Thursday, December 28, 2017

Saturday, December 16, 2017

First Scheduled Event Set on Twitch, Saturday, Dec 23 3:00 PM PST

First Twitch scheduled event has now been set for Saturday, Dec 23, 3:00 PM PST. Here is the link to the info: "Sharing My Sources for Political and Economic News"

The description for it is as follows:
"I have had a lot of requests to produce more political videos so I thought it would be worth while sharing some of my main sources for political and economic news. During this live stream we will go over these sources and bookmark them on the new computer. This will be an open discussion. Feel free to ask me what you will about my political and economic views and I will try and share as much as I can. We will keep the live stream going until we get all my main bookmarks in place."
The pic that I used for the Event is from Carlos Latuff, Brazilian freelance political cartoonist [Link to image source].

Hope to see you there :)

Monday, November 27, 2017

How to Play Street Dice: A Simplified Craps Game [ASMR]

See Table of Contents for additional material related to Games and Gambling and ASMR.



Relevant Posts
  • The Seduction of Dice, The Philosophy of Craps

  • How to Play Monopoly: Variant Rules: Fast Rapid Games, Multiple Games per Gaming Sessions

  • Units and Ratios: The Rosetta Stones of Mathematics (The Language of Mathematics IV #148)

  • Rules of Street Dice: A Simplified Craps Game
    1) Roll dice to see who goes first, usually highest first.

    2) Each player puts their ante into the pot.

    3) A point is obtained for rolling a 7 or 11.

    4) Penalties are paid for rolling a 2, 3, or 12 (craps).

    5) Two points wins the pot, given the second point survives the challenge round (see Rule 9).

    6) Rolling a 4, 5, 6, 8, 9, or 10 (the numbers) is inconsequential, nothing happens, except when rolling doubles (See Rule 8: Rolling doubles, gives a re-roll).

    7) The penalty for rolling a 2 or a 12 is to match the ante into the pot. The penalty for rolling a 3 is to put half the ante into the pot.

    8) Rolling doubles, gives a re-roll. Rolling three doubles in a row eliminates the player from that game. The player can join the next game when it starts.

    9) When a player acquires the second point, the game continues for one more round. If any of the other players roll a 7 or 11 they do not receive a point. Their 7 or 11 is used to cancel the second point of the player set to win the game. If a player’s second point gets cancelled, the dice go back to the player that the point got cancelled from and the game continues, i.e., the only way to win the pot is to acquire two points and be able to keep the second point through this last round challenge.

    Friday, November 17, 2017

    Let's Talk About Music: Falling in Love with Rush: Some Advice about Life and How to Live It from 2112 [ASMR]

    See Table of Contents for additional material related to Entertainment/Music, Q&A and ASMR.



    Articles:
  • System Of A Down: Hypnotize (Review, 2006)

  • "The Music Industry almost kills a tribute to one of the greatest albums in the history of Rock and Roll: 2112 by Rush" (2009)


  • "The Music Industry almost kills a tribute to one of the greatest albums in the history of Rock and Roll: 2112 by Rush"


    Let me give you some background Information

    I’m a Rush fan. I have been since the early 1980’s. I have the LPs for their first 4 albums, and CDs of everything up to their 1991 album ‘Roll the Bones’. I’ve also had the pleasure of seeing them perform live in Toronto, their hometown – What a Show!

    It was their 1976 album ‘2112’ that got me hooked. Most music aficionados would agree that it’s a masterpiece - one of the greatest artistic achievements of all time. It’s not only a perfect collaboration between three of the greatest musicians the world has ever produced, its message is timeless, which is why for the last week I have been looping this album, trying to put together a tribute piece that would do it justice.

    I was going to call the post “Come, experience 2112 by Rush: A tribute to one of the greatest experiences in the history of Rock and Roll”. As you can tell my plans changed, thanks to Universal Music Group (UMG).

    I had written most of the text to the piece and started to put together the videos. I knew that I would probably run into copyright issues with Youtube, which is why I also loaded the videos to my DailyMotion account.

    Let’s set the stage

    The story of 2112 is as follows:
    In a dystopian society where ‘every single facet of every life is regulated and directed’ by an oligarchy, a humble individual discovers something beautiful that was long ago forbidden, forgotten, and lost – a guitar.

