"The Queen's Gambit" Is Not Just For Chess Players

 

October 31, 2020

 

As I was scrolling through Netflix offerings, I saw the trailer for a show called “The Queen’s Gambit”, about a young woman chess player in the 1950s. I skipped through a lot of scenes until I found the scene from the trailer (which was actually in episode 2), taking care to watch all the chess scenes in the meantime. I don’t even play chess, which is why it’s remarkable that I got so caught up in the game scenes.

During action scenes, or the occasional scary scene, in most movies, I can disconnect and get my heart rate down, telling myself that it’s all just for show. Well, the chess scenes in this show were SO GRIPPING that I never did disconnect. That’s how good it is. Also, I never knew how caught up in chess real people get; the spectator scenes were as mesmerizing as the playing scenes.

 

So, even if you skip the rest of the story (and I did), watch the chess scenes of “The Queen’s Gambit.” The last episode is pure joy.

 

 

 

On Respecting Safety, and Keeping Your Word

 

October 21, 2020

 

Teachers in the West Ada School District in Idaho were told that when coronavirus levels in the area were in the Red Zone, school would be conducted virtually.

Unfortunately, when the district was declared a Red Zone, officials “were still acting like it was a yellow,” and holding in-person classes. This was a hazard for both students and teachers.

So the teachers took steps. They called in sick for two days. Now district officials are touring the schools and looking at rooms that are deemed to be hazardous in terms of improper setup, etc. Not only should that have been done before school ever started, but—

 

Why couldn’t school officials keep their word?

 

 

Now THAT'S Confidence

 

October 18, 2020

 

Although airline food has a bad reputation, one airline is actually marketing its food to people who miss the taste of airline food. 

Finnair has plans to sell its business-class meals at a supermarket chain across Finland.

“We want to offer the opportunity for a Finnair experience and everyday luxury at home, now that travel has been restricted in many ways,” the Finnair Kitchens director of operations said.

I’ve never imagined people missing the taste of airline food, but you have to admire their confidence in their product. Maybe someday I’ll have an opportunity to fly Finnair and test the food myself.

 

Emergency Services

 October 18, 2020

 

Fort Lauderdale Fire Rescue was called to the home of a man who was suffering from heat exhaustion as he mowed his lawn.

After they treated the man, the crew finished mowing his lawn for him.

It’s Never Too Early

 

October 18, 2020

Jackson Oswalt of Memphis, Tennessee was recognized by Guinness World Records as being the youngest person to achieve nuclear fusion. He built his own nuclear fusion reactor, and successfully used it when he was 12. (He was a few hours from turning 13, according to UPI.)

 

Eat your heart out, Sheldon Cooper.

Update to “It’s Never Too Late—Part 3”

 

October 18, 2020

On October 12^th it was reported that a book was returned 58 years after its due date. Like the ones we previously reported, it was also in Britain.

Just Follow the Trail

 

October 12, 2020

 

A few years ago I postulated that if there really were alien life out there, we’d know it by the space debris they left. (“Signs of Life”, March 31, 2017)

Well, scientists thought that Earth was about to capture a small asteroid as a mini moon. Turns out that it’s an old NASA rocket, from 54 years ago.

 

I rest my case.

 

They Just Want the Important Info

 

October 11, 2020

 

It’s time to renew my license plates, so I opted to do it online. Armed with the information they requested—proof of insurance, the last 2 years’ property tax payment receipts, etc.—I typed in the PIN on the renewal card and got set to enter or scan lots of info.

Turns out, all they wanted from me was my name, address, and credit card number. I hope I remember that the next time, before I go to the trouble of digging up all that old info.

 

 

I Vote that He Take Time Off

 

October 10, 2020

 

A federal judge has ordered that Missouri allow mail-in ballots for the Nov. 3^rd election to be delivered in person instead of by mail, thus ensuring that the ballots can be delivered before polls close.

Missouri Secretary of State John Ashcroft is appealing the ruling, on the grounds that allowing voters to deliver their votes in person will interfere with having safe and secure elections.

 

I think he that he may need to recharge his mental batteries. They don’t seem to be functioning properly.

 

 

Logic and Order

October 9, 2020

 

President Trump is campaigning for re-election on a Law and Order platform.

Members of a militia group which supports the president planned to kidnap Michigan Gov. Gretchen Whitmer before the Nov. 3^rd election.

Plans were also being formed to target and kill police officers.

 

So—how does that square with a Law and Order platform? Can someone explain the logic? 

Family History

 

October 9, 2020

 

The grandson of a guy who was president in the 1800’s has just died.

