Category Archives: Chess
Interview: Hosting 44th Chess Olympiad is a moment of pride, says All India Chess Federation secretary Bharat – Free Press Journal
India will see a golden chapter being added to its sporting history when the nation hosts the 44th Chess Olympiad for the first time in Chennai (from July 28 to August 10).
The excitement is palpable amongst the organisersAll India Chess Federation (AICF), players and chess enthusiasts as the global chess event will see world champions and super grandmasters participate from more than 150 countries.
In an exclusive interview with the Free Press Journal, Bharat Singh Chauhan, AICF secretary and tournament Technical Director, reckons this event will set the nation on the path to becoming a chess powerhouse.
How will the Chess Olympiad help India to get global recognition?
Conducting the Chess Olympiad, the worlds biggest chess event is itself a moment of pride for any nation. India hosting the event for the first time reflects the growth of Indian chess. This is also a great opportunity to showcase our organisational ability, culture and heritage to the world and to bring in more sponsors. India has seen rapid growth in chess in recent years. We have a lot of talent and potential to emerge as the chess powerhouse in the world and hosting the Chess Olympiad is a great step towards that.
How do you reckon the Chess Olympiad will help youngsters in the country?
More than 150 countries will be participating including top nations in the world. There will be chess stars from across the world who will be travelling to Chennai. When do you get to see these many top players in action live? It looks like a dream, isn't it? This is the opportunity to make that dream a reality. Watching the worlds biggest stars live is a great motivation and learning and the Chess Olympiad will provide that to our Indian youngsters, they can come and watch them live. Also, such big events inspire many people to take up the sport.
How have the preparations been so far?
We want to make this event a big success. We are leaving no stone unturned so that it can be remembered for the next 100 years by the fans. We all, at AICF, have been working hard to put everything in place on time and so far, the execution has been smooth for all the activities that we have planned. We have been in touch with FIDE regularly and have ensured increased subsidiaries, the highest ever, in order to maximise participation.
India were joint winners in the previous edition, how do you rate Indias chances in this edition?
Playing in front of the home crowd always gives added motivation and strength to any athlete and now our Indian players will experience that in the Chess Olympiad. As a host, we would be eligible to field two teamsin open and in the womens sectionwhich makes our chances even stronger. I believe our teams have talented players and have the ability to win medals.
What are the precautions taken for the players once they land in India?
Luckily, the situation has improved a lot in our country which is a great sign not just for chess but also for every sport. Though the situation is normal now, we will not take anything for granted. The Covid protocols and safety measures will not be compromised. We will be implementing the rules set by the government and the concerned bodies as the health and safety of the players as well as everyone involved in the conduct of this event will be of prime importance to us.
(To receive our E-paper on whatsapp daily, please click here. We permit sharing of the paper's PDF on WhatsApp and other social media platforms.)
Go here to see the original:
Interview: Hosting 44th Chess Olympiad is a moment of pride, says All India Chess Federation secretary Bharat - Free Press Journal
KCB chess team bullish ahead of East Africa Open Championship – The Star, Kenya
KCB Chess Club will participate in the upcoming East Africa Open Tournament to be played from April 30 toMay 3, in Mombasa.
The regional tournament is an elite annual contest played by the highest-ranked East African players and usually attracts over 200 players competing in the open, ladies and juniors sections.
This year's tournament has attracted over 250 players from Kenya, Uganda, Tanzania and South Sudan and where a prize purse of Sh300,000 awaits. However, junior players will win trophies and medals.
Organised by the Kenya Chess Federation and the Lighthouse Chess Club, Kenya will be represented by players from various clubs including KCB, Nakuru, Lighthouse, Nairobi, Mombasa among others.
The 2021 national champion Martin Njoroge exhibited confidence the event will provide a good opportunity for Kenyan players to gauge themselves against highly-rated players from across the region.
I am looking forward to the tournament and I'm buoyant about a good performance. I analysed my previous matches with my teammate Philip Singe and polished up my weak points to prepare for the busy calendar, Njoroge said.
The tournament will also serve as preparation for the National Chess League, which enters Round5 next month.
It will also provide a good launchpad for the zonal competition, which will be held in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia between May 1 and 10.
