A Land Called China

So I'll be visiting the People's Republic of CHINA and won't be back till some time later. I heard it's gonna be freaking cold but that's exactly what I need. Too much exposure to the cursed sun has turned me charcoal and I could use some winter shelter. I don't really no much about one of the world's largest nations aside from its mixed industrial reputation as well as its Olympic dominance. Hope I'll be able to learn some new stuff there and enjoy the trip... I also kinda hope there'll be snow. I'm bored of fake, wet, un-powdery snow (try Genting's phony and you'll see why). Humidity has been overwhelming back home and those dark, ugly clouds that blanket the sky every evening have to go! Hopefully, China will be a bit more arid. Well, looking forward to whatever experiences China has to offer!

Ownage In Online Poker

I don't gamble. I rarely gamble. I never gamble... money. I've gambled a lot, but when it comes to money, I never do so. However, I do love playing gambling games as long as the bets are not on money. Some of the gambling games (usually online ones) I enjoy playing for the sake of fun and integrity are blackjack, roulette, slot machines, Big 2 (dai di), poker... Yes, poker!


So recently, I got hooked on to online poker, Texas hold'em style. After doing a bit of background research on the various strategies and techniques favoured in a typical game, I decided to pit my skills and luck against computers and people from around the world. First things first, computers are pure dumbasses. Their artificial intelligence is so shallow that they even fold before the first three cards are shown (which is stupid, since forced bets are already made and folding is equals to throwing the game away). Anyways, I defeated the computer in an average of 2 minutes or less. It's that simple, especially on instances when the A.I. went for the 'all in' since it had a 'triple J' while I had a straight. Hell yeah, the screenshot below captures the finale showdown of my saccharine victory against a very confident noob A.I., which by the way, is of the 'hard' level.

Above: The computer player foolishly went for the 'all in', not knowing that I had the best possible deal yet. It would take a full house for him to win, but in the end, my straight was enough to defeat his double pair of 'Kings' and '9s'.

As for the real players, admittedly, some of them were quite good and exceptionally damn lucky. Luck, however, is never constant and eventually skills will help any player a great deal. Having not been playing the game for a long time, I can only count on what I have read about and have been taught of. Without much prior experience, I entered the fray expecting to put up a real struggle. Little did I know, my opponents were kind of gullible, inexperienced or just simply not used to rely on anything more than sheer luck, especially in a mano-a-mano poker game with blinds inflation. There was an instance where I had a '5' and a '6', and out came '8', '9' and 'J'. Foolish it may have seemed, I stubbornly raised the bets by a mere '30' and my opponent called. However, when the next card was revealed to be an 'A' of spades, I immediately rose the bets by '200' and, without any hesitation, my opponent folded instantly. It was a huge risk and had my opponent played on (his decision to check on his 1st turn before mine indicated his cards sucks), he probably might have won the round on a high card. The bluffing technique was immensely effective and my opponents (all of 'em fell for it almost everytime!) never got the chance to catch me in the act. At those times when they decided to play on, I was on a roll and my beautiful card combinations trashed 'em badly. The two screenshots below shows the perfect timing when my opponents carelessly decided to play 'all in' while I had the major upperhand.

Above: My oppenent was getting desperate and tried to scare me off by declaring 'all in', which didn't work. When two bluffers clash, the one with an 'A' usually wins the round.

Above: My adversary uncovered my bluff schemes after losing a huge sum and tried to annihilate me, only to be crippled with a late '9 pair'. When he went for 'all in' and I called, both players were to have their cards revealed as the round plays on. He must have thought he had won as he owned a '6 pair' whilst I had nothing, until the final card miraculously turned out to be a '9'!

They say lightning never strikes twice, but my little bit of cheap trickery has won me many rounds of the addictive game and still counting. The best thing is, they can't even read your facial expressions! It is just too much of a waste if you're too chickened out to bluff, cuz poker's all about being adventurous. It could go another way if money was played, but since these Texas hold'em versions are financially risk free, why not 'all in'?

P/S: The Texas Hold'em online game shown here is of http://zone.msn.com. The screenshot is taken by me and is also uploaded by me (kinda lame here). There are other great websites where you can play online poker too, but I prefer and recommend http://zone.msn.com 's version for its convenience, efficiency and hassle-free gameplay.

I'm Back On Chess

I first learnt the ways of chess when I was 7 and has been engrossed in the game since then. However, a lack of practice in 2006 saw my chess skills deteriorate to a fightening level of noobiness. I went from school player to school loser.
But it is partially my fault as I got fed up with the low marks I've gotten for Chess and I quitted the club for good.
Last year, I was seated in with a few classmates who play the game. Intially, one of em made a portable chess set. And in no time, we were hooked on. I spent 60% of my school hours playing chess while listening to my teachers' lectures. It was a year of madness.
This year, I barely touched a chess piece and once again, isolated myself from the game.
11 months passed until now, November, where I got so bored in school since my exams have passed that I decided to bring my chess set to class. And instantly, I'm back in the game.
The standard of Chess has risen drastically and I feel like I'm losing out. I've been constantly battling other players in online chess, but I'm struggling to crawl my way back into the mentally-torturing game, but it's worth the effort as it cures my boredom.

