The only reason why I am writing this is out of frustration when 1 in 5 of my post to my blogs doesn't get published and the contents irrecoverable.
I don't what is the fault behind this,
be it server communication problems
(most of my posts disappear while waiting for them to be uploaded and I also get a lot of error messages from the blogspot server now and again while typing my posts),
formatting problems
(posts have been sucked into the blackhole whether or not i used the blog icon on my google toolbar or the form from my blog homepage),
etc but I want to see how many people have experienced the same problem as me (albeit even if not on my level of frequency)
Sunday, July 16, 2006
Tuesday, July 11, 2006
Causeway Scrabble Challenge has been announced
At last,
which got me wondering...
Which 30 players would you like to see play in the Premier division in the Causeway Scrabble Challenge? (remember to pick only 5 players each from Australia, India, Malaysia, Philippines, Singapore and Thailand)
Just post your answer in my comment blog
which got me wondering...
Which 30 players would you like to see play in the Premier division in the Causeway Scrabble Challenge? (remember to pick only 5 players each from Australia, India, Malaysia, Philippines, Singapore and Thailand)
Just post your answer in my comment blog
Sunday, July 09, 2006
The World Cup party in Bukit Bintang is just getting started
Went down to scout around one hour earlier while shopping for some things. Now safely snuggled back into the office finishing some overdue paperwork before I join the crowd.
Anyway, most of the setup was done in the afternoon (mobile toilettes, etc) but i will attempt to describe what it looks like.
The setup is pretty sparse. Several rigs have been raised along Bukit Bintang, only every other one carries a multiple-LCD displays. At least the France and Italy booth were correctly placed where they should be --- just outside the building where I am working. So quick chat with the promoters and I walk off with plenty of goodies.
At one end of Bukit Bintang, we have our good old Giant LCD screen, which Maxis outfitted with a billboard size football backdrop that fits the football displayed on the screen from time to time.
Pretty smart of Hotlink and Maxis to grab Bukit Bintang so soon.
I am probably hearing Flipsyde 'some local hip-hop act channelling the wrong pitch over the buzz of my office equipment and computer. I heard that they will be bringing in the 'Crazy Frog' later on.
Anyway, nothing is even happening at KLCC. Go BB!!! We rule at every party.
Anyway, most of the setup was done in the afternoon (mobile toilettes, etc) but i will attempt to describe what it looks like.
The setup is pretty sparse. Several rigs have been raised along Bukit Bintang, only every other one carries a multiple-LCD displays. At least the France and Italy booth were correctly placed where they should be --- just outside the building where I am working. So quick chat with the promoters and I walk off with plenty of goodies.
At one end of Bukit Bintang, we have our good old Giant LCD screen, which Maxis outfitted with a billboard size football backdrop that fits the football displayed on the screen from time to time.
Pretty smart of Hotlink and Maxis to grab Bukit Bintang so soon.
I am probably hearing Flipsyde 'some local hip-hop act channelling the wrong pitch over the buzz of my office equipment and computer. I heard that they will be bringing in the 'Crazy Frog' later on.
Anyway, nothing is even happening at KLCC. Go BB!!! We rule at every party.
Thursday, July 06, 2006
King Cup epilogue
Back home and been through the polyclinic for the usual post-travel check-up.
Day 1: 5-0, + 298 (4th place)
Slight improvement over last year. The only major difference was that I avoid Nigel Richards this year (actually delayed it until Round 6, so kena sic!) while I met him in Round 5 last years hence the 4-1, +100, 14th place finishing on Day 1.
Beat: Prakash, Odette, Chatchawin, Akegapun, Marut
Day 2: 3-5, - 160 (22nd place)
one extra game, one extra win. I delayed the matchup with Nigel and Atiruth so ouch! And the follow up just had to be a table filled with my cab mates: Andy, Aaron and Alpha. Being the non-A male on that table, I lost to Andy and Aaron to drop even further. Then I hit the speed demon, called Alastair Richards. Lucky for me, his last rack was FJLSX and I stuck him with the FX to overcome a 42 points deficit. The horrible thing was that he left me with two minutes to figure out the endgame. Then I lost to Daniel Srichawala after he hit me with FUrMENTY which I had never seen before (apparently it also has an angram....BAH!). So sit down for rematch with Marut, nuff said, he lost again (why doesn't this happen to me more often). Another game with Thien T and I settled the day with a so-so record.
