conditions to build this railway. The construction resulted in an enormous loss of life, earning the railway its grim nickname. The bridge itself became an iconic part of this […]
- [Wanderlust: Half-Day trip to Ayuthaya](https://thescurvydawg.com/2024/09/14/wanderlust-half-day-trip-to-ayuthaya/): Continuing my series, this is a recent road trip, to Ayuthaya. I did this trip because Wanderlust suddenly struck me, but it was too late in the day to go any further. Ayuthaya: A Glimpse into History Founded in 1350, it served as the second Siamese capital after Sukhothai. The city flourished as a major trading post and diplomatic hub, connecting the East and West through maritime routes. Its strategic location along the Chao Phraya River made it an essential nexus for international commerce. By the end of the 17th century, Ayuthaya had become one of the world’s largest urban […]
- [Retro Computing: Windows 98 SE/Setup](https://thescurvydawg.com/2024/09/07/retro-computing-windows-98-se-setup/): Continuing my adventures with UTM SE, the first thing I did was run Windows 98 SE Setup. Windows 98 SE was the first OS on my first computer, so this was a huge trip in nostalgia. I made an ISO from my old and scratched Windows 98 SE disk, mounted it in UTM SE and let it boot. The boot screen sent me into throes of nostalgia. So did the next steps. I could feel myself going crazy when the setup GUI came up. I got stuck for a while here because I couldn’t make my keyboard and mouse work. […]
- [Wanderlust: Bangkok Motorcycle Rides Part 1](https://thescurvydawg.com/2024/08/31/wanderlust-bangkok-motorcycle-rides-part-1/): Continuing my series, below are some motorcycle rides I generally do within Bangkok. These are when I only have a few hours, but still need to fulfil my wanderlust. What better way than to explore the city I have been living in for more than 3 years, but have hardly explored? Chao Phraya River Ride Approx 30 kms This is probably my favourite ride (Till now). I cross the Asok intersection to Ratchadaphisek Road and take the flyovers to Rama 3 road. I take the scenic section next to the river past Terminal 21. Past it, I cross the river […]
- [Alien : Romulus](https://thescurvydawg.com/2024/08/24/alien-romulus/): My Expectations : 5/10My Rating : 8/10 I had been looking forward to Alien : Romulus with high expectations for a long time. However, I tempered my expectations down by a lot after watching the boring teaser trailer. Thankfully, the trailer was not an accurate representation of the movie. Movies in the Alien franchise all had varied themes over the years. Alien : Romulus goes back to the basics and is a horror survival movie. Thankfully, the movie is excellent and doesn’t disappoint. Spoiler Alert The movie starts with a Weyland-Yutani ship retrieving the Xenomorph from the first movie from […]
- [12th August Half Marathon 2024](https://thescurvydawg.com/2024/08/17/12-august-half-marathon-2024/): Recently, I participated in a 10k running event called 12th August Half Marathon 2024, also called “Run for mom“. It is organised on the Thai mother’s day every year on the birth day of Queen Sirikit, the Queen Mother of Thailand. The event is held at the Queen Sirikit National Convention Center also bearing her name. It was my fourth 10k in Bangkok. In previous runs one of my main problems was getting transport to the venue so early in the mornings. However, thanks to the motorcycle, it was not a problem this time. The Run The run was very […]
- [Why do NRIs and PIOs become pricks?](https://thescurvydawg.com/2024/08/10/nri-pio-pricks/): This article is about how my friends became NRIs and PIOs and went from decent people to being the biggest pricks ever. To start off with, some definitions: NRI – Non-Resident Indian. Basically an Indian living abroad while still holding Indian citizenship. Prick Level 1. PIO – Person of Indian Origin. Basically a person born an Indian citizenship, who has since taken up citizenship in another country. Prick Level 2. I have already written about NRIs in general, this post is specifically how my friends turned into pricks once they moved abroad. Prick 1 I have written about Prick 1 […]
- [The Photo Sharing Conundrum](https://thescurvydawg.com/2024/08/03/the-photo-sharing-conundrum/): To give you a bit of background on where this is coming from: I was into photography in the 2010s. To the point where I had a camera, multiple lenses and more assorted kit. Eventually I sold all of it, but I still like taking pictures today. This article is about how I struggled with photo sharing on the internet, especially recently. A timeline below, interspersed with completely unrelated photos: Phase 1: 2004 to Oct 2023 : Flickr As long as I remember, I have been a loyal user of Flickr. At first, I used to use it as a […]
