Author: Hafiz Noor Shams

For more about me, please read this.

Categories
Gaming Humor

[502] Of Thrall’s going to kick our collective ass

The reason why World of Warcraft is currently the best MMORPG of all time and why it is a bestselling game.

Though I was not in that successful raid of the filthy Orc’s capital as shown in the video, I did join another raid on the same city yesterday. Result?

That’s me. Dead. Another many others.
One problem with huge raid is leadership. Most of the times, while the voice of the mentats can easily be heard prior to an attack, as the time progresses and the target in sight, voice of the leader will usually lost among the noise. Once that happened, a few will rise up to try to take up the leadership. And if none stepped up, the raid is doomed to fail.

In yesterday raid, the initial leader failed to assert his control over time and thus, a few others took the initiative to lead. It was great but the raid was a failure despite the majority of us managed to get behind enemy line and be inside the throne room.

Reason for failure – the lack of obsessive-compulsive behavior. People just gave up.

The plan for the raid was impressive nonetheless. In total, in maximum estimate, 80 people were involved, with at most half were high level players. Two groups were form. One was the main driver while the other was a diversionary force.

It was too complex to be done with large number of people with too short a time. I had my doubt at first though I didn’t voice it. A paladin however did voice his doubt. But a person remark to the paladin, in all hilarity, “of all persons, it’s a paladin that’s having doubt”.

The push against the enemy line was hard. We were confronted from the north and after half an hour, from the south too, making any strategic retreat impossible. Luckily, we managed to break loose after a few tries thanks to the help of the diversionary force. Our back was covered by the secondary column and thus, we were able to concentrate on the major front.

A tribute to taurenslayer, the initiator of the raid and errik for taking up the torch. Also, to all Horde that died valiantly… in their own capital.

p/s – to modem users, don’t even think of clicking on that link. It’s 91 MB.

Categories
Economics Environment Personal

[501] Of St. Patrick Day 2005

St. Patrick Day is the day when everybody:
1. pretends its holidays
2. pretends its spring
3. pretends everybody is above 21

Climate change has possibly made sure that pretending one of the above is harder – I woke up just now and I saw a number for tiny vengeful white flakes invading the cursed Ann Arbor. Heck, as if seeing the disgusting weather with my own eyes is not enough, on the internet, winter storm watch for the Midwest has been issued.

Anybody willing to check when was the latest snowfall each year for the last 100 years for Ann Arbor?

Though I know some econometrics, I’m just too lazy to analyze them. If you want to do it, some sites to look at are the NOAA and the pioneer of online weather report at the University of Michigan Weather. The zipcode for Ann Arbor is 48109 and its location is longitude 83 deg, 43 mins and lagitude of 42 deg, 18 mins. North and west of course.

p/s – somehow, I remember, it snowed in April too. Maybe it’s not too unnatural.

Categories
Economics Environment Politics & government

[500] Of from the plain to the marshes

So, the bid to remove the ANWR provision from the budget has predictably failed by a small margin. The Senate voted 51-49 to reject the amendment. With this, the probability of seeing ANWR being drilled is higher than any other time the drilling idea has reached the floor. The shroud of the dark side has fallen, begun the clone wars has. Er, I mean, er, – actually this ANWR scuffle has been dubbed the first political battle of the year. And Star Wars latest trailer is goddamn sexy though was out a week ago.

And the left is losing badly though the vote will be slim. (Cough) But it’s not so bad. Looking at history, the left loves losing actually.

Official result can be read from the Senate website. Creek Running North has a short entry on who voted what.

Half way around the world, the New York Times has reported earlier last week that progress is being made by conservationist in the Tigris-Eupharates marshes that were devastated by Saddam Hussein. I’m unable to provide the link since it has been archived. However, and fortunately, Google provides an excellent search. For background on the story, read some of my earlier entry and also the enlightening Laputan Logic.

In Malaysia, the ones that are responsible for the environmental destruction near a nature reserve – the ones in the government – has gotten away. Instead, some of the the developers, are being charged. While it’s good to see action is being taken, sadly, the target should be the ones that approved the irresponsble projects, not the ones that conducted the project. But then, again, in Malaysia, priority means nothing. Hey, we will have the biggest courthouse in the world but not the best judiciary system in the world.

p/s – update on Coke campaign. Some student entity from outside Michigan and other schools (Canada… eh?) has contacted the people in Michigan about solidarity and cooperation when Coke is concerned. And some has somewhat called for a North America anti-Coke coalition.

Plus, the College Democrats has jumped onto the bandwagon. The Republicans, I’d imagine, would love to be on the other side. And the official color for this campaign should be green instead of red. Red looks like too commie.

Categories
Economics Environment Politics & government

[499] Of losing the battle

John Kerry offers to strip the drilling proposal from the budget (via). I don’t think Kerry’s suggestion will work, unfortunately.

The Republicans are shrewd to attach the drilling proposal along with the budget. Because of such arrangement, it would only take a simple majority to pass the drilling bill. At the same time, the Republicans are controlling the House.

Alternative Hippopotamus aptly describes the situation for ANWR. The real quote however is:

It would take a miracle to get you out of Casablanca and the Germans have outlawed miracles.

The hippo is right; it would take a miracle to prevent drilling and time to resist is running out. ANWR’s only hope to be left undisturbed is the word no from rational Republican representatives that understand that, as John Kerry has stated during the 2004 Presidential campaign, we can’t drill our way out of this energy crisis.

After more than two decades of fighting, it all comes down to here and now. And the future looks grim.

Categories
Politics & government Sports

[498] Of the largest courthouse in the world

And yes, it will be in Malaysia! (via)

KUALA LUMPUR: The new Kuala Lumpur court complex, scheduled for completion in February next year, will be the biggest in the world, with 77 courtrooms.

The RM290mil complex will house the magistrate’s courts (26 courtrooms), Sessions Courts (21 courtrooms) and the High Court, including the Family Court (30 courtrooms)…

(Cough) I’d suggest Malaysia strengthens the separation between the executive, the judiciary and the Parliament before we start building the world’s largest parliament house. As in right now, the Parliament is under Jabatan Perdana Menteri (that’s the Prime Minister Department for those that are mentally challenged in Malay), which technically, as I understand it, means that the Parliament is under the power of the executive branch of the government.

I’d suppose next year, the Sultan Abdul Samad Building is nothing but history.

p/s – Danny Blind is the new Ajax coach. Ajax for Ajax!