Last year was also iffy: 2-5, - 121, 38th place
Day 3: 5-2, + 134 (10th place)
Whee, I love charging up the standings. Wish everyday was like Day 1 and Day 3.
so started out with stupid losses to Apirat and Sompong. Then John Lam gave away his game to me. Then I picked up wins over Michael Tang, Apirat (rematch!), Marlon Prudencio (a bingo-bango-bongo looks nice) before finishing off Nawapadol S (thanks to a 122 point ZEROING thru his WALKER).
I also did well last year going 5-3, + 20 (26th place) They key now being my positioning.
Day 4: 1-6, - 296 (40th place)
Why me! Why me! This is so freaking unfair. Even last year wasn't so bad when I maintained. I don't need anymore meltdown like this in my life. Not after Penang Open.
So down I go to Jakkrit, Tony, Marlon, Karen Richards, Chatchawin, Arun Methaseth before I salvaged a game from Ishtiaq Chishty.
I just wish that I could replicate last year's Day 4 where I went 4-3, + 28, 24 position. (Even that would have given me 6th hypothetically)
AAARGH!
Well, there's causeway anyway later this year and King Cup next year.
Day 1: 5-0, + 298 (4th place)
Slight improvement over last year. The only major difference was that I avoid Nigel Richards this year (actually delayed it until Round 6, so kena sic!) while I met him in Round 5 last years hence the 4-1, +100, 14th place finishing on Day 1.
Beat: Prakash, Odette, Chatchawin, Akegapun, Marut
Day 2: 3-5, - 160 (22nd place)
one extra game, one extra win. I delayed the matchup with Nigel and Atiruth so ouch! And the follow up just had to be a table filled with my cab mates: Andy, Aaron and Alpha. Being the non-A male on that table, I lost to Andy and Aaron to drop even further. Then I hit the speed demon, called Alastair Richards. Lucky for me, his last rack was FJLSX and I stuck him with the FX to overcome a 42 points deficit. The horrible thing was that he left me with two minutes to figure out the endgame. Then I lost to Daniel Srichawala after he hit me with FUrMENTY which I had never seen before (apparently it also has an angram....BAH!). So sit down for rematch with Marut, nuff said, he lost again (why doesn't this happen to me more often). Another game with Thien T and I settled the day with a so-so record.
Last year was also iffy: 2-5, - 121, 38th place
Day 3: 5-2, + 134 (10th place)
Whee, I love charging up the standings. Wish everyday was like Day 1 and Day 3.
so started out with stupid losses to Apirat and Sompong. Then John Lam gave away his game to me. Then I picked up wins over Michael Tang, Apirat (rematch!), Marlon Prudencio (a bingo-bango-bongo looks nice) before finishing off Nawapadol S (thanks to a 122 point ZEROING thru his WALKER).
I also did well last year going 5-3, + 20 (26th place) They key now being my positioning.
Day 4: 1-6, - 296 (40th place)
Why me! Why me! This is so freaking unfair. Even last year wasn't so bad when I maintained. I don't need anymore meltdown like this in my life. Not after Penang Open.
So down I go to Jakkrit, Tony, Marlon, Karen Richards, Chatchawin, Arun Methaseth before I salvaged a game from Ishtiaq Chishty.
I just wish that I could replicate last year's Day 4 where I went 4-3, + 28, 24 position. (Even that would have given me 6th hypothetically)
AAARGH!
Well, there's causeway anyway later this year and King Cup next year.
Monday, June 26, 2006
Weightlifting in Penang
No fans, no water, plenty of mosquitos, wonderful coach.
Still sick and weakened from last night but I will be heading back for one final session tonight before packing up my bags to go to Bangkok tomorrow morning.
For those wanting stats on my sessions.
Session 1 (Thursday evening):
I did some warm-up before learning several good morning exercises. The coach, Balasingam, is adopting the Bulgarian system.
So I told him about my weakness and we did about several sets of exercise 12 reps and gradually loaded the weights by 10kgs until I couldn't do 12 reps anymore.
Firstly, it was the snatch pull, 12 reps, using a 20kgs barbell and repeated until 45 kgs. This is also the first time I learnt to use the wrist ropes to help my grip.
Then it was switched to 8 power snatch, (3 below the knee, 3 above, 1 below and 1 above) did about 4 reps of this.
Some jerk extension, 5 front and 5 back. the weights were increased every 3 sets from 25 kgs to 45kgs.
Finally since I have some problem with my squat so we just did leg curls. Every 2 sets, we added another 15 kgs.
So the initial 15kgs leg curl ended being 60kgs. Boy were my thighs very sore.
The training partners were 2 juniors and 2 masters.
Session 2 (Friday morning):
With the tournament starting in the afternoon, I definitely wanted to get in some practice before it starts.
