In case you don't know, desert sand is very smooth, which means that it doesn't bind at all in e.g. concrete. For cement, concrete etc., you need sharp sand, which has more 'sharp' bits for things to bind to.
Best method for chess improvement (mildly clickbait)
I'm putting this here because I've seen a lot of posts by people on forums, here and elsewhere, asking about the best way to improve as a beginner chess player.
Oftentimes a lot of emphasis is put on reading books or consuming online content, but for me the most significant factor in my chess improvement was finding an environment where I could play over the board casually with people of varying strengths, who all enjoy chess.
The benefits are many, but perhaps the most significant is getting to discuss your games. After, and sometimes as, you play, you and your opponent will discuss lines, and often things you're worried about in your position. As a beginner, you can pick up fairly quickly basic tactics, but positional understanding -- those 'instincts' about a position -- are so much easier to learn if you have someone to point them out in your games. Chess is such a lovely hobby in that everyone I've met has wanted others to succeed and improve. The strong friends I've made there have lent me books, and reviewed my games once I started playing in the league.
Beyond the chess, there's the social and motivational aspect. I look forward to Wednesday evenings (my pub chess night) because I know I'm going to go, chat shit with some friends over beer, and play some chess.
The final thing I'd emphasise is that it doesn't have to be a formal club. In my city there's a great pub chess night, and on the continent I'm aware there's a great coffee house chess scene. You can be casual, and strength is not the be-all and end-all.
So go forth and play! If you want any advice on finding somewhere nice (and if you happen to be in Bristol, UK), let me know!
Any particular reason they don't start Dupont? They looked much more alert once he came on. He definitely plays like a 15s nine though -- you could see it in the lines he ran
To give some context, this is the progressive era, which was a reaction to the excesses of the gilded age. Specifically: trustbusting was big under Teddy Roosevelt, attempting to introduce legislation to break up monopolies, and reform of the political system to make elections much more democratic (e.g. introducing direct elections).
So: this comic sits in the context of this political swing towards more open and transparent government and business, but before it was fully realised. Specifically, the date in 1909 is before the 17th amendment in 1912, which introduced direct election of senators, so the perception was of corrupt, unaccountable senate members.
For the crime of seeing an empty train carriage and going to sit directly next to her, when her expression makes it clear that she's uncomfortable with that. If you want to sit and make conversation, sit across the aisle, make a comment that has either the option of being picked up for conversing, or politely dropped, so that you're not pressuring someone into something they may not be comfortable with (talking with strangers).
St George's mushrooms are pretty top tier for the time of year, so they're one of my favourites. Blewits are up there too :)
Still moves faster than a southern rail service
No, but I do appreciate someone who likes mushrooms :3
Which is your favourite?
The sport is cricket, and in context it meant that the West Indies team were tired and bowling (pitching, in baseball terms) poorly, and the English batters were taking advantage to score runs. So the English batters were dominant, and they were milking the opportunity.
But it was a fucking funny sentence
Fact check: "depending on the origin of hyaluronidase, injection of hyaluronidase should be avoided because cross-reactions may occur in patients who are allergic to bovine collagen and bee stings"
https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC7398804/
Looks true 👍
I can -- the guy was a serious step down from Lincoln. No wonder he didn't get the nomination again.
It's such a neat line, and it was great to watch the players' and commentators' reactions
question for fellow bi/pan people
How do you distinguish between romantic attraction and strong friendship? Something I struggle with and when romantic attachment is suggested to me I don't know whether/how to say yes/no.
this one's called ants are eating my chest
ants are eating my chest ants are eating my chest ants are eating my chest ants are eating my chest ants are eating my chest ants are eating my chest ants are eating my chest ants are eating my chest ants are eating my chest ants are eating my chest ants are eating my chest ants are eating my chest
Thank you.
GM Matthew Sadler
For those of you that haven't come across him, GM Sadler is active on mastodon (@[email protected]), and posts some really exciting and interesting content on his YouTube channel (https://m.youtube.com/@SiliconRoadChess/videos).
I'd summarise his videos as using a variety of engines to produce unique, engine approved yet human comprehensible attacking ideas, often in opening/middle games, but he's also analysed some famous human endgames with these engines. While they're not necessarily good videos for beginners, I think anyone over ~1200 OTB will get a lot out of his videos.
If you want a good example video to see if it's for you, his/Dragon's Qd2 idea in the Pirc is a great example (https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=DuFfJwBgMD8), though I'd encourage you to flick through and find a video on an opening that you play.
Cute lines against the Czech Benoni for blitz?
The main chess community on .world has fuck all subs and I'm not asking reddit, so I'll brick my pipi, shit my pampers, and ask it here instead. Club has a (very friendly) blitz night coming up, and I'd like to scrape some points against the top player (who's about 2150 FIDE), who plays the czech benoni. To give context I'm about 1900, so much worse but in with a shot if I put something fun together. Any ideas for some neat lines to look at?
Recommendations thread
I like some fairly niche genres, which then makes it difficult to find new music in that genre. Thought it might be worth having a thread where people can post artists they enjoy, but where they're struggling to find similar music, to let the hive mind provide them with ideas!