Njoroge said he will have to cut short his participation in the East African competition to attend the zonal tournament. The zonal tournament is played by champions of the various leagues in different countries.
View original post here:
KCB chess team bullish ahead of East Africa Open Championship - The Star, Kenya
The game of chess in the APC – Businessday
The rupture in the relationship between President Muhammadu Buhari and Bola Tinubu has finally happened. Now, we can predict with reasonable certainty that Buhari does not fancy Tinubu as the presidential flag bearer of the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC).
For upwards of seven years, these two have been forced into an alliance dictated by their mutual interests. It was rumoured that there was an agreement by the duo to take turns at the presidency.
Mr Tinubu kept his own side of the bargain by sticking with Buhari through thick and thin. In 2014, his support was critical to Mr Buhari picking the presidential ticket of the APC. Even more daunting, Tinubu ensured Buharis victory at the polls in the entirety of the Southwest.
Mr Tinubu is not unaware of these realities. There are credible rumours hes already propping a political party that has adopted the name of a hitherto winning political party to serve as his fall-back option in the event he is denied the APC ticket
In 2019, even in the face of poor performance and nothing to show for his four-year leadership, Tinubu still supported him, resorting to ethnic politics and voter intimidation to deliver Lagos and some southwestern states to Buhari.
Even in October 2020, when Mr Buhari sent in troops to massacre innocent youth protesting police brutality at the Lekki toll gates, Tinubu stood behind him at the risk of losing his grip on the voting population of Lagos. Instead of speaking against the killings, Mr Tinubu upbraided the youth and asked them what they were doing at the toll gate at the time.
However, when it was time for Mr Buhari to repay the favour to Tinubu, he has become non-committal and appears to be backing other candidate(s) for the position. Long before the election season, there were rumours that Mr Buharis close circle are not enamoured by Tinubu and wanted another candidate to fly the party ticket at the election. That was why Tinubu pre-empted them all and declared his intention first with the hope that his declaration may weaken the resolve of some of his opponents within the party and force the hand of the President.
That hasnt worked out as planned. Many other contestants also close to President Buhari have since declared their intentions to contest for the partys ticket. More jarring was the declaration of the Vice President, Tinubus political godson. It was said Osinbajo sought and got the permission of the President to throw his hat into the ring. Media reports also suggest a former president, Goodluck Jonathan, is under immense pressure from Mr. Buharis circle to join the race.
Read also:Presidency: Osinbajo, Tinubu in fight to the finish
Although Jonathan has said he will only join the race on the condition that he is endorsed and supported wholeheartedly by Mr Buhari, a tweet by Jonathans former spokesperson that Jonathan is on the verge of joining the presidential race on the platform of the ruling APC has further complicated matters and left analysts guessing as to who exactly will get the presidents endorsement for the polls.
All these have left Tinubu feeling used and betrayed. And for the first time in seven years, he has publicly disassociated himself from the President and offered his first open rebuke and criticism of the Buhari administration.
Speaking a fortnight ago at a youth rally, he chided the Buhari administration for failing to tackle the urgent challenges of the country, offering himself as a better alternative. We feel your anger when you are angry. I dont blame you. The promises of the past have failed to realise, he told an enthusiastic crowd of youth in Lagos who gathered to support his campaign.
We cannot continue with excuses or NEPA failure. No. No nation can make rapid development without electricity. Give us that and if we cannot be successful, then you can abuse us. But you cannot give us erratic electricity that is undependable and then blame us again that we are lazy, Mr. Tinubu told his cheering supporters.
See the original post:
The game of chess in the APC - Businessday
Jerry Jones Is Either Playing Checkers Or 4D Chess Based On Comments – BroBible
The Dallas Cowboys did draft Emmitt Smith with the #17 pick so its possible that owner Jerry Jones might capture lightning in a bottle once again. His latest comments suggest hes either playing checkers or 4D chess, or hes being deliberately vague to confuse other teams.
Jerry Jones has owned the Dallas Cowboys for 33 years which means hes overseen 32 or 33 NFL Drafts. And its been 27 years since Dallas won a Super Bowl. So either Jerry doesnt put too much stock in the NFL Draft for stocking up a team or they just havent been able to get it right since they drafted Troy Aikman at #1 overall in 1989.
