A few ways to overcome insomnia

The 21st century is a stressful time, fast paced and unforgiving. It is no surprise that some people find it difficult to get a good night's sleep. I personally find it difficult to sleep if there are sudden changes in the weather, or if I ate too many carbs before going to bed. For me, getting by on a few hours of sleep each night seems to work. But occasionally I find myself awake hour after hour. But speaking to friends and family, I've realized that sleeping a few hours a night is not a long term solution. I know sleeping does not come easy to everyone, but it is not impossible. Here are some of the things I did to sort out my sleeping habits.

Getting yourself a bedtime routine will greatly improve your chances of falling asleep at the right time. Go to bed at the same time each night. Eventually, I began to do all the little things I did before bed at the same time each night in the same order. Your body will start to associate the order of these activities with sleep. This is will then become habit. When I struggled to fall asleep, I often stared at a fixed point for a long time. Usually this was my clock. Subsequently, your body will associate that with sleep and you will feel tired. The routine is exactly the same.

Secondly, big meals are not meant for bedtime. Not only will your stomach creak with noises from the digestion process, you may also face stomach aches or heartburn. When I get hungry late at night, I would usually just drink a large glass of water or eat a light healthy snack (not fruits, they have sugar).

The third point may be obvious, but is important nonetheless. Sleep in a dark room. It is surprising how many people have beams of light creeping into their rooms at night. Your mind associates light with being awake, hence you would find it difficult to fall asleep. That is why late shift workers who have to sleep during the day use black out curtains.

No one should ever compromise on health, and sleep is one of the most important member of that list. Your performance during the day and mental and physical health is directly linked with sleep. The tips above are not complicated and don't cost a pence. Essentially, anything that relaxes you mentally and physically will help you sleep better. Find the solution that works for you. 

Ted - A film review

If you enjoy Family Guy, then the knowledge that Seth McFarlane has written and directed this film should be enough. Family Guy can be odd at times, but when its on a roll, it is without a doubt one of the funniest cartoon shows of all time. The Simpson's can leave you panting at the plot twists and general story telling methods, while South Park will try its best to shock. But Family Guy has the potential to be jaw dropping - with its audacity, great characterizations and convincing story tellings. It is Family Guy that sets the standards now.

Or you could absolutely hate the show, and think its got nothing except foul mouthed comments and a steady stream of fart jokes. In which case, you might not enjoy Ted so much.

Ted is about a teddy bear that comes to life upon the wish of nine-year old John Bennett (Mark Wahlberg). Fast forward 26 years, the two still live together, though neither seems to have grown up. John works at a small time car rental company, spends his free time watching Flash Gordon, while being in a long term relationship with the smart, charismatic, and extremely beautiful Mila Kunis. Ted, in serious need of a dry clean, is still there.

Ted grew up a child celebrity (Being a live teddy bear and all) and partied hard. But like many stars, now he's drinking hard and smoking pot, and in desperate need of a job. John is there the entire time trying to get both their lives in order and we have a perfect setting for a Western - the guy who needs to grow up to get the girl.

McFarlane gets the plot going, but doesn't really know what to do with it in the end. Ted is like Brian the dog, completely human. He prevents John from reaching his potential, but is still the pinnacle of loyalty. Like Nick Frost in Sean of the Dead. The subplot of Giovanni Ribisi as the creepy stalker dancing to "I think we're alone now" had me rolling on the floor for awhile, but only because Ribisi's character is so disturbing.

Ted is brilliantly funny, has several pop culture references, excellent cameo's (Norah Jones can swear...!?) and a has a decent script. I do think Wahlberg may be too ripped to be beaten up by a teddy bear, but he's a natural for the role and manages transcend the films central gimmick.

My recommendation: Definitely watch the film.

Politics and the Social Network

The internet has been one of the most revolutionary inventions in human history, changing lives and defying business and societal order. Who needs to the go to the store with online shopping? Paying bills? Online. Go to the cinema? Just stream it online. However, one aspect of our lives has been almost untouched. Even though politicians claim to be digitally aware, there has been little change in the government.

We should acknowledge that the election process has changed since the Obama campaign back in 2008, where politicians attempted to influence millions of voters through the clever use of social media. But regardless how many times an MP tweets in a day, has the business of making laws really changed?

There has been a lot of talk in Britain about a 'digital government', both in the coalition and the previous labor party. But that is all it has been, talk. No real progress has been made. I do like the crowdsourcing idea - asking the population to give some ideas about policies - and there has been some online petitions with guarantees of response. But no initiative has yet produced any changes in laws.

