Plants vs Zombies Survival: Endless – Scott’s Setup

Plants vs. Zombies is a great tower-defense style game. It’s my second purchase via the game downloading service provider, Steam – at only USD10. Read these articles or watch some Youtubes to find out more:

http://www.popcap.com/games/pvz
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Plants_vs._Zombies
http://tvtropes.org/pmwiki/pmwiki.php/Main/PlantsVsZombies

For clarification on the terminology, plant types and zombie types, try searching on the Plants vs. Zombies wiki.

Playing and beating all the various game modes unlocks Survival: Endless mode, where wave after wave of zombies comes at your defenses, pausing every now and then for you to swap some of your defense choices.

After trying out my own preliminary defense layouts and reading the excellent strategies at GameFAQs guides, here’s my current finalized layout and explanation of my placement choices (Note: see very bottom for update on layout):

Cop Pretenders Had Robbed in JB

From The Star 2 July 2009:

Busted — duo who posed as cops to rob

PORT DICKSON: An uncle and nephew team thought they had the perfect script to commit robberies.

They stole a Proton Waja similar to the one used by the police, fitted it with registration plates belonging to the men in blue and then waylaid their victims.

However, their crime spree came to a halt when alert police officers ran a routine check on the “patrol car”.

District police chief Supt Mazlan Othman said officers on duty became suspicious when they saw an unfamiliar “policeman” driving a “patrol car” around the resort town recently.

“They stopped the Waja bearing the registration plate WMJ 8305 and confirmed that it belonged to the police. But my men became suspicious when the man could not produce his police ID,” he said, adding that the car seized from the suspect was reported stolen in Batu Pahat, Johor, recently.

Supt Mazlan said preliminary investigations revealed that the man, who was in his 20s, and his uncle had committed several robberies in Johor and near here.

“He confessed that his uncle was his partner in crime,” he said, adding that the suspect has been handed over to Johor police and that the uncle was expected to be arrested soon.

Man Shot Dead on JB Residential Road

…Super near where we used to stay!

From The Star 28 June 2009:

Trader gunned down in JB
By FARIK ZOLKEPLI

JOHOR BARU: A 42-year-old supplier of alcoholic beverages was gunned down by an unknown assailant after his vehicle was knocked from behind.

Wong Bak Wei, who was with his wife and sister-in-law, was driving his Toyota Estima in Taman Molek after dropping off his son at a nearby tuition centre.

Then, Wong and the two women went on their way for grocery shopping at about 9.55am in Taman Johor Jaya when a car, believed to be a Toyota Vios, bumped into his vehicle from behind.

When Wong got out of his vehicle and went to the back to inspect the damage, the unknown assailant shot him point-blank in the head.

Seri Alam OCPD Supt Roslan Zainuddin said police were ruling out robbery as a motive as the victim’s belongings did not go missing.

“We are still ascertaining the murder weapon used. We have not recovered any bullet shells or casings,” he said, adding that police were checking whether the victim had any enemies or past criminal records.

The body, he said, had been sent to the Sultanah Aminah Hospital for a post-mortem.

He urged anyone with information to contact the police hotline at 07-221 2999 or the nearest police station.

Transformers 2: Complete With the Spirit of Obama

I just watched Transformers 2, and while it’s just a little draggy at 2 & 1/2 hours and has some unnecessary toilet/frat humour, it’s great entertainment on the whole.

The non-bigoted among you will also be glad to know that Megan Fox thankfully keeps her tasteless rhetoric for which she isn’t going to apologize for off-screen (not that anyone actually goes to see her instead of the giant robots – even director Michael Bay dismisses some of her rantings!).

MINOR SPOILERS FOLLOW

But get this: In contrast to the first film where the President of the United States’ identity is hinted at but not made explicit, and a fictional Vice President calls the shots, this time around the President is clearly named as Obama.

And a very true to life Obama it is! Because while he doesn’t make an actual appearance, his presence is left throughout the movie.

Observe the following:

1) An official representative is sent by the President (Obama) himself to carry out the President’s will with the authority of the President’s signature. Said representative is nothing but an ostentatious career bureauweenie who is appointed – czar-like and overruling – over the heads of the military by the President himself, to oversee and eventually dismantle the Human-Autobot alliance… Despite having a total lack of experience or hands-on knowledge about the subject matter. [Leon Panetta and the CIA, Brian Deese and GM's dismantling]

2) He ignores and belittles the experience and advice of troops on the ground who have actually been working with the Autobots to fight the Decepticons, in favour of his own (and by extension, Obama’s) pre-conceived notions. [Obama's attitude towards General Petraeus and the Surge in Iraq]

3) He turns his back to the Autobots (again, merely reflecting the President’s stance) despite their history of cooperation, alliance and friendship. [Poland, Israel]

4) When the Decepticons issue an ultimatum and threats of mass destruction, he delivers the President’s policy of seeking diplomatic negotiations despite advice from those who know the Decepticons that negotiations and appeasement do not work with genocidal fanatics… And even if it means acquiescing to the enemy’s demands and sacrificing one of their own, innocent people. [Iran's protests and nukes, North Korea and nukes, Russia and missile defense vis-a-vis Poland, Taliban in the Swat Valley of Pakistan]

Wahkakakakakaka! Who said there’s no reality in Hollywood? Apparently, Michael Bay isn’t much in the tank for Chairman Zero!

