Chess has been around for centuries. Early variants of chess games originated in India around the 6th century and chess gradually evolved into its current form in the 15th century. Somewhat fittingly for a game that was considered to evoke military tactics and use pieces named after the nobility, two of the reasons that chess spread across the globe was as a result of the expansion of historical empires and the introduction of the game into the courts of the nobility.

India introduced the game of chess into Persia and the game became a popular means of educating the Persian nobility in the concepts of logical thought and patience. The word, ‘checkmate’, comes from the Persian phrase, ‘Shāh Māt’, which translates into English as, ‘The King is dead’.

Unfortunately for the Persians, they perhaps spent a little too much time playing chess and not enough time developing their actual military as between 644 and 651 AD the Islamic Conquest of Persia passed the land of Persia and the game of chess, into the hands of the Muslim world.

By the 10th century the expanding Arabian empire had introduced chess to parts of North Africa, Europe and Iberia. Conquering armies played the game during their down time and continued to introduce the game into their captured territories.

Into The Contemporary

Chess has been recognized as an important educational tool that can help in the development of reasoning and forward thinking. In fact a bill has been passed in the US senate that seeks to introduce chess more widely into US educational programs as a means with which to act as a supplement to learning. The legally recognized bill noted that:

• “Chess increases strategic thinking skills, stimulates intellectual creativity and improves problem solving ability, whilst raising self-esteem.”
• “When youngsters play chess they must call upon higher-order thinking skills, analyse actions and consequences and visualize future possibilities.”
• “In countries where chess is offered widely in schools, students exhibit excellence in the ability to recognize complex patterns and consequently excel in math and science.”
• “Instruction in chess during the second grade will enable pupils to learn skills which will serve them throughout their lives.”

In addition to these officially recognized benefits of the instruction of chess, several psychologists have underlined how chess can aid a person’s ability to concentrate on one specific activity uninterrupted for a prolonged period of time and have recommended chess games as a treatment for Alzheimer’s.

The fact that a game of chess demands the complete focusing of the mind for the duration of the game has led psychologists to underline its usage as a means with which to developed concentration. In fact, it is hard to think of any other pastime which demands one’s continual attention to the extent that a game of chess does.

Around six hundred million people across the world currently know how to play chess and chess games have become increasingly competitive as a result of the rise of on-line chess forums; where chess fans gather together to create leagues and exchange tactics and plays.

Chess: Some Interesting Facts

• The word ‘rookie’ is derived from the chess piece known as ‘the rook’. When playing a game of chess the rook is generally the last piece to be moved into the field of play. As such, the phrase ‘rookie’ was adopted by several American sports commentators to describe the circumstance of an unseasoned sportsman being brought into a game long after it had commenced. In terms of a Premiership football equivalent this would denote a situation in which a young player’s confidence is built-up via introducing him into the game as a substitute during the second half.
• Despite the names of pieces such as king, queen, bishop and soldiers none of the actual chess pieces in chess games look much like their description. This is due to the fact that the Islamic world, who introduced chess to a wider audience, forbids the making of statues of animals and people. Hence the reason why the pieces aren’t clearly distinguished designs of the people that they represent.
• In the 12th century the church deemed chess to be a frivolous activity and so banned it. Bishop Guy of Paris threatened to excommunicate any priest caught playing chess. In 1125 one chess-loving priest subsequently invented the folding chess board so as to be able disguise the board as two books and continued to play in secret.
• In other languages the pawn is not a foot soldier; in German the pawn is known a peasant and in Spain the pawn is known as a farmer.

Chess games remain as popular today as they have been throughout history and can help you to develop reasoning and concentration skills. In addition to these benefits it is also incredibly rewarding when you put an opponent into check mate and watch as they slowly realize that they are utterly done for.

With reelection of Barack Obama, we can all take a deep breath of relief knowing that the job of selecting our President for the next four years is complete.  If your favorite thing about election night was that it signaled the end of the ceaseless barrage of attack ads that commandeered TV over the last handful of months, you’re certainly not alone.

Still, some of television’s most beloved characters have come from the political arena. After all, politics is fertile ground for both comedy and drama. So in celebration of another completed election cycle, here are a few of the most memorable politicians to grace the small screen in recent years.

Josiah Edward “Jed” Bartlet-The West Wing (NBC)

For many, if you could draw up the model Commander-in-Chief, President “Jed” Bartlet would be the final product. The Democrat is widely respected among both parties for his compassion, intelligence and effectiveness as a leader. The West Wing derived much of its success from the seeming realism of its portrayal of the presidency and its refusal to shy away from covering the hot button issues of the day.

For seven seasons, Martin Sheen painted an intimate portrait of a sitting president, both through triumph and tribulation.  Assassination attempts, scandals within the administration, the battle for reelection-West Wing covered it all and more over the course of Bartlet’s two terms in office. Throughout the series, President Jed handled each situation with the grace, intelligence and confidence we expect from the ideal leader of the free world.

 The Mayor of Portland-Portlandia (IFC)

Portlandia has generated a loyal following by skewering anything and everything “hipster,” pseudo-Bohemian and yuppified.  Although just about every character in Portlandia’s sketches fit this aesthetic, the show’s Mayor of a Portland takes the shtick to a whole new level.

