Hey we have a chess reference from a major sports website

Here is the interesting part.

"Waitzkin's teacher, on the other hand, taught him through playing. Rather than play with a full chess board, they played with three pieces: two kings and a pawn to start. Once Waitzkin was comfortable with the movement, value and power of a pawn, his teacher changed the pawn to a bishop and a rook and so forth, until Waitzkin internalized the movement, value and power of each piece."



Perhaps this method might be used before doing the tactical exercises? Or perhaps the tactical exercises, ala the circles teaches us in the same manner the power of each and every piece. Anyway you look at it, learning something by starting to learn it from its most fundamental atomic value, in this case, learning what each of the pieces do is highly effective.

I remember when I was starting to play chess. My mind couldnt cope with the entire board. I would forget where a piece was played or worse couldnt see anything but a jumbled tangle of pawns. Like a maze I would get lost and only come out from out of it if enough peices were to be traded to reduce the number of things to juggle (Maybe this is why beginners so love to eat everything in sight?)

I actually wanted to do something like this during those times. Only there was no-one to play with me with "just" a few pieces. They want to play are real game, and so we did. But were it possible I would have done exactly what waitzkin did.

Do you now what a MUD is? its an online text-based game. Yep, that's right, text-based. No graphics, no music, no nothing. You play by entering commands like "Pick gold" and "Move to the north". You may ask, how anyone can play such a thing, and the only reason I can think of is the same reason why anyone would choose to read a book instead of watching the movie.

Anyway, right now, I am getting addicted to this game. But this is not what I wanted to write about really. What I wanted to write about was that, in this game, and in this world you can play - wait for it.. chess! yay!! (But of course its still text-based so you have to enter your moves via commands like "move e1 to e4")

Anyway, I played it inside that world against a so-called "Chess master" and soundly defeated him (or her/it) and I did it by capitalizing on the queen-side pawn majority. And you know, I was so happy because I won using a "strategic" technique instead of just pure tactics.

So what happened was I got inspired to play at FICS again. Maybe I can win some using this new found "clear head" thinking. I mean, during the game I found that I am not thinking of anything. No tactics, no strategy. I've not played for such a long time that not thinking about such thing is the only option. But the irony of it all is that, by not thinking of any particular tactic or stragy, I found ideas coming to me during the game. How every "zen-like" so to speak.

So I put on a seek and within a minute a player named BehemothTheCat or something, rated 1901 answered it. Of course I lost but I didnt mind because at the end I only had 1min to my time and he, only 4. A sign of a very tense, very good game. There was no major tactics until the very end, and is because my calculating powers have lessened so much it goes on only a few moves deep (The tactic that felled me was a counter-combination to a combination) Nothing a few more games can cure.

Well anyway, maybe I will continue playing again. Inside lusternia, or in FICS from time to time. But I dont think I will study. Just play for my enjoyment, and to test certain techniques that I've developed all on my own :)

Huh!? What do you mean teach you the techniques!?

You dont want me to teach you. Why? the answer is found at the right corner of this blog. In the "About me" section.

Everyone at one point in their lives had become obssessed with comics. Particularly when one was young. Be it that sunday cartoon found at the back of the local paper, or in my case, comics churned out by that comic turned movie producer marvel.

I don't know why the illustrator and the story-teller feel the need to cram every available space with dialog. Its as if, they are afraid of silence. This is particularly obvious during fight scenes. I mean, here are two guys allegedlly trying to kill each other, and yet every punch, every kick is accompanied by dialog. Almost as if the combatants are not satisfied with hurting each other, they have to discuss philosophy too.

By way of illustration, here is a scene taken from a fairly recent chapter of the "Incredible Hulk" (click too enlarge)

(Tony, Tony, Tony.. Didnt your mom tell you its impolite

For cryingoutloud. Did everybody took comedy lessons? Is being funny and/or being a great orator part of heroes101?

Look, I'm all for funny dialog and stuff, but if everyone tries to be funny all the time - what happens to the original personality man!? Good Gawsh!

Contrast this with the way japanese comics, a.k.a. Manga is presented.

A common theme you will find here will be, before a battle the protagonists will meet. Maybe eat with each other and discuss things. If they were once friends perhaps a flashback scene of goodtimes. A few tender moments perhaps so the reader becomes horrified of the incoming fight. Or if they were bitter enemies from the very first, perhaps an explanation of the reasons why they hate each other.

