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comment by Devac
Devac  ·  997 days ago  ·  link  ·    ·  parent  ·  post: Pubski: March 2, 2022  ·  x 2

After almost no driving since getting a license, I've completed five runs to the border. Full load both ways, carrying food and supplies my brother organized one way and people back. Three, aunt and her daughters, will be staying with us for the time being. Well, 'aunt'; we settled on it because even if there is a name for "great-grandfather's sister's granddaughter," nobody cares. Bro hired one of them already to accelerate what little paperwork they might need later on, but they're already on the social services. The rest I brought had other families to take them. It's our drop in the sea.

It's not well there, obviously. Already I've seen too many idiot nationalists protesting against 'immigration,' concentrating near areas for refugees. Provoking, assaulting, others exploiting. Human thrash, all of them. Because I have no idea what news comes your way, just don't let it distract you from who the real dirtbags are or what a simultaneous humanitarian catastrophe and effort are happening. Yes, I know, most of you are much savvier in politics than I am, but same most of you have repeatedly proven themselves at obsessing with whatever topic du jour mildly turned your head. And if you think this is insulting or exaggerating, hold onto your pants -- three years ago, if someone tweeted Trump wipes with his left, you could bet there'd be a thread about whether or not he pets the #whiterabbit with it. Don't lose perspective. Don't let it become some blasé gossip shit in a month.

I'll be going into other topics now. In part because of exhaustion, both physical and topical. When time is dense with events, it's gonna be either major themes only or a flood of information, and nobody's in the mood for the latter. Made me appreciate truckers even more, though.

Also, because the car is a 20-year-old piece of shit VW Golf I bought in December for $200 to learn car repairs/maintenance, it's short of a miracle it hadn't died a single time.

Also also, it's a good thing that at my current job, you can excuse any work delays with "yeah, so the maths got more complex than expected, will have to derive it algebraically instead." In my experience, it can buy up to three weeks.

I did my postdoc interview during a refueling break. It probably went poorly, though the interviewers seemed impressed when I corrected their article misquote from memory and answered both versions of the question. Them nagging me about why we didn't reschedule visibly pissed me off, and if this will cost me the job, good riddance. What the fuck do you think would be different apart from smart-casual attire?

Once driving became routine, the monotony of it settled. Played a D&D game by phone twice, which was crazy, but it was a boost of energy that couldn't have come at a better time. One of the TBA characters from the last time is a rogue, who is such an over-the-top gothy edgelord he'd make Tim Burton cream his laced-up pantaloons in a blink. The ranger player had to postpone again, but she's working for the Ministry of the Interior, and it's hard for a better excuse.

I don't know if I have it in me to do this more than once. The car isn't taking it well, and I sure as hell can't keep going like that more than a week. There's desire to help, and there's practicality. Instead, I'm seriously considering volunteering to IT security groups our gov organizes, but between dual citizenship and police record, I suspect my prospective clearance level is somewhere between LOL and "don't bother."

Now I'm going back to sleeping it off. Leaving you with this fun chess puzzle for all levels and ages.

White moves, checkmate in two.





b_b  ·  996 days ago  ·  link  ·  

I know you probably feel like you're just doing what feels right, but you're a saint. I can only feel helplessness all the way across the Atlantic. I have yet to find a charity whose express purpose is buying small arms ammunition, but I'm going to keep looking.

kleinbl00  ·  996 days ago  ·  link  ·  

You would think the NRA would jump in this but nah

b_b  ·  995 days ago  ·  link  ·  

You think Butina would tolerate an assault on her comrades?

kleinbl00  ·  995 days ago  ·  link  ·  

LOL

elizabeth  ·  996 days ago  ·  link  ·  

Rook to H7, pawn to f7?

Devac  ·  996 days ago  ·  link  ·  

No because Rh7 Qb2#, Black wins.

Edit: added words

mk  ·  996 days ago  ·  link  ·  

Pawn to f7, rook to h8.

Devac  ·  996 days ago  ·  link  ·  

f7+ Kf8. o̶u̶t̶ ̶o̶f̶ ̶c̶h̶e̶c̶k̶m̶a̶t̶e̶ ̶s̶e̶q̶u̶e̶n̶c̶e̶ ̶e̶i̶t̶h̶e̶r̶ ̶w̶a̶y̶.̶ longer checkmate sequence, miscalculated here.

OK, here's the solution:

Rh8+ forces Kxh8 (all other fields are defended by White, this is the only move King has left. the additional reason you have to put pressure on opponent is that Black has the abovementioned checkmate in one waiting.)

f6# (h7 and g8 are defended by pawns, Bishop puts the check, Black has no way to hide or capture)

What's happening here is called deflection: you sacrifice a piece but force the opponent to a disadvantageous position.

elizabeth

Kaius  ·  992 days ago  ·  link  ·  

Rh8, Kxh8, f7#

There is also f7#, Bxf7, Rh8#

Devac  ·  992 days ago  ·  link  ·  

Correct!

As to the latter, f7+ Kf8 is a better response, but only because it's a longer path to checkmate.

Kaius  ·  992 days ago  ·  link  ·  

Right, you can escape after f7+.

I love a good chess puzzle.

kleinbl00  ·  996 days ago  ·  link  ·  

    Instead, I'm seriously considering volunteering to IT security groups our gov organizes, but between dual citizenship and police record, I suspect my prospective clearance level is somewhere between LOL and "don't bother."

That doesn't rule out the NGO scene, which would probably be better for future advancement from a Machiavellian standpoint.

Devac  ·  996 days ago  ·  link  ·  

Thanks. And it won't hurt trying both anyway, I'm just aware of what can disqualify me from doing it non-solo.