Musings on chess, and lesser things
Two weeks ago, while on holidays back in Australia, I had a strict regime of the morning exercise run along Burleigh Beach on the Gold Coast. You may well question the sanity of voluntary exercise on a supposed vacation, especially for those of you familiar with my aggressive ideological opposition to the concept of ‘running …
Every year, the Australian radio station Triple J conducts the world’s largest online music poll to determine the best 100 songs. Readers may remember my votes for the 2010 Hottest 100, which also doubled as my first attempt to masquerade as a music critic. Triple J blasts the winners on January 26 (Australia Day), and …
Burleigh Beach, Queensland, Australia Post scheduled to upload at: 00.01, January 1, 2013 (Amsterdam/Paris: 15.01, December 31, 2012) Dear Europe, I’m writing this brief note to you from Burleigh Beach, Australia, where I’m holidaying to escape your winter and to bring in the new year. Tonight also marked my first full calendar year as a …
Thursday, 7:00 pm, 20th December 2012 Amsterdam, The Netherlands The day before the world ends. Tomorrow is December 21, 2012: The day the world ends, at least according to the ancient Mayans. I’ve always loved those tricky hypothetical questions such as “What would you do if you knew today was your last day on …
A few pics from my new, accidental purchase from the astoundingly awesome website ThinkGeek. I bought a bunch of stuff from them online, but then mistakenly clicked “Add to checkout” (and forgot about it) when looking at their new shirt range – including this whale-shirt detailing a phenomenally obscure reference to the Douglas Adams …
I have an addiction. A destructive, nasty addiction that is unhealthy, unsightly and, apparently, incurable. It’s a little unusual. It’s not a food, or drink, or any other substance. It’s not, contrary to what some of my snotty-nosed friends might claim, a debilitating dependence on fruit smoothies, or the Twilight series, or even internet chess …
After a less than ordinary performance in the English chess league last season, my captain had subtly hinted that I was playing for my spot in the team in the first weekend of rounds for the new season. But, despite my slip from the 2500s, I felt that the recent Stonewall break-up and the end …
A lot of my friends often ask me what I do in my studies. Unfortunately, for the most part, it’s difficult to make what I study sound interesting to a non-economist. Economics as a field is fascinating and incredibly useful, but the core skills and courses required of a PhD in economics are themselves largely …
Dearest Stonewall, . It’s over. I’m sorry. It’s hard even to pen these words to you, though I’m sure that the pain will pass in time. But this has to be done; I’m breaking up with you, once and for all. Please don’t try to convince me otherwise – you know the effect you have on …
Check out this little beauty: a video montage of movie “checkmates”. Thanks to ChessVibes for picking it up.
PS Did you know Humphrey Bogart (featured in a couple of the scenes) was a chess player? Check out http://www.chessgames.com/perl/chessplayer?pid=65398 .