Obsessing

I don't think of myself as a particularly obsessive person. There are other times, however, when I suspect that my broad interest in different subjects is just the result of my brain searching for new things to obsess over.

Right—I'm going to "tell on myself" here, at the risk of making myself look foolish. But then, as George Orwell wrote, "autobiography is only to be trusted when it reveals something disgraceful. A man who gives a good account of himself is probably lying, since any life when viewed from the inside is simply a series of defeats."

Long story short: I might not be diligent about physical exercise, but I'm not shy about mental exercise. Some time ago I read that as we get older it's important not to get into mental ruts. The idea is that to keep your brain healthy you've got to exercise it by burning new neural pathways: accepting challenges, grappling with unfamiliar ideas, looking at the world in fresh ways. This notion was freeing for me, because I had always been too results-oriented. If I learned Japanese book-binding, it was because I expected to master it. Many things turn into disappointments that way. In the new regime, however, what's important is not mastery, but struggle. If you start learning Chinese on Duolingo, you're using it as a puzzle, essentially; a challenge for your mind—not necessarily trying to become conversant in tourist Chinese. So in recent years I've delved into a hodgepodge of seemingly disparate pursuits: learning to play simple tunes on the dulcimer, revisiting French, or struggling to learn touch-typing with the Kinesis keyboard—set up for the Dvorak layout no less. I got up to 20 wpm, and it took me months and many hours of working at it.

Most recently, having known since I was about eight that I'm bad at chess, I decided to struggle a bit with chess. It was that or Latin.

I'm taking a simple online course (at learnchess.net). It's been very interesting. I've also done a dive into chess culture, at least as it is presented online. If you want a sample, here's a fascinating video recounting a famous game. If you're not into chess, just follow along—it's not that hard to understand when you're merely observing while having everything explained to you twice, first by Garry Kasparov and then by GothamChess. To me it seems a good illustration, accessible even to rank beginners like me, of the kind of thinking involved in high-level chess. And it's pretty thrilling, frankly.

So then: several teachers recommend to learners that they get an actual physical chess set as they learn, so that they can leave a board set up to study, play against themselves, and so forth. Immediately I think, I am not going to invest money in that. I'll buy some unbreakable plastic pieces and one of those roll-up silicone chess boards.

So then what happens? Five days later, and I've got the basics of the entire universe of chess pieces all sussed out—weighted vs. unweighted, plastic vs. wood, handmade vs. mass produced, contemporary vs. antique, all the major websites, connoisseurs, collectors, aesthetics...and I'm this close to dropping hundreds of dollars on these:

And what are these? Why, I'm surprised you have to ask. Don't you know? It's a modern reproduction of a 1930s Soviet chess set, hand-carved by a husband and wife team of artisans who live in a battle zone in Ukraine who take custom orders on Etsy, of course. With the proper honey-colored white pieces appropriate to vintage Soviet-era Russian sets. Because you need that. Naturally.

So I'm just about to hit the buy button, when—talk about a flexible and resilient brain!—it occurs to me in the very nick of time that I don't know how to play chess. I'm pathetic at chess, presently. Of the 1,327 possible openings listed in the Oxford Companion to Chess, I currently have a grand total of zero memorized. I can't even score 100% on simple little quizzes like how to checkmate using two bishops. Not to mention that I live alone and don't even know anyone else who plays chess.

And there's more: chess pieces aren't even important to the game. They're just symbols. It's not like pool, where balls, cues, and the table have to be true or it will affect play. Chess pieces don't affect play. It's possible to play with a board you drew with a pencil, using scraps of paper with the names of the pieces scribbled on them. It makes absolutely zero difference to the game whether you play with a grubby old plastic set in the park or a £5,000 hand-carved set from Jacques of London.

Be sensible!
So how do we feel about people who obsess over equipage they can't even use? The guitar collector who can't play, the supercar owner who doesn't know how to drive, the hacker with the latest, most fashionable $600 driver? How about the Leica collector who doesn't use his pretties to, you know, take pictures? Has that ever described you? I fight against it, not 100% successfully.

