The Chrome URL bar, also known as the Omnibox, is an absolute centerpiece of most peoples web browsing experience. Used quite literally billions billions of times a day, Chromes URL bar helps users quickly find tabs, bookmarks, revisit websites, and discover new information. With the latest release of Chrome (M124), Google has integrated machine learning (ML) models to make the Omnibox even more helpful, delivering precise and relevant web page suggestions. Soon, these same models will enhance the relevance of search suggestions too.

In a recent post on the Chromium Blog, the engineering lead for the Chrome Omnibox team shared some insider perspectives on the project. For years, the team wanted to improve the Omniboxs scoring system the mechanism that ranks suggested websites. While the Omnibox often seemed to magically know what users wanted, its underlying system was a bit rigid. Hand-crafted formulas made it difficult to improve or adapt to new usage patterns.

Machine learning promised a better way, but integrating it into such a core, heavily-used feature was obviously a complex task. The team faced numerous challenges, yet their belief in the potential benefits for users kept them driven.

Machine learning models analyze data at a scale humans simply cant. This led to some unexpected discoveries during the project. One key signal the model analyzes is the time since a user last visited a particular website. The assumption was: the more recent the visit, the more likely the user wants to go there again.

While this proved generally true, the model also detected a surprising pattern. When the time since navigation was extremely short (think seconds), the relevance score decreased. The model was essentially learning that users sometimes immediately revisit the omnibox after going to the wrong page, indicating the first suggestion wasnt what they intended. This insight, while obvious in hindsight, wasnt something the team had considered before.

With ML models now in place, Chrome can better understand user behavior and deliver increasingly tailored suggestions as time goes on for users. Google plans to explore specialized models for different use contexts, such as mobile browsing or enterprise environments, too.

Most importantly, the new system allows for constant evolution. As peoples browsing habits change, Google can retrain the models on fresh data, ensuring the Omnibox remains as helpful and intuitive as possible moving forward. Its a big step up from the earlier, rigid models used before, and it will be increasingly interesting to keep an eye on the new suggestions and tricks that well see in the Omnibox as these ML models find their stride.

Read more from the original source:

Google adds Machine Learning to power up the Chrome URL bar - Chrome Unboxed

2 May 2024, 12:31

"We're playing those mind games together."

John Lennon's 1973 song 'Mind Games', the title track from his album of the same name, is often misconstrued as a battle of wits with his lover, who was of course Yoko Ono.

The inspiration behind the song's lyrics was in fact a book Lennon was reading at the time, titled Mind Games: The Guide to Inner Space which came out the year prior.

Written by Robert Masters and Jean Houston, the book offered up brain training exercises to help encourage people to focus on a more positive outlook on life.

So in many ways, the song was a precursor to the promotion of inner peace and mindfulness that we society has embraced in recent years.

It's fitting then, that John Lennon's estate has partnered with the Lumenate app for a series of meditation mixes based on 'Mind Games' for Mental Health Awareness Month this May.

MIND GAMES. (Ultimate Mix, 2020) - John Lennon and The Plastic U.F.Ono Band

The new mindful mixes have incorporated a number of sound design techniques into the 1973 original.

Some of the recordings have been enhanced with additional instrumentation from Sean Ono Lennon, John and Yoko's son.

Unveiled on 1st May 2024, the project has been developed to ease listeners into a relaxed, meditative state, and "help guide your mind into deeper states of consciousness".

The Lumenate app works by gently strobing the back of the user's smartphone upon their closed eyes, guiding them into a state of consciousness between deep meditation and psychedelics.

Four of the nine new 'Mind Games' mixes are presented as Binaural versions, which each have a special focus on a different type of brain wave: Beta, Delta, Gamma, and Theta.

"Beta waves occur when thinking, Delta waves are produced when completely relaxed in deep sleep, Gamma waves are associated with high levels of thought and focus, and Theta waves are produced while sleeping or daydreaming", the accompanying statement reads.

Yoko Ono once described the message behind 'Mind Games' and what he was trying to achieve, and this new partnership feels close to his idea.

"John was trying to convey the message that we all play mind games. But if we can play mind games, why not make a positive future with it - to be a positive mind game?"

"'Mind Games' is such an incredibly strong song. At the time, people didnt quite get the message because this was before its time."

"Now, people would understand it. I dont think in those days people knew they were playing mind games anyway."

"I'm very happy to be working with Lumenate on this release for Mental Health Awareness Month," said Sean Ono Lennon.

"I think our 'Mind Games' project is fun, meaningful, and potentially mind-expanding. I have been using the Lumenate app for my own personal meditations since it launched, and have had many profound experiences."

"My father was famously into meditation. I remember trying the 'flicker machine' he kept in the bedroom, which is what first introduced me to the idea of stroboscopic brain wave induction."

