My grandpa died on 14th September 2010. He was 85 years old.
He was survived by his wife, 10 children and their spouses, 24 grandchildren and their spouses, and 13 great-grandchildren (numbers might be a bit off as i could have missed out some... but it's there or thereabouts)
It has been a long time since the whole contingent of our family come together at the same place at the same time (Chinese New year, sure... but usually different timings, so sometimes we might missed meeting each other...).
And then there was the extended family members, my grandpa's siblings and their families, my grandma's sibliings and their families.
And then there was the extended family of grandpa's children's spouses' families.
And then there was the children and grandchildrens' friends and associates.
They have all came to pay their last respects to grandpa.
It was a sight to behold.
I thank everyone who came, and who came to help.
I pray for family harmony.
Family Image
Friday, October 8, 2010
Tuesday, June 1, 2010
Thinking of Playing against Professional Poker Player? Read this
Here’s the deal:
The average poker professional probably plays between 8,000 hands to 20,000 hands per month, while the average avid amateur probably plays between 2,000 hands to 3,000hands per month. In terms of experience, you can easily see that a pro gains at the very least 4 times of experience compared to the rest of us.
Consider this equation, albeit a crude one, :
Results = Natural Intelligence + Luck + Experience
Luck probably evens out in the long-run for most of us, of course there are always those sick oddies that seem to strike the lottery every other day, but we discount that. Just joking… but seriously, I revere the part regarding luck… cos I think most of us who are able to read this are already so much luckier than those who can’t… so we really shouldn’t complain (but that is for another writing).
Experience. What is Experience? In this context, it means engaging on the real battleground, it also means hard work – those who play longer and think harder and study and learn harder gain more experience than those who slag.
The Natural Intelligence part, we inherit from our ancestors, thus we have no control. Even if I have an IQ of say 150 and am an amateur, I am probably (some would argue most certainly) going to lose to a pro with an IQ of 100. Simply due to Experience (and I remind readers again that includes hard work).
So now you know when you are up against 1 pro at a full table of 10 players, your chances of winning are actually not as good as you think. Your winnings, if you do win, will probably come from players of the same rank as you who are playing poorer than you. If you happen to be at a table with 3 or more pros, your chances of winning is virtually a big fat zero.
Now, here comes the phenomenon that only occurs in human society. Even against seemingly insurmountable odds, we still like to take our chances. Just look at the queues at lottery outlets and the total income of $70 million worth of entrance fees collected thus far from the casinos and you will understand what I mean.
In poker terms, even against 3 pros, I’d still like to take my chances. Hell, I’d bet that anyone worth half-ounce of salt in poker would jump at the chance of playing at the table with Doyle Brunson, Johnny Chan, Phil Ivey, Patrik Antonius, David Benyamine, Tom Dwan, Gus Hansen and Barry Greenstein. That is if they are willing to play at my stakes level…. Yeah.. wishful thinking… I need at least usd 100g just to sit down… And just in case you haven’t realised by now, the above scenario is virtually 100% death wish.
Yup, that is how sick poker avids are.
The average poker professional probably plays between 8,000 hands to 20,000 hands per month, while the average avid amateur probably plays between 2,000 hands to 3,000hands per month. In terms of experience, you can easily see that a pro gains at the very least 4 times of experience compared to the rest of us.
Consider this equation, albeit a crude one, :
Results = Natural Intelligence + Luck + Experience
Luck probably evens out in the long-run for most of us, of course there are always those sick oddies that seem to strike the lottery every other day, but we discount that. Just joking… but seriously, I revere the part regarding luck… cos I think most of us who are able to read this are already so much luckier than those who can’t… so we really shouldn’t complain (but that is for another writing).
Experience. What is Experience? In this context, it means engaging on the real battleground, it also means hard work – those who play longer and think harder and study and learn harder gain more experience than those who slag.
The Natural Intelligence part, we inherit from our ancestors, thus we have no control. Even if I have an IQ of say 150 and am an amateur, I am probably (some would argue most certainly) going to lose to a pro with an IQ of 100. Simply due to Experience (and I remind readers again that includes hard work).
So now you know when you are up against 1 pro at a full table of 10 players, your chances of winning are actually not as good as you think. Your winnings, if you do win, will probably come from players of the same rank as you who are playing poorer than you. If you happen to be at a table with 3 or more pros, your chances of winning is virtually a big fat zero.
