The Rocket

I was spot on with the TV last night.

Turned on the TV once I reached home and they were showing the reply of this year’s 888.com World Snooker Championship where Ronnie O’Sullivan was playing Mark Williams.

It was the 20th frame and Ronnie was leading 12-7 in a best of 25 match.

I always watch with enthusiasm whenever Ronnie plays. I do watch other players, but Ronnie is simply a genius when it comes to . Even those who know nuts about will love watching him because he pots balls after balls, effortlessly.

They don’t call him The Rocket, the most naturally talented and genius player for no reason.

You can read yourself for more about him here.

The first time I saw him on TV 8 years ago, he was playing well with his left hand for the entire match. So, I thought he was left handed. The next time I saw him play, he was playing with his right hand. And when I asked others about it only did I realized he was right handed and he could beat any top 16 players with his left hand as well.

Here’s a video where Ronnie made a century, left handed.

O’Sullivan is right-handed, but can play to a high standard with his left hand. While not quite possessing the same power in his left arm, being ambidextrous enables him to attempt shots with his left hand that would otherwise require awkward cueing with a rest or spider. O’Sullivan sometimes plays with a variety of bridge hands.

When he first displayed this left-handed ability in the 1996 World Championship against Alain Robidoux, the Canadian accused him of disrespect. O’Sullivan responded that he played better with his left hand than Robidoux could with his right. O’Sullivan was summoned to a disciplinary hearing in response to Robidoux’s formal complaint, where he had to prove that he could play to a high level with his left hand. He played three frames of against former world championship runner-up Rex Williams, winning all three. The charge of bringing the game into disrepute was subsequently dropped.

Here are all 8 videos of his 9 147’s.

  1. 2008 World Championship Last 16 vs Mark Williams
  2. 2007 Northern Ireland Trophy vs Ali Carter
  3. 2003 World Championship Round 2 vs Marco Fu
  4. 2001 LG Cup vs Drew Henry
  5. 2000 Scottish Open vs Quinten Hann
  6. 1999 Grand Prix vs Graeme Dott
  7. 1999 Welsh Open vs James Wattana
  8. 1997 World Championship vs Mick Price (fastest 147)

Couldn’t find the 9th one. That happened when playing Stephen Hendry in 1997.

July 29, 2008 | Filed Under Sports | Leave a Comment 

Why take SQ?

That’s the wide LCD screens on SQ flights! Damn sharp. No more those small and blur 5″ screens. The chairs are much wider and it feels much more comfortable. Not forgetting new pillows and blankets as well. The isle is a little wider I think and the overhead compartment is higher compared to the old design.

All this on a Boeing 777-300ER.

With all the new design it makes me think gazillion times whether I should take MH ever again. All my trips this year were on SQ and SQ it shall be now.

Did you know most of SQ’s flights depart right on time and arrive earlier, while most of MH’s flights do the exact opposite thing? For example, if the departure time is 0000, the SQ planes are either taxing to the runway, or it’s already queuing to take off.

And what about MH?

The door is still open waiting for VIP or missing passengers. I’ve hear this typical excuse many times over and over again, both on international and domestic flights.

“We’re sorry for the delay as some passenger didn’t turn up and we’re now unloading their luggage from the plane. It’ll take 15 minutes….”

It’s not once or twice, but I think I’ve heard it many times! Maybe I’m that fortunate. Who knows.

Last year, my flight to Frankfurt got delayed for 24 hours, and then the already delayed flight was again delayed for 2 hours. And the best thing was, we were all sitting and waiting inside the plane from 2330 to 0430, with the plane parked at KLIA.

Once I was out of the plane, I lodged a complain because the delay was causing some inconveniences for my connecting trains in Europe and I had to repurchase the tickets. This complain itself took me almost 3 hours and it was 8am that I reached home.

After 2 months, they sent a letter stating that I’m entitled for 30% discount on my next MH ticket purchase within 1 year. From the way I see, it would be a hell lot of trouble just to buy this ticket with 30% discount.

And most of SQ’s fleets are new, somewhere 3-5 years old if I’m not mistaken.

Did you know what I saw on a MH flight last year? There’s a silver plate on the wall stating something like “First 777 to fly around the world non-stop. 1997“.

What does that mean?

You know, delay is one thing about MH. Cabin crew attitude is another.

I wonder how they could get voted as best cabin crew. You’ll know what I mean if you happen to drive to KLIA. You’ll see the super big ad board when you’re nearing the airport.

How could you be voted as best cabin crew when the staffs are so rude, sarcastic and showing their black faces?

What about jumbo sized air stewardess? I thought being slim is one of the requirements? You know when you’re sleeping and they just happened to bump onto you when they walk pass the isle?

And what about pressing the attention button and they came to you after 40 minutes?

For me, I rather transit in Singpore just to take SQ even though it means a few more additional traveling hours. How could you be bored in Changi airport? There are so many things to window shop.

KLIA? Guess yourself.

Another thing about MH is that it takes lots of trouble to change the departure date of the return trip. Few years back, there’s an option to leave the ticket open for either 1 month or 1 year. And when I want to go back, I’ll call up the airlines to get the date and seat confirmed.

Sometime last year, they changed this policy. If I’m buying a return ticket, I’ll need to place a date for the return trip. It can’t be left open anymore. And this is where all the troubles and hassles come into picture.

Most of the time, I won’t be working in the capital of the country and I won’t be sure when I’m returning. I’ll be stuck somewhere far away for a long time. So, if I ever need to change my return date, I’ll need to bring my original ticket to the MH office so that they can re-validate it, ask me to pay the penalty fees and then issue me a new ticket.

How troublesome!

What about SQ?

I’ll still need to place a return date during initial booking. But this return date can be changed without much trouble or any penalty fees. I can do it from anywhere. Just give the travel agent a call, and it’ll be done right away. And then I print out the new e-ticket. That’s all.

Now you see why many Malaysians prefer SQ.

July 24, 2008 | Filed Under Travels | Leave a Comment 

Brain Dead!

My brain seems to be turned off since the night out in Kolkata on Friday. Up till now, I’m so lost when it comes to having new ideas for what I’m working on. Usually, I’ll have lots of new ideas popping out from nowhere, even when I’m half asleep. But now, I couldn’t even write a proper article!

The whole weekend just got so screwed up and wasted without serious productivity except hours and hours browsing my favorite online forums, Facebook-ing and watching the TV which doesn’t show 2 of the main programs I wanted to watch; Formula 1 and Tour de France.

It’s kind of a small achievement that I’ve finally managed to write a post here with the condition of my brain now. Maybe it’s time to sleep again and see if things get better tomorrow.

July 21, 2008 | Filed Under Life | 1 Comment 

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