"I thought it made sense to combine the music of 'Mind Games' with the science of Lumenate. I really hope people enjoy the results as much as I have.

Tom Galea, Lumenate's co-founder added in the statement: "It's been such a privilege working with Sean and The Lennon Estate on this exciting collaboration."

"The journeys it takes you on are so deeply relaxing and emotive, providing a uniquely powerful canvas for exploring your mind."

"I cant wait for the world to experience it, it's already had such a meaningful impact on me personally."

Launching for the start of Mental Health Awareness Month in May 2024, the 'Mind Games' meditation mixes are now available for free via the Lumenate app.

Continue reading here:

John Lennon's estate teams up with new app for 'Mind Games' meditation mixes - Smooth Radio

The Bitcoin halving is imminent.

But even if you know what it is, you may not know why it is.

In our view, the halving exists to make bitcoin interesting and interesting things attract attention. Bitcoins pseudonymous inventor, Satoshi Nakamoto, could have chosen a boring issuance schedule. Instead, he imbued bitcoin with a seasonal fireworks display, commanding attention from an increasingly wide and diverse group of bitcoin users.

Bitcoin famously has a supply cap of 21 million, 1.3 million of which remain unminted.The network will mint these coins through the year 2140 in the same way bitcoins have always been minted.

Satoshi designed the system himself to reward miners who publish new blocks. He could have designed those rewards to hold steady over time with a constant amount per block, say 10. Or he might have designed the rewards to decrease steadily at a constant rate.

Read more: Why is 2140 the end of bitcoin inflation?

Satoshi instead chose halvings. Every 210,000 blocks, the block reward suddenly drops by half. The first 210,000 blocks each yielded 50 new bitcoin to the miner; the next 210,000 blocks yielded 25; and so on. Tomorrow, and for the next four years, each block will yield 3.125 bitcoin.

By their very nature, halvings bring an economic shock, especially to miners. Block 840,0001 will appear roughly ten minutes after block 840,000. But the miner of block 840,000 will earn $400,000 worth of new bitcoin, while the miner of block 840,001 will earn only $200,000 worth of bitcoin at todays prices, anyway.

Bitcoins volatility owes, in part, to its halving schedule. If demand remains relatively constant despite a sudden drop in newly available bitcoin, bitcoins price will likely increase. At least, thats what has happened historically.

The dollar price of bitcoin increased 5,000% between the first and second halving, from $12.53 in November 2012 to $640 in July 2016; 1,300% between the second and third halving, from $640 in July 2016 to $9,000 in May 2020; and 700% between the third and fourth halving, from $9,000 in May 2020 to $70,000 in April 2024. Of course, bitcoins price has also crashed many times during those periods. Like the weather, demand is a fickle thing.

Read more from our opinion section: Bitcoins most promising, least dramatic halving is almost here

Halvings also spark discussions about bitcoins price volatility in the short term and price trajectory in the long term. Each halving brings up the same inevitable question, especially considering past wild post-halving price swings: What will we see this time? For weeks now, TV networks have been interviewing CEOs and bitcoin thought leaders about the potential impact that the halving might have on bitcoins price.

We think Satoshi anticipated the potential for this kind of frenzy, and deliberately chose the four-year halving cycle to attract attention to bitcoin.

Satoshi was familiar with the idea of global spectacles that happen every four years. The World Cup and the Olympics garner massive attention especially from people who otherwise rarely watch sports! Would you watch the Olympics annually? Monthly? Not likely. These events garner interest partly because of their rarity. The interval allows for hype, and interest, to build. Networks run specials on the athletes expected to make a splash. Magazines run photo spreads. And when the opening ceremonies finally broadcast, three billion people watch worldwide.

Satoshi was a master promoter. He designed logos, built chat forums and schemed with users on those forums about how to stir up interest in bitcoin. He also designed a system to capture interest by being interesting.

Compare bitcoin to gold. Gold has a global brand earned over millennia. But whens the last time gold mining caught major headlines? If we mined an asteroid for gold or discovered that we had mined every last nugget that would capture attention. As things stand, however, gold mining is steady, predictable and unremarkable. Bitcoin is predictable, too. Yet it is predictably unsteady, especially with halvings thrown in, and thus remarkable.

Bitcoin is much younger than gold, with just 15 years since its creation. Yet bitcoins quadrennial halving events and corresponding price fluctuations garner headlines worldwide. Interest has snowballed with every halving, as have new users. Thats the goal.

Bitcoin halvings are spectacles, by design. And the design seems to be working. After all, it brought you to this article.

The authors are co-authors of the forthcoming academic book Resistance Money: A Philosophical Case for Bitcoin (Routledge Press).