Where photography is concerned, I've had to learn to be tolerant. I've been writing for a wide audience since 1987 when I had my first article published in a magazine. As far as I'm concerned, as long as they're not hurting anyone, anyone can do any tomfool thing they want to. I know people who buy new cameras about as often as most people stock up on toilet paper, people who haven't yet switched to digital, people who own 50 50mm lenses or 200 camera bags, even guys who ruin perfectly good color digital cameras by having the CFA stripped off the sensor at considerable expense. (Who would do that?) I've seen everything. No, scratch that: almost everything. Because I've also learned, if I've learned anything, that there's always one more surprise around the corner, something I've never, ever heard of anybody doing before. It's all good. As long as no one gets hurt.

As for me: no chess set for Mike. If I'm still learning chess one year from today, I'll buy a chess set I can comfortably afford. Somebody remind me, will you? And it will be just the right one. Until then, common sense shall pertain, and calm prevail.

Mike
Flickr page / New Yorker author page

Original contents copyright 2023 by Michael C. Johnston and/or the bylined author. All Rights Reserved. Links in this post may be to our affiliates; sales through affiliate links may benefit this site. As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases. (To see all the comments, click on the "Comments" link below or on the title of this post.)

Featured Comments from:

ASW: "I'm right there with you Mike. If we need an extension cord, I don't just go to the store to buy an extension cord—I feel compelled to educate myself about the relationship between wire gauge and length and safe electrical load. Well, that seems reasonable. Then I start examining the little power sticker on every electronic device or tool that we own to see what sort of extension cord would be appropriate. Again, just being a safe home owner. Then I start to imagine scenarios where I might need to operate some high power tool that I don't even own (but might some day!) at the very edge of our property. Now we're talking about very long, very heavy duty, very expensive specialty power cords that you don't pick up at your local hardware store. Then (hopefully) my wife reminds me that we only need a 10-foot cord to plug in the 60-watt bird-bath heater and I've gone way overboard...again. "

Kenneth Tanaka: "'Obsession' is often cited as a negative, self-destructive trait. But the truly self-destructive disorder is 'obsessive-compulsive disorder' where one has lost self-control of one's obsessive urges and lets those urges run his/her life. Very bad.

"And, yes, plain ol' obsession can be debilitating and destructive, too, burning up all one's intellectual and emotional bandwidth. But, in fact, obsession is the force that has moved humanity (mostly) forward since humans stood erect. What if, say, Marie Curie, Nikola Tesla, Jonas Salk, et. al. had not been 'obsessive'? No, obsession is a very important driver throughout human history. A world without it would be sad to imagine. (Even insects and animals are instinctively obsessed!)

"And what about being an obsessed collector? Same story. Museums would have little to show the public without obsessed collectors disgorging their treasures post-mortem! And how sparse would the used Leica camera gear world be without guys obsessed with getting the 'best' lenses and cameras? (Blushing, as a guy who recently scored the new 35mm Summilux and the wonderful 35mm APO Summicron lenses.)

Albert Smith: "George Orwell wrote, 'autobiography is only to be trusted when it reveals something disgraceful...'

"'I'm writing my unauthorized autobiography.' —Steven Wright

"My recent obsession involves this site. Your post from many months ago on watches was a tipping point for me. I had a half a dozen purely functional watches with a combined value of under $300. Since that article, I have 20 watches, and $300 is the average cost of each, some hitting $700-plus. I spend hours on YouTube watching reviews and planning my next purchase. Most of these watches have been worn once or twice, just to confirm operation, but I really don't need 95% of these.

"I never use to understand hoarders, but I may now.

"Good luck with your chess sets."

Carl Coryell-Martin: "Thank you for not linking to the hand-carved-in-Ukraine chess pieces. I have a perfectly serviceable set thank you very much."

Bob G.: "This might be worth perusing: 'Chess Set Made from Camera Lenses: Canon ƒ/2.8 to Nikon ƒ/4, Check!'

Mike replies: Count on LensRentals to be way ahead of us. That's hilarious. And check out that rental price!

Keith Cartmell: "Once upon a time I was a triathlete. Some of them obsess about bicycles, trying for weight savings measured in grams. They'll use an oval tube in their drink bottle, oriented to cut wind resistance. The bike itself was designed in a wind tunnel, weighs almost nothing, and can cost a substantial fraction of what a nice new car costs. No matter that the rider is by far the heaviest and least aerodynamic component. The best professionals can take advantage of such bikes, but most are sold to well-heeled amateurs who are mid pack at best.

"We called such people posers."

Eoin: "Mate with two bishops is hard! I played in leagues and tournaments all through school (even winning a few) and took up chess again recently—and I only just learnt how to mate with two bishops."