The Cowboys are expected to address their major needs with their early NFL Draft picks. They currently hold the #24 pick in the 1st round, #56 in the 2nd Round, and #88 in the 3rd Round. After that Dem Boyz have the 129th, 155th, 167th, 176th, 178th, and 193rd picks to try and fix their woes. Mel Kiper Jr. (I know, I know) has them drafting these three with their first three picks: 24. EDGE Arnold Ebiketie, PSU, 56. RT Abraham Lucas, WSU, and 88. WR Bo Melton, Rutgers.
Edge rusher, right tackle, and wide receiver. Jerry Jones on the other hand suggests the team will stay fluid or nimble or pliable or whatever
The replies to that tweet reveal the eternal pessimism that I respect so much from Cowboys fans.
As an unbiased outsider, Id actually really, truly love to know how much input Jerry Jones has on NFL Draft picks in the moment. He says theyll exercise flexibility and that they should be contrarians but are they just hollow words from a guy who has no actual control at the moment because the decisions were made ahead of time or is he gonna hop in there and be like GO GET HIM and pull a total wild card off the board?
For anyone who wants to read more about those Mel Kiper Jr. Mock Draft picks (I know, I know, Mel is irrelevant) just hit that tweet above!
Link:
Jerry Jones Is Either Playing Checkers Or 4D Chess Based On Comments - BroBible
Chess.com Banned By Russia – Chess.com
Yesterday, Chess.com was banned by the Russian government agency Roscomnadzor, the "Federal Service for Supervision of Communications, Information Technology and Mass Media." Roscomnadzor is responsible for censorship within Russia, a busy occupation these days. Since the start of Russia's war against Ukraine on February 24th, Roscomnadzor has banned hundreds of sites including Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, Google News, BBC News, NPR, and Amnesty International.
According to Roscomnadzor, their goal is to block two webpages: "On The Invasion of Ukraine" which outlines our policy and actions regarding the war on Ukraine and addresses FAQ and "Ukrainian Chess Players In Times Of War" which is a piece interviewing Ukrainian chess players on their circumstances and views during the early days of the war. Since Chess.com uses secure https webpages, Roscomnadzor is unable to ban these single pages and has banned the entire Chess.com site. Our members report that Chess.com's apps are unaffected. We happily encourage our Russian members to continue accessing our site using our apps or any of the many outstanding VPN services that are so essential in Russia.
We reaffirm our condemnation in the strongest possible terms of the Russian government's war of aggression against Ukraine and will continue to publish content to that effect. We will continue to welcome Chess.com members from Russia who defy the government's ban and play on Chess.com.
View post:
Chess.com Banned By Russia - Chess.com
Tim Rice Issues Update on CHESS Broadway Production and AIDA – Broadway World
Tim Rice revealed in a tweet that he is set to fly to New York for discussions about Aida, and the Broadway revival of Chess.
See the tweet below:
Rice previously revealed that plans are underway for a Broadway revival of Chess.
"All in all, despite enumerable mishandlings, Chess has more than held its own on the stages of the world. And we plan to come back to Broadway one day fairly soon. A team is in place."
A North American tour of Elton John and Tim Rice's Tony-winning Broadway smash Aida was previously set to premiere at Paper Mill Playhouse in 2021. BroadwayWorld previously revealed in 2020, that the musical would no longer be a part of Paper Mill's season. Disney Theatric Productions President Thomas Schumacher revealed to the New York Times that Aida will open in Germany in 2022.
The production was previously set to play Charlotte, Chicago, Fort Worth, Kansas City, Los Angeles, Nashville, Philadelphia and Washington, D.C., among other cities following its run at Paper Mill.
The new production, updated and re-imagined, retains the beloved Tony and Grammy-winning score and features a book revised by David Henry Hwang, who co-authored the acclaimed original production with Linda Woolverton and Robert Falls.