Andrew M. Bailey is an interdisciplinary teacher and scholar whose work spans philosophy, politics, and economics. He is Associate Professor of Humanities at Yale-NUS College (Singapore).

Bradley Rettler is Associate Professor of Philosophy at the University of Wyoming, and has published peer-reviewed academic articles on metaphysics, philosophy of religion, epistemology, and cryptocurrency

Craig Warmke researches money at the intersection of philosophy, economics, and computer science. He is Associate Professor of Philosophy at Northern Illinois University.

Start your day with top crypto insights from David Canellis and Katherine Ross. Subscribe to the Empire newsletter.

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Bitcoin's halving is a major spectacle that's the whole point - Blockworks

Quality yoga pants can often cost well over $100. Thats a hefty chunk of change, especially if you want multiple pairs to put on rotation for working out, running errands and lounging around the house. These Promover Wide-Leg Yoga Pants from Amazon Canada fix that issue. Since theyre on sale, three or four pairs are the same price as just one premium style. Plus, reviewers swear theyre ultra-comfortable, super soft and durable to boot. (Did we mention theyre flattering, too?) Read on to discover why reviewers love these yoga pants so much that theyre even wearing them to work.

Soft and stretchy, these wide-leg yoga pants are designed for movement from stretching to dancing to hiking. Made from 81 per cent polyester and 19 per cent spandex, theyre also great for lounging around the house and are comfy enough for air travel and road trips.

The thick high-rise waistband means the pants wont roll down or cut into your body and the deep side pockets can be used to stash a cellphone, credit card, keys or other small items. Bonus: Theyre easy to pull off and on, even for arthritic hands.

No matter your shape, youll probably be able to find your perfect fit with sizes ranging from X-small to 3X, plus length variations of petite, regular and tall. The petite inseam is 28 inches and is designed to fit women 53 and under. The regular inseam is 30 inches and ideal for women 54 to 59. If youre 510 or over, opt for the tall inseam at 32 inches.

On laundry day, throw them straight into the washing machine. Like other athleisure and athletic wear, theyre best hung to dry.

Choose from 19 different hues, including an array of neutral greys, browns and greens.

More than 4,700 five-star reviews cant be wrong. This durable Promover wide-leg style is comparable to premium yoga pants that are more than three times the price.

If theres any box these pants check, its super comfortable. And thats probably due to the fabric, which shoppers gush is butter soft.

The style also has a lot of stretch and is made from a lightweight-yet-solid material thats not see-through, so you dont have to worry about showing too much during downward dog.

Many reviewers say the pants are flattering and the high, wide waistband holds in the tummy and offers nice contouring a perk if youre a bit self-conscious in that area. However, some shoppers note that the pockets are a little bulky, which means the fabric doesn't always lie completely flat.

Of course, these pants arent just wearable for yoga. One reviewer says theyre her go-to for travelling and life! Many others say they easily pass for work pants.

The style washes well, sans pilling, even if its accidentally laundered with towels or denim by mistake.

If youre typically between sizes, shoppers recommend sizing down because the style runs big. Some shoppers also say the pants were too long or too short, so it's probably best to measure your inseam before buying to choose the appropriate length rather than relying on the size guide recommendations for height. Lengths run as follows: 28 inches for petite, 30 inches for regular and 32 inches for tall.

If you're looking for an ultra-comfortable pant style that can take you from yoga to the grocery store to the couch (and maybe a stop at the office in between), the Promover Wide-Leg Pants could be your saving grace. The relaxed fit flatters many body types, and the soft, stretchy fabric feels like a supportive hug. They fit a bit big, so you'll want to size down. Also, make sure you measure your inseam and select the correct length before adding to cart.

The reviews quoted above reflect the most recent versions at the time of publication.

Let us know what you think by commenting below and tweeting @YahooStyleCA! Follow us on Twitter and Instagram.

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These 'flattering' yoga pants are 'butter soft' and they're under $30 on Amazon - Yahoo Canada Shine On

Suhka Center in Clarendon (staff photo by Savannah Taffe)

Suhka Center in Clarendon front entrance (staff photo by Savannah Taffe)

Suhka Center in Clarendon studio space (staff photo by Savannah Taffe)

A Clarendon yoga studio is closing its doors as its owner seeks a new location with an additional focus on fitness.

The Suhka Center, which Yelp lists as the number one Black-owned yoga studio in the D.C. area, will be leaving 1016 N. Garfield Street on Friday. Co-founder Damion Moss said high rent and a dissolved partnership with a former business partner are driving him to look elsewhere.

We had an opportunity to do something really amazing here, two brothers coming together to build a yoga studio, Moss said. We have since gone our separate ways ,and since that happened, the pivot started.

