Once upon a time

Dear Agony - Breaking Benjamin

2011-12-16T01:07:00.001+08:00

French Teen Idol

2011-11-21T21:34:00.001+08:00

His music is absolutely amazing.

today's selected chess problem

2011-09-29T14:20:00.000+08:00

I can imagine Emanuel Lasker hitting me on the head with his book, Lasker's Manual of Chess, from which I learned all about interference and how it's an often utilized end-game motif. I remember liking his examples very much, introduced themselves from the very basic conception and slowly increased in the degree of complexity.

This is one of the easiest forms of interference, and I messed up :P Maybe because since I begun practicing tactics again I haven't come across any problem with this motif. Thank you for reminding me, CTS...

1. Bb5+ KxB
2. a x B and nothing can stop the pawn from queening...

everything in one post

2011-09-26T22:34:00.001+08:00

So I'm back playing again, and decided to have an opening repertoire made up of opening's I've never played before. The English/d4 openings/Reti System for White maybe... and Sicilian/d5 to answer d4 and maybe even the Dutch. Time to explore uncharted waters, have fun playing, and actually experiencing them instead of just understanding the ideas that comes with them. It's just going to be a matter of time when I consistently perform at 1600+ at CTS. Aim is to get to 1700 at CTS by end of next year; only 14 Malaysian CTS handles are at 1700 and above and some are by the same person.

I learned that arc is very important shooting the basketball, the higher the arc, the more useable angle the ball has. Nobody taught me that before! And there I was saying "oh..." as some coach was talking about it on youtube! I was always conscious of not trying to have much arc, thinking it would mess with accuracy, thinking the less distance the ball has to travel (vector wise) would result in higher shooting percentages. My shooting had never been really flat but never had a high arc anyway.

Getting there...maybe not

2011-09-12T22:02:00.003+08:00

Ended today's CTS session at 1583. Nearly back to my old form tactically. But glaring weaknesses caused by years of inactivity, in every stage of the game remain. I hardly have an opening repertoire now, forgetting even the main line Marshall and Latvians I used to answer e4. Strategical pawn pushes, my understanding of space, and how to fight and accumulate advantages can hardly be seen in my recent online games. It's as if my moves hardly have any purpose, if at all. So much for those times religiously reading Kotov and Silman books. Endings? I could not find anything natural when faced with rook and pawn(s) endings.

But one step at a time. One.step.at.a.time.

Today's Tactics

2011-08-17T00:01:00.006+08:00

From CTS: White to Mate in 3

1.Nf6+ Kf7 (...BxN 2.Qf6 and mate next move) 2. Qxh6+ and 3. Bxh6#

Breaking Benjamin - Give Me a Sign (lyrics)

2011-08-16T19:19:00.000+08:00

Dead star shine

Light up the sky

I'm all out of breath

My walls are closing in

Days go by

Give me a sign

Come back to the end

The shepherd of the damned

I can feel you falling away

No longer the lost

No longer the same

And I can see you starting to break

I'll keep you alive

If you show me the way

Forever - and ever

The scars will remain

I'm falling apart

Leave me here forever in the dark

Daylight dies

Blackout the sky

Does anyone care?

Is anybody there?

Take this life

Empty inside

I'm already dead

I'll rise to fall again

I can feel you falling away

If you show me the way

Forever - and ever

The scars will remain

I'm falling apart

Leave me here forever in the dark

God help me I've come undone

Out of the light of the sun

God help me I've come undone

Out of the light of the sun

I can feel you falling away

No longer the lost

No longer the same

And I can see you starting to break

I'll keep you alive

If you show me the way

Forever - and ever

The scars will remain

Give me a sign

There's something buried in the words

Give me a sign

Your tears are adding to the flood

Just give me a sign

There's something buried in the words

Give me a sign

Your tears are adding to the flood

Just give me a sign

There's something buried in the words

Give me a sign

Your tears are adding to the flood

Forever - and ever

The scars will remain

Internet Download Manager top marks

2011-08-14T04:59:00.002+08:00

Not only do I have better download speeds compared to when I was using DAP (which was annoying as well), I can resume downloads from filesharing sites that times out our session with every interruption without having to re-download the whole thing. Works great when we're downloading gigabytes of data.

More about Internet Download Manager can be found here.

Searching for the Kalashnikov: Pt 2

2011-08-10T20:08:00.004+08:00

Been nearly 4 years since I abandoned chess. Went back sharpening my tactics at Chess Tactics Server a few weeks ago and from barely touching 1600 (highest was 1650), it shocked me to see how bad my form was, hardly surviving in the late 1400 range. Been working on it regularly and progressing well, hitting the ~~1550~~1560 mark today. Been making sure if I sign out I'd be at least stay on the same mark if not better.

In a previous post, Searching for the Kalashnikov, AK74 was someone I aimed for before moving on to other targets. He's way out of shape now and sticks around 1500-1600 despite being active. I don't know what happened but I hope he'd get out of that slump.

I'm going to abandon blitz. You become good at chess by studying games and play longer time controls. That itself influences how good we are at blitz.

Buzzer Beater

2011-08-05T21:18:00.004+08:00

Recently I got hooked to a basketball manager game. It's all you ever wanted if you're a sports manager fan, you're placed in one of many leagues of your country gunning for glory. There are about 54,000 active players from all over the world.

There are about 100 active managers in Malaysia but sadly only a fifth of them participate in forums.

If you love basketball AND manager games, come join me at http://www.buzzerbeater.com/

origin of profile pic

2011-07-22T00:41:00.000+08:00

maybe its nice to reveal the whole picture :D

Bad basketball shooting habits: stepping in with one foot

2011-07-21T23:47:00.005+08:00

I notice there are some people who need to step in with the foot parallel to their shooting hand prior to shooting outside jumpers -- there's one way to get rid of that habit.

Raising the heel just a little when you spot up gives the same advantage (to the shooters who think stepping in gives them one...) as stepping in PLUS a steady form.

Some might disagree with me that stepping in to a shot is detrimental to their shooting but I believe good shooting is also about what you do before you get into the shooting motion.

my ancient windows xp looking sharp

2011-06-22T01:41:00.003+08:00

with just a few skin changes, any old OS can look younger!

Google Doodle - Can't take my eyes off you

2011-06-09T23:25:00.000+08:00

lyrics: The World I Know - Collective Soul

2011-06-09T22:56:00.002+08:00

Has our conscience shown?

Has the sweet breeze blown?

Has all kindness gone?

Hope still lingers on.

I drink myself of newfound pity

Sitting alone in New York City

And I don't know why.

Are we listening?

Hymns of offering.

Have we eyes to see?

Love is gathering.

All the words that I've been reading

Have now started the act of bleeding

Into one.

So I walk up on high

And I step to the edge

To see my world below.

And I laugh at myself

While the tears roll down.

'Cause it's the world I know.

It's the world I know.