Madagascar 2

I watched it long ago.

Why is this post here?

If I don’t blog it, I forget that I watched the show. So this post is for my own reference.

Obama’s Approval Rating Hits Negative, Eats Ice-Cream and Golfs While Iranians Die

Just 154 days into his presidency, Obama has managed to garner his first negative rating of -2:

The Rasmussen Reports daily Presidential Tracking Poll for Sunday shows that 32% of the nation’s voters now Strongly Approve of the way that Barack Obama is performing his role as President. Thirty-four percent (34%) Strongly Disapprove giving Obama a Presidential Approval Index rating of -2. That’s the President’s lowest rating to date and the first time the Presidential Approval Index has fallen below zero for Obama (see trends).

It’s a 32 point drop in less than 200 days. That’s much faster than the ‘hated’ George W. Bush!

It may be in part due to his recent, consistent limp-wristed refusals to condemn the Iranian government’s brutally violent atrocities against unarmed protesters, such as this shot dead unthreatening young woman:

WARNING! GRAPHIC IMAGE AND VIDEOS!

UMNO Chief is Shocked That Political Leaders Could Call For Bloodshed

Q: When do you ever hear about BN and UMNO politicians denouncing calls to violence and bloodshed to further one’s agenda?

A: Only when it’s not your own party doing the calling, DUH.

From The Star 15 June 2009:

PAS’ bloodshed talk shocking

Kelantan Umno liaison chief Datuk Mustapa Mohamad is shocked that some PAS leaders have resorted to telling party supporters in Manek Urai that they must defend the seat even if they have to “shed blood”.

Mustapa said it was regrettable for leaders to incite their supports by becoming so emotional when the by-election was just about winning influence.

“I am shocked that some PAS leaders can come out with talk of bloodshed and violence and this is very dangerous.

“Barisan Nasional rejects such approach because at the end of the day, this is just politics,” Mustapa said in his speech before the launching of the Barisan election machinery by Umno vice-president Datuk Seri Mohd Shafie Apdal here on Saturday night.

He added that Barisan would not employ dangerous and desperate tactics as used by PAS, and urged those involved to stop doing so as it would be difficult to control their supporters once they became highly emotional.

“Has PAS lost the art of wooing the hearts of the voters or have they lost their minds to subscribe to such a militant approach?” he asked, adding that in the end, the winner would be decided by peaceful voters.

Seriously, keep the remarks about blood but replace ‘PAS’ with ‘Najib’ (or any of the other UMNOputras who have gone on the record calling for bloodshed) in the above, and you might have one Kelantan Umno liaison chief locked up under the ISA.

English as a Compulsory to Pass Subject in SPM – My View

Here are some views on the issue of whether English should be a compulsory to pass subject in the SPM, from The Star 9 June 2009:

Malaysian English Language Teaching Association president Dr S. Ganakumaran said that before making English compulsory, the Government must upgrade the quality of teaching and learning, as well as the professional skills of teachers.

Parent Action Group for Education chairman Datin Noor Azimah Abd Rahim concurs, saying that it can only be carried out when weaknesses within the teaching profession had been ironed out.

“It is one way for the standard of English to be improved, but the issue of Teaching of Mathematics and Science in English has to be sorted out first,” she said.

Movement for the Abolition of Teaching and Learning Science and Mathematics in English president Datuk Dr Hassan Ahmad disagrees with the idea.

“If a student obtained As in all subjects except English, this means he failed his SPM. He would become a victim of the English Language colonisation,” he said.

Dr Hassan said it would be more sensible for the Government to revamp the teaching of English to ensure all students, particularly those in the rural areas, became proficient in the language.

As The Star reports, Deputy Prime Minister Tan Sri Muhyiddin Yassin wants the public’s feedback on the matter by calling the Education Ministry’s customer service line at 03 – 7723 7070 or by emailing to kpkpm@moe.gov.my.

Here’s my take on the matter: No, English shouldn’t be a compulsory to pass subject in the SPM. Here is my reasoning:

The majority of Malaysian students (and indeed, Malaysians on the whole) suck at English. By forcing them to pass English in SPM before being allowed to move on to the next level of education, we would be hamstringing their otherwise workable results (e.g. excellent maths or technical skills).

Of course, by allowing students to basically ignore English all the way to university, we would be producing citizens who cannot function in the international, English-compulsory stage. And they would be sorely tested if university lectures are held in English.

But does everybody really need a university education? The nation needs plenty of service and technically-skilled personnel, such as mechanics, electricians, locksmiths… All stuff that a tertiary-level egghead like myself cannot do!