But when fighting, there is no more space for talk. Sure sometimes some "thinking cloud" will be scattered here or there, but the characters will not explain anything anymore. There is no need. That's why they were fighting, all options for dialog has finished.

See this prototypical example (Kids, please dont click this)

I brought a few chess books here with me. I was intending to take it up again this last few months. I am particularly interested if I could somehow understand now the concepts presented in "The Art of Attack". The first time I read that book, it did nothing for my chess. Of course I was so very "young" then chess wise that reading that book is akin to a kindergarden reading a treatise on algebra. I could understand the words, but I could'nt understand the words if you know what I mean.

Only thing is, I have been spending so much time in the office. I go home around 10-11pm everyday. There is no mandated overtime, and the job is really easy I think for an experienced network administrator. But thats just it. I'm just a newbie when it comes to this network thing. My boss would come and ask me to configure a DNS, then troubleshoot the NFS settings, etc.. and I would go like "Uhm, yes.. I will investigate" and proceed to google the mess out of what he was asking me (Note: I was a programmer for ten years. Now I'm a network admin).

Most things you can find in the internet, if you know what to look for. But sometimes, the solution to a problem involves understanding a network of inter-related subjects. The solution might just be inserting a line of text into a file, but to know where that file is and what it does and how it affects the system..learning these things takes a lot of time..

And so I spend my days reading, and reading, and reading..

I suppose this situation will continue for a few more months. There is a lot of things to learn about unix/linux and related technologies. A lot of things to study.. no time for love.. =<

Since I've changed job, the commute was killing me. Well, its only 35min from the job site to the station near me, but there is a 20min walk from the station to my house. Everyday, I would find myself dreading to come home because of that walk. I could take the taxi, but the meter drops so fast...I'd rather walk than lose that much money.

Anyway, I've posted about my inability to find a new apartment because the japs are "saving" it against us foreign heathens, but last week somebody accepted my application at last. I am moving this saturday to my new place. Just a small pad, but its much closer to work, and the walk until the train station is cut into 8min. A very big improvement. Plus this one costs only about $700(us)

Here are the pictures of my new home:

There isnt anything here for the moment as I will be moving this saturday. But I plan on buying that bravia TV, and some nice stereos. Hehe, after I play my first DVD - my neighbor aint gonna be friends with me I think.If youre interested in finding me - Here is a map of my house and my work place (Plus one particular spot of interest =>)

[The Office]
The office is a typical american place I believe. With two metal doors requiring a special key to unlock before you enter (I dont work for a japanese company. I work for the worldwide leader in games. Hint the company name has only two letters)

The athmosphere is very laid back. Everyone looks so friendly. I like it here so much, I could see myself spending the next five years of my life here. This place makes me happy.

There are also two girls among my officemates who makes your heart go bump in the night. Just the other day, one of them walked and unintentionally stared looked at me. There and then, I melted into jelly and forsworn my vows of celebacy--ok, this is a joke. I'm not celebate. I have two kids :) Anyway, the point is that this two is really beautiful. Pretty enough to stop a room full of guys.

But they are not the first ones I noticed when I came to work here during that first day. No siree. No matter how beautiful they are, I only had eyes for--

Oh my gosh! My very own cubicle!!!

How I wept for joy. Ehehehe. If you have ever worked for a typical japanese company, you would understand how I feel (Its difficult to explain it, but think of china and sweat shops and your imagination wont be far behind)

Ahhh, the leg room, feel the leg room.

One can find me deep into the night, my face pressed besides my beloved cubicle. I keep telling it things like "Ohhh baby, I wont let you go"

Do you love me cubie? Because I love you. I.love.you. Never let me go. Mwah3x!!

You know, Japan is a pretty good place to live in. The people are courteous and tries to keep one welcome. However, sometimes part of me feels as if underneath all that, there is somewhere deep within the minds of the japanese people a part that resents foreigners.

There is nothing you can see. No hard proof that it exists. But I could site a hundred "small, unintended" things that makes you go "hmm". Although, they try hard to make appearances and make it appear there is no such thing.

However, there is one area where keeping appearances is forgotten and japanese xenophobia is in full bloom.

