LINK

The link above is to yet one more of those  ‘iffy’ studies that tries to find correlations where meaningful correlations don’t  exist.   I have two questions:  (1)Who funds this kind of stuff?  and (2)Don’t people have anything better to do with their life?    Last week I wrote about a Harvard study that linked significantly lower suicide rates with those who drink 4 or more cups of coffee a day (200,000 people participated). 

This other study involved 44,000 participants over a 17 year period.  Its conclusion is that  ‘People under 55 who drank more than 28 cups per week were more likely to die of almost any cause than people who drank less.’  Are we supposed to put 2 and 2 together and come to the logical conclusion that the reason there are fewer suicides amongst those who drink 4 or more cups of coffee a day is because they die (of almost any cause) before they can reach for the sleeping pills?

Forbes’ article on this study queries the sense (or senselessness) of such often-contradictory studies and what it all means to us as consumers.  Worth taking a look at.  Personally, I do not intend to change any of my coffee habits…

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New Turkish chess BLOG!

Chess master  Nazmi Can Dogan and I have exchanged a number of emails in recent times and yesterday he informed me that he has started a chess blog (on WordPress) and it is in the Turkish language.  I took a quick look at the chess content and I am pleased with it!  I am certain that chess amateurs in Turkey will also  be very pleased.  Good luck, Nazmi!

LINK

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PAULSON ELECTED ECF PRESIDENT!

American-born Andrew Paulson, president of AGON–ofcourse, my readers know only too well–has been a resident of England for some time now and in mid-September let it be known to all that he intended to run for the presidency of the English Chess Federation (ECF).  That election took place on Saturday October 12.  Paulson edged out Roger Edwards by a count of 169–106.  All the results are HERE.

I was not familiar with English chess’ election rules and voting procedures (and I still am not!) ,but I learned a lot when  Paulson posted/campaigned regulary on the English Chess Forum.  He did not disappoint any one in living up to his reputation as being  perceptive, an independent thinker, tough-minded and  exceptionally well-informed.

”I think that to reduce the FIDE issue to pro-Kirsan or anti-Kirsan is simplistic…”  LINK

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Two  thorns  in Paulson’s  campaign had to do with his being  an American in England (as opposed to being  English-born)  and for being perceived as pro-FIDE.  The first issue was dealt with easily enough, but the second would not go away with simple platitudes.  Especially, in a country where the cult of  Nigel Shortism –regardless of whether this  is a good thing or a bad thing–can often discourage people  from publicly expressing  dissenting or differing points of view from that of the English FIDE representative,  Paulson was repeatedly quizzed on where his loyalties lie.

HOWEVER, Paulson never gave the impression of being intimidated and was very direct and clear on his views of Kirsan, Kasparov and FIDE.  I recommend the readers to take a look at the English Forum’s postings.

See also  3 opinions you must hear

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”Kasparov is a divider rather than a leader; he is a bully, not a personage.” LINK

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So England’s ECF  today has a President  who supports NEITHER Kirsan nor Kasparov, but who believes that England’s relationship with FIDE must transcend personalities and rivalries.  Nigel Short, the colourful FIDE representative from England, unequivocally supports Kasparov for FIDE president and -no doubt–has to fight off urges to demonize anyone who would not!  So it is going to be interesting how the Paulson-Short polarity plays out as the FIDE 2014-campaign proceeds.  ONE THING is clear to me , however, and that is that Paulson will not stand for any BULLSHIT from Short–or anyone else for that matter.

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” I feel that it is time for Kirsan to go for many reasons. The most clear and unequivocal is that he and his apparat have been around too long …. But, I state unambiguously, it is time for a change.”  LINK

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There are some who , loving conspiracy theories, think that Paulson intends to use his ECF presidency as a springboard to FIDE politics, and especially the FIDE presidency.  While it is not completely out of the question that he might run as a last minute candidate for the 2014 FIDE presidency, I think it is more likely that this will happen in 2018.  With the chess world really crying out for change–and so very tired of both Kirsan and Kasparov –a new face on the block seems like a VERY good idea!  Could Andrew Paulson be the future of FIDE?

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