Xtreme chess, James, Cancun

Jennifer, Daniel, and Greg's first installment of their tv pilot, Xtreme Chess Challenge, is up here:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nwxTuRHlrYM&feature=youtube_gdata_player

(sorry it's so primitive with the lack of hyperlinks-- I'm without my laptop in Cancun, writing from Jonathan's iPad, and I guess he needs to update his browser.)

I have a few things to say:

hilarious ridiculously good amateur chess.com video contest entry

good luck, guys

James Black, Jr. is looking for an Amateur Team East

He's 2275 in the January supplement (but 2297 up to date!). Let me know if you think he'd be a good fit on your team.

Gingrich proposed death penalty for marijuana possession, also smoked

full story

Also, my dad just skyped me in great excitement to say he met Garry Kasparov at some scholastic tournament. (He's the volunteer chess coach at a local elementary school.) He said Garry was incredibly charming and went over two of his kids' games with great seriousness and the kids were ecstatic.

Xtreme Chess Championships

This Friday, at 7 pm, I'll be joining Greg and Jenn Shahade and Daniel Meirom, for the premier of their project, the Xtreme Chess Challenge, a made-for-tv knockout tournament of 8 of the top American juniors, including IS 318's own NM Justus Williams.

Watch the trailer on youtube or see the show's website. Come join us Friday to see the whole show!

the Incredible Isaac Barayev + vote for Brooklyn Castle

I am so happy to report that Isaac Barayev, who has been 1900 for about a year, just started taking lessons with the amazing Alex Stripunsky, and has gained 100 points in the last week and a half! He won the Marshall Thursday night action last night with a perfect 4-0 score, beating a 2340, 2330, 2160, and a 1900.
Bravo Isaac!

Also, James Black is now 2293(!!!)

Please vote for Brooklyn Castle on this indie film poll. Thank you.

I had an idea for a new unit.

It's going to be on how to make plans and find ideas. Kids will have an assignment to put a star next to any move in their scorebooks when they are just stumped for an idea, where they don't see a plan at all. And we will find ideas as a class. In between I will teach typical plans (?!). I will show you some of the best ones.
    I got a smartboard and I love it. Now I just sit in my comfy chair all day, behind my desk in a dark room; I get to play with some lights and force children to listen to me talk. It's awesome. If I need help, Fritz is right there. I don't have to remember what the position was before I tried to answer the kid's question. I go home feeling happy and relaxed.

article in the Daily News and Google visit!

An article about IS 318's chess team in the NY Daily News.
We went to Google headquarters today! The kids played Google employees and had a tour of the offices. Everyone had a great time.

Shanniah

Maya watches Mariah

Tommy

James

Yuxin and Haby try out the nap pod.

which is which?

James and John Galvin