President Obama- Congratulations and Expectations

The timing could not have been worse. Senator Barack Obama’s maternal grandmother, Madelyn Dunham, had lost her battle to cancer at 86 (my condolences to Obama and his family). And less than 24 hours later came the election. At the end of the nationwide ‘America Decides’ day, the senator from Illinois was confirmed as the 44th POTUS elect and ended the Republican party’s relatively long-standing dominance. Cyberspace that day was confined to the unpopular sites as everyone surfed for the dig on the historical event, but I managed to watch a delayed upload of his victory speech in front of thousands some time after the announcement. Never mind how he articulates every syllable of spot-on with pride or how he commiserates his Republican rivals with a perfect balance of modesty and panache, the reaction and jubilation of his supporters were kind of worth the watch. And amidst the adulation and post-election frenzy, he addressed the world live with these magical words to begin with: "If there is anyone out there who still doubts that America is a place where all things are possible; who still wonders if the dream of our founders is alive in our time; who still questions the power of our democracy, tonight is your answer..."

It took 43 great white leaders to reign before we were finally prepared to embrace the reality of America’s first ever African-American President. Senator Obama’s victory over Senator McCain to the President’s elect was symbolic, revolutionary and revelatory. His triumph was his supporters’; his win was the people's- The people’s vote for Obama was not merely a leap of faith, but a striking message that shone brightly in the razzmatazz of the election fever. It is change they wanted, or rather, we wanted. Change was so desperately desired that the tradition of electing a white guy for the White House is no longer viable in deciding our next President. People are sick of witnessing their loved ones sent to Iraq only to hear about them getting blown up or about them blowing up innocent compatriots and foreigners, when those wanted are still at large. Of course, Obama’s rise to Presidency will by no means stop the battle instantaneously, but it is a unanimous stand that the violence has to go. Even so, I’m certainly not implying that Obama won by having a better claim on the Bush administration’s Middle East assault, neither am I inferring that everyone is against the extremely controversial operation. But for the moment, it is undeniable that the attack on Afghanistan and Iraq has caused more sorrow and chaos than reaping any significant benefits, thus further raising the ambiguity of the patriotism and heroism in sacrificing for the country. The threat of a third World War may seem inchoate for now, but with nations such as North Korea and Iran stocking up and upgrading their nuclear weapons, it may very well happen in the near future. There are talks of Obama to pacify the incensed tension between the West and the East through actions such as peace talks with the enemies, but would it even be deemed reasonable, let alone effective? Plus, the global economic crisis arrived with a bang and already people of all classes are borrowing money, mortgaging properties, claiming insurances etc. The $700 billion pumped in by the government to cure the economical cancer that is damn close to its terminal has been dubbed as a 'painkiller' by skeptics and critics alike, and a convincing solution has yet to come. When January arrives, President Obama will face arguably the toughest challenges any President-elect will ever have to deal with immediately after taking helm at the White House. The task would be as difficult as any and Obama may be forced to sacrifice all of his campaign promises for the sake of national security. As TIME magazine quoted it in the best possible way, ‘Running for President often involves making big promises. Being President often means stepping back from them’; would the people’s joy be short-lived or would President Obama stay true to his pre-election promises? Will he refine the unsatisfactory way of governing in America or will he merely polish its façade? Alaska Governor Sarah Palin may be able to catch a glimpse of Japan from her house, but will President Obama be able to observe and address the pressing issues of his country and the whole world (of which whom he had preceded had overlooked) from the White House? He seems like a really inspiring and honourable American leader, but as far as everything goes, only time will tell.

McCain’s Unconvincing Presidential Campaign

My knowledge about the election fever in The States is limited to the news, online reports, whacky Youtube videos and TIME articles. After the nomination of each party’s VP candidate, the contest for the position of the most powerful man on Earth has been singeing and smoking more than ever. But as far as I am concerned, Republican’s Presidential Candidate- Senator John McCain seems to be fighting a losing war to Democratic rival Senator Barack Obama… and it might not even be a close one.