Moss plans to open a new wellness space dubbed Good Space somewhere outside of Clarendon. He wants to keep the Sukha Centers focus on yoga, lifestyle and meditation, but also incorporate a more physically rigorous approach.

I look at yoga as a practice thats very empowering, said Moss. Not just the movement but the community and philosophies, how you look at the environment and how you treat others.

Before his time at Suhka, Moss had experience in various areas of wellness and fitness. He learned Budokon, a practice that combines martial arts, yoga and fitness, and established his personal training business, which was recognized as the best in Arlington in 2023.

Moss believes his background helped distinguish Suhka from other yoga studios.

So often you hear people say, I want to go to this class to tune out the world and escape, said Moss. I say Take this class so that you can deal with the world, not escape it so that you are more comfortable to do something uncomfortable.'

No matter where he goes next, Moss plans to continue using his training and personal philosophy to help people improve their wellness.

We are committed to uplifting our community to being better, healthier, smarter about the environment, smarter about how they live their lives, and were still going to be doing that, he said.

Originally posted here:
Clarendon yoga studio seeks to relocate and rebrand with new fitness focus - ARLnow

By Deborah Burke Henderson, Contributing Writer

MILFORD For the average person, it might seem a stretch to move from educational training and professional work as a biomedical engineer onto the yoga mat, but Mary Greens lifelong interest in health and wellness has brought her right here, albeit through a circuitous route.

Its been a kind of dot-to-dot experience, Green quipped with a smile.

Green recalls an introduction to yoga when she was just eight years old. Although she refused to attend a class with her mother, she and her younger brother did try to copy the contorted postures pictured in The Complete Illustrated Book of Yoga, a 1960 how-to book that was kept on the coffee table. Some of the postures made such an impression that Green has been practicing yoga, on and off for decades, but most seriously engaging in the work in her mid-twenties.

As the fifth of six kids growing up in Portsmouth, New Hampshire, Green was fascinated with the creative process and building things, starting with her brothers LEGO blocks. She credits her mothers artistic nature and supportiveness as key influences in allowing her to develop this innate passion of making thingseven when things got messywhich has also carried throughout her life.

I was always drawing, painting and creating silly cartoons, Green recalled. I loved being funny and making my siblings and friends laugh.

Green credits her older brother, an engineering student at the time, with engaging her interest in math and problem-solving skills while she was in middle and high school. Later, when facing decisions about college, she felt drawn to both art and engineering and wondered how she might combine the two.

Classes in biology, anatomy, and physiology intrigued me and stimulated my passion for the workings of the human body and health and how technology might support that in terms of wellness, Green stated.

After graduating with a bachelor of science degree in biomedical engineering from Syracuse University, Green established herself in the health industry. Green worked initially as a medical research assistant in an eye-care unit at a Boston hospital and then as an engineer for a medical device company where she worked on innovative optical technology creating devices for lab instrumentation.

The company I worked for had a terrific fitness center and provided offerings in yoga, tai chi, and aerobics, Green noted. At the time, I was more interested in fast-paced exercise, but I kept coming back to yoga.

It was there that she met her future husband, a fellow engineer. They started a family and after the twins were born, Green chose to become a stay-at-home mom. As their children grew, she discovered the Kripalu Center in Lenox, Mass., and took workshops and trainings in yoga and mindfulness.

I had an aha moment there, realizing these teachings could be the perfect segue to maintain my passions and continue helping others, Green stated.

She went on to receive certification from Kripalu as a yoga instructor. Additionally, in an eight-week curriculum at the University of Massachusetts Medical Center, she experienced Jon Kabat-Zinns Mindfulness-based Stress Reduction (MSBR) technique which she found to be transformational.

For the past 16 years as a mat-based yoga instructor in workplace, educational, and community settings, Green has encouraged people to take care of themselves through mindfulness and mindful movement.

Movement implies you are in your body, Green stated. I offer guidance and instruction about making different shapes with our bodies, and always doing so with awareness of ones own experience, noticing the sensations each movement brings.

Ten years ago, the Community Center in Ashland hired Green to sub for a chair yoga instructor, and shortly thereafter, she took the position over. A typical class has 25-30 participants, ranging in age from 60 to more than 90 years old.

I sing Marys praises, Bea Riordan said. She is very welcoming and makes you feel good, no matter what your ability. I have been coming for nearly two years and find relief from my chronic back pain while I am here.

Fellow chair yoga enthusiast John Palmer, in his mid-eighties, admits he spends an inordinate amount of time sitting at his computer but finds this class a great relief.

Marys got a playful personality and keeps us smiling, said Palmer who started attending in mid-December. After completing just five consecutive classes, I noticed improvement both in my flexibility and balance.

