Grubby's words

If I were Chinese, I would say: "I will continue to work harder in the future." If I were Korean I would say, "I will destroy everyone in 2009." Howevever, I will simply say: "See you next time."

Merry Christmas, let the hogwarts fire burn!

Went out with huiyu, karen & aaron yesterday, to Golden Village Yishun. It was aaron who asked me out at first if i was doing anything on christmas eve, i replied no, so he asked if I wanted to catch a movie and ask more people along. Thus i asked hui yu karen teck seng & jermaine, the latter 2 were unable to make it due to DRAGON pox & rushing christmas presents respectively. Ah well. Anyway we still had 4 people going for the movie, decided to meet at 9 and catch the 9.45 slot. 

In all propriety, it was a pretty good show, to me at least. I think it would warrant a 3.5/5 stars from me. It wasn't very touching/impactful, but it made me think about a number of things, like how life is never ideal and the way you want it to be, and how a bedtime story seems so perfect when incoorporated into reality. Tobe honest, it also gave me inspiration to pick up the pen and paint a picture for myself. The rest found it ok, or so-so. I thought that the show did a good story out of churning a bedtime story and eclipsing it into real life. We realise that at the end of the movie that the main lead eventually gets what he has worked hard for the past 25 years, rather his whole life. While some people who slog their entire lives may not get what they want, some do get it. How about those that don't then? Does God have a plan for them as well?

I thus think, that there is nothing fair in this world, that both good & bad things can happen to any kind of people, rich poor, kind evil, tall short. Life is unpredictable and changes in the next very second as you count the present. It also brings me to the meaning of celebrating Christmas; everywhere there are people saying merry christmas, and the spirit and mood of the festive season really rubs onto me. It makes my day happy. It makes things appear happier in spite that I have a marketing exam tomorrow. All in all, it just makes me feel happier than what not. So why not celebrate it?

Christmas, no doubt, is the start to a better beginning. I am looking forward to the promise of the year of 2009. Only good things can happen then, and may God bless us all. 

P.S Anticipate my next entry on a reflection of 2008. 

CAPL - Carrots & Potatoes League?

Played CAPL today. First time i didnt FRO at capl, and we moved to the round of 16 tml. Hopefully we can reach the top 8, but shana just told me red bull give u wings is xinglei, thisisart-'s team. So the chances to win aren't high, but we will still persist. ;p 

Today the game against Impurez was a stunner, cleared them in 33 minutes. My Spectre with a score of 23-3 end game, butterfly threads yasha diffusal 2 bands. Won quite easily. Tml's game possibly won't be as easy as today's. Hopefully god will give us some luck tml. 

The Generation Game

There are many measures of sustained success, but one of the most intimidating was apparent at White Hart Lane on Saturday.

GettyImages

Sir Alex Ferguson is readying himself for the loss of Ryan Giggs and Paul Scholes in the next couple of seasons.

When Sir Alex Ferguson decided upon a double change, the men introduced had a combined haul of almost 50 trophies and the best part of 1400 appearances for Manchester United. Ryan Giggs and Paul Scholes are arguably the finest winger and the outstanding creative central midfielder of the Premier League era. Had Gary Neville, probably the premier right-back of the last decade and a half, accompanied them on to the pitch, that total of games would have been swelled above 1900.

They are the three survivors among the youth products christened Fergie's Fledglings, a trio of the most decorated players in the modern game and among the select band of one-club men. However, and perhaps for the first time in 17 years, it is possible that none is in Ferguson's first-choice side. Neville and Giggs, though captain and vice-captain respectively, can safely be described as squad players now. Scholes' status is the subject of greater debate: he was a regular starter before sustaining a knee injury in September.

Neville's position is under greatest threat. After a year on the sidelines, the pace of competitive football appears to have come as an unwelcome shock to him. A substandard display against Arsenal six weeks ago prompted a rethink from Ferguson, who swiftly turned to the next generation. Rafael da Silva appears the preferred right-back now and, given Wes Brown's unassuming excellence while deputising for Neville last season, the 33-year-old appears to be consigned to the fringes. If the da Silva twins are the 21st century Nevilles, Rafael's greater attacking verve ages the original model still further.

The footballing generation game can have a cruel ending: there are parallels with Paul Parker's swift descent from automatic pick to third choice. Moreover, with Neville in the final year of his current contract, neither an unconvincing outing in the centre of defence against Blackburn in the Carling Cup nor John O'Shea's ability to slot in at right-back bode well. For a man who has tried to personify the United support - not least in his attitude towards Liverpool - being discarded would be an undistinguished finish to a career at Old Trafford.

