If you were to be sorted into a house in Hogwarts which would it be!?
Well, I don’t really follow Harry Potter so I had to Google the Hogwarts houses. I guess I would have to say “Ravenclaw” because I am so incredibly thirsty for knowledge and I am always looking things up and trying to learn new things.
What does the symbol in your avatar mean and what's its significance?
Back in the year 2000 I had started my own manufacturing consulting company and I was trying to come up with a name. I have spent a lot of time in Asia on business, so I took on the name of “Chikara,” which is the Japanese character you see in my avatar. Chikara means “strength” in Japanese, as I was using Chikara to symbolize “strength” in manufacturing and product development. As Japanese characters were adopted from the Chinese writing, this same symbol means “power” in Chinese. My first and last name have the initials = CD, so I use “cd power” as my name on this site.
I see you're a member of many fellowships. Which ones are your favourites, and why?
The Untouchables is my favorite, and for team tournaments, I am very much exclusive to the Untouchables teams. If I am not a top player and don’t “make the team” for a team tournament, then that is when I will stray and join another fellowship’s team. I like the Untouchables because we have some very strong and committed players… like a brotherhood! I am a member of many more fellowships, and I do play in their fellowship tournaments from time-to-time. For fellowship tourneys, I usually play in the fellowships the most that are set up by Good Foods, Mad Monkey, Universal Eyes, and Baby Girl.
What do you think about Pente & other variants?
I never really played Pente or other line games until recently (the last couple of years), and I learned how to play it here on BK. I am not very good at those games, and I only played those to get an established rating.
What do you think about the ACHIEVEMENTS?
Well, I thought about adding some questions to my own interview here, so I could answer them and then earn an achievement for getting questions answered in interviews, lol! Seriously though, I think the Achievement feature on this site has made the games more interesting, and I have tried many games that I otherwise would have never played. There are some achievements that are broken (not calculating correctly), but I am ok with it. It has been a long time since I have earned a new achievement, and as I am not making thousands of moves per day, I think there may only be a couple more achievements that are within reach for me to get.
What do you prefer: Fischer's clock, X days per move with vacations or X days per move without vacations & WHY?
I like all three of these choices, depending on my own timing and vacation schedule. But, as I am generally a quick mover, I would prefer X days per move without vacations, because I can then join tournaments or select new games that have the “X” days per move so I don’t get stuck with a slow mover who will seemingly never run out of vacation.
What do you think about our BIG BOS -> Fencer?
I think Fencer has created a great site, and I understand he has other work and time restrictions. I am ok with this site “as is.” Every time that I have contacted Fencer, he has been very responsive to me. Even if it’s not the answer I wanted, at least Fencer would send me a reply, and I respect that. If Fencer ever steps foot in the Los Angeles area, I would like to grab a beer with him.
Do you have "Enemies list"? How long is it?
I don’t have any enemies on this site (that I know of). I know I have said some things to a few people on this site that I probably shouldn’t have, such as them moving too slowly, but I tried to be civil and repair any damage I’ve done with anyone on this site. Maybe I’ll have some new enemies if people don’t like some of my responses to these interview questions!
What makes you add someone to PUBLIC FRIENDS?
I will add a public friend if we have shared a conversation during a game, or if we have had many games together, or if someone just wants to be friends for no other reason, I am ok with that, too!
In your opinion - who is the best player in BK & why tenuki? :D
Tenuki certainly has the gaming skills and is obviously a great thinker. I agree, he is the most well-rounded player on BK.
How much time do you spend on BK?
It’s hard to say… during the day, I almost always have BK running on my computer while I’m working, and I will take a few breaks during the work day and make some moves. I am always on BK early in the morning while I’m eating breakfast, and usually I will clear out my moves before I go to bed at night. Overall, I probably spend 1 hour on BK each day even though it feels like it is more than that.
What is your favourite sport?