Qaddafi's Libya is not Obama's Libya

2011-05-24T15:37:00.002+08:00

I took this from pravda.ru

Qaddafi's Libya is not Obama's Libya
By Jose Gil

"Below the parliamentary assemblies, the Age of the Masses live, direct democracy, the Third Theory"

Obama dramatically fails AP fact check

The greatest deceiver of mankind, a major liar, who fooled the American people to elect him U.S. president, who was so stupidly and recklessly awarded with the Nobel Peace Prize, Barack Obama, was the first black president to order the bombing of Africa.

In speeches at the White House to tame and corrupt Western media, Obama speaks of a Libyan who he says he knows, because he only has information falsified by Zionists who dominate and control the media and the U.S. banks.

Praying in the book of criminal leeches and the international financial system, Obama is just a stupid puppet, controlled by unknown forces, ordering criminal actions that will ultimately put the planet in critical condition.

The first time I traveled to Libya was in the distant year of 1985. At the time, I was a student activist and idealistic. I saw a country proud of its freedom. I remember watching the inauguration of housing developments planned by the leader Moammar Gadhafi for poor people who roamed the deserts of Libya, who lived in tents or tarpaulins on the outskirts of Tripoli.

In the years that followed, I returned to Libya several times and saw a country thriving, growing and progressing each year, despite the boycott, the international campaigns against the country orchestrated by U.S. imperialism and by Israeli Zionism.

After all this time, decades and decades of resistance, the Libyan people had built a strong and sovereign nation, internationally respected, in solidarity with peoples fighting for liberation. This is the Libya of the Gadhafi whom I have met. I walked the streets of Tripoli, Benghazi and Sirte, and I talked to people, I drank the true facts at the source, not the daily lies of western media.

I saw an opportunity in this booming country, constructing modern beautiful buildings, able to rival the most modern buildings of the UAE.

A sovereign, socialist, progressive and rich nation, led by a man who never surrendered to imperialism or Zionism, but rather always fought, was unacceptable for governments who align themselves with imperialism, Zionism and criminals to steal and expropriate the wealth of nations: France and England.

Obama's Libya is the illusion and the lies of a ruler who does not see an inch ahead. Barack Obama is not a Malcolm X or a Martin Luther King. He never had any deep knowledge of the reality of the people. He has always been a puppet of American political parties, funded by the oil and war industries - the biggest ones interested in promoting world wars.

Qaddafi's Libya is building a sovereign, free and independent country. It is the Bedouin who after winning the challenges and hardships of deserts, invades the cities with his ideas of freedom, his tent challenges the most powerful weapons in the world, to say loudly and in a clear voice: "Parliamentary democracy is the falsification of true democracy, below the parliamentary assemblies, the Age of the Masses lives, straight direct democracy, the Third Theory."

Qaddafi's Libya is the people happy, the owners of their freedom, owners of their own home, their land, a partner in the company where they work. It is something that is beyond the comprehension of Obama, who has no culture, intelligence or ability to understand the philosophical advances practiced and taught by Gaddafi. But Obama is president of the most powerful country in the world, despite his political ignorance.

The difference between Obama and Gaddafi is that Gaddafi's ideas never die: they simmer around the world in most of the countries and they will build the histories of people who advance in their struggles for liberation. Obama will be a forgotten name in the dustbin of history because he was put at the service of selfishness, of capitalism, to murder defenseless civilians in various countries, where criminal industries steal oil and he lives in order to encourage and favor capitalists and Zionists.

　

* José Gil is a Brazilian journalist

　

　

Translated from the Portuguese version by:

Lisa Karpova

Pravda.Ru

Images Gone

2010-03-06T23:25:00.003+08:00

At least some pics that were hyperlinks to a few sites... Geocities used to be where I stash everything; might try storing them in one of those buckets (photo/image bucket).

random pic

2009-10-04T06:41:00.001+08:00

random shots

2009-08-31T08:47:00.002+08:00

Hitler Banned From Lineage 2

2009-08-31T03:32:00.001+08:00

I LOLed so hard...

looking out...

2009-08-30T22:27:00.001+08:00

don't wait

2009-08-29T17:54:00.000+08:00

A Beautiful End Video

2009-07-16T08:21:00.002+08:00

random pic

2009-06-22T12:42:00.002+08:00

A beautiful end released

2009-05-13T19:32:00.003+08:00

JR Richards' solo album has just been released (12 May).

Visit his myspace site at http://www.myspace.com/vocaltrix or at http://jrrichardsmusic.com/

You can preview a few songs at his myspace album and every song at the latter. Simply... beautiful.

Dishwalla - Counting Blue Cars

2009-05-11T09:06:00.001+08:00

Gotta love the guitar solo.

Taylor Swift's Love Story meets Coldplay's Viva La Vida

2009-05-02T20:52:00.001+08:00

Chess Positions in Animes

2009-04-30T23:49:00.010+08:00

The Böhnke Gambit (Scandinavian) appeared in the 14th episode of Cowboy Bebop (Bohemian Rhapsody). And the opening moves were 1.e4 d5 2.exd e5?! (The moves weren't played out, it appeared that way. But its easily intelligible for chess players to deduce the order of moves).

However 3.f4?! was played instead of Bb4 or dxe. I could not find decent games with 3.f4 or at least decently long enough to draw any conclusion on the opening. But I don't think its very rare inside of the blitz circle.

The game Gusev Aleksey - Ishyk Artur (Tula 2002) continued 3...Bc5 4.Nf3 e4 5.Ne5 Nf6 6.Nc3 OO 7.d4 exd3 8.Qxd3 Ng4 9.Ne4 Bf5 10.Nxg4 Re8 11.Ne5 Nd7 1-0.

I'm not at all surprised that they chose the opening to appear in the episode. A search on the web confirmed that there's a connection with the title of the episode. Seriously, 2...e5 is bad taste...

In Bohemian Rhapsody, the memory card contained only 1 game (till 3.f4).

2009-04-27T03:14:00.001+08:00

Until I Wake Up

2009-04-04T03:06:00.001+08:00

I rest my head
Between the bed and sky
Download my dread
Disarm my mind
Make it dry

Nothing in motion, and I'm satisfied
No disappointment, until I wake up
Don't want to wake up

Into clear space
Vivid vision
See her shape
At my bedside
Beam up my mind please

Candleburn - Dishwalla

2009-04-02T02:25:00.001+08:00

Good intentions but

2008-12-07T22:53:00.003+08:00

Recently I read an article in Chessbase.com of an arbiter's proposal for the game to be played out to its conclusion. He gave many strong points why it should be implemented.

At first I liked the idea pretty much until I read feedback by the readers, one of which was

"It will lay ground for humiliations amongst players who have problems with each other (Think Short – Cheparinov). We could reach instances when players might jump and shout to the Arbiter: Oh my god! He doesn't want to mate me! He wants to capture all my pieces and pawns... please put an end to this game... please!"

While the idea was a noble one, it still needs much working on.

