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- Anybody here ever play the Berlin Defense? Vladimir Kramnik used it to good effect against Gary Kasparov when he won the World Chess Championship 2000. In the version he played, C67 Ruy Lopez, 4.0-0 Nxe4, the queens were exchanged, and Kramnik ended up drawing 4 games with the black pieces. Kramnik recently retired from chess, and I thought of these games. Here's Dereque Kelley's video explaining this opening. It's pretty good. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IWtDNFLQNHA ;February 17, 201900
Good topic for discussion. Success is the result of both constant effort and wise choices, but luck and politics are unavoidable factors. I like the saying ‘God takes care of fools and little children’. And also ‘Even a blind hog finds an acorn every now and then’. Or the Spanish saying, Cuando Dios amanece, para todos amanece. [When God sends the dawn, he sends it for all.] It looks like some have special favor in life, but we all have our chances, and when good luck comes along, we have to be ready to take ahold of it. I say don’t worry about what other people are doing, but play your own game. A dios rogando y con el mazo dando, as the Spanish say…<o:p></o:p>
0 votedFebruary 3, 20190- En este contexto, ¿crees que ‘vitality’ y ‘appearance’ son las traducciones correctas de virtud y propiedad?
Admirado quedó don Quijote de la virtud y propiedad de la cabeza, y estuvo por no creer a don Antonio …(Don Q II-62)<o:p></o:p>
Don Quixote was amazed at the virtue and property of the head, and was inclined to disbelieve Don Antonio…(1885, Ormsby)<o:p></o:p>
Don Quixote was amazed at the vitality and appearance of the head, but was inclined not to believe Don Antonio…(2019, better)<o:p></o:p>
Don Quixote was amazed at the appearance and vitality of the head, but was inclined not to believe Don Antonio…(2019, best. En inglés, la «vitality» vendría después de la «appearance» ya que es la característica más importante. Es una preferencia estilística y no un deber gramatical.)February 3, 201900 Karla, your English is very good—easy to understand and correct for the most part. Some of the changes I made were changes in style:<o:p></o:p>
o I’m for I am [to keep the essay in an informal conversational style]<o:p></o:p>
o Introducing a subordinate clause to give the essay some variety of structure [who is 28 years old]<o:p></o:p>
o Replacing pronouns that are not needed [‘she wears glasses’ to ‘wears glasses’ since sister is the subject of wears]<o:p></o:p>
o Using a dash to add variety to the essay [—well, as far as I know, she is]<o:p></o:p>
<o:p> </o:p>The absolutely necessary change was the replacement of commas with periods to separate complete sentences.
<o:p> </o:p>We do a lot of things in English based on usage, so there is no logical reason why. For example, ‘I’m working in an automotive company’ implies that it’s just a job, that you have no connection to the company other than a paycheck. The ‘ing’ [working] implies something that you’re doing now, something that’s perhaps a bit temporary. The word ‘in’ reinforces the idea that this is a temporary position. ‘I work for an automotive company’ implies that it’s not just a job, that you have a connection with the company. The word ‘for’ reinforces the idea that you feel like you’re a part of the company. Good luck with your English. Try to have fun with it, and you’ll do okay.
0 votedJanuary 31, 20190Hello my friends! I'm Karla. I’m in my thirties and live in Mexico City. I work for an automotive company as a formulator. I'm single and have two sisters. One of them, who is 28 years old, is tall and beautiful, and very funny. She has short and curly hair, which is just the opposite from me, because I’m short and have long straight hair. Sometimes I'm serious and angry, ha ha ha! My youngest sister is 10 years old and wears glasses. Don't ask me why but it’s true! Ha ha ha! She is pretty and happy in her tiny world—well, as far as I know, she is. I think that’s all for now. See you again some other time!
0 votedJanuary 31, 20190