It is in the real-estate industry.

There are a lot of vacant apartments here. A lot. You can find all kinds, in all shapes, in all the colors of the rainbow. In every city, you can see realtor offices camping besides train stations like a bunch of spiders. Hoping to snag an unwitting soul to go and rent an apartment.

Too bad they wont rent it to foreigners though.

I keep asking myself why? Is our soul so tainted that even our money can't be accepted!? "Yeah you leper. Go git your money and shove it. Kapow!"

Dang Japanese. Are you guys aware that your population is actually shrinking!? Who may I ask will rent all those rows of houses? The next generation!?

Hehe!

Ok, Alright -- I'm just blowing off steam here because I got turned down for the nth time trying to rent an apartment.

Yeah well, you can refuse me and my money anytime. I will take my revenge someday. In fact I will take my revenge now by throwing this empty bottle I hold in my hand into the "for plastics" garbage bin. There, how do you like that huh!? Wont rent to me ey! Take that bottle you you.. xenophobic you.

Bah humbug!

[I'm getting Old]
You know why I know I'm getting old? Its not because my hair is starting to show whites. Or how pain mysteriously appears at the back of my body. Or how, I find I can't ride roller coasters anymore. These things can be explained . I mean, I can still lie to myself and find a hundred different excuses why I'm suddenly avoiding such thrills.

But the other day, I was walking down the isle inside an electronics store. Stopped for a moment to gather my breath, looked to my left absent-mindedly and lo! the most stunning sight that ever graced my eyes was reveled.

There in all its multi-colored glory is a 37inch Bravia TV.

Oh My Goodness!!! Hubba2x. My tongue practically touched the ground. Saliva oozzing all over. Yup, I fell in love with a plain old vanilla television.

I still remember a time when I would throw a tantrum just so my mother wont bring me to go window shopping appliances. And here I am, doing the exact same thing. Now if that wasnt a sign of old age, I dont know what is.

[My First Salary]
Hey guys, do you know what today is?

Today is my very first salary for this company!!

Yess, Kiyai! Kampai!!! (Fist pump)

I'm gonna buy me a Wii, a Ps3 and a bravia TV. Mwahahaha! But no XBox - Gosh I hate Microsoft.

Then I'm gonna buy a polisher and go polish my cubie.

Anyway dont tell this to my wife. I told her I aint got no'mo money :)

All my money is for my cubie. Everything for my cubie.

- fin -

I guess this is whats happening now to me. You know about my work troubles and how my previous company wanted to sue me. Well, I did everything I could reasonably do. I went to the labor center, went to the embassy to ask for support, went and told my new employer what happened. All indications, and everybody I talked to said that the case is really in my favor.

But

You just know there is a but somewhere there.

But, I am running out of time and funds. My first salary wont be until the 25th, and its only the 1st. If somehow my opponent did something that will require me to pay a large sum of money between now and then, something big like oh.. went ahead and really filed that suit against me, necessitating me to obtain the services of a lawyer - My finances will collapse.

Now, even though things are really quiet right now - I am not naive to think that they will suddenly get tried of things and just leave me be. Things are actually too quiet for my taste. It tells me something big is gonna do down sometime sooner or later

I just hope its later rather than sooner.

2. My work

Not all is depressing stuff however. The bright side to things is that I'm really enjoying my new work and is convinced that everything that happened will be worth it if I can continue working like this for at least a year or two.

My actual job title is "SoftwareEngineer 3". However, my actual job is more like being an Server Admin. Or rather a desktop help? Or tech support? Coming from 10 years of software development background, I could say that this is way cooler :)

Well, I mean creating little software modules is satisfying in its own way, however - building things, troubleshooting problems, and connecting computers to the network seems to me to be much more fun. Its either that or my previous jobs really sucked and I just didnt know it then.

Plus - My next job is gonna be far, far, far more high paying after this :)

Hehehehe.. Of course I'm plotting my next few moves even now. Yeah, I'm happy here and I couldnt imagine transferring again. But I didnt imagine getting sued either. Its better to have a plan-B all the time, If you know what I'm saying.

Tactics are the result of attacking two things both at the same time. This is Chess-101.

Everyone should have a Plan-A and a Plan-B

Right!?