    When he strums the strings he is filled with beauty, love and light. So much so that he feels obligated to share this new found wonder. His innocence and ignorance bring him to the Temples of the Federation where he has been granted an audience with the rulers.

    He shares his joy. He shows them what he can do with this instrument. The music that he can create. The rulers, however, are not amused. They shun him, dismiss his childish dream of a better world, and they destroy his wondrous find.

    It is then that he awakens to the reality of his life.
    I found it quite amusing to have received the following messages when I loaded the videos on Youtube and DailyMotion:
    Youtube: “Your video, 2112 Part1a, may have content that is owned or licensed by UMG… This video contains an audio track that has not been authorized by all copyright holders. The audio has been disabled.”

    DailyMotion: “Some or all of the elements composing your video, ‘2112_Part6,’ have been flagged as infringing upon the intellectual property rights of a third party (e.g. author, producer, artist, etc.). It has been removed at the request of one or more of the rights holders.”… The same message was received for Parts 2 to 7.
    What I found even more amusing, however, is that Youtube removed the audio for Part 1, and DailyMotion removed the videos for Part 2 to 7, which means that this seven-part suite written by Geddy Lee and Alex Lifeson, with lyrics written by Neil Peart can still be presented. Now isn’t that nice.

    Below you will find the story of 2112, Side A from the album by the same name.

    I was also going to write an intro to Side B - What a rush I found it to be to hop on a train to Bangkok for the first time, where I could enter a world of imagination and explore my dreams' creation. How the music reminded me that my goals are more than a thought. That I can’t get something for nothing. That freedom is not for free, and that I won't get wise when the sleep is still in my eyes no matter what my dreams might be. After all: What I own is my own kingdom, what I do is my own glory, what I love is my own power, and how I live is my own story.

    Without further ado, 2112 by Rush, and I would recommend going through this sooner rather than later because the odds are these videos will not be up for much longer.

    Enjoy.

    Below you will find the lyrics and the story of 2112 plus two live performances, the first from 1976 and the second from 1997.





    2112 by Rush
    "I lie awake, staring out at the bleakness of Megadon. City and sky become one, merging into a single plane, a vast sea of unbroken grey. The Twin Moons, just two pale orbs as they trace their way across the steely sky. I used to think I had a pretty good life here, just plugging into my machine for the day, then watching Templevision or reading a Temple Paper in the evening.

    "My friend Jon always said it was nicer here than under the atmospheric domes of the Outer Planets. We have had peace since 2062, when the surviving planets were banded together under the Red Star of the Solar Federation. The less fortunate gave us a few new moons.

    “I believed what I was told. I thought it was a good life, I thought I was happy. Then I found something that changed it all..."
    Part I: Overture
    And the meek shall inherit the earth...
    Part II: Temples of Syrinx
    ... "The massive grey walls of the Temples rise from the heart of every Federation city. I have always been awed by them, to think that every single facet of every life is regulated and directed from within! Our books, our music, our work and play are all looked after by the benevolent wisdom of the priests..."


    We've taken care of everything
    The words you hear, the songs you sing
    The pictures that give pleasure to your eyes.
    It's one for all and all for one
    We work together, common sons
    Never need to wonder how or why.


    We are the Priests of the Temples of Syrinx
    Our great computers fill the hallowed halls.
    We are the Priests, of the Temples of Syrinx
    All the gifts of life are held within our walls.


    Look around at this world we've made
    Equality our stock in trade
    Come and join the Brotherhood of Man
    Oh, what a nice, contented world
    Let the banners be unfurled
    Hold the Red Star proudly high in hand.


    We are the Priests of the Temples of Syrinx
    Our great computers fill the hallowed halls.
    We are the Priests, of the Temples of Syrinx
    All the gifts of life are held within our walls.
    Part III: Discovery
    ... "Behind my beloved waterfall, in the little room that was hidden beneath the cave, I found it. I brushed away the dust of the years, and picked it up, holding it reverently in my hands. I had no idea what it might be, but it was beautiful" ...

    ... "I learned to lay my fingers across the wires, and to turn the keys to make them sound differently. As I struck the wires with my other hand, I produced my first harmonious sounds, and soon my own music! How different it could be from the music of the Temples! I can't wait to tell the priests about it! ..."


