Unpredictable

Jenson Button, beyond all expectations, clinched the 2009 F1 title. Yes, we have known for weeks that he is the favourite for the crown, but honestly, most of us had only start to believe that midway into the season.

Who would have given a serious thought at the start of the season that the Briton would actually be crowned as champion?  For most, Jenson’s good performances in the initial races were thought to be a flash-in-the-pan, and favourites like Hamiton, Massa, Raikkonen or even Alonso would eventually come good. But the end result just goes to show how we were never that good at predicting.

Button, a “handsome swine”, as what my colleague would call him… no disrepect to the swines.

Inspite of that, I am eternally amused how, over the years, many of my friends had tried to devise a “perfect” methology for football betting. They were totally convinced that there is a secret to beat the system and all they have to do is find it. I am always tempted to agree with them when I see them raking in the bucks, until the proverbial Black Swan hit and they lost everything they won, plus a few more.

In the aftermath, they would almost always tell me how they overlooked certain factors or how their emotions got the better of them or how Ronaldo’s injury did them in… but never would they admit that it was just impossible to predict the result of something as dynamic as a football game.

I mean, football is not something that we can crunch the numbers and derived a scientific analysis out of it. Look, what can we tell when Sunderland beat Liverpool 0-1? Does that mean Sunderland is a better team than Liverpool? (I am tempted to say yes to this)

It just meant Sunderland scored 1 goal and Liverpool did not. For all we know (I didn’t watched the game), Liverpool could be having 99 shots at goal, enjoying 99% of posession (not possible, I know) and failed to score but yet, conceded an unlucky (or lucky, depending on your perspective) on their end. 

If we really read into the stats instead of just the scoreline, we would be able to gain a clearer picture of the game itself, but again, even that would not be enough for us to predict whether Liverpool would win, lose or draw in their next match. But, strangely, for some punters, it would be a sure ”sign” that they should avoid Liverpool in their next away game.

But anyway, I am sure Liverpool will lose their next game, because they will be facing Manchester United, and Owen would score…. haha… Humans just won’t change, would we?     

My prediction of the expression of Liverpool’s players after the coming game against Man United.

A Story on Fortune…

Was approached by a fortune-teller in town yesterday, offering me a chance to have a glimpse into my own future for a princely sum of $10.

Unfortunately for him, that amount represented all that I had in my wallet at the time ( ATM machine was a distance away) and I certainly didn’t want to risk any form of gastronomical discomfort by sacrificing my lunch money on services of such speculative nature.

I tried to convey to him, politely (with no mention of my concern for lunch), that I was in no immediate need for his expertise and his time would be better spent on a more receptive audience,  but it apparently did not quite deterred him as he proceeded, without my consent, to give me a “free” reading as a proof of his ability.

In summary, these was what he told me.. about me:

1.  I am born to be a leader. (yeah… I always know I am supposed to be THE boss)

2. I have the potential to achieve great things, but I’m not realising that potential fully yet. (of course, my bank balance is still some zeroes away from Bill Gates)

3. I am a very smart guy (my, was it THAT obvious..?), but I usually do not show that off  for fear of offending people with my intelligence.

After hearing all these ego-boosting compliments about myself (which I have no doubt of their truth anyway..), it was natural and human to want to reciprocate by hearing out his $10 forecast, but  I knew what was to come next…

As expected, after the openers, he dropped the one big, nasty word that all people who have the misfortune of  having their fortune told loathe to hear: 

1. You are a born leader, BUT…..

2. You are full of potential, BUT…

3. You are smart, BUT…. (ouch, shut up!!) 

I am convinced that if there is ever a vote on the most terrible word in the history of mankind, “BUT” would come up on top. Whatever good future you might be enjoying are negated with just this one word after it and all the reasons of WHY you are not enjoying it now, would come after, which usually would be things that are beyond your control…. eg: the alignment of the stars on your birthday, the mood of the deities for that year, or how your nose happen to be at the spot that it is situated et cetra.   

Of course, whenever they presented you with a problem, they would have the solution ready too. The fortune-teller reminded me, in no uncertain terms,  of the many ill effects that the ”BUTs” would have on my destiny, but (the word again) fortunately for me, he was the expert in dealing with them. And since, according to him, our meeting was by some divine intervention (“yuan”) from the above, he would do whatever he could to salvage the rest of my life. 

Just as he was about to launch into his ”solution presentation”, my client came by and we had to move on for our lunch, leaving the disappointed fortune-teller quite possibly without the $10 he needed for his own lunch…

Ain’t much of an expert when it comes their own fortune. 

It’S Magic

Is magic only good for fooling small kids and young girls? Think again…

A former lesbian and sex-worker found a new lease of life 6 years ago when she discovered magic. She is now working towards her dream to become the next biggest female magician in Singapore, after a certain famous female “illusionist” in Singapore. I hope she succeed… God bless her.

 

Magic… more than just tricks.

PS: For those who are curious, I actually know all those details about her through her blog. No, I have not spoken to her yet (my friend did though)… but I might have a chance, since she is going to take part in the magic competition we are organising.