For Scholes, contracted until 2010, that day surely lies further in the future. He remains the finest passer at Old Trafford, capable of unlocking a defence with a deft touch or beating the goalkeeper with a ferocious shot, as Barcelona discovered in April.

Yet his presence on the pitch for a mere 66 minutes at Chelsea and just 55 at Liverpool is evidence of his physical failings. An ageing technician can be bypassed by athletes, and Scholes may no longer be a 90-minute player, especially when United do not dominate possession. When tiring, a poor tackler can become an unnecessary risk. And United can have a more resilient look when Michael Carrick is complemented by a workhorse such as Darren Fletcher or Anderson, though have a more inventive appearance when Scholes takes the field.

While David Beckham amassed millions of pounds, dollars, euros and headlines, the title of the greatest footballer from United's youth system in Ferguson's reign surely belongs to either Scholes or Giggs. The manager's vote would probably go to the younger man; he represents the connoisseur's choice. This pick, however, would be Giggs.

That is influenced by longevity. The Welshman was an established player before the rest of his generation emerged. Giggs' greatness is not universally accepted - indeed, he is curiously undervalued by many in Manchester - but he has defied many a prediction of his decline. In Moscow in May, Ferguson spoke of phasing Giggs and Scholes out, suggesting they may figure 25 or 30 times a season. The former already has 18 appearances this campaign, the consequence of his natural fitness and gift for reinvention.

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Gary Neville: Soon to get taste of medicine he dealt to Paul Parker 14 years ago.

He can still glide forward, but increasingly he is a stranger to the left flank he once patrolled. A much improved sense of positioning enables him to function in a variety of roles, from shielding the back four to an unexpected cameo as a striker against Manchester City, whereas Scholes, a versatile performer for much of his career, only operates in the centre of midfield now. The Englishman is more likely to dictate play there, but the Welshman is the more regular scorer now.

Sadly for the nostalgic, they are rarely seen in harness. There came a time last season when it became rare for them to start together; the theory, presumably, being that younger legs could compensate for the presence of one footballing pensioner, but not two.

Now the challenge for each is to influence the game as a replacement, something Giggs managed as United clinched the Premier League title and then the Champions League in successive May matches. Ferguson has said Giggs can play on until he is 38, something Scholes, who has suffered more from injuries in recent years, is unlikely to do. And if that is the case, the first among them shall surely be the last, extending his record of United appearances towards 900 when all his contemporaries have left Old Trafford.

Not that he has a monopoly in durability: it is not beyond the realms of possibility that Ferguson will outlast them all.

Looooooooooooooooooooooooo

It's eh, 4:11 am in the morning, and I wake up in the comfort of my crouch in the living room. I hope it will be enough to sustain me throughout the rest of the day for the 20th, which also happens to be the date of CAPL's seasonal competition. Visit www.capl.com.sg for more details. Our brackets also happens to be the easier of the lot, with no known teams there. Thus we are expected to make it to the top 8, but i doubt it may come to materalize because i have not even attended a single team training together with the team. Nevertheless, it should be some easy fights, unless they prove to be stronger than the usual average Irc team. 

I don't feel sleepy when i don't sleep enough, i only do when it comes in the morning. And have u heard about the new Real Madrid-Cristiano Ronaldo saga again? It's starting to get on my nerves. I say if the man wants to go let him go. A man's heart once wavered never belongs to the same owner again. The same goes for the World footballer of the year/ballon o'dr/insert whatever football award here. Despite his numerous acclaims, he has not touched my heart as the most sincere footballer. i shall not discuss this further, and prepare for my matches later. Wish me luck!

Greatest Feminine Beauty

I AM TRYING TO STUDY ON MY BLOG!

Combe V Combe, 1957, Lord Denning.

"Where one party has by his words or conduct made ... a  promise or assurance which was intended to affect the legal conditions between them and be acted on accordingly, then once the other party has ...  acted on it, the one who gave the promise cannot afterwards be allowed to revert to the previous legal relations as if no such promise had been made."

Entores V Miles Far east limited Cooporation, 1957, Lord Denning

"If i shout an offer to a man across a river ... but i do not hear his reply (of acceptance) because it is drowned by an aircraft flying overhead ... there is not a contract at that moment.  If he so wishes to make a contract, he must wait till the aircraft is gone and then shout back his acceptance so that i can hear what he says. Not till i have the answer am i bound."

