Author: deuts

The Curious Case of a Chess Enthusiast

Got a comment in my post, “Wesley So, the Gifted Child“. I prepared a long response that I decided to actually just post a new entry about it instead. And so here goes.

Here’s what my commentator has to say:

I don’t think that Wesley So is a gifted child. In today’s world where computer softwares are readily available to budding chessplayers earning a GM norm or title is not really that hard anymore. And to compare him to the great Bobby Fischer is indeed a blasphemy! Fischer was a true genius never before and shall never be seen again in chess. However, Wesley’s achievements should make the Filipinos proud. But as we all know India is million miles ahead of us in chess considering its long list of Super GMs.

To Mr. Panday, if you think Wesley So is not a gifted child, that’s your opinion. You’re definitely entitled to one. Any software is available to everyone to help him/her in analyzing a game, but it does not conclude anyone can also be a grandmaster. It takes patience and determination on top of the inherent skills in someone who is a grandmaster in order to master the craft of chess. Computer chess softwares are merely a tool in studying and preparing for a game or tournament. They are not there to think for you during the actual game. Continue reading The Curious Case of a Chess Enthusiast

The Cory Aquino Funeral and the Error 99

I don’t think I could let it pass when I knew that former President Cory Aquino’s funeral march will pass by near my place. So I grabbed my camera and tried my best to document the event despite the heavy rains.

However, as I was shooting around, I got the much dreaded Error 99 by every Canon camera owners. Maybe it was because of the dying battery, maybe the CF card, maybe the lens, or worst–the camera itself (God forbid!)

Everytime the error occured, I had to turn off the camera and back on again before I can actually get the shot. It was real annoying, but at least I got to take some pictures (see below). Continue reading The Cory Aquino Funeral and the Error 99

Sungha Jung: The Next Youtube Sensation?

As is usually the case, what determines the success of a great musician is how great he/she is at his favorite musical instrument as well as at singing. They usually go together. The chances of success when you’re only playing an instrument is lower than when you can do both well at your instrument and singing.

Oftentimes, in a rock band or any musical band for that matter, the vocalist becomes more popular than everyone else. Continue reading Sungha Jung: The Next Youtube Sensation?

Michael Jordan: The Greatness of his Airness

guest-post-iconThis is a guest post from Raymond.

Below is the text of the same exact email I sent to airjudden. In his/her website, he extensively chronicled points as to why Michael Jordan (MJ) can’t be considered the greatest ever. He shares valuable points and insights to justify his claims. In fact, I think he really wants it to be so encompassing in the guise of highlighting other ballers’ accomplishment but it’s really just so that other not-so-vital tidbits may be included to shatter MJ’s greatness.

The thing is, he obviously shies away from one very significant factor as to why people regard MJ as the best ever – how he has consistently managed to raise his game when it matters the most – on the biggest basketball stage – The NBA Playoffs. Like him, I challenge anyone who can name me a baller who has managed to elevate his game more as the playoffs progresses all the way to the Finals.

There was only one man that could stop Michael Jordan, and that was Michael Jordan
There was only one man that could stop Michael Jordan, and that was Michael Jordan

 

Accordingly, he ranks four men ahead of MJ as greatest ever. So, one by one, I tried to prove otherwise and establish MJ as the greatest PER my criteria. A criteria, that I think, differentiates greatness from mere talent, luck and biological advantages. Continue reading Michael Jordan: The Greatness of his Airness

Symbian Nokia: Enhancing Speed and Performance

The Nokia E51 with the Symbian S60 Operating SystemWe have heard and read a lot about optimizing your computer performance and enhance speed in the process. But what about mobile phones? We, in one way or another, do sometimes are affected with lagging phone software processing.

Just like desktop computers, mobile phones do have operating systems (OS) as well. In the high-end Nokia phones, they’re running on Symbian S60. Then there’s Windows Mobile, Android, Blackberry OS and iPhone OS to name some of the other OS’s.

And just like in desktop computers, there are tricks as well to optimize your mobile phones’ performance. Smartin enumerated some tips on “How to Speed Up Nokia Phones with Symbian Mobile OS“, namely:

  • Install firmware update with care
  • Speed up Nokia phone with software
  • Remove unnecessary applications
  • Kill background running and autostart apps
  • Use default themes

Continue reading Symbian Nokia: Enhancing Speed and Performance

Appearance Reboot: Back to ‘Simple but Elegant’

After almost one year with my previous theme (whose last screenshot shown below), I get bored with the same theme, so I decided to try a new one that’s back to the basic and what a real “theme” should be: simple but elegant.

The Last Screenshot of Deuts.NET
The Last Screenshot of Deuts.NET

By the way, so far in this theme did I ever stick the longest in my whole WordPress life.

IntenseDebate Commenting System

The slow speed, especially at the backend, of my site could be partly attributable to a variety of plugins installed in the background that are directly or indirectly pertaining to and enhancing the commenting system. Now, there’s only one WordPress plugin to rule them all–IntenseDebate. Continue reading Appearance Reboot: Back to ‘Simple but Elegant’

SMC-PBA Group Making a Mockery of Filipino Basketball Fans

guest-post-iconThis is a guest post from Raymond.
________________________

The latest news (or rumors, if you may) from hoops.blink.ph reports, “And the rich get richer, Arwind Santos to SMB?“:

The current PBA finals is still up and running but it seems to be shadowed by the latest possible PBA trade: Arwind Santos to the San Miguel Beermen.

…

The same star-studded SMB team with arguably no “banko” type players (Bono was a UAAP MVP, Eman is a former no. 1 overall draft pick, and Chris Calaguio is a grizzled veteran), now gets Arwind Santos, MVP candidate for the past 2 seasons and arguably among the top 3 local players in the PBA.

The PBA should just be renamed as San Miguel Corp. Invitational Tournament. This “league” is just making a mockery of the fans’ interest and affection (not to mention their pockets).

Notice how teams would end up bunched up all together after the elimination rounds; practically every team has a fighting chance to make it to the next round (equal marketing exposure). And notice that even if the SMC teams have superior line ups, they don’t end up altogether in the semis, a maximum of two SMC teams just qualify for the semis at any given tournament. Of course, they all belong to one “association”; that’s why non-SMC teams are allowed to have their share of semis exposure just the same. What happens is that the SMC teams are just rotating on who will advance on to the latter rounds from tournament to tournament. Continue reading SMC-PBA Group Making a Mockery of Filipino Basketball Fans