Why Isn't Chess Taught At School?

For those of you who may know me , you know I am a chess nut. I am not really good at it though. My rating on Chess.com is currently is a 1206 which is the highest it has been in quite some time. I usually hover around the mid 1100's . So if  you are looking for an easy game go to Chess.com and look me up . I have learned a lot about myself from the game of Chess.

For one thing when I have too many games going on I tend to rush my moves so I can get to the next game faster and rush my moves there . I tend to make many mistakes and get myself into trouble . This makes for many of my games to end in lopsided losses . When I slow down and take my time ,think about my moves, plan ahead (yes even take notes) I tend to be more competitive.

There is many things that can be learned from Chess. This is why I feel that it should be taught in school. I think our kids should learn some of the lessons that can be learned from Chess such as problem solving, concentration, planning, logical thinking and learning how to learn from your mistakes.

• Kids( I guess adults too) can learn problem solving from chess because every move that they make or their opponent makes the game change. After the move the board changes and a new puzzle is created. It is very difficult at the beginning of the game because there are so many options that you and your opponent can make. The goal is to limit your opponents options to move the way they want and to increase the options for you . We all face problems in real life , the more that we train our brain in problem solving games or exercises like Chess the better we are to overcome those problems

• I am sorry , the concentration that it takes to play a video game fails in comparison to the concentration . As I mentioned in the opening of this piece if I have too many games going on and I rush my moves . When I am concentrating on my moves, I do better and am more competitive. I wish I would applied this to my schoolwork back in the day, I might have done better in school,who knows where I would be if that happened, oh well....

• If are just playing the game making up as you go along , then you will lose. Any chess player worth anything will plan their moves well ahead of time and adjust their plan according to what your opponent does. This is how life is, if you plan and are willing to adjust your plan chances are you will succeed . 

• Thinking logical and weighing the options in your life helps you make better decisions, in turn should help you succeed and increase your well being. as well. Before you move in chess you should weigh all your options and try to determine what your opponent will do in response to your intended move, before you make your move.

• Final Point is learning from mistakes. We make mistakes in life and if we do not want to repeat those mistakes then we need to learn from them . Too many time people get into a viscous cycle of disappointments or failures. They don't look at the reasons why they fail, if they change some of the reasons why they fail, maybe the cycle can be stopped. If you make the wrong move in chess and leave your Queen exposed early in the game it will be very hard to overcome.

So why isn't chess taught in school? My guess is that is it isn't cost effective or that people see the advantages of teaching it. I think the lessons learned would be beneficial to our kids. 

Drained.....

Want a true scan of my head lately? Here you go.

Last night I didn't want to go to bed, because I feared waking up and having to deal with today. I can not really tell you why I felt that way, but I have been feeling that way frequently .Lately it seems like I just can not handle it anymore.

I don't want to bore you with the specifics, and I know that most people have it harder than me. I am truly blessed with a wonderful wife and two  kids . These three people are the reason I don't curl up into the fetal position and suck my thumb while waving the white flag , they are my reasons to keep moving forward.

Usually when I write an entry in my blog there is something I want to accomplish, today I am rambling. Sorry.

DJ Vs Balloon I

It's Not The Knockdown That Defines Us

On September 30th I will be participating in a 5k race called "Olivia's 5k Wish Run and Walk", it is the second year of the event . This event will celebrate the life of Olivia Coia who was loved by so many and lost her battle with Breast Cancer in 2010.  I did not know Olivia, but I wish I did, from what I I have learned about her she was an amazing woman who touched the lives of many people and even though she is no longer with us, she is continuing to touch and inspiring people like me in which whom she has never met.

The Start of Last Years Olivia's 5k Wish Run and Walk

The purpose of this entry is not to raise money for the event, I made a promise that I will only try to hit people up for their donations once a year and I did that already with this years Laurel Run. However if you do want to donate or participate please visit their website for information. The purpose is to talk about David , Olivia's father.