Fueled by his hatred for all things Seattle, the mayor embodies what it means to be citizen of Portland- he sits on an exercise ball instead of a chair and kayaks to work instead of driving. Brought to life by Kyle McLaughlin of Twin Peak’s Special Agent Dale Cooper fame, the Mayor of Portland character has become so popular that it’s evolved from a onetime guest appearance to a recurring role. That’s good news for Portlandia fans; the Mayor is easily one of fictional Portland’s most hilarious inhabitants.

Leslie Knop-Parks and Recreation (NBC)

Parks and Recreation’s Leslie Knop has become one of the most recognizable and beloved politicians on television, both for her single minded devotion to public service and her at once charming but puzzling naiveté when it comes to the political process. Nevertheless, as the Deputy Director of the Pawnee Parks Department, Knop has long harbored political aspirations.

Leslie’s dream of holding an elected office came true in season four when she narrowly edged out a well-moneyed competitor for a seat on the City Council.  From her comically inept campaign staffers to her own “fish-out-of-water” type approach to the cutthroat world of local politics, Knop has become a refreshingly “real” politician in a profession many feel is dominated by phonies.

The Mayor of Jefferton-Tom Goes To the Mayor (Cartoon Network)

Cartoon Network’s Adult Swim is known for its irreverent and unconventional sense of humor and Tom Goes to the Mayor just might have been one of its most avant garde offerings.  The show held fast to the idea that humor is best served dry.

Few characters tapped into that dry sense of humor with better results than the Mayor of Jefferton. The mayor is an odd government official indeed-from appointing his 12 year old nephew to consult on the building of a new World War II memorial to his insistence that a perimeter of bear traps is the best way to protect Jefferton’s youth, the Mayor of Jefferton certainly has earned his place among television’s strangest and most memorable politicians.

Sandy Aiken blogs about television and pop culture for Sterling Satellite.

Image by: Bakarti

My husband recently succumbed to that most terrible and life threatening of ailments; the dreaded man-flu. I knew something was wrong when I came home to find him already in bed, surrounded by snotty tissues and half full boxes of Nurofen, moaning unintelligibly about the need for tea and soup.

The way he looked at me with his puppy dog eyes and weakly gestured me over, I thought this must surely be the end…but it turned out that he just wanted me to bring his phone up from downstairs where he had left it. What a brave soul.

Eventually, however, it all became too much and I decided to show him that a mildly pronounced case of the flu was not the worst thing in the world, and that some people in the world are battling truly strange and unintelligible illnesses every day.

Here are some of most bizarre afflictions we stumbled across on our odyssey of illness.

Methemoglobinemia (Blue skin disorder)

While most people’s skin colors fall within a certain set of color parameters, it is very unusual that a person has uniformly blue or violet skin. This was exactly what happened to the Fugate family of Kentucky for 162 years until the condition was cured recently. The bright blue skin color was caused primarily by the person’s blood not absorbing oxygen properly.

Trimethylaminuria (Fishy odor syndrome)

This one is pretty much self explanatory. Sufferers of this disease cannot break down certain organic compounds in their food and subsequently have no control over an incredibly pungent smell that goes with their breath or sweat. There is no known cure although the social damage can be limited through a controlled diet and antibiotics.

Cotard’s Syndrome (Walking corpse syndrome)

This truly bizarre mental phenomenon leads to a person believing that they have died or lost an important and necessary part of the body, but that they are still able to think and walk around. The exact roots of the condition are still unknown but a large amount of cases are the result of severe brain trauma.

Alice in Wonderland Syndrome (Micropsia)

This (thankfully) temporary condition can affect us all if we suffer from particularly intense migraines or go a long time without sleep, and acts to throw our sense of perception completely off track. This means that we no longer become able to truly tell how big or far away an object is, due to disturbances in the brains Occipital Lobe.

Exploding Head Syndrome

Sufferers of this disease are frequently startled out of their slumbers by the sounds of gunshots, explosions and screams echoing around their heads. The reason why these imaginary noises occur with such regularity is not really clear at this point.

Alien Hand Syndrome

This one is really like something out of a horror movie. Sufferers of this neurological disorder lose all control of one of their hands, but (creepily) the hand continues to grab and poke things as if it had developed a mind of its own! This condition is caused by a breakdown in communication between the two hemispheres of the brain after surgery, strokes or infections.

It probably goes without saying that my husband didn’t really have a leg to stand on after doing a little research into some of the craziest illnesses that a person can pick up during their lifetime, and rather quickly gave up his whimpering and went downstairs to find his phone himself. He even managed to give me a lift to the kitchen discount store and look vaguely interested while we wandered the aisles!

Does anyone else know of any bizarre illnesses or conditions that you can pick up?

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Estelle Page is an interior designer by trade, but who is also a dedicated member of a young family. When not trying to find the perfect balance between beauty and functionality or writing blogs for companies like KDCUK, you can find Estelle wondering causally through country mansions and garden centers.

