ROME 23/10 – Day 13: Little shavers

Today I slept in a bit, so I didn’t enjoy the rising of the sun over the City at 07:18.  I will perhaps be out of church when it sets at 18:35, but that’s pushing it.  I’ll say Mass tonight at 18:00 FOR MY DONORS to whom I am so grateful. And it always cheers my beady-black heart to see new sign up.

The Ave Maria Bell would ring at 18:45… in the right kind of Roman Church world.

Speaking of sign ups, welcome new registrant:

beneluk

Last night I walked with The Great Roman™ and a couple celebrating their 49th wedding anniversary to a little place along the side of the great church of Sant’Agostino.

Last May, the area was dug up.   Now they have placed blocks so cars can’t enter.   The Augustinians need to get off their backsides and CLEAN their little piazza!   There are enough of them, with the students, etc.  To take care of the area.

I’ve gone to a little place “Da Pietro Valentini” for many years, so much so that son of the daughter of the now long-deceased original proprietor, whom I recall as an infant, is no longer a little shaver but a big strappin’ young man who works the tables.

To start, Norcina.  Half portion which I split with “La Signora”.

The not so little shaver shaved not so little truffle on our rare steak.

Not-So-Little-Shaver needs to dress better for his work.

Da Pietro Valentini is a great little family place with not many tables.  There is a little bustle and chaos and the quarters are close.   For decades they have been very American friendly, once having little American flags in the window when Americans in Italy were being bashed.   NB: Their wine list is not great.  The list is vague, for one thing: saying that they have a Chianti from Tuscany means almost nothing other than it is made from grapes.   Also, what they do have, when they bring it for your choice is, as I could tell, pretty much 2nd rate.  Not third.  Second.   So, it might be good to explore bringing a bottle.  The food, however, is very good and these are really nice people.

After, cigars and such at the Campo.

Today, I have had for lunch a couple of bowls of really good, super simple, vegetable soup.  Recipe: Buy a package of pre-chopped veg for minestrone.  Simmer it in chicken broth.  Sprinkle some grated parm on it.  Eat it.  This really hit the spot.   Super inexpensive, which is a good thing.

Action shot!  I was just finishing my weekly article for One Peter Five.

Meanwhile, there was a kerfuffle in Qatar at a big chess doing.  Magnus Carlsen mentioned to an arbiter that his much-lower ranked opponent was in violation of the FIDE rules by wearing a watch.   It was analog, but the rules forbid “watches”.  This is all part of anti-cheating measures.  The arbiter didn’t seem to care.  Moreover, Magnus said that there were people walking around in the hall with smart phones, which is seriously against the rules.

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Magnus later said that that put him off his game, cause the 23-yr 2512 ranked positively kicked Magnus ass in a well-played upset.  This is his first lost to someone this low in 20 years.

Magnus clarified that he was NOT accusing the guy of cheating.  He won fair and square.  However, it was one of those situations that the arbiter should have addressed.

After 2 rounds, Magnus is in this tourney down among people’s whose name’s I’ve never seen.  I suspect that won’t last.

Meanwhile, white to move and mate in two:

NB: I’ll hold comments with solutions ’till the next day so there won’t be “spoilers” for others.

Priestly chess players, drop me a line. HERE

Interested in learning?  Try THIS.

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Can I remind you of a book I mentioned recently?

Fr. Robert Sirico gave my a copy of his new book about the late, great Card. Pell.  Without question Pell would have been a Dubia Cardinal this fall!  This volume contains homages to Card. Pell, so missed.

Pell Contra Mundum

US HERE – UK HERE