As you may know, the government of Egypt has virtually shut down the Internet as a response to the demonstrations there. 

You can see a chart of Internet useage in Egypt here:

That means that because of the actions of their government, our Egyptian players here may not be able to make their moves.

If you have an Egyptian opponent, it would be good to change your settings for the next few days so that they do not lose on time.

Thanks for posting this.  It is a good idea.

I wonder if chess.com can do something across the board for all the Egyptian players with regard to timing out.  I don't know anything about programming so I'll end my speculation there.

http://www.chess.com/forum/view/community/egypts-internet

Not saying you can't change your settings but there is also that.

My heart goes to the Egyptian people. I don't expect many of them wanting to play chess right now. Their mind must be on something more important, like ridding their country of dictatorship and bringing about democracy. Inch'Allah.

I live in a country where corporations are dictatorships with more rights than citizens, yet I still have time for chess!

It looks like chess.com has already helped the Egyptian players, before I posted this.

http://www.chess.com/forum/view/community/egypts-internet

Thanks, Martin_Stahl for pointing this out.

Down with Mubarak!

@randomfischer, By definition, corporations are not dictatorships.  You should find another name to call them.

@hassanbahaa, I sympathize with you, but I wonder if his replacement will be any better.  A lot of countries have gotten rid of bad rulers, only to get worse rulers.

It is kind of not fair to the Egyptian people if they lose on time. 

Chess.com is giving them extra time, because their Internet is inaccessible.

I also covered this topic:

http://www.chess.com/forum/view/general/egypt-and-the-internet

But it would be nice to know that chess.com will continue to add time to all those who list Egypt as their location until things settle down. I have no doubt that the site staff are monitoring the situation and in all likelihood have already dealt with the problem.

THE goverment of the people by the people and for the people : WE may disagree  with what you say BUT we will defend with our lives your RIGHT too say it !!!

I hope the Egyptians are fine, but honestly, this is chess.com, they are not worrying about some stupid chess game.

I hope that the people of Egypt do not soon find themselves the slaves of an Islamic Fascist state.

Can I just time out if I change my flag to Egypt?

Can you walk like an Egyptian?

No, but I can party like one

 Great!!! I might finally win a game!!!!!!!!!!

Time and tide wait for no man.

the leaders of their country, have hard beard-just the same than any other leader.(blinking their eyes-as we do)

 for the people-by the people...resistance is accepting casualties. once you follow the path of resistance, then madness run loose.

  We must view such madness  as a natural event, that will sort itself out, else we might believe that we solved it for them, and then they would feel in our debt.(leaders is leaders, not because they are lead by others...they are lead by their peoples needs, and choices.)

Anyhow, their history brought them to this situation.  resistance will bring  change.  What we view as goodwill, can offend the power that remain, and then what will we say?

the winds of change...it is unkind, but a soft voice will blow the answer to those that want to live in harmony.

Negotiating freedom for all, is what  leaders do. Freedom protects the rights of choice...

resistance bring change...if a community feel free, then such change would surely create uncertainty.  I cannot think that leaders would not reassure each community of its freedom within its ranks.

a free man's heart cannot just change overnight...a man must always pay the king what he wants. It is better to change him with your views, than to resort to violence and uncertainty.

to suggest that we must wait for our Egyptian friends seem nice, but because your heart is good, you suggest it to be the right thing to do...Chess is a game that does not support violence, should we wait for them to finish their fight?

the earth rotate every 24 hours, when they come to clarity, and find their path, then playing chess is what peaceful communities do. no one would accidentally, push our pieces over through their fighting and unstable mindset.

we can only be ourselves, and be a light for piece, as we push our pieces into the checkered fields of enlightenment.