News from around the league

A big congratulations to the Dartmouth football team for its second victory in three weeks, a 20-17 double-overtime thriller against Cornell. Freshman Greg Patton rushed for 243 yards, breaking the all-time Dartmouth rushing record in the process. This win provided a much-needed boost to the Big Green (and its fans), and although Brown and No. 16 Princeton will be formidable opponents in the final two games, I'm optimistic that this will energize Dartmouth and propel them to a strong finish to the season.

The U.S. Chess League playoffs are currently underway, with the New York Knights facing off against the Boston Blitz and the New Jersey Knockouts taking on the Baltimore Kingfishers. On the opposite coast, Arizona-San Francisco and Miami-Seattle will be battled out on Wednesday. (If anyone can tell me why Miami is in the Western Division, I would love to know.) I am half-seriously thinking about attempting to form a New Hampshire expansion team in 2011. New Hampshire doesn't sport the glut of titled players that you'll find in Manhattan, San Francisco or a similar chess metropolis, but if we fielded players from western Massachusetts as well, a competitive team just might materialize. Stay tuned!

I heard on the radio today that Sesame Street turns 40 this week. "Big Bird Visits the Firehouse" was one of my all-time favorite movies as a child, and Count Von Count taught me just how scary math really is (a lesson reaffirmed by my multivariable calculus professor at college, who sadly sported neither purple skin nor a cape). Congratulations and many happy returns!

In other news, The Dartmouth Apologia, the journal of Christian thought I helped found in the fall of 2006, has just came out with its fifth issue. I haven't had a chance to savor it at length, but early signs are pointing to an excellent issue. The journal can be read at http://www.dartmouthapologia.org/ ; there is also a fascinating and vibrant blog at blog.dartmouthapologia.org which features brief, weekly entries about topics in Christianity. I strongly encourage you to check out both sites!