I remember the pictures and I smile. I fell in love with the most beautiful man in the world. I fell in love with the handwriting and all the phone calls and the deep voice. I am sure many more women did the same. You are awesome and I really am saddened to know that you have spent so much of your young life behind bars. But you are in my heart and will always be. I was telling a friend about you just now and showed her those pictures. I also found more information about you on the Mugshot website. I now have a better picture of who you are and the period of incaceration that is forthcoming. But you will always be in my heart; for I believe each one of us who have corresponded with you hold a place in your heart. Though you may have a significant other, our spirits will always be a part of you. Love You, Ellen
Hello again Nate. I read this letter you wrote a few times and I have to say... You actually seem like a good person. I see that you have done wrong, a few times, but realize that and are sincere in your apologies. I really was expecting to read some crap like "blah blah blah, it's not my fault.. blah blah blah the system is corrupt and I didn't do anything that deserves this punishment blah blah blah"
I know it sounds kinda like a stupid question, but it's something that I was thinking about. Do you think that if you would have stayed with the church and not left that life yiubwere trying to live, that you wouldnt be in this life you have now? I go to church and I feel as if it really doesn't do much anyway and people are pretty judgemental if you don't do things the way they'd do it. Being a recovered addict I get lots of sympathy "aw's" and "praise the lord you're better now" I really hate it. (got off topic)
I sit and think about chocies I've made... One second choices.. impulse decisions. And wonder what my life would be like if I hadn't have made them. These thoughts plague me sometimes. Granted, I've never killed anyone... Or been in jail, but I've made some bad choices. I think everyone has really... I don't know where I'm going with this. My mind runs wild sometimes.
Anyway. What I wanted to really say is thank you for stating what happened that got you in the place you are now. Thanks for saying it in a non angry way and full of clarity.
I think if you would have found something proving he was a sicko... I'd agree. No pity. At all. Pedophiles are the worst and don't feel there is a place for them on this earth. There I go again, off topic. Lol
Randy, I want you to know,you are my friend, and I respect you, I respect any choice you make. Please believe me, my reason for writing to you about God is for me not you, I want to believe again, I want something to hold onto, unfortunately over the years things have happened that makes me question my faith, and I could tell in your writings that you believe very strongly I respect that and was hoping you could enlighten me, and help me to see why you believe there is a God, Many times I have done the same thing that you did, I asked God for a sign,anything, and I would be his,but no response ever came, I am one of those people that has to be shown it's real, I'm not following anybody, God should know this about me, and make me one of his soldiers,Randy I could keep going,but I think you understand me, just wanted to make sure you didn't think I didn't support your choice, if it wasn't you I would have never asked someone else about God, I respect what you think,I know you're smart, and if you got something good I want it, typical human I want what you got.Ha! Your Friend
Hello Jason, I was wondering if you can talk in a dayroom with people. Perhaps you've some friends? Can you read books? What kind of books do you like? Can you do a kind of sport?
My letter will be posted on the fourth of April, ok?
I hope you get a lot of mail on your blog, Jason! Sharing things, as you've said. ;-)
We will become good friends. Kind greetings from Rita
I am more than happy to finally be rid of self and learning the very thing you have just delivered in one of the best letters I have read in some time. I come to simply say I apologize for my years of discord and pray you will begin direct communication with me soon. Your little brother Vandy V. Harris Jr. 6754 S. Cornell Unit 3N Chicago, IL. 60649
I don't know from what associations the hippopotamus got onto the chessboard, but although the spectators were convinced that I was continuing to study the position, I, despite my humanitarian education, was trying at this time to work out: just how would you drag a hippopotamus out of the marsh? I remember how jacks figured in my thoughts, as well as levers, helicopters, and even a rope ladder.
After a lengthy consideration I admitted defeat as an engineer, and thought spitefully: 'Well, let it drown!' And suddenly the hippopotamus disappeared going off the chessboard just as he had come on. Of his own accord! And straightaway the position did not appear to be so complicated. Now I somehow realized that it was not possible to calculate all the variations, and that the knight sacrifice was, by its very nature, purely intuitive. And since it promised an interesting game, I could not refrain from making it.