Now, here comes the phenomenon that only occurs in human society. Even against seemingly insurmountable odds, we still like to take our chances. Just look at the queues at lottery outlets and the total income of $70 million worth of entrance fees collected thus far from the casinos and you will understand what I mean.
In poker terms, even against 3 pros, I’d still like to take my chances. Hell, I’d bet that anyone worth half-ounce of salt in poker would jump at the chance of playing at the table with Doyle Brunson, Johnny Chan, Phil Ivey, Patrik Antonius, David Benyamine, Tom Dwan, Gus Hansen and Barry Greenstein. That is if they are willing to play at my stakes level…. Yeah.. wishful thinking… I need at least usd 100g just to sit down… And just in case you haven’t realised by now, the above scenario is virtually 100% death wish.
Yup, that is how sick poker avids are.
Tuesday, May 18, 2010
Maid and Baby
Time flies. It seems just yesterday our maid, Puji, arrived at our home. And baby Ethan was still newborn. It has been nearly 2 years since.
And Puji has decided to go home to take care of her daughter, because her husband has found a job in Malaysia. She will be leaving next month.
I want to express my heartfelt thank-you to her. She has proved herself to be reliable. She has earned my wife and my trust to take care of Ethan. More importantly, i felt that she really cares for and loves Ethan. Ethan definitely reciprocates this feeling i am sure.
I am sad, because this will be Ethan's first experience of transiency. I feel he is too young to go through this; I don't want him to go through that. But that is beyond my powers. My wife tells me will he adapt and get over it in no time. Perhaps in Ethan's young mind he possesses more wisdom than that of his father's; I certainly do not discount this possibility.
Part of me wanted Puji to stay on with our family, I have even contemplated using monetary incentives. But I know it would be the wrong reason to retain her services. She has her family and a daugther to go back to. If fate decides she stays on with us, then so be it. But I know i should not, and would not be the one to influence the outcome.
Well, we move on. And I hope I have been a worthy employer of her services.
And Puji has decided to go home to take care of her daughter, because her husband has found a job in Malaysia. She will be leaving next month.
I want to express my heartfelt thank-you to her. She has proved herself to be reliable. She has earned my wife and my trust to take care of Ethan. More importantly, i felt that she really cares for and loves Ethan. Ethan definitely reciprocates this feeling i am sure.
I am sad, because this will be Ethan's first experience of transiency. I feel he is too young to go through this; I don't want him to go through that. But that is beyond my powers. My wife tells me will he adapt and get over it in no time. Perhaps in Ethan's young mind he possesses more wisdom than that of his father's; I certainly do not discount this possibility.
Part of me wanted Puji to stay on with our family, I have even contemplated using monetary incentives. But I know it would be the wrong reason to retain her services. She has her family and a daugther to go back to. If fate decides she stays on with us, then so be it. But I know i should not, and would not be the one to influence the outcome.
Well, we move on. And I hope I have been a worthy employer of her services.
Monday, April 12, 2010
United in the backseat
Well, fans of united are not in good mood nowadays... Even more so after yesterday's draw against Blackburn. There is no doubt that we are in the backseat in the race for the coveted 19th Championship.
Ferguson must be feeling tired, and exasperated. At his age, and facing the real prospect of having to wait for another season to have a shot at overtaking Liverpool... BUT! who am I to presume what Ferguson thinks of feels??!! Yes i admit I feel tired and exasperated for him (Ferguson), but in the back of my mind, I am rooting for him to have the strength to go on fighting.
Afterall, SAF is no ordinary general! He is a winning general. Napoleon once said " I have plenty of clever generals, but just give me a lucky (and hence a wining) one".
If Ferguson really does achieve the 19th Championship one day, I thank God; He show that difficult tasks are possible to achieve. If Ferguson fails to achieve the 19th Championship, I praise God as well; He teach us to be humble.
ps: I have been observing, Chelsea's Ancelotti is a worthy opponent.
Ferguson must be feeling tired, and exasperated. At his age, and facing the real prospect of having to wait for another season to have a shot at overtaking Liverpool... BUT! who am I to presume what Ferguson thinks of feels??!! Yes i admit I feel tired and exasperated for him (Ferguson), but in the back of my mind, I am rooting for him to have the strength to go on fighting.
Afterall, SAF is no ordinary general! He is a winning general. Napoleon once said " I have plenty of clever generals, but just give me a lucky (and hence a wining) one".
