I didn't even know this match had taken place until I got home from vacation tonight and checked Susan Polgars' chess blog. Judit played stellar chess. From the official website praguechess.cz.
ČEZ CHESS TROPHY 2010 | 24.04.2010
Judit Polgar has decided the result in the 5-th game already
The best woman chess player in the world has already won over the best Czech chess player during the second day of the match. The trophy made by a sculptor Ludek Vondra will find its new home in Hungary. The only question left is the overall score.
At the 4-th game of the match Judit Polgar had the white pieces. However David Navara quickly and easily manage to equalize the position and towards the endgame he manage to win a pawn. However at the end he exceeded his time. At the 5-th game the Hungarian player played better game and she had decided the destiny of the match. At 6-th game David Navara techniques during the rook ending was excellent and he manage to change the overall results of the match to 1,5 – 4,5.
On Sunday 24 April 2010 the lecture by Lubomir Kavalek is scheduled, the topic will be 'Chess bad girls and princesses', in addition the two last remaining games will be played.
On Sunday 25 April at BW Kampa Hotel, Judit Polgar is going to play a simul against 25 competitors including well-known business personalities or politicians, among others: the minister of interior Martin Pecina, the director of Dopravni stavby Brno Vlastimil Chladek, the director of PORG gymnasium Vaclav Klaus or director of CSOB Jan Lamser. The full tournament's programme is listed here.
The chess festival ČEZ CHESS TROPHY 2010 is held by the Prague Chess Society.
Final result and game scores from Susan Polgar's blog. Congratulations to GM Judit Polgar. A PR of 2901.
Saturday, April 24, 2010
Ancient Coin Hoard Found in Egypt
Egypt finds hoard of 2,000-year-old bronze coins
Thu Apr 22, 10:41 am ET
CAIRO – Archaeologists unearthed 383 bronze coins dating back to King Ptolemy III who ruled Egypt in the 3rd century B.C. and was an ancestor of the famed Cleopatra, the Egyptian antiquities authority announced Thursday. (Image: Greek-Egyptian god Amun-Zeus. This undated photo released by the Egyptian Supreme Council of Antiquities on Thursday, April 22, 2010, shows some of 383 recently-unearthed bronze coins, said by the Supreme Council to be inscribed with the hybrid Greek-Egyptian god Amun-Zeus on one side, with an eagle and the words Ptolemy and king in Greek on the other side, dating back to King Ptolemy III who ruled Egypt in the 3rd century B.C. Descendants of one of Alexander the Great's generals, the Ptolemaic dynasty ruled Egypt for some 300 years, fusing Greek and ancient Egyptian cultures)
The statement said one side of the coins were inscribed with hybrid Greek-Egyptian god Amun-Zeus, while the other side showed an eagle and the words Ptolemy and king in Greek.
Founded by one of Alexander the Great's generals, the Ptolemaic Dynasty ruled Egypt for some 300 years, fusing Greek and ancient Egyptian cultures.
The coins were found north of Qarun lake in Fayoum Oasis 50 miles (80 kilometers) southwest of Cairo.
Other artifacts were unearthed in the area included three necklaces made of ostrich egg shell dated back to the 4th millennium B.C. and a pot of kohl eyeliner from the Ottoman Empire.
The objects will all be displayed in the new Egyptian museum under construction near the pyramids of Giza.
Breast Cancer Victims Targeted by Insurance Company
This particular insurance company runs a scam called "recission" to void valid insurance policies so they do not have to pay for the medical treatment of women who are diagnosed with breast cancer. This particular company has made an art form of the practice. Here's the best part - it's all perfectly legal. Hey, you Tea Party People who think the USA doesn't need health care reform, better start praying no women in your family get breast cancer.
Reported at Yahoo News from Reuters
Exclusive: WellPoint routinely targets breast cancer patients
By Murray Waas Murray Waas – Thu Apr 22, 6:17 pm ET
LOS ANGELES (Reuters) – Shortly after they were diagnosed with breast cancer, each of the women learned that her health insurance had been canceled. There was Yenny Hsu, who lived and worked in Los Angeles. And there was Patricia Reilling, a successful art gallery owner and interior designer from Louisville, Kentucky.
Neither of these women knew about the other. But besides their similar narratives, they had something else in common: Their health insurance carriers were subsidiaries of WellPoint, which has 33.7 million policyholders -- more than any other health insurance company in the United States.
The women paid their premiums on time. Before they fell ill, neither had any problems with their insurance. Initially, they believed their policies had been canceled by mistake.
They had no idea that WellPoint was using a computer algorithm that automatically targeted them and every other policyholder recently diagnosed with breast cancer. The software triggered an immediate fraud investigation, as the company searched for some pretext to drop their policies, according to government regulators and investigators.
Once the women were singled out, they say, the insurer then canceled their policies based on either erroneous or flimsy information. WellPoint declined to comment on the women's specific cases without a signed waiver from them, citing privacy laws.
That tens of thousands of Americans lost their health insurance shortly after being diagnosed with life-threatening, expensive medical conditions has been well documented by law enforcement agencies, state regulators and a congressional committee. Insurance companies have used the practice, known as "rescission," for years. And a congressional committee last year said WellPoint was one of the worst offenders.
But WellPoint also has specifically targeted women with breast cancer for aggressive investigation with the intent to cancel their policies, federal investigators told Reuters. The revelation is especially striking for a company whose CEO and president, Angela Braly, has earned plaudits for how her company improved the medical care and treatment of other policyholders with breast cancer.
The disclosures come to light after a recent investigation by Reuters showed that another health insurance company, Assurant Health, similarly targeted HIV-positive policyholders for rescission. That company was ordered by courts to pay millions of dollars in settlements.
In his push for the health care bill, President Barack Obama said the legislation would end such industry practices.
But many critics worry the new law will not lead to an end of these practices. Some state and federal regulators -- as well as investigators, congressional staffers and academic experts -- say the health care legislation lacks teeth, at least in terms of enforcement or regulatory powers to either stop or even substantially reduce rescission.
"People have this idea that someone is going to flip a switch and rescission and other bad insurance practices are going to end," says Peter Harbage, a former health care adviser to the Clinton administration. "Insurers will find ways to undermine the protections in the new law, just as they did with the old law. Enforcement is the key."