I received a friend request on Facebook about a year ago from Mr. Coia and I honestly had to ask my wife who he was. My wife , who knew him told me the story about Olivia and about the 5k race that is in her honor . I decided  to accept the friend him, and I am glad I did. Dave is a true example of someone who got knocked down and no one would have blamed him if he did not get back up, but he did , and his reasons for moving forward will inspire you . Here is a part of an article that appeared in "The Observer " a local newspaper from Dunkirk,N.Y. on September 16,2012.

"Before she died, Olivia made her father promise to carry out her last wish.

"If I don't make it," she said, "then I have a wish. If you could, have a run in my name. The money can be raised somehow to help with research for triple negative breast cancer and to make sure my kids (her students) are somehow taken care of with a scholarship."

David is fulfilling his daughter's wish. On Sunday, Sept. 30, the second annual Olivia's 5K Wish Run will take place at 11 a.m. at Evangola State Park. Proceeds will benefit the Dana Farber Cancer Institute in Boston, Mass., (through Dr. Eric P. Winer) and the Olivia Coia Memorial Scholarship Fund."

You can read the entire article by clicking here

Dave has also started running himself, and his times in the 5k's that he has participated in have only gotten faster. He says that his daughter is with him and I am sure she is. Olivia was a marathon runner . I receive a ton of motivation from Mr. Coia. There has been several times after a bad run or race that I am feeling not so good about myself and my performance . Then almost like clock work there is a post from David on Facebook that makes me feel better and makes me get back out there and give it my all.

He is a true example of someone who did not let the knock down define him , what is defining him is the way he is getting back up. 

A Line from  the Movie "Rocky Balboa"

My Thoughts on Art Modell's Passing

I heard the news this morning of former Cleveland Browns owner Art Modell passing and I have to admit this bothered me a little bit and I am not sure the reasons why, for this is the man that ripped my heart out when he moved the football team out of Cleveland formerly known as the Browns and relocated them to Baltimore and named them the Ravens. If you knew me at the time, you knew how upset that that made me, being a die hard Browns fan. However, the reaction to Modell's death hit me a lot harder than I would have thought.

I never wished him bodily harm like many other Browns fans, I only wished that his team would have failure and that I could laugh at him and the Ravens fans for the rest of my life as my Browns( after they returned in 1999) would rack up many championships and Modell's Ravens would be the laughing stock of the NFL

Just in case you have not paid attention, my wish has not come true...

Today, it struck me that he was a man , who made some people really angry , but he was also a man that was a father, a son, a friend and so on. People cared about this man whom I have listed on several polls as the most hated man in Cleveland sports. (Yes even above LeBron James). He has even brought me happiness for a good part of my life as well and I am thankful for that.

So what I am trying to say that even though I can not forget what he did , I do wish that Art Modell rests in Peace .

Scanning My Head On This Rainy Tuesday Morning

As I look out my window and see the rain clouds from what used to be Hurricane Issac coming in , I am also listening to Mumford & Sons , so many thoughts are entering my head and  I want to bring them to you in no particular order:

You can't gripe unless you vote

• I have made a conscience effort to try not to post anything political in the past few weeks on my Blog, Facebook page or Twitter . I guess I have come to the realization that no matter what I post , it will not change the mind of Obama supporters, just as anything posted by Obama supporters will not change my mind. There is such a stark difference between the two candidates and the direction that they want to take the country , we all have a choice to make on the first Tuesday in November . When that choice is made then we have to live with it and hope that we are either wrong or right.

Admit it ..we have all done this

• Why did God give us Nose hairs or for that matter Ear Hair ? Is this punishment from the original sin ? What is the purpose of  having hair in these areas? I looked up nose hair and here is a link to the answer, I guess it is somewhat beneficial. Then why is there ear hair?I guess there is an answer for that too

My Uncle Denzil's grave-site

• My wife has been doing researching our family tree and I have to admit that I am fascinated in everything that she is finding . Especially about my Father's side of my family. My Dad passed away this past February , and it is hitting me that I don't really know too much about his side of the family . I wish that I would have asked him more about his family when he was alive, but finding out more about him in some way is bringing me closer to him now.My sister also just recently visited where my dad and I know it was an emotional trip for her. She took this picture of my Uncle Denzil's  grave site, which is located right next to my grandfather's (my Dad's Dad). I have to say that even though I was always proud to be my father's son, that pride grows with every piece of new information that we learn.

