Checkmate.

"Chess holds its master, shackling the mind and brain so that the inner freedom of the very strongest must suffer." Albert Einstein

I was trying to search on Google why people love chess, and I Got this from Facebook.

 ''People often ask me what I find so wonderful about chess. It's a fair enough question to those who don't play the game. People see me obsessed over a puzzle, with a board set up on the coffee table in our living room, my hands moving pieces in a blurred flurry of dexterity and hand motion.

"It's the art man, the art, can't you see it?" I often blurt out. Judging by the perplexed looks on people's faces, I see my point falls short. I had to really think for a moment the last time someone asked me this question. I know why I love chess, my wife knows (since she can play), as do people who play the game. However, to give someone not versed in the game a glimpse into your reasoning, requires some effort.

What perplexes people further is, after I give my long winded explanation, the look on their faces after they ask the next logical question:

"Man, you must be really good at this game?"

"Not really, but I am getting better." I respond

I can see the gears coming to a grinding halt within their collective craniums. You put this much time and energy into a game you're not great at? How long have you been at this? Some of these people are individuals who had to spend years in order to learn how to play a guitar, so how could they make such a statement. After all, there was a point when they were not that great. I guess since chess appears to be simply another board game in a long list of board games familiar to them through their childhood memories, they don't put a great deal of stock in the game itself.

So back to wht I love chess. More so with today's technological advances, we can play chess anywhere, anytime. Computer software allows me to play a challanging game no matter where I am. My assortment of handheld devices allows me to take the game with me everywhere. However, it goes beyond modern technology, for I am 46 years old and come from the "old school" world of analogchess clocks.

I have mentioned my love of chess puzzles and solving them. While I am not a great player, I to can get great satisfaction from this game becuase of the constant challanges I face while learning the finer points of the game. I use a tournament set (Drueke triple weighted, tan and black) and a chess board/mat. What I love doing is getting a new book of tactics and sitting on my couch (my wife, dog and cat all stretched out around me) and going to work.

The game of chess holds me entranced on many levels. I love nother more than sitting at the board on a rainy night, playing the night away. I love the people I have met through this game:

As a musician, you expect to meet a certain type of person as you play club after club. These people are often other musicians and you share your love of music. The people that come to shows are interested in your music and often don't share their outside interests with you. People who play chess are a different lot. There are many interests from people who hail from many countries. With them I get to share world history, customs, information about their country of origin I'd never find in a book, and of course chess. Music can be a world filled with inflated egos, something I find little of in my chess playing friends.

I love reading about chess. Within the pages of a magazine, I might find a small pearl of wisdom that a take and put away for a later day, a day when that little pearl can be grown into a large pearl that I use during a game. I know enough abaout the game to be able to follow matches annotated in books. To the lover of chess, it can be like reading a suspenseful novel, anticipating what just might be beyond the door the hero of the novel is about to open.

I love the game for a thousand reasons, some of which make sense only to me. I love the game because with it, I never have a wasted moment of time. If I'm stuck at the airport, out comes the chess board. If I don't feel like playing guitar, out comes the chess board. To those who don't play, my reasons will be wasted. To those who play, my reasons will be noted''

****

and I found more!   Click. so you can see where these answers came from =)

It's a stupid question in a way. You're probably thinking 'Who cares, it doesn't matter'. In a way, this is true, but have you ever wondered why we enjoy (most of the time!) the game. What's going on in our brains that makes us enjoy it? I find it fascinating. On the face of it, moving 16 wooden pieces around a board doesn't sound like fun, but it's the most enjoyable (second most perhaps  ) thing that I do. There must be a part of the brain that derives pleasure from the process of playing the game.

Does anyone have any knowledge or opinions to shed light on the secret allure of chess? 

*******

'm sure that different people will have different answers. My guesses: ego/ primate dominance behaviour (i.e. I'm the Alpha Male etc.), eternal challenge, love of patterns, analogue of war/conflict, satisfying the hunting instinct, the desire for order (i.e. the chaotic nature of the pieces vs. the symmetry of the board), conquering death, mathematical beauty.

For me, it's probably some sort of combination of the above but foremost is the pleasure that comes from solving problems, especially problems that are both vexing and beautiful.

****

whenever someone ever told me that chess is fun i said its not fun i have no fun whatsoever when playing chess. then they would ask me well why do you play chess and i would say its satisfying. chess to me is satisfaction.