In a statement to Reuters, WellPoint said various specified criteria trigger rescission investigations, including certain types of medical claims. The company said it changed its rescission practices to ensure they are handled appropriately after a 2006 review of its policies prompted by public concern over rescission.
WellPoint also said it created a committee which includes a physician for making rescission decisions. The company also noted that it established a single point of contact for members undergoing an investigation and enacted an appeals process for applicants who disagree with the original determination.
During the recent legislative process for the reform law, however, lobbyists for WellPoint and other top insurance companies successfully fought proposed provisions of the legislation. In particular, they complained about rules that would have made it more difficult for the companies to fairly -- or unfairly -- cancel policyholders.
For example, an early version of the health care bill passed by the House of Representatives would have created a Federal Office of Health Insurance Oversight to monitor and regulate insurance practices like rescission. WellPoint lobbyists pressed for the proposed agency to not be included in the final bill signed into law by the president.
They also helped quash proposed provisions that would have required a third-party review of its or any other insurance company's decision to cancel a customer's policy.
A WellPoint spokeswoman on Thursday denied such lobbying took place.
The new law does leave open the possibility of reform in this area, these sources say. The reason, they say, is that much of the new legislation is essentially a roadmap, with regulations to be decided later.
"The lack of specificity doesn't mean that nothing is going to be done," said a senior congressional staffer who has played a key role in the health reform debate. "The law grants HHS (the Department of Health and Human Services) the discretion to promulgate regulations. This is very much a work in progress."
Among other things, the staffer said, the White House could revisit proposing tough new regulations requiring third-party review of policy cancellations.
Victoria Veltri, the general counsel of Connecticut's Office of Healthcare Advocate, a state agency that investigates complaints by policyholders, says she has seen the success of such a process in her home state. One company, Aetna, has voluntarily agreed to engage in the third party review, with what she described as favorable results.
"I haven't seen an Aetna case in our office since they went to the third party review process," she said. "It's a powerful tool to have a third set of eyes required before someone is rescinded."
For its part, WellPoint said it began offering third-party reviews in 2008.
A senior Obama administration official said he remained confident that mandatory third-party reviews of rescissions is not entirely out of reach.
"It might take some wrangling with the insurance industry, some strong-arming, maybe even use of the presidential bully pulpit," he said on condition of anonymity.
Reported at Yahoo News from Reuters
Exclusive: WellPoint routinely targets breast cancer patients
By Murray Waas Murray Waas – Thu Apr 22, 6:17 pm ET
LOS ANGELES (Reuters) – Shortly after they were diagnosed with breast cancer, each of the women learned that her health insurance had been canceled. There was Yenny Hsu, who lived and worked in Los Angeles. And there was Patricia Reilling, a successful art gallery owner and interior designer from Louisville, Kentucky.
Neither of these women knew about the other. But besides their similar narratives, they had something else in common: Their health insurance carriers were subsidiaries of WellPoint, which has 33.7 million policyholders -- more than any other health insurance company in the United States.
The women paid their premiums on time. Before they fell ill, neither had any problems with their insurance. Initially, they believed their policies had been canceled by mistake.
They had no idea that WellPoint was using a computer algorithm that automatically targeted them and every other policyholder recently diagnosed with breast cancer. The software triggered an immediate fraud investigation, as the company searched for some pretext to drop their policies, according to government regulators and investigators.
Once the women were singled out, they say, the insurer then canceled their policies based on either erroneous or flimsy information. WellPoint declined to comment on the women's specific cases without a signed waiver from them, citing privacy laws.
That tens of thousands of Americans lost their health insurance shortly after being diagnosed with life-threatening, expensive medical conditions has been well documented by law enforcement agencies, state regulators and a congressional committee. Insurance companies have used the practice, known as "rescission," for years. And a congressional committee last year said WellPoint was one of the worst offenders.
But WellPoint also has specifically targeted women with breast cancer for aggressive investigation with the intent to cancel their policies, federal investigators told Reuters. The revelation is especially striking for a company whose CEO and president, Angela Braly, has earned plaudits for how her company improved the medical care and treatment of other policyholders with breast cancer.
The disclosures come to light after a recent investigation by Reuters showed that another health insurance company, Assurant Health, similarly targeted HIV-positive policyholders for rescission. That company was ordered by courts to pay millions of dollars in settlements.
In his push for the health care bill, President Barack Obama said the legislation would end such industry practices.
But many critics worry the new law will not lead to an end of these practices. Some state and federal regulators -- as well as investigators, congressional staffers and academic experts -- say the health care legislation lacks teeth, at least in terms of enforcement or regulatory powers to either stop or even substantially reduce rescission.
"People have this idea that someone is going to flip a switch and rescission and other bad insurance practices are going to end," says Peter Harbage, a former health care adviser to the Clinton administration. "Insurers will find ways to undermine the protections in the new law, just as they did with the old law. Enforcement is the key."
In a statement to Reuters, WellPoint said various specified criteria trigger rescission investigations, including certain types of medical claims. The company said it changed its rescission practices to ensure they are handled appropriately after a 2006 review of its policies prompted by public concern over rescission.
WellPoint also said it created a committee which includes a physician for making rescission decisions. The company also noted that it established a single point of contact for members undergoing an investigation and enacted an appeals process for applicants who disagree with the original determination.
During the recent legislative process for the reform law, however, lobbyists for WellPoint and other top insurance companies successfully fought proposed provisions of the legislation. In particular, they complained about rules that would have made it more difficult for the companies to fairly -- or unfairly -- cancel policyholders.
For example, an early version of the health care bill passed by the House of Representatives would have created a Federal Office of Health Insurance Oversight to monitor and regulate insurance practices like rescission. WellPoint lobbyists pressed for the proposed agency to not be included in the final bill signed into law by the president.
They also helped quash proposed provisions that would have required a third-party review of its or any other insurance company's decision to cancel a customer's policy.
A WellPoint spokeswoman on Thursday denied such lobbying took place.
The new law does leave open the possibility of reform in this area, these sources say. The reason, they say, is that much of the new legislation is essentially a roadmap, with regulations to be decided later.