I did the warmup and good-morning exercise before doing the clean pull same using the same repetition as last night. About 12s reps before doing the 3-3-1-1.
Then the real McCoy, back squat. According to Balasingam, my squat is a full squat because my thighs do touch my calves. So everything done from a 25kgs barbell up to 45kgs barbell was done easily with 12 reps.
When we increased it by another 10kgs, I could only d0 5 reps and Balasingam immediately added another 10kgs on top of that to make it 65 kgs. (I thought that I couldn't lift it since I failed at doing 60kgs past 1 rep back in KL).
And the confidence booster was that I did 4 reps in 8 sets. Yippee.
While Balasingam left for work, I finished off the session with 3 sets of chin pull, 12 reps before warming down and leaving for Georgetown.
3rd Session (Monday):
After sleeping in late, thanks to some late nights with the Singaporean contingent, I head straight to the gym from the hotel and started feeling some queasiness (which was a sign of worst things to come, thanks to the stupid hotel)
After the normal warm-up and good-morning exercises, head straight to the 3-3-1-1 snatch pull. did about 8 sets with adding weights from 25kgs to 45kgs every 2 sets.
We switched to the clean pull 3-3-1-1 and and did the same amount of sets with the weights hitting 55kgs this time.
Then jerk extension, 5 fronts and 5 backs. The weights gradually increased from 25kgs to 45kgs but I wasn't able to generate enough strength and speed on the 45kgs weights (despite the reps going down to 3 each). Anyway about 10 reps of that, warm down and I headed back for some R&R.
Still sick and weakened from last night but I will be heading back for one final session tonight before packing up my bags to go to Bangkok tomorrow morning.
For those wanting stats on my sessions.
Session 1 (Thursday evening):
I did some warm-up before learning several good morning exercises. The coach, Balasingam, is adopting the Bulgarian system.
So I told him about my weakness and we did about several sets of exercise 12 reps and gradually loaded the weights by 10kgs until I couldn't do 12 reps anymore.
Firstly, it was the snatch pull, 12 reps, using a 20kgs barbell and repeated until 45 kgs. This is also the first time I learnt to use the wrist ropes to help my grip.
Then it was switched to 8 power snatch, (3 below the knee, 3 above, 1 below and 1 above) did about 4 reps of this.
Some jerk extension, 5 front and 5 back. the weights were increased every 3 sets from 25 kgs to 45kgs.
Finally since I have some problem with my squat so we just did leg curls. Every 2 sets, we added another 15 kgs.
So the initial 15kgs leg curl ended being 60kgs. Boy were my thighs very sore.
The training partners were 2 juniors and 2 masters.
Session 2 (Friday morning):
With the tournament starting in the afternoon, I definitely wanted to get in some practice before it starts.
I did the warmup and good-morning exercise before doing the clean pull same using the same repetition as last night. About 12s reps before doing the 3-3-1-1.
Then the real McCoy, back squat. According to Balasingam, my squat is a full squat because my thighs do touch my calves. So everything done from a 25kgs barbell up to 45kgs barbell was done easily with 12 reps.
When we increased it by another 10kgs, I could only d0 5 reps and Balasingam immediately added another 10kgs on top of that to make it 65 kgs. (I thought that I couldn't lift it since I failed at doing 60kgs past 1 rep back in KL).
And the confidence booster was that I did 4 reps in 8 sets. Yippee.
While Balasingam left for work, I finished off the session with 3 sets of chin pull, 12 reps before warming down and leaving for Georgetown.
3rd Session (Monday):
After sleeping in late, thanks to some late nights with the Singaporean contingent, I head straight to the gym from the hotel and started feeling some queasiness (which was a sign of worst things to come, thanks to the stupid hotel)
After the normal warm-up and good-morning exercises, head straight to the 3-3-1-1 snatch pull. did about 8 sets with adding weights from 25kgs to 45kgs every 2 sets.
We switched to the clean pull 3-3-1-1 and and did the same amount of sets with the weights hitting 55kgs this time.
Then jerk extension, 5 fronts and 5 backs. The weights gradually increased from 25kgs to 45kgs but I wasn't able to generate enough strength and speed on the 45kgs weights (despite the reps going down to 3 each). Anyway about 10 reps of that, warm down and I headed back for some R&R.
Sick and feverish (I think)
I blame my current hotel room.
I think it is loaded with dust mites and they are triggering all sorts of flem and allergies.
Will ask them if they can vacuum it to get rid of all the stuff.
Worse thing about them though is that they advertised as having dorm room.
