For those of you who have jumped on the Twitter bandwagon (or are thinking about doing so), I invite you to follow me on Twitter at twitter.com/YankeeVox. I'll be happy to give you a follow as well.
I was pleasantly surprised to see Buffalo and chess making headlines together the other day. Ken Regan, an International Master and computer science professor at the University of Buffalo, was recently lauded in The New York Times for his work in developing a program aimed at sniffing out instances of computer cheating among top chessplayers. I highly recommend the article, which is extremely accessible to both chess and computer science laypeople. Of particular interest to me was the way in which the program can be applied to not only root out cheating but also to clear players who have fallen under suspicion. Give it a look.
In other news, today was the home opener for Dartmouth baseball. I was pleased to catch the first two innings; they looked good!
About Me
- Robert
- I'm a 2009 graduate of Dartmouth College who loves Jesus, my wife and all things Northeast.
Wednesday, March 28, 2012
Chess dress addressed
Dress codes are nothing new in chess. Many top-level events--which are populated almost exclusively by men--sport requirements that participants wear a jacket and tie or similarly dignified attire. This is usually at the behest of the sponsors, who appreciate the image of professionalism that this projects. The recently concluded European Individual Women's Chess Championship, though, featured a unique response on participants' fashion choices.
The event, which was held in Gaziantep, Turkey, and won by Russian International Master Valentina Gunina, sported a "two button rule." As reported by Chessbase, and picked up by the NY Daily News, the participants were permitted to unbutton their shirts no more than two buttons from the top. Furthermore, skirts could be a maximum of ten centimeters above the knee (longer garments were, of course, allowed).
The reason for the new regulation, according to European Chess Union General Secretary Sava Stoisavljevic, is to curb crude remarks coming from the spectators. This is yet another example of a women's sport trying to find the balance between marketing itself through the quality of the game and simply trading on sex appeal. It's not an easy balance to strike--after all, if playing up participants' physical appearance were ineffective, it would have been abandoned long ago--but I can't help but think this is another example of legislation replacing common sense. Having said that, though, there would be no need for such legislation if common sense were in the driver's seat.
My favorite element of the new dress code? The rule banning excessive body odor. Now that is a rule long overdue.
The event, which was held in Gaziantep, Turkey, and won by Russian International Master Valentina Gunina, sported a "two button rule." As reported by Chessbase, and picked up by the NY Daily News, the participants were permitted to unbutton their shirts no more than two buttons from the top. Furthermore, skirts could be a maximum of ten centimeters above the knee (longer garments were, of course, allowed).
The reason for the new regulation, according to European Chess Union General Secretary Sava Stoisavljevic, is to curb crude remarks coming from the spectators. This is yet another example of a women's sport trying to find the balance between marketing itself through the quality of the game and simply trading on sex appeal. It's not an easy balance to strike--after all, if playing up participants' physical appearance were ineffective, it would have been abandoned long ago--but I can't help but think this is another example of legislation replacing common sense. Having said that, though, there would be no need for such legislation if common sense were in the driver's seat.
My favorite element of the new dress code? The rule banning excessive body odor. Now that is a rule long overdue.
Dartmouth president is President's pick
Once again, it has been a busy month, and I find that this space is updated far less frequently than I would like. But I would be remiss if I didn't mention that on Friday, President of the United States Barack Obama nominated President of Dartmouth College Jim Yong Kim to lead the World Bank. The current head of the World Bank, Robert Zoellick, ends his term on June 30th. There is no guarantee that President Kim will succeed Zoellick, but given the U.S.'s influence in the selection of the World Bank chiefs, it seems unlikely that he would not.
In an email sent to undergraduates and alumni, President Kim wrote, "When I assumed the presidency of Dartmouth, I did so with the full and deep belief that the mission of higher education is to prepare us for lives of leadership and service in our professions and communities ... the prospect of leaving Dartmouth at this stage is very difficult. Nevertheless, should the World Bank's Board of Executive Directors elect me as the next president, I will embrace the responsibility."
While no one seems to be addressing the question, "What does a physician know about finance?" I'm nevertheless delighted for President Kim. We never overlapped at Dartmouth, but his nomination nevertheless reflects well on the institution as a whole, and I am, as always, proud to be Green.
In an email sent to undergraduates and alumni, President Kim wrote, "When I assumed the presidency of Dartmouth, I did so with the full and deep belief that the mission of higher education is to prepare us for lives of leadership and service in our professions and communities ... the prospect of leaving Dartmouth at this stage is very difficult. Nevertheless, should the World Bank's Board of Executive Directors elect me as the next president, I will embrace the responsibility."