SteveW: "Thanks for this. I think. I just (obsessively) made a list of 10 chess books and (obsessively) ranked them in order of preference and will be (obsessively) looking in my storage bins in the garage for my old chess board. Sigh. —Fellow Obsessive"

Cateto/Jose: "On this very topic, I remember reading recently a comment from a doctor, a psychiatrists specialized in older people. He advised that, contrary to the common idea, the best way to keep your brain healthy is not to engage in mental activity, bur rather to keep as much social activity as possible: to interact with other people, be it family, friends, colleagues, and keep that relationship as active as possible, along your whole lifetime. And honestly, I think it makes sense."

Frans Evenblij: "Fantastic to have the intricate details of the Kasparov–Karpov match explained. The funny thing is, your remark that chess pieces are just symbols that do not affect the game sounds perfectly sensible. I expect that for somebody at grandmaster level this is perfectly true. A lot of grandmasters don’t even need a board at all. They do it all in their head.

"And yet…for me, I find that a full-size tabletop chess board with the classic Staunton pieces give me a much more serious presentation of the game than when I would play with small icons on a video screen or an equally small portable travel chess set. Somehow as a beginner level player I do not seem to be able to take the game seriously when the board is small and toylike. Same effect you have with your monochrome-converted Sigma camera. Somehow the camera properties, for you, and the way the chess board looks, for me, changes the way we think. So what would the knowledge about his driver do to the fine motor muscle control of the golf player?"

Mike replies: A good point. We've always placed a high value on simply liking a camera being a good reason to own it. Of course you're also enabling me a little.  :-)

Comments

[Chris H]

I always get a chuckle when you refer to 'touch typing'. There's other typing? :)

I can only remember, find around the house, or will publicly acknowledge maybe two dozen 50mm lenses that I own. I believe you mentioned Hugh Crawford might have more. Something to aspire to! Surely there's enough different between all those 50mms to justify their ownership...

[Touch-typing just means typing by feel and muscle-memory without having to look at the keys. And it goes along with a specific system of always using particular fingers on specific keys. The other kind of typing is called "hunt and peck," which means using fingers for keys idiosyncratically and needing to look at the keyboard--sometimes if not always. I naturally hunt and peck, and seldom look at the keyboard, but that's still not considered touch-typing. --Mike]

[Speed]

Mike wrote, "Be sensible!"

A few months ago, I bought a snow blower hoping that when spring arrives it will be sitting quietly in its corner of the garage. Unused.

Sensible? I think so.

[Tom Burke]

Good article! I greatly enjoyed it. I too obsess about things, especially when making a significant purchase (camera, computer). Interestingly, once I’ve made the purchase I tend to relax about it, and all the little pros and cons that I was obsessing about become unimportant as I just use the item.

Fun fact: did you know that the standard design of a chess Knight in the UK from the mid-19th century has been based on a carving of a stallion from the Elgin marbles in the British Museum?

[Kenneth Tanaka]

“Obsession” is often cited as a negative, self-destructive trait. But the truly self-destructive disorder is “obsessive-compulsive disorder” where one has lost self-control of one’s obsessive urges and lets those urges run his/her life. Very bad.

And, yes, plain ol’ obsession can be debilitating and destructive, too, burning-up all one’s intellectual and emotional bandwidth. But, in fact, obsession is the force that has moved humanity (mostly) forward since humans stood erect. What if, say, Marie Curie, Nikola Tesla, Jonas Salk, et.al. had not been “obsessive”? No, obsession is a very important driver throughout human history. A world without it would be sad to imagine. (Even insects and animals are instinctively obsessed!)

And what about being an obsessed collector? Same story. Museums would have little to show the public without obsessed collectors disgorging their treasures post-mortem! And how sparse would the used Leica camera gear world be without guys obsessed with getting the "best" lenses and cameras?*

(* Blushing, as a guy who recently scored the new 35mm Summilux and the wonderful 35mm APO Summicron lenses.)

[Albert Smith]

"George Orwell wrote, "autobiography is only to be trusted when it reveals something disgraceful..."

"I'm writing my unauthorized autobiography." -- Steven Wright

My recent obsession involves this site. Your post from many months ago on watches was a tipping point for me. I had a half a dozen purely functional watches with a combined value of under $300. Since that article, I have 20 watches, and $300 is the average cost of each, some hitting $700-plus. I spend hours on YouTube watching reviews and planning my next purchase. Most of these watches have been worn once or twice, just to confirm operation, but I really don't need 95% of these.