If Ferguson really does achieve the 19th Championship one day, I thank God; He show that difficult tasks are possible to achieve. If Ferguson fails to achieve the 19th Championship, I praise God as well; He teach us to be humble.
ps: I have been observing, Chelsea's Ancelotti is a worthy opponent.
Wednesday, February 24, 2010
Ethan Loves to Dance!
There is a group of aunties gathering at the neighourhood tentage for dancing lessons 3 times a week. Grandma always bring Ethan to watch, and once we discovered that Ethan likes to dance along... you guess it - there is no stopping him! Sometimes, the aunties would watch Ethan dance until they forgot their steps!
Monday, February 1, 2010
Manchester United Romping!!! And a note on Wayne Rooney
Last week was a superb week for United.
I mean, won 3-1 vs City, followed by winning 1-3 vs Arsenal. I mean, WOW!!! WOOHOOO!!!
Super emontional game the vs city game was.... the look of Tevez after the game was, at risk of being cliche, priceless.... WAHAHAHAHAA!! Especially after he scored the aggregate leveller, to have Rooney snatch the winning goal at injury time.. I MEAN, how dramatic can this get? If it were a movie, most adult-thinking adults would dismiss the plot as hollywoodish fairytale nonsense. They say true tales are bigger and more outlandish than any imagination humans can conjure. I have to agree.
1-3 vs Arsenal... well, I can't complain can I? Both club bosses have mellowed over the years. I mean, can you imagine Arsene Wenger saying that he look forward to this match (he did say that, btw). This after an earlier-season accusation of United being "anti-football". I somehow miss the volcanic clashes that preceded this generation of players, whenever the gunners and devils played (think van nistelroy, keane, vs henry, campbell, ashley cole era). And of course the verbal warfare so eagerly broadcasted by the papers between Wenger and Ferguson. Still, it is really really heart-warming to see Wenger coming up to Ferguson and offering a handshake at the end of the latest matchup between both teams.
The man to watch, undeniably, is Wayne "Superman" Rooney. The commentators during the Arsenal-United match couldn't have put it better - "anytime from now till South Africa, whenever Rooney cringes, the whole of England hold their breath.... (not the exact words but you get what I MEAN). This guy is Arthur of Camelot, the foretold saviour of England. Even bigger than my favourite Cate Blanchard, Queen Elizabeth I. Or maybe they could have put it better - i can assure the commentators that more than the whole of England are holding their breath whenever Rooney sneezes. When I pray that he be fit come world cup, i know at least 1 billion other souls are with me.
Ok now, repeat after me: "God saves Wayne Rooney".
I mean, won 3-1 vs City, followed by winning 1-3 vs Arsenal. I mean, WOW!!! WOOHOOO!!!
Super emontional game the vs city game was.... the look of Tevez after the game was, at risk of being cliche, priceless.... WAHAHAHAHAA!! Especially after he scored the aggregate leveller, to have Rooney snatch the winning goal at injury time.. I MEAN, how dramatic can this get? If it were a movie, most adult-thinking adults would dismiss the plot as hollywoodish fairytale nonsense. They say true tales are bigger and more outlandish than any imagination humans can conjure. I have to agree.
1-3 vs Arsenal... well, I can't complain can I? Both club bosses have mellowed over the years. I mean, can you imagine Arsene Wenger saying that he look forward to this match (he did say that, btw). This after an earlier-season accusation of United being "anti-football". I somehow miss the volcanic clashes that preceded this generation of players, whenever the gunners and devils played (think van nistelroy, keane, vs henry, campbell, ashley cole era). And of course the verbal warfare so eagerly broadcasted by the papers between Wenger and Ferguson. Still, it is really really heart-warming to see Wenger coming up to Ferguson and offering a handshake at the end of the latest matchup between both teams.
The man to watch, undeniably, is Wayne "Superman" Rooney. The commentators during the Arsenal-United match couldn't have put it better - "anytime from now till South Africa, whenever Rooney cringes, the whole of England hold their breath.... (not the exact words but you get what I MEAN). This guy is Arthur of Camelot, the foretold saviour of England. Even bigger than my favourite Cate Blanchard, Queen Elizabeth I. Or maybe they could have put it better - i can assure the commentators that more than the whole of England are holding their breath whenever Rooney sneezes. When I pray that he be fit come world cup, i know at least 1 billion other souls are with me.
Ok now, repeat after me: "God saves Wayne Rooney".
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