And the following day, it was with pleasure that I read in the paper how Mikhail Tal, after carefully thinking over the position for 40 minutes, made an accurately calculated piece sacrifice…"
Use Lateral Thinking in Chess like the sword Alexander used to cut the proverbial Gordian Knot. Lateral Thinking, like chess itself, is not mastered in a day, but then nothing worthwhile ever is. Hopefully this article has served as "a finger pointing to the moon" of Creativity. (Speaking of the moon, did you check your horoscope today? You should because some players swear that even a knowledge of Astrology helps their chess.) Lateral thinking is a helpful tool to anyone seeking to improve their Chess.
Try it.
Written and copyrighted by Mark J.B. Bowen Saturday, March 30, 2002
Page 2… Lateral Thinking in Chess (Mark J.B. Bowen)
Modern fiction can inspire ideas also, a scene from a book in the Kane's War series describes a chess match as follows:
"Kane slid quietly into something he'd seen once at a game in New York. Guy there had called it the "No-Name Defense". Said he'd evolved it after studying the ancient Chinese military strategist, Sun Tzu."
Here the author, Nick Stone, has cleverly blended in an element of American Football with Chess and Oriental Military Stratagems. The No-Name Defense is legendary for bringing victory to the Miami Dolphins in the early seventies.
Michael "Air" Jordan
Studying other sports (as Kramnik did with ice hockey) is a very effective way to gain insights. Many chess players, including the great Spassky, find Tennis particularly interesting. The use of the serve is similar to the use of White pieces for instance. Do you have a favourite Soccer team ? Perhaps you could use their approach on the chess board also. What about your favourite players? Wouldn't it be great to play chess the way Michael Jordan plays basketball? Think about it and see if it helps your creativity.
The Latvian Mikhail Tal is known to be one of the most creative players of all time. He described his thoughts just before making a knight sac in a game, against Vasiukov (at Kiev, 1965), thusly:
"The sacrifice was not altogether obvious, and there was a large number of possible variations, but when I conscientiously began to work through them, I found, to my horror, that nothing would come of it. Ideas piled up one after another. I would transport a subtle reply by my opponent, which worked in one case, to another situation where it would naturally prove to be quite useless.
As a result my head became filled with a completely chaotic pile of all sorts of moves, and the famous 'tree of the variations', from which the trainers recommend that you cut off the small branches, in this case spread with unbelievable rapidity.
And then suddenly, for some reason, I remembered the classic couplet by Korney Ivanovich Chukovsky:
Oh, what a difficult job it was To drag out of the marsh the hippopotamus.
"Chess for Tigers" is basically a chess version of the classic "Book of Five Rings" written by the legendary swordsman Musashi. The basic premise of both books is Know Yourself, Know your Opponent, Use Prevailing conditions to your advantage and have relentless dedication to constantly improve. "The Art of War" by Sun Tzu is another example of this philosophy. All three of these books will help develop your lateral thinking in a strategic way.
While some gain insight from the dominating methods of Machiavelli and Bismarck in political history, others use literature to develop their chess. Jonathan Rowson's book on the "Seven Deadly Sins of Chess" is replete with literary references. Mark Dvoretsky, the leading chess trainer of Russia, quotes readily from classical literature, and also from famous chess players, in his profound books. Perhaps it is their broad educational system, and knowledge of history, that has been the real source of the Soviet success in Chess. If you don't know who Nabakov is then at least play some Bob Marley music and remember that, "If you know your history, then you would know where you're coming from."
The January 2002 issue of Chess Life has the following example of lateral thinking in Chess. After a game in which a lone knight holds off two black passed pawns, allowing white time to promote his own pawns and win narrowly, the winner, Miles Kinney, said he got the idea from the historical story of Horatius. Apparently, the heroics of the Roman senator, who lost his own life while single handedly delaying an enemy advance against the only bridge into Rome, had inspired his winning strategy.