- [Wanderlust: Day trip to Nakhon Nayok Province](https://thescurvydawg.com/2024/07/27/wanderlust-day-trip-to-nakhon-nayok-province/): Continuing my series, this is my latest road trip, to some scenic places in Nakhon Nayok province. The province of Nakhon Nayok is dotted with beautiful places, with more than 10 waterfalls. Covering all of them will take multiple trips, so I decided to do 2 places in this first trip: Total Distance: Approx 280km This time, I used the lessons learnt from my previous road trip and did not have to stop many times. It had rained the entire day and night before my trip, so I was a bit apprehensive about getting stuck in rain. Once again, I […]
- [Retro Computing: UTM SE](https://thescurvydawg.com/2024/07/20/retro-computing-utm-se/): Last week, something unthinkable happened. Apple finally allowed emulation of any and all OS on iOS and iPadOS. The intended purpose is to emulate retro Windows based games, which matches their recent trend of approval of gaming-system emulation apps. However, for me, it restarts a long-time hobby of running retro OSes purely for nostalgia and hobby purposes. This was not possible before because I don’t have a real computer, just an iPad. The first app to take advantage of this change of heart from Apple is UTM SE. Now, UTM SE has been available on macOS and jailbroken iOS and […]
- [Wanderlust: Day Trip to Pattaya Beach](https://thescurvydawg.com/2024/07/13/wanderlust-pattaya-beach/): Total Distance: Approx 300km As you can see from my last post, I bought a new motorcycle. Since then, I had been bitten by the wanderlust bug. My hands had been continuously itching to take the motorcycle on the highway. So, the soonest I could, I decided to drive from Bangkok to Pattaya Beach. I have done this trip before, but that motorcycle was not suitable for highway riding and I wanted to do it again, the right way. Bangkok to Pattaya On the morning of the ride, I woke up to find the city soaked in rain overnight, so […]
- [Post-Pandemic Cinema Experience](https://thescurvydawg.com/2024/07/06/post-pandemic-cinema-experience/): The Covid-19 pandemic was hard for everyone, but especially for the movie industry. I, too, missed going to cinemas to watch newly released movies. Below, I write about my post-pandemic cinema experience. Raya and the Last Dragon (2021) My Expectations : NoneMy Rating : 6/10 This was the first movie we saw after pandemic restrictions lifted and also the first movie we saw in Bangkok. It was good that I went in with no expectations because the movie was dull and forgetful. I remember nothing of what was in it. No Time to Die (2021) My Expectations : NoneMy Rating […]
- [Royal Enfield Meteor 350 First Impressions](https://thescurvydawg.com/2024/06/29/royal-enfield-meteor-350-first-impressions/): You all know I have a long history with motorcycles, of which I have owned quite a few over the years. This post is about my latest one, the Royal Enfield Meteor 350. I didn’t really like the last motorcycle I had or the one before it so I was hesitant to buy another one. But I hated waiting for Grab Bikes and ashamed of riding bitch. So I decided to buy one. I did have my eyes set on this one, but after a test ride, I didn’t find its riding stance suitable for long highway rides. Coming from […]
- [Humans Suck Balls](https://thescurvydawg.com/2024/06/22/humans-suck-balls/): The more I live & see what’s going on around me, the more I am convinced that we humans suck big time and don’t deserve this planet. Let’s look at why: Incompatibility with other species Do you know that in less than 300 years, humans have already driven 600 plant species to extinction? But that is just plant life which is comparatively resilient. Humans are actively driving between 10,000 to 100,000 animal species to extinction every year. Incompatibility with other humans Humans not only have problems with other species, we also cannot co-exist with other humans. There are currently 56 […]
- [Timeless Songs - Part 2](https://thescurvydawg.com/2024/06/15/timeless-songs-part-2/): This is Part 2 of my previous post listing songs I consider timeless. I don’t claim that these songs are the best in any way; is just that I keep coming back to them every now and then, even after all these years. These songs are in no specific order. I may be obsessed with one of them today and with some other tomorrow. Also, like before, I actually listened to each song and then wrote about it. For any song where I did not find anything to write about, I discarded from this list. Wake Up (1992) – Rage […]
- [Anxiety Medication Fail (Yet Again)](https://thescurvydawg.com/2024/06/08/anxiety-medication-fail/): One thing that you should know about me is that I don’t seem to be able to learn a lesson. I am writing this just a few weeks after my latest anxiety medication fail. So, I had a good thing going on with my medications, no problems, good productivity, happy in life. But, I started looking for ways to cheap out. I found a pharmacy which would provide me cheaper versions of the medications I currently take from my hospital. Medication Before After Escitalopram 10mg (Half Dose) Lexapro Esidep Risperidone 1mg (Half Dose) Neuris Risperidone GPO Before and after medication […]