I never use to understand hoarders, but I may now.

Good luck with your chess sets.

[Doug Vaughn]

I can relate to this post. A couple years ago, I was determined to find a nice antique chess set, just so I could photograph the pieces. If I'd found what I was looking for (locally, not eBay), I probably would have bought it. After a while, my mind was on to something else, like the next old film camera for my small collection.

Along comes your post with that photo of beautiful hand carved pieces, and I want to buy them. A bonus would be supporting Ukraine.

P.S. I played chess often with friends in school but probably haven't touched the game in 40 years.

[robert e]

Hi Mike,

There's nothing like a community of chess players to learn from and get you playing, and there's at least one chess club not far (I believe) from you at http://www.branchportlibrary.org

Of course, these days you can find communities online at all levels (strange to think that there's a generation or two of players who likely played their first chess games on a screen rather than a board). But hard to replicate the instant give and take and serendipity of live situations.

Either way, I recommend jumping in and just playing, with both beginners and slightly better players, and anyone willing to teach.

And chess sets are also nice decor, but I suggest starting modestly. A roll-up tournament set, or maybe a nice looking used set with a missing piece or two that you can replace for games with salt shakers or film canisters.

If you want to try an old fashioned slow-mo correspondence game, I'm game. I was never that good and I'm super-rusty, so don't be intimidated. I'm sure there are others here just as willing. Start a game and you'll quickly grasp the utility and pleasure of having a 3D set.

[Mike Ferron]

I was playing chess online for a bit against both the computer and live opponents. I somehow played someone with a ranking far beyond mine to a tie.. Then he sends a message…”that was the messiest game ever!” I replied “yes but I am new”. He told me to take lessons and took off lol.

[K4kafka]

I tried learning chess by playing against an on-line bot. I never won, but I quickly learned the basics, without spending a dime on “gear”…

[Richard Tugwell]

Well I can't put my finger on it, but I think you're obsessive about something!!!

I've played chess all my life, quite competitively in early years, but recently more recreationaly. It's an interesting game. Online chess is everywhere, but I recommend over-the-board chess with a clock. Just join a local chess club. It's amazing how "physical" the game can be...

People have pondered many aspects of the game. Is the preponderence of draws a result of the fear of being intellectually crushed - with no excuses? How many moves do you have to calculate? It has been said that top players do not even consider bad moves. Not that they briefly look at them and reject them, they just do not consider them. When asked how many moves deep they calculated, more than one player has said "one". Meaning (slightly ingenuously) that they only analyse the position

[Stephen S. Mack]

If you don't already have one, plastics chess sets are reasonably priced, and you can get a roll-up board to go with them.

Just my $.02.

With bes regards,

Stephen

[Phil]

I was struck by Bruce Chatwin's "The Songlines", when I read it in my 30's, where he says something like consumerism is just misplaced nomadism because, since we don't have a seasonal change of scene, we buy things instead. I've always figured that's why I get excited by new ideas and get into projects that go along with them. Then I want to buy the objects that go with the projects. I figure this is probably a quality common to people with inquiring minds and I have to say, I totally respect your ability to go down the rabbit hole of chess pieces but then come back to a reasonable compromise of "chess now, fancy pieces later". I admire your restraint.

[Jeff in RI]

Mike, On a side note: When ever you post pictures taken in you home I've noticed what a wonderful sense of esthetics in home decor you have. That Ukrainian chess set would go perfectly! :)

[Geoff Wittig]

"I resemble that remark...."
There's nothing fundamentally wrong with obsessing over your latest fascination or avocation. As long as you're not spending the baby's formula money of course.
There is substantial joy to be had from the quest for the perfect 50 mm lens, the perfect letterpress printed book, or whatever. I have far too many lenses for the two different interchangeable lens systems I use. I share the tendency to obsess about the optimal widget to perform some small part of a hobby task.
My other obsession is landscape oil painting. Finding the perfect linen painting surface, the perfect size 10 flat brush, the perfect palette of oil pigments for the subjects I want to render is an ongoing, endless, mostly enjoyable quest. This explains why I have at least 100 little stainless steel painting knives, ranging from dirt cheap to don't ask. No harm done, and learning to paint has greatly enriched my life. It has also improved my photography in subtle ways.

[Grant]

You need a $99.99 book to understand chess? What is this, Photoshop?