*****

and now. Guess it's about time for me to answer this:

In a world where everything gets complicated, chess makes me feel different and way special. It makes me feel more human. The fascinating world of chess attracts my entire being every time I play. It makes me stronger inside. I'm no nerd. I'm no Grandmaster. The challenging world of chess makes me think fully and think differently. It somehow defines who I am. Chess is great. You make silly mistake or slam the board with your winning moves. Either way, you learn. It's never boring. It is a war on the board where you find pleasure and where you make the complicated things uncomplicated. 

It takes skill, keen brain, great eyes, and a heart to Checkmate.  
xxx
little kiddo

The Young Millionaire Talked.

Thursday. No classes, but there's a Pre-Employment Seminar at our University. Registration starts at 7:00am, and I happened to leave the house at 15 mins before 7:00, so it'll take me 40mins-1hr late on the reg'n. Well, I was thinking that the seminar will probably start late. While I was on the van to school, I was halfway asleep. I didnt even notice I was almost at the school zone. My friend sent me a text message that our classmates only signed the attendance sheet and were planning to go home. So I loved the idea. I arrived at school, saw my classmates. They were caught by the Dean. And who wouldnt be scared?  Graduating students should not break any rules. Ha-ha. So our class ended up going to the Freedom Hall and waited for the program/seminar proper to start. I was thinking, will the session be boring? What can I really get from here? I  just hope attending here is not a waste of time. Those things popping out to my complicated mind.

And here you go, as video presentations regarding the 1st speaker were flashed. We were A.M.A.Z.E.D. He's a millionare at 25. And if you look at him physically, he doesnt look like a guy who owns a million. W.O.W. So here he is. Asking questions first, confusing our minds with his logically challenging questions. It was actually my first time, to really jot down notes. What I just do in seminars most of the time, I just listen. Listen. Listen. Listen. But, this morning I jotted down notes. Another W.O.W. I'm good in jotting down notes, cos I really really jot it all down! Ha-ha/ Let me share to you what he said during the seminar:

''Everything starts and ends with yourself'' I agree.

He is oftenly mistaken as not-the-speaker of an event he is invited to deliver a talk. Cause he really doesnt look like one. He-he. He has delivered talks internationally, and what makes him proud there is: ''A Filipino is speaking before foreigners'' . Pinoys are good speakers. They got a lot in mind.

Next thing, he asked us how do we feel after using the toilet? Some: Comfortable, Happy, and.. SUCCESS! And he told us about the TOiLET PHiLOSOPHY. He said ''Nobody gets out of the toilet without a GREAT IDEA''. AGREE, right? I must say that being in the toilet is my way of relaxing and forgetting about the world. Haha.

He said.. ''Inside the toilet, you think alot, you dream a lot'' and ''after using the toilet, you have two choices: forget about it or fight for it'' .. But people choose to just forget it. Why?  ''It's always easier to forget the dream, than fight for it''. But remember,  ''Your life today will be the product of what you did or did not do with your dream''

and He asked how can we assure the the ''seat'' is ours. Referring to a number of applicants. Is there a job waiting for us?

''Understand Your Motivation''.

''1. Money''

''2. Trend'' People always go with the trend. Yeah. but ''If the trend is no longer there, you're no longer there''.

''3. Title''.. ''Magpapakahirap ka nalang rin sa College, kunin mo narin lang yung pinaka-mahirap''

and the key. ''PRAY''.

''Make a Decision''

1. ''Pursue your Passion''.

''Find your passion. Nobody excels in a field na wala sa kanilang puso''. Couldn't agree.

''Kung alam mo na mali ang direksyon mo, gusto mo pa ba ituloy?''

''The only way to succeed in life is to do what you love''

2. ''Leave my Friends.''

''Sa lahat nang nangyayari sa buhay mo, nandyan ang barkada mo''

but. ''Leave your friends if they don't have any plans''

''Kung ang buhay mo ay ilalagay mo sa mga taong walang pangarap sa buhay, hindi ka rin magtatagumpay''

THINK DIFFERENTLY!

1. Volunteer now, get the job later.

''We don't know everything, but we can learn something''

''Don't make an excuse na hindi ka magtatagumpay sa buhay''

''Work on something you have. Don't work on something that you don't have''.. ''Hindi mo problema yung wala, ang problemahin mo kung paano mo gagamitin ang mayroon ka''.. 'Its not about the resources, it's your resourcefulness''

 1. Identify your Core Strength. Show what you have.

 2. Target a Company. Express your knowledge.

 3. Go to the Company.

 4. Leverage.

''Act like a Professional.''

