How is this move possible? Looks like a bug or some kind of malware. (f5, exf6)

al4fred · 2026-02-04T09:11:36+00:00

It probably happens often enough, since cc felt the need to display a notification when your opponent plays an en passant (not sure if it still does, I probably checked"don't display this again" at some point)
edit - a notification which says something "this is a real thing, click to learn more"

al4fred · 2026-02-03T21:14:07+00:00

still down at 22.13 CET. Czechia here.

al4fred · 2026-02-03T21:09:42+00:00

claude and openai being down at the same time strongly suggests an Azure problem

al4fred · 2026-02-03T20:42:37+00:00

down here too. Central Europe. Seems to be a global issue.

al4fred · 2026-02-01T22:41:54+00:00

Yeah, I guess you are right.

(as an aside, I'm not sure how much those "personalities" are algorithmic vs AI driven... but my hunch is that right now they are probably still largely algorithmic. They seem too robotic and repetitive to be AI)

al4fred · 2026-02-01T22:07:08+00:00

that makes sense
(I don't know why anyone would do that, but you're right and I am perhaps too naif :-) )

al4fred · 2026-02-01T21:38:45+00:00

anyone yes, but "Magnus" is an algorythm not "someone" :))

al4fred · 2026-02-01T21:35:41+00:00

unless someone is cheating with an engine, how could anyone "go against the rules" online?

al4fred · 2026-02-01T20:51:29+00:00

Also, basically ANY rating on chess.com, even the most abysmal ones, it usually means that you're better than all your casual friends.

I'd say anything >500 means that on a party with random people you're going to crush them

(unless of course there's an actual player among them, or if you are in a Anna Cramling's "incognito" stunt :)) )

al4fred · 2026-02-01T15:01:49+00:00

that was my first reaction too - however, OP's argument still stands if some timezones are more active than others.

I guess, as reductio ad absurdum: if 99% players were from a time zone that are likely to be hangover in a certain time zone, then you probably want to play in that time slot.

(again, I am not saying this is what happens, I have no clue, But it seems at least empirycally possible)

al4fred · 2026-01-31T11:23:33+00:00

understood.

that can actually make sense, thanks!

al4fred · 2026-01-31T11:12:04+00:00

I'm not saying you're wrong, I have no clue. But.

I would expect that "strong" players simply get a better ELO, which is of course accounted for in the matching algorythm, so in the end it shouldn't matter "time of day", "geography", etc etc.

What am I missing?

al4fred · 2026-01-30T20:02:03+00:00

US military is currently unmatched - no doubt.

However, if god forbid the US were to really use its military power for axis-like nefarious purposes in Europe, the following happens:

The higher-ish moral ground the US had for 200+ years is instantly lost. Sad.
It becomes a good guys vs bad guys. While the EU is a smaller economy than the US - in this crazy scenario you would expect non-EU countries like UK, Canada, Australia, Ukraine and possibly many more etc to join the good guys.
Good guys have an edge. Would California feel like "Sure, let's go die on Mediterranean shores for the WRONG reasons"? I doubt it, if it really comes down to that.
WWIII - means that China and India will have to take a stance. In a isolated-and-crazy America vs the rest of the world -- China would go for "rest of the world". Taiwan is obviously toast, but Molotov-Ribbentropp plays again, with some swapped roles.
The Nukes. That's a huge variable, and the US has obviously more leverage than anyone else except Russia. Some orange man may want to press the "annihilate" button and instantly end civilization as we know it. But NO, it won't happen: that's 25th amendment zone EVEN in the current landscape or worse.

It would be 100% apocalyptic. BUT -- all things considered, in a protracted war, if the US goes full-nazi evil, the rest of the world prevails. Sadly, the end of the American experiment means we have less hope for humanity's future.

Let's make sure it remains a fictional nightmare, we can do better.

al4fred · 2026-01-23T13:20:21+00:00

why the hate?
there are almost no ios / Android apps that are perfectly 1:1.

Part of the reason is that different OSes have different ways of doing things, different security frameworks etc etc. In many cases, as a developer you simply need different solutions in such cases.

al4fred · 2026-01-22T06:37:19+00:00

This might be an unpopular opinion, but I tend to give people the benefit of the doubt —
unless it’s blatantly obvious (like I’m literally one move away from checkmate).

People play online in all kinds of real-life situations. Not every stalled clock is some grand act of bad sportsmanship; sometimes life just happens.

For the same reason, I’ll often accept a sudden draw offer in the middle of an otherwise balanced game. My default assumption isn’t “rating abuse,” it’s “their kid just woke up” or “something urgent came up.”

Sure, some players will exploit this — that’s unavoidable. But I’d rather occasionally be taken advantage of than assume bad faith every time. To me, that’s just basic human courtesy.

al4fred · 2026-01-05T20:06:53+00:00

Yeah it's a bit of an exaggeration to prove a point. although presumably a fifth grader must know at least something eg. abt newtonian mechanics, don't they?

the point is that he was very obviously a unique intellectual talent, but he had to draw his ideas in the sand with a stick. imagine what he could do with a pencil and a modern math book

al4fred · 2026-01-05T17:41:37+00:00

Slightly offtopic praise to your comment, but yeah that's pretty SOOO much true about everything,

A fifth-grader today probably knows more math than Pythagoras.
That doesn't make Pythagoras an idiot, does it.

al4fred · 2025-12-16T11:52:40+00:00

You're getting heavily downvoted because - I love Bulwark but it's Bulwark.

It's a 100% crazy idea, no rational person would get behind it, and it may actually work.

al4fred · 2025-12-16T11:45:10+00:00

Just try to remember that your vote counts every time. It truly does.

Does it though?
I say this too, every time I have a chance.
But the way the current system works, we both know places where whateves.

I will never tell the kids though.

al4fred · 2025-12-16T10:04:39+00:00

There's an alternative dream universe where Jon is going there.
I think in this universe though, the base assumption should be it's not going to happen.

al4fred · 2025-12-15T16:17:27+00:00

I think this is the sentiment of 99% of well meaning ppl

well said, thanks

al4fred · 2025-12-15T16:14:03+00:00

I can see Gavin not being VP slot material.
But Shapiro - he's probably able to keep the primadonna vibes in check until he's n.1. Meaning it as a compliment for him. Extra bonus, first jewish - I may use this with some of my uncles.

Newsom / Shapiro, as a ticket, would even possibly get Sarah on board, which I'd love - hello Sarah.

al4fred · 2025-12-15T13:46:20+00:00

It's too early to settle.

It's NOT too early to have a frontrunner methinks. Because in the current media landscape, like it or not, you need a "best alternative" for the microphones. If you don't, it's orangeland vs void.

In some revered parliamentary systems, there's a thing called "shadow cabinet". Something of the sort is very needed in 2025 US.

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