    What can this strange device be?
    When I touch it, it gives forth a sound
    It's got wires that vibrate and give music
    What can this thing be that I found?


    See how it sings like a sad heart
    And joyously screams out its pain
    Sounds that build high like a mountain
    Or notes that fall gently like rain.


    I can't wait to share this new wonder
    The people will all see its light
    Let them all make their own music
    The Priests praise my name on this night.
    Part IV: Presentation
    ... "In the sudden silence as I finished playing, I looked up to a circle of grim, expressionless faces. Father Brown rose to his feet, and his somnolent voice echoed throughout the silent Temple Hall." ...

    ... "Instead of the grateful joy that I expected, they were words of quiet rejection! Instead of praise, sullen dismissal. I watched in shock and horror as Father Brown ground my precious instrument to splinters beneath his feet..."


    I know it's most unusual
    To come before you so
    But I've found an ancient miracle
    I thought that you should know
    Listen to my music
    And hear what it can do
    There's something here as strong as life
    I know that it will reach you.


    Yes, we know, it's nothing new
    It's just a waste of time
    We have no need for ancient ways
    Our world is doing fine
    Another toy will help destroy
    The elder race of man
    Forget about your silly whim
    It doesn't fit the plan.


    I can't believe you're saying
    These things just can't be true
    Our world could use this beauty
    Just think what we might do.
    Listen to my music
    And hear what it can do
    There's something here as strong as life
    I know that it will reach you.


    Don't annoy us further!
    We have our work to do.
    Just think about the average
    What use have they for you?
    Another toy will help destroy
    The elder race of man
    Forget about your silly whim
    It doesn't fit the Plan!
    Part V: Oracle: The Dream
    ... "I guess it was a dream, but even now it all seems so vivid to me. Clearly yet I see the beckoning hand of the oracle as he stood at the summit of the staircase" ...

    ... "I see still the incredible beauty of the sculptured cities and the pure spirit of man revealed in the lives and works of this world. I was overwhelmed by both wonder and understanding as I saw a completely different way to life, a way that had been crushed by the Federation long ago. I saw now how meaningless life had become with the loss of all these things ..."


    I wandered home though the silent streets
    And fell into a fitful sleep
    Escape to realms beyond the night
    Dream can't you show me the light?


    I stand atop a spiral stair
    An oracle confronts me there
    He leads me on light years away
    Through astral nights, galactic days
    I see the works of gifted hands
    That grace this strange and wondrous land
    I see the hand of man arise
    With hungry mind and open eyes


    They left the planet long ago
    The elder race still learn and grow
    Their power grows with purpose strong
    To claim the home where they belong
    Home to tear the Temples down...
    Home to change!
    Part VI: Soliloquy
    ... "I have not left this cave for days now, it has become my last refuge in my total despair. I have only the music of the waterfall to comfort me now. I can no longer live under the control of the Federation, but there is no other place to go. My last hope is that with my death I may pass into the world of my dream, and know peace at last."


    The sleep is still in my eyes
    The dream is still in my head
    I heave a sigh and sadly smile
    And lie a while in bed
    I wish that it might come to pass
    Not fade like all my dreams...


    Just think of what my life might be
    In a world like I have seen!
    I don't think I can carry on
    Carry on this cold and empty life


    My spirits are low in the depths of despair

    My lifeblood...

    ...spills over...
    Part VII: The Grand Finale
    Attention all Planets of the Solar Federation
    Attention all Planets of the Solar Federation
    Attention all Planets of the Solar Federation
    We have assumed control.
    We have assumed control.
    We have assumed control.

    Friday, October 6, 2017

    How to Play Monopoly: Variant Rules: Fast Rapid Games, Multiple Games per Gaming Sessions: Including Sample Live Stream Gameplay

    See Table of Contents for additional material related to Games and Gambling and ASMR.

    1. Introduction
    2. Rules and Sample Gameplay (Videos)
    3. Tables and Rules (Text)
    4. Live Stream Gameplay (17 Games)


    I. Introduction


    Monopoly Variant Rules: Introduction: The Rules, The Mathematics, and Live Stream Gameplay



    II. Rules and Sample Gameplay (Videos)


    How to Play Monopoly: Variant Rules


    Monopoly Variant Rules Gameplay: Learning Math by Playing Board Games



    III. Tables and Rules (Text)


    Larger image size of above table.



