why i quit playing chess

the short answer is, i'm a quitter. the long list of excuses are: i don't enjoy losing. i only find learning fun if i have noticeable progress. there's not enough time in the day. chess isn't fun. i can only have so many hobbies. i'd rather be reading. i don't have patience. the fun of …

the first story of 26

another story of mine has been published in the latest issue of Propagule, you can read it here. as i was just talking about not thinking while writing in my previous post, this story is a case where i did not think very much and just shot out words. and that is why i committed …

i saw karl knausgaard in seattle. he signed my winedark book

this weekend i saw the norwegian author and future nobel prize winner karl ove knausgaard give a talk at the town hall here in seattle. there were perhaps several hundred people in attendance. compare this to the last author i saw give a talk, hanne orstavik (also norwegian, by some coincidence) where there were perhaps …

Pluribus: I would join

yes. i would. i have no illusions of a unique or special individuality. the benefits far outweigh the downsides. if you haven't seen the show, i guess you should google or something. nah i kid. please keep reading my blog. in the new show from breaking bad and better call saul creator vince gilligan, an …

41

that is the number of countries from which i've read novels. i have not tried very hard to hit new countries. if i aimed for it, im sure i could get to 50 this year. is this a lot? i have no idea. maybe. probably? it is probably a lot for an american, because americans …