"The lack of specificity doesn't mean that nothing is going to be done," said a senior congressional staffer who has played a key role in the health reform debate. "The law grants HHS (the Department of Health and Human Services) the discretion to promulgate regulations. This is very much a work in progress."
Among other things, the staffer said, the White House could revisit proposing tough new regulations requiring third-party review of policy cancellations.
Victoria Veltri, the general counsel of Connecticut's Office of Healthcare Advocate, a state agency that investigates complaints by policyholders, says she has seen the success of such a process in her home state. One company, Aetna, has voluntarily agreed to engage in the third party review, with what she described as favorable results.
"I haven't seen an Aetna case in our office since they went to the third party review process," she said. "It's a powerful tool to have a third set of eyes required before someone is rescinded."
For its part, WellPoint said it began offering third-party reviews in 2008.
A senior Obama administration official said he remained confident that mandatory third-party reviews of rescissions is not entirely out of reach.
"It might take some wrangling with the insurance industry, some strong-arming, maybe even use of the presidential bully pulpit," he said on condition of anonymity.
Thursday, April 22, 2010
Indian Tribe Wins Right to Limit Use of DNA
I'm not sure how I feel about this case. I see the merits of the arguments on both sides.
From The New York Times
Indian Tribe Wins Fight to Limit Research of Its DNA
By AMY HARMON
Published: April 21, 2010
SUPAI, Ariz. — Seven years ago, the Havasupai Indians, who live amid the turquoise waterfalls and red cliffs miles deep in the Grand Canyon, issued a “banishment order” to keep Arizona State University employees from setting foot on their reservation — an ancient punishment for what they regarded as a genetic-era betrayal.
Members of the tiny, isolated tribe had given DNA samples to university researchers starting in 1990, in the hope that they might provide genetic clues to the tribe’s devastating rate of diabetes. But they learned that their blood samples had been used to study many other things, including mental illness and theories of the tribe’s geographical origins that contradict their traditional stories.
. . . .
But genetics experts and civil rights advocates say it may also fuel a growing debate over researchers’ responsibility to communicate the range of personal information that can be gleaned from DNA at a time when it is being collected on an ever-greater scale for research and routine medical care.
. . . .
Researchers and institutions that receive federal funds are required to receive “informed consent” from subjects, ensuring that they understand the risks and benefits before they participate. But such protections were designed primarily for research that carried physical risks, like experimental drug trials or surgery. When it comes to mining DNA, the rules — and the risks — are murkier.
Is it necessary, for instance, to ask someone who has donated DNA for research on heart disease if that DNA can be used for Alzheimer’s or addiction research?
Many scientists say no, arguing that the potential benefit from unencumbered biomedical research trumps the value of individual control.
“Everyone wants to be open and transparent,” said Dr. David Karp, an associate professor of internal medicine at the University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center in Dallas, who has studied informed consent for DNA research. “The question is, how far do you have to go? Do you have to create some massive database of people’s wishes for their DNA specimens?”
. . . .
From The New York Times
Indian Tribe Wins Fight to Limit Research of Its DNA
By AMY HARMON
Published: April 21, 2010
SUPAI, Ariz. — Seven years ago, the Havasupai Indians, who live amid the turquoise waterfalls and red cliffs miles deep in the Grand Canyon, issued a “banishment order” to keep Arizona State University employees from setting foot on their reservation — an ancient punishment for what they regarded as a genetic-era betrayal.
Members of the tiny, isolated tribe had given DNA samples to university researchers starting in 1990, in the hope that they might provide genetic clues to the tribe’s devastating rate of diabetes. But they learned that their blood samples had been used to study many other things, including mental illness and theories of the tribe’s geographical origins that contradict their traditional stories.
. . . .
But genetics experts and civil rights advocates say it may also fuel a growing debate over researchers’ responsibility to communicate the range of personal information that can be gleaned from DNA at a time when it is being collected on an ever-greater scale for research and routine medical care.
. . . .
Researchers and institutions that receive federal funds are required to receive “informed consent” from subjects, ensuring that they understand the risks and benefits before they participate. But such protections were designed primarily for research that carried physical risks, like experimental drug trials or surgery. When it comes to mining DNA, the rules — and the risks — are murkier.
Is it necessary, for instance, to ask someone who has donated DNA for research on heart disease if that DNA can be used for Alzheimer’s or addiction research?
Many scientists say no, arguing that the potential benefit from unencumbered biomedical research trumps the value of individual control.
“Everyone wants to be open and transparent,” said Dr. David Karp, an associate professor of internal medicine at the University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center in Dallas, who has studied informed consent for DNA research. “The question is, how far do you have to go? Do you have to create some massive database of people’s wishes for their DNA specimens?”
. . . .
Wednesday, April 21, 2010
Scientific Islam: Iran Fundies Say Promiscuous Women Cause Earthquakes...
Darlings! Writing this evening from Sin City USA - fabulous Las Vegas! I'm wiling away some time before my dinner plans later this evening. The weather is like Milwaukee's, LOL! Honestly, Isis swears, it was in the 80s yesterday, and so I heard the weather people on local television lamenting earlier today :)
Now tell me - how can a woman be promiscuous unless a man is there to take advantage? Evidently, under the fundamentalist view of Islam, men of faith are soooooo weak they just cannot help themselves when it comes to an alluring woman whispering sweet nothings in their ear. Poor dudes. So easily led by their - er, nether parts. It's amazing any men have survived at all - except they seem to be exempt from the punishment for performing the sin of fornication. It's the women who bear the brunt - they are stoned to death.
I'll bet a lot of those Islamic fundy dudes are haunted, too, by the spirits of the innocent women they have caused to be put to death.... No wonder Islamic fundies are scared to death of women. So scared, in fact, they cover them from head to foot in burkas and chadras and etc. and those wicked floosies STILL manage to seduce unsuspecting Muslim dudes and be promiscuous. It's a miracle, I tell ya. Maybe the Pope should investigate.
Oh - this is a real hoot - the article is from The Salt Lake City Tribune. Mormon jokes, anyone? LOL!
Iranian cleric says promiscuous women cause earthquakes
The Associated Press
Updated: 04/21/2010 01:47:17 PM MDT
Beirut » A senior Iranian cleric says women who wear revealing clothing and behave promiscuously are to blame for earthquakes.