Reality television is the biggest thing since sliced bread, and it shows no signs of slowing down at all. There’s nothing more interesting than spying on people who are behaving naturally in their natural environments when their normal lives are so entertaining. Even crime documentaries have jumped onto the reality show bandwagon and hung on for the ride. Reality crime shows are some of the most watched documentary-style shows out there because the job of a law enforcement officer is filled with the elements of danger, suspense, and surprise. Of the many crime series that have aired on national television, the following still remain relevant to this day.

1) The First 48

This reality series follows police detectives from all over the country as they try to solve murder cases within 48 hours of being called to the crime scene. The show’s title refers to the time limit that homicide detectives have until their chances of finding a lead and catching the perpetrator is drastically reduced. Having aired just before the summer of 2004, The First 48 is currently on its 11th season in 2012. By its sixth season, the show was already ranked as the top criminal justice documentary on American TV, and it continues to receive high-ratings today.

The First 48 caught on with viewers so quick because it is rare that ordinary civilians get a chance to see what happens behind the scenes during a criminal investigation. Everything from the grisly crime scene and interviews with friends and family to the actual arrest and interrogation are captured by an on-site camera crew that follows the investigators every step of the way. The show is an emotional rollercoaster because viewers get to experience the exact moment when a family receives news that a loved one had been killed and also the instance when they are informed that a suspect had been arrested. The series also shows a side of police detectives that most people never see–emotional attachment and vulnerability to homicide victims and their families.

2) Cops

Cops has got to be the single most popular reality crime show in history because it’s still going after nearly 23 years of being on TV. Today, the series is played on several major stations including FOX, G4, and truTV, and it always begins with the iconic “Bad Boys” theme song. All of this time, the show’s creators have stuck to an unchanged formula that involves going anywhere the boys in blue go. That means riding along in the patrol cruiser, entering the homes and hideouts of wanted felons, following officers as they chase down the bad guys on foot, and being present in the face of other dangers such as gunfire and high-speed vehicular chases. There are no scripts to follow and no dialogue to read–just pure reality.

One of the greatest aspects about the show is seeing how dynamic the life of a cop truly is. One moment you’re watching a guy get pulled over for going through a red light, and the next encounter is with a maniac who’s bringing a whole town down with a stolen tank. There’s always enough content to keep things interesting as long as our men and women in uniform allow cameramen to tag along for the ride.

3) Jail

Jail is another take on the reality crime genre. This time everything is from the perspective of corrections officers who are processing arrested individuals for their criminal actions. Produced by the Langley team, creators of Cops, this show proves that bad boys and girls still act rowdy after being caught by the good guys. In the United States, Jail debuted in 2007 and is still going strong on Spike TV.

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Ashley Watson is a criminal law paralegal and co-author of the Criminal Justice Major Guide.

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The word “slippers” may conjure up fanciful images but for most people the picture is one of comfortable slip-on shoes that are generally worn indoors, hence the alternative terms house-shoes or carpet slippers. For some it may be a light shoe designed to be worn for dancing or perhaps just a disposable foot covering of a kind supplied to airline passengers generally referred to as slipperettes. Others would see the depiction of their favorite cartoon characters on novelty slippers or just slipper boots. The term “slippers” however has other connotations far removed from the notion of comfortable footwear.

Lady’s Slippers

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No, this is not a feminine version of an indoor slipper but orchids found in north temperate regions, the flowers of which have a conspicuous pouch or slipper-shaped lip. It is also called a Slipper Orchid. The species name Reginae is Latin for “of queen” and the various common names retain the slipper connection and include White wing moccasin, Royal Ladies Slippers and Showy slippers.

Slipper Bath

Historically a bath tub shaped like a slipper, with a high rising back, designed to keep the water hot for longer and to protect the modesty of the user. They were used in Public wash houses for sanitation of the working classes long before houses were routinely built with their own bathrooms!

Slipper Limpet

This is a mollusk which has an oval shell with an internal ledge giving the empty shell a slipper-like appearance. One particular species of the Slipper limpet has become a serious pest of oyster beds in Europe.

Cultural Aspects of Wearing Slippers

Some households in Japan have a “shoes off at the door” rule which may involve removing outside footwear and/or socks. It may however require the wearing of slippers. In some other cultures it can be a social obligation to remove shoes and wear slippers when entering a place of residence.

In the UK some schools have a rule requiring children to remove outdoor shoes upon entering the building and to put on slippers. This has a twofold benefit of encouraging children to protect the flooring and eliminates dirt on outdoor shoes being taken into the classroom. Hopefully this may develop into a practice that they might follow throughout life. The wearing slippers in the home and the benefits it provides is widely accepted as the norm but to wear them outside is considered by some as slovenly and untidy.

Types of Slippers

Across the world there is a vast range of different types of slippers which vary in style and materials used. Slipper boots, novelty slippers, moccasins and shepherd slippers are just a few. The latter being a popular designer sheepskin boot that comes in a slipper variety. Whatever the particular type, slippers are so comfortable they are being seen more often outside of the home but people should be careful. Not so long ago one branch of the supermarket Tesco banned customers from visiting the store in their nightwear, they might ban slippers next!

Sally S writes on a wide range of subjects including history, music and travel.