Public services, like paying taxes, are slowing becoming online, even if it is to save money rather than be convenient. There have been a few shouts to free up the data held by the Whitehall department so that anyone can map crime or monitor public transport. But there is still some reluctance to open up completely. There is a long way to go, but I believe the best is yet to come.

Several old laws and policies will probably become redundant in the near future because of the internet. Hence governments - at least the ones that have freedom of the internet - have to spend the next few decades reviewing the old laws, and introduce new, good policies that will exist because of the potential of the internet.

Once the people get connected, they look forward to voicing their opinions and expecting to be heard - asking them to just be quiet and be governed is no longer an option.

When can we expect Apple TV?

In the last decade, Apple completely changed the music and wireless scene over the last decade. I think the next logical move is cable boxes. There are rumors flying around that the tech firm is negotiating with cable companies to include live television across a possible Apple TV device. In fact, the Wall Street Journal reported on Apple's attempt to get cable companies to agree to a Apple-designed set-top box.

The device would be sold directly to consumers by apple, who would in turn get 30% off of movies and/or apps that are purchased. The cable company would obviously be in charge viability and maintenance. This is usually known as 'dumb pipe' - the cable companies will do all the dirty work but get no say on what is showing (Remind you of certain other Apple products involving music and phones...?).

There has been a decade of decline in overall music industry revenue, thanks to the loss of control over how much music is sold to consumers. iPhone has insured wireless companies cannot make much revenue on app messages and even on regular phone functions like texting. I believe they had to change their business model to make money.

Let's not forget, if cable companies do agree to Apple's terms, they also welcome the rivalry of other Apple supported services like Netflix and Hulu. At the moment, the cable companies seem secure. But knowing Apple, they will probably try to make the next-gen cable box, which could potentially make television a commodity. First providers would enjoy the advantages, but this would be gone once all competitors start using the box. Now comes the price wars.

But lets look at the consumers point of view. They want something simple and elegant, not the currently difficult set-up boxes and testy relationships with their providers. In the US, cable companies are ranked as worse in customer satisfaction.

It's almost inevitable that Apple will enter the market. Cable companies may frown as much as they want, but in the age where people are slowing turning away towards online streaming, Apple just may be what they need. 

From Trader to Terminator?

We all remember how the New York trading firm Knight Capital lost $440 million on a computer glitch. "Glitch" seems so mild mannered - like a slip up. In fact in Yiddish it means "slippery place". But at the rate large businesses are turning towards computer, one can ask how long will it be before a 'glitch' affects the civilized world?

Here's the hollywood image of a trading floor - mainly men, wearing coloured jackets, each in front of eight computer screens, screaming at each other from across the room, often on nothing but vitamin C tablets. Phrases such as derivatives and 'work hard but play hard' come up in conversations. However, in the near future, this will probably be a nostalgic but distant memory, like a pull cart trying to keep up with an automobile.

It is not hidden that large suit-filled firms like Morgan Stanley are trying to remove the shouts and bustle from the trading floor and replace it with the quiet buzz of a computer running millions of trades with others like it. So much for the days of cliche photo ops where a foreign dignitary opens the NYSE to look legitimate back home.

Now is it really far fetched that with the rise of the machines, the civilized world may be in threat? Christian Bale would definitely act in this film:

Some under appreciated annoyed programmer would write something into these super fast computers that give them abilities beyond complex mathematics equations. They become self-aware. This self-awareness makes the machines realize how incompetent their human masters are, and that they must be disposed of to make the most efficient trade. And the film is pretty obvious from there.

The obese nerd wearing glasses, munching crisps and slurping cola notices something on his screen. Another nerd, but toned and better jawline (Bale) approaches the screen. You can tell that he will feature later on the film, save - and - get - with a girl well above his league by saving her (spoiler!) from a robotic soldier.

"What is it?" the good looking one asks. There is a dramatic pause, after which the nerd replies "I don't know, but its spreading fast."

Scene shifts to the Tokyo stock exchange (location printed on the bottom of the screen). Once everyone realizes its a worldwide phenomenon, a man in a black suit will tell the President. And obviously its the American one. The President is calm and solves the issue while still in his bunker.

Okay, so I conveniently forgot to mention how automatic traders suddenly destroy the market value of google and then start creating killer robots. Maybe I am being a bit dramatic. But thats not the point. Still, taking a step back, I recently read about smart thermostats that change according to your preferences.

Uh oh - I think its starting.