Iran is one of the world's most earthquake-prone countries, and the cleric's unusual explanation for why the earth shakes follows a prediction by President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad that a quake is certain to hit Tehran and that many of its 12 million inhabitants should relocate.
"Many women who do not dress modestly ... lead young men astray, corrupt their chastity and spread adultery in society, which [consequently] increases earthquakes," Hojatoleslam Kazem Sedighi was quoted as saying by Iranian media.
Women in the Islamic Republic are required by law to cover from head to toe, but many, especially the young, ignore some of the more strict codes and wear tight coats and scarves pulled back that show much of the hair.
"What can we do to avoid being buried under the rubble?" Sedighi asked during a prayer sermon Friday. "There is no other solution but to take refuge in religion and to adapt our lives to Islam's moral codes." [Dude, how about getting rid of unsafe buildings and rebuilding them with all those billions of oil revenue the Islamic Republic is supposedly earning - oh, sorry, forgot - that is being funneled into Swiss accounts of the top 200,000 or so in the Republican Guard...]
Seismologists have warned for at least two decades that it is likely the sprawling capital will be struck by a catastrophic quake in the near future.
Some experts have even suggested Iran should move its capital to a less seismically active location. Tehran straddles scores of fault lines, including one more than 50 miles (80 kilometers) long, though it has not suffered a major quake since 1830.
In 2003, a powerful earthquake hit the southern city of Bam, killing 31,000 people -- about a quarter of that city's population -- and destroying its ancient mud-built citadel.
"A divine authority told me to tell the people to make a general repentance. Why? Because calamities threaten us," said Sedighi, Tehran's acting Friday prayer leader.
Referring to the violence that followed last June's disputed presidential election, he said, "The political earthquake that occurred was a reaction to some of the actions (that took place). And now, if a natural earthquake hits Tehran, no one will be able to confront such a calamity but God's power, only God's power. ... So let's not disappoint God."
The Iranian government and its security forces have been locked in a bloody battle with a large opposition movement that accuses Ahmadinejad of winning last year's vote by fraud.
Ahmadinejad made his quake prediction two weeks ago but said he could not give an exact date. He acknowledged that he could not order all of Tehran's 12 million people to evacuate. "But provisions have to be made. ... At least 5 million should leave Tehran so it is less crowded," the president said.
Minister of Welfare and Social Security Sadeq Mahsooli said prayers and pleas for forgiveness were the best "formulas to repel earthquakes."
"We cannot invent a system that prevents earthquakes, but God has created this system and that is to avoid sins, to pray, to seek forgiveness, pay alms and self-sacrifice," Mahsooli said.
Now tell me - how can a woman be promiscuous unless a man is there to take advantage? Evidently, under the fundamentalist view of Islam, men of faith are soooooo weak they just cannot help themselves when it comes to an alluring woman whispering sweet nothings in their ear. Poor dudes. So easily led by their - er, nether parts. It's amazing any men have survived at all - except they seem to be exempt from the punishment for performing the sin of fornication. It's the women who bear the brunt - they are stoned to death.
I'll bet a lot of those Islamic fundy dudes are haunted, too, by the spirits of the innocent women they have caused to be put to death.... No wonder Islamic fundies are scared to death of women. So scared, in fact, they cover them from head to foot in burkas and chadras and etc. and those wicked floosies STILL manage to seduce unsuspecting Muslim dudes and be promiscuous. It's a miracle, I tell ya. Maybe the Pope should investigate.
Oh - this is a real hoot - the article is from The Salt Lake City Tribune. Mormon jokes, anyone? LOL!
Iranian cleric says promiscuous women cause earthquakes
The Associated Press
Updated: 04/21/2010 01:47:17 PM MDT
Beirut » A senior Iranian cleric says women who wear revealing clothing and behave promiscuously are to blame for earthquakes.
Iran is one of the world's most earthquake-prone countries, and the cleric's unusual explanation for why the earth shakes follows a prediction by President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad that a quake is certain to hit Tehran and that many of its 12 million inhabitants should relocate.
"Many women who do not dress modestly ... lead young men astray, corrupt their chastity and spread adultery in society, which [consequently] increases earthquakes," Hojatoleslam Kazem Sedighi was quoted as saying by Iranian media.
Women in the Islamic Republic are required by law to cover from head to toe, but many, especially the young, ignore some of the more strict codes and wear tight coats and scarves pulled back that show much of the hair.
"What can we do to avoid being buried under the rubble?" Sedighi asked during a prayer sermon Friday. "There is no other solution but to take refuge in religion and to adapt our lives to Islam's moral codes." [Dude, how about getting rid of unsafe buildings and rebuilding them with all those billions of oil revenue the Islamic Republic is supposedly earning - oh, sorry, forgot - that is being funneled into Swiss accounts of the top 200,000 or so in the Republican Guard...]
Seismologists have warned for at least two decades that it is likely the sprawling capital will be struck by a catastrophic quake in the near future.
Some experts have even suggested Iran should move its capital to a less seismically active location. Tehran straddles scores of fault lines, including one more than 50 miles (80 kilometers) long, though it has not suffered a major quake since 1830.
In 2003, a powerful earthquake hit the southern city of Bam, killing 31,000 people -- about a quarter of that city's population -- and destroying its ancient mud-built citadel.
"A divine authority told me to tell the people to make a general repentance. Why? Because calamities threaten us," said Sedighi, Tehran's acting Friday prayer leader.
Referring to the violence that followed last June's disputed presidential election, he said, "The political earthquake that occurred was a reaction to some of the actions (that took place). And now, if a natural earthquake hits Tehran, no one will be able to confront such a calamity but God's power, only God's power. ... So let's not disappoint God."
The Iranian government and its security forces have been locked in a bloody battle with a large opposition movement that accuses Ahmadinejad of winning last year's vote by fraud.
Ahmadinejad made his quake prediction two weeks ago but said he could not give an exact date. He acknowledged that he could not order all of Tehran's 12 million people to evacuate. "But provisions have to be made. ... At least 5 million should leave Tehran so it is less crowded," the president said.