When I arrived on Sunday, they showed me the dorm room. It had only one bed, no fan, no door, only a window, no locker and that necessitate me to switch to a single room with fan.
I think that they are a fake and will complain to the internet site about them after I have gathered enough proof.
Somehow, I no longer trust any hotel that are managed by people from the sub-continent.
Absolutely no value for money.
There should be more regulation to close down such hotel as these that does false advertising.
I think it is loaded with dust mites and they are triggering all sorts of flem and allergies.
Will ask them if they can vacuum it to get rid of all the stuff.
Worse thing about them though is that they advertised as having dorm room.
When I arrived on Sunday, they showed me the dorm room. It had only one bed, no fan, no door, only a window, no locker and that necessitate me to switch to a single room with fan.
I think that they are a fake and will complain to the internet site about them after I have gathered enough proof.
Somehow, I no longer trust any hotel that are managed by people from the sub-continent.
Absolutely no value for money.
There should be more regulation to close down such hotel as these that does false advertising.
Fade Away...
Typical tournament finish again.
Was in contention heading into the final matches and decided to have a titanic collapse immediately.
Day 1: 2-2, -78 (27th)
Day 2: 8-3, +278 (6th)
Day 3: 1-4, -86 (16th)
Overall: 11-9, +114
Must learn to recover quickly since that is always a problem.
At least the fish oil helped somewhat.
Stats of interest:
I normally average less than 1.4 bingos per games.
This time, I came out with 42 bingos over 20 games (including 3 phonies, ALIASED*, LEONINES* and UNGIVEn*)
Guess the fish oil and lexperting paid off somewhat.
Was in contention heading into the final matches and decided to have a titanic collapse immediately.
Day 1: 2-2, -78 (27th)
Day 2: 8-3, +278 (6th)
Day 3: 1-4, -86 (16th)
Overall: 11-9, +114
Must learn to recover quickly since that is always a problem.
At least the fish oil helped somewhat.
Stats of interest:
I normally average less than 1.4 bingos per games.
This time, I came out with 42 bingos over 20 games (including 3 phonies, ALIASED*, LEONINES* and UNGIVEn*)
Guess the fish oil and lexperting paid off somewhat.
Wednesday, June 21, 2006
My first skin tear
Tore off the skin on the inside of my right thumb.
Was actually painless and didn't notice it until I saw it.
(Probably was due to the lack of moisture in the tear, not to mention the amount of chalk on my hands used to grip the barbell)
Anyway, for the rest.
Went for the C&J today.
Started out with 3 sets of 4 reps using the 20kgs barbell.
Added another 10kgs and banged out 4 sets of 3 reps.
Once we moved into the 40kgs zone. It was about 10 sets of 2 reps each. Overall success rate: about 60%, but technique could still use some improvement.
After doing the pull (6 sets of 4 reps using 40-60kgs), switched immediately to the arm extension from C&J position and used the practice to refine my arm position during the clean.
Problem is I had to use the 15kgs barbell with a small diameter to help my grip. Did add another 5 kgs on top of it to simulate a 20kgs barbell weight.
So I did about 5 sets of 4 reps each.
Well, that's all for now. Will continue some training in Penang when I get there.
Was actually painless and didn't notice it until I saw it.
(Probably was due to the lack of moisture in the tear, not to mention the amount of chalk on my hands used to grip the barbell)
Anyway, for the rest.
Went for the C&J today.
Started out with 3 sets of 4 reps using the 20kgs barbell.
Added another 10kgs and banged out 4 sets of 3 reps.
Once we moved into the 40kgs zone. It was about 10 sets of 2 reps each. Overall success rate: about 60%, but technique could still use some improvement.
After doing the pull (6 sets of 4 reps using 40-60kgs), switched immediately to the arm extension from C&J position and used the practice to refine my arm position during the clean.
Problem is I had to use the 15kgs barbell with a small diameter to help my grip. Did add another 5 kgs on top of it to simulate a 20kgs barbell weight.
So I did about 5 sets of 4 reps each.
Well, that's all for now. Will continue some training in Penang when I get there.
Tuesday, June 20, 2006
I am such a weenie
20kgs barbell snatch movement. 3 sets of 5 reps each. Done
30kgs sntach movement, 2 sets of 3 reps each. Done
40 kgs snatch movement, 26 reps. Only 1 completed. (BAH! BAH! BAH!!!!)
40 kgs pull. 4 sets of 4 reps each. Done.
50kgs pull. 2 sets of 3 reps each. Done
Tried the front squat but my palms muscles were acting up.
So moved on to 40kgs back squat. 2 sets of 4 reps each. Done.
