Chat

[knight_knight_zzz]

I am curious... why the closure of chat 2? And where is Kristjan? John, Vermont. -- Edited by r.van.der.veur at 11/04/2007 2:18 AM -- Edited by r.van.der.veur at 11/04/2007 6:04 AM

[knight_knight_zzz]

Hmm, Alan. Very interesting. I kinda like it. I could live with it all (I think), as there is no recommended limit on # of words. But no prostitution? How dull (don't tell my wife!) I also don't see any restrictions on joking and teasing. Good! (But as a fellow chess collector, who occasionally drops in on these threads, privately indicated to me - I am paraphrasing here - that he seldom jokes on these threads, because what is joking and teasing for one person, can be insulting to another person.) It seems to be an uphill battle for me in trying to discern what exactly could be seen as insulting or just teasing and joking, given the different cultures and tastes that exist in this group. That is one reason why have used happy faces. Oh! No happy face restrictions on that piece of Chinese advising board! I like it... I like it...! ;-) John.

[chesspurr]

John A fine posting in the " viewing collections and Picasa sites " I consumed two cups of coffee whilst reading it. ;) You are one fortunate fellow having all of those Canines protecting your home . Up here we have concerns, serious concerns, in fact very serious concerns. So serious are these serious concerns that we have up here, that sawn off shot guns are making a return to our homes. You cant be serious... http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/scotland/glasgow_and_west/8033517.stm I guess we can, and even worse at my home in Ireland so many moons ago, a local restaurant owner was arrested for selling " Cat meat " in stews and shepherds pie. For the present my chess sets are safe, very safe. ]:) -- Edited by chesspurr at 07/10/2010 11:13 AM PDT

[knight_knight_zzz]

Guy and Ty and even small fries... (Hey, I'm a poet and I don't even know it!)... Great discussions recently on the many threads here and there! And even friendly! Because I overdid it yesterday with my many postings, (and used up my word allotment)... .... well, ok, the truth... gonna be occupied with something called a mini-"vacation"... (but beware the guard dogs.... as well as my other wife I am leaving to guard the house... polygamy, you know...) ;-)... ....I will not likely be posting any messages for a few days. Alas! Get your words in while you can! Ty, Wisconsin, eh? (Close to Ca-Na-Da, so you can also use the word, "eh"...) I think that Wisconsin is akin to Vermont... only colder in winter, "eh") Yes, I get the hint about a website or picasa posting of pictures. (Are you in ca(t)-hoots with a fellow named Guy?) Yes, Ty, and visit to Vermont (and me) should be in your future plans! I do hear that the next International CCI meeting will be in the midlands of the USA. While I would TRY to make that, it is very uncertain at the moment. Ok... gotta leave now... (Guard Dogs... "Attention!") On an even more serious note (Alan Fersht), I do sincerely enjoy and appreciate your sharing with us some photos of your trip to China. Keep it up! John. PS: To all: I am bringing our laptop computer with us, in case there is internet access where my accompanying wife and I are heading for a "number" of hours. Maybe a posting - or two or several - will be a possibility for these threads. But, however, be aware that we may show up at hour home door at any time, to catch all of you theives! 😉

[cpe1991]

John Before you take the p*ss out of anyone, remember these Chines words of wisdom in the men's room of a Unesco Heritage Site. Alan

[ne0romantic]

John, That makes me think of a silly singer joke no one is going to get. It's very far fetched/narrowly targeted and will require a lot of explanation to have a shot in the dark in this company. You run into baritones sometimes who hear men singing high notes possibly receiving a lot of attention and simply reply "f-ing tenors!" A friend of mine would do this a lot and when I started singing tenor I made it one my evil goals to sing to him a bit and see if I could elicit that response. So you're a self-respecting baritone in Canada and everyone ends every sentence with the word "eh," like you said. You run into a Canadian tenor and say "hi," to which he replies "Hi eh," but he sings: "High Aaaaaaye!" holding out the word on a 'high A' (popular tenor note)... to which your only logical response is "f-ing Canadian tenors!" A whole paragraph and I bet no one is laughing. Really this joke is funny to some people. I swear. I've only been to Canada the once, hung out on a tiny island in the great lakes, and didn't hear much 'eh'ing there. If a CCI meeting does land in a very convenient place for me, let me know. Especially with all of Guys talking of CCI lately I admit I am curious. Now if you'll excuse me there's something I need to care of before I can enjoy the fresh air. Ty