Minister of Welfare and Social Security Sadeq Mahsooli said prayers and pleas for forgiveness were the best "formulas to repel earthquakes."
"We cannot invent a system that prevents earthquakes, but God has created this system and that is to avoid sins, to pray, to seek forgiveness, pay alms and self-sacrifice," Mahsooli said.
Hales Corners Chess Challenge XI
Photo 1: The Huang sisters (Alena and Joanna) on adjoining boards
Chess Life Online did a nice cover on the HCCC XI and Goddesschess' sponsorship was prominently mentioned - along with new sponsorship by the North American Chess Association! Congratulations once again to all of the players. Some of us Goddesschess folk will be putting out heads together tomorrow evening over dinner in Las Vegas to discuss what we can to to encourage more chess femmes to play in the HCCC XII, which will be held this fall. Stay tuned!
Tuesday, April 20, 2010
On a Bit of a Break
That handsome young man at the right is my father, Francis John Newton, during WWII, the grandson of David Villeneuve who took the name of Newton (the English translation of Villeneuve) upon settling in Marinette, Wisconsin in about 1879 or 1880, the great-great-grandson of Antoine and Adele. He is my touchstone to those relatives in Ontario and Quebec who originated in France. He had beautiful light blue eyes, and blond curly hair until it turned darker in his later years. Later still, he started resembling photographs of David and Adele's son, my grandfather Frank Newton, who broke my heart when he died in 1964. We were very close. I wonder about those relatives I never knew. Did my dad look like them? Do I look like any of them with my hazel eyes and olive-toned skin and auburn hair?
This is a lot of fun, but it's a lot of work and takes tons of time. I can see where this kind of "hobby" is not for everyone. You have to be determined, stubborn, dogged and never give up. That sort of sounds like me, LOL! You have to go over and over those baptism, death, birth and census records, other people's family trees that they have made available to members, and your notes, because you may have missed something - something important. In my case, if I had just paid a bit more attention and really looked at that 1881 Canadian census listing "Antime Villeneuve" - argggh. Well, I finally did - just last night while I was writing another email to Rose "blah blah I can't believe I can't find their marriage entry, we can't trace back without the names of their parents [which are included in the old church records I was combing through] blah blah -- and right in the middle of my email rant I happen to glance down at that 1881 Canadian census and a light bulb goes off in my head. After weeks. Duh! And I discovered what I needed to know to confirm the identities of "my" Antoine Villeneuve and Marie Louise Adele Seguin [Laderoute].
I started with two names on my great-grandfather's death certificate that I found out thanks to Rose: Anton Newton and Adele Latterault - and I ended up in Ontario and Quebec and French Canadian and Acadian families who are so inter-related it makes the ancient Egyptians' royal relationshps look easy! I am confident at this point that I will be able to trace back the Newton/Villeneuve line at least another two generations...
The records I am working in right now are written in French, with fountain pens. The writing is blurred, cramped, smudged. There are no standardized spellings of names. Some records are so faded they are impossible to read from a microfiche image. My French is NOT up to par but over the past few weeks I have gotten better at puzzling out dates. What dates there are cannot necessarily be trusted; birthdays had a way of moving around in those old records. I won't kid you, it's a long, slow slog.
Tonight I am getting some further work in. Now that I know I have the correct Antoine and Marie Louise Adele, I can start work on confirming the names of their parents and birth dates.
In the meantime, while digging around those old records, I discovered another mystery. I came across the 1901 Canadian census record for my great-grand father David's brother, Joseph Villeneuve. They had a fine family of children listed in 1901, when Joseph was 46 and his wife, Olala, was 37: Joseph (12), Maryann (or Miryam) (10), Fred (8) born August 6, 1892, George (7), Dane (14), Aurine (8).
In typical census fashion, the head of the household is listed first, followed by his wife, and then their children, from oldest to youngest; after that, other members of the household are listed. So Dane at age 14 and Aurine at age 8 - the same age as Fred but not born on the same day, and so not his twin - who were they? They evidently were not the natural children of Joseph and Olala. But - they were not listed with different last names than Villeneuve. Were they children of other Villeneuve relatives?
I did a search for Aurine Villeneuve and up pops a marriage record from 1915:
Irene Monfils (Villeneuve) age 22, Widow
(the Affidavit went to pains to point out that Irene Monfils was the widow of the late George Ross of Hull in the Province of Quebec)
Father: Adam Monfils
Mother: Stella Beaulieu
Residence: Vankleek Hill, Prescott, Ontario
Date of Affidavit under Marriage Act: July 7, 1915
Date of Marriage: June 23, 1915
Spouse: Amidee Clairmont
Parents: Pierre Clermont, Melina Dupruis (or Dupris)
Wow! Irene was 22 and a widow?!? What was the connection between her parents and Joseph and Olala Villeneuve?
I dug further. I fould a 1910 record of a marriage - when Irene was only 16. Sixteen? Here was the marriage to the deceased George Ross!
1910 Marriages, Town of Vankleek Hill, County of Prescott
Groom: Ross, George
Age: 24 (or 27 - the writing was smudged)
Religion: Roman Catholic
Residence: Ottawa
Father: Alexander Ross
Mother: Annie Cooper
Bride: Monfils, Irene
Age: 16
Residence: Vankleek Hill
Father: Adam Monfils
Mother: Arabella Beaulieu [note difference in mother's first name from the 1915 Marriage Affidavit. This kind of thing is very typical when reading through these records, and very frustrating.]
Date of Marriage: September 14, 1910
Witnesses: Joseph Villeneuve, Delima Richard
Today George might very well be charged with the crime of statutory rape. Geez!
I wasn't able to continue the search last night; perhaps I will take it up for a bit in Las Vegas. I don't know who Dane is - is he actually a son but just listed out of the usual order?
I will be packing later for my quick get-away to Las Vegas.
Sunday, April 18, 2010
"Tower" Tombs Unearthed in Palmyra
From the Global Arab Network: Syrian Archaeologists: Tower Tombs Unearthed in Palmyra
By R.Milhem/ R.Jazaeri
Sunday, 18 April 2010 01:10
The Syrian Archaeological Expedition working at the site of Palmyra's northern defensive wall (Central Syria) has unearthed tower tombs close to the wall.
