As we all know, diplomacy and social skills are so important in everyday life.
One excellent life skill, I think, would be the ability to pacify an angry person mid-way during their rage attack.
In fact, ANY skill that neutralises or diffuses the tension in a situation would be excellent.
If someone has learnt how to do this, kindly let me know!! =)
Andre Lim
Friday, 16 September 2016
Sunday, 11 September 2016
Quote of the Month
"The more things change the more they stay the same."
-- Jean-Baptiste Alphonse Karr
Andre Lim
Saturday, 3 September 2016
Road to Russia 2018
The Socceroos have a tough trip to Abu Dhabi on Tuesday 6 September 2016 (early Wednesday morning for us). The United Arab Emirates are relatively strong opponents so this will be the Socceroos' first true test.
However, this is only the beginning. Australia play away in Jeddah, Saudi Arabia on 6 October 2016, followed by a home match against Japan on 11 October 2016. We know how difficult it is to play in the Middle East, in the 35 degree+ heat coupled with sandstorms and heatwaves aplenty (although in September it is admittedly cooler at about 31 degrees+). And we know how difficult the Japanese are, who in particular will be wanting to set the record right after their shock and controversial loss to the UAE.
So this tough journey got me thinking.
What is the rough number of points the Socceroos need to qualify for the World Cup?
To answer this question, I travelled back through time to see what points were required in previous campaigns.
2014
The average tally required to make it to the top 2 in each group during the 2014 World Cup Qualifiers was 15 points [16 + 14 + 17 + 13 divided by 4] out of a possible 24 points.
This equates to a percentage of 62.5%.
2010
The average tally required to make it to the top 2 in each group during the 2010 World Cup Qualifiers was 15.75 [20 + 15 + 16 + 12 divided by 4] out of a possible 24 points.
This equates to a percentage of 65.625%.
2006
The average tally required to make it to the top 2 in each group during the 2006 World Cup Qualifiers was 13 [14 + 10 + 15 + 13 divided by 4] out of a possible 18 points.
This equates to a percentage of 72%.
2002 and 1998
The 2002 qualification campaign was a bit strange because South Korea and Japan had already qualified, so only 2.5 teams were allowed through.
The 1998 qualification campaign was also different in that only 3.5 teams were allowed through.
Because of those slight anomalies, I have not looked at those campaigns.
I am also slightly lazy to look through the other pre-1998 campaigns, but I think you would find similar reasons for those campaigns.
It therefore seems like the average percentage rate (points to maximum points ratio) required to qualify is (62.5+65.625+72) divided by 3 = 66.71%.
Conclusion
Therefore, in this 2018 World Cup Qualification Campaign where there are 10 matches played in total, it seems to me that the Socceroos need a minimum of 66.7% of 30 points which is about 20 points.
That's equivalent to 6 wins and 2 draws.
On this analysis, if Australia can win all their home games, win 1 away game, and draw 2 other tough away games, they should be safe.
However it seems to me that this analysis assumes that the weaker teams will capitulate. This is a tough group and it does not seem to me that there are any easy matches.
In this climate, perhaps 6 wins - 18 points - will be barely enough.
Andre Lim
However, this is only the beginning. Australia play away in Jeddah, Saudi Arabia on 6 October 2016, followed by a home match against Japan on 11 October 2016. We know how difficult it is to play in the Middle East, in the 35 degree+ heat coupled with sandstorms and heatwaves aplenty (although in September it is admittedly cooler at about 31 degrees+). And we know how difficult the Japanese are, who in particular will be wanting to set the record right after their shock and controversial loss to the UAE.
So this tough journey got me thinking.
What is the rough number of points the Socceroos need to qualify for the World Cup?
To answer this question, I travelled back through time to see what points were required in previous campaigns.
2014
The average tally required to make it to the top 2 in each group during the 2014 World Cup Qualifiers was 15 points [16 + 14 + 17 + 13 divided by 4] out of a possible 24 points.
This equates to a percentage of 62.5%.
2010
The average tally required to make it to the top 2 in each group during the 2010 World Cup Qualifiers was 15.75 [20 + 15 + 16 + 12 divided by 4] out of a possible 24 points.
This equates to a percentage of 65.625%.
2006
The average tally required to make it to the top 2 in each group during the 2006 World Cup Qualifiers was 13 [14 + 10 + 15 + 13 divided by 4] out of a possible 18 points.