In life there is no rehearsal, it's always a Performance!

''Ang success, nangyayari lang pag andon kayo'' ''99% of success happens when you are there''.

Make your day an opportunity to become a better person. It's only by becoming a better person that you can have a better life. A better life is reserved for a better person.

the World is your Classroom. You can't stop learning. Force yourself to learn more, little by little.

10 Years from now, of you're not dead, you're ALIVE.

10 Years from now, your kind of life depends on the kind of person you become.

Don't set the limits. Always Break the Limitations.

and lastly ''Whatever happens in your life, just remember to FLUSH the toilet. :P''

and to those who just keep on dictating you, who just keep on criticizing you, you have to understand.. ''Hindi mo maiintindihan kung anong gusto mo kung patuloy mong pakikinggan ang sinasabi ng mundo''

Two words: WORTH ATTENDING. :-)

A thought for the small minds

Great minds discuss ideas; Average minds discuss events; Small minds discuss people. 
Criticism is the disapproval of people, not for having faults, but having faults different from your own.

Out of my massive boredom-ness, I sat all day and just look for some thingmajijs to read. Blog posts, and tweets and stats of others. So I was just thinking. What do others get from sarcastically saying such annoyingly untrue and idiotic judgment on others. What do they really get? Just wasting their precious time in sarcasm and idiocy. I say mind your own business. Others they hardly know, Oh! Get a life, dude! If we always want a change in this world, I guess the change must always start first in ourselves. 

Maybe. People should try looking on the good things others do, not with the little things they have done wrong. Kaya walang naunlad e. Some just have kept on bashing others' lives they hardly know with sarcasm. I pity those, seriously. How happy can they get. Are you guys stuck on Initiative vs Guilt, you self pity alot guys, your excessive emotions are annoying. I think you guys are punishing yourselves for doing such. 

I dont know anything about all of you. And I hate saying things to others I dont know personally because I dont know their life's stories. I mean, hey. Whatever you've gone through, good or bad, dont screw up some more because you feel totally messed up. It wont help if you selfishly criticize, if you do nonstop sarcastic talking, and (excuse me, let me use the F word) if you fuckingly destroy yourself from being educated. 

Cant others just feel good about who they are and stop wasting their so-called precious time on others they do not know personally. I say they do not know personally. Stop all the talking, get a life on your own, People! How insensitive some can be. Oh well. So nothing can stop others from saying annoying untrue words about you naman e. You just got to be  You. Do whatever you want. Cos even if you do it or not, People will STILL say things about you. That's how this world is. 

P.S I am no angel. Life is good when you're happy and no insecure.  

My message to those criticizing in the worst way:
Too much talk leads to sin. Be sensible and keep your mouth shut. Prov 10:19


being criticized in the worst way: 
''You are a glorious, shining sword and criticism is the whetstone. Do not run from the whetstone or you will become dull and useless. Stay sharp.'' says Duane Alan Hahn


xx the little kiddo

The Graduand.

It's the second day of March. And I can feel the Graduation breeze. In no time, I will be a Graduate. After 16/17 years of spending my life facing the school books, hurdling short and long quizzes, beating project deadline. Here I am, almost 12,095 (kidding)  steps away from getting my College Diploma. Hurray!


In April 15 of this year, I will be Mary Ann F. Munoz, a Graduate of Bachelor of Science in Nursing at 20. :-) 

Wacky

My guy just received a Canon 500D from his parents. And he wanted to take pictures of me. B.U.T he gets tired of capturing my annoying face because of the wacky poses I'm making. HAHA! I don't get it. Some says, one poses   wacky because he/she doesn't want others to see or might as well take a glimpse on his/her ugliness. O crap, screw those little things. I think on the opposite. I believe, and dare others to pose wacky. Cos that's when you can test if a physically beautiful person remains a.w.e.s.o.m.e even in the worst, irrational, nonsense poses some refers to. And we'll see.  

Ha-ha-ha. Allow yourself to be different, allow yourself to be not a-trying-hard.


p.s Eccentric or irrational: a wacky person. And BTW, I was just pertaining to wacky and silly shots, okay? :)


Love
the little kiddo