I love sports. I played soccer (futbol) for 30 years, so I think that is my favorite, especially the World Cup. But I also like to watch college football, college basketball, volleyball, and then I watch the playoffs for the US pro sports, such as NFL (American Football), NBA (Basketball), NHL (Hockey), MLB (Baseball), and MLS (Soccer). I will also watch any sport that gets televised for my University / alma mater... UCLA. I was happy to watch UCLA win the baseball national championship last week. It was UCLA's first ever baseball championship title, but UCLA's 109th national championship... the most by any university in this country.
What is your favorite game?
If you mean my favorite game on BK, then I would first have to say that I love all of the chess variants the most. My favorite game is Dark Chess, even though I’m not very good at it. I like Dark Chess because there is so much deception that one can do in that game. Some of my best wins have come because of a bluff I made in dark chess, where my opponent thought my attacking piece was protected when it really wasn’t.
Are you fan of China/Asia?
I have spent about 4 years cumulative time in Asia on business over the last 15 years. I have been to Korea, Japan, Thailand, Vietnam, Taiwan, Indonesia, India, and to more than 60 cities all over China. I think China is fascinating… there is so much raw beauty (scenic landscapes), historical beauty (amazing ancient architecture), and modern beauty (ultra-modern skyscrapers and buildings). And here's an example of such a building from today's news about a humongous building that just opened in China... it can hold 20 Sydney Opera Houses inside of it: http://www.cnn.com/2013/07/01/travel/china-largest-building-chengdu/index.html?hpt=hp_t2
Do you like ponds? What do you think about live pounds?
Ponds are ok for me… I have tried playing those on several occasions. I appreciate the strategy it takes in those last 5 rounds in order to secure the top spot.
Play for fun or for victory?
A little bit of both… I mostly play for fun, but it sure seems like my opponents always roll doubles to win a game of backgammon a lot more often than I do! That is not fun!
Your "Top activity": 2292 moves (11. September 2010). Where is your limit? & what do you think about 10000+ moves per day?
I think that is my limit. I remember that day, as it was my goal to surpass 2,000 moves that day. I don’t know how people can reach the 10,000 move mark. That is an amazing achievement and one that I am not willing to spend my day in hopes of achieving.
What is your favourite book & why?
I have read many books over the years. I stopped reading fiction books when I was in my 20’s, but my favorites back then were any books by Dean Koontz (suspense thrillers). Most of my 30’s were spent reading books on business. As far as a favorite book, it’s hard to say as I don’t go back and reread books, but there is one book that I have found myself going back to and rereading certain sections of it, and that is called “The God Delusion” by Richard Dawkins. I am a humanist and a lot of what Dawkins has to say really resonates with me, even though I do not take such a public stance as he does.
What is more relaxing: Reading a book, watching a film, or playing at Brainking?
Watching a film is too relaxing for me and I don’t like to turn off my brain. I would much rather pick up something to read or play on Brainking. I find Brainking stimulates my mind and helps keep me sharp in life.
What is your favorite TV series?
I don’t watch much TV, but I do enjoy “The Big Bang Theory” comedy show. That show has intelligent humor (and it takes place in the same city that I live in).
What kind of music do you like?
Music is definitely one of my top three passions in life, so I enjoy almost every genre of music and I keep up to date with all of the artists in each genre of music. However, my favorite is EDM (Electronic Dance Music)… I have been listening to EDM for over 20 years. Within EDM, I used to love trance, but the last five years I have been all about hard style. There is so much energy in the music.
Which fantasy person would you like to meet for a lively lunch discussion?
Ha ha, I would like to meet up with Captain Kirk (Star Trek) or Han Solo (Star Wars) and discuss all of the deep space adventures they have had.
Which game would you like to be added to Brainking?
I don’t play on any other game sites, so I am not familiar with other variants out there, but I would love to see any other kind of chess variant. I once read about “Avalanche Chess” and thought that would be a neat game.
Which real but already dead person would you like to meet for a lively lunch discussion?