- [Timeless Songs - Part 1](https://thescurvydawg.com/2024/06/01/timeless-songs-part-1/): In case I have not made it clear already, I love music. Music plays an important part in my life. So I decided to make a list of songs I consider timeless. I don’t claim that these songs are the best in any way; is just that I keep coming back to them every now and then, even after all these years. These songs are in no specific order. I may be obsessed with one of them today and with some other one tomorrow. Also, I did an interesting experiment with this post. I actually listened to each song and […]
- [Bangkok 21K Park Run 2024](https://thescurvydawg.com/2024/05/25/bangkok-21k-park-run-2024/): Recently, I participated in a running event called Bangkok 21K Park Run 2024. Even though the name says 21K, I participated in the 10k event, which was my third, ever. Even though, in my last race, I had decided I would try to break the 1 hour barrier for the 10k, because of travel, excessive heat and medical issues preceding the run I was not able to prepare well. On top of that, monsoons started in Bangkok just a few days ago, so I was not sure whether the event would even take place. So, overall, I decided I would […]
- [Horrible Benders](https://thescurvydawg.com/2024/05/18/horrible-benders/): I wrote about how I went sober (But eventually failed to maintain it), I wanted to reflect back on some of the worst benders I have been through. Why? Maybe just to remind myself why I shouldn’t drink like that anymore. Below are some of my worst benders over the years: Nagpur Most of my engineering days were about booze. And since I was young, the benders were not that bad. However, there are some incidents I remember. Delhi & Gurgaon Our time in Gurgaon was the first time we had freedom to do what we wanted and we had […]
- [Kolkata: The City of (kill)joy](https://thescurvydawg.com/2024/05/11/kolkata-the-city-of-killjoy/): My family hails from Kolkata, the (supposed) grand and noble megacity. I have ranted about this city many-many times, especially during the only 1 unfortunate year in my life that I stayed here. But that was more than 15 years ago and since then, I have never stayed here more than a couple of days at best (My shortest trip was a few hours long). Because of the holiday season in Thailand, I decided to go visit my parents for slightly longer and re-analyse this city to see what has changed. Full disclosure: Even within Kolkata, my parents stay in […]
- [Time Travel](https://thescurvydawg.com/2024/05/04/time-travel/): Time travel has been a popular trope for decades, in books, TV shows and movies. It is not uncommon to see people going back and forth in time and being heroes (or dicks) in general. Recently I have been reading up on and thinking about the scientific aspects of it. After doing some research and reading up various journals, here are my thoughts on time travel: Time travel to the past I am a firm believer of the notion that time flows in one direction and it is impossible to reverse the flow of time and “travel” into the past. […]
- [SWU Run Together ‘24](https://thescurvydawg.com/2024/04/27/swu-run-together-24/): Recently, I participated in a 10k running event organised by Srinakarinwirot University called SWU Run Together ‘24. It was my second 10k in Bangkok. My last 10k didn’t go too well because my knees started seizing up around the 5km mark. Which was strange, because I regularly run more than that on Sundays without issues. So for this race, I re-evaluated my tactic. Instead of matching pace with everyone else and running slow, but consistent, I decided to run faster at my natural pace but slow myself to a walk for 50 metres every 500 metres. Luckily, this tactic paid […]
- [Bye Bye Alcohol!](https://thescurvydawg.com/2024/04/20/bye-bye-alcohol/): I have had a long relationship with alcohol, full of ups and downs. When I was young, the “ups” far outweighed the “downs”. Nearing 40, that is unfortunately not true anymore. It fucks up my sleep pretty badly and the after effects get worse every year. Notably, 2 very bad recent experiences recently led me to take steps. Many times, I have tried to drink in moderation, which is all well and good before one starts, but after a few, everything goes out the window. After wondering why I do something that causes so much grief, I decided to give […]
- [How to handle Jet Lag](https://thescurvydawg.com/2024/04/13/how-to-handle-jet-lag/): My current job requires a lot of travel & I also live in a different country than my extended family. Consequently, I have to travel frequently across time zones both east and west. Over the years, I have learnt how to handle jet lag or adjusting your body to time zone differences effectively. Note, this is specifically for people like me who have more difficulty falling asleep than staying awake. People who can fall asleep easily but have difficulty staying awake will need different techniques. Below are my techniques to handle jet lag in various scenarios. Few hours east For […]
