I think that I mentioned I purchased a new game a little over a week ago. The Guild 2. Overall it was a disappointment to me. I never really got into it. I gave it a few hours, and it's really not a bad game, just not my thing. I've been wanting to try out "Bully" for the Playstation 2, but I also have a feeling that I'd play for a few hours and then... nothing. So I haven't broken down and tried to buy it yet. I did pre-order Neverwinter Nights 2 - and it's due to be released today! So I may have something fun to play this weekend.
What is Neverwinter Nights 2? Well, if you've never been into Dungeons and Dragons or games like Baldur's Gate, Might and Magic, or to date myself The Bard's Tale, then it's probably just a jumble of letters. For me, to be sure, it'll be an epic battle of good versus evil. That and it's sure to be a pretty good time waster. If not, then I've slipped. A lot.
Speaking of slipping, I bowled last night. 222, 166, 212. Middle game blues. What's that all about? I think that's two weeks in a row where my 2nd game was a little weak. When I got home I played a game of chess on the ICC. It was a good game - at least it felt like it. I lost the game (it was a G/15), but only because my opponent decided to "blitz" me in the last few seconds. So I ran out of time first. I was up a queen at the end. So at least I get the moral victory.
One of these days I'll get some more games up here. I just find it a bit of a pain to upload images here. It's not bad if you only want to put up one or two... but more than that it becomes a bit of a chore. Maybe there's a better way to do it, but I haven't found it yet.
Alright, time to get on with the day. Miles to go...
Enjoy, Ed.
Tuesday, October 31, 2006
Thursday, October 26, 2006
The world got in my way...
Been a crazy week. They all are. Just a few more months to go, then things should at least get a little better. I saw my doctor today. He gave me some good news, I'm probably not going to die anytime soon. At least, I'm a low risk for it. We're going to validate that, but I'll take his word for now. He also agreed that I had to get some weight off. Just a little exercise. Why does it have to be so hard?
I played a couple of exciting games this week and I was planning on posting at least one of them out here. I enjoyed the one in particular because it wasn't the usual me. I haven't had the computer check it yet, so maybe it was terrible, but it was still a lot of fun. The end result was a draw, but I still think I had the better of it for a while. I'm definitely looking forward to reviewing it. This weekend. Really!
Saturday is the monthly G/30 tournament at the chess club. I still haven't decided if I'm going to play, though it is tempting.
I'm going to try to get some sleep tonight - haven't had enough of that this week. So until next time!
Ed.
I played a couple of exciting games this week and I was planning on posting at least one of them out here. I enjoyed the one in particular because it wasn't the usual me. I haven't had the computer check it yet, so maybe it was terrible, but it was still a lot of fun. The end result was a draw, but I still think I had the better of it for a while. I'm definitely looking forward to reviewing it. This weekend. Really!
Saturday is the monthly G/30 tournament at the chess club. I still haven't decided if I'm going to play, though it is tempting.
I'm going to try to get some sleep tonight - haven't had enough of that this week. So until next time!
Ed.
Wednesday, October 18, 2006
On the coast of somewhere beautiful
They were searching for intelligent life... they found me. Welcome to the stories of my life.
I don't understand it. The last few nights I've been playing 1 G/15 on the Internet Chess Club. Monday night I played a player with a slightly higher rating, had an amazing game, and won. Last night I played a player MUCH lower, he played an amazing opening/middlegame, and finally lost it in the endgame. Though with our 500 point rating difference I really expected much less from him. So he did well. Tonight I played someone with a slightly higher rating as well. I was crushed. It wasn't even a game. It was in an opening I know. By move 15 I was lost.
The other thing I don't understand - motivation. Why does everything always have to be at the last minute? My homework. I had a great summer doing my Linear Algebra homework. Week after week I spent hours, seriously, every night just to keep up. Now I find that every Wednesday I'm struggling to get my homework done for Thursday's class. What's wrong with me? It seems like the motivation finally hits me when we reach that point where most people will start saying that I'm never going to make it. Why do I need that? It's not like my life is all that exciting at other times. It's not like I've got a million other important things going on. Work and school. Everything else is just me wasting my time away.
Anyway, I've got to get back to my homework. I'm halfway done... so I have a chance of finishing it before class tomorrow! I've got a bunch of things I've been wanting to talk about. Total Pro Golf, Chess Assistant 9, The Guild 2, Neverwinter Nights 2. Lots of interesting stuff in the world of computer software, games, and chess. Ah well, another time.
And with the poker sites all "closing doors" to US business... sad, sad times.
Ed.
