Category Archives: Comic

09-Taga

ChessMap

Anatoly Karpov vs Viktor Korchnoi (1974)
Yugoslav Attack vs Sicilian Dragon Defense

Chess skills are most helpful when you are playing chess. However, when you climb & jump on rocks, your entire brain & body are put to work.

The board & pieces are all the material, but the METAGAME dynamic is certainly a factor in competition. The Royal Game by Stefan Zweig is about losing the battle to a weaker player who uses a novel psychology.

Feline Inscrutability vs Dogged Tenacity.

31-Cont.

It has always been the individual who calls the group to a larger vision, who insists on compassion and fair play. When the goal of the group ceases to be the individual, that group goes into decline.”

The Sun Magazine

Time is the essence, time is the season, time ain’t no reason, got no time to slow. Burn out the day, burn out the night, I can’t see no reason to put up a fight. I’m livin’ for givin’ the devil his due.”

Blue Öyster Cult

29-Bonk

Malignant narcissism gained public attention in recent years – the intersection of antisocial-psychopathic personality and narcissism suffused with sadistic aggression.

It is not sufficient to feel important & special; someone else must be demeaned or vanquished. @JonathanShedler

05-Lotr

Life On The Row

Heaven hovers over. It has lofty qualities, a divine atmosphere. It’s a spiritual shelter of continual security, a state above humanity’s most exalted hopes & desires. But the celestial firmament is not a place of rest. Even the angels work. They have their God given assignments.

THE WORD (1958) by Edna Sarah Beardsley (re: heaven)

03-Pill

The three pillars stood out clearly now, three pillars topped with two cross pieces in a way which looked stupefyingly familiar to Arthur’s addled brain.

“The three pillars,” thundered the man. “The Steel Pillar which represented the Strength and Power of the Galaxy!”

Searchlights seared out and danced crazy dances up and down the pillar on the left which was, clearly, made of steel or something very like it. The music thumped and bellowed.

“The Perspex Pillar,” announced the man, “representing the forces of Science and Reason in the Galaxy!”

Other searchlights played exotically up and down the righthand, transparent pillar creating dazzling patterns within it and a sudden inexplicable craving for ice-cream in the stomach of Arthur Dent.

“And,” the thunderous voice continued, “the Wooden Pillar, representing…” and here his voice became just very slightly hoarse with wonderful sentiments, “the forces of Nature and Spirituality.”

The lights picked out the central pillar. The music moved bravely up into the realms of complete unspeakability.

“Between them supporting,” the voice rolled on, approaching its climax, “the Golden Bail of Prosperity and the Silver Bail of Peace!

The whole structure was now flooded with dazzling lights, and the music had now, fortunately, gone far beyond the limits of the discernible. At the top of the three pillars the two brilliantly gleaming bails sat and dazzled. There seemed to be girls sitting on top of them, or maybe they were meant to be angels. Angels are usually represented as wearing more than that, though.

LIFE, THE UNIVERSE AND EVERYTHING, Chapter 8, by Douglas Adams

02-Nity

Setting the Session

Q: We’ve zoomed in September & October – how has that helped you?
A: Helped understand geometry.

Q: I’m glad to help. Who else have you asked for help?
A: Math teacher. Honors students.

Q: Tell me about your teacher. Is he/she good at explaining things?
A: They’re about to go on maternity leave.

Q: What does your teacher look like?
A: Pregnant.

Q: Tell me about your math class. Is it sometimes interesting, or always boring?
A: 30 people, 30 minutes, 5 days per week. Many days just study hall.

Q: How are your friends doing in math? Who is the smartest?
A: Lori

Q: When was your last test? How did you do?
A: October. Fine. 70 out of 100. C-

Q: When is your next test? How will you prepare for it?
A: Friday. Do review today.

Sophomore Sketchpad