- [Running with Hoka](https://thescurvydawg.com/2024/04/06/running-with-hoka/): I have been running regularly for almost 2 years now. Below is my experience running with different Hoka shoes. Hoka Arahi 6 These were my first “proper” running shoes, recommended by Ashish. Before this, I was running with very cheap shoes and suffering from constant ankle pain. Running with Hoka Arahi 6 completely solved the ankle pain problem. However, I forgot to replace them in time, ran almost 800 km in them and the ankle pain came back. So I decided to replace them with another Hoka. Hoka Bondi X My first choice was to buy the same shoe yet […]
- [Cities](https://thescurvydawg.com/2024/03/30/cities/): I think at this point in my life, I can safely call myself well travelled. Although I have never been to the quintessential western cities (Like New York, London or Paris), I have been to some pretty off-beat places. I have a job where it is quite easy to shift my base to different places. I had a few offers to move again recently, and I was conflicted about it. So recently I started making a list of ratings for various cities I have been to, based on different parameters. These parameters are only based on things that are important […]
- [Consciousness](https://thescurvydawg.com/2024/03/23/consciousness/): Over the last few years, I have, more and more, been thinking about the hard problem of consciousness. What does consciousness mean? Where does it come from? What happens to it after death? With this post, I have tried to wax philosophical and give structure to my thoughts on this topic. Overall, I think the possibilities can be summarised into the below three Scenario 1 – Consciousness is purely a by-product of the physical structure of the brain and the neurons firing inside. Scenario 2 – Consciousnesses is a combination of the physical structure of the brain and additionally something […]
- [Microsoft Sucks Balls](https://thescurvydawg.com/2024/03/16/microsoft-sucks-balls/): At one point, I was a rabid proponent of Microsoft. Deeply entrenched in the Microsoft ecosystem and recommending Microsoft products and services to my friends too. But even after switching to Apple, I am being constantly reminded of how Microsoft sucks balls, thanks to my work ecosystem. I have realised foremost that Microsoft has no idea what users want, adding/removing/changing things randomly as they see fit. Secondly, even after possessing vast resources, they are clueless on how to solve the most basic problems. Below is a list showcasing how Microsoft sucks balls: Windows Microsoft x86-64 Integration Windows has been running […]
- [Just stop with the bullshit studies already!](https://thescurvydawg.com/2024/03/09/just-stop-with-the-bullshit-studies-already/): I read news everyday. At least some of the news articles are about bullshit studies telling you what is good or bad for your health. Over time, I started seeing a pattern. Most of these bullshit studies contradicted each other clearly. Below are some examples I found very recently. Vitamins This study says that Vitamins are good for you and can slow cognitive decline. Then, this article cites several studies that say that Vitamins increase the risk of cancer appreciably and will kill you faster. This study says the Vitamins are neither good nor bad for you, but completely useless. […]
- [Books I read in February 2024](https://thescurvydawg.com/2024/03/02/books-i-read-in-february-2024/): Continuing my series, as promised. In this post, I present the books I read in February 2024. Book Author My Rating Tintin in the land of Soviets Hergé 2/10 Tintin in the Congo Hergé 6/10 Tintin in Thailand Baudouin de Duve 3/10 Books I read in February 2024 I read so much science fiction last few months that I started having space themed dreams. So I decided to take a break and read something else. I had always known off the presence of the Tintin app in the App Store, but never bought anything there. So this time, I decided […]
- [Of True Detective and Talaash](https://thescurvydawg.com/2024/02/24/of-true-detective-and-talaash/): So what does Season 4 of True Detective have in common with the 2012 Bollywood movie Talaash? Quite a lot actually. In fact True Detective: Night Country borrows most of its core themes from this movie. Spoilers Alert Even after all those similarities, True Detective doesn’t feel like an outright copy of Talaash. It has enough to distinguish itself, but clearly the creators have been inspired from the movie. That being said, I liked both the movie and the show, though I liked the movie just a bit more.
