There are two Debbies in my life. One is human; the other is a computer. I'll be teaching math to the former while learning chess from the latter.
Patrick Whalen, M.A.CIW Associate
Our site will feature various educational topics, primarily chess and mathematics. I (Patrick) hope to include an instructive page on chess programming, but cannot promise it.
I have been away from web authoring for some time and may not be able to return for a while. In addition to looking after two parents in their late 80's, I have been doing independent study of mathematics, partly as research for a future book. My math study is also with the hope of someday being admitted to a math Ph.D. program.
During the summer, I'll be able to reserve some time for expansion of both of my sites. Please revisit me then, just in case I have something new.In January 2003 I published Brain Bombardment, my first book; the subtitle is A Runner's Diary. It begins with the author's desire to set a lifetime personal record for the five-mile run. Age interferes with the quest, but does not interfere with the value of running as an aid to rigorous mental activity. My publisher is a Florida company called Llumina Press.
If you enjoy reading diaries, you will enjoy this book. As the late John F. Kennedy, Jr. said about his magazine, George, "It is neither all serious, nor all playful." There are many funny episodes in it, but I think I have struck a balance between the serious and the playful.
My second book, published in September 2003, is about chess. The title is Write Your Own Chess Book, Regardless of Your Strength. As far as I know, I am the first amateur in chess history to publish a book of his games. Most chess books try to instruct by annotating the games of the masters. My chess book shows you how to learn by annotating your games. The learn by writing approach (which I advocate in both books) was helpful. Despite only a 1600 rating, I scored two draws in endgames against masters during tournaments at New York's Marshall Chess Club. My chess book includes both of those games.
Shortly after the publication of my chess book, my publisher became the first print-on-demand publisher in history to accept bookstore returns. I was happy to hear of his confidence in my book. You can order a copy from Buy Books on the Web. Click under Games, then Chess.
The chess section will benefit intermediate players the most. I wish to emphasize the following points:
The other main part of our site is called Patrick and Debbie's Math Class. It assumes a firm command of pre-algebra, but does not assume math knowledge beyond that. I'll be learning math with you as I gradually build my web site. Like many chess players, I have an aptitude for math; but I do not have a college math background.
I had not intended to keep the other site alive after building this one; then I decided to keep it for sentimental reasons. You may have visited Patrick Whalen's Books, Chess, and Projects before coming here. For web pages of ordinary text, my Webspawner host was fine. The problem there is that I'm allowed to upload only one graphics image per page. Since I want to include chess games with images of positions, I'll need more than that.
I'll use the Webspawner site for announcements, essays, and funny stories. The guestbook will remain open although no one has signed it in the past several months.
There are two Debbies in my life. One is human; the other is a computer. I'll be teaching math to the former while learning chess from the latter.
Patrick Whalen, M.A.