X-Fail

2008-12-07T22:46:00.002+08:00

The silliest scene in the movie probably was when Scully googled... "OMFG, now I understand! These Ebil :3 Russians are behind every goddam strange paranormal thing in X-Files!"

Those words were never uttered but her horrified look pretty much described it.

I mean, she had to um Google?

There's Only One Keano

2008-12-07T22:29:00.000+08:00

Thank you for those two years.

Counting Blue Cars - Diswalla (lyrics)

2008-08-10T11:48:00.002+08:00

Must of been mid afternoon

I could tell by how far the child's shadow stretched out and

He walked with a purpose

In his sneakers, down the street

He had, many questions

Like children often do

He said,

Tell me all your thoughts on God?

Tell me am I very far?

Must of been late afternoon

On our way the sun broke free of the clouds

We count only blue cars

Skip the cracks, in the street

And ask many questions

Like children often do

We said,

Tell me all your thoughts on God?

'Cause I would really like to meet her.

And ask her why we're who we are.

Tell me all your thoughts on God,

Cause I am on my way to see her.

So tell me am I very far -

Am I very far now?

Its getting cold picked up the pace

How our shoes make hard noises in this place

Our clothes are stained

We pass many, cross eyed people

And ask many questions

Like children often do

Tell me all your thoughts on God?

'Cause I would really like to meet her.

And ask her why we're who we are.

Tell me all your thoughts on God?

'Cause I am on my way to see her.

So tell me am I very far?

Am I very far now

black, white and some grey some can't see

2008-07-20T12:00:00.004+08:00

For some unknown reason, a conversation strayed into a discussion of the realm between black and white. To him, people are clouded by sentiments, which straightjackets them from being objective. He perceives them "lesser and weak" as to him there is either black or white and there is a definite line in between.

"I can't see it." (A line between black and white)

This might have come as a surprise to him since we have a lot in common.

"I can still see grey." (Maybe it was my way of saying sentiments do cloud my capacity to be objective but...)

Mechanical and useful it may seem, to confine ourselves to see things in black and white, at least to me, borders on the robotic. I am human. I don't understand you machines.

He finally said (we decided to get back to more important topics at hand after a lot of long black white and grey talk)

"I am what I say I am."

"Yes, with some grey you unconsciously leave out..."

"..."

"There is no grey ;)"

Lyrcs: deireadh an tuath - Enya

2008-07-20T11:54:00.002+08:00

'Sí an ghealach,

mall san oíche.

'Sí an ghrian.

Fán liom go Deo.

Hoireann is O Hi O Ho ra Ha.

'Sí na Samhna,

tús na Bliain Ur.

'Sí an crann marbh.

Deireadh an tuath.

Hoireann is O Ho O Ho ro Ho.

Lyrics: Wei Yi - Lee Hom

2008-07-14T02:20:00.002+08:00

Wo de tian kong duo mo de qing xi

tou ming de cheng luo shi guo qu de kong qi

qian zhe wo de shou shi ni dan ni de xiao rong que kan bu qi

*shi fou yi ge xing xing bian le xing

chong qian de yuan wang ye quan dou gei pao qi

zhiu jing wowu fa hu xi lian zhi ji de ying zhi dou xiang tao bi

(chorus)

Baby ni jiu shi wo de wei yi liang ge shi jie dou bian xing

hui qi tan he rong yi

que ding ni jiu shi wo de wei yi du zhi dui zhe dian hua shuo wo ai ni

wo zhen de ai ni

Baby wo yi bu neng duo ai ni yi xie

*repeat

(chorus)

qi shi zao yi chao guo le ai de shi xian

(chorus)

thoughts

2008-06-17T13:12:00.002+08:00

I didn't say anything else about the Celtics since my post about why Danny Ainge sucks. He didn't this season and got KG and Ray. From total idiot to Einstein. It really is mind numbing to suddenly see this team from struggling in the basement make an ascendancy so... surreal.

Phoenix made a lot of people get put off watching NBA basketball when they discarded their run and gun style for supposed stability by acquiring an aging dinosour. Dallas thought they have finally completed the puzzle to finally become a serious pretender. But the biggest moves was that of KG and Ray to Boston, and Pau Gasol to LA.

The NBA finals has been amazing up to this point. While I'm still rooting for the Celtics, it's only natural to want Kobe to bring joy to all the basketball lovers in the world.

Celtics to win in 7.

Lyrics: Joshua - Blyss

2008-06-11T02:32:00.001+08:00

the air has never felt so warm
the sky has never looked this way before
there's nothing comforting in change
I can't seem to find any peace in this confusion

I can't help my mind from racing
and my heart is beating faster than ever before
tell me is this really happening
I cannot tell if I am dreaming

last night
I saw you standing in the moonlight
and you took my hand and we walked
beside the river
and you said
don't be afraid, be strong
I'm with you

I'm climbing on top of my doubt
don't let this fear
get the best of me
cause I find my confidence in you
and I find my hope
when I lose control

last night
I saw you standing in the moonlight
and you took my hand and we walked
beside the river
and you said
don't be afraid, be strong
I'm with you

last night
I saw you standing in the moonlight
and you took my hand and we walked
beside the river
and you said
don't be afraid

and last night
I saw you dancing in the moonlight
and you took my hand and we walked
beside the river
and you said
don't be afraid, be strong
I'm with you
I'm with you
I'm with you
I'm with you

Minyak Naik!

2008-06-06T04:42:00.002+08:00

Not a very popular decision, a 40% fuel price hike. No warnings, nothing. It's odd that they try to compare the fuel prices here with non-oil producing countries and brag how cheap it is. I just wonder how it will affect the aviation industry. No more RM0.00 promotions, I guess...

Quote of the day (week/month =P)

2008-05-28T17:02:00.002+08:00

The most important principle of the technical realization of your advantage is to restrict your opponent’s possibilities to a minimum. The successful resolution of this task requires you to develop prophylactic thinking: the habit of attentive control of your opponent’s intentions and the resources he has at this disposal.

---- Mark Dvoretsky

-----------------------------------------------------

Interesting article here.

You Belong To Me (lyrics)

2008-05-28T16:55:00.003+08:00

see the pyramids around the Nile
watch the sunrise from a tropic isle
just remember darling all the while -
you belong to me

see the marketplace in old Angier
send me photographs and souvenirs
just remember when a dream appears -
you belong to me

and I'll be so alone without you
maybe you'll be lonesome too

fly the ocean in a silver plane
see the jungle when it's wet with rain
just remember till you're home again -
you belong to me

oh I'll be so alone without you
maybe you'll be lonesome too

fly the ocean in a silver plane
see the jungle when it's wet with rain
just remember till you're home again -
you belong to me

*You belong to me is a very popular (catchy too) song down the ages and I just love Jason Wade's cover which made me pick up the guitar.

2008-03-27T20:27:00.004+08:00

A person does a good deed, but regrets his good deed. A person says something nice. But it was a lie. A person makes it known that he advocates an idea. But despises it in secret. And so on...

