Don't Miss:

Broadway in Roanoke is back! Enter to win two season passes to all 9 shows!

Cornershot


To submit a CornerShot
The Roanoke Times welcomes CornerShot submissions from its readers. Here are the guidelines:
  • Length: about 200 words
  • Topic: CornerShots can run the gamut, but we generally prefer unique and clever observations on the human experience.
  • No poetry, please.
  • Email your submission to extra@roanoke.com with your full name and hometown and “CornerShot” in the subject line. You can also mail submissions to Kathy Lu, CornerShot, The Roanoke Times, P.O. Box 2491, Roanoke, VA 24010.
  • Submissions are subject to editing.
MOST READ ON ROANOKE.COM
by
Betsy Biesenbach

Tuesday, May 14, 2013


Although I own a Kindle Fire, I don’t know my apps from my elbow.

I use it to read, to check e mail and to look at my Facebook account. Anything else, I figured, was a total waste of time and money.

Then I found out there are such things as chess apps. Chess is a game for clever people, and I like to think I’m clever, but I’ve never had much luck at it.

I’ve played against only two people — the guy who taught me, who was on his way to becoming a grand master and could cream me in three moves, and my son, who is younger and better rested.

Imagine my delight when I bought the app and discovered I could program it to be dumber than me!

Every game I don’t win ends in a draw, in which I chase the other king around the board. I think I should be awarded those games, too, because I’m the chaser and not the chased.

So now, a game of chess is my daily ego boost. If I could find a math app that worked the same way, I’d be a happy gal.

Monday, August 12, 2013

Weather Journal

Stronger front arrives Tues-Wed

3 hours ago

Your news, photos, opinions
Sign up for free daily news by email
LATEST OBITUARIES
MOST READ