Hmmm <Val Kilmer> plays the lead role in The Thaw, and ever since his brilliant performances in <Tombstone> (Doc Holliday) and 'Chris' in <Heat>, a few years later, I thought he surely was one of the best, but regrettably played in a lot of "lemons" since then, as well.... (At First Sight springs to mind-- I remember finding the audio dubbing extremely disconcerting, to name one aspect...)

<Also, preliminary IMDB info is totally unreliable because members of the film's production team always spam 10 out of 10 reviews for a bit.> Yes--

The Thaw - is probably a bit disappointing (still have to watch the 2nd half), but I will go in for a closer look tonight.

BTW did you notice that <Anatoli Karpov> has opened a new forum, and he's devoting it to "endgame studies of interest" at the moment?

Or maybe the third-

????

Cherniev nowhere to be found- traffic- late start- Muswell Hill- third board-

Plus, <Ruffed Grouse> is in a really good mood these days which is marvellous.

http://www.ghostresearch.org/sites/...

Took me longer then I will admit to :-)

click for larger view

That puzzle is a constructed fantasy position.

I concede that solving these kind of puzzles is a more than worthy intellectual exercise- I even concede that they teach you valuable chess principles (control of squares especially).

However, on aesthetic grounds, I find these fantasy positions offensive on some level.

I think they "cheapen chess" into some kind of magician-like parlor trick.

I would never look down on anyone for enjoying these, however- or for enjoying chess variants, for that matter.

Except for Gothic Chess, because it's "creator" is evil.

It's really just a ripped off version of a Capablanca variant anyways.

So I'm not going to try this one here. Although I applaud your brain power for solving it!!!

In that vein, I thought you were unnecessarily hard on yourself over in your forum for missing a puzzle solution on your first two attempts.

A: You are a good puzzle solver

B: The "heavy hitter" solvers at this site are just that- they have a formidable talent/knowledge base for solving puzzles. An "easy puzzle" to them might be a nightmare for such as me.

Of the people I know personally, <Big Crawdaddy>, <Switching Owls for Thugs>, and <hms123: A Puzzle Solving Odyssey> are most definitely "heavy hitters."

heh

Thanks!!! I'm not even going to open those links until just before bed tonight. With my headphones on loud, no lights......

I can't wait.

"Can I have an ounce of that, please?"

Also, he announces his uploads on Twitter... Tryfon seemed to be everywhere at the same time, and even kibitzed here during Pearl Spring.

Full agreement here that the more exotic puzzle positions are an acquired taste.

Although I didn't think that one was <so> bizarre.

I will look for some more realistic OTB positions for you next time.

He's a class act all the way.

You know one time I was horrified that I had offended him with my typically overly-blunt and rude comments- after all he's done for me personally.

Posting one of my games, dedicating Fischer games to me, answering my personal messages...

So I felt just awful and messaged him "I hope you can forgive me."

So he TEXTED ME FROM HIS MOBILE CELL PHONE "Of course I forgive you".

What a mensch.

He actually checked his youtube messages from his cell phone and responded right away.

Also- you know that he beat <GM Cherniev> in the great North End Blitz tournament, where he finished second.

Btw - I couldn't help myself but to correct your spelling over at Perfesser Eyal's Ministry of Zilly Talks

Believe, me, I appreciate it.

Instructive!

(literally)

And you can also ZWANK me later!

Your mention of laughing out loud brought back a memory of a time I also laughed out loud- and continue to do so whenever I remember it.

Do you remember this TOP SECRET COMMINUIQUE?

"I know something they have in common. Neither of them owns a chess board."

HAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAAHAHA

Remember?

I don't know why that was so funny to me, and still is.

HAHAHAHAHA