Beyond the crucial benefits of dynamic stretching and strengthening ones overall muscles and joints during her hour-long class, Green sees great value in the community and friendship these seniors experience.

It warms my heart to see these folks care for one another, Green said. They are warm and welcoming with each other. It is a community of like-minded people who are discovering new ways to care for their bodies, find stillness, and experience life-affirming attitudes.

Green notes that the benefits of chair yoga are the same as a traditional practice: people physically get stronger, become aware of the breath and their bodies, and experience the psychological benefits of discovering a calmness in moments of stillness and gentle movement.

Recently, she was asked to teach a class in mindfulness and meditation at the center, and ten chair yoga students immediately signed up.

Even in the first session, I realized this practice will help still my racing mind and help me pay better attention to my body, Steve McCormick said. I thank my wife, Carol, for getting me here, but Im here to stay.

How does Green do it all? She credits her own daily practice.

My favorite time of day is early morning when I engage in some stretching movements and find stillness in a short meditation. I also make time to do a quick sketch, all of which sets my compass for the day. That and a good cup of coffee gets me going.

Greens advice to her students: Open and grounded, thats how we should walk in the world.

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Milford engineer turns to the yoga mat for encore career - fiftyplusadvocate

I have 2 great news today.

First, my next course is at its final stages. It will be about chess strategy and it will be the perfect complement of my last course "The Complete Chess Tactics Bootcamp". The course will be ready on April 30th, so mark that date to get the best offers!

The second important thing is that yesterday the 2024 Candidates Tournament finished and we have a challenger!

17-year-old Dommaraju Gukesh convincingly won the tournament with 9/14 points, and he will play against world champion Ding Liren to have a chance to become the youngest world chess champion ever!

As I had previously anticipated, Gukesh had been playing the best chess in the tournament.

Despite being a teenager, Gukesh is very passionate about chess and has been studying hard for many years. For todays lesson, I studied all of his games from the Candidates and tried to find out what made him the better player.

I noticed some very outstanding qualities that I wanted to share with you so that you can try to incorporate them in your games.

1) Dont Panick Even when he was under extreme pressure, Gukesh kept his cool. In the second game he had the following position as Black against Rameshbabu Praggnanandhaa (aka Pragg) after 15 moves:

Until this point Pragg was quickly playing his moves as he was under preparation whereas Gukesh was thinking on his own.

Black is a pawn up and could get a third pawn after 15fxe6. However, considering that White had prepared this line and also easily attack the e6-pawn in that line (White could play Bf4, Bh4 or even Nd4), Gukesh was still able to come up with a new original plan by going 15f5!? planning to go Nf6 and slowly consolidate his position. This allowed him to win his first game in the tournament.

2) Be Pragmatic Gukesh can easily find solutions to worse positions.

This is the position that he had as Black after 17 moves in his 4th game against Fabiano Caruana.

Black is under some pressure since the knight on f5 is quite strong. White might even have ideas to sacrifice with Bxh6 mounting an attack against Blacks king.

Gukesh played 17Ne7!? Planning to trade knights. After 18.Nxe5 Nxf5 19.exf5 c5!?

his idea is to trade as many pawns as possible and the extra (doubled) pawn on f5 wont be much of a difference. Gukesh drew the game comfortably.

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3) Dont Be Dogmatic In his next encounter with Caruana (this time as White), he had the following position after 26 moves:

Here Gukesh played the surprising 27.fxg5 creating 2 sets of isolated doubled pawns after 27Qxg5:

Most players would not dare to play this way as White pawns can now become targets but Gukesh ideas was to play 28.Rf3! planning to double rooks on the f-file and attack the pawn on f5. The game ended in a draw after an accurate defense by Caruana.

4) Innovate Many people have been claiming that classical chess is dead since opening preparation is now killing creativity.

However, Gukesh is ready to come up with new ideas as early as move 4!

In this position that we get after 4 moves in the Nimzo-Indian Defense, Gukesh (playing as Black against Nijat Abasov) played the move 4h6. This position has been reached in thousands of games and moves like 40-0, 4d5 or 4c5 are very common. However, the move 4h6 is pretty much unique and the idea of Nh7-f8 that Gukesh later played is new.

5) Know When to Press Gukesh is a very objective player but as soon as he can start getting ambitious, he will not hesitate.

In his game against Alireza Firouzja from the 13th round he had this position as White after 34 moves:

Here taking on f5 with 35.Nxf5 might look tempting but after 35Nh5! Black is attacking both f4 and f5. Gukesh played a few solid moves with 35.Kh2 Nh5 36.Qf2 but after 36Rg6 37.Rd5!