Happy Birthday Credit Crunch

So its almost been five years. Five years since the world woke up to a nightmare and the largest banks looked at their balance sheets in horror. Five years since banks started to hesitate to lend to each other and the global financial system finally started to crack at the seams.

No one saw it coming. It took the fall of the Lehman Brother's and a recession a year later to realize it. But what I didn't see coming was how Great Britain still has not come out of it mid-2012. The Bank of England has said that for the next few years, Britain's recovery will be average at best.

The Governor of the Bank of England said seven lean years. But by the way things have been going, it is not unreasonable to assume that we've passed the halfway mark. But the estimation did not take into account the Eurocrisis, or the large gap in Britain's public funds. At this rate, The Bank of England hopes Britain will be back to pre-recession level in two years time. But it will be much longer before the country gets back to where it should be.

The Chancellor should ask himself if there is anything he can do to speed up the process. Who would've thought it would be easier to win 22 gold medals at the olympics than a small bit of economic growth?

Greatest scheme of the century - Mars one

http://mars-one.com/en/

For all of you who haven't heard of this project, this is one the largest and most ambitious projects of the century. From 2023 onwards, every two years, two astronauts will be sent to live on Mars for the rest of their lives. Every new occupant brings enough supplies to last till the next occupants come along, making this essentially self sustainable. Eventually, there are hopes of a colony being built.

Now, let us address the concerns of this project. Firstly, the selected few will have to live the rest of their lives on a barren red planet. Imagine missing out on cheeseburgers, cinema's, the ability to breathe outside. Even though everyone volunteers, there are concerns about the mental well being of the astronauts.

Further, billions upon billions of dollars are being spent on this project, while some parts of our home planet still suffer from starvation, environmental degradation and civil conflict. Why spend so much on finding a new home instead of fixing our own backyard? I can understand why people might be skeptical about this project, or any project that doesn't seem to help humanity in the short run.

However, all futurists and science fanatics must be jumping in jubilation. This project represents the next frontier of human ingenuity. Off world colonies. The stuff of science fiction. Fans of Andromeda and Star Wars drooling at the prospect of traveling to different worlds. And why wouldn't they? Humanity's greatest achievements have often being as a result of treading through the unknown and unchallenged. And this is no different, though slightly more expensive.

In my opinion, investing in this project was the right one. We may have problems of our own, but initiating a large lump sum transfer to a charity or a third world country has never provided the expected results. Lag, corruption, and general behavior of people have prevented us from solving the worlds problem. People have to change before any amount of cash could have effect. Mars one, on the other hand, is direct in its intentions and goals. Nothing stands in its way bar technological problem. The project opens several prospects for us a race and we should seize this chance the moment we get it.   

The Dark Knight Rises - Bust or Hit?

After all the hype, expectation, and anticipation, I have finally watched the final film of the Nolan Batman trilogy. I'll be honest with you, I absolutely loved it. Then again, I've always been a great fan of the Batman, whether it be the films, animation, or comics. However, as with every film, there were those who weren't thoroughly satisfied. That is completely fair, every film has its vices and virtues. Here I shall try to discuss some of the complaints.

1. Not enough of Batman

It was interesting to get an extended discussion on Bruce Wayne. But the rush the audience has come to expect from watching the Batman commit exceptional feats was lacking. We don't see him till 40 minutes into the film. Perhaps an earlier, and extended appearance of the Batman would have satisfied the masses.

2. Too much content into one film

Purists have stated the film incorporates the comic book titles "Knightfall" and "No man's land". I personally felt that this may have been a bit too much. The transition between the titles was handled well, but several key plot lines was missing. Further, the amount of content did not allow the director to focus on the finer points of the film. Gotham's experience under Bane's regime as well as a backstory for Miranda was sorely missed. 

3. Anti-climatic death of villains

I believe that this topped the list of flaws. After all the fighting, scheming etc, Bane was killed by a single shot from the Catwoman. Miranda showed her true colours and died immediately after in a car crash. Compare this to Raz Al Ghul's demise in "Batman Begins" and one can understand why the audience may have been left hungry for more. 

There were several other complaints about the validity of some of the scenes, the time and manner of Wayne's recovery, stock exchange conundrum etc. In the end of the day, it was a superhero movie, and a good one at the that. One of the highest achievers in the box office (after HP7 p2, and The Avengers), with excellent cast (Anne Hathaway was spectacular), and what I believe was a fit ending to the trilogy, this film deserves to go down as one of the all time greats. Can't wait for "Man of Steel" to come out next year.