This equates to a percentage of 72%.
2002 and 1998
The 2002 qualification campaign was a bit strange because South Korea and Japan had already qualified, so only 2.5 teams were allowed through.
The 1998 qualification campaign was also different in that only 3.5 teams were allowed through.
Because of those slight anomalies, I have not looked at those campaigns.
I am also slightly lazy to look through the other pre-1998 campaigns, but I think you would find similar reasons for those campaigns.
It therefore seems like the average percentage rate (points to maximum points ratio) required to qualify is (62.5+65.625+72) divided by 3 = 66.71%.
Conclusion
Therefore, in this 2018 World Cup Qualification Campaign where there are 10 matches played in total, it seems to me that the Socceroos need a minimum of 66.7% of 30 points which is about 20 points.
That's equivalent to 6 wins and 2 draws.
On this analysis, if Australia can win all their home games, win 1 away game, and draw 2 other tough away games, they should be safe.
However it seems to me that this analysis assumes that the weaker teams will capitulate. This is a tough group and it does not seem to me that there are any easy matches.
In this climate, perhaps 6 wins - 18 points - will be barely enough.
Andre Lim
Saturday, 27 August 2016
Rayman 1 reflections
I thought I'd do a quick note on Rayman 1 (PS1).
In particular, I noticed that there are some interesting discussions on the internet regarding which is the hardest Rayman 1 level. I thought I would lend my weight to this thread.
It appears to me that many seem to suggest that Picture City is the hardest World in Rayman 1; I can certainly see how that might be the case. For example, Pencil Pentathlon certainly annoyed the heck out of me, especially with the precision in which you had to use Rayman's helicopter power to navigate the needles/drawing pins without bouncing on the bouncy cushions; furthermore, Space Mama's Crater was also pretty unforgiving especially in that section where you had to time Rayman's jumps as he moved along a pencil sharpener to avoid a spikey death and/or falling into the void. Space Mama herself was also a difficult boss to get used to ---- it wasn't because she was that HARD, but it was the psychological effect of knowing that, if you did not beat her, you would have to repeat Space Mama's Crater.
So I'd agree that the hardest World is Picture City on an overall basis.
However the level (or more accurately, section) I hated the most was definitely Band Land's Allegro Presto, Part 3. I simply had so many issues dealing with the slippery musical staves that it was not funny!!!!!!
If I had to compare Rayman: Origins and Rayman: Legends with Rayman 1, I'd say there simply is no comparison in terms of difficulty level. Contrary to the former two, the margin for error in Rayman 1 is so unbelievably small. However, notably, Origins' Land of the Livid Dead and the Fickle Fruit speed-run were fairly hard. Mecha No Mistake's speed-run I have not actually completed because that is just more frustrating than anything else and I simply did not have the patience to deal with that!!!
My most resented enemy is probably the Moth (more a Grasshopper to me), given their tenacity, ability to dodge punches and counterattacking skill! Fighting two at the same time is deadly! The Spider in the Caves of Skops can also be pretty annoying if you let them fire their homing missiles at you.
Bear in mind though that I use unlimited lives for Rayman 1 -- if I didn't have access to this cheat I would certainly not be able to get very far in the game. I am currently on Mr Skops' Stalactites.
Andre Lim
In particular, I noticed that there are some interesting discussions on the internet regarding which is the hardest Rayman 1 level. I thought I would lend my weight to this thread.
It appears to me that many seem to suggest that Picture City is the hardest World in Rayman 1; I can certainly see how that might be the case. For example, Pencil Pentathlon certainly annoyed the heck out of me, especially with the precision in which you had to use Rayman's helicopter power to navigate the needles/drawing pins without bouncing on the bouncy cushions; furthermore, Space Mama's Crater was also pretty unforgiving especially in that section where you had to time Rayman's jumps as he moved along a pencil sharpener to avoid a spikey death and/or falling into the void. Space Mama herself was also a difficult boss to get used to ---- it wasn't because she was that HARD, but it was the psychological effect of knowing that, if you did not beat her, you would have to repeat Space Mama's Crater.
So I'd agree that the hardest World is Picture City on an overall basis.
