I'm on the train with my earphones plugged in typing on my iPod. My new favourite acronym: ASD ; Anti-Social Device.
And I'm not the only one. At least 40% of the people on the train are either plugged into a music player of sorts, or thumbs twiddling away at joysticks or keypads playing their portable console.
This iPod is awesome but it has increased my douchebaggery level by umpteen times.
Aside: an old grandma totally flipped open her techno ringtone phone and show her tech savvy street cred. Word to your grandma.
The iPod is a frikkin portable ultra computer. But it is the no. 1 killer of your social skills and your ability to think in peace.
I want to upload all my movies before my Wednesday duty! Woo!!!
I've got to relearn all my social skills again. It's like relearning to walk with a prosthetic leg. I used to spend boring train journeys thinking and maybe pulling out my phone to give surprise messages to people I haven't talked to in a while. Now I'm playing some bubble game or some other weird app. MY SOCIAL SKILLS ARE DOWN THE TOILET!
Haha, but it will be easier to blog nowadays. Can type what I'm thinking on the go.
Look outside your window once in a while. When you are on a train or at home. The world is beautiful :D so get your head out of the console for a while man...
Learn:
When to use and not to use my iPod
Tuesday, December 29, 2009
Thursday, December 24, 2009
Letters from Macau
Well i guess it is a good thing that i only fell ill after i came back from Macau/China, but then again, i only got a stomach ache after having lunch, so maybe it wasn't china, maybe it was SFI FOOD THAT POISONED ME!!!
in any case, i was too lazy to do any journal entries in the China bits (Zhu Hai and Guang Zhou) but i was writing an email to one of my friends, and it pretty much summed up my Macau trip!
+++
Hi ______,
would have emailed you sooner, but who would have known you'd have to spend so much to get a decent Internet connection in this place >.<
actually had Internet in zhu hai, but wasted all that online doing useless stuff like blog surfing and what not. Haha. Anyway, Macau hasn't been to bad, though it is pretty much a tourist trap, things are either all branded and expensive or have a crazy range of prices, makes souvenir getting very difficult!
+++ end of day one +++
typing this in my iPod before I email this (just playing with my iPod, whee!) anyway, Day 2. It's been a decent day, went to check out the ruins, which had too many people, I prefer places where people don't know about, feels more special that way.
Portuguese egg tarts done properly are GORGEOUS! if they were not so expensive I'd buy a whole box and just sit in my world enjoying them :D
But other than some of the gardens and old ruin sightseeing, spent a good part of the day just enoying the room at the Sofitel, or Ponte 16.
today was COLD (not freezing, but not just chilly either) I like :) perfect scene for Macau, cold night sitting in Senado Square, oooh...nice...
+++end of day 2+++
BRRR! it's getting mighty cold here! Heh, but I love it! I probably wouldn't if I had to live like this for months and months but for this short period it is awesome :)
because it was so cold, when we went to Hac Sa beach this morning; it was roo cold to really enjoy the place... Though, it was not cold enough to stop me from having an ice cream. Lol.
our mornings in Macau are usually activity packed but by lunch. (late lunch, usually @ 2 or 3 pm) we are usually quite pooped, haha, and slowly find our way back to hotel.
however, today i decided to hit the casino with my parents, to see what all the fuss is about. My parents are quite into the slot machines, something about the flashing lights and the small wins must excite them. I found that I would rather play the tables (not that i did, don't have the capital at the moment) better odds and presumably more skill involved, heh.
I only found Jackpot Street on the last night :( Jackpot Street is what i call the street or streets with awesome foodie places and little dinnig areas lining the street. Worse part of it was that I wasn't going to have dinner there, was just getting some additional bites to accompany cup noodles at the hotel :(
Well this concludes my last night in Macau, tomorrow I'm heading to Guang Zhou, hopefully I can do some last minute Christmas shopping!
Oh! And I hope you don't mind if I put this on my blog. Typing the email each night has been a good way of recounting my holiday in Macau :)
Take care!
As sweet (but hopefully not as flaky) as a portugese egg tart, much love from
Jonathan
in any case, i was too lazy to do any journal entries in the China bits (Zhu Hai and Guang Zhou) but i was writing an email to one of my friends, and it pretty much summed up my Macau trip!
+++
Hi ______,
would have emailed you sooner, but who would have known you'd have to spend so much to get a decent Internet connection in this place >.<
actually had Internet in zhu hai, but wasted all that online doing useless stuff like blog surfing and what not. Haha. Anyway, Macau hasn't been to bad, though it is pretty much a tourist trap, things are either all branded and expensive or have a crazy range of prices, makes souvenir getting very difficult!