The new Aida is directed by Schele Williams (a member of the original Broadway cast) and choreographed by Tony-nominee Camille A. Brown. Sets and costumes are by seven-time Tony winner Bob Crowley, and lighting is by six-time Tony winner Natasha Katz, who both won Tonys for their work on Aida in 2000. The music department includes Tony Award-recipient Jason Michael Webb (musical supervision), Tony Honor recipient Michael McElroy (vocal arrangements and co-incidental arranger), Jim Abbott (orchestrations) and Tony-winner Zane Mark (dance arrangements).
A passionate and timeless story for today's audiences, Aida is the compelling tale of star-crossed lovers belonging to feuding nations, torn between their conflicted loyalties to their countries and to each other. With its stirring contemporary score and its powerful love story, Aida reveals that we have the power to change history, but only when we make brave choices and embrace our destiny.
Aida, which opened at the Palace Theatre on March 23, 2000, went on to become one of the biggest hits of its decade, closing in its 5th year on Broadway on September 5, 2004 after nearly 2000 performances. It received five Tony nominations, winning for Score, Set, Lighting and Actress. A tour played 53 North American cities from 2001 to 2003.
Its worldwide reach is greater still. Nine replica productions played 20 countries in 14 languages.
Original post:
Tim Rice Issues Update on CHESS Broadway Production and AIDA - Broadway World
Kasparov In TED Talk: ‘Meeting Evil Halfway Is Still A Victory For Evil’ – Chess.com
"Ukraine is now on the frontline of the global war of freedom against tyranny," was one of several powerful quotes from GM Garry Kasparov in a TED Talk published on Tuesdaythe day before his 59th birthday today. The pro-democracy activist and human rights advocate, who retired from chess as the world number-one player in2005, predicted Russia's war in Ukraine rather accurately in his 2015 bookWinter is Coming.
Kasparov's TED Talk on the war in Ukraine.
The central theme in Kasparov's TED Talk is good and evil. He notes that he identified evil at an early age, when as a young chess star he had the privilege of traveling outside of the Soviet Union and to the West, to the other side of the iron curtain. "It was obvious to me very quickly that they were the free world and we were not, despite what Soviet propaganda told us."
Kasparov mentions that he got into "good trouble" for his criticism of his own country and his praise for America in a famous interview he gave to Playboy magazine in 1989. The following quote, taken from chesshistory.com, must have been what he was talking about. Now 33 years ago, Kasparov answered the question why chess was so popular in the Soviet Union:
"Because most of the time, theres nothing else to do in our country! Chess fits the Soviet Union perfectly. Its the simplest of sports. You dont need a special field or court for it. Just a chess set, pieces, and a quiet place in the park. Its the easiest way for people to have a little bit of enjoyment. And if you become a strong player, chess is one of the best ways for a Soviet citizen to improve his life, to get a better position and maybe raise his standard of living above the averagewhich is not so good, by the way."
Kasparov's early activism included his demand to play under the Russian flag instead of under the Soviet hammer and sickle in his 1990 world championship with GM Anatoly Karpov. That was a year before the USSR disintegrated. Until the present day, the difference in ideology between the two adversaries on the chessboard continues: as a member of the State Duma, Karpov is supporting the Russian government while Kasparov is strongly opposing it.
Since the day Russia invaded Ukraine on February 24, Kasparov is being taken much more seriously by mainstream media than before. The former chess champion has been invited dozens of times in the past month by international media to share his views. As it turns out, Kasparov's Winter is Coming, with the subtitle "Why Vladimir Putin and the enemies of the free world must be stopped," was much closer to the truth than most people wished to believe.
Kasparov: "If I wrote a sequel, it would be called Winter is Here. And the subtitle would be: I [bleep]'ing told you so."
According to Kasparov, the warning signs from Putin came early, but the world failed to listen properly.
"When Putin said there is no such thing as a former KGB agent, I knew Russia's fragile democracy was in danger. When Putin said that the collapse of the Soviet Union was the greatest geopolitical catastrophe of the 20th century, I knew Russia's newly independent neighbors were at risk. And when Putin talked at the Munich security conference in 2007 about a return to spheres of influence, I knew he was ready to launch his plan."
Kasparov mentions the Second Chechen War, Russia's invasion of Georgia in 2008, and the invasion of Crimea in 2014, and notes: "It's a paradox, isn't it? Dictators lie about everything they have done but often they tell us exactly what they are going to do. Just listen!"
