- Details
- Written by: Rod Boyle
- Category: Link of the day
- Hits: 830
I've got this thing where my mind generally goes on walkabout during YouTube ads, presuming that they're all scams.
This is, of course, a presumption, and my skipping past them doesn't go down the rabbit hole of how they work.
Dan Olson doesn't presume, he dives deep and exposes the scam. I mean, I knew, but it was interesting to learn the means they go about it with. And, done properly without malevolent intent there's some good ideas. I found it worthwhile.
- Details
- Written by: Rod Boyle
- Category: Link of the day
- Hits: 767
This is good. Rivers in Europe are at such drought levels they've uncovered ancient stones engraved with messages warning of hunger and famine.
Going into 3 days off and 38 degree temperatures I know - These are the days.
LINK: Hunger Stones
- Details
- Written by: Rod Boyle
- Category: Link of the day
- Hits: 758
A couple of links to spur your curiosity this morning:
#1) https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Octavius_(ship)
#2) https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/SS_Baychimo
Proof that the world can still be an interesting place, if you know where to look. Imagine a hundred years from now, when globalization has collapsed and the abandoned cargo ships, still laden with useless consumer products, are discovered adrift by our primitive heirs...
- Details
- Written by: Rod Boyle
- Category: Link of the day
- Hits: 767
A selection of curious and charms excavated from a villa in Pompeii, believed to be used in fertility or other spells.

I rather like the eclectic nature of it - the Egyptian amulets & beads, Roman, shells, etc. A 1st Century "Wunderkabinet".
Link: https://www.smithsonianmag.com/smart-news/sorceresss-kit-was-discovered-ashes-pompeii-180972907/
- Details
- Written by: Rod Boyle
- Category: Link of the day
- Hits: 999
Now at the point where I have to actually start thinking if I'm going to continue playing - continuing at the level I'm at is too painful - so, searching around for another chess site on which to begin honing my skills.
And I found this: Lichess.org
Free, open source (not that I need that), and - a bonus, whereas chess.com frequently crashes my browser, or becomes unresponsive or takes far too long to make a move - this site works clean and quick. Note that this is not necessarily a flaw in the site - my laptop crashes on many sites - usually a result of too many embedded ads or media, videos, etc. - long overdue for a "better laptop" - but it does help to play something in real-time so I can assess quickly how and where I'm fucking up.
Now to get better...




