White is already pressing for an advantage, putting pressure on f5 and planning to double rooks on the d-file and invade with Rd7. Firouzja was not able to hold the position, giving Guskesh a very important win.

If you want to see a more detailed analysis of the positions that I show in this article, check my video analysis here: https://youtu.be/aTJxn916qxk

Read more here:

What Can You Learn From the 2024 Candidates Winner - Chess.com

i just returned to my office after a morning turkey hunt. at the time i pen this column, i am five days into our five-week spring gobbler season. if you are looking for a grab-and-grin image of a hunter holding his prized trophy and 500-700 words of delicate prose about how he gobbled on the roost, answered my tree yelping, flew down, and proceeded to gobble all the way to my lap stop reading. I will disappoint you greatly as an outdoor writer, seasoned turkey hunter, and someone who is afflicted by the call of a wild turkey. But if you enjoy reading about how a game bird makes an accomplished hunter a fool, multiple times mind you, then prop your feet up and enjoy.

The tom turkey has roosted for the night in the same general area all week. The setting is a spine ridge, about 40 yards wide, high atop a large piece of hunting ground above the Gauley River. The ridge is the highest point around with a knoll in the middle of the ridge. Three steep hollows break from the ridge with two heading towards the river and one heading in the opposite direction. In short, he has three options to start his day in this big country.

I have started my mornings three times on the ridge and twice I gambled and started below the ridge. He likes to gobble in the pre-dawn minutes when the world is waking up. In fact, he often gobbles before the owls hoot or the songbirds begin their sunrise celebration by singing as loudly as possible. Locating him at first light is no problem.

Just as the suns rays begin to illuminate the forest floor below him and he can see well enough to land safely on the ground, he flies down. Therein lies my problem, he pitches down to different locations every morning. If I set up south of him, he flies north. If I set up east of him, he flies west. Why and how does he know where I am I havent the foggiest.

This morning, I set up before dawn on a flat he used to land and gobble the following morning. He flew down to where I was set up yesterday. The day before, the same scenario. He is making me a little wacky trying to outsmart this old bird.

One morning, I decided to wait him out just to see what his next move was going to be in the mid-morning sunshine. Because of the steep terrain, trying to get in front of him quietly and unseen is somewhat difficult with the fringes leaning towards impossible especially when you have no idea which way he is going to go.

After the morning fly-down and gobbling session had ended, I made a guess and circled off the ridge, and entered the hollow way below him. I called and walked slowly up towards the ridge. He gobbled twice back at me, which is rare after the first light that he gobbles, and seemed to be heading slowly in my direction. After a long spell of nothing being heard but whitewater rushing through one of the many major rapids of the Gauley River, he gobbled again and was maybe 10 yards closer than two hours before still a long way off.

He has found a perfect neck of the woods, and he is the king of the big hardwoods. I am wood-wise and old enough to know that I should leave him and find another gobbling turkey to play the game with. Then again, I would miss our morning chess matches too much and be left wondering what he did in my absence.

I will keep in pursuit of the old bird and maybe one day he will mess up. If not, I am perfectly fine with letting him win. I am starting to enjoy my morning nature walks with the sun rising beautifully above the river valley. The brisk walk and climb to the top of the mountain is good exercise at least that is what I keep telling myself. Tomorrow is a new day and if you need me, I will be watching the sunrise and listening for him to gobble.

Link:

Chris Ellis: Playing chess with the king of the big hardwoods - Beckley Register-Herald

Paul Morphy, a name synonymous with chess brilliance, stands as one of the most enigmatic and celebrated figures in the history of the game. Born on June 22, 1837, in New Orleans, Louisiana, Morphy's meteoric rise to prominence and his unparalleled mastery of chess continue to fascinate enthusiasts and scholars alike. His legacy, shrouded in mystery and admiration, transcends mere chess mastery; it embodies the essence of genius and the timeless allure of intellectual pursuit.At his game.

Early Years: A Prodigy in the Making

From an early age, Morphy exhibited an extraordinary aptitude for chess. Legend has it that at the tender age of nine, he defeated his father, Alonzo Morphy, a distinguished lawyer, in a game. Recognizing his son's remarkable talent, Alonzo enlisted the guidance of renowned chess masters to hone Paul's skills further. Under their tutelage, Morphy's understanding of the game flourished, and his tactical prowess became increasingly apparent.A wonder even at a young age.

The Triumph of Genius: Morphy's Chess Ascendancy

Morphy's breakthrough came in 1857 when he participated in the First American Chess Congress in New York. Despite his young age and limited experience in formal competition, Morphy's brilliance shone through as he swept aside seasoned opponents with ease. His remarkable performance earned him widespread acclaim and established him as a force to be reckoned with in the world of chess.