Having been told since 2005 that politics is "not black and white, not chess" and that politics requires compromise, Kasparov shows images of destroyed cities and corpses in the streets in Ukraine, and asks: "Compromise? Are you sure? Compromise with this? You cannot look at the images from Ukraine in recent weeks and say there is no pure evil."
Showing an image from The Lord of the Rings, Kasparov argues that pure evil is no longer reserved for fiction while noting the difference with pure good: "There is no pure good. If anyone says they know what pure good is, it's probably evil. (...) Good will disagree. Evil says: no more disagreements, ever. That was life in real Mordor: the Soviet Union. That's what Putin wants for Russia and the world."
As is also clear from his many tweets in the past month, Kasparov is not satisfied with the support from the western countries for Ukraine, which mostly consists of economic sanctions toward Russia and providing weapons and humanitarian help.
"The price of stopping a dictator goes up with every delay, every hesitation," says Kasparov. "Meeting evil halfway is still a victory for evil. Evil tempts us with our weakness, with our desire for comfort."
More here:
Kasparov In TED Talk: 'Meeting Evil Halfway Is Still A Victory For Evil' - Chess.com
Formerly lost Iranian film Chess of the Wind lands at The Lilley – The Nevada Sagebrush
Those who walked into the March 2 screening of the fabled 1976 Iranian film Chess of the Wind at the John & Geraldine Lilley Museum of Art were surprised to find the traditional seating replaced with an ornate arrangement of Persian carpets and pillows.
Rachel Jackson/Nevada Sagebrush.Students are ecstatic for the playing of Chess of the Wind at the Lilley Museum.
Ushered to the north wing of the museum, students slowly but resolutely huddled together atop the wool textile, in front of the temporary scaffolding where the laptop-connected projector operated above them. Some attendees were laid back, others leaned forward, and most simply sat as upright as comfortably as possible on the ground seating.
In many ways, the unconventional setup perfectly complemented the film they were about to watch: puzzling in its very existence, yet triumphant in its realization.
Chess of the Wind, which stars Fakhri Khorvash, Mohamad Ali Keshavarz and Shohreh Aghdashloo, is a passionate, golden-hour-soaked meditation on the material obsession and emotional claustrophobia inherent in royal aristocracy.
Despite its elaborate production values and lavish construction, the pre-revolutionary film has a history steeped in tumult and subverted expectations.
Weighed down by unfavorable press and a notoriously sabotaged screening at the 1976 Tehran International Festival, first-time director Mohammad Reza Aslani failed to mount the meagerest of theatrical runs for the picture. In the span of three years, there was a grand total of three public showings of the 100-minute domestic drama.
An outright ban of the film in his home country following the 1978-79 Revolution threatened to insulate Aslanis fearless political critique from the general public forever.
Following a chance discovery of a 35 mm print of the film in Tehran in 2014, a monumental 4K restoration under American director Martin Scorsese, and a heavily-publicized theatrical re-release in 2021, Chess of the Wind was exhibited.
The film is now being appreciated in more corners of the world than ever imagined beforeincluding now, in a college art museum in Reno, Nevada.
The free screening was organized by UNRs Department of English, but the success of the event can be attributed to English professor Pardis Dabashi.
Professor Dabashis efforts to bring the film to Reno began in late 2021. Preparing for the spring semester, she reached out to a representative from the esteemed art house cinema distributor, Janus Films, in a reluctant bid to gain a copy of the treasured masterwork to present to students in her Global Cinema course.
The single email would lead to something far more substantive. With Brian Belovarac at Janus Films, and the director and curator of the Lilley Museum of Arts approval, Vivian Zavataro, Dabashi secured herself and the university a place in the films ambitious comeback story.
On top of arranging and promoting the event for over two months, the professor also delivered a 10-minute introduction to the project. Standing before the snuggled pack of students, she balanced her detailed explanation of the films history and themes with lighthearted remarks regarding the occasion.
Im playing the film off my laptop. Ive tried to disable everything, but hopefully I dont get a FaceTime from my parents in the middle of the screening, Dabashi joked.