Who is this person really? One that shows? Or the one hiding in the shadows of thought?

Pushkin Quote

2008-03-27T20:04:00.000+08:00

The illusion which exalts us is dearer to us than ten-thousand truths.

Aleksandr Pushkin

2008-03-26T22:50:00.001+08:00

Human Error in crash?

2008-03-26T20:55:00.006+08:00

The report on the the Indonesian Adam Air Boeing 737 crash is out -- the pilots were occupied with a nav system error that they didn't realize that they were heading into the sea.

"Pull up, pull up!"

Those were among the last words by one of the pilots. But is it enough to just lay blame to the pilots? Or to something else that took away their attention from the aircraft's flying condition? Adam Air has a label for having poorly trained pilots and maintenance workers. I can guarantee you that Malaysia has airline that has one more sin -- letting unworthy (aviation term deemed for aircraft that does not meet the requirements to go airborne) aircraft fly. Or what someone confided in me "it's a circus". Maybe one day the DCA could plant "detectives" before the inevitable happens...

New government post in Japan

2008-03-20T12:40:00.003+08:00

Oh, my goodness me.

In a week where there was a lot of buzz about the newly named cabinet line-up (in Malaysia), in Japan a cartoon robot cat was appointed ambassador. It was supposed to help promote anime (japanese-style animation) around the world. You can read more here.

If Malaysia ever tries to do something similar, it would no doubt rouse the macaques, monkeys and chimpanzees. Everything the government does will make the simians jump and send their SMSes to The Star and other similar papers which let them write monkey-like protests.

But as for Doraemon there, good luck, you blue cat!

Quote of the day

2008-03-15T15:02:00.001+08:00

"If the people were to ever find out

what we have done, we would be chased

down the streets and lynched"

-- George Bush Sr.

Hint: MENA

Showing his true colors (red and white that is)

2008-03-15T14:24:00.001+08:00

Thank you, Mike Ashley. Mission accomplished!!

Ramos the Queer Decision-maker

2008-03-01T16:48:00.003+08:00

Apparently Paul Robinson and Radek Cerny is not good enough for Juande Ramos. Robinson, former England No.1, is experiencing better form (remember the howlers?) of late but bad positioning in the Carling Cup loss to Tottenham didn't quite do any good for him. Ramos, who is said to be monitoring replacements, is adamant to have both Robinson and Cerny replaced. The Daily Mirror, however, reported that Tottenham are chasing Norway keeper Hakon Opdal, who let in eight goals against Everton, as Robbo's replacement.

Well, Juande Ramos had two successful seasons with Sevilla most notably landing two Eufa Cups when he was at the helm. Now he's on the verge of taking Tottenham on a wild European adventure after their win against Chelsea in the Carling Cup Final.

Nobody understands how he operates really but he builds good sides and win titles. Nothing of this would have happened had Martin Jol stayed around.

Interesting chess pattern

2008-02-27T12:02:00.006+08:00

This position was very unfamiliar to me and I got it wrong in my last CTS session. Looking at the problem, which was rated at 17xx, I only noticed the key (and very important) feature of the position after looking at the solution. The black Queen wasn't having any say on the f8 square. It was the critical square and I always manage to trace my mistakes to overlooking the function of pieces.

A very refreshing mating (Black can only avoid mate at ruinous costs) pattern!

Edit: An important note! Since it's from CTS, it's black to move! Not white, which would easily have been mate in two. White to move after Black's best defensive try.

Tactically Inept...

2008-02-24T16:32:00.007+08:00

The same rating range (1530-1560) for nearly a year. I think one should not depend on the tactics being presented on the site alone as the only source of one's tactical regiment. A supplement, like solving more advanced ones could trigger faster improvement. I think a more realistic goal like getting to 1600 should be my aims this year considering the limited time I have for chess.

Meanwhile there is a lot of activity by the Japs in CTS. A look at the page shows a horde of people registering recently and lots of activity (RDs around 30-50). My guess is that either some website lately reviewed it on a Japanese chess website or a school club decided to make it a part of the club's activity. It caught my eye as I truly remember that Japan had about only 30-40 people registering on CTS. Two of them are recognizable: Yudai (Yudai Iwasaki, Fide 2121), keiki (Nakagori Keiki, Fide 2201) and shinyaKojima (Shinya Kojima, Fide 2205) as I remember their names from the 2006 Turin Olympiad.

I just wish more Malaysians would register on CTS.

Whether or not there was malicious intent...

2008-02-24T10:53:00.006+08:00

"Whether or not there was malicious intent in Martin Taylor's horrendous tackle on Eduardo da Silva, these tackles should never happen on the football field."

Eduardo's season is over, including the Euro 2008 Finals. Even his career might be over. I didn't post the "break" picture as it was too... "cringy". Sort of like -- becomes v. As for Martin smiling, I'm not sure what he was thinking there.

Pic taken from: http://www.index.hr/sport/clanak/krvnik-taylor-nakon-brutalnog-starta-nasmijesio-se-eduardu/375594.aspx

J-Dorama interest

2008-02-19T19:33:00.007+08:00

Not a big fan of J-Drama (j-dorama) but it's what I watch when I do have the time. J-Drama is sarcastically known for titles which could produce 1000 liters of tears (coincidentally, there's a drama which bears the title...). Most could get you hooked as soon as you've watched the first episode. My personal favorites are mostly those which include this guy (pic), Takuya Kimura...

Reason? I was 16 when I first watched Beautiful Life (2000), my first impression of him was...

"So cool!"

Pathetic, I know but it's hard to erase that impression now. Whatever role he plays, it's hard to think that someone could have replaced him and give the same effect.

J-Drama (at least the contemporary ones -- not stuff like Akantare!!) was still new in Malaysia when it first debuted in our shores in 2001, and NTV7 only dared to show it at midnight. From 12am to 1am every couple of nights in a week I made sure not to miss Beautiful Life. As soon as it ended, NTV7 decided to screen reruns and new ones based on the really encouraging viewership and so from then on evenings were filled with J-Dramas... I didn't even understand why most of them featured Takuya Kimura until I found out that he was Japan's No.1.

My favorite J-Dramas featuring Takuya Kimura are Hero, Engine and One Million Stars Falling From The Sky... and so ends an idle piece....

Exposure to Asbestos causes Mesothelioma and Lung Cancer

2008-02-19T19:20:00.002+08:00

It's been repeatedly mentioned in the textbooks I have and maintenance manuals where it is concerned. I wonder how many people take it for granted.

An interesting article can be found here.

Climbing up the table.

2008-02-19T19:08:00.003+08:00

Sunderland have won their last four home games in a row. Still have to improve on the away performances, though. Up next is away at Portsmouth. Sol Campbell was terrorized by Kenwyn Jones last time around so we'll see.

Another striker, another problem?