However the level (or more accurately, section) I hated the most was definitely Band Land's Allegro Presto, Part 3. I simply had so many issues dealing with the slippery musical staves that it was not funny!!!!!!
If I had to compare Rayman: Origins and Rayman: Legends with Rayman 1, I'd say there simply is no comparison in terms of difficulty level. Contrary to the former two, the margin for error in Rayman 1 is so unbelievably small. However, notably, Origins' Land of the Livid Dead and the Fickle Fruit speed-run were fairly hard. Mecha No Mistake's speed-run I have not actually completed because that is just more frustrating than anything else and I simply did not have the patience to deal with that!!!
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| http://raymanpc.com/wiki/script-en/images/f/fc/MiteVol.png |
My most resented enemy is probably the Moth (more a Grasshopper to me), given their tenacity, ability to dodge punches and counterattacking skill! Fighting two at the same time is deadly! The Spider in the Caves of Skops can also be pretty annoying if you let them fire their homing missiles at you.
Bear in mind though that I use unlimited lives for Rayman 1 -- if I didn't have access to this cheat I would certainly not be able to get very far in the game. I am currently on Mr Skops' Stalactites.
Andre Lim
Sunday, 21 August 2016
Chen Long too good
I feel sorry for Lee Chong Wei, but Chen Long was just far too good. Chen Long scrambled for every shot with near-perfect court coverage. He is, in my view, the complete badminton player. Ironically LCW overcame his 'personal demon' of beating Lin Dan at the Olympics...but little did he realise that his real test awaited him in the final in the form of a much improved and stronger Chen Long.
As someone once said to me, if you find yourself in a bad position, you just have to be philosophical about it.
Of course Lee Chong Wei will be gutted and the whole of Malaysia will be hurting for him; however, on a positive note, who can boast of having three consecutive Olympic silver medals in the singles event? Not even Lin Dan can say he has three consecutive Olympic medals...
In any event, Lee Chong Wei didn't have the stamina to play any potential third set. Age had cruelly taken its toll. This was not his year to shine. If anything, 2012 was the ideal opportunity wasted as LCW was actually in the lead against Lin Dan in that infamous match.
Arguably, and most critically, Lee's real demon was not Lin Dan but the Olympic final itself and the fear of failing Malaysia (being their gold medal hope). It just so happened that Lin Dan personified the latter two in 2008 and 2012. By being so focussed on Lin Dan, the whole of Malaysia had forgotten the threat of Chen Long and to some extent took that match as already won.
:(
The wait continues for Malaysia. Goh and Tan must feel even more bad about their match now??!
On an unrelated note, at least Viktor Axelsen was happy with his Bronze.
Andre Lim
As someone once said to me, if you find yourself in a bad position, you just have to be philosophical about it.
Of course Lee Chong Wei will be gutted and the whole of Malaysia will be hurting for him; however, on a positive note, who can boast of having three consecutive Olympic silver medals in the singles event? Not even Lin Dan can say he has three consecutive Olympic medals...
In any event, Lee Chong Wei didn't have the stamina to play any potential third set. Age had cruelly taken its toll. This was not his year to shine. If anything, 2012 was the ideal opportunity wasted as LCW was actually in the lead against Lin Dan in that infamous match.
Arguably, and most critically, Lee's real demon was not Lin Dan but the Olympic final itself and the fear of failing Malaysia (being their gold medal hope). It just so happened that Lin Dan personified the latter two in 2008 and 2012. By being so focussed on Lin Dan, the whole of Malaysia had forgotten the threat of Chen Long and to some extent took that match as already won.
:(
The wait continues for Malaysia. Goh and Tan must feel even more bad about their match now??!
On an unrelated note, at least Viktor Axelsen was happy with his Bronze.
Andre Lim
Saturday, 20 August 2016
Heartbreak for Malaysia
My goodness.
SO MANY service errors made by the Malaysians in the Men's Doubles final!!
The Chinese almost choked but, in the end, they adapted better.
Andre Lim
SO MANY service errors made by the Malaysians in the Men's Doubles final!!
The Chinese almost choked but, in the end, they adapted better.
Andre Lim
Spain "beats" Malaysia to a badminton gold medal
Crazy.
Spain has a gold in the women's singles. Malaysia have yet to win any gold.
Andre Lim
Spain has a gold in the women's singles. Malaysia have yet to win any gold.
Andre Lim
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