[chesspurr]

Ty I hear there is to be a meeting in the USA next year. Since there has been no reply to my " boring posting " sniff tears howl ....What is a CCI meeting all about. I will say this, if you can make it to such a meeting you will receive a warm welcome from fellow members . Not once was I asked about chessmen in an elitist way, nor was one made to feel uncomfortable in the company of some rather wealthy people. The Cambridge meeting offered collectors the option of a day pass, as at least it saved on the cost for some members, who might have felt the complete fee was too high .

[knight_knight_zzz]

Ty (NeOromantic), A belated response here to your "silly singer joke". Not only did I "get it"... I even laughed out loud! (I must have some Canadian in my French-Italian blood, mixed in with some Vermontese...) Guy (Chesspurr), (and Ty). Rumor has it (or did I just plagiarize news from another thread?) that the next (International? Or Western Hemisphere?) CCI meeting might take place in St. Louis, Missouri. Alan, (cpe1991): Once again, I enjoyed your last photo, which you took during your trip to China. Interesting quote there, wouldn't you say? Reminds me (a little) of a place where I recently spent 3 of my 9 days vacation... (see other LONGWINDED posting on the other thread for more details.) The tiny Bay of Fundy island, on which I stayed, is part of New Brunswick. On my way home (after two ferry rides), we ate supper at a restaurant in a small town, "St. Andrews". I understand that St. Andrews (a very quaint, well-off, and clean town), was a place to which loyalists to the king traveled and took up some residence after the American Revolution. The meal was splendid! (And even the restaurant "restrooms" had flushing toilets - as well as electricity to a light bulb! Makes it a tad easier to see where one is "moving"... which reminds me of another short story... not having to do with chess moves, but rather, chess sets and related items...) I noticed, Alan, that so far, you had apparently not found anything of interest with respect to chess sets in your travels in mainland China. During my own travels in Northern New England, as well as the lower part of New Brunswick, I visited well over a dozen antique shops and book stores. Chess sets were "far and few between", as the saying goes. I think I saw only two measly sets. One was a new regency. No stauntons, and certainly no Jaques. Alas! HOWEVER, at a small used bookstore, I found a duplicate of the following: http://cgi.ebay.com/64-SQUARE-LOOKING-GLASS-Burt-Hochberg-1st-e-1993-/350373570168?cmd=ViewItem&pt=U... It was my only chess related purchase during my several day trip and vacation! The only significant difference between the book I bought and the one listed above on ebay was the price (about 6 dollars difference.) Unfortunately, I paid the higher price! How had/has your trip evolved? John.

[knight_knight_zzz]

Any Western Cowboy fans out there? For those who may be interested in an alleged piece of memorabilia (a "Roy Rogers" connection)... take a look at 230503641436. Yes, a Mexican "dime a dozen" type of chess set, but supposedly (possibly?) previously owned by a relatively well known(???) entity? Duncan (d-baron) and Luis (Isarios)... lookie! A "marbleized" set! 😉 Act Quickly! Kee-Mo-Sa-Bee John, apparently having dozed off for a few dayzzzzzzz..... BTW, I will not be bidding. Heck, I'm lucky to be awake enough to even write thizzzzzzzzzz.......