2008-01-26T10:29:00.000+08:00

We are definitely overloaded upfront! Kenwyn Jones and Michael Chopra who both came in this season already cost the club 10 mil and add to a number of forwards we already have (Stokes, Murphy, Cole), it's not hard to figure out that Keane concedes the signings to be breathing less fire than he expected. Sunderland can score goals, that's a fact. The one problem is not having a central defensive presence and options at the left. I would have loved to see Keane go for proven players from inside the league itself who haven't found much time on the field eager to prove themselves instead of players who haven't tasted the gruesome task of battling it out to reach premiership stability (mid-table).

I love the Bardsley signing. But Rada Prica?! Never heard of him. Top scorer in the Danish league or Afghanistan league, we've got to get proven players at this time of year considering the position we're in. Still, I hope Keane proves me wrong.

How we rank footbally

2008-01-20T17:51:00.000+08:00

How times have changed. From 75 in August 1993 to... 166 last October!

All I want...

2008-01-20T14:16:00.000+08:00

"All I want to do, ever, is play chess."

--Bobby Fischer.

Bobby Fischer RIP

2008-01-19T13:46:00.000+08:00

I only knew about it this morning from the papers. It's a sad day for chess. It has been sad for chess ever since he stopped playing. Bobby Fischer passed away in Iceland yesterday and it has been mentioned in every chess news site and forum.

What I didn't like about the report I read today, apart from only mentioning his achievements in passing, was highlighting him for being "anti-semitic" and a "lunatic" while failing to disclose the many injustices that were made towards him. They even went as far as stating that Bobby Fischer made allegations that the Jews were behind every conspiracy in the world including destroying elephants.

Here is the link to the only site about Bobby Fischer endorsed by the man himself.

http://home.att.ne.jp/moon/fischer/

The Way to Go

2008-01-18T19:59:00.000+08:00

I've been wondering what to write as a follow up to my first post about Go. I haven't researched in depth and while I have done some extensive reading on the history, culture and rules of Go (and how a proper game is conducted), I have no idea how to introduce the game.

This is where this site, The Interactive Way to Go, by Hiroki Mori, comes in. An absolutely interactive way to jump into the Go waves, allowing the student make mistakes, an opportunity to fully grasp the fundamentals of the game.

I understand that the site has been around for a long time. I only came to know of its existence after using alternative keywords. Exercises are provided for many important concepts and many won't make a wrong choice choosing to start here for their first Go lessons. I have learned the bulk of it but it appeals to me so much I started at the beginning.

This is definitely the way to Go!

Something says...

2008-01-18T15:51:00.000+08:00

My head says that Tottenham's form is currently better than Sunderland and the match will end with something like 2-0 or 2-1 for Spurs. But the Black Cat in me says 1-1 and if Tottenham revisit the first day of the season jitters, the Black Cats can swipe their first three points away from home.

Not much activity as expected in the transfer window and I don't think Keane's rushing to sign players. I think if it's quality he may find them but he's more into players who want to play for the club and those who he thinks could play a part in the club's plans for the future.

Hope to see Evans and Nosworthy paired at the back again tomorrow at Spurs. It was a team effort getting that clean sheet against Portsmouth but having them both together gives the back four an aura of stability. Danny Higginbotham's has been impressing but how is he going to fit in the back four now that we also have Paul McShane, Greg Halford and Russell Anderson?

Turn My Head - Live lyrics

2008-01-18T15:10:00.000+08:00

Anyone, caught in you mystery

Keep it angry

Keep it whispy

I've fallen down

Drunk on your juices

Turn my head

It's aimed at you

Funky temple

Your dress is torn to shreds

Your eyes are crazy

I bowed to save my head and

I can't forget you

But I remember

Turn my head

It's aimed at you

Oh no,

We came to love you all day

These bastards are leavin'

Somebody's go to stay

Whatever we called you

It's just a name

Just a name

10

2008-01-15T21:32:00.000+08:00

Browsing through some old notes, I chanced upon a paper I wrote a decade ago, "Once upon a time, there lived a boy named Izhar. He had a cup of coffee. He left. The End." It sparked a reaction (and grins) to anybody who came across it whether it was the teacher marking our workbooks or someone giving a lecture in class squinting her eyes in class to some ciphers underneath the cardboard name (everybody had it on their tables).

That's me. Probably just living a fairy tale...

That de-classified picture up there is not recent. Exactly a year ago. Outside some building on my way home. Flash didn't work so it was dark and blurry. And attempts to hide evidence of three days of unshaved facial hair (it was new years... ok, old. 2007) apparently doesn't work by making the picture smaller.

I own the same Yahoo! email for ten years now. 1998 was when the Commonwealth Games was held in Kuala Lumpur. Malaysia had a ten gold haul (Dr M initially hoped for at least a couple...) Also the same year when I first went on a class trip to the beach. More, I think. But it's not fun trying to remember things when it's just 10 years. Try 50. That's a challenge...

Other 10s... I grew up in house No.10, some road, some city.

10. A number.

Ten.

Numero ten-0...

...

Tunjuk Satu Bintang - Sheila On 7 lyrics

2008-01-15T15:05:00.000+08:00

Coba kau tunjuk satu bintang

Sebagai pedoman langkah kita

Jabat erat hasil karyaku

Hingga terbias warna syahdu

Akan ku ukir

Satu kisah tentang kita

Di mana baik dan buruk

Terangkum oleh indah

Akan kucerna

Semua karya cipta kita

Di mana hitam dan putih

Terbalut hangatnya cinta

Dan bila semua terwujudkan oh...

Di sisimu selalu hariku

1 of 4. God save the Black Cats.

2008-01-14T09:20:00.001+08:00

pic courtesy of www.safc.com

All Black Cat fans expected the win and it's great for the win to be a convincing one. Kieran Richardson showed what he could do and could've finished the game with hat-trick if it wasn't for the crossbar. The players of the game were definitely Richardson and Kenwyne Jones. Jones, who set up Richardson for the first, was very influential unfront and caused massive problems even for the experienced Sol Campbell. Hope no club bids for him in the summer.

This is one of the first of four home games Mackems flocking the BBC 606 Forum expect Sunderland to win. Most were a bit "realistic" with 3 of 4 but maybe this game would change their minds. It's great seeing guys who did well last season shine -- Whitehead was like a hound, and Nosworthy and Evans showed good understanding at the back. Anthony Stokes was definitely commited, showing why he should start in front of Chopra. Hopefully Carlos Edwards could come back sooner, and it would definitely ignite a tremendous run up the table like last season.

Stand by Keane

2008-01-13T17:25:00.000+08:00

We've had a lot of games where results could have gone either way; being in the relegation zone now doesn't matter. We're a lot better than most of the teams in the second half of the table bracket and I'm positive that better things are ahead. We're going to get back players who were vital to the team from injuries, and Nosworthy and Evans are being paired together at the back again. Still a long way to go, and it will get better.

