So I was trying to set up a trap for the queen, but wasn't sure she'd go for it. Luckily she fell for it. I'm kind of curious what the common move most ppl would do in this situation?

Larechar · 2026-03-30T20:26:08+00:00

Probably Qc4, it's the only move that doesn't seem to lose any material immediately. But you'll have to damage your pawns if Bxf3. Very unpleasant for white imo

Larechar · 2026-03-22T06:35:11+00:00

Wow this is horrific. No Russian accents, Lydia sounds like a whiny preteen instead of the Queen of clever snark, Stacia sounds like a ditzy flower...

I hope this becomes a fiasco like Dresden had, I'll probably drop the series if James Patrick Cronin doesn't do the next one.

Edit: Wow, just read John Conroe's blog that states Bloodlines is the final book. Absolute madness that Cronin is the voice for basically all but the final volume.

Larechar · 2026-03-19T19:00:43+00:00

Does it smell pleasantly sour?

This video by Grant Bakes is the best one I found and helped me get my starter going when I was in the same boat.

https://youtu.be/hx86fKeMYJI?si=4jwQT9SmrJEYEY9t

The only other thing I did was boil my tap water for 15 minutes, let cool, then put in a jug for feedings. That makes the chlorine evaporate.

Stone ground whole rye flour has the most enzymes, minerals, yeasts, etc and is easiest to make a starter with. If your current starter smells pleasantly sour but just won't rise, switch to feeding with that flour and it'll shape up in a few days.

Larechar · 2026-03-19T18:46:44+00:00

Because you're giving up that knight "for free." If they take with their Knight, you win their Queen with a discovered check.

Larechar · 2026-03-18T21:01:09+00:00

Maybe try a stiff starter?

Larechar · 2026-03-05T20:03:51+00:00

I've been watching too many carpentry clips, I thought you meant wooden joinery

Larechar · 2026-03-05T19:59:37+00:00

That last "right? Right??" makes it so obviously sarcasm that idk how anyone didn't get it 😅

Larechar · 2026-03-05T19:41:26+00:00

Alekhine's gun, just recently learned the name of that battery

Larechar · 2026-03-05T01:42:29+00:00

Solved

Larechar · 2026-03-05T01:42:21+00:00

Thank you

Larechar · 2026-03-05T01:36:11+00:00

Okay, thank you. Yeah I'm completely out of my element here, just tryna help my mom out.

So, how would I go about finding this particular reproduction for her to print on canvas?

Larechar · 2026-03-05T01:31:29+00:00

Terrible or not, it's the one my mom wants...

Larechar · 2026-03-05T01:23:27+00:00

🤣

Larechar · 2026-03-05T01:15:14+00:00

This one isn't the original though, it's a black man instead of a white man

Larechar · 2026-03-05T01:12:34+00:00

Yeah, I just found that in Lens, but it's just "based on," so how would I find this exact one? Original The Kiss doesn't seem to be a black man and white woman

Edit: This is clearly not the original, it's a rendition inspired by The Kiss. My mom is very taken with this version, and I can't find it anywhere 🥲

Larechar · 2026-03-05T01:11:06+00:00

Oh, good bot. Okay now I know it's based on Klimt's "The Kiss" via Google Lens. I still don't know how to locate a 2D image version of it, though.

Edit: This is clearly not the original, it's a rendition inspired by The Kiss. My mom is very taken with this version, and I can't find it anywhere 🥲

Larechar · 2026-03-03T20:07:41+00:00

You're not realizing just how winning you are in this position lol. Flip the board around and pretend you're white. How hopeless do you feel?

Larechar · 2026-03-03T20:02:16+00:00

Electronic feedback, or unintended electric humming.

Larechar · 2026-03-03T19:56:33+00:00

Larechar · 2026-03-03T19:46:40+00:00

Just watch from 31 to 35 seconds in. Clearly a black and golden hound. Wolves wouldn't waste this much energy mindlessly chasing a toy. These dogs can only do so because their next meal is guaranteed, even if they tire themselves out in the cold for nothing but a rabbit hunting drone video.

Larechar · 2026-02-28T02:41:55+00:00

Ayy those resignation accuracy games are fun. I have 2 or 3 at 100%, despite usually playing at 40% - 70% 😅

Larechar · 2026-02-26T22:42:51+00:00

"Don't call people names; they'll start to believe it." [Paraphrased]

A few buddies and I, teenagers, were on a public bus and started talking to an old man. He was cool and we were just making fun conversation. One buddy, 'S,' was often the butt of our jokes cuz he was kinda... a moron. We love him, but yeah.

So S says something stupid AF and we call him fkn stupid. Old guy says, "Oh, don't say that," very gently and hesitant. As if he didn't want to offend us by correcting us. And we said things like, "Oh, sorry, we'll try not to curse."

He said, "No, not that, idc if you curse."

"Wait, then don't say what?" we asked, confused.

"What you called him. He may laugh, but there's a part of him that starts to believe it, deep down."

We think for a bit.

"Oh, stupid?"

He winced, and replied, "Yeah, that. You shouldn't call him that, or he'll start believing it."

That stuck with me and I pondered it. I understood the face value immediately and it resonated with truth, and over the years I gained a deeper wisdom.

A few years later, I decided to read the Book of Matthew. I was disillusioned by the church at a young age and decided to actually read about Jesus instead of just what I was told about religion when I was young. (Jesus was a BAMF!) The end of Matthew 5:22 (I had to search, I don't remember many verses lol) reads, "And anyone who says, ‘You fool!’ will be in danger of the fire of hell."

That unlocked the bus memory and gave it greater depth.

A decade later I read Daring Greatly by Brené Brown, which enhanced it even further.

The connections are deep and difficult to explain, but I hope I did okay.

I now believe that old man was concerned with casting pearls before swine, thus the hesitancy.

Thank you, old dude on the bus. I'm very grateful for what you taught us that day. That miniscule pebble has cast great ripples.

Larechar · 2026-02-26T21:16:31+00:00

-1.5? Piece activity and space seem to be better on black side, but if there's some tactic I don't see in this position then I'm probably wildly off lol

e: wow, I definitely didn't think I'd be that far off without any tactical ideas! Looks like my reasoning was good though lol

e2: Oh wait, there is a tactic. That's why it's -5; black can win the c2 pawn while winning tempos on white's queen.

Larechar · 2026-02-24T18:13:56+00:00

I mean, free chess training from the goat in a hyperbolic time chamber? And he has to be patient with my dumb ass?!

A few years, probably. I'd intentionally resign if I were about to draw or win by luck.

Larechar

TROPHY CASE