Nov-26-07
randallbsmith: <Well, to be too easy for a Monday, it would indeed have to be easier than the easiest, but it is Monday, and this is the Monday puzzle, so to be too easy would therefore mean this puzzle is easier than itself. But then, this one, oddly, is so easy that it almost IS easier than itself, or as close as you can get to being easier than yourself without going into the realm of such logical contradiction as to bring Everything to a crashing ruin. Now, why are you reading this you may wonder? It is not your fault. This comment started out on a weak note, then slowly got nowhere. How could you know it would degrade to general drivel without actually reading to the end? I apologize. If it is any consolation, I, as I write, am discovering the same sense of acute disappointment.>

First ever post by <Randall> on CG, at the Monday Puzzle...

this man is clearly a genius. We must tempt him to join <Frogspawn>.

Hi Ho!

Be back in a cupla hours

I just sent you the EMU- I needed to check something first with my "Shreddies" before I sent it.

I don't think this "Shreddies" is good for much except checking for tactical errors post-game.

It keeps overvaluing positions based on material counting, IMO.

Quite inaccurately, I think.

Coincidentally I cleaned up my PC the other day, so I will give my relatively new Rybbies a run for his money...

I am also doing a sound editing job that takes quite a bit of time- maybe I can combine..., but I think there's no real hurry.

You'll be pleased to know I'm making a rare trip to the "big city" tomorrow after work to hang with my "non-Korean friends."

I will stay with my friend <Fraser>, a 300 pound Scotsman who likes to stay up to six in the morning on a Friday night so this promises to be adventurous.

I'll also see my jaundiced and hyper-intelligent friend Matt from Chicago, who is an excellent teacher but can't stand Korean people. Except for his girlfriend, who happens to be Korean.

I'll be taking the bus in and then the <Metro of Death>-- one of the largest, fastest, most modern, and totally incomprehensible subway systems in the world.

There are multiple lines, floors, and exits, all marked in the Korean alphabet.

And yes, if you must ask, I have my home address and Fraser's address written out in the Korean alphabet on <laminated cards> that I will have <safety pinned> inside the front pocket of my jeans.

I may be an idiot, but I'm no fool.

Stay out of trouble if you can... I know that this request is redundant, but still...

I will be in Daegu.

I will be exploring Seoul when I get my Vacation which is now moved to one of the weeks in February.

Arooo!!

I will party by drinking lots of coffee and prattling non-stop.

perhaps some dancing.

Also, apparently there is a "chess and checkers" bar somewheres.

GOOOOOOO Fraser!!!

It is his daughter's birthday party and she has it this weekend.

I can imagine the news headlines already, with the <Kaukasian wild teacher bunch> on the loose in Daegu...

You have taught them and practised to scream the AROOO! yell in unison, have you?

It should be obligatory, if you ask me... but since you have not asked me I'm just rambling...

Thank you so much <Niels>. Your help, combined with the message I got from <Kingscrusher>, has cast all doubt from my mind.

Psychologically, When I played <Bg4> and <Kh1> and <a4> they were "desperation moves" in my mind-- I was convinced I had a losing position-- especially after my <Bg4> was countered by <Kingscrusher's> suave <Bb7>- declining the LSB exchange I was hoping for.

When I moved my King over to <h1> I was just trying to unpin my g-pawn so his rooks couldn't just come crashing on the f-file.

In short- I thought I was on "the defensive" right after I "left book" (around move 14).

However, I thought his <Rxf3> was reckless- I wouldn't have played that myself-- I didn't think it was sound. And when he allowed my <Ra8> I was quite surprised, and felt like the initiative was going to me now for the first time. I was even more surprised after his <Qxf2>, cuz that gave me the game-- Simply <25.Rxf8 Bxf8> and then I go <26.Qf6> and Black is totally lost.

I can't thank you enough and I look forward to going through your analysis.

I will post my second ever <letsplaychess.com> Correspondence game with pride, now.

AROOO!!

It's a little surreal still.

AWHACKA WHOOOOO

Around 5 0r 6 pm your friggin time...

You had a slight advantage THROUGHOUT the game - ranging from 0.03 to 0.30 until the blunder with Rxf3 -- It's all in the email.

Hi ho boys!!

heh.

I danced all night and slept all day.

Then I bought the BEST HAT EVER.

Really. It's my favorite thing I ever bought in my life. I like it even more than my <chessmaster 2000> featuring <Josh Waitzkin my hero>.

I got a giant winter hat-- but it's a kind of hat you can't get in Canada.

It's a GIANT PINK PLUSH PIG HAT!!

Heh. That's right-- I wore it all night tonight on the way home and people were pointing at me and laughing.

I look a fright in it!! I look like a pink pig. It has a snout and ears and is the best hat ever.

I'm never taking it off. Not even to shower.

I'm wearing it right now in fact. It's ever so warm. cuz it's made out of Nylon or some other heinous chemical material that lets no wind or air through of any kind.

Practical... AND ridiculous.

Who knew?