Nevertheless, in an evening destined for surprise, the ascendance and quality of the central attraction itself was a shock.
As an aesthetic object, Chess of the Wind is sectioned in its influences. The establishment of the royal setting in the beginning parts of the film evokes the solemn decadence of late Italian neorealism. Characters actions are framed through the mysterious and minimalistic power of directors like Robert Bresson. The films intense finale teems with the dark suspense of American noir.
Beyond copying his contemporaries, Aslani was hell-bent on conceptualizing a cinematic identity that meshed Irans sociopolitical upheaval with the broader context of disruption across several international film movements.
Students were riveted to spend time in this deeply deteriorative, yet quietly inspired regal wastelandwhere one line of a servants gossip lingers in the palace annals until eventually becoming the death sentence of a corrupt nobleman.
More importantly, it was clear that Aslanis mission to access deeper emotional and visual meaning rather than traditional politically-focused cinema transcended the boundaries of both time and language for the young audience.
Though there was not an official post-screening discussion, students immediately rose from the ground upon the films completion and congregated in groups inside the limited venue to exchange their thoughts.
Jefrin Jojan, Associated Students of the University of Nevada senate for the College of Engineering and self-proclaimed local movie enthusiast, described the film as a mix between two popular modern imports from South Korea: 2019s Parasite and 2016s The Handmaiden.
Carolyn Lemon, a sophomore at UNR, explained that, while she anticipated a more obvious takedown of the Shah government of Iran, the substitution of political themes for psychological travails made for a resonant viewing experience.
It was much more about the characters and how their motives played a part [in their actions], Lemon explained.
In an interview following the screening, Dabashi divulged her admiration for Chess of the Wind, which she described as a hidden gem and a beautiful and deeply smart film.
The fact that its been hiding for so long Dabashi trailed off, at a complete loss for words.
Dabashi, who is of Iranian descent, has extensively taught and written about films in the Persian cinematic canon. The films revelation visibly signaled a realigning moment in her years-long personal studies.
To that end, there was unanimous consensus among students for the continuation of international film screenings on-campus, especially after the high turnout of Chess of the Wind.
I think its interesting, and UNR should promote it more, Lemon stated before complimenting the culturally emblematic screening atmosphere. [The seating] definitely added something.
Dabashis enthusiasm for future events was evident in the immediate amount of thought she had concerning how to approach a global cinema screening series.
I would love to start with different sorts of national cinemas, she said, citing Iran and Japan as two countries of cinematic renown.
She explained that she would then branch out into showing movies revolving around specific themes while maintaining the international criteria.
Jojan expressed support for this prospect. He argued that the universitys English Department should push for more resources for larger venues and accommodate a discussion after the viewing period.
I enjoyed it, he explained, referring to the entire event at hand. It was a new experience for me.
In any case, the tapestry of global cinema felt palpably more luxurious and renewed in Reno with the arrival of this resurrected classic.
Wyatt Layland can be reached at jaedynyoung@sagebrush.unr.edu or on Twitter @NevadaSagebrush.
Read the rest here:
Formerly lost Iranian film Chess of the Wind lands at The Lilley - The Nevada Sagebrush
An orange revolution filled with chess, space and machines – DutchNews.nl – DutchNews.nl
24oranges.nl, the blog that is now a column, continues to bring you odd and fun Dutch things pressed for your pleasure.
My grandmother was Ukrainian and my grandfather was Belarusian. During the Russian Revolution, they both fled to Canada. One thing that was passed down from them to me was playing chess, taught to me when I was three years old. The Old Slavic word for chess, (shahmat), comes from the Persian for the king [shah] is dead and its also where checkmate comes from.
Playing chess outside is increasingly becoming a Dutch thing in part thanks to Jess Medina Molina, the founder of Urban Chess. One day while jogging, he thought there should be chess tables outdoors. He began convincing local councils to install chess tables in parks, some of which are also wheelchair accessible.
Inspired by his daughter who had trouble with arithmetic, Medina Molina learned about how chess had a positive effect on childrens brains. Chess helps overcome loneliness, improves problem-solving skills and makes people get out more. On April 2 in Apeldoorn, Park Zuidbroek will inaugurate its new chess board. Medina Molina is also pushing for some chess tables in Amsterdams Vondelpark.
