Beginnings and endings in October

October is a highly transitional month. Today, for example, is the last day of the Major League Baseball regular season, with the playoffs beginning later this week. But even as baseball draws to a close, college and professional football are in full swing. My New York Giants have jumped out to a solid 4-0 start; the 3-0 Jets are fighting an uphill battle against New Orleans as I write. Unfortunately, Dartmouth football continues its losing ways. They lost a 30-24 game to Penn for their fifteenth consecutive loss. Next up is Yale; here's hoping for a Big Green victory!

This week was marked by the passing of William Safire and Jerry Hanken. Safire distinguished himself as the resident grammarian of The New York Times and is warmly eulogized by colleague Maureen Down here. Jerry Hanken was a household name as well, if to the slightly smaller demographic of US Chess Federation members. His "Hanken's Corner" articles for Chess Life Magazine and interviews with class winners at major open tournaments had become a staple of the American chess experience. I did not have the pleasure of knowing Hanken personally, but I will miss him nonetheless.

I played another chess tournament yesterday, winning the Sardinia Open with a 3-0 score. My second round opponent played a daring knight sacrifice and even achieved a winning position, but a handful of inaccurate moves late in the game allowed me to equalize material and win the ensuing rook-and-pawn endgame. He was disappointed (and I was relieved) by the result, but I'm sure we'll both learn a lot from the game. My third round victory over 1581-rated Matt Peck is as follows:

1. d4 e6 2. c4 Nf6 3. Nc3 d5 4. Bg5 Be7 5. e3 0-0 6. Nf3 c6 7. Qc2 Nbd7 8. Bd3 h6 9. h4 Ne8 10. Bxe7 Qxe7 11. g4 dxc4 12. Bxc4 Nd6 13. Be2 e5 14. g5 e4 15. Nd2 f5 16. 0-0-0 hxg5 17. hxg5 Qxg5 18. Qb3+ Nf7 19. Rh5 Qf6 20. Rdh1 g6 21. Rh7 Nb6

22. Ndxe4 fxe4 23. Nxe4 Black resigns

I went back to the operating room on Wednesday for another round of advanced airway clinicals. Unfortunately the trip was only a partial success. I didn't get to place the required number of airways, so I have to go back a third time later in the month, but as always it was neat to see everything that goes into a safe and successful surgery.

I'm trying to get excited about the National League playoff cycle, but it's tough when all it confers is the right to lose to the Yankees in the World Series . . .