Tuesday, June 30, 2009
Monday, June 29, 2009
The Ballad of Paul Morphy!
Check out the video below, the Ballad of Paul Morphy, a strange and haunting tribute to the famous chess player!
"This video is a tribute to the great chess genius Paul Morphy (1837-1884). The accompanying song is in the style of the old parlor songs of the Stephen Foster era and is delivered by Anchor Méjans. Some images are taken from "public domain" films at Prelinger Archive."
I discovered this video on YouTube and was struck by the uncanny similarities - especially the lines "retreating into dreams was his release." Yes, we're definitely dealing with the same Morphy!
Here are the lyrics:
Paul Morphy lived his life in black and white
For him there was no gray
No wrong nor right
Just strategy
Nights and days -
Confined by notes in squares upon a page
No friends to adore
Only royals and pawns
And there was no way out of his sad fate
No there was no way out of his sad fate
Alas alas alas for him -
checkmate
Paul Morphy wanted peace
But peace was scarce
Retreating into dreams was his release
Paul Morphy lived his life in black and white
For him there was no gray
No wrong nor right
No friends to adore
Only royals and pawns
And there was no way out of his sad fate
No there was no way out of his sad fate
Alas alas alas for him -
checkmate
Sing along!
Sunday, June 28, 2009
Saturday, June 27, 2009
Life of Paul Morphy!
Friday, June 26, 2009
British heatwave!
Thursday, June 25, 2009
Saturday, June 20, 2009
The Knight of New Orleans - world chess in the crescent city!
Friday, June 19, 2009
University of Michigan interview!
Dear England, I am pleased to have an initial phone interview at the University of Michigan, Ann Arbor. The job is for Lecturer in English literature, and would involve teaching upper-level courses in poetry, literary studies, romanticism, drama, digital rhetoric and undergraduate advising. Ann Arbor itself is a pretty college town in the American midwest:
So far I've visited Ann Arbor three times, twice in the last two years, and I'll be visiting again in September - for the football! The University of Michigan is famous for its American football games, which are played at literally the biggest stadium in America: it holds 100,000. It's nickname is The Big House - also a term for prison in American slang!
Click the pic to learn more about Michigan American football and stadium!
Monday, June 8, 2009
Scuba Diving - 60 feet down!
Well, the thing about scuba diving is that you have to get "certified" and the best organization to do this with is called PADI (Professional Association of Diving Instructors). It's the most internationally recognized - giving you the best chance of being able to dive in new places, on new adventures! I am currently learning through the National Diving Center in Washington, DC.
When you have all your equipment on, it can be pretty daunting. Actually, the hardest thing in scuba is probably trying to stay balanced, as the tank is pretty heavy. But you get used to this after a few dives. So far I've dived once in a swimming pool, and I'm only half way through my PADI certification. But in two weeks I'm off to Bainbridge, Pennsylvania to dive 60 feet in a murky quarry - the four "open water" dives I need to complete the course. Then it's Puerto Rico in July baby for some real tropical diving!
I added these pictures to feed my idea of how beautiful diving will be. As yet, I have no idea. But from the training videos, it looks pretty amazing - shoals of fish everywhere, coral, massive sea plants to get entangled in, and even the odd shark nosing past (do not disturb). I can't wait!