The Chess Improver: What not to do if you have the isolated Pawn
Aug 28, 2014 · 1 minute read · Commentschess For The Chess Improver, I wrote “What not to do if you have the isolated Pawn”.
chess For The Chess Improver, I wrote “What not to do if you have the isolated Pawn”.
Discovering the beautiful keyboard playing of Robert Hill by accident on YouTube changed my life
Aug 21, 2014 · 7 minute read · CommentsmusicYouTubeRobert HillJohann Sebastian BachCarl Philipp Emanuel BachLudwig van BeethovenJohannes Brahmslute-harpsichordharpsichordfortepianopianoEnglish SuitesFrench SuitesPartitasGoldberg VariationsWell-Tempered Clavierintermezzi
Robert Hill
Recently, I completely accidentally discovered a fascinating musician, Robert Hill, on YouTube.
The story is as you might expect: I heard a piece of music, and wanted to find some performance of it by somebody, anybody on YouTube as long as it had a decent user rating (yes, I find ratings actually useful when checking out unfamiliar music), and I happened to come across some random guy’s performance, and it was so fascinating that I looked at other uploads of his, subscribed to his YouTube channel, and looked him up on the Web to find out who he was!
It’s especially great that he regularly uploads new videos to his YouTube channel.
So who is Robert Hill, and why do I like his performances so much that I’m recommending that you check them out?
Read On →The Chess Improver: For the love of doubled Pawns
Aug 21, 2014 · 1 minute read · Commentschess For The Chess Improver, I wrote “For the love of doubled Pawns”.
The Chess Improver: Beware of trying to win poisoned Pawns
Aug 14, 2014 · 1 minute read · Commentschess For The Chess Improver, I wrote “Beware of trying to win poisoned Pawns”.
The Chess Improver: When weaknesses didn't matter (and when they did)
Aug 7, 2014 · 1 minute read · Commentschess For The Chess Improver, I wrote “When weaknesses didn’t matter (and when they did)”.
Thoughts on the construction of the new Frick Environmental Center
Aug 5, 2014 · 3 minute read · CommentsFrick ParkFrick Environmental CenterPittsburghrunning
Almost exactly twelve years ago, in 2002, tragedy struck in Frick Park in Pittsburgh. I was on a long evening run in Frick Park when I unwittingly came across what had happened earlier in the day.
From my journal, August 4, 2002
“91 degrees, heat index 93. The Frick Park entrance was closed off for some reason with tape, so that I could not access the water fountain I had counted on using, so I ran up to Forbes instead and to Braddock to get a fountain at that end of the park.”
Later in the evening, I found out what had happened:
“Whoa!!! The Frick Environmental Center was burned down in the morning. No wonder it was all closed off when I tried to run to the water fountain.”
This was reported the next day in the Post-Gazette.
Construction
Yesterday, construction of the new Frick Environmental Center began, finally, after twelve years of uncertainty and controversy.
On my evening run tonight (very cool, in the 60s, this summer, unlike the summer of twelve years ago!), I checked out the construction site.
Road sign on Beechwood Blvd:
Old burned building still there:
Some trail detour signs:
The Chess Improver: An instructive ending with Bishop up for a Pawn
Jul 31, 2014 · 1 minute read · Commentschess For The Chess Improver, I wrote “An instructive ending with Bishop up for a Pawn”.
The Chess Improver: How do you play against 1 h3?
Jul 24, 2014 · 1 minute read · Commentschess For The Chess Improver, I wrote “How do you play against 1 h3?”.
The growth of loyalty after seventeen years
Jul 22, 2014 · 3 minute read · CommentsbarberPittsburghSquirrel HillmusicDean Martin Tonight I finally got a haircut. For two weeks I’d been looking for my barber Joe, of Harry’s Barber Shoppe in Squirrel Hill; I was due for my haircut. I’d called Joe’s phone number from work in the afternoon. I’d driven by on the way home (the shop is just a block away from home). I’d taken a walk on Saturday to see if he was open. No sign of him. Read On →
The Chess Improver: Pawn moves in front of Black's castled King: looking at h6 and f5
Jul 17, 2014 · 1 minute read · Commentschess For The Chess Improver, I wrote “Pawn moves in front of Black’s castled King: looking at h6 and f5”.