[knight_knight_zzz]

Ok, all... It has been a few hours now, and I have gotten a few hours sleep... I don't feel cranky anymore as I did yesterday, getting home after a long day working "on the road" as well as the office. I must admit that I had gotten just a wee bit carried away on my little ranting and maybe a sprinkling of a misdated Sunday morning sermoning... (posting #5 or 6?) of the "Re: Furstenberg Chess Set" thread. Ok... let me reword that... I went overboard once again... Well, as the English/American saying goes... (as you can see, I myself am also a fan of sayings, as is our co-leader, Clay Noybear - who does not have an easy job as co-leader and does try his best and is appreciated... or as is our main, creative and hardworking contributor to these many threads, Guy Chesspurr...) "The more things change, the more they stay the same". OR, what is that saying?... "A leopard cannot change its spots" But I forgive (though I just might not forget) myself (as I have of others... nice of me, eh?) 😉 for going over the line (implicitly or obviously)... for the errors in my judgment... for the occasional(?) rants and raves... for my justified anger at life's and other's mistreatment of me (merely perceived or actually real and even at times deserved!) and life's and other's unfairness towards me... for the "trespasses" I make at times... (but not d-baron for trespassing onto my property and feeding steak to my guard dogs and then stealing my butterscotch and black bakelite chess set...) ;-) So... can we get on with life, even if it sometimes presents us with some roller coaster rides as well as uncomfortable viewing of some "information" sharing, valid (though possibly with a touch of retaliation for past wrong-doings) questioning, departures, using powerful keys, openings and closings of lines of communication...? Was the cooler temperatures of low 40's degree F (last night, here in Vermont) than expected - a fortunate thing?... in that it allowed me to have time to NOW post this very message here, in a perhaps timely and critical way... rather than (improperly and against manufacturer's instructions) sealing my asphalt driveway at such cool temperatures? Was such an occurrence a gift from above and the unseen? Who knows? One can speculate and read into things that really are not there... Now, what in the world am I talking about? And is anybody listening and really understanding my implicit messages? Life goes on, and we can read into things or not... we can challenge or accept major or minor life disturbances... we can mainly "go with the flow"... we can choose to hold onto old battles and harsh feelings (due to valid or invalid trespasses made against us) and/or create new battles on new grounds... the hate and (oftentimes valid) mistrust and anger that we might feel towards others will eat more away at ourselves than our "enemies"! Some of you, I believe, who have been on these threads for many months and years will undoubtedly know exactly what I am talking about... and some of you might think I have just been let out of the looney bin and am speaking gibberish... Well, in my own twisted (and attempting to be tactful) longwinded way, I am trying to urge folks to "stick with it" here in this group... maybe take a step back and take a breather when/if tumultuous times on these threads occur... maybe take a detour and re-focus on some other aspects of chess collecting... So "guys", whaddaya say? I am in agreement of the validity of some of the questioning as well as justified feelings of old anger... but let's get on with life... when some doors are closed, let's continue to open up new doors (and windows to get a breath of some fresh air). AND... regardless of the validity of our own questioning... as well as the misunderstanding by leaders among us of why some of us might distrust hidden identities... let us forgive each other for these misundertandings as well as our own imperfections! We can still ride the waves, though the current might lead us in unexpected directions. We can still adjust our sails, though the winds might change their directions. We can still be relatively safe in our own boats in this ever-changing ocean of chess collecting and life. Most importantly, as the song goes, "...we can still be friends...". Ok, let's see what the "weather" brings today... Will we have a heat wave, or a cold spell? Or just a pleasant day on the driveways of life and in the fertile fields of imaginative chess collecting? ;-) John, VT.

[chesspurr]

On a forward thinking theme, i am delighted to see the Plastics thread take off. Every thread in this group is a chess world in itself, and all these forums need are collectors joining in. A piece of " research " 😉 just for " John " each page of members has 50 entries. For the first time since my return last year , the page is almost full,for the current month . The best bit of news is that its still Summer Time !.