While no one seems to be addressing the question, "What does a physician know about finance?" I'm nevertheless delighted for President Kim. We never overlapped at Dartmouth, but his nomination nevertheless reflects well on the institution as a whole, and I am, as always, proud to be Green.
Tuesday, February 28, 2012
Xtreme Chess
The worlds of chess and reality television have collided. "Xtreme Chess Championships," which was created by Women's Grandmaster Jennifer Shahade, her brother International Master Greg Shahade, and Daniel Meirmon, features eight young American chess talents competing in a knockout competition. You can read more about it and watch the first two episodes here. You can also follow them on Facebook and Twitter; they do not appear to have an official website.
It's hard to know how to feel about this program. On the one hand, any publicity is good publicity, and there may well be people out there for whom this is an attractive first exposure to chess. On the other hand, the production quality and "performances" (I hesitate to say "acting," although the heavily scripted nature of reality television is an open secret) are of such a low caliber that I couldn't help but cringe repeatedly while watching it.
In the end, I just don't think chess and the medium of the television program are well-suited for each other. You can add celebrity commentators or reduce the time control, but in the end, chess can be played rapidly but must be savored at length. I do not mean to discourage anyone from enjoying "Xtreme Chess Championships," and indeed I hope that a great many people find it appealing. I fear, however, that the problem of how to market chess to the general public has not yet been solved.
It's hard to know how to feel about this program. On the one hand, any publicity is good publicity, and there may well be people out there for whom this is an attractive first exposure to chess. On the other hand, the production quality and "performances" (I hesitate to say "acting," although the heavily scripted nature of reality television is an open secret) are of such a low caliber that I couldn't help but cringe repeatedly while watching it.
In the end, I just don't think chess and the medium of the television program are well-suited for each other. You can add celebrity commentators or reduce the time control, but in the end, chess can be played rapidly but must be savored at length. I do not mean to discourage anyone from enjoying "Xtreme Chess Championships," and indeed I hope that a great many people find it appealing. I fear, however, that the problem of how to market chess to the general public has not yet been solved.
Cell phone ban?
Back in December, the National Transportation Safety Board issued a recommendation calling for a nationwide ban on the use of all cell phones while driving (emergency calls would be exempt). This is a nonbinding recommendation, and it is up to legislative bodies to actually adopt any portion of this proposal. Whatever the proximal effect of this action, though, the NTSB raises interesting and difficult questions about how to respond to the recent explosion of mobile technology in light of the overriding social interest in maintaining safe roadways.
Various states and municipalities have already issued bans on using certain kinds of mobile technology while driving. New York, for instance, prohibits hand-held cell phone use while behind the wheel (hands-free devices like Bluetooth headsets are permitted) and Massachusetts does not allow teenagers to text while driving. The NTSB is suggesting a much broader action, though, and the theory makes sense. Being distracted by mobile devices is deceptively debilitating as far as your ability to safely operate a motor vehicle is concerned. Whether you're texting, dialing, or playing Angry Birds, distraction is distraction. It seems to me that if you're going to ban one distracting activity because it poses a safety risk, then you should probably ban them all.
The overall gravitation nationwide does seem to be in this direction. Some insurance companies, for instance, have recently begun imposing fines for drivers of emergency vehicles caught texting while driving (existing laws generally exclude emergency services personnel from device-use-while-driving restrictions). And as public awareness of the dangers of distracted driving continues to rise, it's unclear what shape the next wave of responses will take. Will states adopt policies similar to what the NTSB is recommending (or strengthen existing laws)? Or will people simply self-police and stop using their mobile devices while driving? Both?
Various states and municipalities have already issued bans on using certain kinds of mobile technology while driving. New York, for instance, prohibits hand-held cell phone use while behind the wheel (hands-free devices like Bluetooth headsets are permitted) and Massachusetts does not allow teenagers to text while driving. The NTSB is suggesting a much broader action, though, and the theory makes sense. Being distracted by mobile devices is deceptively debilitating as far as your ability to safely operate a motor vehicle is concerned. Whether you're texting, dialing, or playing Angry Birds, distraction is distraction. It seems to me that if you're going to ban one distracting activity because it poses a safety risk, then you should probably ban them all.
The overall gravitation nationwide does seem to be in this direction. Some insurance companies, for instance, have recently begun imposing fines for drivers of emergency vehicles caught texting while driving (existing laws generally exclude emergency services personnel from device-use-while-driving restrictions). And as public awareness of the dangers of distracted driving continues to rise, it's unclear what shape the next wave of responses will take. Will states adopt policies similar to what the NTSB is recommending (or strengthen existing laws)? Or will people simply self-police and stop using their mobile devices while driving? Both?