On Fire - Switchfoot lyrics

2008-01-13T17:15:00.000+08:00

They tell you where you need to go

They tell you when you'll need to leave

They tell you what you need to know

They tell you who you need to be
But everything inside you knows

There's more than what you've heard

There's so much more than empty conversations

Filled with empty words
And you're on fire

When He's near you

You're on fire

When He speaks

You're on fire

Burning at these mysteries
Give me one more time around

Give me one more chance to see

Give me everything You are

Give me one more chance to be... (near You)
Cause everything inside me looks like

Everything I hate

You are the hope I have for change

You are the only chance I'll take
When I'm on fire

When You're near meI'm on fire

When You speak

And I'm on fire

Burning at these mysteries

These mysteries...
I'm standing on the edge of me [x3]

I'm standing on the edge of everything I've never been before.

And i've been standing on the edge of me

Standing on the edge
And I'm on fire

When You're near me

I'm on fire

When You speak(Yea)

I'm on fire

Burning at these mysteries... these mysteries... these mysteries

Ah you're the mystery

You're the mystery

Relegation battle looms and...

2008-01-10T00:36:00.001+08:00

Keane let Savage slip away?

Is it a case of not feeling he wasn't worth pursuing?

And who's coming in? Quinton Fortune?

I still believe that Sunderland can nick it in the end with the current crop of players. A couple of decent signings like Savage would help a lot though. Robbie would have nothing of that drubbing by Wigan a week ago.

Feel the Silence - Goo Goo Dolls lyrics

2008-01-10T00:31:00.000+08:00

You lie awake at night
With blue eyes that never cry
All you remember now
Is what you feel

The truth remains
In midnight conversations
I asked for this moment
But you turned away

Sad like a lonely child
Broken the day you're born
I held the light to you
But I was so vain

And you remain
A promise unfulfilled
I ask you for more
But you push me away

And if we feel the silence
Holding this all inside us
Everything means more now than
Words could explain

And if we feel the silence
*Leaving this all behind us*
Looking for something more to say
I don't know where I'm going
Only know where I been
But you move through my soul like a hurricane wind
We've been so lost for so long
I don't know how to get back again
And we're drowning in the water
That flows under this bridge
When you're fighting the current
You forget how to live
And I wanted to reach you but I don't know where to begin
And you remain
A promise unfulfilled until today

And if we feel the silence
Holding this all inside us
Everything means more now than
Words could explain
And if we feel the silence
Leaving this all behind us
When it's gone what will you say

How do we hold on
How do we hold on
How do we hold on
How do we hold on
How do we hold on

You lie awake at night
With blue eyes that never cry

Blurry - Puddle of Mudd lyrics

2008-01-01T20:33:00.001+08:00

Book that caught my eye recently

2008-01-01T20:28:00.000+08:00

The Great Red Dragon or London Money Power by L . B . WOOLFOLK.

It's supressed by the way; I think you could buy it somewhere online but someone pointed me to a copy in a corner of some mysterious book shop.

We have lift off -- not. Awesome celebration, pathetic people. Hello 2008.

2008-01-01T01:07:00.000+08:00

Despite the intermittent short showers, it did little to dampen the atmosphere of the New Year's celebration at KLCC. I was there a bit late, but I guess it didn't matter much as the rain interfered with a couple of the organizers plans. At 11pm the place was already packed, a congested crowd within a 2 kilometer radius and lots of people were still walking towards the twin towers from especially from Ampang and Bukit Bintang. Security was tight with the police and civil defense made their presence felt. Still a couple of rascals decided to cause mischief -- some Mat Top (a description for scrawny looking teens with bad taste for clothes wearing phat caps) was publicly displayed to the crowd by the police for trying to snatch a Chinese lady's handbag. Luckily the public was at hand (sooooo many hands!) and everyone could see the stupid Mat Top sitting on the ground near the police booth outside the police booth in Bukit Bintang in cuffs as one of the police officers took her statement.

What irked me during the wait was the behavior of the young Malaysians. The place was crowded and it was embarrassing to see the Mat Tops perform their stupid dancing (think of Mr Bean doing the zapin. Then fast forward 10 times). Some foreigner looked at disgust (I think a Brit from the way he cursed) as he was hit by the hands of a couple of them who suddenly performed that stupid dance (people might mistake it for some tribal rain dance looking at the amount of rain that kept pouring down) in front of him. There were also a couple of fireworks let off in the crowd. It was appalling to see the Mat Tops (my my, mat tops again) lighting some up and throwing them into the crowd before running away giggling. The loud explosions almost deafened me once, and I couldn't believe people could be so... brainless. There were elderly people, pregnant women, and infants in the crowd. A woman was carrying a child with her when one of them exploded near her and thankfully someone with iron nerves held onto them both. These young teenagers were not only brainless idiots (as an African tourist could be heard correctly stating facts aloud to his wife) but also gutless and have "no balls" (something I wish I could've added when he spoke his mind). Running away like sissies.

Anyway, lets go back to nice things.

The 8-minute razzle-dazzle as soon as it struck midnight was one of the best firework displays I've ever seen. It was, to me, like... Star Wars. My favorite part was prior to the grand finale of the gigantic fireworks saved for last. The sky calmed down and thousands of silky golden coins spiraled down. I could count at least 70 (or more) different displays within the whole period and they left me totally breathless.

A couple of roads were closed and most of the shopping centers shut their entrances for security reasons. Getting home wasn't much of a hassle despite a colossal crowd; everything was planned and traffic went smoothly. I got home easily. I expected something inconvenient like during the "peaceful" illegal demonstrations where thugs threw stones at people and vandalized public property and caused heavy jams paralyzing the whole city.

[I never include politics in this blog but this is what I think: What is the use of demonstrations if the public can't live in peace? Is it right to let the minority decide that the ruckus they make is more important than the peace sought by the majority of the people in Malaysia? Is it right to let demonstrators scare tourists, disturb the peace, messing with people looking to do honest work to feed their family? If they want to gather, just gather at some place where they won't disturb people; at some stadium and shout there as much as you like because nobody wants to hear you.]

The return of the Rat

2007-12-28T22:24:00.001+08:00

Lurking in the dark, red-shot eyes patiently watching the world go by, the Rat waits for its ascension. Too long has been same old, same old, too long has it gone if only-es. Maybe it's time to take care of important business even if it means dying and dragging my corpse around. 2008, here I come!

GMs at Blackbird server

2007-12-28T22:04:00.000+08:00

Been long since I logged in; the 5 GMs had a field day at the MRT, taking on all comers at the arena. Most of the time ball-less players take on lower characters while they were busy talking and greeting the GMs. Here is GM Theloria with GM Gilrain at the background. Nice to see the GMs once in awhile.

This happens more than legal's and fools' mate combined

2007-12-25T19:19:00.000+08:00

Until it gets played more, I'll continue to play for this trap. Why abandon a bad line if the other guy can easily go wrong? It's not as elegant as Blackburne's two-penny trap or as instructive as Legal's or Fool's but... come on! It's a line in the Latvian!