[mike rosenlof]

The hand carved pieces are lovely, but most chess tournaments are played with weighted plastic pieces on a roll up board.

I'm not much of a chess player, but I like the idea of playing chess. You can play online against others at chess.com

[John Y]

Hypothesis: Readers of this site is a self-selected group more prone to obsessions (a.k.a. GAS). 😂

I’ve just temporarily fought off my obsession by selling off my Panasonic GM5 set in mint condition that I didn’t really use but “collected“.

[Kye Wood]

If I may.

You live by yourself and are socially isolated.

You over research for items you don't need.

Might this simply be a habit formed to justify purchasing things? Searching for ways to utilise things to solve a problem is fine. But you don't have the problems they're designed to solve.

Which comes back to isolation. Which is the problem you're being psychologically manipulated into thinking will be solved by buying stuff.

Marketing and advertising strategists are experts at deceiving you into believing that the act of buying things will make you feel part of society. Like connective tissue is going to sprout when you hit BUY.

And it leads inexorably to a hollow post purchase experience of fleeting satisfaction at best.

[Larry Gebhardt]

Get a 3D printer to obsess over and print a chess set. Or wood carving tools and carve your own. Both will help keep your mind experiencing new things.

[James]

You can learn to read Greek. There is this superb book, Homeric Greek for Beginners, which gets you started actually reading Homer. Slowly at first, but eventually you can build up some speed. And you are reading *Homer*. Why read silly made up Latin phrases when you can read Homer?

Or you can learn how to program a computer how to play go. There is this book, Deep Learning and the Game of Go. It also teaches you to play go.

[Dale]

"Not to mention that I live alone and don't even know anyone else who plays chess." No worries, there are some very popular sites, not the least of which is chess.com, currently being swamped by the popularity of online chess.

[Dan Khong]

To avoid hasty impulse purchases, maybe you could practice the "one-week cooling off period".
If you are still keen to buy after that then go ahead. This practice has save me a lot of money on unnecessary expenditures.

[Patrick Wahl]

A couple of chess thoughts if these are helpful. I've been playing online chess for a couple of decades. You get a rating at these sites, and I have not only plateaued, but my rating has started to decline a bit. I'm your age, nearly, so take this as a sign of some sort of cognitive decline (eww). Ratings are what you are, you can't argue that you are better than what your rating says you are, no luck involved. Occasionally I play someone much higher rated than I am, make the same opening moves, but I just slowly start getting crushed in a way I don't against people at my own level. So there are weaknesses in my game that don't show up against lower rated players, weaknesses I barely understand.

Two suggestions. If you want to try the online chess thing, redhotpawn.com is good. A decent chess channel on YouTube is Adgamator, he is playing through some of the games at the Tata Steel chess tournament (a big deal).

https://www.youtube.com/@agadmator/videos

[Greg Boiarsky]

Anyone who wants to learn a little chess strategy and a lot of chess culture should read Underhanded Chess by Jerry Sohl. It's brilliant and currently available at Amazon.

[Robert Pillow]

I would look for a nice double-weighted, felt-bottomed, synthetic set because as you work through the problems or play described in chess books, you are less likely to knock a piece or two or many more over. Long ago my wife gave me a such a set, Drueke by Gallant, that was very nice and easy on the pocket book – at least back in the 1990s. I'm not sure they are still in production, but you may find something on eBay or Etsy that is modest enough in price to suit you. Amazon has synthetics that are double- or triple-weighted with 3.75-inch kings that are affordable. When you are not working your upper body with a weighted set, you can exercise your mind with Fred Reinfeld books on sacrifices, combinations, and checkmates.

Your move ...

[JH]

Form TOP - Friday, 23 February 2018

https://theonlinephotographer.typepad.com/the_online_photographer/2018/02/weigh-in.html

I'm sure I've told the story of "Pete's Boat" here before, but a search shows no results, so here we go....

About 45 years ago our friend Pete decided he wanted a boat. He bought and read magazines on boats. He visited marinas and picked up brochures from boat dealers. He talked to boat owners about what brands of boats and motors they liked. His house was covered with boat sales information.

Then one day, all that literature disappeared into the trash.

We asked what happened? "Nothing," Pete said. "I just realized that I liked the search for a boat but I really didn't want to own one."

I do not know how many times the term "Pete's Boat" has been used in our family to describe the short term obsession with some object of desire that dies out after a few days or weeks of interest. The search is the fun part, too often the reality is disappointment.