- [My Best Purchases-Nuphy Air75v2](https://thescurvydawg.com/2024/02/24/my-best-purchases-nuphy-air75v2/): Continuing with my series, the next entry in the list is the Nuphy Air75v2 mechanical keyboard which has completely overhauled my typing experience. The story is that I was looking for a keyboard for my iPad, leaning towards the Magic Keyboard. But it seemed too expensive for what it was offering. Simultaneously, I had some allowance to spend from my office on ergonomic peripherals. One day, both these things clicked together and I decided to buy a wireless mechanical keyboard. I tried a Keychron keyboard but didn’t like it much because the key travel was too deep and the colours […]
- [Toxic Comics](https://thescurvydawg.com/2024/02/17/toxic-comics/): Recently I started reading the newspaper again, which includes comics. As I read them over the months, I realised how toxic and negative most of these comics are. Below are some examples Andy Capp Andy Capp is a job-less alcoholic whose main hobbies are drinking at the pub and getting into fights there. The town counsellor keeps lining up interviews for him, but he keeps sabotaging them. And all of this is played out for laughs. The Born Loser As the name says, the protagonist is sort of a loser and this is played out for laughs. His boss, his […]
- [Fuck Streaming Services!](https://thescurvydawg.com/2024/02/10/fuck-streaming-services/): I have been blogging regularly about my TV viewing and streaming services over the last few months. In short, I stopped pirating and switched over completely to streaming services. Till last month, I was subscribed to Apple TV+, Prime Video, Disney+Hotstar & Netflix. All combined, I was paying approximately ₹20000 ($250) a year on them. I was subscribed to all English TV streaming services possible in Thailand. Why, then, was I still not able to watch my favourite shows? These: Nor can I hope to watch upcoming series I am looking forward to: As yo can see, most of the […]
- [Living in Bangkok: 3-year report card](https://thescurvydawg.com/2024/02/03/living-in-bangkok-3-year-report-card/): I moved to Bangkok 3 years ago. After living here all this time, it is time to do a report card of things I like and things I don’t like. Things I like (love) about living in Bangkok Things I dislike about living in Bangkok Overall, the positives outweigh the negatives not only in quantity but also in intensity. Looking forward to many more years staying here.
- [Books I read in December 2023 & January 2024](https://thescurvydawg.com/2024/02/03/books-i-read-in-december-2023-january-2024/): Continuing my series, as promised. In this post, I present the books I read in December 2023 & January 2024, in sequence. Book Author My Rating Paradise and other short stories Khushwant Singh 8/10 Hope – How Street Dogs Taught Me the Meaning of Life: Featuring Rodney, McMuffin and King Whacker Niall Harbison 8/10 The Three-Body Problem Liu Cixin 7/10 The Dark Forest Liu Cixin 8/10 Death’s End Liu Cixin 9/10 Books I read in December 2023 & January 2024 I didn’t do much reading in October and November 2023. In December, I started reading again. Paradise and other short […]
- [Electricity Woes](https://thescurvydawg.com/2024/01/27/electricity-woes/): The world’s first public electricity supply was a water wheel driven system constructed in the small English town of Godalming in 1881. I was born more than a 100 years later and this article documents my woes around electricity growing up. Asansol (Late 80s & 90s) Asansol is a shitty town in West Bengal where one of my uncles lived. It was also the first stop where I went every year with my mother, during my summer vacations. My uncle and his family lived in the Sen Raleigh township at Kanyapur and it is the closest I have ever been to living in a […]
- [Sleep Deprivation Log](https://thescurvydawg.com/2024/01/20/sleep-deprivation-log/): A few weeks ago, I had an epic sleep deprivation experience that I felt worth logging. Owing to a combination of some personal issues and the iPad conundrum, I just couldn’t fall asleep. I have been sleep deprived many times, but this is perhaps the first time I didn’t sleep a minute all night. Here’s an hour-by-hour log of what happened The Experience Time Range Log 22:00-00:00 Tossing and turning without being able to fall asleep. 00:00-01:00 Walked around, did some laundry folding. 01:00-03:00 Tossing and turning without being able to fall asleep. 03:00-04:00 Doomscrolled Reddit, Artifact. 04:00-05:30 Gave up […]

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- [Privacy Policy](https://thescurvydawg.com/privacy-policy/): Who we are Our website address is: http://thescurvydawg.com. What personal data we collect and why we collect it Comments When visitors leave comments on the site we collect the data shown in the comments form, and also the visitor’s IP address and browser user agent string to help spam detection. An anonymised string created from your email address (also called a hash) may be provided to the Gravatar service to see if you are using it. The Gravatar service Privacy Policy is available here: https://automattic.com/privacy/. After approval of your comment, your profile picture is visible to the public in the […]


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