MuseBlog

We’re going to start a new game on the Chess thread if a Certain Person doesn’t move soon. Would anyone else like to play? If so, say so.

Thanks,

The Management

He may no longer be writing for Muse, but you can still read his “Mathematical Tourist” columns on the website of his now-employer, the Mathematical Association of America.

A perpetually hot topic. Continued from version 2007.2.

We tried team chess the first time around, and it eventually turned into one-on-one games. This time, let’s start with two-player games.

Results so far:
Purple Panda vs. TMFA: 2-0
Midnight Fiddler vs. Agrrrfishi: …
Adeia vs. Red-tailed HAWK: …
Taiwan Hippo Fan Raynpho vs. ZVX: …
Eragon vs. Logogeo96

(For reference, the squares are coded like this:)


BLACK

WHITE

It’s time for another one of these. Be sure to post spoiler warnings if you’re posting any.

It’s called “Raw Materials,” and he posts it on a blog on the Discovery Channel’s Web site. It’s like “Peanuts” for nerds. Check it out!

Continued from Books and Reading, 2008, Part 2.

Last month conversation at the H&H turned to the subject of creative alphabets and shorthand techniques. Do you use special symbols or abbreviations when you take notes? We’ll extend the question to include alphabets, invented languages, or any idiosyncratic note-taking habits.

To start off, here’s a shorthand system created by Nora the Violist.

It’s time — 4/4 time, 3/4 time, whatever time you like. Just don’t mark time, please; make this thread march!

Continued from version 2008.1.

Unlike the random thread, this discussion thread stays on topic until the topic changes.

Newcomers should read The Rules and The Guide before plunging in.

Current topic: haircuts
favorite stores
crazy ways MBers decorate their rooms

“Could we just do Muse Chess and get it over with?” –muselover

Request granted!

The game so far (double-check at the bottom of the thread — the GAPA may not have included the latest moves):

Game 1.1 — OVER, White Won
###pgn###
1. d4 d5
2. e3 Nf6
3. Bd3 c6
4. a4 Qd7
5. Qf3 e5
6. Ne2 e4
7. Bxe4 d5xe4
8. Qf4 Bd6
9. Qg5 Ng4
10. O-O c5
11. Qxg7 Rf8
12. Qxh7 Qc7
13. Qxe4+ Be6
14. d5 Bxh2+
15. Kh1 f5
16. Qxe6+ Kd8
17. e4 Qh7
18. Bg5+ Kc7
19. g3 f5xe4
20. d6+ Kc6
21. d7+ Kc7
22. d8(Q)+ Rxd8
23. Bf4+ Rd6
24. Qxd6+ Kc8
25. Qe6+ Kd8
26. Rd1+ Nd7
27. Bg5+ Kc8
28. Qe8+ Kc7
29. Bf4+ Ng4e5
30. Bxe5+ Nxe5
31. Qxe5+ Kc6
32. Qd6++
%%%pgn%%%

Game 1.2
###pgn###
1. d4 d5
2. e3 Nf6
3. Bd3 c6
4. a4 Qd7
5. Qf3 e5
6. Ne2 e4
7. Bxe4 d5xe4
8. Qf4 Bd6
9. Qg5 Ng4
10. O-O c5
11. Qxg7 Rf8
12. Qxh7 Qc7
13. Qxe4+ Be6
14. d5 Bxh2+
15. Kh1 Nf6
16. Qh4 Bxd5
17. Qxf6 Bc4
18. Nb1c3 Rg8
19. b3 Qc6
20. Qxc6+ Nxc6
21. b3xc4 Rh8
22. Nf4 Rd8
23. Nh3 Bb8
24. Nd5 f6
25. Nxf6+ Kf7
26. Bb2 Ne5
27. Bxe5 Bxe5
28. Rb1 Kxf6
29. f4 Bd6
30. Kg1 Rh7
31. Rb1d1 Ke7
32. Kf2 b6
33. Rh1 Rd8h8
34. Rh2 Rg7
35. Re1h1 Rf8
36. Ng5 Rxg5
37. g3 Rg5f5
38. Ra1 Be5
39. Ra3 Bb2
40. Rd3 Rh8
41. Rxh8 Bxh8
42. Rd5 Rf6
43. Rh5 Bg7
44. Rh7 Kf7
45. Rh5 Ke7
46. g4 Rd6
47. Rd5 Re6
48. Kf3 Rh6
49. Rh5 Rxh5
50. g4xh5 Ke6
51. e4 Kf6
52. Kg4 Bh6
53. f5 Ke5
54. Kf3 Bc1
55. Kg4 Kxe4
56. f6 Bh6
57. f7 Ke5
58. f8Q Bxf8
59. Kg5
%%%pgn%%%

There’s been a call for a mini-Kokonvention in D.C. in the last week of June. If you’re available and interested, have your parents e-mail the Administrators at gapa @ musefanpage .com .

Sites for Cricket, Spider, and Ladybug are online now (or will be soon); sites for the nonfiction magazines are scheduled for September. Check ’em out and share your impressions. Links allowed.

Home page for all the magazines
Cricket: http://www.cricketmagkids.com/ (not working yet)
Spider: http://www.spidermagkids.com/
Ladybug: http://www.ladybugmagkids.com/

You ask, we (sometimes) answer. What’s on your mind?

Continued from No. 5.

By popular request. Not to be confused with Computer and Video Games.

Unlike the random thread, this discussion thread stays on topic until the topic changes.

Newcomers should read The Rules and The Guide before plunging in.

Current topic: The Beatles
Wal-Mart
Odd Characters We Know

(Coming soon: Places We Want to Visit During Our Lifetimes)

Born on 25 May 1859, he gave the world Sherlock Holmes (who, by the way, said both “elementary” and “my dear Watson,” but never together). A few pies of gratitude, please, for the Master.

May 25 is the day when fans of the Hitchhiker’s Guide to the Galaxy celebrate H2G2 and its creator, Douglas Adams, by, well, carrying around a towel. Go thou and do likewise (or otherwise, if you like), and talk about it here.

WARNING: MISCELLANEOUS SPOILERS LURK ON THIS THREAD. IF YOU WANT TO AVOID ALL RISK OF ENCOUNTERING SPOILERS, STAY AWAY.

If you really need to talk about something you’ve read or seen but don’t want to ruin it for everybody else, this is your place. Post a spoiler notice before your post (example: “SPY WHO CAME IN FROM THE COLD SPOILER.” — remember to end with a period!), and then rant away. We’ll list the spoilers as they accumulate, as a warning to others.

Now, go ahead — let it all out!

SPOILERS:
Prince Caspian (movie)
The Spy Who Came in from the Cold (book)
Indiana Jones
Percy Jackson
Deathly Hallows
Order of the Phoenix (movie)

Continuing the high standards set by Part 2.

Please put a period somewhere early in the post — perhaps after the song title. Otherwise the lyrics will clog the recent comments panel.

Requested by Hypatia and POSOC.

It’s in Washington, D.C., on June 5 and 6 May 29 and 30. speller73 is taking part. Anyone else?

The event takes place just a block from Robert’s office, so any MBers and their families are welcome to stroll over for a tour of Science magazine and/or lunch at the National Press Club.

The 2007 bee made for some high drama on the blog. You can read about it here.

The final frontier — and a darned big one, too. Requested by Beatlesrockr.

As requested by The Man for Aeiou & Pete.

Continued from Books and Reading, 2008, Part 1.