John Tyler, who was president from 1841-1845, had a lot of kids, including one born when he was 63. That guy had a kid when he was 71; and his son, Tyler’s grandson, just died at age 95.

There is another grandson still living, who is 91. So the grandson of a guy who was president before Abraham Lincoln is still alive.

 

Cool, huh?

   

It's a Mask, Not Waterboarding

 

October 5, 2020

 

The other day I heard one masked woman say to another, “This will go away soon. People won’t put up with this much longer.”

“Put up with what?” I wondered. “Put up with wearing a scrap of cloth over your face while you cruise the aisles of a clothing store for items that are not basic necessities? Put up with wearing a mask for that hour you go grocery shopping, or while you’re at church?”

In some countries, people were not allowed outside except to grocery shop for months; and you bet they were wearing masks. What on EARTH do you have to complain about, as you go from store to store, maskless, only having to put on the mask when you enter? And who’s making you go clothes shopping, anyway?

In World War II, people put up with rationing. What would our entitled mask-complainers do about that?

Put up with it? You should be glad that all you’re asked to do is wear a mask while you’re interacting with other people.

Put up with it? Stop being so self-centered. Or stay home, where you won’t be asked to inconvenience yourself in order to keep other citizens safe.

 

Your choice.

It's Never Too Late (Part 3)

 

October 5, 2020

  

Although this story isn’t about accomplishing major achievments at an advanced age, it still follows our theme of “It’s Never Too Late”.

A British library said that two books were recently returned 48 years after being checked out. No fines were assessed.

 

However, the record for overdue books, according to Guinness, is actually 288 years.

October 18, 2020

 

On October 12^th it was reported that a book was returned 58 years after its due date. Like the ones we previously reported, it was also in Britain.

What's the Plan, Senator?

 

October 7, 2020

 

A few months ago, I started to write a post asking how Joe Biden planned to fix everything that he says is wrong with the country right now. It’s one thing to spout rhetoric, but another to actually do something to change the status quo.

I didn’t publish it, because I figured he might just be playing his cards close to his vest. Whatever he does is going to be unpopular with segments of the population, and he might not want to give people any more reasons to vote against him.

But after seeing the presidential debate, I think it’s time for Biden to do more than say, “Donald Trump did a bad job with everything. Vote for me.”

 

So now I’m asking, Senator: What’s your plan?

 

It's Never Too Late (Part 2)

 

October 5, 2020

 

A 103-year-old man is the oldest person to do a tandem skydive. Al Blaschke squeaked by the record set by a woman in 2019, as he was a few days older when he made his jump in July 2020. It was his second skydiving experience.

Mr. Blaschke’s first skydive was on his 100^th birthday.

Those Were the Days

 

October 1, 2020

 

Here’s a shocker: I just read that when Helen Reddy accepted her Grammy for “I Am Woman”, she thanked people very quickly, saying, “I only have 10 seconds…”

The article was highlighting her famous line, “…and I would like to thank God because She makes everything possible.”

But I was so taken by the thought of acceptance speeches only lasting 10 seconds that I almost missed the point of the story.

Fowl Language

 

October 1, 2020

 

Five parrots at a British zoo were separated because they kept encouraging each other to swear.  

Although most people thought the situation was funny, the parrots were moved to separate areas of the park to keep children from hearing their foul/fowl language.

 

He Won in a Landslide—But There Was a Problem

 

September 28, 2020

 

The mayor of a Romanian village won his re-election with 64% of the vote.

The only problem was that he had died about 2 weeks before the election.

The ballots were pre-printed. Is it possible that not all the citizens had gotten the news?

 

There will be a special election to replace him.

 

More Australian Lottery News

 

September 28, 2020

 

One Australian family won the lottery because they bought a ticket after their European vacation was canceled. (“COVID-Induced—Wealth?”, Sept. 29, 2020)

Another Australian family also struck it lucky—this time because they accidentally bought a ticket for the wrong drawing.

The family’s mistake won them over $450,000.

 

If I ever go to Australia, I will definitely play the lottery.

TV Interference

 

September 28, 2020

 

For 18 months, residents in the Welsh village of Aberhosan complained that they lost internet every day at 7 a.m. 

The broadband provider spent months trying to track down the problem, and even replaced sections of cable throughout the town. 

Eventually they discovered the source of the problem: An elderly resident turned on his old TV set promptly at 7 a.m. every day, and the electrical interference caused the broadband interference.

The resident was embarrassed and agreed not to use the TV any more.

 

My question: Did anyone offer to replace it with a newer model?