[knight_knight_zzz]

Well, Guy... A Good, Summer Time, Sunday Morning to you! I agree with you that "Every thread in this group is a chess world in itself, and all these forums need are collectors joining in." I don't understand, however, what you mean by "each page of entries has 50 entries..." I went to the Members page and tried to figure out exactly what you mean. And I still can't figure it out. Can you please clarify and explain that more? (Maybe, with my brain fogginess this moroning... er.... this morning... 😉 a further explanation will sink in!) Anyway, have a great Summer Day! 🙂 John. PS: Maybe - with the state of my pickled (not from alcohol, but rather from VOCs... something that Clay might just know something about these days.... eh, Clay?... 😉 ) brain - it might be the best time for you (Guy) and I to start another Atlanticgames website game of chess, eh? PPS: Then again, I have so many things tentatively planned for today... including emails I owe a couple of people, outdoor house and yard chores, social visiting at my doctor's house late today for a pizza get-together and finishing of a mid-way game of chess, - and of course, trying to get my arse in gear to finally learn and do the Picasa thing - that maybe an Atlnticgames games of chess should be postponed for a few days... I know, I know, y'all... too much digression as well as "TMI"... so, sue me! 😉 This IS the ("Chit-chatty") Chat thread, right? 😉 Ah... nothing like a few happy faces to get one going in the Morn'... better than, perhaps, a cup of java or a Sunday Morning Sermon! 😉

[chesspurr]

John On the left of the screen we can see the " Group menu " and there is the number of members listed, at present 746. Press the members link and you will see a list of recent collectors at least viewing our discussions. On the second of August 2010 we already have 17 people having a " peek with their Beak " this is a significant improvement on last year at this time, if my memory serves me correctly . However we must not get carried away with this staggering number of people, since we have little evidence that all of them are well and truly satisfied with our fare. For the hell of it i researched the lists monthly some weeks ago since the group was founded, and have yet to see a complete month dominate the page, as there was always collectors from previous months still showing . The figure of 746 is very untrustworthy indeed .

[knight_knight_zzz]

Guy, Oh... ok... thanks! John.

[knight_knight_zzz]

Today, while in Burlington, Vermont (for a 3-day work related conference)... largest city in Vermont with a population of about 60,000... I stopped by a nearby bookstore "Barnes & Noble" to see what they had for "bargain books". Occasionally, they have chess sets for sale (as does Borders Bookstore... a national chain. ____________________________________________________ (Now, rhyme along in Christmas, Santa Claus Fashion...) ____________________________________________________ And what to my wondrous eyes should appear? An AUTHORS CHESS SET! Pawns: Books stacked "up to there"! The writers, from century, 'fore 20, look on... From king and queen places, from bishop to pawn... With a rook and a knight who is out for a ride... The pieces, all whole... not a chip on a side! Just the box had some crinks; that's OK. Ain't the game! With 70 (%) off, I bought happy, no blame! The KING is Mark Twain.... (it's Sam Clemens, they say); With a Huck and a Tom, could play chess, all the day! Longfellow - a BISHOP (that's Henry) in prayer - Hiawatha, with others, and Paul (that's "Revere")! E. Dickinson's QUEEN, and a poet, it's true, Kept to self; had some friends - but alas, just a few! With a Heart and a Swing and a Raven to claim, Poe (the Edgar and Allan), a KNIGHT in the game! Leaves of Grass, shook in breeze, yes - Whitman, a Walt. Bearded Freud(?) ROOK-ed frieze, & a nurse in Gestalt! And last but not least, are the PAWNS (not a Face) But a big stack of books - reaching high into space! __________________________________________________ Now, it is true that Picasa would certainly shine - With Pics of the set, and each author divine! But fingers and brain are a-flying with words... And my camera and 'puter are lame (what I've heard)... Maybe one day surprise will be - oh - "all the rage"... But for me, 'tis in future, rhymes this poet, a sage. ;-) John. -- Edited by knight_knight_zzz at 08/04/2010 4:15 PM PDT

[knight_knight_zzz]

I just found 🙂 a picture of the box and chess pieces (except for the pawns! ;-( ) of "The Authors Chess Set"! on the Internet. Here's a link... to go along with the poetry... 🙂 John. http://www.myfavoriteauthor.com/