One hundred years on,
You would think something would change.
But the Cubs still lose.

In the event that you do not recognize the name, it is the appellation for perhaps the most powerful commercially available chess program in existence. And it is wiping the floor with grandmasters, even when grandmasters are given a handicap.

I feel like one of those old-timers, sitting in a rocking chair on the porch, reminiscing about the olden days, when human beings could still defeat computers in chess games. It's a scary sensation.

And no, I am not referring to the Presidential election, though of course, one could use the same words for that battle cry as well.

He is one of John McCain's economic advisers. And he is probably the smartest economic adviser on either side of the partisan divide.

To wit.

A big win by the Bears over the Colts. The offense played well, with Matt Forte turning in an especially impressive performance. The defense was utterly dominating; it takes a lot to take down Peyton Manning and the Colts offense. The Bears did it. Would that they did the same thing to the Colts in the Super Bowl, but one takes what one can get.

People keep saying that this is going to be a bad year for the Bears. Maybe eventually, it will turn out that way. But if the Bears keep playing like they did on Sunday, they may well surprise a lot of people.

Chess has a new number one player. And he is the youngest number one player in the history of organized chess; only 17 years old.

The new champion is named Magnus Carlsen. He is a prodigy, which is something to cherish in this day and age of computer training and grandmasters serving as sparring partners and support staff for even greater grandmasters. Here is a bio. It is interesting that Carlsen gets more upset about losing a Monopoly game than he does about losing a chess game. For me, it is quite emphatically the other way around and to give you an idea of how laconic I am about losing Monopoly games, I haven't played the game in decades.

Meanwhile, Tyler Cowen, who I stole the link from, wonders if there are any economics prodigies. Good question. We shall have to ponder it.

It might take the sting out of the fact that yet another data point in the larger narrative of human supremacy over computers has fallen by the wayside. More here.

It's not Scrabulous. But it is . . . something.

My Facebook life has taken a terrible beating. Thank Heavens that the main site is still up, but even playing with a smart robot is not as fun as playing with real people.

And what of the Scrabulous ranking I worked so hard for on Facebook? Is that to be scrubbed from the Internet as well? Life is so unfair.

Mentally, at least, playing the game sets you free.

Perhaps one of the best sports events I have ever seen. More here. If you missed this match, you missed out on something truly epic. My sympathies.

Recounted here. And yes, I am a Scrabulous fan, thanks for asking. Just beat the computer at its highest setting, in fact . . . and with that boast, I have probably brought upon myself decades of bad Scrabble karma.

Courtesy of the current Number One player in the world. For more on this issue, you might want to read this.

But I have to think that Tiger Woods is nothing short of superhuman after having read this:

Tiger Woods has decided to have surgery on his left knee, which will end his 2008 season.

Woods said on his Web site that he will have surgery on his anterior cruciate ligament. He also wrote that he needs time to rehabilitate a double stress fracture of his left tibia, which he said was discovered just before the Memorial Tournament in late May.

And he revealed that he originally ruptured the ACL in 2007 while running at his home in Orlando after the British Open. He said he decided not to have surgery at that point, and he went on to win five of the next six events he entered (through his Target World Challenge in December).

"He's been playing way less than 100 percent for a long, long, time," his swing coach, Hank Haney, said. "It has limited him a lot in practice. He's going to come back better than he's ever been."

Considering what Woods has been able to achieve while injured, Haney's comments have to be terrifying for other players on the professional tour.

Behold the mighty Secretariat. Part One:

Part Two:

I hate Manchester United.

Have I mentioned recently just how much I despise Manchester United?

No? Well, let me mention that I hate, despise, abhor and detest Manchester United with the white hot fury of a million supernovae.

I am looking forward to this fervently now. Chelsea will face Man. U. in the Finals and will have the chance it wants to take its revenge. I just might have to find my way to a sports bar to see if it happens.

This is just utterly astounding and brilliant craftsmanship. I can only imagine how good a standard size chess set would be if Vladimir Aniskin built it.

I could go chess-piece/chessboard shopping.

I have been tremendously neglectful in covering the various happenings in the English Premier League and the Champions League as well. But let it be noted that despite a tumultuous season--one that has seen the departure of a legendary club skipper and threats of players departing for other clubs--Chelsea will be playing in the Champions League final.

Wonderful news. Won't it be sweet beyond measure to beat Manchester United in the final now that Liverpool has been disposed of?