ROME 24/4– Day 25 & 6: Little dog and little boy

The Roman sun came to view at 06:27.

It will obscure itself at 19:54.

The Ave Maria should change tonight to 20:15.  I am eager to listen for what may be an Ave Maria bell nearby.

I needed a down day yesterday.  So I am behind.

Welcome registrant:

VocoVeritas

HEY!  s*******31@gmail.com !  My thank you note to you was kicked back saying your email doesn’t exist.  New address?

Recently I’ve offered the Holy Sacrifice for you monthly donors and you Roman Sojourn donors, for my parents and for myself.

Thank you, Lord, for these days, when I have been able to do such things.

Speaking of sunrise.

Jasmine Report (and I don’t mean the Jesuit).  Nope, not yet.   I hope it blooms before I leave.

Please remember me when shopping online and use my affiliate links.  US HERE – UK HERE  WHY?  This helps to pay for health insurance (massively hiked for this new year of surprises), utilities, groceries, etc..  At no extra cost, you provide help for which I am grateful.

The World’s Best Sacristan™ and I strolled over to the Campo de’ Fiori this morning after our specific duties.  We stopped at my usual fruttarola, who had brought her little dog to the stand.

We then progressed to Pippo The Florist where I obtained new flowers for the apartment, the old ones having gone the way of all flesh. Flowers really brighten up the place.  Anyway, we exchanged various jibs and ribbings as is the way of men.  It is how they show affection.

Meanwhile, today’s chess.com puzzle has white moving to mate in 3.

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

I am now a chess.com affiliate.   So, click and join!   Maybe we can build a fun and active Catholic Chess Club within Chess.com.

Interested in learning?  Try THIS.

Last night I tried to watch some of Round 9 of the Candidates.  I tried.   I failed.  Therefore, after my morning orisons I learned that Gukesh beat Hikaru and is again tied with Nepo for 1st.   Nepo was doing less than well against the Boy, Alirezja, but he was able to hold with black for a 44 move draw.

Some controversy arose in the Round that prompted the Boy to tweet out a whine about an arbiter (judge, ref).   Here’s the account from ChessBase:

After the round, Firouzja shared a complaint against the tournament’s main arbiter, Aris Marghetis (Canada), on social media. The French representative explained that the arbiter had asked him to stop making noise with his shoes while strolling around the playing hall. According to Firouzja, Marghetis’ request was made during an intense portion of the game, distracting him decisively. Firouzja added:

He told me to not walk and bring new shoes for tomorrow, but I have the formal shoes that are approved and I have been wearing them for more than a year. This was a big distraction for me during the game and I completely lost my focus.

Mike Klein later interviewed Marghetis for chess.com. The chief arbiter noted that Firouzja had “a very heavy footfall”. He also noted that just when he was considering suggesting Firouzja to make less noise, Nijat Abasov approached him and complained about this very issue. Marghetis emphasized that he did not give Firouzja any ultimatum nor threatened to penalize the player. As per Marghetis and Klein, the verbal suggestion was given an hour into the round, so the players were not even close to reaching time trouble. The chief arbiter added:

What I did find interesting is that after this exchange, he walked more softly, so he was capable of walking more softly. […] We are here to protect all the players.

Firouzja told Marghetis that he plans to file an appeal about this incident.

Yeah, blame arbiter for your draw with Nepo.  You are now .5 point away from last.  Firouzja got his slot at the Candidates in a dodgy way in the first place.  Hence, my adding:

Ceterum censeo Alirezam delendum esse.

UPDATE:

Let’s end on a higher note.   Here’s the Regina Caeli from yesterday’s Mass.