Russia Alien-spotting chess president re-elected An eccentric Russian who believes that chess was brought to earth by aliens was re-elected president of the World Chess Federation (FIDE) over Anatoly Karpov in a vote that split the chess world.
Posted on 11/19/2010 10:19:44 AM PST by JoeProBono
NEW YORK - Seven New York men said they were issued desk-appearance tickets for playing chess in an area of a park designated for kids.
The men said they were playing at the chess tables in a Manhattan park Oct. 20 when police officers arrived and issued them tickets for "failure to comply with signs," the New York Post reported Thursday.
The chess tables at the park are in a fenced-in area bearing a sign reading: "Adults allowed in playground areas only when accompanied by a child under the age of 12."
One of the men, Yacahuda Harrison, 49, said the group plays chess at the tables regularly and even once received the go-ahead from a park ranger.
"The day we got picked up, there were no kids" in the area, he said. "They treated us like drug dealers. All we were doing was playing chess."
Parks Department First Deputy Commissioner Liam Kavanagh said the rule is "designed to protect children using our playgrounds and to deter inappropriate adult use of space designated specifically for children."
“Never insult seven men if you’re only carrying a six shooter.”
Harry Morgan
The gubermint solution would require a bipartisan commission to study this complete with junkets to far away places with expensive hotels.
Russia Alien-spotting chess president re-elected An eccentric Russian who believes that chess was brought to earth by aliens was re-elected president of the World Chess Federation (FIDE) over Anatoly Karpov in a vote that split the chess world.
Never judge someone's chess playing abilities by their appearance.
At our chess club, one of the top player lives in a hotel on skid row. The other is a 12 year old Chinese boy from the suburbs.
I also play on the street. Mostly against guys who live off the game and learned it in prison.
Generally, they beat me but it's worth the $5 because you learn some really weird and crazy moves and strategies.
Once I played a older gentleman who was brilliant. Later he pulled out of his pocket a copy of his diploma from the Soviet Chess School.
N.J. inmates checkmate students in chess match
???? What? You can't do that. Can you?? No it would insult these chess playing geniuses and demean them.
Oy vey!
No,this guy’s from the beer’s too damn expensive party.
there you go! love that!
“Does this guy know how to play chess? I guestion this entire story.”
I see lots of similarly dressed folks playing chess downtown. You don’t have to be upper class to play chess.
Why install chess tables in the kids’ play area then? Do they expect all those little kids to sit there and play chess rather than run around and swing and so forth?
Did they ask him for proof of age? If not, they have no basis for issuing the ticket. Ticketing based on personal appearance is PROFILING!
Joanna Johnston, whose 7-year-old son learned how to play chess from the men at the playground, was moved to write a letter on the matter to the 34th Precinct, the City Council, Police Commissioner Ray Kelly and Mayor Michael Bloomberg.
I used to believe that public parks were for the public.
I do however know that the ability to understand how to play chess and the ability to function as a member of a civilized population have some relationship.
What that relationship is, I do not yet understand. I will before my death.
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