Tuesday, June 30, 2009

James Hogue, Princeton graduate, athlete, imposter!

Monday, June 29, 2009

The Ballad of Paul Morphy!

Check out the video below, the Ballad of Paul Morphy, a strange and haunting tribute to the famous chess player!

"This video is a tribute to the great chess genius Paul Morphy (1837-1884). The accompanying song is in the style of the old parlor songs of the Stephen Foster era and is delivered by Anchor Méjans. Some images are taken from "public domain" films at Prelinger Archive."

I discovered this video on YouTube and was struck by the uncanny similarities - especially the lines "retreating into dreams was his release." Yes, we're definitely dealing with the same Morphy!
Here are the lyrics:

Paul Morphy lived his life in black and white
For him there was no gray
No wrong nor right
Just strategy
Nights and days -
Confined by notes in squares upon a page

No friends to adore
Only royals and pawns
And there was no way out of his sad fate
No there was no way out of his sad fate
Alas alas alas for him -
checkmate

Paul Morphy wanted peace
But peace was scarce
Retreating into dreams was his release
Paul Morphy lived his life in black and white
For him there was no gray
No wrong nor right

No friends to adore
Only royals and pawns
And there was no way out of his sad fate
No there was no way out of his sad fate
Alas alas alas for him -
checkmate

Sing along!

Saturday, June 27, 2009

Friday, June 26, 2009

British heatwave!

Thunderstorms over Parliament, London. As England bakes, who says there's no such thing as a British summer?

Rowers on the Serpentine, Hyde Park, central London.

A woman walks in richmond Park, south London.

Thursday, June 25, 2009

Diving in a quarry! (Bainbridge, PA)

Passed! I got my PADI.
Yes, it's official, I can now go diving. Watch out fish!

Friday, June 19, 2009

University of Michigan interview!


Dear England, I am pleased to have an initial phone interview at the University of Michigan, Ann Arbor. The job is for Lecturer in English literature, and would involve teaching upper-level courses in poetry, literary studies, romanticism, drama, digital rhetoric and undergraduate advising. Ann Arbor itself is a pretty college town in the American midwest:

For those of you uncertain where Michigan is, the whole state is surrounded on three sides by the Great Lakes, specifically Lake Huron and Lake Michigan. The college town of Ann Arbor, home of the main campus of the University of Michigan, is also very close to Lake Erie and Canada itself - see the map! Ann Arbor is in the south-east corner of Michigan, close to Detroit:
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So far I've visited Ann Arbor three times, twice in the last two years, and I'll be visiting again in September - for the football! The University of Michigan is famous for its American football games, which are played at literally the biggest stadium in America: it holds 100,000. It's nickname is The Big House - also a term for prison in American slang!


Click the pic to learn more about Michigan American football and stadium!

Monday, June 8, 2009

Scuba Diving - 60 feet down!

Dear England, right now I'm learning to scuba dive. I've always been a fan of snorkelling, tooling around at the beach as a kid along the rocks at some bay, looking for brightly-colored fish. It turns out scuba-diving is the best way to sea these critters, and perhaps a turtle or two. Why didn't I think of this before?

Well, the thing about scuba diving is that you have to get "certified" and the best organization to do this with is called PADI (Professional Association of Diving Instructors). It's the most internationally recognized - giving you the best chance of being able to dive in new places, on new adventures! I am currently learning through the National Diving Center in Washington, DC.

When you have all your equipment on, it can be pretty daunting. Actually, the hardest thing in scuba is probably trying to stay balanced, as the tank is pretty heavy. But you get used to this after a few dives. So far I've dived once in a swimming pool, and I'm only half way through my PADI certification. But in two weeks I'm off to Bainbridge, Pennsylvania to dive 60 feet in a murky quarry - the four "open water" dives I need to complete the course. Then it's Puerto Rico in July baby for some real tropical diving!

I added these pictures to feed my idea of how beautiful diving will be. As yet, I have no idea. But from the training videos, it looks pretty amazing - shoals of fish everywhere, coral, massive sea plants to get entangled in, and even the odd shark nosing past (do not disturb). I can't wait!

My novel about painting, criminality, and the greatest art forger of the twentieth century!

My novel about painting, criminality, and the greatest art forger of the twentieth century!
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My novel about London, murder, mayhem, and a female killer!

My novel about London, murder, mayhem, and a female killer!
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My novel about running, Princeton University, and a conman who lost it all!

My novel about running, Princeton University, and a conman who lost it all!
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My novel about love, betrayal and chess in New Orleans

My novel about love, betrayal and chess in New Orleans
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My semi-autobiographical novel about a very British education and becoming an American!

My semi-autobiographical novel about a very British education and becoming an American!
Please click the cover!

My novel about London, murder, mayhem, and a female killer!

My novel about London, murder, mayhem, and a female killer!
Please click the cover!