Again, I am unable to pick just one person. I would love to pick the brain of Galileo. I would also love to sit down with Thomas Jefferson (3rd President of the USA)… his mind was also way ahead of his time.
Which superhero would you like to be for one day?
Well, this isn't really a super hero, but this person has super human powers. I don't know how many people on BK have seen the movie "Push' (from 2009), but the character named Nick is considered a "mover," which basically gives him telekinetic powers. I think it would be amazing to have that power and to be able to do something good with it.
Who should be the next to be interviewed?
There are so many players on this site... I just looked at one of the larger tournament lists to come up with a few players... how about DOKO, R.A.D.Y., or Kleineme?
Why did you accept this interview request?
I have always enjoyed reading the interviews of my predecessors, and it gives me some information about my opponents that I have been playing against for so many years. Thus, I am happy to contribute and I hope this interview is an enjoyable read for some people.
Would you like to be able to view into the past or the future?
I think both would have its benefits. Viewing into the past could help answer a lot of questions, but I would prefer to view into the future, as I am curious about what is in store for our planet and the human race.
If you could change one thing on Brainking, what would it be?
I would like the achievement calculator fixed (i.e. # of games, tourneys, etc), but I would also wish there was a marketing effort to attract many new players to Brainking. If I had the time, I would volunteer to do this for Fencer, but I don’t have the time, and I understand why Fencer can’t do it either.
Is unlimited number of games a blessing or a curse?
It is a blessing as I do not like to have a ceiling that keeps me down. However, I am also able to exercise self-restraint and only take on the number of games that I can play. Most of the players on this site can do the same. It is the few players that take on too many games and then time out, or let games drag on forever, that ruin it for the rest of us.
What does your name "cd power" stand for?
Although not specifically asked this before, please refer back to the 2nd question at the top regarding my avatar for my explanation.
How many Brainking players do you know in real life?
I have only met one... “Awesome” who also lives in California. We make sports bets (for food) against each other and the loser has to pay for lunch when we see each other.
How did you find Brainking?
I don’t even remember as it’s been such a long time. I think I performed a Google search for internet chess, and then I explored a few game sites and fell in love with this one. I really enjoyed the variety that Brainking was offering and the user-friendliness of the site, so that is how I chose it.
If I said you had a beautiful body, would you hold it against me?
Pedro’s bad pick up lines are improving. The last time Pedro hit on someone he said, “Is that a mirror on your zipper, because I can see myself in your pants.”
Why is “bra” singular and “panties” plural?
Because “bra” is singular, and if you had more than one, it would be the plural “bras.” Similarly, “panties” is plural, but if you had just one then it would be the singular word “panty.”
Do you like to fish?
I’ve only been fishing about a half-dozen times, and I did enjoy every time. I’ve been deep sea fishing in the Caribbean and also in the Sea of Cortez (Gulf of California).
Have you ever been to the UK. if so where abouts, and did you enjoy it?
I had a connecting flight once at London-Heathrow airport… I enjoyed it a lot, lol! I would like to make an official visit to the UK… there is so much history and a lot to see there.
Can you speak any other language?
I’m fairly fluent in Spanish, and I can speak enough Mandarin Chinese to survive in China. I also know quite a few words in many other languages, but nothing to write home about.
What do you think when you see someone with brightly coloured hair?
I think it’s awesome. I love it when people express their individuality. I live in the Los Angeles area so I see many people with funky colored hair, clothing, etc. I also admire tattoos.
What's the best place to have vacation?
That totally depends on what you like to do. I used to love the beach, but now I’m more of a mountain person. I also like getting in a car and taking a road trip on small roads to see the things that one normally might not get to see. I have been to 49 out of 50 US states. I have also visited many places in Asia as I mentioned in a previous question. I have also been to Canada, Mexico, Aruba, Fiji, Germany, Sweden, Spain (including running with the bulls in Pamplona and partying in Ibiza), Belgium, and I’m probably forgetting some more. Out of everywhere that I’ve been, I cannot pick a best place because each place has its amazing qualities.
