Musings on chess, and lesser things
I’ve vehemently tried to avoid commenting on the federal election, primarily because it’s just so uninspiring. A tepid, usually negative campaign has disappointed all but the most desperate political junkies, and the only sign of passion was when Mark Latham decided to have a go at everything and everyone in sight. I happened to be …
We are all aware of the age-old debate as to why there are so few top female chess players. Nature versus nurture takes on a fundamental role in this argument, with scientific studies supporting both sides of the issue. While I can’t see how anyone would believe there are innate or biological differences in the …
No, not the original. The new version, which is set in China, and somewhat confusingly features kung fu instead of karate. I went to see it with a couple of my ju jitsu mates – I’ve recently picked up ju jitsu, which has not succeeded in making me any more dangerous (except perhaps to myself), but has been …
Am I the only person in Australia who hates MasterChef?! Australia’s number one television show once again blew the ratings out of the water with its ludicrously popular second series. For those of you who aren’t familiar with it (which is in itself quite an enviable achievement), MasterChef is a reality show in which amateur …
Starved of chess action in between tournaments (and even more so following my office IT’s decision to block all chess blogs and forums at work), I decided to organise the inaugural Treasury Chess Championships. Perhaps it’s the sorts of people attracted to both chess and economics, or perhaps it’s just the Canberra cold, but the …
Well, the greatest sporting show on earth is over for another four years. Spain has triumphed with the perfect Swiss Gambit, losing the first round and then swindling their way through to the final. (Of course, the Swiss Gambit is not a traditional ploy for knock-out competitions, but it was always going to be a …
So the debate continues to rage over Uruguay’s deliberate handball on the goal line to snatch a remarkable, controversial and unexpected victory against Ghana. News forums and blogs have shown quite a split consensus over whether such a foul brands the culprit, Luis Suarez, an unsportsmanlike villan, or a national hero. Even former UN Secretary-General …
So both England and Portugal exit the FIFA World Cup, and so too do their respective stars, Wayne Rooney and Cristiano Ronaldo, having made little more than a smear on this year’s championships. Following the omission of Ronaldinho from the Brazilian team, we now have the comical situation of watching the Nike ‘Write the Future’ …
I do love the World Cup. I’m talking football here, by the way, which will no doubt immediately propitiate the non-chess readers. The concept of a truly world game bringing the globe together in a celebration of culture, tradition and general bonhomie is really something, And I’ve spent many a late night over the past …
“The reports of my death have been greatly overrated,” Mark Twain once famously wrote. Indeed, despite comments such as Tim Molesworth’s “You look like death” and Tritty’s “You sound like crap”, I’m finally well enough to sit upright and return to this (unfortunately neglected) blog. Apparently, it’s some combination of bronchitis and a secondary infection/virus. …