I wish I had an iPad. Sounds fun to use! Less work related stuff compared to a MacBook, I suppose. Looks fun to touch the screen and somehow seems magical. :P  

Yeah that whole ipad business makes me think about the days when NES was popular and people, like myself, would stay up all night playing Zelda or Ghosts and Goblins, among other games you can think of for Nintendo.

nintendo was the greatest, i was surprised that i like the wii U because i dont like any of the newer systems coming out, but it seems pretty good, and they are making some hybrid platformers that appeal t

o the oldschool gamers

I really dislike the Wii. I know it's Nintendo but it's so far from the classic Nintendo system. It probably doesn't help that I'm awful with the Wii remote control. Mario has never been so difficult to maneuver. Plus, I still have my N64 and Gameboy Advanced! ("Advanced"...) I obviously don't play them anymore, but yeah, those are my feelings... (-:

I still have my first generation Nintendo. Still works and I can still play Battle Chess on it. I also have an old Atari 2600 (ca. 197?).

I think that this talk of ipads and Wiis is stuff nonchessers would say. lol

I like my Sony psp for Tiger Woods golf, World Series of Poker and Gottlieb pinball classics.

I did mention that I still have the original Battle Chess on Nintendo. Non-chessers aren't going yo know what Battle Chess is.

Its more interesting how chess players see the real world.

I remember the Atari 2600. Great games on it like Pac Man and Asteroids. The first time I ever saw a Nintendo was in 1985 when I was over at my friend's house. I used to stay up all night playing Super Mario Brothers, which had the most amazing graphics I've ever seen! It became quite addicting. I think it was a couple of years later until I finally got my own Nintendo, they were really expensive, I think it was $99 for the system, Super Mario and 2 paddles. Mega Man and Mega Man 2 were also two more great games.

Interesting! Can you say more about this? Would love to read 

"How many moves can you see ahead" is a classic,and when I tell them up to 10 to 15 moves for each side [depending on the position],they never believe me anyway.

The most I have ever seen ahead was 8/side. But usually 3 or 4.

That's the moral behind a casual coffeehouse chess club. By playing chess and asking yourself "Where is the threat and what pieces/squares are unguarded?" you're not concerned about what's going on in the real world. Too much drama, bureaucracy and politics. Instead, let's set a trap and if he goes with plan A.) then get the other Knight to help out and if he goes with plan B.) then double the Rooks, he doesn't have his dark square Bishop and his Queen is out of play so I don't see a problem with that.

http://www.uscfsales.com/accessories/chess-jewelry/rocklove-white-queen-chess-necklace.html

$60 for THAT?? USCF Sales has to be kidding. That necklace looks so cheap! I bet there's a shipping price too! 

It shows that it's made out of solid sterling, I didn't see how much it weighed, though. You are probably right on the shipping...

A lot of really smart people look at the world through a different vision and experience. Being able to see behind the curtain without having to be led, spoils the mystery and magic.

They forget that 95% of the planet never attends university, and almost that number never play chess regularly. Most of the world never knows what is behind the curtain, or would not believe it even if you led them there.

So, when really smart people comment on how non-chess players see or speak of chess, the intellectual forgets...WE are the odd ones. What WE say and comment on with regards to chess and its importance, is in reality---ODD.

Chess is wonderful, insightful, and stimulating to the mind; but in the REAL world--where 95% of the planet dwells--chess is irrelevent.

That is why I find it more interesting how chess players see the real world. The world that actually matters.

But what do I know. I only play for fun  ;)

Stuff nonchess players say?

http://papers.ssrn.com/sol3/papers.cfm?abstract_id=2472783

Nice screen name...slightly disturbing...

...which reminds me, there was a time here on chess.com when some woman had an "interesting" screen name. It was so interesting to the point where she got heavily trolled on both her profile and on one of her threads. It had caused much butthurt in her, which resulted in her changing the screen name. Don't remember exactly what it was, but I think it either had to do with pickup up lines or describing her behavior which suggested she was a slut.

Screen names are fun, but care must be taken. If you have a screen name or avatar that is "bait" for a pervert, you may want to change it. If you leave an open door, you can't complain too much about those unwanted for entering.

Just my 2 cents.