The pinnacle of Morphy's career came during his tour of Europe in 1858-1859. In a series of dazzling displays, he faced and conquered the foremost chess players of the era, including Adolf Anderssen and Johann Lwenthal. Morphy's style was marked by bold, sacrificial play and flawless execution, earning him the admiration of both peers and spectators. His dominance was unparalleled, and he was widely hailed as the unofficial world champion, despite the absence of an official title at the time.Would this person be able to win Paul Morphy at chess?

Legacy and Influence: Morphy's Enduring Impact

Morphy's retirement from competitive chess at the height of his powers remains one of the most enigmatic aspects of his life. After returning from Europe, he withdrew from the public eye and never again participated in formal tournaments. Despite numerous entreaties from admirers and the chess community, Morphy chose to pursue a career in law rather than continue his chess exploits.

Nevertheless, Morphy's legacy endures as a testament to his unparalleled genius and his profound impact on the development of chess theory. His games continue to be studied and analyzed by generations of players, serving as a source of inspiration and instruction. Morphy's contributions to the game laid the groundwork for future champions, shaping the evolution of chess strategy and tactics.

The Enigma of Morphy: Myth and Reality

Throughout history, Morphy has been the subject of speculation and myth, with numerous anecdotes and legends surrounding his life and legacy. Tales of his eccentricities and reclusive nature abound, further adding to the mystique surrounding his persona. Despite the efforts of historians and biographers, much of Morphy's private life remains shrouded in mystery, leaving ample room for conjecture and interpretation.

Yet, amidst the myth and speculation, one undeniable truth remains: Paul Morphy's impact on the world of chess is immeasurable. His legacy transcends the confines of the chessboard, serving as a testament to the boundless potential of the human mind and the enduring allure of intellectual pursuit. In Morphy, we find not merely a chess prodigy, but a symbol of genius and inspiration for generations to come.

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Unraveling the Legend of Paul Morphy - Chess.com

By James Evans Eight schools participated in the inaugural Rutherford County chess tournament event Saturday, April 20 at the Patterson Park Community Center

Ethan Harrelson of Riverdale won all five games and the overall championship in Saturdays inaugural Contest of High School Chess Champions. Xavier Sztapka (Rutherford County Virtual School) and Ben Chen (Central Magnet School) finished second and third place, respectively.

Other competitors included Aiden Mauldin (Stewarts Creek), Darren Keoni (LaVergne), Atticus Hiott (Smyrna), Youssef Mekhail (Blackman), and Kenneth Lugo (Oakland).

The event was spearheaded by Rutherford County property assessor Rob Mitchell, who formed a partnership with Rutherford County Schools to provide chess materials to each high school in preparation for the championship.

Mitchell envisions a day when high school students throughout Rutherford County are fluent in the language of chess. He believes a county-wide integrated program will help reduce the need for remedial classes, will help students with their critical-thinking skills, and above all else, prepare them to be problem-solvers for life.

For a little more than a year, Mitchell has been talking to anyone who will listen, to raise money for this grassroots project. His efforts have caught the attention of many, including the state legislature, which invited Mitchell to the state capital to discuss the potential program.

Mitchell participated in an interview with Rutherford County Schools recently to discuss his vision, its origin and his ultimate goal.

QUESTION: You are obviously passionate about chess, tell me why.

Mitchell: I started playing chess my earliest recollection is playing when I was about five or six years old, watching my dad and a good friend of his play chess. So my best friend at the time who is my dads best friends son we picked up and started playing.

As I moved around the country my dad was in retail, and wed moved to a different city chess was always something that I could use, and I did use to kind of fit in with other kids and have something to talk about. Id ask if they played chess and if they didnt, I would teach them how to play. So that was kind of a way of me establishing a rapport as a kid with kids that I didnt know who were from different backgrounds and from all different parts of the country.

I kind of carried chess with me through high school and then through college I played chess in the Rec room over at MTSU and met people that way in between classes.

And then I kind of set it down for a little bit until I started having kids and my kids started going to school. I arranged to have some chess sets sent to Walter Hill (Elementary) when Butch Campbell was principal. And some of the kids picked up and played chess there. Then with Mr. Delbridge over at Siegel Middle School. I had some chess sets ordered up over there, and we had a little chess club on Thursday afternoons that we would meet over in one of the math classrooms and that the kids would play.

Then my kids got into band, and they didnt want to do chess anymore, so I became a band dad at that point.

QUESTION: I know for at least the past year, youve been talking to our School Board members and our director of schools about wanting to expand and do something more. Where did this most recent push come from?

My wife and I were watching a movie on Netflix called Critical Thinking. We started watching it, and its a true story about a chess club, actually it was a class, in a high school in the worst part of town in Miami, Florida.