Sunday, February 12, 2012
Back from hiatus
It's been a busy 2012 so far! I'm looking forward to having more time to write in this space, however. Of the several projects that have been keeping me busy lately, one of the most exciting has been helping to restart the Christ Redeemer Church blog, "The Kingdom Perspective." Pastor Don Willeman is in the middle of a series of posts on sin and grace; check it out at http://christredeemerchurch.org/wordpress/
I've also been keeping busy with the U.S. Chess Federation's Electronic Knights correspondence chess tournament. The Electronic Knights is the email equivalent of the Golden Knights correspondence chess tournament, which is the national correspondence chess championship. The tournament is broken down into seven-player sections and you must score 4.5 points out of 6 to advance to the semi-finals. In an interesting twist, you are allowed to enter the tournament up to ten times (paying the entry fee again each time, of course). The more sections you enter, the higher your chances of being able to advance to a semi-final section. Right now I am playing in two sections, and I'm having a blast.
Finally, I'm not one to get extremely excited over industry award shows; I stopped watching the Oscars years ago, and I don't think I've ever watched the Grammys (as for the Tonys ... I couldn't even tell you if they were televised or not). But watching the Beach Boys reunite to sing "Good Vibrations" tonight was awesome!
I've also been keeping busy with the U.S. Chess Federation's Electronic Knights correspondence chess tournament. The Electronic Knights is the email equivalent of the Golden Knights correspondence chess tournament, which is the national correspondence chess championship. The tournament is broken down into seven-player sections and you must score 4.5 points out of 6 to advance to the semi-finals. In an interesting twist, you are allowed to enter the tournament up to ten times (paying the entry fee again each time, of course). The more sections you enter, the higher your chances of being able to advance to a semi-final section. Right now I am playing in two sections, and I'm having a blast.
Finally, I'm not one to get extremely excited over industry award shows; I stopped watching the Oscars years ago, and I don't think I've ever watched the Grammys (as for the Tonys ... I couldn't even tell you if they were televised or not). But watching the Beach Boys reunite to sing "Good Vibrations" tonight was awesome!
Thursday, January 5, 2012
Taxes and ambulance billing
First of all, happy New Year! May your 2012 be happy, peaceful, and safe.
The Journal of Emergency Medical Services ran a feature on their website today detailing the Derry, NH Fire Department's proposal to raise the rates for their ambulance service. Derry FD is asking for "an approximately 10 percent increase in its ambulance fees," according to the article. This request has precipitated, predictably, a whirlwind of support and opposition. And that's a good thing. The debate over how to fund / pay for EMS is an important one to have, and it will hopefully lead to better public understanding over what EMS is and how it fits into the civic and social fabric in the United States.
One popular objection, which Derry Councilor Janet Fairbanks raises here, is that since Derry FD is a municipal department, it is funded by tax dollars and charging residents for ambulance service is "double-dipping." This is an understandable, but flawed, position. The fact is that tax dollars provide only that an ambulance and a properly trained and equipped crew will show up at your door. Tax dollars do not cover service you receive once the EMS crew enters your home (Chuck Hemeon, the Emergency Services Director for Derry, makes a similar point in the article).
The analogy of utilities is helpful here. The residents of Derry--or any town--all pay the same rate for their electricity. This is a flat fee, universally levied, that provides them with the availability of a service. But each household pays a different amount each year on their electric bill based on how much, or how little, they used that service. In the context of municipal departments, EMS is the same way. Your tax dollars mean there will be an ambulance available if you need one, but that does not automatically translate to free healthcare.
The Journal of Emergency Medical Services ran a feature on their website today detailing the Derry, NH Fire Department's proposal to raise the rates for their ambulance service. Derry FD is asking for "an approximately 10 percent increase in its ambulance fees," according to the article. This request has precipitated, predictably, a whirlwind of support and opposition. And that's a good thing. The debate over how to fund / pay for EMS is an important one to have, and it will hopefully lead to better public understanding over what EMS is and how it fits into the civic and social fabric in the United States.
One popular objection, which Derry Councilor Janet Fairbanks raises here, is that since Derry FD is a municipal department, it is funded by tax dollars and charging residents for ambulance service is "double-dipping." This is an understandable, but flawed, position. The fact is that tax dollars provide only that an ambulance and a properly trained and equipped crew will show up at your door. Tax dollars do not cover service you receive once the EMS crew enters your home (Chuck Hemeon, the Emergency Services Director for Derry, makes a similar point in the article).
The analogy of utilities is helpful here. The residents of Derry--or any town--all pay the same rate for their electricity. This is a flat fee, universally levied, that provides them with the availability of a service. But each household pays a different amount each year on their electric bill based on how much, or how little, they used that service. In the context of municipal departments, EMS is the same way. Your tax dollars mean there will be an ambulance available if you need one, but that does not automatically translate to free healthcare.
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