This is the second person falling for it today. The other was on playchess.

Am I Ever Gonna Find Out - Lifehouse lyrics

2007-12-25T18:46:00.000+08:00

Silence is golden

But I think its gonna kill me now

Everything Ive seen

Never seems to fail me now

No one told me that the world could fall

through yeah

In between this am

I gonna find a way

To defeat this living inside yesterday

I'm alive I think its time to live

Like I am

Am I ever gonna find it

Am I ever gonna find out

Patience can wait for now

I think Ive waited for too long

You always gave a choice

Well I know right to be wrong

All my life has been slipping through

your hands yeah

In between this am I gonna find a way

To defeat this living inside yesterday

I'm alive I think its time to live

Like I am

Am I ever gonna find it

Am I ever gonna find out

In between this am I gonna find a way

To defeat this living inside yesterday

I'm alive I think its time to live

Like I am

Am I ever gonna find it

Am I ever gonna find out

I think its time to live

Like I am

Am I ever gonna find it

Am I ever gonna find out

Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year

2007-12-25T18:39:00.001+08:00

The thing they call football passion in Malaysia

2007-12-25T18:20:00.000+08:00

[which in Malaysia means sitting around makan-makan in front of the white screen in their Man U/Liverpool/Chelsea/Arsenal replica kit they bought at some pasar malam, clapping hands and smiling in front of some camera]

is GARBAGE compared to:

Searching for the Kalashnikov

2007-12-23T04:04:00.001+08:00

Not referring to the famous rifle, but to someone I only know as AK74. He's a CTS user whose progress I've kept a tab (tabs...) on for about a year as he's shown steady progress and his whole sessions are more than twice (58k!!) than mine. I was always within 50 points of him but never better. Whenever I managed to push higher he pushed higher as well. No, I've never talked to him. I'm fond of browsing at statistics of regular users for comparison purposes. I arbitrarily chose AK74 as he does them a lot, and puts a lot of effort which makes me want to emulate him, if not surpass him. Lately he's stuck at between 1600-1650 but I have a feeling that sooner or later he'll get better. I, too, will get better as well.

Back from the burn-out

2007-12-23T03:11:00.000+08:00

Absolutely no chess for more than 3 weeks. Losing interest in it for awhile might work for once; I've thought about overextending in chess and tried to find an anology to it in life. I couldn't find anything else that I could relate to so I had a look at sports. Something similar might occur in sports such as football or basketball. They don't immediately shoot from their own area. They pass the ball around looking for space to create something and keep posession, probing for weaknesses, always co-operating with each other to maintain flexibility so that when the chances come, the rate of capitalizing becomes higher.

About a dozen people started playing chess near the open air eatery downstairs. These middle aged people used to only sit there with their coffees for long hours. Whenever I was home early they would be there. Whenever I was home late they would be there as well. When I saw them gather round a table with a chess game in progress, I had a peek. Same number of pawns but White had a distance passed pawn and all he had to do was push it and decoy the Black King and the White King gobbles up Black's vulnerable pawns. White was winning. Everyone had serious looks on their faces as if it was the game's general code. I wished there and then someone could whack the White player on the head when he only moved his king back and forth and then agreed to a draw. I left and the end.

As for Chess Tactics Server, I was surprised to see my Rating Deviation move over 40. It means that fast and accurate moves will be greatly rewarded while slow moves or bad ones will affect your ratings like someone being thrown off from one of the 80th floor of the KLCC Twin Towers. From 156x it free falled to 152x and once the RD stabilized at about 30, I grit my teeth and made my way up to 1575 at a final RD of 19. It felt good pushing at the end, got 18 straight in 100.7 seconds, 5 something average, and disposed of some cheat who only made 9 before calling it a day from the standings albeit by just a point.

Haven't been on the playchess server and played casually on many fringe sites...

Hitman -- The Tame Conspiracy

2007-12-03T19:47:00.000+08:00

Okay, so they didn't manage to get Vin Diesel for the movie. But why does everything look so triple X? From the guns to the babe, recycling seems to be in order except for Agent 47 played by Tame Elephant (or something similar sounding).

I've played Hitman 1 and 2 on an old P3 years ago, both were instant hits. This movie, um, needs a bit less taming...

Are we kidding ourselves? Part 2

2007-12-01T03:34:00.000+08:00

I thought of another situation where "Are we kidding ourselves?" applies.

Jack was full of admiration for his male neighbor. He wasn't exactly sure what he felt but it never crossed his mind that they were normal feelings to have for a person. Instead he finally figured he was gay though he wasn't really comfortable with a homosexual lifestyle. As soon as he made himself believe that he was, he thought, I'm gay anyway so what the hell. Three months later, he discovered he contracted AIDS from another male (since his neighbor started chasing him with a broom whenever Jack came near). Jack, feeling like his world has come to an end, sat on the ledge of a building twenty storeys high, contemplating. Thinking again hard, he realized that he wasn't gay, and feeling totally depressed (he's sure about this one), threw himself off the building.

No offense, gay folks.

2007-12-01T03:20:00.000+08:00

It's okay if you play like an idiot in one game if you win. At least in one minute games. Black took the bait with 13...gxh6.

[White "Roger Rabbit"]
[Black "tibor1980"]
[Event "InstantChess 1/0 Lightning Chess"]
[BlackElo "1947"]
[Result "1-0"]
[ICCause "2"]
[ICEcause "4"]

1.e4 Nc6 2.Nf3 e5 3.c3 Nf6 4.d4 Bd6 5.Bc4 h6 6.h4 O-O 7.Nh2 Nxe4 8.f4 exf4 9.g4 f3 10.Nxf3 Bg3+ 11.Kf1 Nf2 12.Qc2 {Nothing going his way, White desperately creates pitfalls for Black to fall for traps.} Nxh1 13.Bxh6 {and also hopes that Black gets greedy.}gxh6?? {Salvation!} 14.Qg6+ Kh8 15.Qxh6+ Kg8 16.Ng5 Qf6+ 17.Qxf6 Be5 18.Qg6+ Kh8 19.Qh7# 1-0

Are we kidding ourselves?

2007-11-29T17:49:00.000+08:00

I was lying on my bed the other night and played around with my head (you'll get it later) and came up with this:

The Second Edition of the Oxford English Dictionary contains full entries for 171,476 words in current use, and 47,156 obsolete words.

If so, how many of those words should we know to be able to accurately express ourselves?

How can we know for certain that there exists words which can properly do so?

I believe that every individual is in danger of being led into saying something which either doesn't correctly convey his thoughts or give a wholly different nature to the meaning of what he really intended to say.

Example: John felt... what was that word... sad and disappointed. He was actually a bit flustered (who came up with that?) but couldn't find the words. That feeling he told his wife, his colleagues, his parents, and they throw a nice dinner at The Westin.

Another: Jane felt... something close to jovial. But actually there might not even be a word to what she really felt so she stuck to the word and made herself believe that she felt jolly.

