The speed chess matches reminded me of the Rose speed chess meet. Going to that event made it make more sense why it would’ve been frustrating for Beth and why she kept losing, even though she was a great chess player and won the next day. The different approach to the game plus the pressures she was under could have made it more difficult for her. It surprised me that Beth kept asking to play again and again though. She is very insistent in wanting to keep playing despite having a match the next day and losing a lot of money. It’s possible that she just wanted to see Benny’s strategies in chess, but if she didn’t intend to lose, then it shows her persistence in wanting to prove her chess skills.
Author Archives: emw239
Last episodes of “The Queen’s Gambit”
These episodes were very climactic in seeing how Beth came far in her career and her life. The tournament in Russia showcased her skills as a chess player and how Beth overcame some of her personal struggles with the support of her friends. It was great to see how her friends from the previous episodes came together to help her, especially at the last match. It also felt like a strong ending because of how Beth revisited her past and found closure–for example, Jolene and Beth visited the orphanage where Beth first learned how to play chess, and Beth realized she was able to reach out to her friends and they were happy to offer advice and try to help her succeed. Overall it felt like a good close to the series as well as being an uplifting ending.
Second crochet workshop
I made more progress on my cowl that I’d been working on at the last workshop. I think it’s at a wearable length now! A lot of times, I have trouble finishing projects because I get busy, but the workshop was nice because I could dedicate some time to working on it. I think crocheting is neat because it can be practical as well as for fun. It’s exciting to be able to wear what I make. I’m hoping I’ll have time later this semester to keep up this hobby.
Crocheting is a fun hobby
I’ve had experience crocheting and really like it. I didn’t bring any of my supplies with me this semester though, unfortunately. I missed doing it, so it was great to get back into it. Usually it’s hard for me to find time to work on creative projects, but it was nice to set aside some time to work on something fun at the workshop. We were making cowls today; I haven’t made one before, so I was excited to try out a new project. It reminded me of a scarf my mom and I crocheted together a while back that was fun to make. The yarn I got for this workshop was a nice shade of pink that matches well with all the cherry blossoms outside.
Speed chess
The speed chess sessions were really fun. Having a timer made things more interesting and made the game more unexpected since I had to think quickly. It made me have to think of different strategies compared to regular chess. I think speed chess seemed more intense because of the pressure to make quick decisions and try to end the game before the timer ran out. Also, usually I play chess with my family, but meeting other people to play with made it more exciting because everyone has different styles and patterns of playing. In this event we played virtual chess, and it seems that could be a good activity when meeting up with friends in the future, especially for my friends that live far away.
More Calligraphy!
I went to both calligraphy events, so it was nice to practice some more and try out new techniques. This time I used a brush pen (I used a chiseled pen last time), so I could compare the different effects they could make. The specialized tips made it easier to write in different styles. For example, I thought that using the brush pen made it easier to vary the thickness of the letters more gradually, but the chisel was good for other styles such as with gothic style fonts. Also as a side note, I liked the playlist we listened to while we worked!
Documentary on Faubourg Treme
The film Faubourg Treme: The Untold Story of Black New Orleans presented the history of the Faubourg Treme neighborhood in New Orleans in a really interesting way. The interviews with historians and videos of the community were very impactful and helped me to have a better picture of the unique community and history of the neighborhood. It was also interesting to learn about some of the neighborhood’s broader impacts on American history in general as well; for example, the landmark court case Plessy v. Ferguson involved someone from Treme. I hadn’t known much specifically about the Faubourg Treme neighborhood before, so the film was a good introduction to an overview of its fascinating and rich history.
New Styles of Writing
I was happy to learn some new styles of fonts at the workshop, and I’m really glad I went. Using different fonts give written messages a lot more character, and it’s neat how they can impact its tone. In the past, I’ve tried to do some calligraphy on birthday cards and letters for family members, and I think it makes it more fun and personal. At the workshop, it was fun to practice writing in new fonts and to see how I could experiment with different styles of writing. This event was a good way to take a study break and do something creative, and although some of the letters didn’t turn out exactly the way I wanted, it was fun to try out different techniques such as holding the pen at various angles.
Engaging the Imagination through Sound
Radio uses sound alone to spark the imagination through vivid descriptions and sound effects. It was interesting to think about the power that sound has to convey a message and the creativity that goes into making sound effects that enhance the storytelling. Usually I just use the radio for listening to music or the news, but learning about the different ways the radio was used during its Golden Age helped me think about the potential that it has to connect people to a specific topic they’re interested in and how it was used differently then compared to now. There were a wider variety of genres during that time compared to what I typically hear on a radio; for example, the types of programs included humor, detective shows, and horror. Using radio as a medium for detective shows and horror seemed to especially work well because of all the sound effects that can be added to create more suspense and mystery. I also thought it was neat how pipe organs were often used during the Golden Age of Radio. It makes sense because of the wide variety of sound effects they can make to set different moods, but I hadn’t really realized that they were common on the radio in the past. Now, it seems that podcasts fill in similar functions to old-time radio by helping listeners connect to specific topics they’re interested in. Despite the different means for delivery, through the Internet instead of radio, both podcasts and radio show audio’s significance in engaging our minds and helping us to stay connected with our interests.