+++ end of day one +++
typing this in my iPod before I email this (just playing with my iPod, whee!) anyway, Day 2. It's been a decent day, went to check out the ruins, which had too many people, I prefer places where people don't know about, feels more special that way.
Portuguese egg tarts done properly are GORGEOUS! if they were not so expensive I'd buy a whole box and just sit in my world enjoying them :D
But other than some of the gardens and old ruin sightseeing, spent a good part of the day just enoying the room at the Sofitel, or Ponte 16.
today was COLD (not freezing, but not just chilly either) I like :) perfect scene for Macau, cold night sitting in Senado Square, oooh...nice...
+++end of day 2+++
BRRR! it's getting mighty cold here! Heh, but I love it! I probably wouldn't if I had to live like this for months and months but for this short period it is awesome :)
because it was so cold, when we went to Hac Sa beach this morning; it was roo cold to really enjoy the place... Though, it was not cold enough to stop me from having an ice cream. Lol.
our mornings in Macau are usually activity packed but by lunch. (late lunch, usually @ 2 or 3 pm) we are usually quite pooped, haha, and slowly find our way back to hotel.
however, today i decided to hit the casino with my parents, to see what all the fuss is about. My parents are quite into the slot machines, something about the flashing lights and the small wins must excite them. I found that I would rather play the tables (not that i did, don't have the capital at the moment) better odds and presumably more skill involved, heh.
I only found Jackpot Street on the last night :( Jackpot Street is what i call the street or streets with awesome foodie places and little dinnig areas lining the street. Worse part of it was that I wasn't going to have dinner there, was just getting some additional bites to accompany cup noodles at the hotel :(
Well this concludes my last night in Macau, tomorrow I'm heading to Guang Zhou, hopefully I can do some last minute Christmas shopping!
Oh! And I hope you don't mind if I put this on my blog. Typing the email each night has been a good way of recounting my holiday in Macau :)
Take care!
As sweet (but hopefully not as flaky) as a portugese egg tart, much love from
Jonathan
The Red-and-Black theory of gambling
The Red-and-Black theory of gambling
I like to watch people at the casino and see how they play and strategize what they bet on. I particularly like the tables, where games such as Baccarat, Roulette, Blackjack and Big-Small are played.
One day I want to come to a casino with my friends (a la 'The Hangover'-style) and put my Red-and-Black Theory to the test.
First, find a table that plays games with a 2 to 1 returns. In other words, I play $5 worth of chips, if I win I get $10 ($5 won) usually such odds are indication that the chance of winning are close to 50% hence the returns are relatively small.
The perfect example of this theory (in fact this is where the theory was derived from) is Roulette. It starts like this:
Have a set amount of capital you want to play with (I.e. $100)
Start with $5 on a colour (letsay Black)
if you win, collect your $10, and play $5 again
If you lose, put in $10 on your next bet
If you lose again put in $20 on your next bet
If you lose... $40...
If you lose... $80...
And so on...
If at any point you win instead of losing, go back to $5 and start the cycle over.
Here's the thing, the whole point to this theory of gambling, is to minimise losses. Why do people usually not play this way? Because it is boring as hell, and for each time you win, no matter what you bet for that round (assuming it's $80 because you lost 4 times) you only earn a net win of $5. And so you slowly creep your way up.
But I guess you could tweak this theory if you have a higher capital. If you have more to start with, and are able to keep betting up to save your ass if you lose , then this COULD (not WILL) minimise your losses.
It works for games like Blackjack too, where the focus is no longer on the hand you have each round, but on the wins and losses of each round.
Requirements:
a game where the rate of returns is exactly 1 to 1
a decided sum of capital
a lot of patience
I want to try this out one day, any takers?
I like to watch people at the casino and see how they play and strategize what they bet on. I particularly like the tables, where games such as Baccarat, Roulette, Blackjack and Big-Small are played.
One day I want to come to a casino with my friends (a la 'The Hangover'-style) and put my Red-and-Black Theory to the test.
First, find a table that plays games with a 2 to 1 returns. In other words, I play $5 worth of chips, if I win I get $10 ($5 won) usually such odds are indication that the chance of winning are close to 50% hence the returns are relatively small.
The perfect example of this theory (in fact this is where the theory was derived from) is Roulette. It starts like this:
Have a set amount of capital you want to play with (I.e. $100)
Start with $5 on a colour (letsay Black)
if you win, collect your $10, and play $5 again
If you lose, put in $10 on your next bet
If you lose again put in $20 on your next bet
If you lose... $40...
If you lose... $80...
And so on...
If at any point you win instead of losing, go back to $5 and start the cycle over.
Here's the thing, the whole point to this theory of gambling, is to minimise losses. Why do people usually not play this way? Because it is boring as hell, and for each time you win, no matter what you bet for that round (assuming it's $80 because you lost 4 times) you only earn a net win of $5. And so you slowly creep your way up.