The story is how this teacher, who is passionate about teaching children that they could think their way to a better place in life, how it was his passion for (chess) and the children understanding the benefits of it.

These kids, many of them, couldnt even speak English at the time, went and won a national championship in chess. Its the first time that it ever happened in an inner city school, especially in Miami.

After my wife and I watched the movie we turned off Netflix and went back to the news and there was something about some kids involved in trouble up in Nashville, and she just looked over at me and said, Somebody needs to do that here. (referring to the chess program).

QUESTION: Youve told me you then reached out to the executive producer of the chess movie for more information and then started looking for sponsors.

I went to Twitter checking the news, and Marcus Lemonis, who is the CEO of Camping World, has his own nonprofit. Its called Lemon-Aide, and he posted a picture of a blank check and said, If I gave you this, what would you do with it?

And I just responded, I would create a critical-thinking and conflict-resolution (chess) program for at-risk children in schools, in Rutherford County schools.

I didnt think that much more about it. And then about four or five days later, I woke up on Saturday morning and opened my computer. My Twitter feed had just exploded.

I thought, what in the world is this, nobody ever pays any attention to anything that I say. I started going through the trail of things and at the very end of it is Marcus Lemonis saying, Im giving you $5,000 for this program. Thats when I knew that we were onto something.

So we got the $5,000 and we invited local politicians and community leaders to a chess event in the mid-summer. Two of the school board members, Claire Maxwell and Caleb Tidwell, were there, and we had a couple of county commissioners who showed up, and Dr. Michael McDonald, whos on the Juvenile Oversight Board for the county, were all there. We had a very successful event, and we raised another five or six hundred, maybe a thousand dollars.

We gifted the money to Rutherford County Schools to purchase the equipment necessary to get this program off the ground.

QUESTION: Branded chess sets and materials have now been delivered to all the schools. Whats your short-term and long-term goal for this initiative?

Well, the short-term goal would be to bring it to the forefront of kids understanding that this is something that anybody can do and that theres benefits to it long-lasting benefits. I want to give all the kids an opportunity to play if theyre so inclined.

The second step is there is a program thats put out by FIDE, which is the International Chess Federation, that gives teachers the ability to integrate chess into their current curriculum and lesson plans. That is something that theyre rolling out in Pakistan and therell be six million students going through this program within the next year or so. Its being done in the state of Alabama. Its being done currently in New Hampshire.

So I would like to have the opportunity to bring that to Rutherford County. I have reached out to the governors office and reached out to members of our legislative delegation to keep it on the governors highlight list.

If we get it, and its successful, (Gov. Lee) would also like to extend that offer to Shelby County so that they could have a pilot program as well. Wed have the ability to work for a couple of years integrating it into our schools and see what the actual results are prior to leading to a wider adoption, I hope, statewide.

QUESTION: So how do you get buy-in from teachers when theyre already asked to do so much?

Well, they wouldnt have to change their lesson plans, which is the big thing. They would learn how to do it through a professional development class taught by Mr. Jerry Nash, whos the chairman of education for the International Chess Federation.

Over a two- or three-day period in a workshop, they would learn how to integrate these into their current lesson plans.

They would learn the language of chess because it has its own language. They would be able to integrate that in with their current reading languages, with the current mathematical languages, and with their conflict resolution (lessons). His experience in Alabama was the teachers that were the most reluctant to try it, were the ones that became the largest and biggest advocates for it once they learned and saw the impact of it.

Its one of those things people tend to be afraid of. But when they actually start doing it, realize its not that big of a buy-in. Its just a tiny little thing, and if the children grasp the information quicker and retain it longer, that means we have to have fewer remediation classes going on or fewer repetitions of the same material over and over again.

QUESTION: Tell me about the tournament youre hoping to do in April? Whats the plan to get it going?

I know a chess person, a real chess person, is going to say you must have a big tournament at each of the schools. And if the schools want to do that, I think thats great. I would encourage it. But I dont want any school to be left out.

Thats why I said, You pick who your champion is, however you want to do it. It could be they have a chess tournament in the school, in between breaks, or one day after school, and then, whoever wins will be that schools representative.

But I want every high school to have the opportunity to have somebody participate.

Then well have a Swiss-style tournament, which means that certain people will play multiple times, and then whoever has the most points, that school and that individual will be the champion of Rutherford County.

That carries some pride with it because as we continue this the next year, the schools that didnt win, theres some pride involved because they didnt get a trophy. Theyll want to be better prepared, and theyll take the steps necessary, hopefully, to get there.

And if its part of a curriculum thats being worked into some of their classes, its in their mind, so it is kind of a marketing tool right there with it.

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Rutherford Co. Property Assessor Talks Chess in Schools, First Tournament - Rutherford Source