Head of Palmyra Antiquities Department Walid Asa'ad said Wednesday the square-shaped burial has a two-slab decorated stone gate. The doorway leads to the roof of the burial place through stairs.
The burial site includes a yard with several chambers; each contains six multi-storey tower tombs, he added. Asa'ad indicated that the site was a typical Palmyra ancient burial place, adding that the tower tomb was re-used as a defensive tower in the 6th century.
Fragments of sculptures were unearthed at the site in addition to other archaeological monuments such as shelves, arches and pillars.
Palmyra's burials are unique. Situated outside the city walls, they show the changes in burial practice over the city's history and reflect Palmyran beliefs in the afterlife. The vast necropolises of Palmyra contain three kinds of tombs: high towers used for multiple burials, underground burial complexes (hypogea), and temple tombs.
The tombs usually contain large burial chambers with long grave recesses in their walls to accommodate the bodies. These shafts were usually closed with decorated stone slabs. Sarcophagi were rare in Palmyra.
Archaeologists have found cooking equipment and food containers, which indicate that feasting, took place in the tombs. The presence of altars and incense burners also suggest that offerings were made
Palmyra, situated in central Syria, was one of the largest centres during the Roman Empire and an important stop on the caravan route to Persia. The ancient Palmyrian sculpture style is famous, and includes elaborately-executed funerary relieves.
By R.Milhem/ R.Jazaeri
Sunday, 18 April 2010 01:10
The Syrian Archaeological Expedition working at the site of Palmyra's northern defensive wall (Central Syria) has unearthed tower tombs close to the wall.
Head of Palmyra Antiquities Department Walid Asa'ad said Wednesday the square-shaped burial has a two-slab decorated stone gate. The doorway leads to the roof of the burial place through stairs.
The burial site includes a yard with several chambers; each contains six multi-storey tower tombs, he added. Asa'ad indicated that the site was a typical Palmyra ancient burial place, adding that the tower tomb was re-used as a defensive tower in the 6th century.
Fragments of sculptures were unearthed at the site in addition to other archaeological monuments such as shelves, arches and pillars.
Palmyra's burials are unique. Situated outside the city walls, they show the changes in burial practice over the city's history and reflect Palmyran beliefs in the afterlife. The vast necropolises of Palmyra contain three kinds of tombs: high towers used for multiple burials, underground burial complexes (hypogea), and temple tombs.
The tombs usually contain large burial chambers with long grave recesses in their walls to accommodate the bodies. These shafts were usually closed with decorated stone slabs. Sarcophagi were rare in Palmyra.
Archaeologists have found cooking equipment and food containers, which indicate that feasting, took place in the tombs. The presence of altars and incense burners also suggest that offerings were made
Palmyra, situated in central Syria, was one of the largest centres during the Roman Empire and an important stop on the caravan route to Persia. The ancient Palmyrian sculpture style is famous, and includes elaborately-executed funerary relieves.
**************************************************
Can't help it! When I read this article, the first thing that popped into my head was the Italian chess piece called "the tower" it is something like 'la rocca' - which is the modern-day Rook in western chess.
Isis Interregnum
Hola! She's baaacccckkkkk!
Civet "Cat" Poop is a Gourmet Coffee - Euuuuuuuwwwwww!
From The Atlantic.com
Costing hundreds of dollars a pound, these beans are found in the droppings of the civet, a nocturnal, furry, long-tailed catlike animal that prowls Southeast Asia's coffee-growing lands for the tastiest, ripest coffee cherries. The civet eventually excretes the hard, indigestible innards of the fruit -- essentially, incipient coffee beans -- though only after they have been fermented in the animal's stomach acids and enzymes to produce a brew described as smooth, chocolaty and devoid of any bitter aftertaste.
2010-04-17
Thoughts on the etymology of Greek ἀκακαλίς
Would a Daffodil By Any Other Name Smell As Sweet?
According to Perseus Online, ἀκακαλίς is equivalent to νάρκισσος 'narcissus, daffodil'. Some like Jennifer Larson in Greek nymphs: Myth, cult, lore[1] suspect that it could be Pre-Greek but, as always with these sorts of ideas, people are vague about the five Ws. Beekes too proclaims the word Pre-Greek[2] but is vague about what this elusive original word looked like, what it ultimately signified and what precise "Pre-Greek" language we're dealing with. I'm here to suggest something bold and off-the-wall: The word is just plain ol' Greek.
Oh Yummmm!
Chocolate may be good medicine for liver patients
Thu Apr 15, 12:57 pm ET
LONDON (Reuters) – Cocoa-rich dark chocolate could be prescribed for people with liver cirrhosis in future, following the latest research to show potential health benefits of chocolate.
Civet "Cat" Poop is a Gourmet Coffee - Euuuuuuuwwwwww!
From The Atlantic.com
Costing hundreds of dollars a pound, these beans are found in the droppings of the civet, a nocturnal, furry, long-tailed catlike animal that prowls Southeast Asia's coffee-growing lands for the tastiest, ripest coffee cherries. The civet eventually excretes the hard, indigestible innards of the fruit -- essentially, incipient coffee beans -- though only after they have been fermented in the animal's stomach acids and enzymes to produce a brew described as smooth, chocolaty and devoid of any bitter aftertaste.
2010-04-17
Thoughts on the etymology of Greek ἀκακαλίς
Would a Daffodil By Any Other Name Smell As Sweet?
According to Perseus Online, ἀκακαλίς is equivalent to νάρκισσος 'narcissus, daffodil'. Some like Jennifer Larson in Greek nymphs: Myth, cult, lore[1] suspect that it could be Pre-Greek but, as always with these sorts of ideas, people are vague about the five Ws. Beekes too proclaims the word Pre-Greek[2] but is vague about what this elusive original word looked like, what it ultimately signified and what precise "Pre-Greek" language we're dealing with. I'm here to suggest something bold and off-the-wall: The word is just plain ol' Greek.
Oh Yummmm!
Chocolate may be good medicine for liver patients
Thu Apr 15, 12:57 pm ET
LONDON (Reuters) – Cocoa-rich dark chocolate could be prescribed for people with liver cirrhosis in future, following the latest research to show potential health benefits of chocolate.