But I guess you could tweak this theory if you have a higher capital. If you have more to start with, and are able to keep betting up to save your ass if you lose , then this COULD (not WILL) minimise your losses.
It works for games like Blackjack too, where the focus is no longer on the hand you have each round, but on the wins and losses of each round.
Requirements:
a game where the rate of returns is exactly 1 to 1
a decided sum of capital
a lot of patience
I want to try this out one day, any takers?
Sunday, December 06, 2009
Thanksgiven
TURKEY! what is more awesome than having Turkey in December :D
Organised a Birthday Dinner on Saturday for the TJ people, small group, the closer ones. and it was BEAUTIFUL. haha, don't pretty pretty and emo like i had imagined in my head, but awesome like the way we are/were/will be as friends :)
The night before (friday night) went for some BBQ Buffet thing, so had packed on the Beef and the meat like crazy, so woke up Saturday morning knowing i MUST get some exercise or else i sure go back to me phat ways >.<>.<)
Around 1+ we went down to play tennis, and it was awesome fun as always. and then about 3, Eugene Came, haha, he came.
Tennis between Gene and Kenny!
came up to get surprised by.... MARCUS.
heh, the gang was getting here!
Just chilled the afternoon away. at 5.30++ we were still dancing around with no pants, to eugene's IPOD and my speakers, Chinese Songs are awesome when your chinese sucks, haha.
7ish, the girls arrive = pants-on time = time to SUIT UP
This would be a good time to tell you everyone who came.
In order of Appearance:
Kenneth
Eugene
Marcus
Hui Min
Nadiah
Jia Yun
Jane
Gavin
Kerry
Varun
Isaac
Isaac came really late, like 10+ but the rest were here by about 8. so it was dinner time!
I'm real proud of my mom, she never ceases to wow and amaze every time my friends are over. Dinner was gorgeous, with the Lamb Minestrone Soup, the Viet Salad, Mash pumpkin/potato, Broccoli, and who could forget THE TURKEY :D quite surprised that we managed to wipe off the whole turkey, haha, too bad it didn't sit on the table as we watch it disappear.
It felt so right. just talking and eating, laughing, stories. it was picturesque :)
And Great cake, White Choc Macadamia, only pity is that Best Friend couldn't be there.
And as it seems to have become a tradition of sorts, the guys stayed over, haha, but this time not so crazy, no staying up till 4 am. but till 2 am wasn't bad, haha.
Just sent the guys off in fact (okay sent them off then watched South Park and HIMYM before posting, but close enough) feels good :)
Here's a shout out to people who couldn't make it, but we wish you were here:
Sze Sian
Syak
Dim
Raghav
Wendy
Sarah
Olivia
Sean
Bernice
and a whole bunch of other people i'm sorry i didn't invite. we'll think of something next year :)
To a wonderful birthday, i hope my wishes come true :)
the 3 candles:
wish 1 (the whole wish) - I hope i'm always surrounded by awesome friends (such as last night)
wish 2 (The half wish) - I hope to meet a girl with big-
wish 3 (my private wish) - *cannot say, but i'm pretty sure, if the other wishes come true, this will too :D*
I will put the (few) photos i got on FB soon!
Have a good year people!
Organised a Birthday Dinner on Saturday for the TJ people, small group, the closer ones. and it was BEAUTIFUL. haha, don't pretty pretty and emo like i had imagined in my head, but awesome like the way we are/were/will be as friends :)
The night before (friday night) went for some BBQ Buffet thing, so had packed on the Beef and the meat like crazy, so woke up Saturday morning knowing i MUST get some exercise or else i sure go back to me phat ways >.<>.<)
Around 1+ we went down to play tennis, and it was awesome fun as always. and then about 3, Eugene Came, haha, he came.
Tennis between Gene and Kenny!
came up to get surprised by.... MARCUS.
heh, the gang was getting here!
Just chilled the afternoon away. at 5.30++ we were still dancing around with no pants, to eugene's IPOD and my speakers, Chinese Songs are awesome when your chinese sucks, haha.
7ish, the girls arrive = pants-on time = time to SUIT UP
This would be a good time to tell you everyone who came.
In order of Appearance:
Kenneth
Eugene
Marcus
Hui Min
Nadiah
Jia Yun
Jane
Gavin
Kerry
Varun
Isaac
Isaac came really late, like 10+ but the rest were here by about 8. so it was dinner time!
I'm real proud of my mom, she never ceases to wow and amaze every time my friends are over. Dinner was gorgeous, with the Lamb Minestrone Soup, the Viet Salad, Mash pumpkin/potato, Broccoli, and who could forget THE TURKEY :D quite surprised that we managed to wipe off the whole turkey, haha, too bad it didn't sit on the table as we watch it disappear.