Understanding human nature generally, through psychology and literature, as well as history, may also help tremendously. Study whatever areas interest you personally, and then spend time reflecting, on how the principles in your favourite areas, may apply to a Chess game. There is no limit to the connections you can make. Anything at all can be related back to chess. Bobby Fischer himself said "Chess is Life" and both Korchnoi and Karpov had books with similar titles also. Use your life lessons in your chess game. Make your personality flourish on the board.
How do you approach the game? For some Chess is the Martial Art of the Mind. (Grandmaster Maurice Ashley admits to using his knowledge of Aikido and Energy on the chess board also.) Some see it as a science, some as a sport, some like Lasker, view Chess as a fight. "Chess is a Language," say some fluent players. Realize that your outlook will affect how you play the game and find the approach that works best for you. Try on different approaches. Bent Larsen viewed chess as, "a beautiful mistress." This lateral (or some may say horizontal) thinking no doubt helped his enjoyment of the game tremendously.
"Predators, which I personally enjoyed learning about, include the Jellyfish and the Crocodile, their methods can also be applied to chess."
Next time you need to beat a player, to get more rating points, think of yourself as a predator, looking for lunch, and see what ideas come to you. That's what Simon Webb did in his excellent book "Chess for Tigers." Predators, which I personally enjoyed learning about, include the Jellyfish and the Crocodile, their methods can also be applied to chess. Tune in to the Discovery channel and watch the Super Nature series.
RSS
I read this letter you wrote a few times and I have to say... You actually seem like a good person. I see that you have done wrong, a few times, but realize that and are sincere in your apologies. I really was expecting to read some crap like "blah blah blah, it's not my fault.. blah blah blah the system is corrupt and I didn't do anything that deserves this punishment blah blah blah"
I know it sounds kinda like a stupid question, but it's something that I was thinking about. Do you think that if you would have stayed with the church and not left that life yiubwere trying to live, that you wouldnt be in this life you have now? I go to church and I feel as if it really doesn't do much anyway and people are pretty judgemental if you don't do things the way they'd do it. Being a recovered addict I get lots of sympathy "aw's" and "praise the lord you're better now" I really hate it. (got off topic)
I sit and think about chocies I've made... One second choices.. impulse decisions. And wonder what my life would be like if I hadn't have made them. These thoughts plague me sometimes. Granted, I've never killed anyone... Or been in jail, but I've made some bad choices. I think everyone has really... I don't know where I'm going with this. My mind runs wild sometimes.
Anyway. What I wanted to really say is thank you for stating what happened that got you in the place you are now. Thanks for saying it in a non angry way and full of clarity.
I think if you would have found something proving he was a sicko... I'd agree. No pity. At all. Pedophiles are the worst and don't feel there is a place for them on this earth. There I go again, off topic. Lol
Later, Kerri
Your Friend
My letter will be posted on the fourth of April, ok?
I hope you get a lot of mail on your blog, Jason! Sharing things, as you've said. ;-)
We will become good friends. Kind greetings from Rita
Vandy V. Harris Jr.
6754 S. Cornell
Unit 3N
Chicago, IL. 60649
After a lengthy consideration I admitted defeat as an engineer, and thought spitefully: 'Well, let it drown!' And suddenly the hippopotamus disappeared going off the chessboard just as he had come on. Of his own accord! And straightaway the position did not appear to be so complicated. Now I somehow realized that it was not possible to calculate all the variations, and that the knight sacrifice was, by its very nature, purely intuitive. And since it promised an interesting game, I could not refrain from making it.
And the following day, it was with pleasure that I read in the paper how Mikhail Tal, after carefully thinking over the position for 40 minutes, made an accurately calculated piece sacrifice…"
Use Lateral Thinking in Chess like the sword Alexander used to cut the proverbial Gordian Knot. Lateral Thinking, like chess itself, is not mastered in a day, but then nothing worthwhile ever is. Hopefully this article has served as "a finger pointing to the moon" of Creativity. (Speaking of the moon, did you check your horoscope today? You should because some players swear that even a knowledge of Astrology helps their chess.) Lateral thinking is a helpful tool to anyone seeking to improve their Chess.