50kgs back squat. 2 sets of 4 reps each. Done.
55kgs back squat. 1 set of 3 reps each. Done.
now for the killer, 60kgs back squat. ! rep done, and the second one slid of my back when I went down. (BAH! BAH! BAH!!!!again)
Yeap, I am definitely a weenie
30kgs sntach movement, 2 sets of 3 reps each. Done
40 kgs snatch movement, 26 reps. Only 1 completed. (BAH! BAH! BAH!!!!)
40 kgs pull. 4 sets of 4 reps each. Done.
50kgs pull. 2 sets of 3 reps each. Done
Tried the front squat but my palms muscles were acting up.
So moved on to 40kgs back squat. 2 sets of 4 reps each. Done.
50kgs back squat. 2 sets of 4 reps each. Done.
55kgs back squat. 1 set of 3 reps each. Done.
now for the killer, 60kgs back squat. ! rep done, and the second one slid of my back when I went down. (BAH! BAH! BAH!!!!again)
Yeap, I am definitely a weenie
Monday, June 19, 2006
Moving Up
Back aching,
thighs aching,
shoulder aching,
wriest aching,
forearms aching,
have I left anything out?
Anyway, started out with basic movement using a 20 kgs barbel, after about 3 sets of 4 reps clean and jerk, I upgraded to 30kgs. 4 sets of that. same reps and I get a bit more confident and bring out the green weights. Altogether 40kgs and guess what, can only do 2 reps each. Okay then I did 4 sets of 2 reps before adding on another 5 kgs for my final two sets. Boy, did it start feeling heavy.
Right then, move straight into the pull.
Started out with 40 kgs, did about 4 sets of 4 reps each. Didn't feel right at times, but I continued to upgrade another 10kgs (mwa ha ha, tremble my little singaporean Scrabble juniors) did about 4 sets agains. Added an extra 5 kgs just to test myself. This time, only 2 sets of 3 reps each.
So what did I do once i finishing pulling (my muscles?). Back squat!!!
Loaded up 40kgs on the rack, did about 4 sets of 4 reps each, then posted 45kgs. I did 2 set with it and it felt a bit heavy so I upgrade it to 50kgs for one last set. Boy did I stun myself when I nailed 1 set of 6 reps easily.
And what do overconfident boys do? upgrade again.
This time 55kgs on the rack and my coach, Martin came over to assist me (and I really needed it, thanks Martin)
I did the first set and I wobbled on the 2nd squat, so we only did 3 reps. I banged out a second set before calling it a day with Martin.
Help cleaned up my barbell and did some arm extensions with a 20kgs barbell for warm down.
Interesting fact: My thighs are half the size of the people who are half my body weight. GAH! not to mention that I have almost no shoulder or back muscles at all.
Most embarassing thing to mention: Still cannnot overtake the juniors, even the girls.
thighs aching,
shoulder aching,
wriest aching,
forearms aching,
have I left anything out?
Anyway, started out with basic movement using a 20 kgs barbel, after about 3 sets of 4 reps clean and jerk, I upgraded to 30kgs. 4 sets of that. same reps and I get a bit more confident and bring out the green weights. Altogether 40kgs and guess what, can only do 2 reps each. Okay then I did 4 sets of 2 reps before adding on another 5 kgs for my final two sets. Boy, did it start feeling heavy.
Right then, move straight into the pull.
Started out with 40 kgs, did about 4 sets of 4 reps each. Didn't feel right at times, but I continued to upgrade another 10kgs (mwa ha ha, tremble my little singaporean Scrabble juniors) did about 4 sets agains. Added an extra 5 kgs just to test myself. This time, only 2 sets of 3 reps each.
So what did I do once i finishing pulling (my muscles?). Back squat!!!
Loaded up 40kgs on the rack, did about 4 sets of 4 reps each, then posted 45kgs. I did 2 set with it and it felt a bit heavy so I upgrade it to 50kgs for one last set. Boy did I stun myself when I nailed 1 set of 6 reps easily.
And what do overconfident boys do? upgrade again.
This time 55kgs on the rack and my coach, Martin came over to assist me (and I really needed it, thanks Martin)
I did the first set and I wobbled on the 2nd squat, so we only did 3 reps. I banged out a second set before calling it a day with Martin.
Help cleaned up my barbell and did some arm extensions with a 20kgs barbell for warm down.
Interesting fact: My thighs are half the size of the people who are half my body weight. GAH! not to mention that I have almost no shoulder or back muscles at all.
Most embarassing thing to mention: Still cannnot overtake the juniors, even the girls.
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