American Chess Master - of New Orleans!

Meet Paul Morphy at http://www.mattfullerty.com/, the last unofficial chess world champion (1837-1884). He links Europe and America as a Creole (of French and Spanish descent) born into New Orleans wealth - which he squandered in London and Paris defeating the world's great chess masters!

To learn his story and meet his amazing opponents, from a General in the American Army to a British Shakespeare scholar, also see http://www.paulmorphychess.com/

The story of Paul Morphy is one of rise and fall, the success of a grand talent and his descent into obsession! Welcome to the precarious floating city of New Orleans!

South Beach, Miami

And then there were none - watching South beach empty and the sky open up was the way to arrive in Miami!

Chess boxing?

Only in...Germany! Who else other than our German cousins could dream up the intense spectacle of playing chess and boxing as part of the same competition? And I don't mean play a game, go home, and box the next day. No, brand new "X-treme sport" chess boxing is here, as the picture shows, and no, it's not late night TV for lonely men in tracksuits. This stuff is serious!

Here's the lowdown http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Chess_boxing

Every four-minute chess round is followed by two minutes of boxing. Kind of disorientating to say the least! I wonder which bout is more painful, the chess or the boxing.

Best of all, competitors can win by either knockout or checkmate!

Meet the new London mayor!

Dear England, did you know that your new major of London is actually American-born? So now the owner of Manchester United hails from this side of the Pond. And so does the London major!

Considered more English than most (thanks to his stuttering manner, and acting like a slightly deranged lord of the manor let loose), Boris is the pride of the conservative-friendly nut-jobs. he is also a journalist and author, formerly serving as editor of The Spectator.

But what you probably didn't know is that Alexander Boris de Pfeffel Johnson, was born on 19 June 1964, in the Grand Ol' USA.

That doesn't stop him wearing the England football shirt - the away shirt that is!

Sparring Partners!

Forget chess boxing, here's the real thing. Today is the Democratic vote in North Carolina and Indiana, after which we should be able to declare a winner. Somehow I think Hillary will fight on, though. John McCain must feel a little left out. I hope so. Clearly after this epic struggle, it'd be pointless to have Bush II take the White House. Am I rooting for Clinton or Obama? Well, I'd like the fight to go on, so at least one of them gets in!

Coconut Grove, and South Beach, Miami

Just the name Coconut Grove alone made me want to visit, but this part of Miami - after a nice overground MTA rail ride - was a lovely part of the city. The long marina and lazy brought images to Scarface and Miami Vice immediately to mind!
At night the hotel strip comes alive with great drinks, music and a lot of dancing - all along about 5 blocks, or you can cross the street and hang out with the police parked on the beach while the ocean laps in and out in the bay. A cool way to spend the evening drinking overpriced cocktails and walking up and down with nothing better to do!

The morning after...

Barack Clinton / Hilary Obama!

Wouldn't this just solve the problem?

Wouldn't this just be the perfect case? Clearly in the future - with DNA and facial surgery - the fusing of two humans will be possible!

It would certainly solve the current battle, and the losing candidate wouldn't even have to endorse the winner!

Whoever loses, recommending the victor has got to be embarrassing, but somehow I think the above politician - whichever way the vote swings - will manage after all the recent campaigning and hand pressing!