Try it.
Written and copyrighted
by Mark J.B. Bowen
Saturday, March 30, 2002
http://www.thechessdrum.net/65thSquare/65_mayjun02b.html
Modern fiction can inspire ideas also, a scene from a book in the Kane's War series describes a chess match as follows:
"Kane slid quietly into something he'd seen once at a game in New York. Guy there had called it the "No-Name Defense". Said he'd evolved it after studying the ancient Chinese military strategist, Sun Tzu."
Here the author, Nick Stone, has cleverly blended in an element of American Football with Chess and Oriental Military Stratagems. The No-Name Defense is legendary for bringing victory to the Miami Dolphins in the early seventies.
Michael "Air" Jordan
Studying other sports (as Kramnik did with ice hockey) is a very effective way to gain insights. Many chess players, including the great Spassky, find Tennis particularly interesting. The use of the serve is similar to the use of White pieces for instance. Do you have a favourite Soccer team ? Perhaps you could use their approach on the chess board also. What about your favourite players? Wouldn't it be great to play chess the way Michael Jordan plays basketball? Think about it and see if it helps your creativity.
The Latvian Mikhail Tal is known to be one of the most creative players of all time. He described his thoughts just before making a knight sac in a game, against Vasiukov (at Kiev, 1965), thusly:
"The sacrifice was not altogether obvious, and there was a large number of possible variations, but when I conscientiously began to work through them, I found, to my horror, that nothing would come of it. Ideas piled up one after another. I would transport a subtle reply by my opponent, which worked in one case, to another situation where it would naturally prove to be quite useless.
As a result my head became filled with a completely chaotic pile of all sorts of moves, and the famous 'tree of the variations', from which the trainers recommend that you cut off the small branches, in this case spread with unbelievable rapidity.
And then suddenly, for some reason, I remembered the classic couplet by Korney Ivanovich Chukovsky:
Oh, what a difficult job it was
To drag out of the marsh the hippopotamus.
GM Mikhail Tal
While some gain insight from the dominating methods of Machiavelli and Bismarck in political history, others use literature to develop their chess. Jonathan Rowson's book on the "Seven Deadly Sins of Chess" is replete with literary references. Mark Dvoretsky, the leading chess trainer of Russia, quotes readily from classical literature, and also from famous chess players, in his profound books. Perhaps it is their broad educational system, and knowledge of history, that has been the real source of the Soviet success in Chess. If you don't know who Nabakov is then at least play some Bob Marley music and remember that, "If you know your history, then you would know where you're coming from."
The January 2002 issue of Chess Life has the following example of lateral thinking in Chess. After a game in which a lone knight holds off two black passed pawns, allowing white time to promote his own pawns and win narrowly, the winner, Miles Kinney, said he got the idea from the historical story of Horatius. Apparently, the heroics of the Roman senator, who lost his own life while single handedly delaying an enemy advance against the only bridge into Rome, had inspired his winning strategy.
How do you approach the game? For some Chess is the Martial Art of the Mind. (Grandmaster Maurice Ashley admits to using his knowledge of Aikido and Energy on the chess board also.) Some see it as a science, some as a sport, some like Lasker, view Chess as a fight. "Chess is a Language," say some fluent players. Realize that your outlook will affect how you play the game and find the approach that works best for you. Try on different approaches. Bent Larsen viewed chess as, "a beautiful mistress." This lateral (or some may say horizontal) thinking no doubt helped his enjoyment of the game tremendously.
"Predators, which I personally enjoyed learning about, include the Jellyfish and the Crocodile, their methods can also be applied to chess."
Next time you need to beat a player, to get more rating points, think of yourself as a predator, looking for lunch, and see what ideas come to you. That's what Simon Webb did in his excellent book "Chess for Tigers." Predators, which I personally enjoyed learning about, include the Jellyfish and the Crocodile, their methods can also be applied to chess. Tune in to the Discovery channel and watch the Super Nature series.