I don't understand it. The last few nights I've been playing 1 G/15 on the Internet Chess Club. Monday night I played a player with a slightly higher rating, had an amazing game, and won. Last night I played a player MUCH lower, he played an amazing opening/middlegame, and finally lost it in the endgame. Though with our 500 point rating difference I really expected much less from him. So he did well. Tonight I played someone with a slightly higher rating as well. I was crushed. It wasn't even a game. It was in an opening I know. By move 15 I was lost.
The other thing I don't understand - motivation. Why does everything always have to be at the last minute? My homework. I had a great summer doing my Linear Algebra homework. Week after week I spent hours, seriously, every night just to keep up. Now I find that every Wednesday I'm struggling to get my homework done for Thursday's class. What's wrong with me? It seems like the motivation finally hits me when we reach that point where most people will start saying that I'm never going to make it. Why do I need that? It's not like my life is all that exciting at other times. It's not like I've got a million other important things going on. Work and school. Everything else is just me wasting my time away.
Anyway, I've got to get back to my homework. I'm halfway done... so I have a chance of finishing it before class tomorrow! I've got a bunch of things I've been wanting to talk about. Total Pro Golf, Chess Assistant 9, The Guild 2, Neverwinter Nights 2. Lots of interesting stuff in the world of computer software, games, and chess. Ah well, another time.
And with the poker sites all "closing doors" to US business... sad, sad times.
Ed.
Monday, October 16, 2006
Time Passes
Vladimir Kramnik has won the world championship. For the first time since the mid-90's, we have a unified champion. It was won on the 4th tiebreak game. Since he won, I don't see a lawsuit as doing that much good. We'll see what happens.
My mother and I watched "Click" and made Apple Cobbler Saturday afternoon. They both were good.
I was at the chess club for a little while Saturday night. While I was there we had 7 people. I didn't actually play any chess, mostly just sat around and talked for a little while.
Sunday I slept. A lot.
I also started watching Season 1 of Battlestar Galactica this weekend. Wow! Very good show. I'm already half way done with the season. Granted it only had 13 episodes.
There goes the weekened. Why is it that every time I turn around, time passes? Where does it all go?
Until next time, Ed.
My mother and I watched "Click" and made Apple Cobbler Saturday afternoon. They both were good.
I was at the chess club for a little while Saturday night. While I was there we had 7 people. I didn't actually play any chess, mostly just sat around and talked for a little while.
Sunday I slept. A lot.
I also started watching Season 1 of Battlestar Galactica this weekend. Wow! Very good show. I'm already half way done with the season. Granted it only had 13 episodes.
There goes the weekened. Why is it that every time I turn around, time passes? Where does it all go?
Until next time, Ed.
Friday, October 13, 2006
Fischer vs Karpov
If you haven't heard the latest news, check out:
http://susanpolgar.blogspot.com
There is currently a lot of talk about Fischer and Karpov playing Gothic Chess against each other. What is Gothic Chess? It's a 10x8 board with 2 additional pieces introduced. I believe they are called the Chancellor and the ArchBishop.
This sounds a little suspicious, but if it's true that the winner is being offered 10 million, and the loser 5 million, I suppose it could happen. Though I'd be much happier if it were "standard" chess, it would still be somewhat exciting to see these two face off.
Enjoy your Friday.
Ed.
http://susanpolgar.blogspot.com
There is currently a lot of talk about Fischer and Karpov playing Gothic Chess against each other. What is Gothic Chess? It's a 10x8 board with 2 additional pieces introduced. I believe they are called the Chancellor and the ArchBishop.
This sounds a little suspicious, but if it's true that the winner is being offered 10 million, and the loser 5 million, I suppose it could happen. Though I'd be much happier if it were "standard" chess, it would still be somewhat exciting to see these two face off.
Enjoy your Friday.
Ed.
It comes down to this
Yesterdays game was a draw, which leaves the match tied after the 12 standard games. The good news for Kramnik is that whether he wins or loses, in the eyes of most people he wins. This, of course, is due to the forfeit he faced earlier.
Here is the information (again from chessbase) about today's games:
Friday's Tie-breaks
3.7.1 If the scores are level after the regular twelve (12) games, after a new drawing of colours, four (4) tie-break games shall be played. The games shall be played using the electronic clock starting with 25 minutes on the clock for each player with an addition of 10 seconds after each move.
3.7.2 If the scores are level after the games in paragraph 3. 7.1, then, after a new drawing of colours, two (2) five-minute games shall be played with the addition of 10 seconds after each move.
3.7.3 If the score is still level, the players shall play a single decisive sudden death game. The player, who wins the drawing of lots, may choose the colour. White shall receive 6 minutes, black shall receive 5 minutes, without any addition. In case of a draw the player with the black pieces is declared as winner.
Here is the information (again from chessbase) about today's games:
Friday's Tie-breaks
3.7.1 If the scores are level after the regular twelve (12) games, after a new drawing of colours, four (4) tie-break games shall be played. The games shall be played using the electronic clock starting with 25 minutes on the clock for each player with an addition of 10 seconds after each move.