And does everyone in Malaysia really need to speak English on par with British or American standards? We need professionals at home too, instead of planning to send out every graduate overseas. Indeed, I bet a fair percentage of local students have no plans at all of venturing outside Malaysia where their reliance on only their mother tongue would be a setback.

And if a worker decides that he or she wants to move on to lucrative international employment, they can start learning English on their own accord (or study harder during school years to ace that SPM exam). Indeed, this is already demonstrated with Mandarin – countless students and professionals are picking it up all on their own, in order to capitalize on the emergence of China as a world player (perhaps the world player). Yet we don’t see the government debating whether or not to make Chinese a compulsory pass subject.

The same goes for other skills often sought out by employers but not formally and compulsorily taught, such as computer literacy, driver’s license, sales skills, sucking up to the boss, etc.

In conclusion, by not making English a prerequisite to an adequately-lit future, we can reach a compromise between having an internationally-capable workforce (those who make individual efforts to learn English, for their own benefit) and not unduly burdening those who only aim to be part of the local workforce (and have no intention at all to ever step out of their local-dialect comfort zones).

Frankly, the level of English required to pass SPM is much higher than that needed for basic communication. Of course, ‘pasar’ English is not going to hammer out a functional resume… But as I keep harping on about, if applicants really want that high paying job in a multinational firm, then they should go out and learn English on their own initiative!

PS. As I’ve said before, English is stupid and hard! But if it weren’t, I wouldn’t have a job…

PPS. This entire post is so not a cynical ploy to increase my employability relative to others. Really.

UPDATE: Apparently, many people (at least the more vocal ones) think the same too.

Ignorant Obama Gives Islam Credit for Two of the Four Great Inventions of China

From Obama’s pandering speech to the Muslim world delivered in Cairo:

“As a student of history, I also know civilisation’s debt to Islam. It was Islam – at places like Al-Azhar University – that carried the light of learning through so many centuries, paving the way for Europe’s Renaissance and Enlightenment. It was innovation in Muslim communities that developed the order of algebra; our magnetic compass and tools of navigation; our mastery of pens and printing; our understanding of how disease spreads and how it can be healed. Islamic culture has given us majestic arches and soaring spires; timeless poetry and cherished music; elegant calligraphy and places of peaceful contemplation. And throughout history, Islam has demonstrated through words and deeds the possibilities of religious tolerance and racial equality.”

See the link for more analysis of Obama’s flunking history, but I’m focusing on just two of his ginormous errors.

As a full-blooded Chinese, I am appalled and incensed that Obama couldn’t even bother to check Wikipedia to find out what everyone else knows – that the magnetic compass and printing were two of the Four Great Inventions of ancient China.

Our inventions! You ignorant, pompous and condescending American liberal! You tremendous suck-up and political chameleon. Yes, you are! Why else would you three times deny that America is a Christian nation even though it has the largest Christian population in the world, while claiming that America could be considered one of the largest Muslim nations?

And you know what the kicker is? The way that the Islamic empire got ahold of those two proudly Chinese inventions among many others was by forcing Chinese prisoners to reveal their culturally inherited techniques, most likely by torture (which happened to be far more brutal than sissy modern CIA methods, but probably comparable to mutilation techniques used by modern jihadists).

I wonder what the Close-Gitmo-and-Waterboarding-is-Illegal-in-Chief would have to say about that. (Club Gitmo being actually a very lavish comfy place indeed.)

Indeed, I wonder what the modern Chinese would have to say about his historical revisionism. Give him an earful, Chairman Wen!

Team Fortress 2: Jarate Origin Comic

Click the comic snippets montage above to see the full comic. Or click the Sniper vs Spy link for the series of updates which gives the context (sorta) and some amusing exposition.

See also similarly styled comics at these Jay Pinkerton comics.

In related news, the latest update for Team Fortress 2, Sniper vs Spy, has implemented a change to the unlockables that is controversial at the very least. In short, unlockables are now granted randomly as a result of play time; obtaining achievements with a particular class have nothing to do with it any more.

This brings joy to the casual players, for now they don’t have to slave away for hours chasing after difficult achievements in order to get the alternate weapons.

It’s good for the game’s classes – previously players would use a class extensively in order to unlock the new weapons for that class, now they will play a class because they just got a new weapon for it.

It’s good for Valve’s business too, in that more casual players will be drawn to this ‘more equal’ playing field.

This simultaneously brings resentment from the dedicated players – those who have already sweated and strained and unlocked all the goodies through the sheer hard work of earning achievements. All their efforts have now been greatly devalued.

For me, I only had the Pyro unlockables Flare Gun and Backburner from grinding achievements. Now I can run around exclusively as Pyro with the powerful Backburner and still find items for the other classes! Hooray! Best of both worlds for me.

On the pros’ resentment, I could draw a Biblical comparison to the Parable of the Workers in the Vineyard.