Time to move on

It has been about a few days since I have left DotaSg.

Yet it has been months of hard work and dedication that have flown past that i poured into this prior committment, that no longer stands today as i write this entry.

From covering events like WCG to writing articles about e-sports/dota news locally and internationally, sometimes i wonder if my work had been truly appreciated by the community and my superiors/colleagues. Sometimes i question my purpose for this. At the end of the day i realise there needs not to be any appreciation nor purpose; You just need to enjoy it, and be passionate about it. This factor alone is enough to ensure a consistent performance as a media crew, where other incentives such as money & praise are all substantial.

Addtionally, i have received offers to work for Team XTC & also team BVG. XTC most of you would know by now is a local gaming site, while BVG stretches internationally and has poland players. I am unsure of myself at this point. If i take up either of these offers would it seem like I left DotaSg to advance my ranks in the gaming industry? The real reason as to why i left DotaSg is only known to a handful of individuals who i had disclosed to because i trusted them. What would the rest of the community think if i did exactly that? 

Sigh.. life is hard and i realise you can't please everyone in whatever you do. What's most importantly is you must please yourself, because all this that's happening is all about you and not other people. No matter.. 

Below's my offical leaving letter from DotaSg:

Yep, it's official & true. I am leaving DotaSg as of this moment.

It has been a wonderful year, joining this bustling community and getting the chance to interact with so many bubbling gamers. No doubt, i have grown on all these and benefited alot from what i have learnt here, and these skills will always be vital to what i will hope to accomplish in the future.

As to why am i leaving, with the number of commitments on my plate atm. Nevertheless I am extremely grateful to Dotasg for this indefinite period of time, for all that i have learnt here and to DotaSg_Papa, who gave me the chance to be the person that i could never be. He has been the greatest mentor one could ever have and guided me through many occasions. He deserves the utmost respect and commendation for all that he has done for DotaSg and the gaming community, but many fail to see it. My only regret here is that it was never long enough to get to know you guys better and contribute my best to our gaming community, to reach out like how Papa has done so. Lastly, I would like to mention that I respect DotaSg with all my heart, the people here, everything here is like a essential part of my life since i joined in the earlier part of the year. This very short stint also covers the best of my life's experiences, and for that it will always be etched deeply in the corners of my heart. To everyone out there still reading this, stay healthy & alive in DotaSg!

I would like to end off with a quote:

“Things may come to those who wait...but only the things left by those who hustle.”
Abraham Lincoln

With that, I wish you guys all the best in your future endeavours & i sincerely hope that you guys will live better without me. Peace! ^^


Would like to Thank:

-DotaSG_Papa
-Sg_Lancelot
-Dreamchazer
-JTJY
-Forum friends eg Shana89, Fate, Darrenology, Juventusfc27, ZyhinoX, Nanoflame, Drakan, many others.
-Lastly to everyone else who i didn't mention, you all made who i am today. Thank you all!

You may view the original article here in full detail.

Horoscopy?

SAGITTARIUS - The Promiscuous One

Spontaneous. High appeal. Rare to find. Great when found. Loves being in long relationships. So much love to give. A loner most of the time.  Loses patience easily and will not take crap.  If in a bad mood stay FAR away.  Gets offended easily and remembers the offense forever.  Loves deeply but at times will not show it feels it is a sign of weakness.  Has many fears but will not show it.  VERY private person.  Defends loved ones will all their abilities. Can be childish often. Not one to mess with. Very pretty. Very romantic. Nice to everyone they meet. Their Love is one of a kind. Silly, fun and sweet. Have own unique appeal. Most caring person you will ever meet! Amazing in bed..!!! Not the kind of person you want to mess with- you might end up crying.

You kept me alive.

These four simple words from the English Vocabulary which we often use in everyday life in different contexts made me tear, a sudden gush of emotions that swept past me. 

I was watching World Trade Center. A show for those that fought & died on 9/11's tragic event. A similar act of terrorism just occured in Mumbai, and it was the closest to home as one of our very own fell to evil. There is a connection made between these 2 events. The innocent are harmed, regardless of status. It is sad, but it is somewhat fated. If we are to live or die, we cannot forecast it. They say that the 'Hour of Death cannot be Forecast'. (Quoted from Final Destination)