It felt so right. just talking and eating, laughing, stories. it was picturesque :)
And Great cake, White Choc Macadamia, only pity is that Best Friend couldn't be there.
And as it seems to have become a tradition of sorts, the guys stayed over, haha, but this time not so crazy, no staying up till 4 am. but till 2 am wasn't bad, haha.
Just sent the guys off in fact (okay sent them off then watched South Park and HIMYM before posting, but close enough) feels good :)
Here's a shout out to people who couldn't make it, but we wish you were here:
Sze Sian
Syak
Dim
Raghav
Wendy
Sarah
Olivia
Sean
Bernice
and a whole bunch of other people i'm sorry i didn't invite. we'll think of something next year :)
To a wonderful birthday, i hope my wishes come true :)
the 3 candles:
wish 1 (the whole wish) - I hope i'm always surrounded by awesome friends (such as last night)
wish 2 (The half wish) - I hope to meet a girl with big-
wish 3 (my private wish) - *cannot say, but i'm pretty sure, if the other wishes come true, this will too :D*
I will put the (few) photos i got on FB soon!
Have a good year people!
Thursday, December 03, 2009
Today is the Day
I'm blogging this in camp, because it will prolly be the only chance i get to do so if i want to blog about today... well today.
Today is my birthday :) yay
Didn't think much about today at all, afterall, just had a nice evening with Ximin catching up, its not like i have been planning for my birthday to come. in fact, this morning, the converstation at home was like this:
Dad: Morning Jon, happy birthday!
Me: Thanks Dad.
Mom: Morning, Happy Birthdday, you are not coming home for dinner right?
Me: Yup, going out to watch a Musical.
Mom: Okay Ati! tonight no one eating dinner at home!
Apparently, my mom and Mat will be at Aunty Jane's for Mat's Tuition. Dad has some function/dinner to attend, and i will be at W!LD RICE's The Beauty and the Beast with Best Friend. So, not much happening today, haha.
but was happily surprised by a whole slew of wishes from people on Facebook, and a whole bunch of sms-es throughout the day :D
Theresa (from Flashmob) totally surprised me by calling (the only one to do so, haha) to wish me, and people i wouldn't have thought remembered my birthday, dropped me a message to wish me, which was wonderful :)
Next Surprise! BSO, Maurice, called me to come meet him at the cook house. Apparently, Jeremy, the sly devil, got me a birthday tart as a present from the HQ people, and man, i was totally stunned.
I've never been good with Birthdays, Ber should know, hahaha. I can never remember them and i never know what to do to make it special. most of the time, i even forget to wish them, till days later. So when people put in effort to remember mine, i feel kinda bad, but immensely immensely grateful. Thanks everyone!
And for this year, i have so much to be thankful for, all the growth and the changes this year, so much i have learnt. it just has been an awesome year, and i can only hope that my 20th year will be just as rewarding.
Happy Birthday to Me, it may be my birthday, but the 'happy' is thanks to all of you :)
Today is my birthday :) yay
Didn't think much about today at all, afterall, just had a nice evening with Ximin catching up, its not like i have been planning for my birthday to come. in fact, this morning, the converstation at home was like this:
Dad: Morning Jon, happy birthday!
Me: Thanks Dad.
Mom: Morning, Happy Birthdday, you are not coming home for dinner right?
Me: Yup, going out to watch a Musical.
Mom: Okay
Apparently, my mom and Mat will be at Aunty Jane's for Mat's Tuition. Dad has some function/dinner to attend, and i will be at W!LD RICE's The Beauty and the Beast with Best Friend. So, not much happening today, haha.
but was happily surprised by a whole slew of wishes from people on Facebook, and a whole bunch of sms-es throughout the day :D
Theresa (from Flashmob) totally surprised me by calling (the only one to do so, haha) to wish me, and people i wouldn't have thought remembered my birthday, dropped me a message to wish me, which was wonderful :)
Next Surprise! BSO, Maurice, called me to come meet him at the cook house. Apparently, Jeremy, the sly devil, got me a birthday tart as a present from the HQ people, and man, i was totally stunned.
I've never been good with Birthdays, Ber should know, hahaha. I can never remember them and i never know what to do to make it special. most of the time, i even forget to wish them, till days later. So when people put in effort to remember mine, i feel kinda bad, but immensely immensely grateful. Thanks everyone!
And for this year, i have so much to be thankful for, all the growth and the changes this year, so much i have learnt. it just has been an awesome year, and i can only hope that my 20th year will be just as rewarding.
Happy Birthday to Me, it may be my birthday, but the 'happy' is thanks to all of you :)
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