Wisconsin All Girls Championships
The 5th Annual Wisconsin All Girls Championships was held April 10, 2010 at the offices of sponsor Acuity Insurance Corporate Offices in Sheboygan, Wisconsin. This event is organized by the Wisconsin Scholastic Chess Federation.
Here are the top finishers - 111 players participated in this year's event:
Name Pts Rating Team Gr TBrk1 TBrk2 TBrk3 TBrk4 Rnd1 Rnd2 Rnd3 Rnd4 Rnd5
1 HUANG, SABRINA* 5 819 GLPK 3 13.5 15.5 15 50 W21 W9 W7 W2 W5
2 HILDEBRAND, GABRIELLE 4 497 MEDS 3 14 15 13 48.5 W31 W13 W8 L1 W7
3 BRINK, ANNA 4 748 StJONB 2 13.5 16 13 50 W17 W11 W4 L5 W9
4 MEKHTIEVA, KAMILLA 4 572 USM 3 12.5 14.5 12 48 W20 W15 L3 W10 W8
5 JOHNSON, GRACE 3.5 525 SHCS 3 15 17.5 12 54 W18 D10 W12 W3 L1
6 HUANG, ANNA 3.5 489 GLPK K 11.5 13 9.5 41.5 W26 L12 D10 W16 W11
7 DOUANGVILAY, INPATIDA 3 551 GREL 3 14 16 11 52 W22 W19 L1 W12 L2
8 PARTHASARATHY, SHRUTI 3 581 SREL 2 13.5 16 11 49 W14 W16 L2 W15 L4
9 GOINS, OLIVIA 3 496 JACK 3 13.5 14.5 10 43.5 W30 L1 W17 W19 L3
10 ALEXANDER, DELIA 3 281 GREL K 13 14 9.5 41.5 W32 D5 D6 L4 W22
11 SANKOVITZ, NORA 3 305 GMEL 3 12.5 13.5 10 41 W29 L3 W20 W13 L6
12 HOEY, BRIANNA 3 279 MGIS 3 12 13.5 10 43 W25 W6 L5 L7 W20
13 RUCKSTADER, EMMA 3 248 MPSC 3 11 12.5 9 40 W28 L2 W23 L11 W19
14 PETER, KATE 3 261 StJONB 3 10 11.5 8 33.5 L8 W27 D16 W21 D15
Full final cross-table and information on scholarships awarded. Congratulations to all of the young ladies who participated in this great event.
Here are the top finishers - 111 players participated in this year's event:
Name Pts Rating Team Gr TBrk1 TBrk2 TBrk3 TBrk4 Rnd1 Rnd2 Rnd3 Rnd4 Rnd5
1 HUANG, SABRINA* 5 819 GLPK 3 13.5 15.5 15 50 W21 W9 W7 W2 W5
2 HILDEBRAND, GABRIELLE 4 497 MEDS 3 14 15 13 48.5 W31 W13 W8 L1 W7
3 BRINK, ANNA 4 748 StJONB 2 13.5 16 13 50 W17 W11 W4 L5 W9
4 MEKHTIEVA, KAMILLA 4 572 USM 3 12.5 14.5 12 48 W20 W15 L3 W10 W8
5 JOHNSON, GRACE 3.5 525 SHCS 3 15 17.5 12 54 W18 D10 W12 W3 L1
6 HUANG, ANNA 3.5 489 GLPK K 11.5 13 9.5 41.5 W26 L12 D10 W16 W11
7 DOUANGVILAY, INPATIDA 3 551 GREL 3 14 16 11 52 W22 W19 L1 W12 L2
8 PARTHASARATHY, SHRUTI 3 581 SREL 2 13.5 16 11 49 W14 W16 L2 W15 L4
9 GOINS, OLIVIA 3 496 JACK 3 13.5 14.5 10 43.5 W30 L1 W17 W19 L3
10 ALEXANDER, DELIA 3 281 GREL K 13 14 9.5 41.5 W32 D5 D6 L4 W22
11 SANKOVITZ, NORA 3 305 GMEL 3 12.5 13.5 10 41 W29 L3 W20 W13 L6
12 HOEY, BRIANNA 3 279 MGIS 3 12 13.5 10 43 W25 W6 L5 L7 W20
13 RUCKSTADER, EMMA 3 248 MPSC 3 11 12.5 9 40 W28 L2 W23 L11 W19
14 PETER, KATE 3 261 StJONB 3 10 11.5 8 33.5 L8 W27 D16 W21 D15
Full final cross-table and information on scholarships awarded. Congratulations to all of the young ladies who participated in this great event.
Hales Corners Chess Challenge XI! Final Standings
Another successful Hales Corners Chess Challenge is in the books.Final standings/results are available at the USCF website.
Top finishers in the Open:
1 ERIK SANTARIUS 3.5 W 7 W 12 D 2 W 10 WI 12841108 / R: 2326
2 ALEX BETANELI 3.0 W 17 W 6 D 1 D 4 WI 12560488 / R: 22873
3 WILLIAM P WILLIAMS 3.0 W 19 W 30 L 10 W 14 WI 10310547 / R: 2200
4 ANTHONY LEE PARKER 3.0 W 18 D 16 W 29 D 2 WI 12780815 / R: 2146 5
5 MATTHEW WALLER 3.0 L 30 W 21 W 24 W 19 WI 12876397 / R: 2091
6 BENEDICT A SMAIL 3.0 W 24 L 2 W 31 W 20 MA 12677440 / R: 2031
7 RICHARD R MARTIN III 3.0 L 1 W 9 W 32 W 23 WI 12693222 / R: 2003
8 MARTIN JOHN FRANEK 3.0 D 35 W 38 D 23 W 17 IL 10343232 / R: 1700
9 ABE SUN 3.0 W 40 L 7 W 30 W 16 IL 14089741 / R: 1598
The Reserve section was won by Justin Rajsky (IL 1446), with a perfect score of 4.0/4.