It may seem trivial to stray a bit but what if it comes to full sentences? If we can't be certain that every word exists for everything, a whole sentence may even deviate from its course.

Because... there are things which I know I feel and want to say, but have the shortcomings to put them into words. Maybe it's the fear of not being able to be precise and articulate and later those words override the meaning of origin.

A Tartakower miniature Baden-Baden 1925

2007-11-25T20:58:00.000+08:00

"9...Bg7 is likewise of no avail. The points f7 and e5 are weak, h4-h5 threatens also, the king pawn cannot be held in the long run. White has many pieces in play, Black none, at these odds everyone would like to play gambits."
--Emanuel Lasker

From the game Adly-Laznicka 2007

2007-11-21T18:52:00.000+08:00

White to move.

Laugh of the day

2007-11-16T19:37:00.000+08:00

Stagnant...

2007-11-15T07:15:00.000+08:00

And that's how it's going to be for awhile. Chess hasn't been fun lately. Too much blitz and games look like carbon copies of one another, especially very arbitrary kingside pawn advance setups. Disappointed, I will now STOP having blitz sessions for the year. All games must be +20 minutes to facilitate the development of methodical thinking. There's no use improving tactics and combinations if we don't prepare a favorable condition for them. Steinitz preached patience, Lasker followed, and Fischer said "Tactics flow from a superior position." Against weaker players, it might be okay to not bother about strategy so much as they will inevitably blunder somewhere and we'll take advantage of that. But against players who know how to avoid weaknesses, it would mean frustration.

While I believe that the majority of the time should be spent on tactics and combinations, we DO have to go through study material of positional nature. I will dust off a few books to address those areas that seem wanting...

I looked for a game and had a nice one. It gave me more fun than the majority of the previous session of 30 5 minute games. This person was just 11, and having around a 1800+. I'm keeping details of the person secret; if this person gets famous one day, I'll refer chessbase to this page!

I played 23.Rg1 too hastily unlike the previous moves(I know how that habit developed!). And I played on the next three moves in despair... but the previous play was nice, sac-ing the rook for two pawns and serious initiative. I restored material balance with a positional advantage until I threw it all away with the "hand" move.

The opening, if you notice, is something similar to the Halloween attack if 4.Nxd5? 4...Qg5! I declined it not very familiar with it.

2007-11-12T21:59:00.000+08:00

White to move and secure decisive advantage. White already had a favorable position before Black blundered with 22 Bb4+.

[White "Corporate Rock"]
[Black "7tagenachantaylya"]
[Event "InstantChess 15/0"]
[Result "1-0"]

1.e4 Nc6 2.Nf3 d6 3.c3 Bd7 4.d4 e6 5.Bd3 Qe7 6.Be3 O-O-O 7.a4 f6 8.b4 g5 9.h3 Kb8 10.Na3 Qg7 11.Nc4 d5 12.Na5 Nce7 13.e5 g4 14.hxg4 Qxg4 15.c4 Qxg2 16.Rg1 Qh3 17.cxd5 Nxd5 18.Be4 Nxb4 19.d5 Bc8 20.Rb1 Nxd5 21.Nc6+ Ka8 22.Nxd8 Bb4+ 23.Rxb4 Nxb4 24.Qd4 c5 25.Qxc5 Nd3+ 26.Bxd3 Bd7 1-0

Nothing else matters

2007-11-09T21:06:00.000+08:00

We'll shove it up them Geords.
FTM

File extracting errors

2007-11-09T20:22:00.000+08:00

"Babelfish, babelfish, babelfish,... The filename, directory name, or volume label syntax is incorrect."

DOESN'T THIS ANNOY THE HELL OUT OF PEOPLE?

Some files may use a unrecognizable syntax or fonts or won't extract for some other reason which Windows perceives as a security threat. Most problems are usually due to unknown fonts. Better than asking the site to alter the filename or nag somebody to do it on their computer, I discovered Universal Extractor which works with most compressing programs. It's not intended to replace the winzips and winrars as I've discovered a few shortcomings, but it does its job well when we really need to just extract those files.

2007-11-07T04:38:00.000+08:00

From the game Romanovsky-Rabinovitch, 1935
On the last move Black played 19...Nxd5.

Simon - Lifehouse

2007-11-02T01:56:00.000+08:00

An oldie, and I've posted the lyrics somewhere already. But the the right song for times like these...

Lasker's 200 Hours

2007-11-01T19:32:00.000+08:00

"Let us assume that a master who follows a good method, say, the method of this book, strives to educate a young man ignorant of Chess to the level of one who, if conceded any odds, would surely come out the winner. How much time would the teacher need for this achievement? I think that I am correct in making the following calculation:

Rules of play and Exercises 5 hrs
Elementary Endings 5 hrs
Some Openings 10 hrs
Combination 20 hrs
Position Play 40 hrs
Play and Analysis 120 hrs

Even if the young man has no talent at all, by following the above course he would advance to the class specified.

Compare with this possibility, the reality. In fact, there are a quarter of a million Chess amateurs who devote to Chess at least two hundred hours ever year and of these only a thousand, after a lifetime of study, attain the end. Without losing myself in calculations, I believe I am safe in voicing the opinion that our efforts in chess attain only a hundredth of one percent of their rightful result."

---Emanuel Lasker, Lasker's Chess Manual

Only match that matters

2007-11-01T12:24:00.001+08:00

November 10. Stadium of Light. The Mags will be spanked.

FTM

Another cool chess site

2007-11-01T12:07:00.000+08:00

Browsing through many chess blogs, I found a link to this site. It offers a lot of chess material for free, whether ones a professional or casual player; I find the library very interesting. The link to Free Chess School is here or at my links section.

What I read in the papers today

2007-10-27T02:43:00.000+08:00

Three policemen dead and another injured as a drug raid gone bust. They were welcomed by sprays of bullets when several men in two vehicles blocked their way. I won't comment on how the raid was conducted or why the policemen were not equipped with bullet-proof vests. But it was clear that the drug gang had inside intel and knew of the impending raid. That three men lost their lives to people who get rich off destroying the lives of people irks me. Yes, irk. No explanation needed for my choice of word. And I really feel sorry for the family of the three policemen.

I believe... that people, from those on the top of the chain, to those harvesting the plants, those processing the drugs, those smuggling them, those pushing them, and anybody else living off them should go to hell. Every time I hear somebody was to hang, it felt like music to my ears. These are people who are destroying society. It is not barbaric to hang these people. Capital punishment was meant to protect society and deter people from committing these offenses. These people who we see face the gallows chose to get hanged.

Mackems the loudest

2007-10-26T23:35:00.000+08:00

SUNDERLAND fans make the biggest racket in the Premier League, a study shows.

The North East supporters, known as Mackems, came top of the first survey into the sound level and frequency of chants.

The average peak volume at their Stadium of Light hit 129.2 decibels – almost as loud as a jet.