What is your favorite drink?
I love coffee… but if you’re talking about alcohol, I like Sangria… I always have some in my fridge! My favorite beer is from a microbrewery in Texas… Shiner Bock.
Which type of tournaments do you prefer?
I prefer single elimination the best, because it’s easier to control my game count that way. Some of the round-robin tournaments can quickly add a lot of games to your count.
What do you like to do for fun when you're not on Brainking?
My wife and I are very active people… we always have something to do, so we don’t get much rest. My “fun” time consists of doing things out in nature and with wildlife, such as hiking and looking for cool creatures. I volunteer a lot of my time to help out many animal rescue organizations. I have over 20 animals at my house, so I spend a lot of time with them, too.
Which BK players did 'enrich your experience' the most?
There are many. I’ve enjoyed many good conversations with Awesome and Skinny18. There are many players that I have learned a lot from and have helped me improve my game (and they don’t know it, as I’ve never mentioned it)… some of these players are Pioneer54, Pythagoras, Kleineme, Bobes.
in your album, you like snake?
Yes, I love snakes… all snakes. I own 7 snakes right now (out of 23 current pets). It pains me when I hear of people killing snakes, because most are non-venomous and don’t mean any harm to people… they help keep the rodent population down. Also, there are many non-venomous snakes that EAT other venomous snakes (because they are immune to the venom), so it is good to keep those around. Even with the venomous snakes, they won’t bother you unless you bother them. Most snake bites to humans occur because of a human trying to hurt/kill the snake. I’m an active member of the herpetologist society so if anyone has any questions regarding reptiles and amphibians, feel free to message me.
how long play in BK?
I’ve been playing here for 8 years… wow, how the time has flown by! I don’t play as often as I used to, but I still keep BK open on my browser during work, and I will make some moves periodically throughout the day.
I see you are top of the achievements page, do you aim to get them all?
No, I do not plan to get them all, nor do I think I ever will. I may only earn another 100 pts in achievements… I’m pretty much at my peak now.
Apart from your home country, where have you travelled to?
I’ve mentioned this in similar questions above, but here’s the short answer: Canada, Mexico, Aruba, Fiji, Vietnam, Thailand, Taiwan, Japan, South Korea, Indonesia, China, India, Germany, Sweden, Spain (including Ibiza), Belgium.
If you could turn yourself into any animal you wanted for a day, which would it be and why?
Definitely the “Mimic Octopus.” As everyone knows, octopi are among the most intelligent creatures, but the mimic octopus takes it to a new level. They are capable of impersonating other sea creatures. Paste this link into your browser to get an idea of what I am talking. Anyhow, being a mimic octopus would give me a great chance to see what life is like in our oceans. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=H8oQBYw6xxc
Which is better: To have the right answer to the wrong question, or to have the right question but not know the answer?
I don’t know what good it is to have a right answer to a wrong question, but I can see a benefit in having the right question and not knowing the answer. Throughout history, the brightest minds have had the right question without knowing the answer, and having this right question will spark curiosity that will lead to experimentation or other means to find the answer to that question. This is how we have evolved and made great discoveries.
Assuming the genie not to be a trickster, what would your three genie wishes be?
I don't need to be selfish with the wishes, so I'll choose three philanthropic ones… and yes, I am an idealist. My first wish has been and probably always will be a total pipe dream, but it would be for everybody to accept everybody, no matter their ethnicity, religion, sexual orientation, etc. We’re all in this together, floating on this giant rock throughout space. We’re so advanced with technology, yet we’re so primitive in our relations and out-dated beliefs. My second wish would be to cure cancer… researchers are actually coming close to solving this one… using, guess what?... snake venom. Another reason why I like snakes. My third wish would be to end world hunger. In the news here (in the USA), we mostly hear about how somebody shot and killed some people. But we rarely hear about the 26,000 children world-wide that die EACH day from starvation.
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