PS: Turns out Friday, 23 February 2018 was the first time I posted the story of "Pete's Boat."

Latest episode: While reading Mike's episodes converting a camera to B&W only, I started looking to look into converting my Nikon Zfc which is programmed to duplicate my Nikon FM of 40 years ago was like with Triple-X film. I discovered that for only about twice the cost of the camera I can get the sensor converted physically but using it requires some workarounds to get images out of it.

No thanks, Pete's Boat wins again.

But I do still check KEH for Leica Monochrome.

[JH]

Part 2 about Pete of "Pete's Boat" fame.

Pete died a few years ago at a fairly young age. His widow stayed in their home in the SE, surrounded by their gardens and beautiful trees. She's a country girl who grew up on a farm, so she kept the place up herself. Until a few weeks ago. While chopping down a tree which fell wrong, she was pinned under it with a leg broken in 3 places.

When she gets out of the hospital, she says she is selling the house and moving to an apartment or assisted care facility.

The problem was Pete was OCD and a hoarder of sorts. The basement of the house is filled with his toys. He was an electronic genius (he invented the digital tuned radio in 1972) and loved antique electronics. The basement is full of old electronic equipment and thousands of tubes - he built custom tube amps and speakers for stereo after retirement. He had a giant darkroom and lots of cameras. And don't forget the machine shop.

So now this poor lady has to figure out what to do with all this stuff. I'm helping her and her sons.

If anybody knows of a museum interested in a collection of vintage electronics, preferably on the US East Coast or South, please let me know (Mike knows how to contact me.)

[Ken Brayton]

I used to play chess with the folks at work during lunch. A lot of trash talk, laughing and good fun. Sometimes you win, sometimes you lose. Very few draw games. We just had fun. After I retired there is no one to play with. Playing the computer gets boring real fast. Stick with your pals playing pool and having a good time. Your in New York so a little trash talk could spice things up a bit.

[Andy Wilkes]

Someone send that man a chess set!
As long as no one gets hurt I'll tell you how I get on when I've fitted an old Sigma 600mm F8 Mirror lens to my Fuji and my Sigma Quattro (I hope).
Shoot for the Moon.

[Pak Ming Wan]

When I was a kid, my parents took my to a Chess club for a couple of years (eventually ended up playing in tournaments). I still have very vivid memories of handling those plastic weighted Staunton chess pieces that "clunk" down onto the board and "click" when you take someone's piece. Or even putting away the pieces into a box and hearing them click and clack against each other. The noise and feel were part of that experience and memory.

I've never played with a Russian style chess set, but I do like the very different thin elegant pieces.

I'll probably go out and buy the world chess plastic replica set now ... I do like the more modern minimalist Staunton design. https://www.pentagram.com/work/world-chess/story

Cheers, Pak

[Mark]

Some years back when I was interested in learning chess I used to visit a website called chesstempo where they offer free tactical exercises, e.g. you are at a certain point near the end of the game and it is your move. If you register (free) then after a while they give you a ranking and the problems are set to your level. I found that to be a great brain exercise.

[Not THAT Ross Cameron]

Wow - GAS attack over chess pieces ;~)
Or is it just an excuse to enjoy the hunt for the next purchase.

All the best with learning to play & strategise.

[Alan]

Slightly on topic.

I still have a board I made at school and that was a long time ago. I haven't used it for years partly because I seem to have lost the urge to win at anything. I seem to happy to let others win these days or even better just sit back and watch them play.

I hope what this says is that I'm comfortable in myself and don't feel the need to prove anything. I hope that's it.

[Andrew]

When you find yourself considering the merits of weighted vs unweighted pieces for a game you don’t know how to play, it’s time to touch grass, as the kids say.

[Rick in CO]

Thank You Mike! As one of the above described, although maybe not to the extremes mentioned (my wife might demur), I thank you for letting me know I'm not alone in the universe!

[Jim Arthur]

I was listening to an interview with actor F. Murray Abraham (83) recently on Fresh Air (NPR) while walking laps at my local park and he mentioned how he exercises both his mind and body. He said that it’s an actor’s nightmare to be unable to remember your lines so he memorizes sonnets as a daily mental exercise.