Rachel Ulrich, who was perfect through Round 3 with 3.0/3, lost her R4 game (not without a fight) and had a great tournament! Ms. Ulrich won a Goddesschess prize of $30; in addition, her entry fee to HCCC XII will be paid by Goddesschess should she choose to enter that event later this year. Goddesschess prizes are awarded in addition to whatever prizes a player may otherwise qualify for. Congratulations to Rachel Ulrich, well done! She finished in 3rd place overall in the Reserve section, an excellent result.
Top finishers in the Reserve:
1 | JUSTIN RAJSKY |4.0 |W 8|W 4|W 12|W 3|
IL | 13714997 / R: 1446 ->1574 | | | | | |
| Q: 1402 ->1540 | | | | | |
----------------------------------------------------------------------
2 | JOEL NICHOLAS POLLEN |3.5 |W 21|D 7|W 24|W 6|
WI | 14413813 / R: Unrated->1757P4 | | | | | |
| Q: Unrated->1655P4 | | | | | |
----------------------------------------------------------------------
3 | RACHEL J ULRICH |3.0 |W 23|W 18|W 5|L 1|
IL | 13384485 / R: 1539 ->1563 | | | | | |
| Q: 1447 ->1492 | | | | | |
----------------------------------------------------------------------
4 | JOHN A HEGELMEYER |3.0 |W 17|L 1|W 29|W 11|
WI | 12787626 / R: 1503 ->1515 | | | | | |
| Q: 1425 ->1431 | | | | | |
----------------------------------------------------------------------
5 | GARY M WRIGHT |3.0 |W 9|W 10|L 3|W 20|
WI | 12597152 / R: 1282 ->1383 | | | | | |
| Q: 1374 ->1402 | | | | | |
8 | SANDRA R PAHL |2.5 |L 1|W 31|D 26|W 25|
WI | 10318033 / R: 1451 ->1443 |
10 | JOANNA HUANG |2.5 |W 28|L 5|W 30|D 14|
WI | 13713444 / R: 1394 ->1383 |
16 | ALENA HUANG |2.0 |L 12|L 24|W 36|W 29|
WI | 13713450 / R: 1477 ->1439
31 | SUSIE ULRICH |1.0 |W 15|L 8|L 20|L 19|
IL | 13498414 / R: 856 -> 898
32 | ISABELLA ILCHENKO |1.0 |L 14|L 30|W 34|L 21|
WI | 13956232 / R: 917 -> 880
I hope I did not miss any of the chess femmes who played.
Sandra Pahl and Joanna Huang split the second Goddesschess prize of $25 for their performance in the Reserve section.
Altogether, 6 ladies out of 78 registered players, for a percentage of about 7.7%. We were hoping for more. What can we do to encourage more female players to participate?
Now we're looking forward to Challenge XII!
Hmmmm, what is this?
This was posted as a message yesterday under the update to the Hales Corners Challenge XI. I've no idea what it says or even what language it is. I was going to delete it in case it's something pornographic or sinister (like Jan Newton is going to assasinate Vladimir Putin at the earliest opportunity ... or, even worse, Jan Newton is a founding member of the Tea Party, watch out for her she is not as she seems! Ach!)
But then I thought - since I cannot read it, it might be a legitimate message - don't know. Can anyone out there help me out and give me an idea of what this is about? The series of numbers at the end of the message is intriguing - what are they?
念阿彌陀佛往生西方極樂世界 said...
阿彌陀佛 無相佈施
不要吃五辛(葷菜，在古代宗教指的是一些食用後會影響性情、慾望的植
物，主要有五種葷菜，合稱五葷，佛家與道家所指有異。
近代則訛稱含有動物性成分的餐飲食物為「葷菜」，事實上這在古代是稱
之為腥。所謂「葷腥」即這兩類的合稱。 葷菜
維基百科，自由的百科全書
（重定向自五辛） 佛家五葷
在佛家另稱為五辛，五種辛味之菜。根據《楞嚴經》記載，佛家五葷為大
蒜、小蒜、興渠、慈蔥、茖蔥；五葷生啖增恚，使人易怒；熟食發淫，令
人多慾。[1]
《本草備要》註解云：「慈蔥，冬蔥也；茖蔥，山蔥也；興渠，西域菜，云
即中國之荽。」
興渠另說為洋蔥。) 肉 蛋 奶?!
念楞嚴經 *∞窮盡相關 消去無關 證據 時效 念阿彌陀佛往生西方極樂世界
我想製造自己的行為反作用力
不婚 不生子女 生生世世不當老師
log 二0.3010 三0.47710.48 五0.6990 七0.8451 .85
root 二1.414 1.41 三1.732 1.73五 2.236 2.24七 2.646
=>十3.16 π∈Q' 一點八1.34
April 17, 2010 11:43 PM
But then I thought - since I cannot read it, it might be a legitimate message - don't know. Can anyone out there help me out and give me an idea of what this is about? The series of numbers at the end of the message is intriguing - what are they?
念阿彌陀佛往生西方極樂世界 said...
阿彌陀佛 無相佈施
不要吃五辛(葷菜，在古代宗教指的是一些食用後會影響性情、慾望的植
物，主要有五種葷菜，合稱五葷，佛家與道家所指有異。
近代則訛稱含有動物性成分的餐飲食物為「葷菜」，事實上這在古代是稱
之為腥。所謂「葷腥」即這兩類的合稱。 葷菜
維基百科，自由的百科全書
（重定向自五辛） 佛家五葷
在佛家另稱為五辛，五種辛味之菜。根據《楞嚴經》記載，佛家五葷為大
蒜、小蒜、興渠、慈蔥、茖蔥；五葷生啖增恚，使人易怒；熟食發淫，令
人多慾。[1]
《本草備要》註解云：「慈蔥，冬蔥也；茖蔥，山蔥也；興渠，西域菜，云
即中國之荽。」
興渠另說為洋蔥。) 肉 蛋 奶?!
念楞嚴經 *∞窮盡相關 消去無關 證據 時效 念阿彌陀佛往生西方極樂世界
我想製造自己的行為反作用力
不婚 不生子女 生生世世不當老師
log 二0.3010 三0.47710.48 五0.6990 七0.8451 .85
root 二1.414 1.41 三1.732 1.73五 2.236 2.24七 2.646
=>十3.16 π∈Q' 一點八1.34
April 17, 2010 11:43 PM