3.7.2 If the scores are level after the games in paragraph 3. 7.1, then, after a new drawing of colours, two (2) five-minute games shall be played with the addition of 10 seconds after each move.
3.7.3 If the score is still level, the players shall play a single decisive sudden death game. The player, who wins the drawing of lots, may choose the colour. White shall receive 6 minutes, black shall receive 5 minutes, without any addition. In case of a draw the player with the black pieces is declared as winner.
Thursday, October 12, 2006
Game 12 is under way
As of 7am this morning, play begin in the final standard game of the world championship match. I just took a quick look, and after only 35 minutes the game is already looking very drawish. It's only on move 13 or so, and already most of the minor pieces are all exchanged. If the game is drawn it will be a 6-6 tie (if we count the forfeit, which unfortunately we must) and the match will be decided by tiebreaks on Friday.
Kip is back from Atlantic City! How did he do? I'll leave the details for his write up that he promises is coming, but let's just say that he did well. From the tone of his voice, he was very pleased. Maybe he'll even let me post his write-up here?
Time to get ready for the day. It'll be interesting to see how I did on my first exam Tuesday. By interesting I have no idea what I actually mean.
Until next time, Ed.
Kip is back from Atlantic City! How did he do? I'll leave the details for his write up that he promises is coming, but let's just say that he did well. From the tone of his voice, he was very pleased. Maybe he'll even let me post his write-up here?
Time to get ready for the day. It'll be interesting to see how I did on my first exam Tuesday. By interesting I have no idea what I actually mean.
Until next time, Ed.
Wednesday, October 11, 2006
World Championship Update
The match is tied 5.5-5.5. Today is a rest day so the final game will be played tomorrow (Thursday). If the result is another draw, then Friday is the tiebreaks day. If it goes to tiebreaks, as I mentioned before, the time controls get quicker and quicker. The absolute final game, if it gets that far, would be an armageddon game. I have no idea how to spell that word!
What that would mean is that the chess world championship would be decided by a game of blitz chess! I hope it doesn't come to that, because it seems a little foolish. Not only that, but armageddon is where one player has an extra minute, so if they don't win they lose. That's right, a draw will also count as a loss for the player with the extra minute. That's armageddon.
In case you're curious I had my first exam yesterday. Bad... very bad. Maybe not, but that's my guess. We had an hour for 4 questions (one of them had 4 parts), and when I was doing homework I could spent 30-60 minutes just on questions similar to one of those parts.
Until next time, Ed.
What that would mean is that the chess world championship would be decided by a game of blitz chess! I hope it doesn't come to that, because it seems a little foolish. Not only that, but armageddon is where one player has an extra minute, so if they don't win they lose. That's right, a draw will also count as a loss for the player with the extra minute. That's armageddon.
In case you're curious I had my first exam yesterday. Bad... very bad. Maybe not, but that's my guess. We had an hour for 4 questions (one of them had 4 parts), and when I was doing homework I could spent 30-60 minutes just on questions similar to one of those parts.
Until next time, Ed.
Tuesday, October 10, 2006
Study Time
Ok, new plan. I've got less than 10 minutes before I need to leave. Maybe I can get in 5-10 minutes of solid study time!
Wish me luck.
Ed.
Wish me luck.
Ed.
My back
In addition to everything else, I was incredibly sore on Saturday. I couldn't figure it out. I remember lying down for a bit wondering why my arms were so weak. It was strange. Later that night it hit me. The 20-20-10. What is the 20-20-10? It's Nick's evil idea of a daily ritual that must be adhered to. For himself. As for me, well, I just seem to get caught up in the moment. The 20-20-10 is 20 pushups, 20 situps, and 10 leg lifts. I did it, but I'm weak. Very weak.
On Monday my back was a little bit sore after bowling. Not dangerously so, but still I don't like it. I think it was a combination of things. The extra exercise, the running around, the helping my brother take out his air conditioner. Carrying the ladder all around. All these things, then throwing around my 15lb bowling ball for 2 hours. It adds up.
Time to get moving... I'd like to get a little studying in before school. It's now looking like I'll get about 30 minutes. I'll take it!
Enjoy your Tuesday.
Ed.
On Monday my back was a little bit sore after bowling. Not dangerously so, but still I don't like it. I think it was a combination of things. The extra exercise, the running around, the helping my brother take out his air conditioner. Carrying the ladder all around. All these things, then throwing around my 15lb bowling ball for 2 hours. It adds up.
Time to get moving... I'd like to get a little studying in before school. It's now looking like I'll get about 30 minutes. I'll take it!
Enjoy your Tuesday.
Ed.
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