The Internet/Media Factor

With all due respect, McCain is an impressive figure in the world of politics, with a remarkable history as a US patriot and a typical all-American family. His vast experience, if measured in wealth, would see him way richer and more affluent than Mr. Obama and his portfolio would leave aspiring politicians begging. Undoubtedly, there could be no better Republican to stand up against the spirited Democrats and perhaps lead the world’s most powerful nation in. Yet, it is no secret that McCain’s campaign has been a downright disappointment, partially attributing to its main failure to seize dominant control of cyberspace and the amazingly influential media. Instead of the boring verbiage that McCain dictates in his rallies, appearances and interviews, it would have been easier and more convenient to have a clear, summarized version in the form of catchy videos and clever promotional sites. Not that there aren’t any around, but Senator Obama’s team has already pioneered in the alternative world of information- the Internet sooner before McCain’s team manifested their own online strategies. The Net has already been proven an extremely effective promotional medium as seen in Malaysia’s 2008 General Election, where the Opposition enjoyed a landslide victory in several states, largely owing to online speculations and questionable slanders. Of course, that triumph would have been hardly anything compared to Obama’s, especially if he manages to completely woo over fence-sitters and peace activists. But then again, the self-confessed semi-technophobe admitted he can’t even handle the simple E-mail mechanism, which would be seen as an insult to the ever-expanding online community. Meanwhile, while I don’t watch much American TV, I’ve seen enough to tell that Obama is the stronger favourite and is constantly featured more in news interviews, primetime talk shows and televised forums. Team Obama’s utilization of the mass media may prove crucial in diverging and affecting the thoughts of many US citizens, which McCain’s team has not done so that excessively.

The Essential Image Factor

Personally, I am against the recent wars in Iraq. I am not a pacifist, but the war US waged is like trying to burn down a forest to kill some mice- and it doesn’t make any good news knowing that the mice are still at large. McCain’s campaign fails to convince the people that his administration will not accept the bloody baton of President Bush’s war operations, making it a huge negative in his promises. The campaign also fails to highlight the problems of global warming and eco-destruction, something that modulates the goals of many great scientists and entrepreneurs around in the 21st century. Plus, I heard that the liberty of homosexuals is thoroughly ignored and even discouraged and this will probably not go down particularly well with the increasing gay community. Although honesty is the best policy (or so they say), the lack of consideration in the people’s desire and expectation in a new government has deemed McCain’s campaign unconvincing and uninviting. His lack of temperament in the much-anticipated debate with rival Obama did not help much at all. And whatever Obama’s potential government has to offer, his campaign has been well-packaged and stands out everywhere. Even Brit actor Russell Brand, who hosted the MTV’s VMA 2008, declared his support for Obama on international TV, which is sure to enrage McCain supporters. Obama’s family connects better with the public than McCain’s all-grown-up children. Despite his African-American parentage, he is more popular among the middle-class American families to a certain extent, whether Whites, Latinos, Afros or Asians (although a majority of the whites are still not prepared to embrace a President of a different race). A healthy image is a key factor when it comes to winning over people, and Obama’s is stabler and more concrete than McCain’s.

The Sarah Palin Factor

Perhaps in recent months, the nomination of Alaska governor Sarah Palin for VP has revolutionized the general perception and reception of McCain’s controversial campaign. She is well remembered for her tresses tangled in an easily recognisable hairdo, unique glasses and the fact that she is a woman, giving her the publicity edge over Democrat Biden. But the huge publicity she enjoys has been for all the wrong reasons. She’s to be called ‘Granny Palin’ as her teen daughter got knocked up not too long ago whilst her alleged abuse of power has grabbed nationwide attention. And the worst of all, her political knowledge is miserably shallow for a running VP candidate and her responses to challenging and thought-provoking questions hurled at her are appallingly pathetic, ranging from gibberish to utter bullshit (go read and hear it youself!). Comedian Tina Fey’s renowned mockery of her (I thought it was spot-on) has further tarnished her reputation. Yeah, it might have been for some ‘comic relief’ in such a heated showdown, but it was nothing but clownish. The question of whether one can take the Republican candidate seriously arises in the nature of the goofing around. Besides, the intended plan to attract female voters has backfired horribly, with women exclaiming their disgust at such a distracting representative on online forums and polls, some going as far as accusing her of “disgracing the female race and integrity”. McCain’s selection of secret weapon Sarah Palin has been sort a one-sided Kamikaze as the choice indirectly dented his campaign and handed a great advantage to Senator Obama’s team, who will be laughing their way to the bank when the elections are over. Maybe I am wrong about Palin... Maybe she isn't that bad and it's the crazy media that has degraded her image unfairly. I'll still give her the benefit of doubt... Now, anyone seen a pig with lipsticks on?

McCain’s pledges through his rather unconvincing and reserved campaign has left many confused and misunderstood about his true intentions. Palin’s equivocal speeches and credibility accompanied with Obama’s stranglehold in the Worldwide Web has no doubt been significant to Obama’s rise and may leave McCain to bite the dust. While McCain tries to sweet talk his way into acceptance among millions of Americans with asperity, Obama will be clearly a few steps ahead of him and his campaign has wiped out any doubts that he may be the real underdog. The society is maturing into a colour blind one, and in spite of the large amount of support that McCain gathers from those who refuse a Black President, Obama’s down-to-earth policies and greater awareness of concerning global issues may outshine the former. The recent economy hit an all-time worst (at least this decade) and it'd be a useful opportunity for both candidates to demonstrate their leadership qualities by suggesting solutions and packages to resolve the crisis. But in the best interests of the US citizens and everyone else in the world, may the best American win.