Bird's Opening vs. the Vienna

Okay, I am a putzer or even worse when it comes to chess. I could probably beat 90 percent of the population at chess, but that is because only about 10 percent actually play chess.

I have been playing games on chess titan against the computer. On level 4 I win about 90 percent, on level five I win about 20 percent. Playing white, for the last two years I have been using the Birds opening. My luck with it has been indifferent, but it is a system I can remember that will occasionally throw off a live opponent.

Recently, I went back to the Vienna, which I studied for years, but was always worried about the king's knight and the f2 pawn. What is interesting is that I accidentally solved this problem by eventually sending the king's knight to e2. Which also covers the d4 square, which I have always considered a weakness. In any case viva Vienna - if I am allowed such a mixed language expression. Well, the Hapsburgs did control Spain for many a year.

Not to say that it has increased my win ratio on level 5.

A History of Europe Homeschool Course

I spent the last year writing a homeschool course on the history of modern Europe. It contains twenty chapters and runs from the Renaissance to the end of WWI. It contains chapter quizzes, report suggestions, and a final exam.

I originally wrote this course because I had looked all over for something like it for a homeschool class that I taught last year. I could not find anything with a price that was within the realm of reason. This book is only 14.95 and is a complete course of study.

File Conversion

I had reason to do an audio file conversion this morning. I used Media Convert. I didn't have to download any software. It was all done online. Worked out well. It took a bit longer to upload and download the the file, but I only needed to do it once, so it wasn't really worth downloading a program, and installing it on my computer. Anyway. It worked pretty slick.

Paul and I

Paul asked me how to put an image on his blog. So I am showing him. This image to the left is Paul and I, taken the other day when we were testing out the webcam on my new Toshiba. Paul has a blog of his own at Paul's Blog. He is working hard on it. If you get a chance, go over there, take a look and leave a nice comment.

Chess Strategy

I am by no means a grand master, but I do have a pretty firm grasp on the basic rules of chess. I have a pretty fair record against the computer on the easy levels. It is when I get into the mediocre levels that I have trouble.

On Chess Titan I win about 25 percent of my games on level five. (Which shows you how truly mediocre a player I am.) The few victories that I have eked out on that level are due mainly to getting an advantage early and then grinding down the computerized opponent in a war of attrition. You can call the General Grant of Chess.

It goes to show why chess is considered a sport. To play it well requires considerable practice. It also requires stamina, consentration, and even physical exertion. In England, boxing chess is popular where the opponents go a round in the ring and then a couple of minutes on the chess board. I can just imagine trying to think about what my next move is going to be while getting my head pounded by a ham-fisted heavy-weight.

Insect Stuff

Although it is January, I am already thinking summer. Consequently, I have been bitten by the insect bug.

Just looking around a bit I found some fascinating stuff. First, there is the cicada killer. Yup, there is a wasp that comes out of the ground in late summer that kills that giant singing insect. How? You probably guessed it. By laying eggs on it. Kind of like the wasp that does in the tomato hornworm.

Another interesting page I found where they make models of insects that are 30 times their actual size! Beautiful as they are in the light, if you found one of these in a dark alley, they would have you heading for the hills.