    Keep these in mind regarding monopoly, especially for this variant:
    1) Objective of the game is to own everything, and money management is a huge part of this game.

    2) Main strategy is to wheel and deal and bankrupt as many as you can.


    Rules of the variant game:
    1) Shuffle and cut cards before dealing.

    2) Roll dice to see who gets first card (usually highest). Deal cards clockwise, one card at a time. Cards must be distributed evenly, i.e., everyone must have the same number of cards. Extra cards are held by the bank until someone purchases them during regular play, i.e., if available for purchase, person landing on the property can choose to do so.

    3) Pay for your properties. You may have to mortgage what you have already paid for to raise enough funds to pay for the rest of your properties.

    4) Wheel and deal segment. This may take a few minutes. Try to get your hands on sets. Sometimes the deals are one-on-one, sometimes it’s a multiplayer deal, sometimes it’s the whole table.

    5) Roll to see who moves first. Do this after the first Wheel and Deal session.

    6) You must go completely around once, go once around the board, to be able to build on your properties. Going directly to jail does not count as one rotation. Any movements due to “Chance” or “Community Chest” cards count as movement around the board.

    7) Any taxes or fines collected through “Chance” or “Community Chest” cards and interest paid to unmortgage property (10%) goes into Free Parking. Landing in Free Parking gets you the loot.

    8) When in bankruptcy, you cannot wheel and deal, you must pay your creditor or forfeit everything to the person you owe money to. All property must be mortgaged before the handover.

    9) If a bankruptcy occurs due to money owing to the bank, then the bank acquires all the properties, if mortgaged they will now be unmortgaged, and they will be available for purchase during regular play.

    10) The person that is rolling the dice cannot hold up the game to make a deal. Players should be trying to make deals before it is their turn to roll the dice.

    11) No rolling dice if there is payment in progress on the board.

    12) There has got to be enough time between turns to allow people to react. This maybe based on time (5 to 10 seconds), announcements that you/someone is rolling dice, few shakes of the dice, etc.

    13) Once you hear the dice roll, it is your responsibility to keep track of what has occurred.

    14) If you rat someone out you must pay half their rent, i.e., it is the responsibility of the owner of a property to request rent for that property, not anyone else.

    15) Dice tilts are acceptable as a roll, just like craps, however, if the majority of the players agree that it is too close to call, i.e., the tilt is too much, they may request a re-roll.

    16) Dice must land on the board to be counted.

    17) Rent can be collected in jail, making jail a safe haven.

    18) You can only build as many houses and hotels that the market can absorb, as many as there are, 32 houses and 12 hotels. If there are no houses or hotels available to be built, you cannot build unless you are dismantling building on another property you own. One useful strategy is to build only houses possibly preventing someone else from building.

    19) Optional variants rules:
    1) Increase or decrease funds given to each player at the start.

    2) Deal out sets instead of single cards.

    3) You can build at the start, no need to go one full rotation before building phase. Obviously the person going first will have a major advantage. With this variant, sometimes the games last only a few minutes.


    IV. Live Stream Gameplay (17 Games)


    Monopoly Marathon Live Stream Weekend: Introduction to the next 17 Monopoly Games [Gameplay, ASMR]

    Monday, June 19, 2017

    Patreon Page Update

    The following is a little update that I just posted on My Patreon Page:
    Hi everyone. Since I’ve been fairly quiet on the channel for the last couple of weeks I thought I’d give you a little update before I kick things into full gear again.

    I just finished another school year, and like most years my students needed my full attention. As you probably know I’m fairly critical of our education system, I actually consider it to be horrendous, but the kids do try their best to navigate this system and for me the least I can do is try my best to get them through this initiation process.

    As for what’s coming up. I have a few things lined up and a lot of open topics that require further exploration. A lot more on much of those in the future, but right now there is one thing I would like to give you a heads-up on and one thing I would like to get your input for.