A galaxy near you
An international team of researchers led by Dutch PhD student Martijn Oei has discovered a radiogalaxy that is at least 16 million light-years long, making it the largest structure made by a galaxy to this day. This is a ginormous deal because scientists had never seen a structure this big made by a single galaxy. It also disproves some long-held hypotheses about the growth of radio galaxies.
Named Alcyoneus, the radio giant is three billion light-years away from Earth. Alcyoneus was a giant that fought against Heracles and other Olympians for supremacy over the cosmos. Despite the mind-boggling distance, the giant looms as large in the sky as the moon, an indication that the structure had to have a record length. What has given Alcyoneus its record length, still remains a mystery.
From Bletchley Park to Alan Turingpark
Speaking of cracking codes, the port city of IJmuiden, home to one of the largest sea locks in the world, recently opened the Alan Turingpark, named after British mathematician, computer scientist and cryptanalist Alan Turing who was instrumental in helping defeat the Germans in WWII. Turing was also a gay man who was mistreated by the state, making him a tragic symbol for LGBTQIA emancipation.
Remy and the Machines
Harpist Remy van Kesteren, considered one of the worlds best harpists, is currently touring Dutch theatres with 30 robots. Remy & The Analogue Robot Orchestra is made up of music boxes controlled by Remy while hes at the harp.
The idea came to him six years ago at music festival Into The Great Wide Open on the island of Vlieland where he met robot builder Jurjen Alkema. They clicked, and the rest is music. The orchestra plays their own compositions and covers.
The DutchNews.nl team would like to thank all the generous readers who have made a donation in recent weeks. Your financial support has helped us to expand our coverage of the coronavirus crisis into the evenings and weekends and make sure you are kept up to date with the latest developments.
DutchNews.nl has been free for 14 years, but without the financial backing of our readers, we would not be able to provide you with fair and accurate news and features about all things Dutch. Your contributions make this possible.
If you have not yet made a donation, but would like to, you can do so via Ideal, credit card or Paypal.
Read the original here:
An orange revolution filled with chess, space and machines - DutchNews.nl - DutchNews.nl
Glenburn School Chess Team Going to National Finals in Texas – q1065.fm
Shout out of congratulations to the Glenburn School chess team for its recent win in the Maine Scholastic Team Chess Championships for 2022.
They won the state and now it is on to the national finals in Grapevine, Texas.
Imagine the thrill of getting on a plane for the first time. And flying for hours and hours to get so far away from home.
A memory.
Thats what the Glenburn School chess team is creating.
Tom Coleman is the schools Gifted and Talented Director and Instructional Coach. Thats where the chess team comes in.
Tom became a chess player in college. Imagine what these kids are going to be doing by the time they get to college.
They have been trending towards success for the past few years.
The team had an undefeated regular season, did well all year at tournaments throughout the state, and won the right to represent Maine at the national finals.
Coach Coleman is proud of the team:
Winning Glenburn School their first ever State Championship in Chess.
They will be off to Texas for the National Middle School championship.
But it takes a village.
Literally.
The Glenburn School Chess team is raising money to get the chess club to the National Championship tournament in late April.
A parent who has two sons on the team has started a Go Fund Me fundraising page, and here is the link.
If you are skittish about using Go Fund Me and would like to participate in getting these kids to Texas for the tournament, you can write a check to Glenburn School and in the Memo section write Chess Club, and then mail or drop off the check to the school at 991 Hudson Rd, Glenburn ME 04401.
Jennifer McGraw is the parent who is assisting in the fundraising.
She says:
My kids have never been out of state let alone on a plane. I cant speak for other parents, but I am so proud of the team and how far they have come. I want to do anything to help make it happen.
If you have a business that could help out, there are plans for Chess Shirt sponsorships opportunities for the shirts that the team will wear in competition at the Nationals in Grapevine.
I heard it through the grapevine, that Glenburn School Chess Team is going to do fine.
And will be creating a memory to last a lifetime. Glenburn and all of Maine are with you, all the way.
Read more here:
Glenburn School Chess Team Going to National Finals in Texas - q1065.fm