I recently found myself in a situation where I needed to replace all my OLD computer hardware and software at once and I chose to not stay with the familiar. I went from Windows/Lightroom/Photoshop to Apple/DPP/Affinity. I did this in part as a mental exercise to learn something new but also out of curiosity and to keep my home computer as simple and streamlined as possible. I’m just not interested in renting software or in Microsoft’s preference that my OS require an internet connection and be tied to an online account. You can still set up Windows with a local account but you need to hack the setup process to do it. It’s never a good sign when you start to view your home computer OS as an opponent.

So far I’m really enjoying my new 14” MacBook Pro. Operationally, it’s not all that different and I appreciate its nice array of ports. I must admit to doing a double take during setup when the Data and Privacy screen appeared. I’m not used to seeing a Big Tech company state a belief that privacy is a fundamental human right. I realize that Apple probably collects as much analytics/telemetry as the next guy and that they have their own ad network but currently, they seem like the best choice from a privacy perspective.

FYI – January 28th is Data Privacy Day.

[Jeff Hughes]

Most of my obsessions take place in Winter and most are cured by the arrival of Spring. Unlike things like computers, smartphones, and digital cameras, well-crafted woodworks usually retain or sometimes increase in value as they age well. Also on Etsy, I found threetreesworkshop.com which you might want to consider while chess set shopping. You mentioned lessons on learningchess.com but is that the correct site or did you mean learningchess.net or chess.com? I am taking free online lessons with the latter (this Winter's obsession for me) and they are quite good. I am interested in getting a chess set too and one thing to consider doing is playing the pieces according to the great games in history and gaining insights into those games and the players' minds. Chessgames.com has notations for classical games, 231 of which date back prior to the year 1800 - including one recorded from 1475 - incredible.

[robert mckeen]

First G.A.S. now C.A.S. life is cruel.

[David Comdico]

Jeremy Silman’s books on chess are very good. The Amateur’s Mind is the place to start. Online chess makes it easy to find opponents at your skill level.

[scott kirkpatrick]

That's a lovely late Soviet knight in honey tones. But it's just fine as a picture. What intrigues me to observe about chess is that a coevolution of human and AI chess masters (and AI players at all calibrated levels at which humans are also found) is now taking place, to the benefit of both. Check out the catbots at chess.com this month.

[David Dyer-Bennet]

I've got a fairly nice wooden chess set that I got in Switzerland in 1967 (or maybe it was 1966; the 1966-67 school year) -- whose white pieces are a similar color. The hand-carved one is VERY nice, but yeah, I don't need a chess set, let alone another chess set. I'd like mine better if it were weighted, but that was more expensive and beyond my budget back then.

So jumping to the other wonderful board game, Go -- at least when I was around more good players in college, I had the impression that good players did care about the board and pieces in that game. Slate and shell stones were preferred to ceramic ones, and thicker ones; thicker boards were preferred, etc. Go is less a purely analytic game, or maybe it's just cultural differences in the countries of origin.

[Ed Hawco]

“…chess pieces aren't even important to the game. They're just symbols.” Please don’t kill me, but they are arguably important to one’s enjoyment of playing the game. Just as the choice of automobile isn’t important in your getting from A to B, you might enjoy the trip more if you’re driving that Miata you used to own versus my beat up old Jetta that had a 2x4 wedged under the driver’s seat to keep it from falling through the floor.

[Bill Tyler]

About obsession - Isaac Newton wrote: "All this was in the two plague years of 1665-1666. For in those days I was in the prime of my age for invention & minded Mathematicks & Philosophy more then than at any time since.” This was after enumerating his discoveries of those two years: calculus, color theory, and the law of gravity. His obsession with Mathematicks & Philosophy (as science was then called) seems to have been quite productive.

[Ed G.]

I haven't played in years, but I was a serious tournament chess player from he age of eleven to about 50.

Having a nice wooden set is great if you have space to keep it set up. It doesn't matter if you're a serious player or not, a nice set is an art object. Make sure you get a board suitably sized for the pieces--a lot of people buy boards that are too small and the set looks crowded.

But you should also have a cheap plastic tournament set. You never know, maybe the local library has a club, or maybe one of your pool cronies plays. You'll want a set that you can carry around without worrying about damage.

I second the recommendation someone made for chesstempo.com; the tactics problems are very good. For a complete beginner, _Bobby Fischer Teaches Chess_ is a great basic tactics book.

[William Furniss]

Great read! Thank you. Just a practical thought... May I suggest you do not offer fascinating and thrilling links out of your piece before you have finished? Clicking away is very tempting when you have sold it so well. The world is very click happy.