    First, when I put this Patreon page together and asked for your help I mentioned that at some point we would start live video chats where we could talk about almost anything you would like. I think I would like to get that started this summer, hopefully in August. My question to you is, which platform would you like to use? Initially I was thinking about keeping things on YouTube but I would rather try another service. I know Patreon just recently did an update but I don’t think they’ve added live video hosting yet.

    One reason I would like to keep this off YouTube is that I want to make sure that for your support you will have my full attention, i.e., this is for you, my Patreon supporters only. The other reason is that since YouTube has pretty hardcore censors, and since almost any topic will be open for discussion, I want to make sure that my channel doesn’t build up too many strikes with the YouTube gatekeepers. In my opinion, it is their platform and they have the right to control what businesses use their services and what the discourse will be, but I would like to offer more. So, any ideas or suggestions where we could do this?

    As for what will be coming up in the near future. A lot more math, comic books, food and ASMR as usual, of course. The topic that I will be starting out with though will be a little discussion on economics which will directly kick us into a set of videos I have lined up on how percentages work (ASMR Math). I’ll explain what the rhyme and reason will be for these videos during the introduction to the economics video, but basically I just want to share my perspective on the economy, economics, where we are coming from, where we are heading and how we can prepare for what is in store. This will be a direct follow-up to my little political rant I did a few months ago and should provide a nice background for what we will be doing in the percentages discussion for ASMR Math.

    Apologies for the long wall of text, but thought I’d give a little update and ask to see where and how everyone would like to hold these live chats. Aside from that, I’m going to take a couple of days to recoup from the end of the school year rush. I’ll be back soon in full force soon.

    Thank you for your support.

    Peace,

    chycho

    Saturday, March 18, 2017

    For the Age of the Information Wars, Some Pertinent Quotes Regarding the Future of Humanity: Stephen Hawking, Carl Sagan, Isaac Asimov, John F. Kennedy, William Thurston, Jacob Appelbaum, and Assata Shakur



    We’re in the midst of a war on information. This war is being conducted on multiple fronts; to control the flow of public discourse on social networks, to control the flow of information on the Internet, to centralize power and continue the flow of disinformation by mainstream media (2, 3), to control public education and continue the indoctrination of the youth (2), to dismiss evidence and defund scientific research, and to acquire all private information for all peoples of all nations and consolidate that information into the data bases of centralized governments (1, 2, 3, 4, 5).

    Below you will find some pertinent quotes regarding this war - the war that will decide the future of humanity. We should heed the warnings given and implement the solutions provided.



    I. Stephen Hawking on Democracy


    “If we accept that we cannot prevent science and technology from changing our world, we can at least try to ensure that the changes they make are in the right directions. In a democratic society, this means that the public needs to have a basic understanding of science, so that it can make informed decisions and not leave them in the hands of experts.” - Stephen Hawking, ‘Black Holes and Baby Universes’, p.28, Speech given in Oviedo, Spain, 1989.


    II. Carl Sagan on Personal Responsibility


    “We live in an age based on science and technology with formidable technological powers… and if we don’t understand it, by ‘we’ I mean we the general public… then who is making all the decisions about science and technology that are going to determine what type of future our children live in, just some members of congress? But there is no more than a handful of members of congress with any background in science at all… and this combustible mixture of ignorance and power, sooner or later, is going to blow-up in our faces.”

    “And the second reason that I’m worried about this is that science is more than a body of knowledge. It’s a way of thinking; a way of skeptically interrogating the universe with a fine understanding of human fallibility. If we are not able to ask skeptical questions to interrogate those who tell us that something is true, to be skeptical of those in authority, then we are up for grabs for the next charlatan, political, or religious who comes ambling along.”

    “It’s a thing that Jefferson laid great stress on. It wasn’t enough he said to enshrine some rights in a constitution or a bill of rights, the people had to be educated and they had to practice their skepticism and their education otherwise we don’t run the government, the government runs us.” - Carl Sagan, 1996.

    Carl Sagan and Government_ Charlie Rose.wmv



    III. Isaac Asimov on Ignorance


    "There is a cult of ignorance in the United States, and there always has been. The strain of anti-intellectualism has been a constant thread winding its way through our political and cultural life, nurtured by the false notion that democracy means that 'my ignorance is just as good as your knowledge.'” - Isaac Asimov, Column in Newsweek (21 January 1980).