• OK fellow Cleveland Browns fans, it looks like we are going to have yet another rough year. On our 53 man roster we have more than half of our players are either in their 1st or 2nd year. I know that the plan is to build a team that will have continued success over the years , so we have to take our lumps now. I admire that the current leadership is sticking to the plan of building through the draft and hopefully this will result in long term success down the road, but as a Browns fan, I would like to see some progress this year. A four to five win season is not what I call progress.Please watch the video I inserted , it sums it up how we feel.

I guess that is it for today, if there is ever anything you would want my opinion on let me know by emailing me  or by writing in a comment below. Have a great day!

Finding The Strength To Achieve The Impossible

I can't believe that is has been almost three months since I have posted anything on here, I guess I have been settling on the instant gratification that Facebook and Twitter have to offer. I just re-read my last post and thought that I might respond to it and ease many of your minds, I have not given up. I am still going after my dreams of running the Boston and NY Marathons. In fact if you have been paying attention to my race schedule my last two races I have achieved PR's in both (check out my race results here), so needless to say that I have gotten back on the horse and it is full steam ahead towards my goals.

Reading my last post got me to thinking that sometimes you do get stuck in a rut and sometimes it seems like you just want to give up on or readjust  your dreams . This is when you have to be at your strongest and fight to overcome that feeling . Sometimes you need help, and I have a wonderful support group that consists of family,friends and people who got me back on my feet and pointed back in the right direction. It is true that sometimes you have to give up on some dreams or re-adjust them, because life does get in the way . However this should be an option only if it has to be. Too many times people find excuses for not chasing a dream instead of admitting the truth to themselves and others that the reason that they are giving up is that it is either too hard for them to achieve a goal or they are too lazy too achieve a goal. If you want to give up on something, that is fine, but at least be honest with the reasons that you are giving up, at least to yourself.

I find motivation, everywhere. It comes in all forms, shapes and sizes. It comes from things that I find disgusting, like cigarette smoking. I hate the smell of cigarettes, it makes me cringe because of the thought that I have every time I smell it and that is the black tar-like substance that people are putting in their lungs.However, when I am running and I smell this smell, it motivates me because I have made the choice to do something that is healthy for my body and lungs.

I find motivation in people losing weight as well, I see them along the way during my runs or even while I am driving my car. If they are out there walking, running or doing something to lose weight and become healthier it makes me appreciate the strength that all of us have within us to try to be better. A person who I care for and love very much has been successful at this and I am very proud of my mother in law Diane for all that she has accomplished and for her dedication to continue to do the right thing for herself.

My fellow runners with whom I communicate with inspire me as well. It is an inspiration when one of them achieves a milestone, or a dream. It only makes me want to work harder so I can feel what they are feeling. I am so very proud of them and happy for them when they meet their goals, but there is a twinge of jealousy that I feel when they make it. I have to admit it , I am an attention hog, I want praise too.

Finally , sometimes motivation comes out of the blue . This week it came in the form of my track coach from my Senior year of  High School. I happen to be dropping off my daughter at a summer day camp and there he was, in a walking boot. We exchanged pleasantries and caught up on old times, but one thing he said to me when we were talking about his walking boot was " Well I guess I won't be doing any interval training any time soon!" I didn't think about this until a couple days later, and figured that it was time to get back to my roots, a place I haven't been in over twenty years . The track.

As I was doing my interval workout today I kept flashing back to high school and how I took life for granted back then, I won several races without ever really working that hard at it. Now my success in racing has come with hard work and will continue to come with hard work , and when I achieve my goals...it will be so much sweeter.