    IV. John F. Kennedy on Information and Secrecy


    “As a wise man once said, ‘An error doesn't become a mistake until you refuse to correct it.’ We intend to accept full responsibility for our errors, and we expect you to point them out when we miss them.

    “Without debate, without criticism, no Administration and no country can succeed, and no republic can survive. That is why the Athenian lawmaker Solon decreed it a crime for any citizen to shrink from controversy. And that is why our press was protected by the First Amendment, the only business in America specifically protected by the Constitution, not primarily to amuse and entertain, not to emphasize the trivial and the sentimental, not to simply give the public what it wants, but to inform, to arouse, to reflect, to state our dangers and our opportunities, to indicate our crises and our choices, to lead, mold, educate, and sometimes even anger public opinion.

    “This means greater coverage and analysis of international news, for it is no longer far away and foreign but close at hand and local. It means greater attention to improved understanding of the news as well as improved transmission. And it means, finally, that government at all levels must meet its obligation to provide you with the fullest possible information outside the narrowest limits of national security.”

    “And so it is to the printing press, to the recorder of man's deeds, the keeper of his conscience, the courier of his news, that we look for strength and assistance, confident that with your help man will be what he was born to be, free and independent.” - John F. Kennedy, 1961.

    JFK's 1961 Speech to the Media



    V. William Thurston on the Language of Mathematics


    “We mathematicians need to put far greater effort into communicating mathematical ideas. To accomplish this, we need to pay much more attention to communicating not just our definitions, theorems, and proofs, but also our ways of thinking. We need to appreciate the value of different ways of thinking about the same mathematical structure. We need to focus far more energy on understanding and explaining the basic mental infrastructure of mathematics — with consequently less energy on the most recent results. This entails developing mathematical language that is effective for the radical purpose of conveying ideas to people who don’t already know them. … What we [mathematicians] are producing is human understanding. We have many different ways to understand and many different processes that contribute to our understanding.” William Thurston, On proof and progress in mathematics, Bull. Amer. Math. Soc. (N.S.) 30 (1994), 161–177


    VI. Jacob Appelbaum on Privacy by Design and the Power of Mathematics


    “Privacy by policy is where someone says, ‘I promise I won’t log any data about you.’ Okay, how do you guys feel about that promise?…

    “Privacy by design is where that data is never produced in the first place. So every time you see a system and it says, ‘I need your name, I need your social security number, I need that stuff’, that is a system where they start to implement privacy by policy, almost always….

    “They promise they won’t disclose all this data, that’s policy protection. Policies are weak. Policies at a company are always over-written by the law and government policy. But no, I love to say this phrase because I think it’s fantastic; no amount of violence will ever solve a math problem.

    “They may torture that guy into giving up his passphrase, but you can’t take an encrypted message and shoot it with a machinegun, and have it decrypt itself. And that sounds totally obvious, but think about that, that means when you use strong mathematics that I can hardly comprehend, when you use that kind of strong mathematics and someone sees an encrypted message, the violence of the state is not actually so useful anymore.” - Jacob Appelbaum, 2012.

    Jacob Appelbaum (Part 1/2) Digital Anti-Repression Workshop - April 26 2012



    VII. Assata Shakur on Freedom


    “No one is going to give you the education you need to overthrow them. Nobody is going to teach you your true history, teach you your true heroes, if they know that that knowledge will help set you free.” - Assata Shakur, 1973(?).



    Related WikiLeaks Information:
  • WikiLeaks' Vault 7 "Year Zero": CIA Hacking Tools Revealed

  • WikiLeaks' CIA Organizational Chart

  • Some Related chycho Articles:
  • Anomalies, Prisons, and Geophysics: How Governments Use Data and How to Stop Them

  • Why the U.S. Government has such a hard-on for Edward Snowden

  • The Surveillance State Killed BlackBerry, and the Same Fate Awaits Other Tech Giants

  • How to Protect Ourselves on Social Networks and from Data Collection Systems of Governments and Corporations

  • For the Age of the Information Wars, Some Pertinent Quotes Regarding the Future of Humanity: Stephen Hawking, Carl Sagan, Isaac Asimov, John F. Kennedy, William Thurston, Jacob Appelbaum, and Assata Shakur